Bound By Magic

The trio Apparated just outside the grand entrance of the Potter mansion, the sprawling estate bathed in the golden light of late afternoon. As they stepped up to the front door, it swung open almost immediately, revealing James' mother, Euphemia Potter, her face lighting up at the sight of them.

"James! Regulus!" Effie exclaimed warmly, her eyes twinkling as she ushered them inside. "Oh, Regulus, it's so lovely to see you, dear. How are you, my boy?" she asked, giving him a gentle pat on the arm.

Monty, James’ father, soon appeared from the hallway. He gave James a curious look, noticing the odd tension between his son and Regulus. "You’ve brought Regulus with you? That’s a surprise, son."

Before either of them could answer, Effie’s eyes dropped to the small bundle Regulus was holding, and her expression shifted into one of pure curiosity. "And who might this little one be?" she asked, her voice gentle.

James exchanged a glance with Regulus, and without a second thought, he wrapped an arm around Regulus’s shoulder. Regulus stiffened for just a moment before shifting the baby in his arms so the Potters could get a better look. The baby, with a mop of dark hair, looked almost identical to James, save for the lighter complexion and Regulus’ sharp, stormy eyes.

James cleared his throat, his voice soft but full of certainty. "Our son."

For a moment, there was silence. Monty blinked, looking between the baby and the two young men. "I... I’m sorry, son, I took biology. That’s not exactly how things work." His tone was polite, though he was clearly baffled.

Regulus immediately launched into a rapid explanation, his nerves getting the better of him. "It was a mix-up with ancient magic—something unexpected happened, and—well, we didn’t plan for this, but now we’re raising him. Together."

Effie, who had been silently absorbing the moment, her eyes wide, finally seemed to catch on. Her face softened with realization, and she stepped closer, eyes filled with warmth. "This is... my grandson?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder as she neared them.

Regulus nodded, still looking a little uncertain, but he let Effie approach. She extended her arms. "May I hold him?"

With a hesitant glance at James, Regulus gently passed the baby over to her. The moment Effie cradled the child in her arms, she began speaking softly to him in her native tongue, a lilting stream of Portuguese endearments. The baby, who had been fidgeting, instantly calmed and gazed up at her with wide eyes, a tiny smile tugging at his lips.

James stood there, completely in awe. His heart swelled as he watched the sight—his mother, holding their son, so tenderly, as if this was how it was always meant to be. Regulus, still standing beside him, let out a small breath of relief.

Monty, having overcome his initial shock, moved to stand beside Effie, his eyes now gleaming with pride. "Well, look at him... Handsome little guy, isn't he?" He glanced at James with a half-smile. "Looks just like you, son."

James grinned, his voice light as he joked, "Yeah, we’re gonna have to start buying you guys 'World's Best Grandparents' merch soon."

Effie chuckled softly, still cooing at the baby. Then, without missing a beat, she turned to their house elf. "Tippy, would you be a dear and fetch the baby supplies from the attic? The crib, blankets, whatever you can find."

The house elf bowed quickly and scurried off, leaving James and Regulus to exchange a quick glance, both still processing the surrealness of the moment. Effie beamed down at the baby, softly rocking him in her arms.

"Welcome to the family, little one," she whispered, her heart already captured by the newest Potter.

Monty, still trying to wrap his head around everything, leaned against the back of the couch, arms folded, brow furrowed as he looked at the pair. "So... how exactly did this happen?" he asked cautiously, though there was genuine concern in his voice. "Do you have... you know, supplies? Are you prepared?"

James and Regulus shared an immediate glance, and both answered in unison, voices dripping with defeat: "No."

Effie laughed softly, rocking the baby in her arms. "Oh, you boys," she said, shaking her head fondly. "Don’t worry, you’ll learn. I’m just glad you came to us." She gently passed the baby back to Regulus, who carefully cradled him.

Monty, ever the practical one, stood straighter. "Alright then, first things first. You're going to need supplies. Diapers, formula, clothes..." He trailed off, clearly trying to recall everything they would need. Effie, already ahead of him, pulled out a notepad and started scribbling down a list.

"We can give you all of James’s old baby things. Crib, toys, blankets... And don’t forget those onesies," Effie said as she scribbled on. "He used to wear them all the time. I bet they’ll still fit perfectly for your little one here."

Tippy, the house elf, appeared out of nowhere, arms already laden with baby items—an old wooden crib, baby blankets, and several small outfits that were clearly from James’s childhood. Effie motioned for Tippy to set them down near the fireplace.

As they looked over the baby clothes, Effie pulled out one of James’s old onesies, a light blue outfit with tiny broomsticks embroidered along the front. "Here, put him in this one. It’ll bring back memories." She grinned, holding the onesie up to the baby.

Regulus hesitated but eventually took the garment, giving James a small, unsure smile before awkwardly trying to dress the baby. Monty watched with a grin, clearly amused by the duo’s inexperience.

Once the baby was dressed and snuggled back in Regulus’s arms, Effie and Monty stood before them, clearly charmed by the sight of their son and Regulus now acting as parents. Effie asked, her voice filled with curiosity, "What’s the baby’s name, then?"

James was quick to answer, his smile wide. "Harry."

Regulus, just as quick, countered, "Atlas."

The two stared at each other, blinking in surprise. Monty and Effie exchanged amused glances.

"That’s new," James commented, raising an eyebrow.

Regulus rolled his eyes and muttered, "That’s stupid." He looked to Effie and Monty, offering a slight, apologetic smile. "We’re, uh, working on it."

Effie chuckled, clearly entertained by their bickering. "Well, whatever his name ends up being, he’s perfect. You’ll figure it out." Monty grinned and nodded, stepping closer to give both young men a firm pat on the shoulder. "We’ll help you every step of the way."

James and Regulus shared a look of relief, grateful that they weren’t alone in this, even if the name was still a work in progress.

Dinner at the Potter mansion was a cozy, warm affair. The long dining table was laden with dishes that filled the air with the rich, comforting aroma of home-cooked Brazilian food. There were bowls of feijoada, warm pão de queijo, and vibrant moqueca bubbling away in colorful ceramic dishes, all lovingly made by Effie herself. Everything was rich in spices, savory and delicious, radiating warmth from the hearth.

James, sitting at the head of the table, was cradling the baby like a treasure, holding him close with one arm while trying to eat with the other. He looked down at Harry every few moments, his eyes glowing with love, as if he still couldn’t believe this tiny human was theirs. Harry gurgled and kicked his little feet in the air, his tiny hand grasping at James’s shirt.

Across from him, Monty and Effie couldn’t take their eyes off the baby. They both cooed at him between bites of their meal, exchanging little smiles and laughing whenever Harry made a new sound. Effie reached over a few times to gently stroke the baby’s cheek, her eyes misty with affection.

"He’s just so precious," she whispered, still in awe of the tiny boy in front of her. Monty chuckled softly, nodding in agreement.

Regulus, sitting next to James, couldn’t help but keep smiling. Despite the nervousness he felt earlier, seeing the way the Potters had embraced Harry—and him—filled him with a warmth he hadn’t felt in years. He relaxed more with every passing moment, letting himself enjoy the sense of belonging that had slowly settled over the evening.

Effie glanced at the two boys and then back at Harry, her tone soft and curious. "Have you thought about what languages you’ll teach him?" she asked, her eyes sparkling. "Do you plan on teaching him to speak Tamil? It’s a beautiful language, and you know your father would love for him to learn it." She smiled warmly, clearly hopeful that her grandson would grow up speaking the language of Montys heritage. "Perhaps Portuguese like me? I'd be happy to help with that one"

Regulus, still gazing fondly at the baby, nodded. "I’d like to teach him French," he said, his voice calm but filled with a quiet kind of pride. "It’s important to me, and I want him to have that part of my heritage. But…" He turned to James, his smile softening. "If James is up for it, maybe he can teach the baby Portuguese and Tamil."

James looked at Regulus, his smile growing even wider. "Portuguese, huh? I think I could manage that." He chuckled, his eyes glinting playfully. "It might take me a bit of practice, but I’ll definitely try. It’ll be great for him to learn so many languages."

Effie beamed at the thought, her hands clasping together in joy. "He’s going to be such a bright little boy," she said, her voice filled with pride. "All these languages, all this culture. He’ll have the best of both worlds."

Monty leaned back in his chair, a soft grin on his face as he watched his son and Regulus, his eyes filled with quiet approval. "He’s lucky to have both of you," Monty said. "You’ll both give him so much."

Regulus’s smile widened slightly, and he looked down at Harry, who was now dozing in James’s arms, his tiny chest rising and falling peacefully. "We’ll do our best," he said softly, more to himself than to anyone else.

The dinner carried on with warmth and laughter, Effie and Monty fawning over Harry whenever they had the chance, and James never letting go of the baby for too long. The room was filled with the sounds of clinking cutlery, gentle conversation, and the occasional soft coo from the baby, all wrapped in the comfort of family and love. For the first time in a long while, Regulus felt truly at home.

James and Regulus spent the next couple of hours hauling all the baby supplies from the Potter home back to James’s flat. The flat, though not small, now felt much more crowded with the sudden influx of baby furniture and bags filled with clothes, toys, and other necessities. They had decided to set up the old crib in the living room for the time being, wedging it into a cozy corner next to the window. The crib, worn from James's own childhood but still sturdy, brought a strange sense of nostalgia and newness at the same time.

"Alright, let's get this crib sorted," James said, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow after they’d finally managed to assemble it. He stepped back, surveying their handiwork while Regulus carefully arranged the bedding.

Harry, who had been fussing, was now starting to get restless. His little face scrunched up as he let out a small wail, signaling that it was definitely time for a bottle.

"I’ll make him a bottle," Regulus said quietly, moving toward the kitchen. James watched him go, feeling a surge of affection at how naturally Regulus had taken to all of this. Who would've thought they'd be here, setting up a crib together, caring for a baby as if they’d always been doing it?

A few minutes later, Regulus returned with the bottle, and they both sat on the floor by the crib. James gently took Harry into his arms, cradling him as Regulus handed over the bottle. Harry drank eagerly, his little hands grabbing at the sides of the bottle, his eyes fluttering closed as he filled his tiny belly.

“Think he’s getting used to us?” James asked softly, his voice low as not to disturb the baby’s peaceful drinking. Regulus smiled, watching Harry’s eyelids grow heavier with each sip.

“Looks like it,” Regulus replied, reaching out to lightly brush a lock of James’s messy hair away from his face. It was a quiet, affectionate gesture, one that neither of them commented on but both felt.

Once Harry had finished, they both stayed close to the crib, each holding one of the stuffies Effie had packed for them. James had a well-worn lion that looked like it had seen better days, and Regulus clutched a small dragon plush, rubbing his thumb over its soft fabric. Harry’s tiny chest rose and fell in rhythm, his little face serene as he finally succumbed to sleep.

"Guess we did it," James whispered, setting the lion plush beside Harry in the crib, his voice filled with a mix of pride and relief. "First night down."

Regulus chuckled softly, setting the dragon down as well. "Barely," he murmured. "But he's peaceful now."

The two of them sat there, their backs resting against the couch, watching Harry for a while in the dim light of the room. The silence was soothing, and the weight of the day—the emotional highs and all the new responsibilities—seemed to settle over them like a heavy but welcome blanket.

Eventually, the fatigue caught up with them both. James’s head lolled to the side, resting against the couch cushion, while Regulus’s shoulder gently slumped against his. Neither moved, the quiet comfort between them too natural to disturb. Slowly, they drifted off, lulled by the soft sounds of Harry’s breathing, both men feeling more at peace than they had in a long time.

They fell asleep like that, side by side on the floor, the soft glow of the streetlights filtering in through the window, casting gentle shadows over their little family.