The Group Project

Regulus woke up in his bed, feeling groggy and forgetful. He blinked, trying to remember the previous day's events. It all slowly came back to him... and...

FUCK.

He fell asleep on James Potter's lap. James Potter, who was PLAYING WITH HIS Hair. James. Fucking. Potter.

Regulus internally screamed as he shot up out of bed and began pacing around the room, but he was soon stopped but when two gentle hands were then on his shoulders, causing him to stop. It was Pandora; she gave him a small smile. He hadn't realized she was here but he was happy to see her.

Regulus glanced to the others and his eyes landed on Evan, who was reading a book on his bed, his arm around a sleeping Barty.

"Guys—what the hell happened?" he asked, trying not to sound panicked.

"Barty said that he came back to find you asleep on James Potter, so he kicked James out to let you sleep," giggled Pandora, and Evan grinned at this.

Regulus groaned and slapped himself.
He was so stupid.
So, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so STUPID.

"Reg, are you alright? I know you said you were, but—you told us it hurt to see them, and you just fell asleep on Potter," Pandora giggles turned into a gentle smile as she pulled him into a hug. Regulus buried his head in the nook of her shoulder.

She had no idea how this felt. He never told them about his embarrassing crush and never planned to. Instead, he released himself from the hug and went to get ready.

He had to meet with them again tonight, which was just great. James must hate him even more now.

And—oh god.

He told James that he hated him. Which was a lie but AGHHHH WHYYY DID HE SAY THAT? Regulus would have started crying if he cared. Which he didn't. He totally didn't.

He walked out of the bathroom, only to find all his friends waiting for him. Dorcus had just arrived and was fixed Evan's hair, whilst insulting him.

"Come on, Reggie, we are all starving and we unfortunately have transfiguration together after breakfast," Pandora smiled softly, swinging an arm around him. All his friends gazed at him with caution and concern, which was sweet but also extremely annoying. He hated the pity.

"Stop looking at me like that," he said sharply, his voice filled with venom. He shouldn't have snapped at his friends, they were only trying to help, but he truly couldn't stand the pity.

"Reg—it's just that, the last time you were upset, you said—" Evan began to speak, but Regulus cut him off.

"I know what I said." He was ashamed of himself and embarrassed for the words he had said the year before, when he was crying in Evans arms, surrounded by his friends.

Regulus looked up and gave them a weak smile. "If it turns out I'm not fine, you can hex Sirius." Regulus said, trying to compromise.

His friends seemed satisfied with his answer as he walked out with Pandora, his other friends trailed behind, they were having their own conversation.

"So... James Potter," she began, and Regulus felt himself blush.

"You're blushing," she whispered, and Regulus frowned at her. "For what it's worth, he is always staring at you," she added, and Regulus felt like a tomato.

"It's because he hates me."

"In my opinion, it's quite the opposite."

"Pandora."

"Okay, I'll drop it."

Regulus continued to walk with Pandora's arm around him. When he walked into the Great Hall, his eyes automatically glanced at James. And he stared back. They made eye contact, and Regulus immediately looked away, sitting with Pandora at the Slytherin table. No one in Slytherin dared to comment on the fact that she was technically a ravenclaw, they knew that if they said something, they would definitely be hexed by either Regulus or Barty.

Dorcas, Barty, and Evan sat on the other side of the table, while Dorcas took a seat between Evan and Barty, who were scowling at her. She was grinning evilly, and Regulus gave her a smile and Pandora a small laugh.

"Don't encourage this!" remarked Evan, he looked at her with frustration and amusement.
"No. I think both Pan and Reg can agree, you two making out at breakfast is gross," sighed Dorcas, and Barty gasped dramatically, staring at her with a false wide-eyed expression.

"So homophobic of you!" he gasped, clutching a hand to his heart.

"Barty, I'm literally gay."

"Doesn't stop you from being homophobic."

"You're an idiot."

"You're homophobic."

"Both of you stop before I throw my cereal at you," sighed Regulus, his tone dry and unbothered, as was his demeanor. Though, truthfully, he was amused.

"Truce?"
"Fine."

Dorcas and Barty shook hands and swapped seats so that Barty was next to Evan. Regulus looked past his friends to the Gryffindor table where James was—staring. What was that all about? Suddenly his brother was staring too. Was staring a Gryffindor thing?

Promptly, Sirius stood up, or rather jumped up, and began walking towards the Slytherin table—wait, what?

His friends must have seen the panicked expression on his face because they looked and also saw Sirius strolling towards them without a care in the world. Pandora grabbed his hand and gently moved her thumb in circles; it was a comforting gesture, but it still didn't help.

"Hey Reggie," grinned Sirius, waving slightly.

"Don't call me that," Regulus responded quickly, averting his gaze.

"Anyway, I was wondering if you—"
"And I was wondering if you could leave," snapped Evan, his usual cool and collected nature completely gone as he stood up and was face to face with Sirius.

"I was talking to my brother," snapped Sirius, glaring at Evan.

"He doesn't want to talk to you," snarled Evan, and Regulus saw Barty looking at him with heart eyes.
"I'm sure he can speak for himself, Rosier," retorted Sirius, glancing towards Regulus. His gaze caused pains in Regulus' chest.

And that's when Dorcas stepped in, standing up and placing herself next to Evan.
"Perhaps Evan wasn't clear. Leave. Now," she snapped, all kindness gone from her voice. Her scary and defensive side coming out.

It was funny; two minutes earlier they were jokingly bickering, and now they were fighting Sirius together.

"What's going on here?" Remus Lupin, who had just walked up, asked. He was followed by James and Peter. Sirius smiled at the arrival of his companions.

Why. Why did the universe hate him? What could he possibly have done?

Everything was hurting again, looking at James and Sirius there, standing together, like brothers. It all reminded Regulus of how Sirius left him, abandoned. And it hurt. It all hurt again. Before he knew it, he was squeezing Pandora's hand tightly for support.

"You were just leaving, weren't you, Black?" scowled Barty, he pushed himself between his two friends and swang his arms around Dorcas and Evan.

"They're being ridiculous. I just wanted to talk to my brother," snarled Sirius, and Regulus felt light-headed. Sirius couldn't do this; it wasn't fair. Sirius couldn't come up to Regulus like nothing was wrong.

"Pandora," he whispered softly and weakly, he could barely get words out of his mouth. Pandora nodded and immediately knew what he needed. Pandora helped him stand up, glaring at Sirius with anger that Regulus had only seen a few time before.

"You three are all really cute bodyguards and all, but you can't speak for Regulus," snapped James, and with the arrival of James, Regulus did not know which side to take because he loved his friends, but he really liked James.

He didn't need to decide however, because Pandora spoke quickly after that, "It doesn't matter what you have to say. We are leaving."

His friends immediately looked at Regulus and all had knowing looks. Regulus masked his face with an unbothered expression, carefully trying to scare away the tears.

"Does we mean we can hex—" Barty began, but Regulus cut him off, finally speaking again.

"No."

He heard Sirius shouting behind him, but it didn't matter. Pandora and he were speed-walking away. His eyes were close to filling with tears, and his heart was aching. Eventually, they made their way into an empty classroom, and Regulus collapsed to the floor.

He held his knees to his stomach and began sobbing loudly. Pandora held him close. He felt light-headed, vaguely aware of his other friends entering. His tears slowed down as he looked up and saw them surrounding him.

"I'm going to kill him, slowly and painfully," Barty threatened (Evan glared at him for this). He was sitting right in front of Regulus, along with Evan. Dorcas was holding onto him like Pandora, on his one side, and Pandora was still at his other side.

"It's fine. I'm fine," Regulus muttered.

"Stop saying it's fine when it obviously isn't," Dorcas said, running her hands through Regulus' hair.

"Let's skip class," suggested Barty, pulling out a packet of cigarettes and a lighter. He lit one up and handed it to Regulus, who took it gratefully. Barty gave Evan and Dorcas a cigarette before taking one for himself. Pandora always refused.

"Let's talk to Slughorn later, get him to change groups," Evan suggested, and Regulus nodded with a weak smile.

"Then we can kill him—" Barty grinned.

"Barty." Evan gave him a warning look.

"Merlin, you're hot when you're angry," Barty grinned, which caused Evan to blush, Dorcas to gag, Pandora to let out a yelp, and Regulus to roll his eyes.

"Please don't talk about my brother like that in front of me," frowned Pandora, and everyone let out small laughs.

Maybe he will be alright.