Thin White Duke

James felt amazing as he and Sirius walked back into the house. The run through the forest as Prongs and Padfoot had been exactly what he needed. Now he could smell freshly baked bread, bacon, quiche and Cornish pasties. 

The rest of the household had congregated in the warm spacious kitchen helping to make and serve lunch. Pots of tea and coffee were already on the large wooden table along with an assortment of condiments.  

“Wow.” Sirius said appreciatively “Whoever baked this feast gets my unclaimed heart.”

“Unclaimed?” Growled Remus coming up behind Sirius and wrapping him in a wolf hug which pinned his arms to his sides. 

“Hmm. Okay. You may need to share food and what’s left of my heart with the wolf man here.” Sirius amended, loving the feeling of Remus against him. 

“It was Winnie.” Lily laughed “She almost frightened Tara and Willow to death, turning up in the kitchen this morning with enough food to feed a small army.” 

“Oh. Winnie and Effie got my love when I was sixteen and handed me my very first homemade hot chocolate. Sorry Lover.” Sirius said as he dropped a kiss on a wiry muscled arm holding him in place. 

Remus rumbled a chuckle. “Fair enough. Their cooking and hot chocolates are hard to beat. Just don’t tell my Mam.” 

With the table set, the merry band set to demolishing as much as they could. It wasn’t long before they had slowed enough to start talking again. They were still chatting when Pandora and Regulus walked in. 

“Before you say anything we did knock and ring the doorbell.” Regulus said mildly 

Remus hid his grin at the look of indignation on Sirius’s face. He had known they were at the front door, but decided this would be far more amusing. The look Remus got from Regulus told him that Regulus knew this as well. ‘Clever kid.’ He thought. ‘Imagine what he’d be like if he ever got away.’

“Any tea left?” Pandora asked slipping in beside Lily.  

“Here. I made an endless pot.” Lily said flushing ever so slightly and handing Pandora a cup. 

Regulus hid his smile at the obvious connection between the two young women behind his habitual icy facade, as James made room for him at the table. 

“So what did you get up to last night?” James asked as nonchalantly as he could manage. Watching Regulus walk in looking immaculate and unaccountably sexy in his trademark black shirt and jeans had made James’s heart do stupid things and almost rid him of all the calm he’d managed to regain that morning. Instead he focused on the amazing run he’d had with Padfoot. Happy once more he met the ever so slightly amused silver-blue gaze. 

“Not a lot. Why?” Regulus said smoothly 

“I thought I saw you at the pub.” James said

“Me? At a muggle pub? Oh Potter. Please.” 

“Got a point there. Lord Black would never deign to drink with the lower classes.” Sirius butted in thumping his brother on the arm. “Regulus on the other hand could probably be persuaded. Hey. That’s an idea. Let’s go check out one of the other pubs tonight, and then the last one tomorrow night.” 

“A muggle pub pubcrawl. Joy.” drawled Regulus as he glanced at Pandora who nodded imperceptibly. “Oh why not.” He conceded. “We can go wherever you like brother.” 

Sirius laughed and threw an arm around Regulus. Regulus flinched but said nothing. Sirius had always been more affectionate and who knew when he would be willing to hug his little brother again. 

The afternoon passed with a mix of raucous laughter as James introduced Willow and Tara to exploding snap, and tense anticipation when Remus challenged Regulus to a game of chess. 

“Why..” started Willow

“Shhh” whispered Sirius as James took his place as referee. 

Willow looked at Lily clearly confused. Lily beckoned Americans out into the hall.  “It’s a bit of a grudge match.” She said quietly. “Regulus was his house champion for several years, while Remus was our house champion when we were in seventh year, the only year he beat another friend Peter to represent the house. The two houses hate each other. That never really changes even when school finishes. James is referee because grudge matches have been known to get a little violent. Best to stay still and silent. And duck occasionally.”

‘Weird, but okay’ Tara thought as they followed Lily back in to the sitting room.  

Forty minutes later, when she had nearly been hit by a flying bishop and Willow was sporting a quite spectacular bruise from where a rook had slammed into her, Tara had modified her weird to downright insane. No chess game she had ever seen got this violent even between hot headed contestants.  The game continued. Lily cast a shielding spell. Remus and Regulus were down to their last three pieces each. The sitting room was a mess. Tara found her hand gripping and being gripped by Willow, and when she looked at Lily noticed that Lily and Pandora were the same. 

“Does it always get this tense?” She asked in a whisper. 

Lily shook her head. This was beyond anything at school. “What’s going on?” She whispered to Pandora 

“Not sure. Have these two played against each other before?” Pandora replied 

“No. Remus beat Severus Snape in seventh year. Regulus won his year against Sam’s younger sister Tash.” Lily said, then a moment later “Regulus never finished school did he?” 

Pandora shook her head. Lily felt her eyes well up. Seventh year had been so much fun. The best of all. Maybe that's what this was about.  All she had ever wanted was to settle down after school not get thrown into a war which killed the love of her life, almost killed her best friends on several occasions, and did kill hundreds of others over the years. 

“Or they both just hate to lose.” Pandora said. Lily had to smile. That was definitely more likely. 

The games came to a screeching halt. Literally. With both kings and two pawns left the kings had simply surged forward and were now screeching at each other while pawns beat a hasty retreat, relieved to be still in one piece. 

“It’s a draw.” James announced when it was clear neither king would back down. “Remus, Regulus, pick up your kings, shake hands and let’s go drinking.” 

Remus and Regulus looked at each other for a long moment. A bond begun in battle a few nights before, and affirmed on Halloween, strengthened. With a nod to each other, they reached out and picked up their kings. 

“Well played Lord Black.” Remus said formally, holding out his hand.

“Well played Mr Lupin.” Regulus responded, taking the proffered hand. ‘Firm. Dry. A man who knows his own strength with no need to display it to all.  Excellent choice brother.’ he thought. 

Lily dropped her shield. “That was intense. You’d think it was world war three on a chessboard.” She said surveying the room. “We need to get this place back to its normal state before we go anywhere.” 

Instantly wands were produced. Willow watched in fascination as the various chess pieces were put back together, lamps and ornaments which had become collateral damage were repaired; and upended furniture returned to their regular positions. Within a few minutes the room was as spotless as when the chess game had begun.  “No wonder you looked so unconcerned about stuff going everywhere and getting broken when tidying up is so easy. We totally need something like this. My magic is good but this is so practical.” She said in wonder. Tara agreed wholeheartedly. 

The sitting room back to its normal neat state the group dispersed until it was time to go out.  Lily and Pandora remained in the room talking quietly on one of the couches. Willow, Tara, Sirius and Remus disappeared to their rooms. James automatically cast a silencing spell and shrugged at Regulus’s quizzical expression. “Better safe than sorry.” James said. 

“Are they really that loud?” Regulus asked curiously. 

James nodded and then grinned. “I think it’s a bit of a competition sometimes. Who can make the other come the loudest.” 

“Is there a winner?” Regulus couldn’t work out of he was fascinated or mortified 

“I’m not game enough to find out.” James admitted. “You’re welcome to ask if you really want to know.” 

Regulus shuddered slightly. “No thanks.” He said as James headed into the kitchen. 

“Want a cup of tea?” James asked, breaking the awkward silence that had fallen with Regulus standing in the doorway. 

“That would be lovely. Thanks.” Regulus said, more formally than he’d intended. 

“Ah Lord Black. Do come in and have a seat.” James said mockingly

“Oh shut up Potter.” Regulis said snarkily, taking a seat at the table. 

James laughed. He couldn’t believe that Regulus was here with him. It was exciting and scary and he had no idea why. Whistling absentmindedly James took down two mugs and dropped a tea bag into each of them. “Black or white?” He asked as the kettled boiled.  

“Is that invitation Potter?” 

James blushed. “Milk or no milk.”

“Ahh. In that case tan.” Regulus smirked as the blush deepened. 

An image of the tall blonde with a tan he’d seen last night flashed through James’s mind. Was that what Regilus meant? He wondered, making the tea and floating the mugs over to the table before he set the milk and sugar out on the table. No. 

Regulus poured a splash of milk into his mug. “Tan.” He said feigning innocence. 

James grinned a sense of relief washing over him. “I like mine sweet and milky.” He said stirring in three lumps of sugar and a fair bit of milk.  

They sat in companionable silence, sipping their tea and watching the more adventurous birds in the back garden brave the light drizzle. 

“Regulus.” James said, turning to face the enigma beside him.  

“Hmmm.” 

“Why are you here?” 

“Would you rather I wasn’t?” 

James shook his head even though Regulus couldn’t see him. “I was ….” He paused, uncertain how to continue “I was … “ he tried again, but the words wouldn’t move from his whirling brain to his now dry mouth. 

“You were?” Regulus prompted. He had a feeling he knew where this was going and absolutely refused to help. 

The words James had hurled at him yesterday morning had hurt more than he was willing to admit to anyone but himself. He knew what he was. He was a cold hearted bastard who lived for no one but himself, loved no one, and no one loved him, who might hurt him. He was a coward for staying in a house full of pain and misery when the brother he had adored, the brother who had always protected him, had been brave enough to leave and begged him to go as well. He was aloof to all who met him, making people believe he was proud of his heritage and cared only for the power that came with his name. He was all those things and so much worse. He’d tortured wizards for information, killed others as he saw fit, stood by as Voldemort murdered muggles and wizards all in the name of power and blood purity. Sure he’d found the sources of Voldemort's long life and finally killed him, but that did not exonerate him from the evil he had committed since he’d left school. Nothing ever could or would. He would live with the nightmares and loneliness, with the disdain and bitterness of a cold-hearted bastard that were the result of his choices. Regulus gazed into the huge, beautiful eyes filled with warmth and remorse and felt a wave of regret that even this beautiful man would not be allowed in. Even if it was all he wanted right now. 

“I wanted to apologise for what I said yesterday.” James stumbled “I lost my temper. I know you come across as mean and icy but … but I believe there is something … something … so much more to you. More than your name, your title, your … your mask. I .. I want … I … “ James stuttered to halt. The despair he saw in the wonderful silver-blue eyes locked with his broke his heart. 

Without thinking, James leant forward and kissed Regulus with all the tenderness and compassion he could. It was so unexpected Regulus froze. James continued to press their lips together ever so gently Regulus found himself melting into the kiss. Letting its warmth fill him even though he knew that nothing could come of it. 

James pulled back. Their eyes locked again. “That …. I … that… “ 

“Oh Potter, do stop stuttering. It does nothing to improve what little intelligence you may have.” Regulus said 

James gave an embarrassed half-laugh. “You are quite a bitch aren’t you?”

“Thought I was a cold hearted bastard.” 

James flushed. “Ouch. I was going to apologise for kissing you, but don’t think I will now.”

“Only if you can do it without stuttering.”

“Kissing or apologising?”

“Both.” Regulus challenged 

“You … You.. “ James started and surged forward to kiss Regulus again, this time with more passion than compassion as Regulus responded in kind. 

The kiss continued until a cough in the hallway reminded them they were not alone. Breaking apart James was pleased to see that the despair in Regulus’s eyes had been replaced with something more akin to hunger. He could only imagine what his own must look like. He leant back in his chair and grinned at Regulus who shook his head ruefully. 

“This is not finished Potter.” Regulus said darkly 

“Oh I hope not. I really do.” James grinned and began to lean in once more. 

“Prongs! How many times do I have to tell you. Stop flirting with Reggie. It’s sooo not his thing.” Sirius said as he followed Remus into the kitchen.  “I don’t even think you’re his type. Do you even have a type?” he asked Regulus after a moment. 

Remus winked at Regulus over the top of Sirius’s head. ‘Of course he knows. Too bloody smart for his own good.’ Regulus thought more amused than anything else. ‘Glad he’s on my side in this.’

“No idea. Never really thought about it.” Regulus drawled. 

“Never thought about what?” Asked Lily walking in and heading straight for the kettle. 

“His type.” Answered Sirius oblivious to the embarrassed flush James was sporting. 

“I’m sure he has one. Just needs to find it.” Pandora continued sliding in beside Regulus and kissing his cheek. “Thank you.” She said quietly taking his hand and squeezing gently.

Regulus squeezed back “I’ll be gone in the morning. Look after him.” He said softly. Pandora nodded and smiled sadly before brightening up as Lily handed her a mug of tea. 

“Hey. Maybe Pandora’s his type.” Sirius announced, staring at the two talking quietly together. 

“Or maybe not. Still hard to tell.” Remus replied as Sirius completely missed the glare he got from James. 

“She might be his but is he hers?” Lily said taking a seat at the table 

“Good point. He’s far too skinny to be attractive.” said Sirius, studying the angular face and lean body of his brother. 

“You know I’m sitting here right?” Regulus said all ice again. 

James sighed and went to make himself another mug of tea. ‘Bloody hell Sirius. I do love you but you can be terribly insensitive at times.’ He thought ‘ Still two steps forward three steps back is only one step to overcome.’ He cheered himself up with the thought of how he might overcome that step. 

The kitchen settled into a comfortable silence as the six of them drank tea and nibbled on the cakes James found in the cupboard thanks to Winnie. It was early evening by time Willow and Tara joined them and the decision was made to grab fish and chips on the way to the pub.