18

𝙅𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨

He guesses he should've expected this. It had been a hard few weeks at Hogwarts.

Sirius and Remus were arguing over who knows what anymore. James wasn't there, not even to meditate.

Pete was feeling left out and dropped them bomb that bomb and hasn't spoken to any of them since. James understands, they all get a bit caught up in themselves sometimes don't they?

Marlene has been caught up with Dorcas, He's happy for her really. If anyone deserves to have what Dorcas and Marlene have it's them.

Lily has been glued to Remus side, thank merlin for her because Remus won't so much as look at James. He isn't sure why, James wasn't involved in Sirius and Remus' argument and didn't try to get involved in helping them make up. Maybe he should've, but he was so busy because, well...

Regulus has been having a hard time with his parents, worries they might be catching on to the fact he is as loyal to 'the cause' as they think he is. He's terrified of them and in turn pushes everyone, James included, away. James waited though, waited for him to confide in him. He did eventually, he's just been pretty exhausted since. James couldn't blame him.

James always thought he had a lot of friends. The more the merrier was his motto. Now however, sitting at the root of a tree somewhere near the entrance of the forbidden forest, he couldn't imagine feeling more lonely. It's his 18th birthday, the last birthday he'll ever spend at Hogwarts and he's doing it all by himself.

He's probably being over dramatic and sensitive but it really fucking sucks. The one day that actually can revolve around him, however selfish that sounds, and no one is there to celebrate with him. Not his best friends who are too busy sulking. Not the person who is like a sister too him because she's with her girlfriend. Not even his boyfriend. He isn't mad at any of them, couldn't be.

He sits there and thinks, "What have I done wrong?"

He thought it was a bit weird how no one wished him the whole day, Minnie being the only exception as she wished him after class, but thought maybe they were planning some sort of surprise of sorts. James enjoys a good party and they've done something similar before.

James decides he has let himself mope enough, his friends are caught up in their own problems and James will never ever hold that against them. He can't, he physically isn't able.

He starts making his way to the entrance of the school hallways when he bumps into none other than Regulus Black, his boyfriend, his most treasured person ( aside from Sirius but you can't tell either of them that )

"Jamie! I've been looking for you." Regulus gives James one of his small smiles. "Hi love, what did you need." James puts his arm around his boyfriend's shoulders while they start walking into the school together. "It's your birthday, I needed to find you so I could give you the gift I got you." He blushes slightly but leans into James all the same. "You remembered." James blurts out, freezing his steps. "What, James?" Regulus stops walking as well, looking back at James confused.

"Course I remembered? Who wouldn't it's basically your favourite day of the year, aside from Christmas of course." Regulus rolls his eyes playfully at James. James laughs a little, "Yeah I just, I don't know." James huffs out, shrugging. "Has no one else wished you?" Reg asks, he has a strange glint in his eyes now. "Well, no but it's not anyones fault they probably just got caught up in something." James defends, he doesn't really know why but he feels the need to. Regulus doesn't judge, he just puts his arms around James and say, "I'm so sorry, love" and James squeezes. He didn't realise he needed this. The validation, the affection. "Thank you." James says into Regulus' hair. Reg just squeezes James tighter