Chapter 5
After they finished eating, James helped his mum pick up all the dishes. He couldn’t believe Regulus was in his house. It was perfect. Regulus would see how amazing living with the Potters was and maybe he would run away just like Sirius did. This was the perfect opportunity to help Regulus and Sirius repair their relationship and it would be because of James. He would prove Remus wrong.
“Ready for your tour, Baby Black?” James smiled.
Regulus rolled his eyes, “You can call me Regulus, Potter.”
“Then you can call me James. And I think Reggie suits you better.”
“Lead the way,” Regulus paused, “James.”
James started walking, “Well that’s obviously the dining room and kitchen.” He led Regulus through the first floor of Potter Manor, pointing out every detail that felt significant. Then James led Regulus upstairs.
“That’s Sirius’s room, we don’t have to go in there if you don’t want.”
Regulus shook his head, “I’d rather not.”
James nodded and opened the door right next to it, “This is my room.” Regulus slowly walked into the room and for a second James thought Regulus’s cheeks were pink. It was covered in quidditch posters and pictures of James and people he cared about.
“Are you going to go pro?” Regulus wondered aloud while looking at the posters.
James nodded, “I want to, but who knows where life will take me.”
“That makes sense. If I could do anything, I would be a potioneer, like your dad.”
“Then do it,” James whispered.
Regulus shook his head, “I’m the heir to the most noble House of Black. I can’t.”
“You’re also Reggie,” James replied softly. Regulus smiled at that and walked out of James’s room.
“So where am I staying, James?” Regulus asked as he entered the hallway.
James followed him out into the hallway, “Your room is next to mine.”
James brushed past Regulus and opened the door next to his. He gestured for Regulus to walk in and Regulus silently entered the room. It was mostly empty, aside from Regulus’s trunk and the furniture.
“I should probably unpack at some point,” Regulus said absentmindedly.
“You can decorate however you’d like. Mum doesn’t mind. You’ll always have a spot at Potter Manor, Reggie.”
Regulus turned to look at him, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
James had the strangest urge to hug Regulus, but he thought better of it and just smiled at Regulus from the doorway.
“I can show you the grounds later if you’d like to unpack a bit,” James offered, but Regulus shook his head.
“Effie mentioned that you have a quidditch pitch?”
James led Regulus out to the quidditch pitch. He pointed out gardens and orchards as they passed. He told Regulus all about Potter Manor. It was almost like the first time Sirius came to the manor, but it was different somehow. James told Regulus everything and left nothing out. He even told Regulus how he broke his arm climbing a tree in the apple orchard. Sirius had found that out from his mum, not James.
“This is the pitch,” James announced as they walked up to a smaller version of the Hogwarts pitch, minus the stands for the crowd.
Regulus smiled, “I wish I had packed my broom.”
“We have extras,” James smiled back at Regulus, “and if you need a kit we have extras of those too.”
“Mine is in my trunk. Mother didn’t give me time to repack my trunk, so I mostly have my Hogwarts things.”
James chuckled, “We can send Treacle for anything you need.”
“That reminds me, is Treacle your house elf or Dorea’s?”
“Treacle is a free elf. She serves Potter Manor and Aunt Dorea of her own free will, but she spends most of her time with Aunt Dorea,” James explained. His eyes didn’t leave Regulus’s face. He wanted to see the boy’s reaction to Treacle being a free elf.
Regulus just nodded, “Dorea is a Black, which makes her my aunt, but how is she also your aunt?”
“Aunt Dorea was supposed to marry my Uncle Charlus in secret, but he died mysteriously days before they were supposed to be wed. It was really tragic actually. Mum tells me that dad was really torn up about it, which makes sense given that they were brothers.”
“Huh. I didn’t know she almost married into the Potter family.”
James shrugged as he sat down on the pitch, “You wouldn’t. Aunt Dorea didn’t want the Blacks to know. She would’ve lost everything if she hadn’t been secret about it.”
“Like Uncle Alphard,” Regulus mused. He sat down next to James.
“Sirius talks about him a bunch. Apparently, Alphard left everything to Sirius, seeing as Pads got burned off of the Black family tree.”
“Merlin, really? That’s good. I’m glad Sirius had Alphard’s support. Speaking of which, are my brother and that Lupin kid dating?”
James laughed, “Was wondering if you’d ever ask, but yes they are. They have their up and downs, but thats where Sirius is right now. He’s with Remus at his house.”
Regulus nodded slowly, “That’s good. I want him to be happy.”
James smiled at Regulus, “Maybe one day you guys can patch things up?”
“I don’t think that’s possible. There’s a reason that Dorea has had to be secretive. Potters and Blacks don’t mix very well and Sirius is certainly a Potter now.”
“We seem to mix just fine,” James argued.
Regulus thought about that for a moment, “You, James Potter, are an enigma. You don’t count.”
James and Regulus stayed out at the pitch until it was time for dinner. Treacle appeared with a crack to tell them that dinner was almost ready.
“James?” Regulus asked as they approached the front door to the manor.
James paused, “Yes?”
“Please don’t tell anyone I’m here. Especially Sirius.”
“I won’t tell anyone, Reggie.”
They sat down at dinner and Regulus ate everything Euphemia Potter served him. James smiled at the sight. Regulus seemed relaxed, which was how he was around Pandora and Dorcas, James realized.
Dorea was telling everyone about her travels with Alphard. They had gone to all the wizarding communities around the world.
“In America, they barely even know who the Blacks are! Blood purity is less of a concern there. They are much more focused on skin color, which is baffling in itself,” Dorea was telling them. James glanced at Regulus and saw that he was fully invested in Dorea’s stories. James smiled. Remus had been wrong about Regulus and James was right. He was going to repair the relationship between Sirius and Regulus if it was the last thing he did.
“As amazing as your travels sound, Dorea, next time don’t wait ten years to visit,” Fleamont joked.
Dorea smiled at James’s father, “Of course, Flea. I just had to lie low for a while with my family. Orion started asking questions. It was safer to spend time with Alphard. He was never burned off the tree, the family just had a quiet dislike for him due to how he spent his time.”
Regulus looked confused, so James leaned over and whispered, “Your Uncle Alphard was gay, Reggie, but he was quiet about it so your family couldn’t prove it.”
Regulus made a soft sound of surprise and then looked at James. Their faces were dangerously close. James noticed Regulus’s cheeks turn a light pink. Regulus turned his attention back to Dorea, his cheeks still a shade of pink. James looked back down at his food in confusion. He had just noticed that Regulus smelled like expensive french cologne that Sirius abhorred.