The Rose
The staff of the castle excitedly scramble to get ready for dinner. Lily’s son rides his saucer like a skateboard, towards his mother.
“Mama! There is a boy in the castle.” He says with joy.
“Yes Harry, we know. Now slow down.” Lily chuckles.
Harry just gets more excited. “Is he pretty? Is he nice? What kind of tea does he like?” He rants.
“We will find out soon enough.” Lily smiles. “Now slow down before you break your handle.” She says sternly.
Harry doesn’t slow down, but before Lily can chase him, hot water is poured into her to prepare tea.
“Heads up, Lily.” The French chef turned oven warns.
Lily reacts warmly as the hot water is poured into her.
—
Regulus enters the dining room, sitting at one end of the table where his food is laid out. He looks up to spot another meal set out at the other end of the table, and the middle of the table set up with romantic candles.
He swats his plate onto the floor and gets up to go into the kitchen.
Barty, Remus and Lily pretend like they weren’t watching the whole thing when Regulus comes in.
“Be calm.” Barty whispers to Remus and Lily. “And let me do all the talking.”
Regulus walks in fuming, and looks down at the three of them. “You were making him dinner?” He shouts.
Barty tries to calm him down. “We thought you might enjoy the company.”
Remus can’t hold it in and begins to tell him everything. “Master, I can assure you that I had absolutely no part in this hopeless plan. Preparing a dinner, showing him to his room or giving him a room in the east wing.”
“You wanted to go see, Sirius.” Barty says under his breath.
“You gave him a bedroom?” He shouts, angry, walking closer to Remus.
“No no,” Remus clears up, “He gave him a room.” He points to Barty.
Barty rolls his eyes. “That is true. But if the boy is the one who could break the spell, maybe you could start by using dinner to charm him.” He turns to Remus. “Good thinking Remus.”
“What?” Remus asks, confused.
“That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. ‘Charm the prisoner’.” Regulus says in refusal.
“You must try, master.” Barty begs. “With every passing day, we become less human.” He gestures to his candle hands.
“First of all, he might not even be gay. Second, he is the son of a common thief. What kind of person do you think that makes him?” Regulus lists off.
“Oh, Regulus. You can’t judge people based on who their parents are.” Lily states.
It’s a loaded statement. Lily knows. She prepares herself for his retaliation, instead, he grunts and turns away.
“Why I think that went well!” Barty declares.
***
James hears an aggressive knock come from the bedroom door. James decides to not answer willing the person at the door to go away. Instead he hears a voice.
“You will join me for dinner.” A harsh voice says. It’s the Beast. “And that is not a request.”
James hears a new voice on the other side of the door, one of a woman. “Gently, master. The poor boy has lost his father and his freedom all in one day.” She tries to soothe
Then he hears the recognizable voice of Barty. Flair and all. “Yes. The poor thing is probably in there, scared to death.”
“Exactly.” the woman agrees.
James nervously calls out, his voice cracking, “Just a minute.” The truth is, the Beast intimidates him.
“You see? There he is. He hasn't gone anywhere.” Barty says, as if James can’t hear him. “Now master, remember. Be gentle.” That Beast could never be gentle. James thinks.
“And kind.” The woman's voice perks up.
“Charming.” Evan adds on.
“Sweet.” Remus completes.
James snorts. These are all things he’s sure the Beast can’t feel.
“Do they really think we can’t hear them?” Sirius asks. “They’re a bunch of knobheads if that's what they think.”
James bursts out laughing at what Sirius said then pretends it was him coughing. The Beast grunts, likely from the laughter coming from the otherside of the door.
“Now, master, when he opens the door, give her a dashing smile and ask politely if she would like to come for dinner.” Barty says, the unmistakable flair gracing his tone.
The Beast raises his voice so James can hear him better. “Will you join me for dinner?” He asks in a polite manner that James thought he wasn’t capable of.
Sirius rolls his eyes and turns the best he can, because he’s a wardrobe, towards James. “Does he really think that’ll work? He’s taken you as a prisoner, he’s got to wait it out.” He complains.
James gets up off the bed he was sitting on and moves closer to the door, so the people on the other side can hear him better.
“You have taken me as a prisoner and expect me to have dinner with you? Give me a break, it’s not happening.” James says as strong as he can. He doesn’t want his voice to break and show the Beast how weak he really is.
Silence is all that is heard. Then heavy breathing.
“He’s losing it.” Evan whispers.
The Beast bangs a paw heavily on the door three times that causes James to jump away in fear and distress.
“I told you to come to dinner.” The Beast shouts.
James has to gather confidence before replying. “And I told you no!” He says strongly. “I’d starve before I’d ever eat with you!”
“Well, be my guest. Go ahead.” He grits. “And starve.”
“Yeah, he told you no, calm down Reggie.” Sirius shouts loud.
The breathing gets heavier and the banging on the door picks up. Louder. “Don’t. Call. Me. Reggie.” The Beast all but screams, rapping a paw on the door one more time. Heavy footsteps are heard retreating. “If he doesn't eat with me.” The Beast says, voice still harsh, “He doesn’t eat at all.”
James is mad after the conversation, but one thing is on his mind. He turns around to Sirius and asks, “Reggie?”
Sirius laughs lightly. “I forgot how much he hated it.” Sirius looks up and clears his throat. “A nickname, from when we were younger. He loved it then, but cause he hates me now, he hates it.”
James feels rather sad after hearing this. He wants to press, to know more. But it isn’t any of his business, so he isn’t going to do anything about it.
***
Regulus stomps into the west wing, furious and tired. Days are longer now. He knows they are running out of time, but even he believes he could never find love.
He really does feel bad for shouting at James. When James first entered the castle, he wished that he could be the one. The one who was looking for him his whole life. Like some invisible string connecting them. Turns out, he was only looking for his dad. Like the lovely person he is.
Regulus doesn’t blame him though. If Sirius was lost, he’d go looking for him. He tries to not show that he cares, but he does. And he pretends he doesn’t like the name Reggie, but he does.
He loves Sirius. Misses him too.
Regulus tries not to think about it too much. It still hurts him. Sirius started highschool when Regulus was ten. They were close until Sirius left. Sirius promised that he’d write to Regulus, but he didn’t. It hurt a lot.
When Regulus was in his second year of highschool, Sirius ran away. He couldn’t take the constant abuse and harm their parents would put them through. It shattered Regulus’ heart. Sirius was Regulus’ best friend.
With Sirius leaving, all the pressure was on Regulus. He was the heir to the Royal Black family. He was put through pressure everyday. He couldn’t do it. It was zapping the life and love out of him. His father was harsh, his mother was harsher. And when the King, Orion Black, passed away when Regulus was fifteen, Regulus became the King and Wulburga put the pain that was once on Sirius, on Regulus.
At sixteen, Wulburga unexpectedly passed. She was murdered. No one knows who did it. As soon as she died, Regulus felt a weight release off his shoulders. Sirius must have been alerted, it would’ve been all over the newspapers, because a week after she passed, Sirius came back.
As much as Regulus loved Sirius, he couldn’t show it. He knew his parents brainwashed him. He must’ve turned into them over time. He hates it, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. Even when he was cursed, he felt bad for everyone, except himself. He deserved it.
He still does. Except now there is James.
He wants to be better for James.
Not even a day has he known him and he already feels a strong connection to him. But James could never love him. Could never care for him. A hideous Beast.
Regulus finally calms down and grabs the handheld mirror. It’s a lovely mirror that was once Sirius’. He looks in the mirror and flinches at his reflection. It's hideous.
“Show me James.” He whispers under his breath.
The mirror lights up and shows the beautiful man. Gosh, James is beautiful. When Regulus first saw James, he lost his breath. He’s never seen someone so beautiful. However, amidst James’ face, sadness crosses it. He’s curled up on the floor, eyes watering.
Regulus feels a pang of something. It makes him sad, and have the immediate need to protect. He can’t though, because he’s unlikeable.
The mirror fades and Regulus is left facing his reflection. He lowers the mirror and his eyes line up with a glass jar by an opened window. The jar holds a rose. He wishes that he could view it as beautiful. Except he can’t, because it holds his life in his hands.
The rose is wilting, most of the petals have fallen. Regulus lowers his head. He only holds a small amount of hope. And it lies with James.
A petal falls. Regulus nearly tears up.
***
Barty sands watching the fireplaces crackle, as he feels the floor shake.
“Another petal fell,” Barty says.
“Barty, I’ve grown three more feathers.” Evans complains, landing in Bartys arms.
Barty lets out a sad breath. “I know, my love, I’m getting more metallic every day.” He shakes out one of his legs.
“Oh no its, - Tick tock.” Remus rings like an actual clock walking past Barty and Evan. “It’s happening again - Ding dong - Pardon me.” Remus clears his throat after his fit.
Lily paces after Remus, “Everyone, calm yourselves. We still have time.” She tries to calm everyone.
Harry runs into the room after her. “Mama, am I ever gonna be a boy again?”
“Yes Harry,” Lily comforts. “You will have your days in the sun again, just you wait.” She smiles.
***
James is curled up on the floor crying, when he hears a knock on the door.
Rubbing his eyes and clearing his throat, he answers, “I told you to go away.”
“Don’t worry, dear, it’s only Mrs Evans. There is nothing to worry about.” A soothing voice comforts. A tea pot and tea cup roll into the room on a cart. “Oh aren’t you a vision, how lovely it is to make your acquaintance.” Mrs Evans smiles warmly.
She looks at James and notices that he’s been crying. She frowns. “Oh, lovely. You have been crying. Nothing a spot of tea can’t fix.” She tips over to pour tea into the small cup who then wheels slides down over to James. It brings a grin to his lips. “Slowly now Harry.” She warns.
James brings up the cup - Harry - off the floor and to his lips tasting the pretty flavours of the tea. It’s warm and lovely.
“Pleased to meet you!” Harry greets loudly. “I’m Harry. Wanna see me do a trick?” He asks, hope and joy behind his young eyes.
James nods eagerly and watches as Harry blows the tea he’s holding into a bubble, and then the bubble pops, making James laugh.
“Harry,” Mrs Evans warns. “It was very brave what you did for your father.” She turns to James.
Sirius swings open, “It was, James. We all think so.”
The mention of his father makes him sad. “Well, I am worried about him, he’s never been on his own before.”
“Cheer up, love. Things will turn out in the end.” She winks. “You’ll feel a lot better after dinner.”
James laughs in disbelief. “But he said, ‘If she doesn’t eat with me, then he doesn’t eat at all.’”
“People say a lot of things in anger. It is our choice whether to listen.” She looks down in a motherly manner. It makes James miss his mother. “Come on.” She smiles. Then, Mrs Evans is out the door and James turns to Sirius.
“Go.” He reasures.