The Lucky Ones (xoxo)

Chapter 1

James Potter

His parents' parties were always so boring. The music was quiet and classical. The guests with sharp eyes and sharper tongues. You could hardly tell whether any of them actually liked each other, patiently watching for a stumble to strike. But Euphemia potter is a force of nature, bending when she needed to and snapping when she had to. ‘Snakes and lions’ was what she’d called it. The fact That some people lurk in the shadows, silently watching for the mis–step that gives them the opportunity to strike. Then there are those who are loud and callous. Basking in the spotlight and boasting proudly. Quick to make a scene, and even quicker to bite down till they taste blood. She had said to James that her and his father had chosen to play, earning they’re place amongst the wealthiest by beating them at their own game. “Snakes and lions” she always reminded him. A snake’s watchful eye on those who aren't closest to you and a lion's roar to protect those who are. Euphemia Potter was fierce, she could hold her own against the born and bred socialites. James always admired that, but he could never stand the stiffness of those parties for too long, he’d avoid them completely if he hadn’t promised his dad courtesy rounds before joining his people upstairs.

He felt his phone buzz in his pocket as he walked in the room. Sirius had managed to pick the lock on the liquor cabinet last night and it seems like most of them had had their fair share. Lily and Marlene were still dancing, if you could call what they were doing dancing at all. Across from where the girls were stumbling, Sirius sat drowsily in his seat bumping his head to the music as Mary sat draped across his lap. Remus was the only one who was alone. Sitting on a window ledge with a blanket and a cigarette. James approached him first, the others too distracted to realize he’d even returned.

“Hey, moony.” He said with a smile. Remus looked over his shoulder, shuffling to the side to make room once he saw him.

“Hi, James.” he replied, but it was hollow and heavy all at once. A feeling James related to all too well. James leaned against the window sill and found him staring at Sirius and Mary.

“I know she doesn't mean anything by it, and I know it's irrational but It makes me so bloody mad.” He said as he handed him a cig, still watching.

“Nothing about love is rational.” James said, inhaling the smoke to get rid of the taste of bitter truth.

“Holy shit. Have any of you seen Gossip girl?” Lily yelled as Marlene paused the music. They’d both stopped dancing, staring at the phone in Lily's hand.

Mary sat up on Sirius’s lap as she gasped. “Someone spotted Regulus getting off the train at Grand central.”

Regulus.

Regulus was back.

He was in New York.

He’s here.

Sirius, who seemed to have realized this too, slid Mary off his lap and left abruptly. Remus glanced at James, unsure whether he was allowed to comfort Sirius, as if they had valued him any less than each other. James had always thought that was absurd. He nodded at him, as his stomach twisted with nerves. Remus ran out to follow Sirius and James made his way over to the couch, sitting beside Mary.

“Regulus black is back in town.” She says in disbelief.

“That he is.” A voice at the door says.

328 days. That was the last time he laid eyes on Regulus. Almost a year he stayed away. Almost a year he’d spent heartbroken, and almost a year he’d spent trying to forget about him. And he’d succeeded. Almost.

But there as he stood in the door way, and in that special brand of magic only Regulus ever had, he managed to melt the wall of ice he’d spent the past 11 months building in a matter of seconds. It wasn’t even as if Regulus was trying, he holds himself in the way a black always does, gracefully, regally, and formidably. Uncaring and unaffected.

“Are you going to sit there staring, Potter or are you going to tell me where my brother is?” Regulus asked, sounding almost bored. James blinked quickly, at Regulus addressing him directly.

“Uhh, yea,” James said as he got up clumsily. “I’ll take you to him” Regulus turned quickly standing in the hall as he waited for James to join him.

As he stepped out to join Regulus in the hall, James shut the door behind him.

“So…” James started.

“You’re back?”

“Yes, we’ve established that Potter. Keep up.” Regulus replies coldly.

“No, I mean you’re back? For good?” James asked, unable to control the hope that bloomed in his stomach.

“For the time being.” Regulus replied, his resolve still as stoic and cold as ever.

“Take me to Sirius, Mother is sending a driver soon.” James stared at him for a moment.

“Reggie-“

“Address me by my given name or do not address me at all.” Regulus cut him off sharply, his first real show of emotion since he arrived. James could lie and say that it doesn’t sting - being pushed back to formalities.

“Sorry, I meant Regulus, Sirius is living here now. He left home a few weeks after you did. You know how your mother is, he couldn’t handle it. being cooped up in there, just the two of them. You’re welcome to try to talk to him, but I don’t think he’s going to go back.” James explained. Regulus didn’t answer.

“I missed you.” James said, breaking the silence, and it seems like that’s all Regulus needed to thaw. James knew it the second he saw that wrinkle appear between his brows.

“You can’t, James.” Regulus replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

“But I do, Reg.” Said James as He stepped forward.

“You can’t, We can’t.” Regulus replied turning his head to the side as James stepped closer.

“Did you miss me, Reg?” James asked, feeling familiar and strange all at once. He turned Regulus’s face towards him.

“James…” Regulus said as their eyes met. James could feel it, his resolve slipping.

“Please, Reg. Answer me.” James pleaded, but it was Regulus who stepped closer this time, his eyes closing before he replied.

“Yes.” Regulus said. Barely above a whisper. James moved his hand, cradling the side of Regulus’s face. James could feel the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“But, That doesn’t matter.” Regulus continued as he stepped away.

“I need to see my brother.”

James felt hollow, but he did his best not to show it, leading Regulus to the room.

“Oh James, thank god-“ Remus cut himself off mid sentence as he spotted the figure behind James.

“Regulus. Uh, I'm Remus.” He continued, stumbling through the introduction.

“Yes, Lupin. I know who you are. Where is my brother?” Regulus replied curtly. Before Remus could even reply,
Sirius called from inside the room “Let him in.”

Remus shrugged his shoulders at James before wordlessly opening the door wider, and letting Regulus through.

Regulus Black 

When Regulus stepped into the room, Sirius was sitting at the edge of the bed, staring down at the ground. He didn’t even look up as he spoke.

“So, you’re back.” Says Sirius matter-of-factly.

“Clearly. Mother is sending a driver. She wants you home again.” Regulus replied. He could see Sirius’s shoulders start shaking, but it wasn’t until Sirius lifted his head and locked eyes with his brother that Regulus saw it. Sirius was laughing. Not a humorous laugh, No. It was one weighed down by resentment. It was angry.

“If there’s one thing you inherited from our bitch of a mother its her fucking audacity.” Sirius spat.

“Pardon me?” Regulus replied incredulously.

“No, pardon my ass. You left me, okay? You’re the one who left for fucking Switzerland and didn’t have the decency to tell me before hand. You’re the one who let me find out from her. You left me first, Regulus. You left me in that house with her and I almost lost my damn mind. I’m lucky I made it out, I almost didn’t, but you’re just as crazy as our mother if you think I’ll ever be going back.” Sirius finished, his chest heaving. Regulus glared back at Sirius before responding

“I went to boarding school, okay? I didn’t disappear off the face of the planet. I was a phone call away. You didn’t think to call me though, did you?” Regulus paused “No, you just ran off to the Potters and forgot about your own family, but I’m back, and mother wants you back too.” Sirius stared at Regulus before he started laughing again. It didn’t faze Regulus though, he saw through it.

“I don’t want to go back.”

“So you won’t come home.” Regulus said, more of a statement than a question.

“Don’t you get it?” Sirius sneered, stepping closer to Regulus, “That house was never home. You were. And then you were gone! And I had to find home somewhere else, so forgive me if I won’t let you waltz in and rip it away from me again!” Regulus and Sirius stood there inches apart. Regulus’s phone pings before either of them could formulate a response.

“The driver’s here.” Regulus stated as he glanced at his phone. Sirius just smiled at him bitterly before replying.

“Wouldn’t wanna keep him waiting.” Sirius walked past him to the door, muttering something under his breath about needing a fucking drink. Then Regulus was left standing alone. In his brother's new bedroom, at his new house, with his new family. As uncomfortable as it was to stay in that room, He knew it wasn’t nearly as bad as interacting with Sirius again would be, so he decided to wait a few minutes for a silent escape.

He stepped out into the hall, expecting to find it empty, but standing there, stubborn as always, was James Potter. Regulus closed his eyes, sighing deeply before waiting for James to speak.

“You don’t have to go back either, you know? We have plenty of spare rooms, you can even have one right next to Sirius.” James stared at him, eyes bright. Regulus felt a sharp stab of anger towards James at that moment.

“Because of you, Sirius doesn’t even want to be in the same house as me, so forgive me if I’m not excited to shack up with you.” Regulus' phone pinged again, it was another text from the driver.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go see my mother.” Regulus didn’t wait for a response. He couldn’t. Instead he stalked out, taking the elevator to the bottom floor and meeting his driver outside.

It wasn’t long after Regulus shut the door of the car that the second gossip girl blast went out:

“Hey upper east siders! SPOTTED! Leaving Potter manor is Regulus Black. His brother, Sirius black, ran away from home soon after Regulus left for boarding school, Moving in with James Potter. We can’t help but wonder if he’s really here to see his brother or if there’s someone else he’s missed…”

Regulus knew that his arrival back in town was going to stir up drama, but that didn’t make him any happier about it. Putting his phone away, he signaled to the driver.

Regulus is going to go inside the house, he is. He knows he has to, but that hasn’t helped him. He has been standing, rooted in place in front of the front door for the past 5 minutes. It wasn’t as if Regulus hadn’t tried, No it was quite the contrary actually. Regulus had used all his willpower, but he just couldn’t bring himself to open the door.

He didn’t have to though, because the door swung open, and his mother stood on the other side. Walburga black glared at her son where he stood. Her black hair was pulled back into a tight, sleek bun. Not a hair out of place. The grey turtleneck she was wearing was tight, especially around the neck. Maybe that was part of the reason she was straining her neck a little weirdly. Regulus thinks, for a moment, she looks like a bird, an ostrich maybe? He could see it in his mother’s eyes, before she even spoke a word, he could see the judgement, the disdain, he saw it coming, so he decided to stop her before it began.

“Hello Mother.” Walburga stared down at him with a look of disdain.

“Where is your brother, Regulus? I told you to fetch him, did I not?” Regulus cringed inwardly at her wording. This was a tactic she had used since they were children, dehumanising them. Addressing them as if they were animals, pets and not as her only children.

“I tried.” was all Regulus could manage in response.

Walburga stared at him and Regulus could have melted under the heat of her stare.

“Pathetic. I shouldn't have even asked.” Walburga barked. She didn't wait for a reaction, she simply turned and stalked away. Regulus was left standing there, in the doorframe, silently wishing he’d accepted James’ invitation.

Sirius black

Sirius stalked back towards James’ room. He knew Remus was running after him, he could hear him calling out somewhere in the back of his mind, but Regulus was back, and that had left Sirius drowning. As he turned the corner to James’ room he vaguely registered the sound of something shattering, and that was what finally broke him out of his daze. He turned around almost as quickly as he was running beforehand, worried that Remus had gotten hurt. He spotted him almost immediately, leaning over a shattered vase that Sirius had knocked over, attempting to clean up the shards. Sirius put his hand over Remus’ and Remus stilled instantly.

“You’ll cut yourself moony. Be careful.” Sirius cooed in that voice reserved only for Remus. Remus looked up at him, before he shot straight up.

“I’m fine, pads. How are you feeling after that?” Remus asked as Sirius stood up to join him. Sirius rubbed his eyes as he groaned.

“Pretty fucking shit, mate.” Remus’ eyes softened at the sight. That was until Sirius piped up once again.

“Nothing a dozen shots of fireball won’t fix.”

“A dozen? aren't you feeling mighty ambitious this evening?" Remus smirked as he spoke, he watched as Sirius dazzled him with the first genuine smile since the news of Regulus reached them.

“That’s Reggie's fault. He brings out my competitive side.” Sirius chuckled bitterly.

“Well then, let's get absolutely pissed, padfoot.” Remus replied, putting his arm around Sirius’ shoulder and making their way to the rest of their friends

When Sirius and Remus entered the room once again, every pair of eyes turned to look at them, silent and concerned. Sirius looked at all of them before asking

“Who died?” Everyone stood silently for a moment, half expecting him to scream or breakdown but he just continued

“I thought this was supposed to be a fucking party. Marlene, turn the music back on and come dance with me.” Marlene turned the music back on, The beginning chords of Everybody wants to rule the world playing. With one hand, Sirius grabbed the cheap bottle of fireball, chugging about a third as he spun Marlene around with his other one. Remus stayed in his spot as Lily wandered over.

“He’s not pacing himself.” Remus said, the worry in his voice obvious to anyone who knew him as well as Lily did.

“I take it, it didn't go well, '' Lily asked, but it was more of a statement. They could all tell how Sirius was feeling at that moment, No matter how hard he tried to convey this untouchable aura.

“We could hear them screaming at each other through the thick wooden door. And you know how loud you have to be for that to happen.” Lily sighed in response, both watching as Marlene attempted to coax the bottle out of his hand, but Sirius only laughed and turned away, chugging even more. He clearly spun around too quickly because he managed to trip over his own feet, falling on the ground in a heap. Before Remus and Lily could even react they heard a voice behind them.

“Shit. That bad, Huh?” James groaned, a broom in one hand and a bag filled with the broken ceramics in the other hand.

“Yeah,” Lily and Remus sighed in unison.

“That bad.”