Up Above
James:
James had honestly planned on just going to bed. It had been a long day and he just wanted to rest. He had a pop quiz in Charms and he had definitely failed. On top of that Slughorn had given him detention for “Making a mess in the classroom”. He might have exploded a cauldron but that was hardly merit enough for detention. Or maybe it was. Who knew?
Anyway he had just looked at the map out of habit and saw Regulus’s name walking to the Astronomy Tower and he decided to see him again. He had grabbed the map and almost forgotten his shoes before running to see him. When he got up there though; he found Regulus talking to the stars. “I want to leave so bad Sirius, I-“ Regulus’s voice started to tremble and he wiped under his eyes.
“Hi Regulus”
James saw Regulus’s shoulders tense up and heard him sigh before he spoke, his voice still a little trembley. “What is it this time, Potter?”
“Just wanted to say hi”
“We’ll you’ve said it now. You can leave”
James shook his head before realizing Regulus couldn’t see him, “Don’t think I will. You seem sad and I don’t want you going through it without someone”.
“You don’t even like me”
“Yes I do. You’re the one who’s been ignoring me”
“Because you’re a dick”
James sat next to Regulus who was dangling his feet off of the tower. Regulus spoke again, “And you’re a jerk and I hate you”.
James spoke softly, “You can do that but I don’t hate you.”
“But I’m a Slytherin”
“Don’t really care”
“I’ve been a total jerk to you”.
“Everyone’s a jerk sometimes”
James glanced at Regulus whose curly hair kept blowing over his eyes. He had really beautiful eyes. They were the same color as Sirius’s but they somehow looked different. James wanted to turn Regulus’s head towards him so he could look at his eyes and his face and all of him.
Regulus had gone quiet for a minute before he said anything, “Why Potter?”
James shrugged, “I don’t know, it just feels like I’m drawn to you. You make me smile”
Regulus looked at James confused, “You’re a confusing person James Potter”.
Regulus turned his head back to look at the sky again and they both sat in silence for a minute before Regulus spoke, “You don’t have to be here just because I’m his little brother. I'm my own person, I can take care of myself”.
“I know you can”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because I want to be”
There was silence again but this time it was more comforting than awkward. James could feel the warmth radiating off Regulus’s body and their shoulders brushed each other occasionally as their legs dangled off the edge. They sat like that for a while just enjoying each other’s company before Regulus murmured something about his roommate and left quickly.
James got back to the tower late that night. Sirius was sitting on his bed tapping his leg anxiously with his finger. When he saw James enter the room he stood up, “Where were you?” James walked over to him quickly, “At the Astronomy Tower. Why?”
“Just- I had a nightmare and you had the map so I didn’t know where you were…” Sirius trailed off looking down at his feet. “Shit. Sirius I didn’t think- Are you okay? Do you need to talk? Let’s talk.”
James pulled Sirius onto his bed, cast a silencing spell and they started to talk. Preoccupied trying to make sure Sirius was ok James had totally forgotten to tell him about Regulus. He only remembered once Sirius was asleep in his bed. He’d tell him in the morning.
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Regulus:
What was James Potter doing to him? Marlen had said that James wasn’t one to mess with feelings but it seemed like he was. Regulus made him smile? How was Regulus supposed to react to that? This man was one of the straightest people in Hogwarts but he had been acting flirty with Regulus in the changing rooms. The worst part was that James had sounded genuine on the tower when he said that he just liked talking to Regulus. Did he really just want to be Regulus’s friend? If he did, why?
James had said that he just wanted to be his friend but nobody just wanted to be friends with Regulus other than Pandora and Dorcas. Even Pandora had met him through Evan. Evan and Barty had been his roommates and that was basically assured friendship. At the very least he was trying to watch out for him on Sirius’s behalf. Sirius had tried to reach out but Regulus didn’t want to hear it. Sirius had left him. He had known what it was like to be there and known what Regulus would have to endure if he left but he left anyway. Regulus didn’t want to hear anything Sirius had to say. Regulus was the one stuck in the house now, it wasn't both of them anymore. They weren’t a team anymore and Sirius shouldn’t try to act like they are.
Regulus had been walking to class while thinking all of this and suddenly he bumped into someone. His books fell all over the floor and he let out a string of curses in French. He bent down to pick up his books and the person leaned down and started picking up some of Regulus’s books. While trying to pick up a History of Magic tome their hands brushed and Regulus looked up. It was James who grinned good naturedly at him, “Hi Regulus”. Regulus quickly grabbed the book and started walking away. James groaned and walked after him, “Regulus, come back”. Regulus kept walking and unlike the first time this had happened James was able to keep sight of him. Suddenly after making a sharp left turn he ran into a wall. Hogwarts changed around daily and this wall hadn't been there the day before but would likely stay there until it moved again like the staircases. He turned around and was met with James’s body crashing into him.
“Ah fuck. Shit Regulus, I just wanted to talk, I’m sorry”. Regulus looked up at him. James was taller than him and he could see the bits of sweat still lingering in his hair and his beautiful brown eyes that were a bit wide.
“Regulus?”
Shit. Regulus had been staring for too long, “Er, yeah I’m fine Potter. Don’t get your panties in a twist.” James smiled, “Aaaand he’s back.”
“Why do you always grin when I make fun of you?”
“Dunno. KInd of cute actually”.
Regulus felt his cheeks start to flush and he quickly pushed by James who easily let him pass.
“Goodbye Potter”
“Bye Regulus”.
Regulus could feel James looking at him until he turned a corner. He didn’t stop until he was in the dungeons where he pressed his hot forehead to the cool wall. “Fuck”, he whispered. What was James doing with Regulus?
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James:
James was very confused. He had run into Regulus before breakfast again and it had been very strange. Regulus hadn’t realized it was James who had ran into him and had let out this string of words in French. James had only ever heard Sirius speak French twice and it hadn’t sounded as elegant as Regulus had sounded. Regulus had run again and James walked after him and then like the stupid idiot he was James had bumped into him. Regulus had gotten flushed and left quickly. Hopefully he didn’t get a fever.