It's Nice to Have a Friend
“And remind Sirius to practice his violin.” Walburga said sternly. “Yes, mother,” Regulus replied monotonously. “You know, Regulus, you are the one I rely on. Yes, I do need Sirius, but you are the calm and mature one. Your brother can be quite reckless and short tempered, that boy. I need you to keep him in order. Do you understand?” his mother patted him on his shoulder and looked him in the eye. Regulus nodded. Even though he did not like his mother, it healed his soul knowing that she relied on him. That she needed him. “Now, I’m going to your Aunt Druella’s house. I will be back in a few hours. Make sure your brother doesn’t do anything stupid.” Walburga turned around without a second glance and shut the front door. Regulus headed up to his room with a sense of pride.
“He never told me anything.” Sirius spoke. Regulus furrowed his eyebrows. Who was he talking to? There was no one at home except for them. He could hear other people’s voices. One of them sounded quite familiar. Regulus slowly twisted the doorknob. The door creaked open, and he entered the room.
“Reggie!” James’ eyes lit up. He rushed forward to pull him into a tight embrace. “Er, hi. What are you doing here?” Regulus coughed. James was strangling him at this point. “I told you I’d come today, didn’t I? So, I did!” James replied with a grin. Regulus’ heart fluttered at the thought of James coming just for him. Just like he had promised. “I see you’ve met my brother,” Regulus changed the topic.
“Yes, yes. He’s quite the opposite of you. More like me honestly. But I brought my friend, Remus, and I think you’ll like him! He’s almost you but in a different body. Very ironic, really.” James said. That’s when Regulus noticed a shabby looking boy next to Sirus. His face was covered in light scars but in some way, it made him look attractive. He was tall, taller than James, but he slouched slightly when he stood up. Maybe he was tired from bending down to look at people. If James didn’t look as good as he did, Regulus would have had a crush on Remus. But it looked like his brother had beat him to it. Sirius was looking at him all lovey-dovey. It grossed Regulus out. His heart ached to know that James had other people in his life other than him, but it was stupid because it was James. Of course, he had other friends. Not everyone was a loner like Regulus.
“Hello,” Remus greeted him with a small smile. He didn’t try hugging him or ruffling his hair. Regulus liked that. “Hi,” he said quietly. “Anyway, we came here to hang out with you guys. There was nothing to do back at Hogwarts,” James explained. The last time he was here, James had told him that he was a wizard, and that wizards and witches went to a place called Hogwarts to learn magic. It amazed Regulus. He wanted to learn magic too. Not boring Mathematics and Science. “You had to do a Transfiguration Essay!” Remus accused. “It’s fine, Moony. You know Minnie loves me,” James winked at him. Transfiguration? Regulus assumed it was a subject and that “Minnie” was their teacher. “What are we going to do?” Sirius asked, breaking his love-struck gaze on Remus. “Let’s play a game! This time we brought cards from our dorm to play.” James suggested.
“Sit down,” Remus gestured to the floor and took a seat. They all sat in a circle. “Okay, so this game is called Exploding Snap.” James said. He explained the rules of the game and the Black Brothers managed to grasp the way of the game quite quickly. As though it were second nature. A part of Regulus hoped that he was a wizard too. That way, maybe he could escape from their house and live somewhere else. Maybe even turn his parents into frogs while leaving like they do in fairy tales. They played Exploding Snap for a while until they all got bored and decided to laze around. Sirius, the lovesick fool, pulled Remus into a conversation about their wizardry and where they all lived.
“Hey,” James said. “Hi,” Regulus smiled. “How’s life?” James questioned with a stupid grin on his face. Regulus giggled at that. (Maybe he was the lovesick fool) “I don’t know. Boring?” Regulus replied. “Well, I’m here to brighten up your boring little life. Like the Sun lighting up your day!” James wiggled his eyebrows.
He was the Sun.
Regulus blushed. He didn’t know why. Maybe because James was around and he made him like that. All cheesy and gooey. Making him feel things. Stupid Potter. “Aww, is Regulus blushing? Did I make you blush?” James cooed. “N-no!” Regulus denied. “I mean, I understand. I am me, of course. Who wouldn’t blush at my presence?” James spoke cockily. Regulus smacked James’ head lightly. “Stop being annoying,” Regulus mumbled. James simply smirked.
“Oi! Lovebirds! Cut it out!” Sirius screeched from his bed. “As if you haven’t been flirting with Remus the whole time,” Regulus retorted, causing both boys to go red. He smirked when they didn’t deny it. “Do you have music that we can listen to?” James asked, trying to ease the tension. “Uh, yeah. It’s in the guest room.” Regulus got up. “Great! Lead the way, Mister Black!” James bowed low. Regulus shook his head at the tanned boy’s antics.
“I think we have some ABBA and Queen vinyl in here,” Regulus said. “What’s that?” James furrowed his eyebrows. “They’re bands. They’re quite famous. I think you’ll like them.” Regulus replied, putting in a vinyl into the record player. It was Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy by Queen. It reminded him of James quite a bit. He imagined him as the type to love passionately and fall fast and deep. Who knows? Only the lucky person in the future could tell. (Regulus secretly wanted to be that lucky person. But he didn’t know it. Not yet) Maybe he already has a girlfriend. The song started to play, and the melody filled the room.
I can dim the lights and sing you songs full of sad things
We can do the tango, just for two
I can serenade and gently play on your heart strings
Be your Valentino, just for you
“Ooh! I like this!” James exclaimed. “Let’s dance, Reg!” he dragged Regulus by his wrist. “I don’t know how to dance, though,” Regulus frowned. That was a lie. Of course he went to dancing lessons. His parents were the Blacks after all. “It’s fine! Just move your body around. Like this,” James let go and wiggled his body around. He looked like a dork. He looks good doing it though. Regulus laughed and nodded. What could go wrong with a little fun?
Ooh, love, ooh, lover boy
What're you doing tonight? Hey, boy
Set my alarm, turn on my charm
That's because I'm a good old-fashioned lover boy
James twirled Regulus around. He chuckled. They started shimmying their bodies.
Ooh, let me feel your heartbeat (grow faster, faster)
(Ooh-ooh) can you feel my love heat? (Ooh-ooh)
Come on and sit on my hot seat of love
And tell me how do you feel, right after all
I'd like for you and I to go romancing
Say the word, your wish is my command
Regulus did not have a single thought about looking stupid. He felt free. Like a bird escaping its cage. Only James made him feel like that. Free.
Ooh, love, ooh, lover boy
What're you doing tonight? Hey, boy
Write my letter, feel much better
And use my fancy patter on the telephone
When I'm not with you, think of you always
(I miss those long hot summer nights) I miss you
When I'm not with you, think of me always
Love you, love you
Hey, boy, where do you get it from?
Hey, boy, where did you go?
I learned my passion in the good old-fashioned school of lover boys
They howled at each other’s dance moves. The whole scene would make someone roll on the floor clutching their stomach. “I can dance better!” James hollered over the music. “Are you sure about that?” Regulus cocked his eyebrow.
Dining at the Ritz, we'll meet at nine
(One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine o'clock) precisely
I will pay the bill, you taste the wine
Driving back in style, in my saloon, will do quite nicely
Just take me back to yours, that will be fine
Come on and get it
Regulus started twisting his body into complex moves that a beginner like James could not master. His competitiveness was taking over.
Ooh, love (there he goes again)
Ooh, lover boy (he's my good old-fashioned lover boy, ooh)
What're you doing tonight? Hey, boy
Everything's all right, just hold on tight
That's because I'm a good old-(fashioned, fashioned) lover boy
The song came to an end. Regulus and James panted heavily. “Wow, you can dance so elegantly. Like a swan.” James complimented him. A tinge of pink could be seen on Regulus’ cheeks. “Well, that was quite a workout, wasn’t it?” Regulus joked, brushing his comment off. James nodded, still mesmerised by the shorter boy. Who knew he could be so amazing. But then again, it’s Regulus. They caught their breaths.
Regulus lips quirked up and James started to smirk. Their smiles widened. James began laughing his arse off which caused Regulus to start giggling as well. They both fell to the floor, hiccupping. Everything seemed so funny for some reason. “Merlin, I don’t even know why I’m laughing.” James wiped a tear from his eye. They both stood up, still chuckling and brushed off the dust from their trousers. “Ah, it’s nice to have a friend, right?” James asked. They were friends. Regulus never had a friend before. It sounded beautiful.
Just like James. Regulus wanted his brain to shut up. Desperately. “It sounds lovely,” Regulus agreed. “It really does,” James delicately placed his hand on top on Regulus’. It was nice to have a friend. Really nice. Like the sun sinking at the end of the day.