Chapter 7
James finished helping his mum set the table and smiled. Dorea had written a letter to Pandora and had helped his mum plan something for Regulus’s birthday. Pandora was even there. She was whispering with Dorea while they waiting for Regulus to come out of the potions lab with his dad. Fleamont Potter and Regulus Black had become fast friends during Regulus’s stay at Potter Manor.
He heard his dad talking with Regulus. James smiled as he saw Pandora bounce excitedly.
Regulus and his dad walked into the room and Pandora immediately shouted, “Surprise! Happy birthday, Reg!”
Regulus looked around at the excited faces in the room, and then he just hugged Pandora, “Thank you.”
James smiled. Pandora and Regulus were closer than he had originally thought. He wondered if they were quietly dating. He got a weird feeling in his stomach at the thought. They all sat down around the table. They had shifted everyone’s seats. Pandora was seated where Regulus normally sat and Regulus was next to Fleamont. James was in between Dorea and Pandora at the end of the table.
Regulus thanked everyone in turn.
“Oh, Reg, I was so thrilled to hear from Dorea that the Potters were planning this!” Pandora exclaimed with a smile.
Regulus grinned back at her, “It’s really nice to have you here. I assume you told Effie all my favorite foods?”
Pandora nodded, “According to Dorea, it was actually Potter’s, oh uh, James’s idea to reach out to me.”
James smiled quietly as he ate, not wanting to interrupt.
“Is that true, James?” Regulus asked him softly.
“You mention Pandora a lot, and Dorea said that was the only person you were writing to.” James replied.
Regulus’s cheeks turned pink, and in turn, James felt his cheeks heat slightly.
Pandora smiled as she ate her food, “You boys will have to show me around the manor after we eat.”
“That’ll be fun,” James agreed.
After dinner, James gave Pandora a similar tour to the one he gave Regulus, but it was less specific and much more general. He barely looked at Regulus the whole time.
After showing Pandora the grounds, he brought them to the second floor, “This is where all the bedrooms are. Sirius’s, mine, Regulus’s, Remus’s, Peter’s, and the room you’ll be staying in, Pandora.”
She smiled, “This is all very lovely, James. Your home is wonderful.”
James opened the door to his room and let both Pandora and Regulus walk in.
Regulus walked past him and whispered, “You’re acting weird.”
James just shrugged in response as Pandora looked at all the pictures on his walls.
“Aw! You have a picture of you and Regulus up here!” Pandora cooed.
Regulus walked over there instantly, “Where did this come from?”
“Treacle took it before getting us from the pitch a couple days ago.” It was a photo of James and Regulus laying on the pitch, laughing. They were laying in opposite directions with James’s head on top of Regulus’s arm and Regulus’s head on James’s arm. James had put it up immediately after Treacle had shown it to him.
Regulus smiled, “Well, I need a copy of it to go with my pictures in my room.”
With that, James led them to Regulus’s room. It was covered in pictures and the ceiling looked like the night sky. There were photos of Pandora and Regulus, Pandora and Evan, Barty and Evan, Dorcas, Pandora, and Regulus, and some with all five of them. The pictures that stood out the most to James were the photos of Sirius and Regulus when they were younger, back when they got along. James smiled at the sight and then Treacle appeared and handed Regulus a copy of the picture of him and James on the pitch. Regulus put it up immediately.
Pandora smiled, “I think this room is a huge improvement from your empty room at Grimmauld Place.”
James paused, “Sirius always said his room there was decorated.”
“Yes, well, Sirius has never been good at following rules.”
Pandora clapped her hands together, “This has been quite fun, but James, where can I find the guest room, I am quite tired.”
James smiled and led her to a room across the hall from Regulus’s, “Here you are.”
“Thank you so much,” Pandora smiled and then walked into the room, leaving James and Regulus in the hallway.
“It’s been bugging me for days, but what is that muggle band you listen to every night?” Regulus asked suddenly.
James paused and thought for a moment, “ABBA?”
“I guess so? It’s nice.”
James gasped in excitement and then dragged Regulus into his room, “Sirius hates ABBA. You are officially my favorite Black brother.”
James saw Regulus’s face turn red and grinned, “I’m going to educate you on the beauty of ABBA.”
Regulus smiled at James, “Sure, teach me everything, James.”
James spent the next few days bouncing between hanging out with Regulus and Pandora and practicing at the quidditch pitch. Regulus and Pandora were nearly inseparable while she was at Potter Manor, but today was her last day. James was conveniently spending his day with his broom, trying to give Regulus privacy to say his goodbyes to his friend.
James walked out of the locker room shower with a towel around his waist. He had missed lunch and needed to get dressed for dinner. Pandora should’ve already left. James had told Treacle to give the girl his regards. James heard the locker room door open and shut and when he looked up he saw Regulus standing frozen in front of the door. His face was a bright red.
“Oh! I’m sorry!” Regulus exclaimed and went to turn around.
James laughed, “Reggie, it’s fine. It doesn’t matter.” Regulus slowly turned back around and stared at James’s chest. James smiled, he felt all warm inside for some reason.
“I didn’t know you were changing,” Regulus murmured.
James shrugged, “It’s fine. You know, the other day I realized that you wear French cologne.”
Regulus was as still as a statue, “What about it?”
“And when we leave the pitch, you always smell like broomstick polish.”
“What are you saying, James?”
James took a few steps closer to Regulus, “What was it you smelled in the amortentia again?”
Regulus swallowed thickly, “Spices, some type of animal musk, and broomstick polish.”
“Who do you think that is” James asked as he took another step forward. He was standing directly in front of Regulus now.
Regulus took a deep breath, “Um.”
Suddenly a crack sounded in the room and Treacle appeared there, “Young masters, it is time for dinner!”
James took three steps back from Regulus, “We’re on our way, Treacle.”
Regulus opened the door behind him and stepped out of the locker room, leaving James alone and with confusing feelings.