James
As James opened his eyes, he was greeted by the golden light of the sun, casting soft shadows on the grass beneath him. The ocean’s blue reflected a perfect sky above, creating a serene world. It felt calm here—too calm. He sat up, noticing his bare feet and the simple white shirt that clung loosely to his frame. The breeze swept through his hair, but his mind felt a deep disconnect. Why was he here?
A voice, soft and achingly familiar, called from behind.
“James…”
The sound of it pierced through him. A voice so etched into his soul that even eternity couldn’t erase it. He turned, heart racing, and there stood Regulus. The sight of him, standing atop a gentle hill, took James’ breath away. Regulus looked just as he remembered him, but there was something different—an absence of the sadness that had always haunted his features. Instead, there was a smile, soft and sweet, reserved only for James. His grey eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and James’ heart clenched at the sight.
Without thinking, James ran to him, closing the distance in an instant. Regulus stood waiting with open arms, and when James crashed into him, it was as if the broken pieces of his heart finally snapped back together. It was so right, so painfully right.
Regulus giggled, a sound that was both foreign and familiar to James. He spun Regulus around, their hearts beating in sync with the wind that carried the scent of the orchard around them. There was nowhere else James would ever want to be.
"Reg..." James whispered, gently pushing Regulus back just enough to meet his gaze. His storm-grey eyes were beautiful, holding a fierceness that always captivated James.
Regulus lifted his hand to James’ cheek, the warmth of his touch a balm to his soul. “My James…”
James leaned in, closing the distance between them with a kiss. Slow, tender, as if time itself had stilled just for them. They had all the time in the world—James was sure of it.
But Regulus pulled back, their foreheads resting together, a soft sigh escaping his lips. "Walk with me, James."
James took his hand without hesitation, following him down the other side of the hill. He hadn’t noticed before, but they were at the orchard of Potter Manor. The familiar scent of oranges flooded his senses, wrapping around him like a forgotten dream.
Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the air, distant and panicked.
“James! Open your eyes!”
James staggered, feeling a strange ringing in his ears, but Regulus held him steady. “It’s alright,” Regulus whispered. “Don’t worry. We’ve got a little more time.”
They stopped under a familiar tree. Their tree. The one where they had carved their initials so many years ago. R+J, still there, just as they’d left it. But something felt wrong—something distant, a hollow ache in his chest.
"James!" Another voice, more desperate now, but he couldn’t understand why.
Regulus sat down, patting the ground beside him, and James obeyed, pulling him into his arms, feeling the comfort of his presence. Regulus smelled like oranges—like home. It was the first thing he had noticed about him on the Hogwarts Express. And now, as then, it wrapped him in warmth, in love.
"Do you remember the last time we sat here?" Regulus’ voice was soft, almost hesitant.
James struggled to grasp the memory. “I’m sorry, love… remind me.”
Regulus sighed sweetly, a smile tugging at his lips. "It was when I told you I loved you."
James’ heart swelled. “Of course! How could I forget? It’s the best memory I have.”
Regulus took James’ hand, kissing it gently. “I love you, James. More than anything. Always.”
More voices, panicked now. “He’s still breathing! James, wake up! Please, wake up!”
James winced, the noise cutting into the peacefulness around them. Regulus’ grip on him tightened.
"Love, look at me." Regulus cupped his face, drawing him back into his gaze. Those eyes—those beautiful, stormy eyes. The last thing James remembered seeing before—
The last…
The last.
It hit him like a tidal wave, drowning him in realization. Regulus was dead. This wasn’t real. The orchard didn’t exist anymore, their tree was gone. The manor had been destroyed.
"No… no, I can’t lose you again." James’ voice broke as he clung to Regulus’ hands. Tears fell, uncontrollable, as he choked out, "I have you back, I can’t let go, not again."
Regulus’ smile was sad now, trembling with unshed tears. He pressed his lips to James’ one last time. "I know, love. But you have to."
“NO!” James’ voice shattered with grief. “I can’t! I won’t! Please, Reg!”
Regulus’ hands shook, his voice cracking. “You have to go back, James. To Sirius, to Remus, to Peter. They need you. Live. Live the life I couldn’t.”
James shook his head furiously, the thought of leaving unbearable. “I don’t want a life without you. I want you, only you.”
Regulus cupped his cheek again, his voice breaking. “I want to let you go because I love you, James. And I will always, always love you.”
James felt the cold creeping in, the warmth of Regulus slipping through his fingers. “Please don’t let me go…” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
"I’ll be waiting for you, love. When the time comes, you’ll come home to me. I promise."
James cried, his heart breaking, shattering beyond repair. “I love you, Reg. I love you so much…”
"I’ll be right here," Regulus whispered, over and over, as his warmth faded, leaving James alone.
When James opened his eyes again, he wasn’t in the orchard. He was lying beneath a beaten-up wooden ceiling, surrounded by the worried faces of his friends. Sirius was sobbing into his chest, Remus’ face lined with relief, and Peter was thanking Madam Pomfrey over and over.
“You were almost gone, Potter,” she said gently. “We thought we’d lost you.”
James blinked, his mind still spinning.
The attack, the Death Eater raid, the curse…
And Regulus. Regulus, who had kissed him, held him, told him to live.
“I’ll be right here,” his voice echoed in James’ mind, as tears spilled down his cheeks.
Sirius lifted his head, his face pale with worry. “Prongs?”
James broke down, his voice hoarse and broken. “Reggie…”
Without hesitation, Sirius pulled him into a tight hug. And James sobbed into his best friend’s chest, his heart aching for the love he’d lost, and the promise that would have to wait until another lifetime.