Happy Birthday
Regulus Black was anything but ordinary, even by wizarding standards. At 19, he was a trust fund baby with more galleons than he could ever spend, but his life wasn’t filled with the typical luxuries of young wealth—no glamorous parties, no wild nights out. In fact, Regulus didn’t even have a job. Since graduating at 17, life had twisted and turned in ways he hadn’t expected. His parents, cruel and controlling, had died, leaving him with everything: the family fortune, the house, and the weight of their legacy. He cut ties with most of his family, choosing instead to rekindle a fragile relationship with his older brother, Sirius. Through that, he’d become close with Sirius’ Fiance, Remus Lupin. And now, inexplicably, he found himself invited to James Potter’s birthday party—Sirius’ best friend and former roommate.
And that was how Regulus ended up at a noisy, dimly lit pub at midnight. James Potter was turning 21, and of course, true to form, James had thrown himself a massive party. He’d invited what seemed like half of wizarding London, handing out invitations like candy, encouraging everyone to bring as many friends as they wanted. The atmosphere buzzed with the kind of chaotic energy that Regulus usually avoided, but James had insisted, cornering him at Remus’ own 21st birthday the week before. "You’ll have a great time, Reggie!" James had boasted, grinning ear to ear. And despite his reservations, Regulus had agreed.
Now, he sat perched on a barstool next to Remus and Lily Evans, the three of them taking refuge from the wild chaos swirling around them. They nursed their drinks, careful not to go overboard. Sirius, meanwhile, was dancing wildly on a table, waving at Remus and trying to lure him into the fray. James was in the middle of the dance floor, shouting song lyrics with his friends, surrounded by strangers who all seemed to be having the time of their lives.
Lily leaned toward Regulus, her voice rising over the music. “So, Reg, any plans for the future? I mean, beyond all this.” She gestured vaguely at the pub scene, but Regulus knew she meant his life—the void his parents had left behind.
“I’m still figuring that out,” Regulus admitted, swirling his drink in his glass. “Since they died, I’ve been... I guess, learning what I want, not what they wanted for me.”
Lily nodded, her face softening. “That makes sense. It takes time. I’m still working through that too, honestly.”
Regulus raised an eyebrow, curious. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. I’m doing this internship at St. Mungo’s—hoping to be a Healer someday—but I’m also taking night classes at a Muggle college, just to keep my options open,” Lily explained, a small smile tugging at her lips. “It’s a lot, but I like having a backup plan.”
“When do you turn 20?” Lily asked, changing the subject with a smile.
“Not until December,” Regulus replied, trying to push away the looming thought of his birthday.
Lily’s eyes lit up. “Well, that just means we’ll have to celebrate twice as hard. But for now,” she grinned, holding out her hand, “you need to come dance.”
Regulus hesitated, glancing at the crowded dance floor. He wasn’t one for dancing in public—especially not with so many eyes on him. But something about the way Lily was smiling, her eyes bright with mischief, made it hard to refuse. Slowly, he set down his drink and took her hand.
The music engulfed him as they wove through the crowd. At first, Regulus moved stiffly, unsure of himself, but Lily’s laughter and carefree energy were infectious. Soon, they were dancing, letting the rhythm take over. James spotted them and bounded over, his grin wide and boyish as he joined in, wrapping an arm around Regulus’ shoulder.
“See, Reggie!” James yelled over the music, eyes sparkling. “Told you you’d have fun!”
Regulus couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head as the others around them whistled and cheered. For the first time in a long time, he let go—just a little—and allowed himself to enjoy the moment. It wasn’t his world, but for tonight, it didn’t have to be.
By 2 AM, James Potter’s flat was a mess of laughter, empty bottles, and the lingering buzz of post-party adrenaline. After five hours at the club, only James’ closest friends remained, gathered around the coffee table in his living room. They were all singing “Happy Birthday” at the top of their lungs as a cake with crooked candles sat in front of James, who was grinning ear to ear. His closest circle surrounded him—Frank (without Alice, since she was at home, heavily pregnant), Marlene, Peter, Sirius, Remus, Lily, Mary, and Marlene’s girlfriend, Dorcas. Everyone was drunk, some more than others—Remus, who rarely got tipsy, was slumped against Sirius, laughing at something that probably wasn’t all that funny.
As the song ended, cheers erupted, and the group tried to shove presents at James, half of them barely able to keep their eyes open. But they were determined to celebrate properly, even if they were about to collapse.
Regulus, who was nursing a drink but feeling more clear-headed than most, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small ring box. He handed it to James, who squinted at it before breaking into a grin. “Reggie, mate—are you proposing?” James teased, waggling his eyebrows.
“Ha-ha, very funny,” Regulus deadpanned, rolling his eyes. “No. I just noticed you staring at my ring, so I figured I’d get you one too.”
James’s grin widened as he fumbled to open the box. Inside was a gold ring shaped like a stag, its eyes glinting faintly in the low light. He stared at it for a moment, his smile faltering as his expression softened.
“No way,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion, even if there were no actual tears. “Reggie, this is… amazing. I love it.”
Before Regulus could react, James threw his arms around him in a tight, grateful hug. “Thank you, seriously,” James whispered into his shoulder. “This means a lot.”
Regulus stiffened slightly at the unexpected affection but patted James awkwardly on the back. “It’s from the same enchanted collection as mine,” he said once James released him, gesturing to the silver ring on his own finger. It had a faint glow to it, magical in nature.
Sirius, who had been watching the exchange, leaned forward with a suspiciously wobbly grin. “Wait, is that from the Black family ring collection? The one worth, like, more than three flats?”
Regulus nodded casually. “Yeah. They’ve got a shit ton of them lying around. No one really cares about them, so I figured… why not?”
James, still admiring the gold stag ring, slid it onto his finger with a proud smile. Regulus had chosen the stag deliberately—knowing about James’ secret Animagus form—and it fit perfectly. “This is bloody brilliant,” James said, holding his hand up to show off the ring. “It’s like it was made for me.”
With the presents handed out and the cake devoured, the night descended into a chaotic blur of music, junk food, and increasingly ridiculous games. They started with beer pong, which quickly devolved into a shouting match between Peter and Marlene over the rules. Then came Twister, where James inevitably toppled onto Regulus, much to everyone’s drunken amusement.
“Watch where you’re falling, Potter,” Regulus muttered as James tried to untangle himself, laughing too hard to be much help.
Next came Uno, which nearly ended friendships when Lily and Mary teamed up to outsmart Sirius. Then, finally, Monopoly—the game that brought out the worst in everyone. When Sirius lost, he didn’t just flip the board, he chucked it out the window with a triumphant yell, earning a round of cheers from everyone.
By the time the games were over, the group was sprawled across the flat, too exhausted and drunk to move. Some had collapsed on the couch, others on the floor, wherever they could find space. Sirius was passed out beside Remus, arms slung over him protectively. Lily and James were curled up on the other end of the couch, while Marlene and Dorcas were huddled together on the floor. Regulus, the last one awake, looked around at the scene, feeling a strange sense of contentment wash over him.
For the first time in a long while, he wasn’t the outsider. He belonged here, even if it was just for tonight.