“Regulus these are my mates, James, Peter, and Remus,” Sirius said to Regulus pointing towards three drastically different boys. Regulus technically knew who they were, but Sirius insisted on proper introductions.
“Hello Regulus, it’s nice to meet you,” James waved. Peter simply nodded in agreement. Regulus looked over to the third boy.
“I’ve heard lots about you Regulus, I’m glad to be able to learn if the rumors finally are true,” Remus smirked, his voice was deep and husky. And the sound of that beautiful voice made something twist inside of Regulus and his knees grow weak. Regulus’ face reddened.
Regulus opened his mouth to respond to Remus, but to his horror, no words came out. Regulus snapped his jaw shut with a click, feeling stupid.
Sirius groaned. “Reggie be nice to my friends, even though you don’t like them, it doesn’t mean you can’t be respectful,” they complained. Regulus rolled his eyes.
Regulus didn’t dislike his sibling’s friends—mostly Remus—he just hated his voice. Remus somehow managed to make Regulus lose all control over his voice.
“It’s okay Pads, it’s not like you’re nice to his friends,” Remus told his friend. Regulus didn’t even register what Remus was saying, just that voice, that made Regulus ache.
~~~~~
That same night he met Remus, Regulus found himself irritatingly awake at midnight. His thoughts were invaded by Remus. His voice, his smirk. Regulus grits his teeth and tries (unsuccessfully) to force himself to stop thinking about Remus.
One sleepless week later, and Regulus could no longer deny that he had a horribly embarrassing crush on his sibling’s friend.
~~~~~
The next time Regulus saw Remus was in potions class the morning after his horrible realization.
After two weeks of finishing his potions with the precision and speed of a skilled potions master, Professor Slughorn moved Regulus into the seventh-year class.
Remus was at the front of the room facing away from Regulus. He saw Remus’ wavy hair and pretty as—
Regulus shook his head willing those thoughts to go away.
Remus suddenly turned around and walked over to Regulus. He froze up, praying to Merlin and Morgana that Remus wouldn’t talk to him.
“Hey Reg, Sirius told me you were smart, but I had no idea you’d be moved from your years class to mine,” Remus chuckled. That compliment, and that laugh— god that laugh, were just a recipe for Regulus’ demise. He ached. Regulus’ face reddened once more.
Regulus didn't think there was any world where Remus returned his feelings. Who would even want to be friends with their best friend’s little brother?
Regulus blanked out, and Remus was walking away, he didn’t even know what he said that made him leave.
Regulus couldn’t say a word for the rest of the class. It felt like Remus’ eyes were on him, yet every time he looked Remus was looking in the opposite direction.
Even when every part of Regulus itched to answer a question, the words wouldn’t come.
When class was nearing its end Regulus felt a paper ball hit his head. Regulus uncrumpled it and read the note.
Reg,
Study at the library at 6:00 today?
Remus,
The note was simple and the handwriting was nearly illegible but Regulus couldn’t help the way his heart skipped.
Merlin how could Regulus say no?
He can’t.
Remus,
It would be my pleasure to join you in the library to study.
R.A.B.
Regulus neatly folded his message and discreetly threw it at the table next to his where Remus sat.
Regulus heard Remus’ deep rumble and grew weak, and his face reddened. Regulus could no longer resist looking over and sure enough, Remus was looking at him. It felt to Regiulus like life was just working against him.
‘Posh’ Remus mouthed and Regulus’ face went even redder than he thought possible.
Regulus was so confused about Remus’ feelings towards him.
~~~~~
Regulus was at the library nearly an hour before he needed to be.
He couldn’t help his nerves. Regulus hadn’t even said anything to Remus yet, how was he going to study with him?
Before Regulus could more thoroughly panic he decided to start studying without Remus. Regulus spent most of his free time in the library, it was almost always empty. Most of the Hogwarts population refuses to spend time in the library lest someone think that they actually care about their education.
Reading has always calmed Regulus’ panic, even when his mind is too scrambled to truly read the words, just the monotone process always grounds him. He can get so lost in the book that he doesn’t even notice the passing of time or someone approaching him.
“Reg? Got started without me?” Remus’ baritone startled Regulus from his book. Regulus must’ve visibly been shocked because Remus chuckled and took the seat across from Regulus.
“Uh… sorry…” Regulus murmured his voice no more than a squeak. Remus somehow heard.
“It’s fine,” Remus smiled. Remus’ smile was crooked and awkward, like he was unused to doing it, logically Regulus shouldn’t find it attractive, but he is a very weak man. Remus started pulling out his books, and Regulus jolted remembering why he was there in the first place.
The two made an odd pair, anyone from an outside view wouldn’t even think they were studying together. They seemed like they had too many differences to ever get along; Regulus was shorter than average, and Remus was obscenely tall, Regulus was Slytherin and Remus was Gryffindor. The list could go on.
Remus and Regulus have a quiet understanding. They don’t need to say anything to know.
The entire study session is spent in complete silence. Neither boy utters a word.
Suddenly Remus got up and started to put his stuff away in a panicked fashion. Regulus frowned up at him.
“I forgot about my prefect duties,” Remus hurriedly answered to Regulus’ confusion. “You should head to your dorm Reg, curfew is soon,” he added running out
Regulus sat at the table for a moment before realizing how close to curfew it was and quickly putting his stuff away to leave.
~~~~~
The next day in potions class Regulus thoroughly embarrassed himself.
Remus had to get up and get something from the storage room the seventh years were permitted to use the storage room freely. Before Regulus knew it he was standing up to follow. He didn’t even need anything. Dorcas who was Regulus’ potions partner looked at him confused. Regulus quickly realized and hurriedly sat back down blushing furiously. Why does Regulus follow him everywhere?
“Reg?” Dorcas asked. Regulus couldn’t bring himself to face her, choosing to instead wallow in his own self-pity. “You like Lupin,” Dorcas didn’t even say it as a question. Regulus sighed but nodded. Regulus heard a gasp from behind him. He quickly turned around already knowing the only person in the room who could and would gasp like that was his own sibling.
Sure enough, Sirius had a disgusted look painted clearly on their face, and they had their hand covering their mouth. Sirius let their hand fall and their mouth was open in shock.
“You have a crush on one of my best mates?” Sirius said sounding a mix of disgusted, horrified, and shocked. Regulus blushed deeply. They scoffed. “Oh, you do,” Sirius’ face twisted in disgust. Regulus turned back around. He was already obvious, but now Sirius would surely tell Remus.
~~~~~
“Reg, will you please stop moping and come with me to the Gryffindor party,” Dorcas asked Regulus. A muffled ‘no’ comes from the pile of blankets on Regulus’ bed. “Please,” Dorcas pleaded. “We’ll leave as soon as you ask,” she added before Regulus could say no again.
Regulus stuck his face out of his bed covers. “Fine, but I swear to Merlin we will leave as soon as I say so,” Regulus grumbled. Dorcas went to go and hug her friend.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She squealed. Dorcas released Regulus and pulled him up with her. Dorcas looked Regulus up and down. “You need to change,” she frowned.
~~~~~
That is how Regulus found himself in an uncomfortable outfit wanting to murder his friend. As soon as Regulus and Dorcas showed up Sirius and James were all but sprinting up to them hand in hand.
“A little birdie told me that one Regulus Black has a crush on Gryffindor’s casanova,” James smirked. Sirius laughed. Regulus’ face turned red in an instant and he silently prayed that no one could see in the darkness.
“It’s okay Reggie, Remus said he would never make fun of you for it,” Sirius laughed, seemingly over their previous shock and disgust. This statement alone confirms Regulus’ worst fears, Remus knows. After no one said anything else Sirius seemingly got bored. “Alright well I’m gonna go make out with Lils, wanna come James?” they clapped their hands. James nodded eagerly and the pair were off.
“Can we leave?” Regulus asked Dorcas quietly.
“No, we’ve barely even been here ten minutes Reg,” Dorcas responded dragging Regulus into the crowd. Regulus groaned.
~~~~~
Regulus wouldn’t say he’s necessarily having fun, but he’s not not having fun. That is until 11:30 when Pandora returns from wherever.
“Reg! C’mere,” Pandora ran up to Regulus. She quickly pulled her wand out of her pocket and said a spell Regulus couldn’t hear due to the intense volume of the party.
Regulus looked down at his feet and he was left in his stupid frilly socks that were covered up by his shoes. Pandora laughed and ran off into the crowd.
“Damn it Pandora! Not fucking again,” Regulus groans in annoyance.
Regulus followed her and soon lost her. When he finally made it out of the dense crowd he was in front of the steps leading to the boys’ dorms. Regulus walks up the stairs and in front of a dorm labeled ‘Seventh-Years’.
Regulus checks the time: twelve o’clock. Regulus can hear Remus’ voice coming from the inside, the door is unlocked, so Regulus walks in.
Remus is lying in his bed no one else is in the room, and it seems as though Remus isn’t talking. It was just Regulus’ sick and twisted imagination.
Remus looks up. “Reg?” he asks. “What are you doing here,” Remus continues standing up and making his way towards Regulus, he cups Regulus’ jaw with his hands, and the latter’s breath hitches.
Regulus looked up at Remus, and he never even noticed their height difference before. Regulus knows he’s short, he always has been, but he never realized how tall Remus was.
“How tall are you?” Regulus is asking before he can stop himself. Remus chuckles and the sound alone makes Regulus’ knees wobble.
“About six-three,” Remus said, and he said it so calmly like that's normal.
Merlin, it pisses Regulus off. “How the fuck is that fair!” He shrieks. Remus laughs deeply and his hands fall from Regulus’ face. Regulus misses the warmth they brang immediately.
“You’re what, five foot?” Remus asks, and Regulus is positively fuming.
“Fuck off! I’m five-two!” Regulus yells angrily. Remus laughs and moves forward to grab Regulus’ face again.
“Love, that’s still over a foot shorter than me,” Remus squishes Regulus’ pouting face. Regulus turns into a tomato at the pet name.
They stay quiet for a beat just staring into each other.
“Am I coming on too strong my star?” Remus asks. And Regulus gives him a confused look. Remus chuckles softly. “Is it not obvious? I like you Reg,” he smiles that awkward smile of his.
“Kiss me,” Regulus whispers like he didn’t mean for Remus to hear. Remus leans in, and Regulus closes the gap.
The first touch of their lips is like Regulus’ whole body is set on fire. Remus’ lips are chapped and warm. The taller boy bites down lightly on the shorter’s lip. Regulus moans. Remus uses his tongue to pry open Regulus’ lips. The first touch is electric. Remus groans. Eventually they break apart for air.
“Fuck,” Regulus breathes. Remus laughs, and goes in to start kissing Regulus again. Regulus panics and stops the older boy.
“What’s wrong Reg?” Remus asks concern lining his face. Regulus closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, he has to do this.
“I’m uh… I don’t have… uh you know,” Regulus cringes at his vagueness. Remus looks confused for a moment before understanding dawns on his face.
“That’s perfectly fine love, you’re still the prettiest boy I’ve ever had the pleasure of breathing near,” Remus says softly. Regulus’ already red face somehow gets redder, and his knees go weak. “Have people given you shit for it?” Remus asks with a furrow in his brows.
“No… I’ve never told anyone except my brother, and Barty,” Regulus answers quietly.
“Thank you for feeling comfortable enough to tell me love,” Remus smiles softly. Regulus can’t help but press a soft kiss to the older’s mouth. Remus smiles brighter than before.
The pair just stare into each other for a few long moments in comfortable silence. “Hey love, do you want to go out on a date with me,” Remus asks.
“Yes,” Regulus breathes. Remus kisses Regulus deeply.