Harry had grown up to be quite intellegent,always getting top grades on his assessments and being awarded house points for his intellegence,not to mention his gift for playing quidditch.However,as Harry's fifth year pulled through,he began finding it hard to balance his studies in between his lessons and meals or spending time with his friends.He knew he should prioritize his grades and study time with his OWLS approaching faster than he would like however,he had grown distant to his friends in doing so and therefor had gotten into a disagreement with Ron about him being pushed aside and feeling left out.Harry didn't think it was unreasonable for him to feel like that,he knew he was focused on his study time,maybe too much at Times,leaving barely any time at all to actually interact with his friends,especially with the quidditch season going ahead.But he was tired,tired of having to reject the offers of spending time with his friends,in fear that if he didn't study he would fail his OWLS or if he didn't get to quidditch practice he would be kicked from the team but also tired of the countless hours he spent tucked up in his bed,the curtains drawn around him while piles of books and parchments were splayed out around him,some levetating around him and quite frankly it was exhausting.
The train rolled into Kings Cross Station and Harry pulled his case down from the overhead compartment before handing Hermione hers,earning a small smile.He then turned to see Ron making his way out of the small train compartment "Ron!" Harry called and Ron turned around,looking back at him."Have a good break" Harry spoke quietly,watching the way Ron rolled his eyes slightly,looking away before looking back at Harry."Yeah.You too" he replied before leaving the train.
Harry said his goodbyes to Hermione,being caught by suprise when Hermione wrapped him in a tight hug,her arms wrapped around his neck."Talk to him.He just misses you.Don't trick yourself into thinking he hates you.I promise you he doesn't." she whispered and Harry felt his heart pull.He pulled out of the hug,nodding and giving Hermione a smile before whispering a goodbye and heading towards A familiar figure stood,his hands in his pockets,the sun reflecting gently off of the gold rimmed glasses that sat on his nose.
A lump formed in Harry's throat as he approached his dad.James smiled,a big happy grin and held his arms out to Harry.Harry walked into his dad's arms,wrapping his own around James' middle,digging his face into the crook of his neck."I missed you" James laughed gently as he squeezed Harry tightly.That was until he noticed the shake in his son's shoulders and the growing wet patch in the shoulder of his shirt."Harry? Son,what's wrong?" James asked and a sob escaped Harry's mouth,muffled by James' shoulder.James placed a hand on the back of Harry's head,keeping his face as neutral as possible so not to drag any attention.Harry was silent until James heard his muffled voice,one sentence."I need Reg" He whispered.
Harry and James got along from the moment Harry was born,his first smile was at James,his first word was "dada" even his first steps were heading towards his dad.But when Regulus came into Harry's life when he was just 4 years old,Harry grew attached to him in a different way.With James,everything was happy,fun.They were always getting up to no good,whether that would be trying the food before Regulus had even gotten it out of the pan,or playing harmless pranks on eachother and Regulus.So when Harry wanted Cheering up or was on a mad sugar rush that made him Hyper,he would seek out James and they would immediately spend time together,just laughing and grinning at eachother as they ran around the grounds of the potter manor doing merlin knows what.However,with Regulus,Harry found his safe space.So when he was feeling low or had a bad day,Regulus was always the one he went to.The one who would hold him for hours on end without a single question until Harry was ready to talk.He was always the one to make things better when Harry needed him.So when James heard those words,he made no attempt to question what his son needed,only that he was upset and needed Regulus.
With a snap of his fingers,James apparated them straight home,landing in the living room still wrapped in a tight hug together.James softly pulled away fron Hary,guiding him to sit on the couch while he shouted for Regulus calmly."Reg? Love?" James shouted and Regulus appeared,walking into the living room,a book in his hands."Yes? Harry-" Regulus paused when he saw Harry's face,his eyes red and puffy from crying and his hair slightly messed up from James' hand that had been raking through his hair gently.
With one look,Harry crumbled.He dropped his head down,his hands covering over his face as he sobbed.Regulus looked at James,a mixture of confusion and concern across his face but James just shrugged,his face plastered with concern for his son."Oh Harry" Regulus whispered as he moved to sit down next to the teenager.James always knew that when Harry and Regulus needed time,it was best for them to be alone.Though this might have been a bit disheartening to some people,James was never put off by it,especially because he used to be the same.His dad,Monty was the person he would go to if he wanted to run around or needed help planning a prank,simply because they had the same mischevious traits and were always full of energy.Whereas his mum was the one he would spend hours sat with,tucked under her arm as they talked out all of his problems or worries.
Regulus placed a hand on Harry's back,rubbing gentle circles against the fabric of his tshirt."Do you want a hug?" Regulus asked and Harry nodded,immediately turning to slump into Regulus' arms,hands still covering his face as he leaned into Regulus.Throughout the whole of Regulus' childhood,there was only one person he could go to if he wanted comfort,his brother,his safe space and ever since he took on the roll of being Harry's father,he vowed to himself that he would be that person for Harry,whether that was reading his book with 8 year old Harry tucked under his arm having some down time or whether that was holding him while he cried,he would always be there.
It took 10 minutes for Harry to fully calm down,Regulus now leant against the back of the couch,Harry right next to him,under his arm,picking at his thumbs."Do you want to talk about it?" Regulus asked calmly and Harry took a deep breath,not moving his gaze from his hands."It's my friends.I've been so focused on quidditch practice and studying and homework that i've had no time to be with them" Harry spoke quietly but Regulus was close enough the be able to hear him."Dinner finishes at 7,what about after that?" Regulus asked softly and Harry shook his head."I study.I can't fail my OWLS" and that's when Regulus understood."Harry.You know that Your dad and i are very proud of you,right? and that no test scores or quidditch results could ever change how much we love you?" Regulus asked and Harry nodded,his eyes still trained on his hands."Why have you been studying so much? are you just worried? or are you not doing so well in classes? You know i won't be mad either way" Regulus' voice was calm and soft the whole time and Harry finally looked up at him."It's just that the OWLS are a big deal and the professors keep saying how much of a big deal they are and how important they are and i don't want to disappoint you or dad and i'm scared that if i don't study i'll fail and...dissapoint you both" Harry didn't look at Regulus as he spoke,only stealing a glance when he was finished.
"No OWLS results could ever make us dissapointed in you Harry...I think sometimes you forget that your dad and i went to Hogwarts ourselves and believe me i did exactly as you are now.I barely left my dorm room,books spread everywhere.I was a mess.And i know that the professors take them seriously and it's hard with the pressure but you've got to remember you need time away.Time that you can spend with your friends...and i'm not saying you don't need to study because i think it always does someone good to study but i'm also not saying you have to spend every second of free time burried in a book,studying positions or reading about charms.You're still just a teenager,you're allowed to have fun.Yeah?" Harry looked at Regulus,his eyes softening as some of his worries slipped away before he thought about Ron."I think i messed up" Harry whispered,looking at Regulus who's eyes softened.
Harry told him all about what Ron had said and Regulus listened,nodding along quietly until Harry had finished."I think he just misses you.Write him a letter tomorrow,apologize for being absent and tell him how you've been feeling.He'll understand,he's a good kid.And so are you,don't beat yourself up.Okay?" Regulus asked and Harry nodded."Hug?" Harry's smile returned as he wrapped his arms around Regulus,sighing contently.
James came into the room holding two teas which he placed on the coffee table before sitting down,lifting Harry's legs up and placing them on his lap."Alright now? Can i officially join the cool kids" James teased and Harry laughed,his head now in Regulus' lap who had returned to his book,a hand gently running through Harry's hair."Hmmm.What do you think,Harry? is he cool enough?" Regulus asked,placing his book down on the couch beside him."Never" Harry joked and James gasped,faking offense as he placed a hand on his chest."I am very cool,thank you!" They all laughed and James rested his arm against the back of the couch,reaching to play with the curls at the nape of Regulus' neck.Regulus gave him a smile,a silent confirmation that everything was okay and James relaxed.
Midnight rolled around as their game of chess finished,Harry saying his goodnights and giving both James and Regulus a hug before heading up to bed.James grabbed a glass of water before walking into his and Regulus' bedroom.He found Regulus layed on their bed,watching as James placed his glass down on the bedside table.
James climbed into the bed with an exaggerated huff and flopped down directly ontop of Regulus who groaned before laughing."Get off.You're heavy" Regulus laughed and James placed his elbows either side of Regulus' head,pushing himself up to look at him."It's the quidditch muscles,baby.You know you love them really" James winked and Regulus rolled his eyes despite the smile on his face."That i do,now can you get off so i can enjoy my sleep?" Regulus asked and James rolled over,taking Regulus with him as they both laughed."better?" James asked and Regulus settled into James side,almost ontop of him,his head resting on James' chest and their legs intertwined."Much better" Regulus sighed contently,his arms wrapping around James' waist."He's alright?" James asked quietly and Regulus shifted to look up at him."Yeah.Yeah he's okay" Regulus replied and James nodded."You're an amazing dad" James whispered and Regulus smiled "So are you" he replied before resting his head back on James' chest."I love you,Regulus" "i love you too,James.So much" and with that,they both drifted off to sleep,soft smiles on their faces and their worries slipping away.