Love Is In The Air

Marlene was now glaring at Regulus. She was getting impatient. "Well?"

Regulus had been sitting there for about two minutes just staring into space. "I don't know anything."

Marlene was boiling up inside. "James? Are we almost there?"

"Don't even think about it. You can't kill him in my car."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I know you, Marls. When we get to the warehouse, we can kill him. Just not in my car. I don't want to have to clean it again for the second time this week."

Regulus' eyes went wide. "Second time?" James just looked at him through the rearview mirror before turning his gaze back to the road.

"We aren't killing him." Emma says.

"Yet. We aren't killing him yet." Marlene says, still glaring at Regulus.

"Hopefully, we won't have to."

"You two won't be doing anything." James says.

"I help!" Marlene turns toward James in a flash.

"Yeah, clean up the mess. Emma just sits back and watches. When she's actually there."

"Hey! I have a job to do too! Also, keep me out of this."

James rolls his eyes and parks. "We're here."

Marlene grabs her shoe and smacks Regulus in the head with it and knocks him out. They all get out, and Emma and Marlene go inside. "Do you think he'll be mad at us?"

"Definitely." Emma walks a little further and unlocks the warehouse.

The warehouse is out in the middle of nowhere with no civilization in sight. It is surrounded by weeds and junk.

Emma unlocks it and walks inside with Marlene in tow. Emma flicks on the lights. The warehouse is stocked with all kinds of weapons. In the corner are a bunch of stacked up chairs, and in another corner, there are cleaning supplies and barrels.

The barrels are used for dead bodies. They have to restock them at least every month, just so they don't run out. They only buy at least five every month.

In the middle of the room is a singular chair surrounded by ropes and packages of zipties.

James walks in, dragging Regulus on the ground. "Why am I always the one who has to do all the heavy lifting?"

James drags Regulus to the middle of the warehouse and sits him down in the chair. Marlene puts his hands behind the chair while Emma ties them. James zipties Regulus' feet to the chair and gags him.

Emma grabs two chairs from the corner. One for her, and one for Marlene.

James and Marlene are looking at the weapons to see which one to start with.

Marlene is holding a black pocket knife. "What do you think, James? This one?"

James is holding a blue chef knife. "Might as well go easy. We'll use that one." James puts down the chef knife and grabs the pocket knife Marlene is holding.

Marlene yanks her hand back and stares at James.

'Are you sure you want to do this?'

'Yes, Marls. I do this every month.'

'Not to someone you like.'

'I'll be fine. Now give me the knife.'

'Fine. Just let me know, and I'll stop it. Ok?'

'Yeah, got it.'

Marlene hands him the knife and goes to sit down in the chair right next to Emma.

James goes to Regulus and sees he's already awake. "You didn't do a very good job at knocking him out."

"Maybe you woke him when you dragged him in here." Marlene remarks.

James glares at her. "He didn't even wake up that long ago. Look at his eyes." Emma says, pointing at Regulus.

James looks at his eyes. "She's right. He just woke up."

"See. I did a good job."

"He wasn't supposed to be awake for another 20 minutes!"

"How was I supposed to know I needed a harder shoe? We weren't supposed to be doing this today."

"We aren't doing what we usually do. We are getting information out of him." Emma says.

"Yeah, then killing him. Like always."

"We aren't killing him!" James yells. "We are torturing information out of him and then keeping him here for a couple of days."

Regulus mumbles. "Aww. How cute. He thought he could talk." James glares at Marlene. "Sorry."

James ungags Regulus. "Now, what do you know?"

"Nothing." James slits his wrist. Regulus winces slightly.

"Don't lie to me."

"All I saw was a gun to Severus' head."

James looks at Emma, then Marlene.

'Is he lying?'

'I don't think so.'

'That's it? That's all he knows? That's why we brought him here? Because he saw a gun to Severus' head? Bullshit! Ask again.'

'You do it.'

'Fine.'

Marlene gets up and takes the knife from James' hand. "Tell me, Regulus. What do you think happened? Why did James have a gun?"

"I don't know."

Marlene turns to James.

'He's lying. He has an idea.'

Marlene turns back to Regulus and slits his wrist. "Tell me the truth, or I'm going to have to kill you."

"You can't. They'll come looking for me."

"You forget. James and I are famous, and we can get Emma out of trouble easily. You have nothing on us."

Regulus sighs. "I have some of an idea."

"No shit. What is it?"

"That he was defending his friends."

Marlene looks at James.

'He's lying, right?'

'Half. He's leaving something out.'

Marlene turns back to Regulus. "What's the rest?"

Regulus looked confused but changed it quickly. "That James is a secret agent."

Marlene starts laughing. "He - a - secret - agent? I'm sorry. It's way too funny."

James smacks Marlene. "Not funny."

"He could never be a secret agent. He's an assassin."

"Marlene McKinnon!" Emma yells. She stands up and yanks Marlene away.

James stares at where the girls just left. He feels a gaze on him and turns around to find Regulus' gaze on him. "What?"

"You're just pretty."

"Marlene just told you I'm an assassin, and you think I'm pretty? I'm literally trying to kill you."

"I've always thought you were pretty. Handsome. Beautiful. Amazing."

James gaze softens. "You don't mean that." James looks away.

"Yes, I do. Even when you're trying to kill me."

James looks back at Regulus and sees something he's never seen in his eyes before. Love. Regulus means it. "You mean it." James says softly.

"I could and couldn't."

"You do. I know how to read you. Even when you're body's stiff. Your eyes give it away. Even if it is just for a second. I know you." Regulus' eyes flicker with recognition. "Just like now. You're realizing I've always loved you."

"You won't and can't kill me."

"No, I can't." James unties Regulus and cuts the zipties. "You can go out the back door. No one will see you. Just hide until the car is gone."

"Why are you letting me go?"

"You know why." James looks away from Regulus. "When you tell the cops. I was the only one involved. Marlene and Emma were never here. I'll even comply."

"Why would you think I would tell the cops?" Regulus walks up to James.

James finally looks at Regulus. "You won't?"

"No, James." Regulus looks at James' lips and back up to his eyes. James does the same. Regulus leans in, and their lips touch. James pulls away. "Why would you do that!? I'm trying to kill you!"

"I know you won't."

Marlene comes running back in and looks at Regulus out of the chair. "You let him go!? Why would you do that!?"

"We weren't going to kill him in the first place! We were bluffing! Sirius would have killed me when he found out!"

Marlene rolls her eyes before eyeing them carefully. "You kissed."

"Did not! I do not kiss hostages!"

"You do when their cute."

"I have never done that."

Marlene smiles. "You finally kissed after years of crushing. I'm definitely asking Dorcas how long Regulus has liked you."

James eyes her carefully. "How do you have her number? Finally tell her?"

"I will never tell her!"

James grabs Marlene' phone out of her pocket. "Then I will."

"James Fleamont Potter! You can't steal stuff from innocent people!"

"You're not innocent!" James starts running and unlocks her phone. "You still haven't changed your password since you've met her?"

"Yes, I have."

"It's still Dorcas."

James pulls up Dorcas' contact name, finally.

Hot Mama🥵

"Hot Mama, really?"

"Give it back!"

Marlene

'Would you like to go out sometime?'

Hot Mama🥵

'I would love that.'

Marlene

'The Three Broomsticks, tomorrow at 1pm?'

Hot Mama🥵

'That would be amazing. See you tomorrow.'

Marlene

'See you.'

James stops. "You have a date tomorrow at 1pm at The Three Broomstick's."

"James! I told you not to!" Marlene yanks back her phone.

Marlene groans. "She's so cute, though."

"I'm waiting."

"Thank you." Marlene says through gritted teeth.

James beams. "Let's go."

"Where are we going?"

"My house. You're spending the night there, of course."

"Yay! Mar and Lils?"

"Everyone's going to be there. Remember?"

Marlene raises her eyebrows. "Even Regulus?"

"If he wants. We do this every year." They turn the lights off and walk out with Regulus. Emma is waiting outside and locks it up. "Em, I need the keys."

"When?" Emma asks.

"In a few days."

"I always go with you."

"You can't for this one."

"James, I'm coming with."

"You don't want to."

"Who is it, James?"

"Severus."

"James, you can't kill everyone who messes with us."

"Not everyone. I haven't found Benjy yet."

"Ooh. Can I be there for that one?" Marlene asks.

Everyone gets in the car. James driving, Marlene in the passenger seat, and Emma and Regulus in the back.

"No. Just me."

"But -"

"Just me." James says through gritted teeth.

Marlene sighs and mumbles, "Fine."

"Regulus? Where are you going?"

"You said we can come stay the night at your house?"

"Yeah, you want us to go pick up the rest?"

"Yeah, let me just text them real quick."

***

James parks at a house to what he assumes is Regulus' after Regulus told him where to go. Pandora and Dorcas come out two minutes before Barty and Evan.

James starts driving to his house after they all get in the car. "Where are we going?" Barty asks.

"James' house." Regulus says.

"Can you shut up?" Marlene asks.

"Marls." James says through gritted teeth. "I will kick you and your girlfriend out of my car."

"She has a girlfriend?" Pandora asks.

James smirks. "Oh, yeah, Dorcas. I was the one who texted you."

"James!" Marlene yells. James laughs.

"Why would you text me?"

"Because Marls is a wuss."

James' phone rings, and Marlene grabs it and puts it on speaker. "Prongs! The car broke down!"

"Quit yelling."

"Sorry, can you come pick us up?"

"Just you and Remus?"

"Yeah. See you soon?"

"Yeah, we'll be there soon. Bye. I love you."

"I love you too."

After they hung up, James' phone dings with a notification. Marlene puts the coordinates in the GPS.

***

"Prongsie!" Sirius runs to the car and leans in the window. "How you doin'?"

"Just get in the car."

"Fine, meanie. Remus! James is here!"

Remus comes out of the car and opens the door. "Now I know why you asked if it was just us." Remus laughs.

"Why?" Sirius gets in the car behind Remus and closes the door. "Reggie! What are you doing here?"

"He's going to spend the weekend with us." James says, starting the car. "I have to drop you guys off, then go get everyone else."

On the second trip, James picked up Peter, Frank, Emmeline, Lily, Mary, and Alice.

On the third and final trip, he picked up Andromeda, Bellatrix, Rita, Ted, and Narcissa.

"Prongs! You're back!" Sirius says as soon as James walks in the door with Andromeda, Ted, Rita, Narcissa, and Bellatrix, behind him.

"Yep. I brought more alcohol, too." James holds up the bottles he bought on the way back.

"Yes! Thanks, Prongs!" Peter yells. He bounds up to James and grabs the bottles out of his hands.

"Why do you have a party every year?" Dorcas asks.

"We started it third year at Hogwarts. It's just a fun get-together with all our friends. We wanted to spend time with everyone at the same time, so we made our own holiday."

"That's actually pretty cool." Pandora says. "But, why are we here?"

"Figured I might as well invite some more people."

"So, you invited Regulus and his friends?" Ted asks.

"What? Sounded like a good idea. Still does."

Ted just rolls his eyes and wispers in James' ear, "And it has nothing to do with you liking him?"

James rolls his eyes. "No." James addresses the group. "Regulus, Dorcas, Barty, and Evan. There are rooms in the back of the house for you to sleep in. And Pandora, Emmeline will show you hers. Unless you want to sleep in your own room?"

"Nope, she's sleeping with me." Emmeline says.

James smirks. "That's what I thought. Let's get this party started!"

Everyone cheers.