Regulus
It was the night after the first match of the year. The match had dragged on a bit near the end and Regulus was tired. Slytherin had lost against Gryffindor so there would be no parties in the Slytherin common room. However, since Regulus had caught the snitch, his friends were planning on throwing him a little party with just them. Their dorm was big enough for all of them to squeeze in a little circle on the floor. Pandora had invited Barty, Evan, and Dorcas so the dorm that he Barty and Evan shared would be the meeting place. The miny party went on not for too long though, so by 10pm, Regulus managed to excuse his way out of playing another round of truth or dare. He ‘needed some fresh air.’
After escaping out of the dungeons, Regulus turned into his Animagus form and begun the journey to the astronomy tower. His mind started to wander, and Regulus found himself thinking of a particular Gryffindor who had played particularly well in today’s game. James was most likely enjoying himself at the so called ‘legendary’ Gryffindor parties that Slytherins were never invited to. Curious to see what was so ‘legendary’ about them, he decided to walk by the Gryffindor common room to see for himself.
Lo and behold, just as Regulus had turned the corner to the aforementioned Gryffindor boy way stumbling through the portrait hole into the same corridor as him. Regulus didn’t think James spotted him, so he did the natural thing, and followed him. It was no surprise at all to Regulus that James started to make his was towards the astronomy tower; with Regulus following him of course.
They were about half way there when James suddenly turned around and caught Regulus padding along gently behind him. Regulus froze. What should he do? Luckily his cat instincts kicked in and he darted behind a statue. He didn’t think James caught him. Peaking his head out from around the statue, Regulus saw James just smiling at the space where Regulus was just standing, before continuing to walk onwards.
It was one of his soft smiles. The kind that could warm a person’s soul just by looking at it. The kind that he only reserves for special people. Subconsciously, he smiled to himself and he felt his shoulders relax. He really should be getting to bed, but that smile was addicting, and he wouldn’t rest until he got to see it again. Regulus felt that familiar feeling in his stomach again. The same one he’s been feeling for months now. It had made itself home in his chest and refused to leave no matter how much Regulus tried to shame it away. His heart fluttered rapidly in his chest, so much like a butterfly that he was worried one had flown in and had gotten trapped without him noticing. It took several moments for Regulus to calm himself down again, but he kept on following James up and up to the astronomy tower.
Once they were there, Regulus didn’t know what to do. Should he join James, who had made himself comfortable by one of the ledges and was staring up at the sky, or should he creepily watch him from afar. He chose the former after a brief back and forth with himself. However, it took him a lot of time to work up the courage to do that, so by the time he approached James, he had been staring at him for a while like a creep anyway. Oh well. He was walking up to James now.
He and just perched on a ledge close to James, when the boy finally noticed him. He looked so peaceful and happy. It warmed Regulus’ soul to see him so serene. The match must have been stressful for him. But now he was calm and relaxed and his tranquil vibes were rubbing off on the already tired Regulus. In a split second decision that his sleep-addling brain made, he padded towards James and nudged his arms until he let him onto his lap. He settled himself on James and allowed himself to sleep. This would be a decision for future Regulus to regret, but now, he was falling asleep in his crushes lap.
‘Hey little Leo,’ Regulus awoke to the sound of James speaking softly to him. Why did he call him Leo? That was cute.
‘Don’t worry.’ He continued when he saw Regulus had opened his eyes. ‘Its just getting a bit chilly, and I don’t want you or me to freeze to death tonight so I’m going to pop back inside and probably go back to my dorm now.’
Regulus rolled his eyes and glared at James. This was the closest he had ever gotten to James and he wasn’t about to let that go just yet. James however didn’t agree with this, and when he tried to place him off his lap, Regulus meowed indignantly and just climbed right back on. He wasn’t getting away that fast.
‘Okay fine. Look, Leo the way this is going to work is this: either you get off my lap or I’ll have to bring you back to my dorm.’ Regulus was beginning to like the little nickname James had given him. ‘You most likely wont like being shut in a room with a bunch of teenage boys.’
Regulus just stared into his big brown eyes, through his wide, wire glasses, refusing to break eye contact as if to challenge James to make him move off his lap. When James noticed this, he broke out into a grin -much like the one from earlier- and scooped up Regulus in his arms and began walking back to the Gryffindor dorms.
‘Okay Leo, I’ve come to a decision: you’re going to have to sleep in my bed because I don’t want to freak out my other dormmates.’
Regulus wondered how he would sleep next to James Potter all night, but the slow and steady bumping up and down in James’ warm arms lulled Regulus back to sleep.
Regulus couldn’t believe it. He was on his way to go and sleep with James Potter. The James Potter. The guy he had been following around for years now. The guy who he refused to admit to anyone, even himself, that he had a crush on.