There's Something There
It has been a week since the wolf attack and James and the Beast have always been in rather close proximity to each other. The Beast, only being fully awake for a couple of hours at a time, but James is always at his side.
James is on his way to his bedroom when he is stopped by Mrs Evans. She rolls up on her trolley.
“Hello love, how are you feeling?” She asks kindly, a warm smile spread on her face.
“Better than I did before,” James begins, then ponders how he should word the next sentence. “Why do you care so much about him?” He asks in the most polite way he can muster up. He doesn’t know if this question is pressing too hard as the Beast is more of a private person, but he hopes with sincerity that it’s ok to ask.
She smiles a genuine smile that instantly makes James feel that much better. “We’ve looked after him his whole life. We’ve had to care for him when everyone left him. He seems all tough and rugged but deep down, he’s been through more than anyone his age should.” She says.
James feels the need to press more, and without thinking, he jumps straight into the deep end and asks, “What has happened?”
Mrs Evans tuts. “Now now, James, that is his story to tell.” And she rolls away on her trolley, leaving James to ponder that interaction. He’s left to worry what the Beast has been through.
Retreating down the hall, he enters the room the Beast lays in. He is fast asleep when James enters, but he looks so peaceful.
The Beast’s lips move ever so slightly, but James can’t make out what he says until he speaks up a bit.
“James?” He asks, sensing the presents of him.
“It’s me.” James reasures and the Beast sports a light smile over his lips. “How are you holding up?” He asks, brushing a hand over his forehead.
“Ok, tired, very very tired. But I’ll be ok.” Then there is tension between what would be the Beast's eyebrows, like he’s pondering something. “You know I haven’t always been this way?” He asks.
James’ lips twitch in excitement as the Beast is opening up to him. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” The Beast confirms. “I was born to my mother and father a human. Cruel people, they were, but I deserved it. Everything they did to me. I hoped that it would make me unlike them, when in reality, I’ve become them.” He says quickly in a breath. “I always had my brother there to protect me, until I didn’t.” A small tear rolls down his eye, but James doesn’t see it. “He came back though, Sirius, he is Sirius, and gosh I love him, he is the best brother anyone could ask for.”
It all clicks into place, Sirius is the Beast’s brother.
“You did not deserve any of that,” James says. “None of the you deserved, Beast.”
The Beast flinches, “Don’t call me that.” He asks. “Call me Regulus. That is my name.”
“Ok, Regulus.” James grins, a funny feeling in his stomach presents itself. Then the room shifts, like some sort of magic took over. Now, James is standing in a room, similar to the one he was in before, but different in so many ways. A man, the same as the one in the portrait, lay in a bed, as a young boy - Regulus - watches him fight for his life.
Then, the man dies. Ever so peacefully and Regulus doesn’t flinch. A stern woman walks into the room - the woman from the portrait - and eyes the dead body. “Deserved everything that came for him. My cousin, my husband, dead.” She says harshly, and then turns to Regulus and grabs him by the wrist with a firm grip and walks out of the room shouting as she walks “Kreatcher, take the man and bury him, he deserves no kind of memorial.”
Then, the room shifts back to how it was before, with Regulus lying in the bed. “That was the day he died. I was 15.” Regulus whispers, “My mother then beat me and starved me for a week. She died the following year. She was murdered.”
“You deserved none of that Regulus. Everything that has ever happened to you, you haven’t deserved.” James comforts him.
They proceed to sit in silence for a couple of minutes until Regulus speaks up. “James?” He asks, James hums to show he’s listening. “If you could go anywhere in the world, right now, where would you go?” He asks.
James thinks about it for a second. He could say many things like the biggest library in the world or his dads house, but there is something nagging him. Somewhere he knows he wants to go. Colombia. That is where his mother Euphumia was born, where James was born, and where she died.
“Colombia.” James answers. Then the room begins to morph again. This time ending up looking like a small apartment. It's cosy and cheap, but it reminds James of home.
“What is this place?” Regulus’ voice distracts him.
“It is where my mother passed. This is the house I lived in.” On the wall, there is a small family photo with his mum, dad and himself as a one year old. “She passed after people broke into our house, they shattered that window.” James points to the broken window that has dried blood all over the floor. “Mother told dad to take me and run, so he did. She died protecting us.” James says sadly.
He feels large hands wrap around him and realises Regulus is hugging him. “You did not deserve that.” He comforts.
“No one deserves anything they go through, and yet, here we are.”
***
Over the course of the next couple months, James and Regulus stay close to each other. Everyone noticed a difference. Even Harry - who's now asking if they are in love - has noticed.
Regulus showed James his library. His most sacred possession, and trusted him with it.
Barty, Lily and Remus often find themselves in conversation with James about the curse. None of them ever tell him how it can be broken. They don’t want to force it.
They’ll go on walks and share meals. They are close. And they all know that there's a great chance that James will be the one to break the spell.
“Lily!” Barty calls proudly. “Look out the window.” Lily turns and looks out the window, spotting James and Regulus huddled close together. Reading.
There is something there.” She states happily.
Remus waddles into the room, a mad look sporting his face. “You two never involve me. I’m always left out, and I want to be involved in these two getting togeth-” He cuts himself off when he looks outside the window. “There is something there.” He smiles joyfully.
***
Barty and Remus commence in a weekly chess game. However, this week Barty suggests they play in a new room, for a change of scenery. Remus agrees, so that's where they are now. Barty leads Remus to a room.
They end up outside James’ bedroom. Remus stands there confused.
“Ah shit, Remus.” He exclaims in a fake manor. “I forgot the chess board. You know what, go inside and set up and I’ll get the board.” And he quickly runs away.
Remus knows what Barty’s intentions are, but he can’t bring himself to care, as he is utterly head over heels for the person in the room.
He enters, and notices quite quickly it’s set up in a nice way, like it is awaiting people to have a date.
As Remus looks around he spots Sirius, and he takes his breath away. Sirius is one of the most beautiful people he’s seen. Ever. Even as a wardrobe.
“Sirius,” Remus whispers.
Sirius smiles at him. “Remus,” He greets. “You look lovely. I cannot wait for the day you are human once again.” He hands a rose, the best he can to Remus while being a wardrobe. “I thought I’d ask, once we make it out, would you like to go on a date?”
Remus almost doesn’t know how to answer. He is too blown away. So all he does is nod. “I’ll kiss you one day.” Remus informs.
“And I’ll let you.” Sirius confirms.
They here a squeak of excitement and they turn around to see Evan, Pandora, Barty, Lily and Harry all outside. When they see that they've been caught, they cheer for them.
***
As Harry is being rolled to bed, he turns to Lily and asks her. “Mama? You keep saying there is something there. About Reggie and James. Whats there?”
Lily smiles at him warmly with love. “I’ll tell you when you are older.”
“But I am older.” He persuades.
Lily contemplates before saying. “One day, sometime soon, you’ll be a boy again. And you’ll become one because of that boy Regulus is very close with.”
Harry smiles brightly. Lily knows it is dangerous sharing this, but she is confident in her answer.
***
Regulus and James sit together as James reads to him. Both James and Regulus love to read, but they haven't yet read each other's favourite novels yet.
“Do you like it?” James asks, closing the book.
Regulus shakes his head in search of an answer. “It is utterly beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.” He decides on.
“And that’s why it is my favourite. We are still yet to start yours.” James says, pointing to the book by the table. The one known to be Regulus’ favourite.
“We will read it one day. Sometime soon. Maybe when I’m not a Beast.” Regulus answers. He clears his throat and changes the topic. “You are one remarkable reader, you know that?”
“That’s quite kind of you to say.” James smiles. “Some people in my village call me weird…Because I read.”
Regulus has a look of utter disbelief on his face. “Well they are wrong.”