It had been a long day for James.
He had forgotten to set an alarm in the morning, so he slept through breakfast and was late to transfiguration. Minnie wasn't too happy about that.
His potion exploded in his face during Slughorn's class because Sirius got Mud Root and Sea Root mixed up. He was blamed for that and missed his next class due to being held in the Hospital Wing for first degree burns on his face.
He ended up missing lunch there too.
When James thought nothing else could go wrong he ran into Snape, who hexed him to a wall. He was stuck there until Remus found him and undid the hex.
By the time dinner rolled around James was not only exhausted but starving. With Remus and Sirius's chatter in the background and Peter's slightly obnoxious chewing, James eagerly ate his first meal of the day. Certainly today was looking up.
Until he got stuck right in the middle of one of Peeves's pranks.
His hair dyed bright blue and face red from embarrassment he dashed up to the astronomy tower.
Normally he would have thought this prank to be hilarious, but it was just the last straw for him.
His breathing was erratic as he tried to calm himself down, his thoughts racing. But no matter what he tried his breathing only picked up further.
He sank to the floor, tears now streaming down his face.
Suddenly he felt two hold hands on him and he was pulled towards someone. Just from breathing in James knew who it was.
Regulus. His Regulus.
He buried his face in the soft sweater Regulus was wearing, which was definitely Remus's.
It took a minute but he could eventually pick up what Regulus was saying.
"I've got you Jamie. It's okay I got you." James's tears soaked through Regulus's sweater.
"Breath Mon Soleil. Breath with me. Here." Regulus pulled James into a proper sitting position. He put James's hand on his chest. "Breath baby, deep breaths."
Breath. Yeah, James could breath for Regulus. A couple shaky breaths later James's heart rate had calmed back down.
"Are you with me Jamie?" Regulus asked. James nodded.
"I'm sorry Reg..." James mumbled, his face still buried in Regulus's chest. Regulus put his hand under James's face to make him look at him.
"You have nothing to be sorry for Mon Soleil. Nothing at all." James remained wrapped in Regulus's embrace.
Regulus. James breathed deeply. Eucalyptus and books and amber flooded his senses.
Suddenly and without warning, Sirius stormed out onto the astronomy tower landing.
"Would you like to explain why the both of you have been out here ALONE for thirty bloody minutes?!?" He exclaimed, holding up the map. He looked absolutely furious. James's heart dropped.
"Sirius this isn't a good time." Regulus said coldly, looking down at James who had his face pressed into Regulus's chest again.
"And why not? Huh?! To busy deflowering my baby brother James!? Need to get back to your make out session eh?!" James's breathing hitched. Sirius never used his real name.
"Hey. Hey it's okay." Regulus whispered into James's ear, rubbing his back. He turned to Sirius.
"You need to back off."
"No." Sirius's voice grew only louder.
"Oh just shut your bloody mouth will you?!" Regulus snapped. "Me and James were not making out he was having a bloody panic attacks and you are not helping!"
Sirius seemed to freeze on the spot. James, the embodiment of sunshine, had a panic attack? And Regulus, one of the most cold people to anyone outside his close friends he had ever met helped him?
"So you two aren't just... fooling around?" Sirius asked quietly.
"Yes!" Regulus said. "He isn't using me and I'm not using him. I love him."
Sirius's heart melted. He had never seen Regulus so... soft. So kind. So... genuine.
James looked slowly up at the Black brothers.
"I'm sorry for yelling Prongs." Sirius said.
James nodded. "s okay." He mumbled.
"Are you tired Mon Soleil?" Regulus asked, wrapping his arms around James tighter.
Sirius's eyes widened at the French nickname, knowing what it meant.
James nodded.
"Do you want to go back to your dorm?" Regulus asked.
"Can we go back to yours?" James asked.
"Of course, Barty and Evan will be happy to see you. Well if they aren't snogging."
"See you later Siri." James said as Regulus pulled him to his feet and the two boys walked to the Slytherin common room.
Everything was going to be okay.