Regulus isn’t entirely sure how he ended up in the Gryffindor boys common room. He had been sitting in the Great Hall, enjoying a quiet lunch when Sirius and Co. walked up to him. That alone had shocked him as, when Sirius and he talked it was often just the two of them. And often, it wasn’t in public, an agreement that they had made the first day back from winter holiday. Sirius needed to keep his distance and let Regulus play the role of ‘forgotten spare turned heir’, until Regulus collected his inheritance and ran away the moment he turns seventeen. It was a role that was easy to do, as Sirius had a knack for sneaking up on the boy when he was alone. So, seeing James all but shaking in excitement as he stood behind Sirius was very odd, and drew the eyes of many onlookers.
Sirius had said something and Regulus had said something snappy back, before slamming his book closed and stormed off in an exaggerated rage, stomping his feet all the way to the boys' lavatory. Sirius (and Co.) had followed, of course, and once alone he explained that he had something fun planned for right then, in that very moment, and wanted Regulus to join.
And Regulus was bored and didn’t really have much better to do so he agreed. Queue smile and excited looked between James and Sirius, Pettigrew whispering the entrance code (which wasn’t really needed since most Slytherin’s had known Gryfindor’s and Hufflepuff’s code since the first week) and Regulus walking into the lion's den. The common room had been relatively empty, as most students opted to study in the library or take advantage of the great weather. This made it easy for the boys to lead him up, with minimal stares at his green and silver robs.
And now, Regulus was sitting on Sirius' bed. It had been easy to recognize his, as it was the messiest and the only one with posters of muggle girls hanging above it. The room was warm, in a way that felt suffocating when compared to the dungeons' usual cold. It didn’t help that everything was red and orange, making it look like they were going to be burned alive at any moment. Regulus shrugged off his robes in response, right as Sirius chose to sit down beside him.
“Moony, can you crack open the window,” he asked. Remus looked up from his spot in the bay window. His eyes flickered to Regulus for a moment before he nodded and let the fresh air in.
“Best not to let the smoke linger,” Sirius said sagely. Regulus looked at him. “Minnie would be pissed if she smelled it. Detentions with Filch for at least a month.”
“Does it hurt,” Regulus asked curiously, watching Remus' actions closely.
“Not really,” James answers from the otherside of the room. The boy has been stuffing towels into the door frame ‘to block the smoke’, Sirius has said. Regules didn’t give a rats ass what the towels were doing. James jammed the last bit in place, his shirt hiking up only a few inches but it was more than enough to see a set of dimples on his lower back. Regulus imagined trailing his hands down James’ back, his thumbs resting in those divots. Merlin, Regulus thought, I’m depraved.
“Speak for yourself,” Peter spat from his spot on James’ bed. “The first few times I thought my throat was burning through and through. Almost hacked up a lung.”
Sirius laughed.“Right well that's because you’re a proper wuss Wormy.” Throwing an arm around his Regulus he gave his own experience. “Fire whiskey, now that burns. This, it’s more like a simmer, ya know what I mean?”
Regulus stared. Obviously he didn’t know what Sirius meant if he was asking, but he nodded anyway. “Yeah, it’s like when you’ve got a cold, a sore throat yeah” Remus spoke, his eyes trained on the task at hand. In the boy's lap sat a small green and red tin that had ‘Merry Christmas Remus” etched into it. Regulus watched with rapt attention as the tall boy dragged his tongue along edges of the brown paper, his thumb patting it close. Beside him Siruis watched with the same focus, though Regulus suspected it was for a different reason.
Covering the tin, he tosses it onto Sirius' bed. James comes back over, sitting beside Peter as the four watch Remus. Done with the hard part, Remus looked up at Regulus. “You know how it is when you are sick in class and need to cough, but you can’t because you’ve been coughing for the past few minutes non stop and if you cough again than you know everyone will look at you like your mad.” Remus grabs a lighter from his pockets and ignites the flame.
He gives Regulus a look that says the question wasn’t rhetorical, so Regulus gives a slow and confused nod for him to continue. “So you wait a few, just absolutely suffering cause your throat feels like it’s going to fucking explode, and you think ‘fuck it’.” He drags the flame along the length of the roll, uncaring as his fingers get licked by it. “So you cough, and of course it’s not just one and it’s a whole fucking spectical and it all burns but it also feels so nice to finally be fuckin’ free.”
Regulus stares, mildly confused by the all too specific situation. Remus lifts the joint to his lips, resting there while he lights the tip. Taking a long drag he breathes lets it out with ease. “That’s what it fucking feels like mate. It burns but in the best way possible.” He takes another puff, holding it in before letting it smoke filter out his nose. “I mean, it can hurt but not really.” Regulus gives him a look. What was the point of that whole analogy just for him to double back.
“You’ll be fine is what I'm trying to say.” Remus hands it off to Regulus, who grabs it curiously. Placed between his thumb and pointer finger, he rolls it, watching ash drop into the floor. Feeling the weight of everyone's gaze, he bites the bullet and sucks on the bundle for a second before pulling it away. Smoke sat in his mouth for a second, then two, before he looked around. All of the boys stare with baited breath as he said “yeah, I don’t feel anything.”
Peter groaned, “you’re doing it wrong, that’s why. Give it to me.”
“Oi, don’t snap at Reggie, it’s his first go at it,” Sirius said, his arm still around Regulus' shoulders.
“Look Reg, do it again,” James said. Regulus gave the boy a look which was brushed off. “I’ll help you through it yeah.” James scored further off the bed, his knee’s only inches from Regulus as he leaned forward. Regulus finds his eyes focused on the almost contact as James speaks. “You want to breathe it in,” he said, taking a deep breath, “try to hold it for a second or two, then let it out.”
The boy looks up. “I know how to fucking breath,” Regulus snaps, shoving himself further back on the bed. He shakes Sirius' arm off of his shoulders, and sits up straight.
Sirius shrugs off the dismissal, leaning back in the bed. “If you really want to go for it, breathe it in, hold it, then get a little more.” He laughs, unbothered that he is the only one doing so.
Staring at James with a defiant look in his eye and Regulus takes another drag, breathing in the smoke. As it moves to the back of his throat, he understands Remus’s explanation. The heat simmers, scratching as his throat begging to be let out. He holds it in anyways and, because he is a Black, second to none and above all, he listens to Sirius. The third inhale is fucking hell on Earth. His lungs feel full past capacity, the dull simmer has turned into a neverending burn. His eyes begin to water, and for a second he believes that the red, glassy eyed look people get has less to do with the weed and more to do with the tears that form from inhaling it.
Still, he holds it for a whole five seconds before he finally coughs. Just like Remus said, it isn’t just one cough but a whole fucking spectical as he doubles over, pressing his fist to his mouth as if that will stop it. Besides him Sirius laughs, patting him on the back as he proudly declares, “Reggie is turning into a proper marauder at last.” He grabs the blunt to take his own hit before passing it to James.
Regulus’s coughs have finally started to die down when it’s Sirius' turn again. The younger boy can’t even be mad that he was skipped, not when his throat feels so raw. A foot nudges his own, and looking up he sees James holding a glass of water. “Thanks,” Regulus mumbled. He hadn’t even heard James grab or summon it. Must be wandless magic, he thinks as he takes small sips. James just shrugs off his gratitude, because of course he does. They are friends now. That the shit James does for friends- give them water. Regulus blames his flushed cheeks on the weed.
As Remus raises the joint to his pursed lips there is a knock on the door. Marlene McKinnon’s head peeps in immediately, not waiting for a response. “Damn it,” she says, looking back at those on the other side of the door. “They’re just smoking.”
“Knew they would be,” replies Mary as the girls begin to walk in, ignoring James towels.
Pete looks at the girls, irate.“We could have been naked,” he sputters. The other boys roll their eyes, saying their hellos.
“I was secretly hoping you were Pete,” Marlene says with a grin. “I was hoping to see why they call you ‘Wormtail’”. She wiggles her eyebrows, watching Peter's face turn red as the boys begin to laugh.
“Is that why girls have been laughing at me recently,” he asks. “Do they think it’s a dick joke? It’s not, my prick is normal I swear.” His words only fanned the flame, and even Regulus found himself chuckling under his breath. “Prongs, tell them.”
“Course Pete,” James says. He sticks his hand out towards Remus as he begins to shift in his spot. Remus rolls his eyes but passes the weed anyways, watching with a poorly fought smirk as James takes a drag. The boy sits up straighter, clearing his throat while adjusting his already loose tie. Adopting a more serious tone that reminds Regulus of muggle radio advertisements, he spoke clearly.
“The penis of Peter Thomas Pettigrew is quite normal ladies and lads, if not above average. Measured at a mere four inches long when flaccid, our boy Pete is a grower not a shower. At full mast, little Pete stands at a six point two-five inches, with a hearty girth of three inches, ensuring any seeking woman a wonderful night.” James winks, smiling like he just gave an enthusiastic weather report rather than speak of his friends genitals in great detail.
Peter looks more embarrassed than before, his face as red as the sheets beneath him. James spares a glance at his friend, a smile spreading on his lips as he continues. “Peter’s dick as whole does not resemble a worm, nor a tail of any known animal, though when one is squinting, they might find that the tip is similar to that of a-“ Peter’s hand slaps over James mouth, effectively silencing him before he can say anything else.
Besides him Regulus watches Sirius cackle, loud and boisterous laughter falling from his lips. Regulus scrunches his nose in disgust, choosing to look at the girls rather than any of the boys. Lily seems to share his disgust, her lips pressed into a thin line as she stares out the window- pointedly not looking at anyone. Marlene chortles, her laugh being brash and loud like Sirius but lacking his sympathy. Mary smiled, staring at the ceiling for a moment, processing the information, possibly imagining it. Regulus' own head drifts for a moment, a brief intrusive thought of loose bathrobes flickering. Regulus physically shook the image out of his head, pressing his eyes shut to try and think of anything else.
Not Peter nude, not him nude. Family, mum, dad, Sirius. Sirius and James. James. James shirtless. James’s open chest. Below James’s- nope, quidditch, matches. Catching the snitch, fresh air, celebrating after a win afterwards. After match showers, James showering after a-
“Are you going to sit down, or just stand and keep asking about people's pricks,” Regulus snaps, feeling his cheeks grow warm as he leveled a glare at Marlene.
Mary shrugs. “Ask Marls, I came for hash.” She grabs the blunt from James fingers, taking a slow drag. The girls seem to follow her lead, making room for themselves despite the limited seating.
Lily takes the spot besides Remus in the window sill, her head falling onto his shoulder with practiced ease. Marlene opts to sit beside James, still smirking with amusement as she rest her back on the bedpost while draping her legs across James’ own, her feet being finding their way onto Pete’s lap. Mary stares at the gap between the two bed’s seemingly torn on where to sit. This charade only last a few seconds before Siruis catches her eye and enthusiastically pats the two inches between him and headboard, as though there were other places for her to sit.
“Scoot over a bit, will you,” Siruis said Regulus, jerking his head to the side. Regulus stares at his brother closely for a moment before complying, copying Marlene as he leans back against the poster. The girls pass the joint amongst themselves, clearly trying to catch up to the boys.
Regulus watched as James stared at Lily, his mouth moving to try and form words but coming up short. It was no secret that James was head over heels for Lily Evans, as the boy always turned into a blubbering idiot whenever the girl stood in a ten foot radius of him. The entire school had been waiting for years for him to finally do something, say something. While he bided his time under claims of one sided affection, Lily waited, watching him with amused patiences as she kindly dismissed many admires. Like always, Lily beat him to the punch. “Wait, do guys actually measure their,” Lily gestured to her lap.
James smiled and shrugged. “I mean,” he looked around at his friends, then Regulus who pointedly looked away. Though Barty would suggest it when they were younger, he and Evan never participated in such barbaric acts. “Yeah. Don’t girl’s compare bra sizes,” he asks.
“I mean, we do but I don’t know the exact measurements Lily and Marls,” Mary answers. “Nor do I expect them to know mine.”
James just sighs and shakes his head. “I guess you just don’t care about your friends as much as me.”
Marlene scoffs. “Remus do you-”
“No comment,” the boy says immediately. Lily is the first to laugh, and then the rest follow. Soon Mary is doubled over, and even Regulus finds himself clutching his sides in amusement. He feels floaty and his head feels a little floaty as smoke floats around him. Eventually they settle down and the joint continues to make it’s way around until it so short that holding it makes your fingers burn. Remus busies himself rolling a new one and Regulus relaxes against the bedpost. He stares at the dust motes in the air, watching the way they move in the smoke and sunlight. He’s smiling, and is beginning to understand why so many people like this.
“Wait, Reg- is this your first time smoking?” The weed had made people’s lips looser, lazier, and everyone had quickly adopted the nickname when addressing him. If Regulus didn’t feel so warm he would be more annoyed, maybe even mad. Instead he just nods and watches Marlene’s eyes light up.
“Damn,” she breathes. “ I would have brought my chocolate if I had known that it was a special occasion.”
“I have chocolate toads,” James says. The boy grabs his wand and summons them with a swish and a spell. Regulus grabs one from the air and reads the box. “Dark chocolate and raspberry filling.” He looks at James who just beams.
“It’s their best flavor and I will swear to it with everything I own.” Regulus rolls his eyes and opens the box, mindful to grab it before it jumps away. A loud croak is heard before he bites off its head, and Regulus mulls over the flavor.
Marlene bites into her own frog and looks back at him. “So, what do you think?”
Regulus shrugs. He isn’t sure if she means the weed or the toad. “It’s nice I guess,” Regulus decides, an answer that works for either. James beams at the confession, his eyes crinkling behind thick glasses.