Chapter 3
“Thank you, Kreacher. There was no need.” Regulus said, removing an earphone from his ear to thank the elf, who had just cleaned the table where he was sitting, with a book open in front of him but not actually paying attention to it, for one of those rare moments.
“Kreacher is happy to be able to lend a hand to Master Regulus.” Replied the elf making a quick bow while the man smiled sweetly at him,
“Do you want to listen to some music? I'm currently listening to a song and I think you might like it, you know? Pandora made me discover it and Luna loves it.”
“Kreacher thanks Master Regulus but Kreacher would rather go to the kitchen and start cooking.”
“Already? Isn't it a little early for dinner?”
“Kreacher wants to make Master Regulus' favorite cookies to wish him good luck for the next game, so that when Master Regulus wants to eat, they're ready. Kreacher knows how much Master Regulus hates being forced to eat.” explained the elf and the man melted into a smile,
“That's very kind of you, Kreacher. Thank you. If you need help or something happens, let me know, okay?”
“Yes, Master Regulus. Kreacher wishes Master Regulus a good rest.” The elf said before heading towards the kitchen, and the man put the headphones back in his ear, while the sound of the violins filled his ears again, closing his eyes for a few minutes.
After a long time though, and after Regulus had fallen into a light sleep, he felt someone tentatively touching his leg, and the boy opened his eyes suddenly, hand flying to his wand, looking around to find Kreacher who immediately took a step back, wand now pointed at him,
“Kreacher is really sorry, but the fifth time Kreacher called Master Regulus' name, Master Regulus didn't respond.”
“Fifth time? I'm sorry, I was—the music was too loud, Kreacher.” The man said, running a hand through his hair tiredly as he took off his earphones and placed them on the table, the phone with the screen facing down as always, the wand now decidedly lowered. “I'm really sorry, Kreacher. Forgive me.”
“Master Regulus must never apologize to Kreacher.”
“I know.” He said softly, “What did you want to tell me?”
“There's been someone at the door ringing for at least three minutes and Kreacher didn't know whether to open since Master Regulus prefers to decide.”
“Yeah.” Regulus said nodding before getting up from his chair and heading towards the door, "Who is it?”
“Kreacher thinks it's Master Benjy.”
“Of course it's him.” Regulus said, opening the door to find himself in front of Benjy, who was leaning on the threshold of the door with a bored look, his usual shirt open one button too many, who immediately looked up at Regulus, smiling instantly.
“Good evening, Lus. Did you sleep well?" The man asked, tilting his head, his hair now covering his light eyes,
“I wasn't sleeping.” Replied back Regulus,
“I know what you're like when you wake up in the morning, Lus.”
“What do you want?”
“Be nice to me.” Said Benjy winking at him “Hi, Kreacher. How are you?” continue the man noticing the elf in the background who bowed,
“Kreacher is fine, master Benjy, thank you for asking.”
“If he treats you badly let me know huh?” The boy said with a smile as Regulus rolled his eyes,
“Master Regulus is perfect like always, master Benjy. Kreacher is very happy to serve him.”
“Thank you, Kreacher.” Regulus said softly before turning to Benjy, “I'll ask again, what do you want.”
“I forgot how grumpy I could be when I first woke up.”
“Okay.” Regulus said as he started to close the door but of course Benjy blocked it with his hand.
“Okay okay, sorry.”
“Speak.”
“I feel lonely.”
“Okay?”
“And I wanted to ask you if you would like to come for a ride with me.”
"I have to—”
“Training is tomorrow, Barty is not here, and I'm sure you don't have to do anything much since you were sleeping a little while ago.” the man interrupted him almost immediately,
“Really?”
“I feel so lonely.” The man said with a pout that had won Regulus over many times in the past.
“You really don't have anyone else?” Regulus asked sighing deeply,
“Nope. I want you.” Benjy said smiling widely realizing that he now had him in his grasp while Regulus rolled his eyes again. “I'll buy you one book.”
“Really.”
“Two books.” Benjy suggested and Regulus thought about it for a moment too long. “Two books and a coffee.” Added then the boy,
Regulus looked at him for a few seconds, before sighing and Benjy smiled satisfied, because he knew it was done. “I want an iced coffee.”
“With caramel. I know what you like, Lus. I was your favorite barista, remember?” Benjy nodded and Regulus sighed again, going back inside to get his jacket,
“I'm going to get an iced coffee and three books—”
“There were two!” Benjy said from outside as Regulus looked up, smiling at the elf,
“—three books and then I’ll be back. Do you want something?"
“Thank you master Regulus, Kreacher is alright.”
“Good. See you later.” Regulus said with a nod, because he was going of course to buy Kreacher something, before also picking up his phone from the table and walking out the door, Benjy waiting for him, a skeptical expression on his face.
“I won't buy you three books.”
Regulus smiled at him, tilting his head. “We'll see, Ben.”
⋆⁺₊⋆ ✩ ☀︎︎☽ ✩ ⋆⁺₊⋆
“Stop it.” Regulus said as Benjy reached out to take another sip from the man’s drink.
“But it's good.”
“Why didn't you take it, then?”
“Because if I hadn't taken this, the brownies wouldn't have been free.” Benjy explained as he gestured to the plate with small, artfully decorated brownies on it and his drink.
“As if you don't have enough money to buy some brownies.” Regulus replied, taking his iced coffee from Benjy's hands and removing the straw that was there.
“The one who has more money of the two is you, Lus. Not me. I had to argue with you every time to pay for dinners or lunches.”
“And I always won.” Regulus replied with a proud tone while Benjy laughed,
“Lus. Please. I let you win because I knew you would pout then, even though I loved your pout. Well, I still do anyway.” The boy said winking at him as he took another sip of Regulus' drink, quickly sticking his straw into the cup and managing to drink a little before it was knocked out from under him.
“I don't pout.”
“You. Regulus Arcturus Black does not pout.”
“Shut up.”
“I didn't say anything.” The man said raising his hands in the air while Regulus threw a crumpled handkerchief at him, making him laugh, only to be interrupted a few seconds later by a little girl who approached them uncertainly, who was looking at a woman, probably her mother, with even more uncertainty in the gaze. Benjy sent a quick glance with clear message to Regulus, who rolled his eyes in response.
“Hi.” The little girl said in a low voice, sending a look to her mother and continuing, “I'm so sorry if I bother you.”
“You don't bother us, dear. We were just having a drink, see?” Benjy said kindly, smiling at her and the girl gained a little more courage,
“I'm a big fan of yours and I was wondering if I could have, obviously if you don't mind and if I'm not bothering you, a photo with you? If obviously that's okay?” The girl said quickly and Benjy nodded smiling, Regulus' phone vibrating on the table at that moment.
“Obviously.” The man said, watching Regulus take the phone out of the corner of his eye, curiously.
Regulus turned on his phone screen and the smile that appeared on his face was quite instant, yes. In fact, it was James who wrote to him, who would have had an important event with his team that evening.
James:my shortyy <3 wyd? I miss you :(
“Lus.” Benjy called him softly with a smile as he got up to go and stand next to the little girl, who was now looking at them with bright eyes.
Regulus:Have you decided to choose violence, Potter?
“Yeah, sorry.” The man said as he quickly sent the message to James and stood up to stand next to Benjy, the little girl who was between them and the mother who took the phone from her hands.
“I didn't know you had a new boyfriend.” The boy then whispered to him, between the smiles, so that the only one who heard him was Regulus who sent him a quick look,
“A new—I don't.” He whispered back to him quickly,
“I know when you're lying. And I can see your smile.” Benjy said instead joking as the woman took the photo and the little girl turned towards them,
“Can I—I mean, hug you? I mean, I know Mr. Black doesn't like that, and I understand it of course, but you, Mr. Fenwick—”
“Of course, dear.” Benjy said pulling her into a hug as he looked at Regulus, who opened his mouth to say something, but the phone's vibration distracted him, only to look down at it and fight a smile after reading the message,
James:but you are my shorty, Reg :( You didn’t miss me? :(
Regulus:stop calling me that.
James::((
Regulus:it was weird to wake up without your messy hair in my face.
James:I miss you too <3
Regulus:go and get dressed, James. You'll be late.
James: :(
Regulus:Bye, James.
James: :((
Regulus: <3
James: bye my shorty <33
“Oh shit. You really have someone.” Benjy said in a surprised whisper (and with a little weird tone that the man couldn’t understand) as Regulus looked up from his phone, closing it and observing the little girl watching his friend sign a small piece of paper, which was then given to him to be signed in turn.
“I don't. Really. It was just—Dora, who sent me a photo of Luna.” Explained the man before handing the paper with a smile to the little girl who apologized again and then left and joined her mother running to show her the paper, the woman who nodded to the two men before leaving.
“Do I know him?” asked Benjy even though Regulus thought he dropped the subject as they left the shop, having finished the brownies by grabbing the drinks and finishing them on the way, as they headed towards the bookstore as they agreed.
“No, because there isn't someone.”
“Oh, Merlin. I know him, right?”
“For—”
“Is it someone that I like? Is someone tall? I mean, I like pretty much everyone but—”
“Benjy.” Regulus said in a decidedly different tone and the man stopped in his tracks, understanding the change, because he obviously did.
“Okay.” Benjy said nodding, “If you don't want to talk about it, it's okay.”
“It's complicated, okay? It's—” Regulus said, sighing, “—complicated.”
“Like all your life, am I right?” asked the man affectionately while the other nodded. “We won't talk about it, if you don't want to, but you seem happy Lus. I mean, that smile—I saw that smile years ago when we were together and I'm happy to see it again. Even if I don't know who he gave it to you.”
“You're so poetic, I swear. It's nothing.”
“You don't smile like that for nothing. Can I just ask since when? And then, I'm done. I swear. We have books to buy, anyway.”
“Almost a year, I think?” Regulus whispered and Benjy nodded silently.
“I'm happy to hear it.” He said, giving him an affectionate shove, while the other rolled his eyes, entering the bookshop, which they had managed to reach. “I'm happy that you're,” he gulped quickly “happy.”
“You seem pretty happy too lately.”
“Oh yeah. I'm living my best life right now. Buying books for my ex with an iced coffee in his hands that I want so bad.”
“Three books and an iced coffee.” Regulus agreed, nodding as he headed towards the section he had seen many times before, which had clearly grown since the last time he went there in person.
“I'll buy you three books if I can choose one.”
“Nothing romantic. Please.” Regulus quickly said and Benjy pouted slightly,
“I wasn’t going to do that.”
“I know you were going to do it.”
“I assure you not. In fact, I was about to offer you this.” The man said, bending down to take a book that was at the bottom of the shelves, to hand it to him, the man who was now looking at him from above. “It's new. I heard from friends that it is beautiful, mysterious and weird. Like you.”
“Shut up.” Regulus said hitting him on the head, while Benjy got up from the ground laughing, only to be distracted by something else, his expression now changing, taking on a flat one, the laughter dying out almost instantly. The same one that meant he was thinking of a plan. “What?” asked the man confusedly and Benjy looked at the store around them, to see that they were indeed now being watched by all the customers, who were looking at them excitedly.
“They caught us.” He said, lowering his head so that his hair covered his face, which Regulus also did a few seconds later, to look out of the corner of his eye out of the bookshop, at least two groups of journalists waiting for them enthusiastically, their cameras already pointed at their shop windows, the flash lights that could already be seen.
“Merde.” cursed Regulus as he turned to look for a way out, only to find it. He was feeling sick. Not again. “I can't do that again. We both know what—”
“I have a plan.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Come with me.” Benjy said, heading towards a couple who stopped whispering instantly as soon as they saw him approaching. “And take the book.” He added seeing that Regulus was patching him up.
“Stupid.” replied the man but still didn't put it down.
“Hi. I'm so sorry if we disturb you right now.” The man began gently as Regulus positioned himself next to him,
“Really, don't worry Mr. Fenwick.” The girl said as her boyfriend next to her nodded.
“As you can see, there is literally an army outside and Mr. Black and I here, don't have the strength to fight with them.”
“I understand. There's Rita too.”
“Really?” Regulus asked, turning towards the journalists, to see the now familiar blonde hair in the front row. “Merde.”
“Exactly. Merde.” Benji agreed with a terrible French accent that made Regulus smile, “So, we need your help. Do you want to help us? Of course you will get something in return—”
“Certainly. And we don't want anything in return, seriously.”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Allow me at least to invite you to Saturday's match. Everything paid."
“It's okay. What do you need?”
“Um. Your hat. And maybe another one?”
“Wait here.” The girl said as she quickly walked away and the boy handed his baseball hat to Benjy, who put it on his head, even though it was too small. So he picks up his new hat and plops it on Regulus's head, pushing it down to cover his eyes while the man gave a snort of surprise.
“Well, thank you.” He told him making a face as he adjusted it more comfortably and Benjy smiled softly at him, the girl who joined them the next second with another hat and a woman who must have been in her 50s.
“Here. She is the owner. You said there's a back door you can go out of even though that's the only way. We will try to distract the journalists." explained the girl, nodding to the other people in the shop, who had paid attention and nodded instantly.
“Would you do it?”
“Obviously. You will have a few minutes though.”
“They will be enough for us.” Benjy said putting his hat on his head and giving a huge smile to all the people who were actually helping them. “You are all invited to the match. Any problem, mention my name and name today's number.”
“Thank you.” Regulus said sincerely before following the owner as the customers headed out the front door together.
“We haven't run away from journalists in years.” Benjy said reaching him and waving at the woman when she showed them where to exit.
“I hate this so much. Honestly, we are not famous in that way. We're not actors or singers. We just play a sport that we love. They shouldn't—care so much about our private lives. I mean, even if we were actors. It's our private life. I'm so sick of it. Just because I do what I love, I don't want people to—to know my private life. My life.”
“They don't. They'll know what you'll show them. And you can show them anything you want.” Benjy said as he always said, trying to convince the man of what he was saying,
“We both know that among us you're the one who knows how to play with people, Ben.” Regulus said lowering his hat even further as the two got closer and closer to the reporters.
“Oh, that’s a lie. You love playing with the journalists. And trust me. I don't. Just because they didn't ask me my weaknesses, you can call them that, doesn't mean they won't. And I honestly don't know how long I can hang around there.”
“Your—” Regulus began to say curiously but was interrupted by:
“Mr. Black and Mr. Fenwick are over there, not here! Move you idiots.”
“Merde.” Regulus said turning to Benjy who immediately met his gaze, a playful smile on his face.
“Want to run away with me, one more time, Mr. Black?” He asked, giving him his hand, casting a quick glance behind them, Rita in the front row getting closer and closer.
“If you ask me in this way, Mr. Fenwick, how could I say no?” Regulus replied playing along, before grabbing the man’s hand, the book clutched in his other free hand, and starting to run faster and more skillfully than they had in a while.
⋆⁺₊⋆ ✩ ☀︎︎☽ ✩ ⋆⁺₊⋆
“Mr. Potter. Haven't they taught you manners?” A female voice asked with a mock offended tone that James knew all too well.
James turned to his friend with a huge smile “I'm so sorry, Miss McKinnon, I didn't see you.”
“Wrong. Try again.” The woman said, approaching him in a falsely haughty manner again, her blue dress touching her knees.
“You're beautiful, Lee.”
“Better. You're cute too. But you can't still tie your tie.” Marlene replied, moving closer and then taking the tie and re-tying the knot correctly.
“Yeah sorry. I don't usually do it, it’s—well, not me anyway.” James said as the woman looked at him curiously,
“If not you, then who? Perhaps your mystery man?” She said with a lowered tone and a knowing smile on her face,
“Marlene.”
“It's just a fact, Jams.” Said the woman finishing the knot and elegantly fixing it on his white shirt, “How is he? When I will meet him? Know him?”
“Good. He is good. How is Dorcas?”
“Oh, she is doing amazing.” Marlene said with a laugh as the two entered the building, to see in the distance the door which was filled with elegantly dressed people, reporters with their wands pointed at them as microphones and Remus who was talking to Sirius in a low voice in the corner secluded actually waiting for the two of them. “She was supposed to go to the team meeting tonight.”
“Yeah, so I heard.”
“Of course. You know everything about everyone.” The woman said with a half laugh before accepting James' arm and crossing it with hers.
“I don’t. I wish though. I just heard Regulus talk about it at dinner with Remus and Sirius the other day.” And that was true. But of course he knew because Regulus told him.
“Are you ready?” She asked then,
“I was born ready, Lee.”
“Then let's go, Mr. born ready.” The woman told him, as the two had now reached Sirius and Remus, who stopped speaking softly almost immediately when they saw them.
“Is that a smoking, Prongs?” Sirius asked in a surprised tone while James smiled,
“It is.”
“Oh Merlin. Did you finally listen to me? Moony, do you see what I see? Prongs is wearing a smoking.”
Remus looked him up and down before nodding next to Sirius, “You do look good, Prongs.”
“Aw, thanks Moony. You too.” James said smiling widely while Marlene, next to him, cleared her throat imperceptibly,
“You look amazing as always, Marlene.” Sirius said and the woman smiled at him satisfied. “It was implied.”
“Just to be safe.” The girl said as Remus sighed heavily, intertwining his arm with Sirius's when the latter offered it to him,
“I hate these things. Why do I have to do these things?” He complained softly and Sirius rested his head on his shoulder,
“Because that's what a good husband does. And you'll be repaid. Trust me.” Sirius explained to him with a wink, while Marlene patted him on the shoulder,
“That's how you convince Remus to do things like this! I taught you well.” Marlene said in a proud tone as Sirius smiled at her, James laughed and Remus rolled his eyes as the four finally entered.
“Finally! For a moment I thought you weren't coming.” Frank, the captain of the Pride of Portree, said as soon as he saw them.
“When have we ever let you down?” Marlene asked offended as Frank shook his head,
“Yeah, sorry. You're right.”
“And on time. Alice said she was here less than five minutes ago.”
“She did? Of course she did.” Frank said as his wife approached the men with a huge smile, a glass in one hand and another in the other, her brown hair falling on her forehead in soft curls,
“Hi, guys! How are y'all?” She said emphatically as she passed the glass to Frank,
“You look amazing, Al.” Marlene said walking up to her and taking the glass from her hand as the woman sent her an amused look.
“There's no alcohol in that.”
“Ugh. Of course there isn't. Remus?” He asked the woman turning to the man who nodded,
“Coming.” He said, following her towards the bar, leaving Sirius and James with Frank, who promptly grabbed them by the arms and dragged them towards the reporters, who were already ready for questions and who as soon as they saw them approaching pulled out their wands. However, Peter hadn't arrived yet, and strangely Rita wasn't there either, which was definitely unusual.
“I apologize for the delay but Sirius had to do his hair.” James said with a smile as Frank left them with the reporters as he headed towards Marlene and Remus.
“Oi, that's absolutely not true. He was the one who was late, I assure you.”
“He is clearly lying.” James said shaking his head as he quickly took the phone out of his pocket apologizing when it vibrated, while Sirius started answering the first question, which was about something about the last game,
Regulus:I just saw a picture of you in that smoking and I'm wondering if it's really true and you followed my advice.
James:really funny.
Regulus:no, I'm Sirius. You really did what I told you to do?
James:HAHAHA
Regulus:what?
James:I mean, if you are really Sirius…
Regulus:Oh. Stupid autocorrect.
James:okay, that's funny
Regulus:Oh, shut up.
James:no, please. What were you saying?
Regulus:I truly despise you.
James:that “truly” made the difference
“Prongs,” Sirius said, hitting him on the arm, getting his attention. “Were you listening? Who do you write with?” Sirius then asked, lifting his head to see the chat, but James turned off the phone screen with a nervous smile,
“Sorry. What were you saying?”
“Who were you writing with, James?” Sirius asked again as both Marlene and Remus had joined them,
“A friend.” The boy said vaguely as his phone vibrated again.
“A friend. Aren’t all of your friends here?”
“Okay, that's not the truth.”
“It's not?” Sirius asked with a lopsided smile as James patted him on the arm affectionately.
“What were we saying again?” asked James at the same time Peter managed to reach them.
“Thank Merlin, Peter is here.” Remus said as he approached and passed a glass to Sirius, greeting his friend who smiled.
“Good evening guys. Did I miss something?”
“Mr. Pettigrew.” James said nodding at him while Peter smiled before putting the classic professional mask on his face.
“Mr. Potter. Mr. Black.” Peter said in a once again professional and impersonal tone, “How's your evening going?”
“Oh, it's amazing. We are very happy to be here.” Sirius said leaning on Remus as he took a sip from his drink, which almost certainly contained alcohol,
“We were contracted by our beloved Captain Frank, but you know how it is. Very happy to be here.” James added, grinning at Frank, who was on the other side, whispering to Alice and sending him a bored look. “Don't look at me like that.” He said then and Frank rolled his eyes,
“Hi, Frank.” Sirius said raising a hand and waving at him, as if he hadn't spoken to him just now, Peter turned to him and smiled,
“Hi, Frank! How are you tonight?” He asked out loud while Alice laughed softly,
“Everything in order, thank you.”
“Are you sure?”
“100% Pettigrew.” Frank said nodding at the boy as he laughed, turning towards his friends who he was currently interviewing, seeing that Marlene had also joined them,
“Marlene McKinnon. Always stunning.” He said bowing slightly as the woman looked at him with satisfaction, glancing at Sirius and James,
“See? that's how you do it. Good evening, Peter. You're amazing too.” the woman said with a satisfied tone and a huge smile that would make anyone fall in love,
“Nahh. Just a shirt and a pair of jeans aren't great, but thanks. You know I love compliments.”
“And you know how much I love them too.” Marlene said with a laugh as Peter smiled widely at her.
“I know. I was—” Peter began but was suddenly interrupted by a light push, which made him move just a few centimeters, blond hair flying into his face.
“Hello, Peter! Sorry if I interrupted you. Didn't want to.” Rita said with a fake smile turning to Peter for less than a second before turning to the men.
“You already did.” Peter said flatly while Remus half laughed,
“What were you talking about with them?”
“Sorry, Rita, but we were talking to Peter.” Sirius said in a mock apologetic tone as the woman shook her head quickly,
“Oh, I'm so sorry. I just wanted to be the first person to ask you about your personal opinion about your brother and Fenwick.”
“What?” Asked confused Sirius, Peter turned to Rita and then quickly to James who stiffened instantly.
“Oh, you didn't know?” asked the woman tilting her head, a hint of a smile on her face,
“We were talking just about that, actually. So if you—” Peter began interrupting her but of course Rita ignored him, the man now trying to send a signal to Remus, who however was looking at Sirius,
“They were spotted! Just today.”
“They were what?” Sirius asked confusedly as Rita took out her phone. James was breathing faster now, the fingers of his right hand just moving along his sides with a nervous twitch, spotted? As in boyfriends spotted?
“Today?” asked James, trying to sound as calm as possible, but his voice trembled imperceptibly at the end and it was this that caught Remus' attention, who looked away from Sirius and placed it on him.
“So you didn't know. Apparently they are together again.”
“Are they together again? I didn't know. He didn't—” Sirius said uncertainly as a feeling of offense settled in him,
“They are not.” Remus said now looking only at James, while his brain thought quickly, and then understood. He understood how stupid he had been for not understanding what he should have understood before.
“I think they are.” Said Rita showing them her phone, with a photo where Regulus was looking at Benjy, and he was smiling, while Benjy was putting a hat on his head. The same smile that James he knew all too well. The same smile that Regulus would have done as soon as he woke up, his eyes still confused from sleep. And then, another photo where Benjy was on his knees, a book in his hand as he handed it to Regulus who rolled his eyes. And then another photo of Benjy whispering something to Regulus. And then another photo, which obviously, because obviously, was on the front page, where they were holding hands. Holding hands. All of that was wrong. All of it. He should have been there. To hold his hand. To make him smile. Even getting caught by journalists. But he wasn’t. He wasn’t. He was there, instead. James was feeling sick.
But Benjy was there. Of course he was. Benjy was where James should have been. James felt angry now. Honestly, why was Fenwick looking at Regulus like that? Why? With adoration in his eyes? How dare he? Who was he to look at his Regulus like that? Who was he to hold his hand? Who was he to make him laugh? Who was he to be so close to him? He had already had it and lost it. He had lost him. He hadn't been enough because if he really wanted it he would have been, but thanks to Merlin he wasn't. Who was he not to let himself be hit in the face until James felt his nose break under his fingers?
“They are running.” Peter said looking at the photo and turning more to James than to the others, who however only continued to look at the photo, his thoughts that had taken over, “Look at the movement. And then come on, everyone knows they're not back together. Sirius would have known if it had happened. Just because they were holding hands—they were probably doing it to get away from you, Rita. Ever thought about that?” Peter said in a mock-kind, but terribly convincing tone.
Rita looked at him for a few seconds before letting out a laugh. “That was really funny, Pettigrew.”
“I'm really glad that you liked my truth.” The man replied while Remus positioned himself next to James as if nothing had happened, even if in reality there was something. Of course it was something.
“I'm with them. Honestly…Reggie would have told me. Or if not me then Remus, so I really believe there was a mistake. And even if it hadn't been, I would have nothing against him. It's his life and he can do what he wants. Sure, except hanging out with Remus or James. They are off-limits, you know?” Sirius said after a few seconds of silence nodding at Rita, before turning to Peter, “I'm sorry to interrupt our conversation, really, but what were we saying Mr. Pettigrew?” The man then asked his friend, who looked away from James and smiled.
“I'm going to get some fresh air, do you mind? James, do you want to come?” Remus said then as Sirius turned to him,
“Are you—”
“Yes. I'm fine. See you in a few minutes, huh? Peter. Miss Skeeter.” Remus replied, standing slightly in front of James so that Sirius wouldn't see his face, but he continued to look at his hands in silence.
“See you later, Remus.” Peter said while Rita who was writing something quickly in her notebook didn't answer him, but honestly the man didn't care that much. On the contrary.
He quickly grabbed James' arm and led him out of the room, out of the building, and finally out into the open. James followed him in silence, then raised his head, swallowing slightly and meeting his gaze, his hair now moving in disarray under the wind that beat lightly on them.
“Prongs.” Remus said with a sigh as James shrugged at him.
“Moony.”
“You are his secret boyfriend, am I right?”
“I don't know what—” James began even though he knew Remus had understood, after all he had been so obvious and stupid, trying to have the most truthful tone of voice possible, to no avail.
“James.”
James took a breath through his nose, “Apparently not.”
“Ja—”
“What do you want me to tell you, Remus? That I'm his secret boyfriend? That now almost every morning I wake up in his bed and I can't help but think about when I'll go back? Or the fact that keeping it hidden from everyone is hurting me but I can't stop? I can’t stop and I don’t want to stop. Or the fact that he gives that smile to me and not to Fenwick and that I think it's wrong? Or that right now I want only to broke Fenwick’s face? Tell me what you want to know and I'll tell you.”
Remus studied his face before saying softly, “You love him?” He asked and James looked away from him, looking around him, his shoulders sagging,
“I don't want to talk about it. It's fine."
“Did you tell him?” Remus asked instead,
James shifted his gaze to him again, “Tell him what?”
“That you love him.” Remus said simply and James smiled emotionlessly,
“Would it change anything?”
“Yeah. I think so. I know Regulus and—” Remus began gently but James interrupted him,
“And you think I don't know him?”
“I didn't say that.” Remus said softly as James sighed,
“I know. I'm sorry. I just—it's complicated, okay? We talked about it, he told me—he made it clear and I—i don't know. I feel even stupid right now, because probably he was just hanging out with his ex because they are friends and—anyway.”
“Talk to him, James. Try, at least. Because I know that he doesn't know how you feel because you're good to pretend it's all okay even when it's not. And you know it's the truth.”
“I—”
“Guys! Hey! Everything okay?” Sirius asked, appearing behind them, before James could respond.
“Do it before you're gonna regret it. You don't know if the things are going to change.” Remus told him before Sirius arrived convinced it was the right thing to do. He believed it, at least. He loved James and Regulus and—honestly, he had seen it coming before but he didn't think it would actually happen?
“Sorry, Rita kept me longer than she should have.”
“Weren't you talking to Peter?”
“Do you think she let me talk to Pete? Never mind. Remind me that I then have to call that little shit and ask him if it's actually true.”
“It's not.” James said before he could stop himself but Sirius didn't find it strange, as focused as he was on thinking, Remus however gave him a quick look,
“Yeah, you're probably right. God, I hate her. Now every time he leaves the house they'll ask him about Fenwick, and honestly he never drove me crazy about that guy—”
“He doesn't drive you crazy just because he went out with your brother.” Remus said as Sirius raised a hand nonchalantly in the air.
“Yeah, anyway. How about we go back inside? It's cold out here. I thought you went out to smoke.”
“Oh yes. I finished it in seconds, darling. Poof. Magic.” Remus said sarcastically as Sirius smiled sweetly at him.
“C'mon. I know you're starving, Prongs. You love buffets here.”
“And you're right, Pads.” James said as Sirius put an arm around his shoulders.
Coming back James was surprised on the one hand in a happy way, while on the other a little disappointed for his own reasons, in seeing a couple dancing in the middle of the floor, people watching the two girls laughing and dancing with elegance. The two girls were obviously Marlene and Dorcas, who surprisingly was there, wearing a simple purple dress that looked great on her. Marlene immediately noticed James coming back in and headed towards him, with Dorcas holding her hand.
“Everything alright?” She asked in a low worried voice quickly analyzing her best friend's face, which he nodded at.
“Good evening, Dorcas. We didn't expect you tonight.”
“Good evening, Potter.”
“You can call me James, you know that, right? You’ve been dating Marlene for a long time.”
Dorcas thought about it for a few seconds before shaking her head, “Nah. It's more fun. Anyway, it wasn't in my plans actually. But the meeting with the team ended sooner than expected. So here I am. I hope it's not a problem.”
“Of course not.” James said shaking his head as Dorcas smiled.
“Good.”
“Hey, Dorcas, can I ask you something?” Sirius asked instead as the girl turned to him, listening to him. “Are Reggie and Fenwick back together? Did you see them this evening?”
“Benjy and Regulus?” Dorcas asked confusedly while James ignored the feeling that their names, which sounded better together than he wanted, gave him. The woman glanced quickly at James in confusion, before Sirius continued,
“Yeah. Apparently they were spotted today. And everyone thinks that they are together again.”
Dorcas looked away from James in a second, “Oh yeah. They told us about it today. Regulus was quite nervous, if I must tell you. Fabian and Gideon set out to beat up the journalists.” The girl said laughing and then added, “But no, of course not. They are not together. I'm pretty sure of that.” and Sirius nodded,
“That's better.”
“Sorry?”
“I mean. Reggie is—better alone, you know?”
“Do you prefer your brother to remain alone for his whole life?” asked the girl with a fake but perfectly serious expression while Sirius shook his head quickly, “Are you sure about that?”
“I didn't say that.”
“You did.” replied Marlene shrugging her shoulders playing along with her girlfriend,
“That wasn't what I meant.” Sirius said, “I meant he and Fenwick weren't that good together.”
“You're wrong about that, Black. They are still good friends today because of that.” The girl said, defending her friends almost immediately, adding however, “But their story is in the past now. And if you ask me, it had to be that way.” Said Dorcas while James smiled, trying to avoid the horrible feeling that he was actually feeling,
“Sirius doesn't like Fenwick that much.” James said trying to be on the right side even though he couldn't agree more with Sirius at that moment,
“Apparently you too. I think all of you don’t like Benjy.”
“I have nothing against Fenwick. He is good player for his age.”
“You have the same age?”
“Yes, but he is better.” Said Sirius and on that, nobody commented.
“You still call him Fenwick.” said the woman as if it was a fact, fact that it was.
“Habit.”
“Of course. Same for me, honestly.” Dorcas said nodding and before she could say anything else Marlene grabbed her hand hearing the new song that had started.
“That's one of my favorites! Sirius, c'mon.” The girl said pulling her girlfriend towards the dance floor, not after giving James a sweet look,
“Moony, it's time to dance.” James said turning to the man who was already taking a step back.
“Prongs is right. C'mon, Moony.” Sirius said, turning to him and putting on his best beaten-dog expression.
“I hate you. I truly do.” The boy said sighing as he grabbed Sirius' hand, “I can't even dance, for fuck's sake.” Remus said, glancing quickly at James who smiled at him, moving to sit at their table while the others headed to the dance floor. “I’m sorry.” Remus mouthed to him before giving Sirius his full attention,
Remus's words continued to spin in his head, as were those of Dorcas and the blessed photos he had seen.
What if Regulus was there? Would he probably danced with him? If—If all was alright. If was only them? He took the phone out of his pocket but before he could turn it on, Peter sat down next to him.
“Prongs, hey.”
“Hey, Pete.”
“I'm sorry about all of that. Rita is such a bitch.” The man said uncertainly as James nodded,
“It's not that important. I'm just making a tragedy of it.”
“You're not. Really. I just—oh, great. They are calling me again.” Peter said looking over James' shoulder at a group that was actually calling out to him.
“Go and be the best reporter there is, Pete. I'm fine.”
“I'll see you later?”
“Yeah. Later.” James said as Peter squeezed his shoulder, before getting up and disappearing the next moment. And so James was alone again.
He took the phone but with all the luck he had that evening, it had gone off. Great. He looked around, only to smile slightly when he saw Remus trying not to step on the toes of an enthusiastic laughing Sirius, his back resting against Marlene's as she danced with Dorcas, everyone else dancing with them. James looked away and placed his glaze on the glass, which was filled with plain water, running a thumb over its surface thinking about what to do.
Remus wasn't entirely wrong. He should have talked to Regulus. He should have said something to him, right? But what would he have told him? The boy had been clear that day, long time ago.
But things had changed. James was sure of it and he knew it. He could see it in the looks the boy was sending him. From the conversations they had. From the laughter they had. From the secrets they shared. From the boy’s eyes.
Something had changed.
Wouldn't it have been right to change things?
Not change. No, change wasn’t the right verb. James wouldn't have changed what was happening with Regulus for the world. He had always wanted it. No. Changing was downright bad. It sounded bad. And it was wrong.
To evolve.
Yes. Evolve was definitely the right verb. He would try to make things evolve. He would make them evolve. They had to evolve right? Things were done in two after all. And he wanted to make them, evolve, with Regulus.
And after 2 minutes James got up from the chair and then walked out of the room, out of the building into the cold night, his coat abandoned on the chair.