Chapter 4
Regulus sighed as he watched James walk away. He hadn't meant anything he had said. Not one bit of it. He had secretly hoped that James would have been more resilient, more argumentative like he had been on the first night.
He wouldn't have got anyone to remove him. It was all empty threats. But it had scared him away, and he wasn't going to come back again.
Regulus had once again passed up on an opportunity to make friends. Why was he like this? He hated how he was incapable of expressing how he really felt out of fear of being perceived as weak or fragile.
Sirius seemed to manage just fine. He expressed more feelings than was necessary and he had friends. He greeted James as though they had been friends for years. Why was it so easy for him yet so difficult for Regulus?
Regulus continued to gaze out over the vast stretch of ocean. The mainland was nowhere to be seen anymore, it was somewhat unsettling. There was nothing around them, no safety, no civilisation, just water. And fish. Which meant sharks too.
Suddenly leaning over the railing didn't seem like such a great idea anymore, so Regulus stepped back.
What was he to do now? Sirius was gone, he had scared James away, Pandora was doing something with her father and honestly, he didn't really want to be around her right now.
He could always go and find Sirius and James, there was nothing stopping him, but then he would look desperate. Maybe James would get the wrong idea, and he didn't want to lead him on just to disappoint him in the end.
But Sirius would be there… So maybe he could play it off as wanting to be with him? James wouldn't have to know the truth. That was the truth. James was annoying. And as he had said, they weren't friends and they never would be. They were too different. And Regulus wouldn't be able to put up with him for the rest of his life, anyway.
He wouldn't be spending it with him anyway. He had no feelings for the boy at all, except annoyance.
Regulus is left with no choice but to walk down the halls, following the signs for the smoke room. He didn’t particularly like smoking, but he knew Sirius did and by the sound of it, so did James and the other boy whose name he couldn't remember.
He found it at the end of a tight, dimly lit corridor. He reached out, placing his hand on the door handle but didn't push it down.
What if they didn't want him there? What if they aren't in there anymore and he makes a fool out of himself? What if Sirius leaves him alone with James again?
Pushing all of his thoughts down, he finally pushed the handle down and slipped through the door into the smokey room. Coughing slightly as he inhaled all of the fumes, he weaved through the people in search of Sirius.
“Reggie!” Sirius called through the crowd, waving frantically, looking like a maniac. Regulus rolled his eyes, trying to hide the smile that was forming on his lips as he made his way over to the three of them.
“Hi, I hope I'm not intruding… “ he said, taking a seat next to his brother.
“Not at all!” Sirius reassured him, “This is Remus. You met last night, but I dunno if you got his name. Remus, this is my little brother Regulus.”
“Nice to meet you. James is this the-” Remus said, raising his eyebrows at James but James quickly covered his mouth with his hand, turning his voice into muffled sounds.
“Remus!” James whined, slumping into his seat like a child. Regulus suddenly noticed Remus’ posture and it made him cringe. It was awful. Sirius and Regulus had been brought up in a family where bad posture and bad manners were punished, although Sirius had started leaning away from those rules. Regulus, however, still obeyed his parents.
“So.. Remus huh? Like in Roman Mythology?” Regulus asked, completely ignoring James.
“Really?” Remus answered, somewhat surprised.
Regulus scoffed at the lack of knowledge this boy had of his own name, but then again, he probably couldn’t afford a proper education.
“Yes. The boy was raised by wolves. Remus and Romulus were twins who were supposed to be killed and so they were left at the side of a river. A wolf found them and raised them until a shepherd took them in. They continued to grow up with him, tending to flocks and such. Remus was taken prisoner when they got caught in a dispute and he was supposedly killed by Romulus, who went on to found Rome,” Regulus explained.
“You really know your stuff, eh?” Remus chuckled, bringing a cigarette to his lips.
“Well, I suppose so. It’s just what I’ve grown up with.”
“Regulus and Sirius are stars, aren’t they?” James chimed in.
“That’s right,” Regulus agreed, nodding at him. James grinned, looking dead chuffed with himself for knowing basic information.
“So Remus, you’re from Wales?” Regulus asked him.
“How did you know?” the boy spluttered, his eyebrows furrowing.
“I can hear it, you’ve got an accent, you know?” Regulus scoffed. What a stupid question. Maybe he was dumber than Regulus had originally assumed.
“Oh, right yeah.”
“Believe it or not, we’re French,” Sirius declared.
“Actually?” James asked, somewhat amused.
“Mais, oui! Vous ne l'entendez pas ? Nous avons vécu en France toute notre vie, mais nous avons appris l'anglais dès notre plus jeune âge,” Sirisu said proudly, beaming at Remus who looked slightly dazed.
“Don’t have a fucking clue what you just said, but it certainly made me want to have sex with you again,” the boys muttered as he ran a hand over his face. Sirius flushed bright red at that but smiled anyway.
“So you speak French too, Regulus?” James questioned.
“Yes, but if you think I’m going to say something to you, don’t get your hopes up,” Regulus scoffed at him.
“Please?” James whined, tilting his head to the side. Regulus rolled his eyes and ignored him.
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“He’s so pretty, I can’t!” James whined, throwing himself against Remus’ shoulder.
“James, for Christ’s sake, he’s engaged!” Remus retorted.
“Unwillingly! Maybe I can talk to his parents? Maybe you can get Sirius to invite us to tea and I can talk to them then? Please, Remus! I’m so charming there is no way they’ll say no!” James continued to push. He had to have hope. If not for himself, then for Regulus. The poor lad was being forced, it wasn’t right. And even if he didn't like James, that was okay! He would be free to choose for himself. James could deal with that. It was better than watching him be pushed into it.
“Really?” Remus snorted, opening the door to the dining room.
“Yes! Please?”
“I doubt it’ll work, but I can ask. Just for you though, no way am I going.”
“Yes, you are. You, my friend, don’t have a choice. Plus! Would you really leave me alone with them if they are that horrible?”
“Yes, I would.”
“Would not,” James chuckled.
Remus rolled his eyes, scoffing. “Drop it now. I said I’d ask Sirius and I will, but until then there is nothing you can do.”
“Soo.. what did you think of him?” James asked.
“Sirius? I’d let hi-” Remus started with a grin, making it very obvious he misunderstood the question on purpose.
“No you nitwit! Regulus!”
“Oh, right, of course, you’re talking about him. He seems a little… posh? Maybe? And uptight. Oh and very straight, sorry to burst your bubble but that boy is definitely into women. If not the girl he’s marrying then someone else,” Remus sighed, tucking into his food. James’ heart sank. He knew Remus was right, had known it, but he still had hope. Maybe there was still hope? Maybe he could somehow convince Regulus that he actually did fancy men. James could do that. And who knew, maybe Regulus just seemed straight out of fear? He could be putting on a show for his parents, maybe?
“James?” Remus said, somewhat annoyed.
“Hm? What was that?”
“You just poured your drink down yourself,” he smirked.
“Oh for Christ’s sake!” James exclaimed, grabbing Remus’ napkin from his outstretched hand and wiping at the wet patches on his shirt.
“Hah! Look at you! Too stupid to drink!” Sirius cackled.
“What are you doing here?” Remus asked.
“Looking your you two of course! I’ve been banned from dining with my family so I decided to come eat with you two,” Sirius explained, falling into a chair between them.
“Why’re you banned?” James inquired.
“Cause I’m gay, sorry. Queer,” Sirius grinned. He picked up James’ fork and stabbed one of Remus’ chips, shoved it in his mouth and chewed loudly.
“Hm, not bad for third class,” He finally said.
“I was gonna eat that,” Remus grumbled.
“Want me to regurgitate it for you?” Sirius asked sweetly.
“I’m good.”
“That’s what I thought.”
James felt a pang of jealousy watching the two of them. It wasn’t that he wasn’t happy for them, he was. It was just that he was scared that he would never have someone in his life who would love him unconditionally. Well, someone other than his parents.
Remus cleared his throat, catching James’ attention once again.
“So, Sirius. James wanted me to ask you if you could somehow invite him to one of your family’s dinners so that he can convince them to not force Regulus to marry someone other than him.”
“Oi!”
Sirius cackled again. When he finally stopped, his face fell.
“You’re being serious?”
“Well… yes?” James mumbled.
“Oh boy. Erm.. Well. My parents aren’t… the nicest of the lot. You would have to convince Regulus to invite you cause they certainly won’t let me bring anyone. They won’t even let me bring myself so unless you want to end up eating in my room with me you’ll have to talk to Reggie,” Sirius told them. “Wait. You want to marry my brother?!”
“What? No…? Why would you say that? Remus, why would you say that?” James whined, sinking into his seat.
“Oh my god, my brother has an admirer!”