Chapter 7
The snow stubbornly stayed on the ground despite the sun growing brighter each passing day. Exams were coming up in only a little over a month, and Regulus spent countless hours in the library with Pandora and Dorcas studying. Occasionally Evan, but hardly ever, and never Barty.
Regulus had given James his copy of the Catcher in the Rye, also annotated, and James had thoroughly enjoyed it.
“I mean it was like nothing I’d read before! What even are taxis? And New York City sounds like a whole different world! Have you been? I loved your annotations, by the way. Also, I didn’t quite understand the part about the catcher in the rye. And Holden seems to say goddamn a lot, which is both strange and enjoyable. Also! I love his sister, Phoebe. She seems so sweet. And where you annotated this bit at the back…” He went on and on, and Regulus adored hearing his many opinions on the book more than he even liked the book itself.
Soon, Regulus was bringing him a book a week. All of them muggle, which James found interesting and exciting. He found joy in the smallest of things, something Regulus would never understand. James had liked Breakfast at Tiffany’s, disliked Lord of the Flies and loved the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.
“Narnia seems so cool! And, is it just me, or did rulers of Narnia remind you a lot of the founders of Hogwarts? Do you think maybe a wizard wrote it and pretended to be muggle? That’d be so cool, right?”
He had especially enjoyed Aslan, the lion. “I mean, that’s literally Gryffindor, you can’t convince me otherwise.” And Regulus hadn’t really tried, just listened to him talk. Just watched his face shine in the light of the stars.
They’d fallen into a comfortable habit of meeting at ten or so and staying up until twelve. Any later, they’d learned, would put them to sleep in class. Somehow, despite the odd hours, Regulus was sleeping better than he ever had.
If his friends had noticed his frequent night time wanderings, they didn’t say anything. Which was good, because he wasn’t yet ready to share that he was friends (or at least he thought they were friends) with James Potter. James Potter. A boy he’d detested (and admittedly admired) for years. He could imagine Barty and Evan laughing already. Plus, it might get back to his mother and then he’d never hear the end of it. Friends with a Gryffindor and blood traitor? You’re just like your brother, a disappointment.
Because of exams, teachers were loading on course work more than ever. His homework pile was doubling by the day. Regulus, who was spending every spare minute studying and revising, was shocked to find how laid back James was about the whole ordeal.
“I know it’s O.W.L year, but I don’t know. It’s better if I panic study a day or two before. That’s how Sirius and I always do it, and we always pass exams.” James said with such casual ease Regulus couldn’t help but stare.
“Are you insane, Potter? It’s O.W.Ls, they practically determine your future! For fucks sake, get your head out of your ass and study.”
James just laughed, head thrown back. “I’ll be fine, Reg. Watch me, I’ll pass, I swear.”
Regulus shook his head in bewilderment.
…
The sunny weather was putting James in a good mood. And, admittedly, so was being around Regulus. His friends had definitely noticed something was up, but only Sirius pointed it out.
“What’s with that stupid grin, lover boy? Found a girl to snog?” Sirius said one afternoon in the common room. Peter and Remus were studying, but James and Sirius were enjoying an intense game of exploding snap.
“Bugger off, pads. It’s the weather, the sun rejuvenates these old bones of mine.”
“I know what else would rejuvenate those bones,” Sirius said with a wink. He quickly dogged the book Remus tried to knock him on the head with.
“Leave poor James alone. Can’t he smile in peace?” Remus said, turning the page of his book.
Peter looked up, “He does seem to be happier now. Though I suppose you’re always happy, right prongs? ‘Cept for when Lily turns you down.”
“Oi! Uncalled for, Pete. And yeah, I’m allowed to smile in peace. Some friends you lot are,” James said, though he was smiling.
Sirius grinned lazily, “You know you love us.” He placed a card on top of the pile, and tapped it with his wand. “Oh also, I have news.” Sirius said, his voice litting up, all sing songy. He did that when he was especially proud of himself, so James was understandably quite concerned.
“Oh no, don’t tell us.” Remus said. Peter glanced up anxiously.
“Oh, but you’ll want to hear this, moony. Macdonalds and I have become, how do you say, acquainted.” Sirius smirked.
Remus choked on his tea, and Peter thumped him on the back.
“You’re shagging?” James said, a little disbelieving.
“Well, shout it to the whole world, why don’t you?” Sirius said, but he looked quite pleased with himself. A few fourth year girls looked over in interest.
“Is it, like, official?” Peter asked. He’d only had one girlfriend, though it was more than James had ever had. They’d lasted three months in third year, but Pete said kissing her was like kissing a frog.
Sirius just shrugged up a shoulder, a smile dancing on his lips. “Dunno. Ask Macdonald. Felt pretty official last night.”
“Oh, ughh.” Peter gagged, looking disgusted.
James was surprised, but pleased for his best mate, “Well, I mean, good for you. Don’t be a dick to her, yeah?”
“Oh fuck off prongs. I’m a gentleman.”
Remus had stayed oddly quiet throughout the conversation, and his cheeks looked pale despite it being weeks away from the full moon.
“All right there, moons?” Sirius asked.
“Yeah, yeah. Um, I gotta run to the library. Congrats, by the way.” Remus said, almost coldly.
Sirius looked baffled, “Uh, thanks mate.”
After Remus left, James gave Sirius a reassuring grin, “Hey, don’t worry about it. He’s probably just stressed about exams.”
Sirius nodded, his brows pulled together in concern. “Yeah, it’ll be fine.” Sirius always cared a little too much about what Remus thought.
“Hey, so how’d you and Mary, you know, happen anyways?” Peter said curiously.
“Well, my friends, it’s quite a tale!”
…
That evening, James was roaming the halls just before curfew. He was waiting to go to the tower until Regulus was there, as he got bored sitting up there alone. Plus, this gave him ample time to stake out pranks.
He was in the charms corridor when he heard a cold voice behind him.
“Wandering around after hours is prohibited, Potter.” Snape said, sneering.
James raised an eyebrow, grinning easily though his hand was on his wand. “I could say the same about you, Snivellus. And it’s not yet curfew.”
“Meeting someone? Or no, you wouldn’t be, would you? Lily’s turned you down, and you're obsessed with her, isn't that right? Doubt you’d be seeing anyone else, or that anyone would want you.”
“Fuck off, go crawl to the dungeons where you belong.” James said coolly.
Snape smirked, “Oh go cry to your mommy, Potter. She’s the only one who wants you, isn’t that right? Let me guess, you’re one of those creeps who fucks their moth–”
James shut him up with a stinging jinx. “Don’t you dare. Don’t you even fucking dare talk about my mother, Snivellus.” What the fuck was wrong with him? Snape was always bad, but never this bad.
Snape pulled out his wand, his face red and inflamed from the jinx, “The mudblood won’t take you, so you turn to your mother. I see I’ve hit a nerve, Potter.”
James was clenching his jaw so hard he thought his teeth would break. “Take that back. Don’t say that word. Lily is better at magic than you could ever hope to be. And my mother? She could beat you in a duel with her back turned.” He was sure Euphemia could, too.
“Hmm, no wonder Lily doesn’t want you. Is that stinging hex all you could do? Sad, Potter.” Snape waved his wand, sending a silent spell his way. James blocked it just as quickly.
James grinned, all fake bravado, "Talked to Lily lately? I heard she turned you down, yet still you grovel after her like a dog.” James sent another hex towards the slytherin, but this one Snape dodged. The insult was weak, a copy of Snape's own, but it seemed to hit a nerve.
“Like I would want a mudblood like her.” Snape spat out.
James’s vision blurred with rage, “Don’t call anyone that. Ever.” He sent Snape flying backwards with a flash of blue light.
Snape stood quickly, and muttered a quiet spell to himself. James tried to dodge it, but Snape was faster this time, and the red light hit him square in the chest, pushing him backwards a step.
And oh– suddenly there was blood, quite a bit of it too. James then noticed several large gashes on his chest, and his head began to swim as more blood soaked his robes. It hurt, it hurt, was as all James could think.
“Go fucking die, you blood traitor. Maybe that mudblood will finally want you then. Soon, you’ll see that none of this matters, not the little fights in the hall, not Hogwarts, none of it.” Snape stared at him in contempt, before turning away, leaving James to sink against the wall.
James tried to move, but his limbs wouldn’t cooperate. He felt woozy and sick, his head pounding against his skull. And then the stone halls disappeared from his view, leaving only darkness behind.
…
“Nasty spell, but nothing I can’t fix. Move, dear, or I’ll have to make you leave,” Said a stern, though friendly, voice above James’s head.
“He’ll be alright, though? You can fix it?” And that voice James knew well from countless nights spent staring at far away stars.
“Reg?” His mouth felt like it was stuffed with wool, and the word came out all blurred.
James opened his eyes, blinking against the harsh light. Above him stood Regulus, his usually hard face softened with concern. A black curl of hair fell into his eyes, and he brushed it away. He had nice eyes, like storm clouds on the horizon.
“James. Are you– I mean, do you feel…okay?”
James grinned, his head feeling slow and thick, “You have pretty eyes.”
Madam Pomfrey chuckled, “That’d be the pain potion talking. I forgot to mention it makes people a bit loopy.”
“Oh.” Regulus said, looking very much out of his comfort zone.
James wanted them to know he meant it, “No, no pain potion. I’m being serious– Sirius! Where is he, anyway? Sirius?” Sirius was always there, wherever James was. Where was he?
“It’s late, he’s in bed. Like you ought to be,” Madam Pomfrey shot Regulus a stern look.
James was now trying to sit up, craning his head around. “I saw him today, but he’s gone now. He’s always here, where is he? Hide and seek is only fun when I can play.”
Madam Pomfrey pushed him back down. “Shh, he’ll come visit you in the morning. You need rest right now. You’re quite lucky that Slytherin found you when he did.”
Regulus looked uncomfortable, “Well, I’m going to go now. Uh, feel better James.”
“Regulus, Regulus. Hmm, nice name, Regulus. I’m sorry the stars will have to wait for us. Do come back tomorrow, and we can tell them that we missed them. Even stars need to know that they’re loved, you know.” It was true, sometimes people could forget, but everything needed love.
Regulus cast a quick glance at Pomfrey, and when he turned back to James his eyes softened. “Yeah, we’ll tell them tomorrow.” He left then, and James sighed. His head hurt, and his eyes were going a bit funny around the edges.
“Go to sleep now, dear. Your friends will be here in the morning.”
James obeyed, closing his tired eyes and drifting off into a dreamless sleep.