James spots the bride, she’s wearing a beautiful puffy white gown that compliments her perfectly and her hair must have been done professionally because it’s in an intricate design that confuses him. She looks flustered, her cheeks pink as she rambles at a bridesmaid, tears welling in her eyes but none falling at risk of smudging her make-up. James wants to hate her, he really does.
Everything would be so much easier if she was terrible if she was cruel and conniving but she’s wonderful. Nadia Parkinson, a match from the sacred twenty-eight, picked by Walburga Black herself, it would have been so much easier if she was just like the rest of them but she isn’t. She’s like Regulus, she puts on this act to keep her family happy but the second they can’t see her she’s the complete opposite, she’s smart and funny, she volunteers in her free time and tutors struggling students around exam times for free. She's perfect.
She is honestly one of the best people Regulus could be made to marry, James does not doubt that they’d be able to make things work. But Regulus deserves better, and so does Nadia, neither of them should have to do this to keep their families happy.
So James is taking matters into his own hands, crashing this wedding and begging Regulus to not do this, and who knows, maybe if it backfires he’ll finally learn his lesson.
James makes his way to the main hall, taking in the rows of seats illuminated by floating candles, black roses droop between the chairs while towers of light purple pansies stand tall in each corner of the room, it’s objectively beautiful, but it’s not what Regulus wanted. James ducks into an alcove, partially hidden by drapery portraying one of the family's crests and rakes his eyes over the crowds of people moving towards their seats.
His eyes meet Pandora’s, and her eyes widen, her face lighting up as she nudges her twin brother, directing Evan’s attention over to where James stands. Evan grins at him, and James lifts his hand, motioning that they should keep his attendance quiet. They nod and look away, moving onto a no doubt mind-numbingly boring conversation with an old distant relative, sharing hopeful glances every now and then, looking between where James stands and the place Regulus will stand in less than 10 minutes.
As the last few people take their seats and the loud echo of conversation silences James' heart rate increases, in just a few moments Regulus will appear out of the side door in his wedding attire. James hasn’t seen Regulus in weeks, and he doesn’t know what he’ll do if today doesn’t go to plan, if Regulus doesn’t leave with him today he will be destroyed.
The door clicks open, and James forgets how to function, he can’t breathe and he thinks he’s forgotten how to blink. It must’ve only been a matter of seconds but to James, it feels like decades have passed, Dorcas exits the room first, followed by Barty and then finally Regulus steps out.
It’s a miracle James doesn’t pass out.
Regulus looks incredible, his hair is pushed back behind his ears, the natural waves curling at the base of his neck. The suit he’s wearing is dark green, contrasting against his pale skin and the silver jewellery he wears on his hands and neck, the suit is buttoned to the left and accentuates his waist. There's a small amount of black eye makeup smudged around his eyes, making the cool grey of the pupils vivid and bright.
He looks beautiful, but clearly, he doesn’t want to be there. Dorcas and Barty flank his sides as if they’ve been tasked with keeping him in place (which he doesn’t doubt is true, Regulus probably begged them to make him go through with this) and there is a small, almost undiscernible downturn to his lips that makes James want to run up there now, consequences be damned.
He knows if he makes a move now he’ll be cursed before he makes it to the aisle, but wizarding marriage ceremonies have this very helpful little trick that stops all magic in a set venue from working during the vow exchange and the request for any reason the couple should not be married. It is there to stop any love potions or spells from making someone agree to the marriage but here it means James will be able to say his piece without interruption.
So, no matter how much it pains him, he lets the ceremony start.
Dorcas leaves Regulus at the altar with Barty standing behind him, taking the place of his best man. She goes and sits next to Pandora, who whispers in her ear causing her head to whip around to where James is, he grins and sheepishly waves at her and she just glares at him in response as if she’s asking why he hasn’t stopped this sooner. James nods his head to where Regulus is stood and Dorcas rolls her eyes before looking away.
Music starts playing, the organ playing a slow tune that sounds like a death march to James’ ears, and by the looks of things Regulus’ too. The crowd stands, all of them facing the aisle as the doors swing open and a small girl who looks to be related to Nadia walks down first, throwing small pink petals down in front of her, she is flanked by three bridesmaids in pastel dresses who make their way to the end of the aisle and stand with their backs to James, facing towards Regulus.
Finally, Nadia makes her way down the aisle, the puffy layered dress reminding James of a delicate pastry and making it look like she’s floating, not walking. Her arm is interlinked with what must be her brothers, and she glances at Regulus nervously who nods at her, trying to be reassuring. Both of them look miserable and James can’t help but wonder if that’s why there isn’t a photographer.
“Please take your seats.” The officiant speaks as Nadia takes her place opposite Regulus and there is a shuffle of movement that Regulus uses to press his eyes shut tightly for a moment.
“Family and friends, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two young souls,” He reads from the book held open in his hands, before looking out over the gathered crowd, “Today we witness the joining of Regulus Black and Nadia Parkinson's souls and magic, may their love be forever blessed.”
James tunes out most of the nonsense after that, instead focusing all of his attention on Regulus, watching the way he gulps before he has to speak and how he refuses eye contact with anyone. It’s killing James, just as much as it’s killing Regulus, to just stand here and watch but he has no choice, he has to be patient.
The officiant has just moved on to the vows when someone hisses in his ear,
“What are you doing here?” James jerks his head back, slamming it into the shoulder of the speaker. He bites his lip to stop himself from yelping and turns his head to face them,
“Sirius!? What are you doing here?” James whispers, hoping that they’re quiet enough that the guests won’t hear them. Sirius pinches the top of his nose, looking exactly like their mum when she does it, sidetracking James’ thoughts as he wonders how they’re so similar without actually being related.
“Regulus is my brother, remember that cute little thing where me and him were born to the same parents?” James rolls his eyes
“This is not the time for sarcasm.”
“I wouldn’t miss his wedding for the world, and he asked me to come. I just have to stay hidden so Mother Dearest doesn’t try to kill me.” Sirius watches Regulus with the softest expression James has ever seen, and he pretends he doesn’t see the agony in his eyes. “Why are you here James?”
“The plan is to stop him from getting married today but we’ll see how it goes.” James shrugs nonchalantly, keeping his eyes on Regulus when Sirius nudges his shoulder excitedly.
“You bitch! I knew you two weren’t over.” James laughs lightly, watching intently as Regulus and Nadia speak, waiting for his time to interrupt.
“He might go through with it still,” There’s a hole in James’ chest, this deep unending grief for Regulus that won’t disappear until Regulus leaves with him. He doesn’t even want to think about what will happen if he chooses Nadia,
“Come off it, there’s no way he won’t choose you, I know things ended badly and Nadia’s lovely but they are clearly only doing this as friends to keep themselves out of worse marriages.”
“I don’t want to make things worse for her, what if this ruins her life? Am I doing the right thing?” James is glad Sirius showed up behind him, he wants nothing more than to speak up but he’s terrified, what if all he does is hurt everyone? What if he ruins everything?
“With the way Nadia and her Maid of honour have been glancing at each other throughout the ceremony, I think that she’ll be fine. God this would’ve been the most Lavender of marriages huh.” He says something else but James can’t hear him over the sound of his own pulse, The officiant is about to speak the incantation and then ask if there is any reason the couple should not be married.
“If you have any reason they should not marry, speak now or forever hold your peace.” There’s silence, and it’s James' last chance to act, his hands shake and his mind races.
He steps forward, out of the alcove, and moves towards the aisle. Horrified gasps echo from around the room and Walburga stands up angrily making a move towards James only to be elegantly blocked by Narcissa and Bellatrix. He ignores the looks everyone is giving him, mainly hostile but some overjoyed, and focuses all of his attention on Regulus.
“Don’t do this,” Regulus stares right at him as if he can’t comprehend what’s happening, “Please, Reg, I know you don’t want to marry her,” He shoots an apologetic look at Nadia, who only looks relieved and waves at him to continue. Regulus jerks his head, looking between them like they’re in some sort of tennis match, he looks terrified and James feels guilty.
“You are not the kind of boy who should be marrying the wrong girl, so don’t say yes, we can run away now, I’ll meet you outside the church and we can go, anywhere you want.” Regulus’ expression softens as he stares down at James, and he opens his mouth to respond, only to snap it shut when his mother starts screeching some nonsense about disgrace and blasphemy.
“Oh do shut up.” Bellatrix, who James quite honestly expected to be the last person to stand up for them, kicks Walburga in the shin before pushing her shoulder down so she sits back down before smiling up at Regulus and nodding in approval. Regulus looks gobsmacked at her actions, he had always defended her and told James about how much she cared for her younger sisters and cousins but James had received a very different image from Sirius and had never before seen her act like this before.
“I will wait for you forever if I have to, but I’m hoping I don’t have to.” Regulus still isn’t responding and James can feel his heart sinking, his eyes are burning with unshed tears and his breathing is all over the place. The collar of his shirt is too tight and he can’t think properly, all he can do is think about Regulus saying no, refusing to leave with him and marrying Nadia. He can’t be here, he can’t stand here and watch Regulus decide whether or not he’s choosing him.
“I’ll wait for you outside the church, at the back door if you decide not to stay here. I love you.” He blinks the tears out of his eyes and takes in a shaky breath.
He moves to turn and leave but is stopped by a body barrelling into him, the air getting knocked out of him in relief as Regulus grabs his face, pulling their lips together like he needs James to be able to breathe. James lifts his arms, placing his hands on Regulus' waist as he pulls back, resting their foreheads together.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Regulus grins, pushing forward to kiss James again before leaning back to look at him properly, “I’m sorry, I never should have agreed to get married.” he glances over his shoulder to where Nadia stands, talking in hushed whispers with her maid of honour, their hands clasped and resting on the fabric of Nadia’s dress.
“Hi Reg, super happy for you, this moment is so sweet! But we need to go” Pandora looks around, taking in the hostility of the crowd, “Now.” She ushers them up towards the altar, trailed by Evan and Dorcas who stand as a sort of shield between them, their wands drawn unsure if their magic will work now but willing to start throwing punches if it doesn't. Barty moves towards them and they follow Nadia and her Maid of honour, who James learns is called Viola, into a backroom.
Sirius slips through the door, closing it and casting some protective spells over it. “Well, that was intense.”
Regulus beams, staring at his brother and looking happier than James could ever even have imagined, “You came.”
“You asked me too,” Regulus barrels into him next, wrapping his arms around his chest so tight that Sirius lets out a little oof sound before he wraps around Regulus just as tight, “I’d do anything for you, even if it meant showing up in a room full of people who want me dead and witnessing you make the worst decision of your life.”
Regulus scoffs, clenching his hand into a fist and pounding it on Sirius’ back once. Sirius laughs and moves back, raking a hand through Regulus’ hair in a motion so much more fatherly than anything their biological father had ever done that it makes Regulus cry.
“I’m proud of you, for choosing yourself, for choosing happiness and getting out.” Regulus buries his head in Sirius’ neck, shaking from the sobs that wrack his body. James knows how much this interaction means to both of them and just watches in adoration until Nadia comes up to him.
“Thank you, for speaking up. I love Regulus but not as more than a friend and I think this union would’ve killed one or both of us,” James moves his mouth to talk but she holds up a hand to silence him, “He has told me about you, and I would be honoured to keep you as friends, I know you will make each other very happy and who knows, maybe we can attend each other’s weddings in the future. So thank you, for giving us both the push to free ourselves, I owe you a great deal.”
She walks away, grabbing Viola’s hand and pulling her in to kiss her gently, James looks away, giving them their moment and waits until they say their goodbyes and leave, ready to start a new life together. They sprint out the door, hands clenched tightly, laughing and looking as happy as a bride should be on her wedding day.
Regulus comes back over to him, his eyes still red from where he had cried but his face happier than it had ever been under the control of his parents. James grabs his wrists, pulling him closer before sliding his hands down to interlink their fingers,
“Can I kiss you?” Regulus doesn’t answer, instead just pressing their lips together. It’s barely even a kiss, they’re both too happy, their smiles making it impossible for them to actually kiss but the emotion is there. The love and the joy they experience only with each other and the elated feeling of hope and relief is overwhelming.
They made it, they finally made it.