Chapter 8
It had been a week since James and Regulus had talked in the locker room and Regulus had avoided James like the plague. He didn’t want to answer James’s last question because the answer was James himself.
Regulus spent his time in the library. He had finally figured out the charm work for two way journals. He was working on make a few pairs. One for Evan and Barty, one for Pandora and himself, and for some reason, one for him and James.
He finished up the charm work as the door to the library opened. Regulus glanced over and saw James there. He stood up immediately.
“What are you working on?” James asked casually. Regulus could already feel his heart rate picking up.
Regulus gestured to the journals in front of him, “Making charmed journals.”
“What type?”
“Two way communication.”
“For who?”
“Evan and Barty, me and Pandora,” Regulus lowered his voice, “maybe me and you.”
James froze, “What was that last part?”
Regulus shook his head, “It was nothing. Don’t worry about it, Potter.”
“You know, you revert back to calling me ‘Potter’ every time you get flustered around me.”
“I have no idea what you mean,” Regulus responded as calmly as he could.
James shrugged and stepped into Regulus’s personal space, “You never call me ‘James’ when you get all flustered, Regulus Black.”
A shiver shot down Regulus’s back at hearing James call him by his full name in a low voice. Regulus tried to take a step back but then realized he was standing against the desk.
James grinned, “Do I affect you, Reggie?”
“No. You do not,” Regulus argued. James shook his head and Regulus stuck his chin up in defiance.
“I think you’re lying to me,” James whispered and leaned ever so slightly closer to Regulus.
Regulus shook his head slightly and James put a finger underneath Regulus’s chin, “Why would I lie to you, James?”
“Do you need a reason?” James whispered as they stared into each other’s eyes.
“I’m not lying.”
“What does Pandora smell like?”
Regulus blinked in confusion, “Like moss and parchment?”
James froze for a minute, probably remembering Lily. Remembering what Lily smelled in the amortentia. James took a few steps back.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me,” James muttered and then walked out of the library. Regulus put a hand to his heart and took a deep breath.
“Did James bloody Potter just almost kiss me?”
Regulus had just mailed off three of the journals to Pandora. She would make sure Barty got his in a way that couldn’t be traced by his father. Regulus laid down on his bed and stared up at the constellations Treacle had helped him paint on the ceiling.
“Snap out of it, Regulus. He’s dating Lily Evans and I leave in a week,” Regulus muttered to himself. He pulled out the journal that connected him to Pandora, even though she hadn’t yet received hers, and started writing.
Pandora,
I am quite sure that James bloody Potter almost kissed me less than an hour ago. I am also quite sure the only reason he didn’t is Lily Evans. I don’t know how to handle this. We truly are a tragic pair. The people we are in love with are dating each other.
Are you still exchanging letters with Lily? How is that going? Please just tell me about anything to get my mind off of James.
Regulus
He groaned, took a pillow, buried his face in it, and screamed. James Potter was an enigma. How can he be dating Lily Evans, but almost kiss Regulus.
Regulus had been dreaming about kissing James Potter ever since he got to his bloody manor. Maybe it was just too late for James and Regulus to be anything but friends. They were like two ships passing in the night. Regulus groaned again.
Treacle appeared with a crack, “Sir, Mistress Dorea has received a letter from your mother asking how you are. What would you like Mistress to convey?”
Regulus took the pillow off of his head, “Have Aunt Dorea tell mother that I am enjoying my time traveling.”
Treacle nodded and disappeared with a crack.
Regulus put the pillow back on top of his head, “I hate it here.”
The next morning, Regulus checked the journal and was delighted to see a response from Pandora.
Reg,
Evan wants me to tell you that he’s giving you a big kiss the next time he sees you. He is thrilled by the journals. Barty’s journal is on his way to him as I write this. That house elf, Treacle, is very helpful. I quite like her.
Oh Merlin, Reg, I do think that James Potter is taken with you. He did act very strangely while I was there. Maybe he thought we were secretly dating! It’s not like he knows I’m in love with his girlfriend or that I have a soulmate I won’t meet for a couple more years.
Lily and I have been writing back and forth consistently. She tells me she only hears from James once every other week. I think something else is occupying his thoughts. You only have a week left there, but Regulus, you’re so happy there. Maybe you don’t go home with Dorea?
Kisses, Pandora
Regulus grabbed his quill with a sigh.
Pandora,
You know that I have to go home with Aunt Dorea. Walburga and Orion will drag Sirius back to the family otherwise. One of us deserves to be happy, and I know it won’t be me.
I don’t want James Potter to be ‘taken with me’; he’s dating Lily Evans. I don’t fit into that equation, neither of us do. The two of them are going to live happily ever after and have a brood of children together. I’ll have to marry some pureblood woman eventually and you’ll marry your mysterious soulmate.
Although I will say, him thinking we’re secretly dating does make sense. He asked me what you smell like and when I told him you smell like moss and parchment he freaked out. Do you think he realized that Lily smelled spices, broomstick polish, moss and parchment?
Treacle is a very helpful elf. I think she would get along with Kreacher. I will have to introduce the two when I return to Grimmauld Place.
Regulus
He closed the journal, sat up, and grabbed a jumper from the foot of the bed. He needed to talk to James bloody Potter.