“Come on Reg, it’ll be fun,” James says, pulling Regulus’s hand.
“No,” Regulus says, for the hundredth time.
“Please?”
“Why do you even want me to go to this stupid party, which, might I remind you, is a Gryffindor party, for Gryffindors and not me, a Slytherin.”
“Okay, okay, but it’ll be fun! I’m going to die without you there,” James whines. “Please?”
“Oh my god. Fine, whatever. Just let me get ready first.”
“No!”
“What do you mean no?”
“The party started ages ago, we’re already so late! Let’s go now,” James groans.
“And what are you going to tell Sirius when he asks why you brought me with you to the party?”
“Er- I’ll figure it out. C’mon!!!”
“Fine, whatever,” Regulus sighs, throwing his hands up and walking out of the Come and Go Room.
“Yay! Here, you can go under the cloak,” James says, handing the Invisibility Cloak to Regulus. “Then we can just pretend you snuck in?” Regulus doesn’t respond, pulling the cloak over his head. They walk in comfortable silence to the Gryffindor Common Room, making it to the portrait.
“Password,” the Fat Lady prompts.
“Lion’s heart,” James answers, grinning. Regulus rolls his eyes from under the cloak. The portrait swung open to reveal a group sitting in a large circle.
“You’re finally here! Where were you?” Sirius asks, wrapping an arm around James’s shoulder. “Ow! What was that?” Sirius spins around, rubbing the back of his neck. James fails to suppress his grin, knowing that Regulus had probably been the one to do that.
The circle consisted of Sirius, Remus, Peter, Mary, Marlene, Lily, and now James, too. Regulus sat behind Sirius, the cloak still covering him. A large glass bottle sat in the middle of the circle, currently pointing at Marlene.
“Okay, here’s what’s going to happen. We’re going to spin the bottle, and whoever it lands on, you have to kiss. But first, you have to take a shot of Firewhiskey,” Marlene announces, swinging a bottle of Firewhiskey and shot glasses around.
“Bloody Gryffindors,” Regulus mutters under his breath.
“What was that?” Sirius asks, turning around. “Am I hearing things?”
“Shut it, Black,” Marlene says, spinning the bottle. It lands on James, slowly halting in front of him. “Oh Potter,” She croons, cackling. James laughs, sitting in the middle of the circle with Marlene.
“How romantic,” Lily deadpans. Sirius blows kisses to them, grinning.
“Wait, someone pour a shot for them!” Sirius pours the two of them a shot, handing it to them. James proposes a toast to Marlene, and they clink glasses, laughing as they down the whiskey.
Marlene kisses James, and the two break apart, their laughter ringing through the common room. A few people look over at them, but most are too drunk to care much, the music blasting loudly. Regulus sticks his face out of the invisibility cloak, peering at James, who sees Regulus’s face immediately. “Jealous?” James mouths, grinning as Regulus scowls at Marlene.
“Okay, I pick Sirius,” James says to the group. Sirius spins the bottle, and it lands on Peter. Sirius carries two shot glasses over and sits in the middle of the circle. “C’mere Pete,” Sirius smirks. Peter scoots over to the middle, and Sirius downs his shot with Peter. Then, before Peter can even set his glass down, Sirius plants a wet kiss on Peter’s cheek.
“Ew, Sirius!” Peter exclaims, jumping backwards. James and Marlene burst out in laughter as Peter sits in disgust.
The group proceeds to play spin the bottle for about a half hour, and they’ve all had one or two shots.
“Okay, I’m bored,” Mary says, flopping backwards onto the ground.
“What should we play now?” Lily asks.
“We can play truth or dare now, with the Veritaserum we nicked from Slughorn.”
“Alright, who’s going first?”
“Excuse me, what?” James asks. “You took Veritaserum from Slughorn's office? Without me?”
“Ah, sorry mate,” Sirius says, patting James’ head. “But you weren’t here, Merlin knows where you were, and we were getting bored.”
“Can I go first?” Remus asks.
“Yeah, go on.”
“Lily,” Lily takes a sip from the vial, “who’ve you been seeing? You always talk to me about this person, but who is it?”
“Mary,” Lily answers easily, but them her eyes widen as Remus’ jaw drops. James, Sirius, and Marlene erupt in cheers, whistling loudly.
“Mary, stealing my Evans,” James jokes, laughing.
“Ow, what the hell is going on,” Sirius complains. “Something pinched my ear.”
Come out, James mouths to Regulus, waving them over. When Sirius turns around, Regulus pulls off the cloak and clips Sirius’ ear with his nail again.
“Ow, AGH! REGGIE? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?” James struggles to keep back his laughter as Sirius gapes in shock.
“Oh shut up,” Regulus groans. “Stupid Gryffindors.”
“Oi! We’re all Gryffindors!”
“Fine, not all Gryffindors are menaces. I’ll make an exception for Lupin. And Evans.”
“Not me?” James pouts.
“No, no, you’re fucking annoying.”
“Wait, who’s turn was it?”
“It’s Lily’s turn.”
“Okay, James, I dare you to kiss the prettiest person in the room,” Lily says. “And I think you should drink Veritaserum, so we know you’re not lying about your answer.”
“Alright,” James shrugs. He takes a sip of the Veritaserum, and sits for a moment.
“Hurry up, James,” Mary says, pushing James. James gets up, walking towards Sirius.
“Hey Sirius can you-“
“Sorry James, but you’re not my type.” James looks in confusion for a moment, then starts laughing.
“No not you Sirius. Budge over.” Sirius stares at James, appalled. James sits down between Sirius and Regulus, and presses a kiss on Regulus’s cheek.
“Um, excuse me, what the fuck,” Sirius says. “One, why do you think Reggie’s pretty, and two, that’s my BABY BROTHER. Also, I am way prettier than Regulus. Remus can testify.” James waves Sirius back.
“Okay, Regulus,” James gives Regulus the vial, who reluctantly takes a sip, “are you dating anyone?”
“Ooh, yeah Reg, you dating someone? A nice girl, perhaps?” Sirius laughs.
“No,” Regulus replies. “He’s not a girl.”
“Wait what? Reggie, you’re gay?”
“Yeah, of course I am,” Regulus rolls his eyes, but trying to stop speaking.
“Then… who are you dating?”
“James,” Regulus answers simply.
“James as in James Potter? James as in my best mate? James as in PRONGS?”
“Yeah.”
“OKAY. HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN A THING.”
“6 months and 17 days.”
“James Fleamont Potter, I’m going to kill you.”