“I want to marry you!” He shouted the words bleeding out of the tower as he said them. Tears fell freely down his face. “I want to marry you Regulus.” James walked up to Regulus taking his face gently in his hands. Regulus knew James’ hands were the kindest ever to touch his skin. They brought no pain.
“I’m a Deatheater.” He knew it. James knew it. He wouldn’t cry over it. Couldn’t. James cried for him. Like he was ignoring his statement the taller boy continued.
“I want to wake up in the morning with you in my hands. I want to name a cat with you. I want to see you happy every day and know that I’m a part of your smile. I want to do too much with you to care about the mark.” Regulus wanted to cry, they had talked about some of the things James had mentioned, but they had been avoiding talking about the mark. Regulus couldn’t help but allow truths to spill as if James was veritasium.
“I don’t just have the mark, I’ve killed people James. Good people, people who didn’t deserve it. I’ve tortured people. I’ve called people slurs. Treated them as if they were less than human. Got rid of memories that weren’t mine to take. I ended entire families because I could. I’ve cast all three unforgiveables.” He couldn’t stop, he was just remembering everything he had done since he caught the Dark Lord's eye.
“That doesn’t mean you’re unforgivable.”
“Yes, it does!” Regulus looked up from where he was staring a hole into the ground straight into James' eyes, shocked when they held no disgust or fear, which in turn scared Regulus. “I’m unforgivable. Let me be James. I’ll die in this war if I’m anything less.”
“Regulus..” James whispered after a moment, Regulus could see him reaching for his back pocket, in fear he stepped back. James wouldn’t hurt him, but he would hurt a death eater. “No- wait.” His heart dropped to the floor as James dropped to both his knees with a little box in his hands. Regulus let out a sob at the sight of his stupid stupid griffin. “I want to marry you. No matter your past or the future. I will always want to marry you.” He said as he held up the opened box. It was a silver ring with nothing on it but inside it had his initials in it. Not James’ but Regulus’. He looked at James with confusion shining in his eyes. “That ring is for when you want to marry me. I’ll always be yours.”