The moment James opened his eyes he wanted to take it back.
He wanted to go back to sleep under his warm blankets and forget everything that had happened the day before.
But time doesn't work like that, as James is painfully aware, so he climbs out of bed, carefully making his way to the restroom door avoiding the mess of books and other items littering the floor from the night before.
As he washes his face he thinks.
Two nights ago was a full moon, and everything was going according to plan. Then Sirius told Snape how to get past the Whomping Willow and into the Shrieking Shack. He could have died had James not stepped in to save him.
Last night Remus, as recovered as he can be from a full, snapped at Sirius. He threw things, he yelled, and eventually Sirius just walked out of the dorm, head hanging low.
James stepped out of the restroom and let his gaze linger on Sirius's open bed curtains and empty bed. Remus's were still shut, and Peter had spent the night with his boyfriends.
James wished he would have tagged along, crashed in Regulus's bed, been reassured that everything was going to be okay.
But nothing was going to be okay again as far as James knew. So he carefully made his was to the Great Hall for breakfast.
He didn't even look at the Gryffindor table, making a beeline for where Regulus, Barty, Evan, and Peter were already sitting at the Slytherin table.
He sat down next to Regulus, who shot him a concerned look.
James knew he looked like shit.
His hair, which was normally unruly, was a bigger mess and he knew he must have dark circles under his eyes.
"You look awful J." Barty commented in a casually nonchalant voice. James didn't say anything, just shot Barty a glare and dropped his head on Regulus's shoulder.
Regulus wrapped his arm around James softly, and used his other hand to comb through his hair gently. James immediately relaxed, letting his eyes flutter shut.
After a couple minutes of this, Evan, Barty, and Peter having conversations on the other side of the table, Regulus squeezed James's shoulder lightly.
"You need to eat something Mon Soleil."
Regulus took his hand away from James and picked up a piece of toast, putting it on James's empty plate. Peter nudged the strawberry jam towards them.
"Your favorite, right?" Peter asked with a smile. James smiled gratefully at his friend. It was his favorite.
James ate his toast and engaged in a couple less than normal conversations with Barty.
He assumed Regulus already knew what was bothering him, Peter having most likely talked to his boyfriends about it last night.
After breakfast had finished, the five boys stood up to go to their classes.
"I'll see you soon." Regulus said, squeezing James's hand lightly.
James walked with Peter to potions in a comfortable silence.
...
Both James and Peter decided to sit with their boyfriends at dinner.
Peter wanted to sit wherever James was, which James didn't mind, and James needed Regulus right now.
Everything was so wrong, so very wrong, but Regulus was so right.
During dinner Peter asked Barty and Evan if he could crash with them again that evening, to which the boys were happy to say yes.
James looked at Regulus for a moment and asked,
"Can I stay with you tonight as well...?"
"Of course Jamie." Regulus said with a smile.
Barty grinned.
"It'll be a big party." He said. Evan smiled and Regulus just sighed at Barty's antics.
...
That night James was curled up against Regulus, who was watching Barty and Evan play chess, Peter giving unhelpful commentary every other move.
"Checkmate!" Evan called out, breaking the previous concentrated silence. Barty stood up and smashed all of the pieces off the board. James shot him a look.
"Sorry." Barty said, failing to hide the laugh in his voice.
James knew he would have to go back to his dorm sometime. He couldn't hide from Remus and Sirius's fighting forever. But for now he is exactly where he wants to be, falling asleep in his boyfriends arms, a small smile on his face.