Herbology was deplorable as usual and Regulus feels the relief wash over him as the bell sounds signalling the end of the lesson. Professor Sprout racing to sum up her reminders and notes as her students flurry about, scurrying to gather their things and escape out into the hallway to no doubt enjoy their free time.
Regulus bookmarks the textbook page he’s on and closes the book, tucking it away into the crevice of his arm as he puts away his things, before returning the text to the shrunken state in lives in, hiding it in the pocket of his bag among his various collection of school work.
Thanking Professor Sprout as he leaves he shoulders through the doorway and makes his way to the dungeons.
While he does love the atmosphere of having the Slytherin dorms in the very bottom of the castle, it can be rather inconvenient when you just wanna leave your classes and be home. Instead he has to go on the journey that is the way to the Slytherin dormitory.
By the time he gets down there and into the common room, Barty has comfortably staked his claim on their usual collection of furniture. Hidden away into one of the corners of the common room, it’s far enough away to be private, but still an optimal spot for visibility of the area around them.
Against one of the stone walls is a conveniently sized fireplace with its own little rack of firewood and utensils beside it. They’re one of the perks of the Slytherin dormitories, alongside two massive fireplaces on adjacent sides of the room, the common room also consists of roughly 20, smaller, well placed fireplaces each positioned according to groups of desks, chairs, sofas, armchairs and tables.
Due to the rather abrasive nature a lot of the Slytherin students have, over the years groups have sorted themselves into a kind of territorial map, everyone having a general space for their friends where everyone else knows not to sit. As the year progresses and then starts again, the new first years figure out the hierarchy pretty quickly, either from gaining personal experience with the consequences, or by witnessing the unfortunate person who does.
The little space they’ve claimed as theirs is up against where two of the walls conjoin, leaving a nice little corner between the adjoining wall and the fireplace for one of the fattest armchairs Regulus had ever seen, beside that pushed up against the wall was one of two upholstered green love-seats detailed with sleek mahogany legs, it’s twin sitting opposite it enclosing in the space from one side, and bringing the two together facing the fireplace were a pair of armchairs, not as luxurious as the one angled in the corner, but Regulus didn’t think any piece of furniture would ever compare to the wonderful throne of a chair he’s claimed as his own.
It was perfectly placed so he could see all his friends, stay warm and still see the rest of the room, and of course, to tie everything together there’s a matching mahogany coffee table right at kneecap height for their convenience.
Barty was in his usual place, draped dramatically over the love-seat against the wall, where Evan will no doubt join him later when he arrives. Barty’s uniform in its typical state of disarray, untucked and carefree, his shirt wrinkled and unbuttoned at the top, displaying the silver chain he wore. His tie nowhere to be found, the only symbolism of his house is the dyed strands of green peeking out from under his mop of unruly brown hair. His school shoes abandoned in their box somewhere, forfeited for the worn black lace-up combat boots Barty’s currently got thrown up on the back of the sofa.
Like Regulus and the rest of them Barty’s also adorning an unhealthy amount of silver jewellery, his ears decorated with mismatching snake earrings and an industrial piercing on one side, his fingers sporting an array of rings nowhere near as impressive as Regulus’ own. Regulus knew somewhere in that mouth of his was a tongue piercing Dorcas had done in the sanctuary of an unknowing Evan’s bed.
Plopping himself down on his usual chair, discarding his bag to the floor beside him he threw his head back against the seat and let out a wheezing sigh. Impervious to any kind of subtleness, Barty looks over and narrows his eyes, lost in thought a dangerous grin growing on his face. Angling his head sideways, somewhere in the back of his mind Regulus registers the sight of their group’s missing members walking over, his eyes darting over to them before quickly focusing back on Barty and whatever terrible idea he’s about to come up with.
“You need to get laid,” Barty decides, making Regulus choke. Throwing himself into some semblance of sitting upright.
“Excuse me?!” he sputters, shocked. Regulus was used to Barty’s random and outlandish remarks, but out of everything Barty could've said, Regulus really wasn’t expecting that.
“You heard me.” Barty says shrugging, his arms coming to cross over his chest. “You need to do something with your life that isn’t mopping about your brother or fretting over homework.”.
“I do not mope” Regulus shrieks “And if I do, I definitely don’t mope about Sirius!” he says, extending the vowels in his brother’s name.
“You definitely do” Evan chimes in from where he’s throwing himself down both onto and next to Barty, the smirk is evident in his voice.
Dorcas sits herself down onto the love seat opposite Barty and Evan’s and just grins as she scans over her friends, throwing her legs up onto the cushions beside her.
Pandora, ever the graceful one, decides to actually sit on the furniture how it’s intended to be used and places herself down gently in one of the remaining arm chairs.
Decidingly done analysing the group, Dorcas apparently feels she needs to add to this cursed discussion.
“Barty’s right Regulus, when was the last time you actually took some time for yourself and just snogged someone for the sake of snogging someone?” She adds, shrugging, her braids slipping over her shoulder and down by her arm.
“Never!” Regulus declares, “I’ve never done that because I don’t do things like that. I actually have some form of self respect, unlike you heathens!” he can feel the blood rushing to his face, hoping it doesn’t actually show up on his skin, adding fuel to the fire his so called ‘friends’ have lit.
Barty scoffs, scooting closer to Evan.
“You’re only saying that because of your delicate sensibilities” He says batting his eyelashes, Evan chuckles, now curled into Barty. “Plus..” Barty begins again, this time with his mouth grinning so wide Regulus thinks he can see the backs of his molars. “It’s actually quite fun and ridiculously entertaining, especially if you find the right person.” his eyes shifting over to look Evan up and down as he says it. Evan, the bastard he is, just smirks back and returns Barty’s ogling.
'That’s it', Regulus thinks, 'kill me now'. Sliding further back into his chair he groans. “Barty that’s disgusting, stop eye fucking Evan” The thought almost makes him gag a little, he loves his friends- as much as he won’t admit it, but in no way, shape or form does he ever want to hear about their sex lives unless he’s actively seeking out information, and even then the idea of him bringing the topic up willingly makes him shudder.
“Where would I even find someone like that?! Not everyone is like, well- you!” Regulus says, sliding his hands down in face and gesturing up at the pair next to him.
Pandora decides to chime in here, smiling sweetly at them all when she says
“Regulus, I think you’ll find there is a decent amount of the student body that would be willing to take you up on that. I know you won’t agree but you and Sirius are rather attractive people.”.
Even the mention of Sirius in this sense makes his skin crawl, and yes he knows objectively he’s fairly good looking, they all do, cursed Black family genetics giving them all amazing facial structures and features.
Looking at Pandora, Regulus sighs. “I know, I know” he dismisses his words with a few waves of his hand. “But there’s no way in hell I’m just approaching someone about this, and willing hookups don’t just fall out of the sky” he cries, throwing his hands up as if to exaggerate his point, they’re all just looking at him with raised eyebrows and blank apathy now, well except Pandora, but he knows she’s too good to be anything but kind and smiley.
Just then as if the Gods had heard his cries and decided to take matters into their own hands, James fucking Potter just appears out of thin air and crashes down into the side of the coffee table with a loud thud. Regulus knows his mouth is open, he can feel it dangling wide open, but he can’t believe what’s just happened. He glances around at his friends, their faces are an array of shock, ecstasy and pure joy but from what he can see they’re all absolutely thrilled about this turn of events. Pandora being the kind soul she is, is saying hello to James.
YES, right. James bloody Potter, who just fell out of the sky and crash landed in front of them. Unfairly attractive, best friend of his brother, James Potter. James Potter who is currently scrambling up from where he’s tangled up on the floor, it’s not until he’s fully upright and adjusting his glasses that Regulus actually sees the state James is in.
He’s dressed in the remains of what Regulus guesses was once a Gryffindor sweater and black school pants, though the sweater is now quite torn and appears to have a fair amount of twigs, leaves and dirt stuck to it. James also appears to be missing a shoe, his right foot a stark difference to the hardwood flooring due to the vibrant pink colour of the fabric.
Unlike the rest of him, James’ one hot-pink sock seems to be in perfect condition and perfectly clean. Looking up at his face, unfortunately Regulus can’t say the same for James' hair, which is currently harbouring enough twigs and leaves to house a small family of birds.
Before any of them can say anything James’ expression becomes one of fierce determination as he looks down at himself, nods and promptly says “Perfect”.
The next thing Regulus knows, James is leaping over the coffee table, clamouring over the sofa and sprinting out the doorway out of the Slytherin common rooms, leaving a trail of astonished and speechless students in his wake.
“Well.. uh” Barty starts, apparently recovered from whatever just occurred. “He sure looked like he fell out of the sky, huh Reg” The smirk reappeared for a second before Regulus launched a rather well-stuffed pillow directly at his face.