Chapter 6 - Amortentia
Regulus was screwed.
Really screwed.
Whenever Regulus was with James he was not in control of his actions.
His heart beat so fast, he feared he might keel over and die.
And his hands got really sweaty- so sweaty- and it was odd since his hands were always frozen.
Regulus' blush would probably be the first thing to give him away, since it was so red against his fair skin.
The worst part was that Regulus loved it.
He loved the adrenaline that pumped through his veins and those stupid fluttery butterflies in his stomach.
Whenever he wasn't with James, all he could do was think about the boy.
Regulus had been thinking about his last study session with James- how their hands brushed together.
He was distractedly trailing down the hall, minding his own business- but not minding the things around him.
Regulus could almost feel the blush re-emerge as he daydreamed- daydreamed his way to the floor.
It was too late by the time Regulus noticed Sirius.
Too late for Regulus to avoid his outstretched leg.
Regulus would have just laid there, wishing to disappear- knowing it would be less embarrassing- if he wasn't in excruciating pain.
Regulus pushed up into his arms, spotting the pool of blood that had begun beneath him.
He must have hit his head too because he grew very dizzy.
The strength left his arms completely, but someone caught him before he did anymore damage to his face.
Last he remembered he was being picked up, before everything grew dark.
When he awoke, he had to peel his eyes open.
The light was blinding, which didn't help with the absolute horrific headache he had.
Taking in his surroundings, he was in the hospital wing.
How he got there- he wasn't entirely sure.
"Good. Good. You're awake", Madam Pomfrey started as she stepped into his curtained-off section, "That was quite a fall you took- A broken nose and a mild concussion."
Which explained the headache and the reason why there was so much pressure between his eyes.
"The concussion will heal on its own- as long as you be more careful. Your nose will be back to normal by tomorrow- Friday at the latest." She explained.
"Thanks." Regulus croaked, still trying to piece together the last few hours of his life.
She nodded, "You can go if you'd like."
Regulus practically jumped out of bed, wobbling at the sudden moment.
"Carefully." Madam Pomfrey hissed.
By then he was already half-way out of the hospital wing.
He was glad to be out of the place- like it'd been suffocating him.
Regulus couldn't get out of there faster.
He guessed he should be grateful she didn't take to notice any of his other- less recent- injuries.
With no regard to his surroundings, Regulus hurried on his merry way.
He was having a seemingly unlucky streak, which only got worse.
Regulus had rushed towards his potions class.
He reached the door, falling short as James was also heading toward the class.
James' normal happy-go-lucky expression fell, "Woah, what happened to you?!"
"I wasn't paying attention- I walked into a wall." Regulus muttered.
Getting tripped by his brother seemed the more embarrassing of the two stories.
Besides, the last thing he wanted was James getting involved in the deep-rooted rivalry between him and his brother.
James was frowning then and Regulus couldn't blame him- he probably looked like a walking disaster.
"Reg-" James started.
"We're already late." Regulus cut him off before trailing into the classroom.
Regulus quietly made his way to his seat.
Evan turned to look at him, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.
"Mr. Black, Mr. Potter, you're late. Where are you coming from?" Professor Slughorn questioned, dragging the classes attention to the pair.
Regulus cleared his throat, "The hospital wing, Professor."
He had no idea where James was coming from, but he didn't feel the need to specify that he was the only one coming from the hospital wing.
"Right, then. Take your seats", Professor Slughorn started, "Today we're brewing Amortentia."
The brewing was almost done, at least Regulus and Evan's was almost done, by the time Regulus actually showed up.
"Great job." Slughorn jeered.
He was standing by Remus Lupin and Lily Evans' brew, congratulating them.
Regulus watched as James leaned over to their pot and sniffed it.
Almost immediately he brought his fingers up to plug his nose- as if what he smelled was horrible.
Regulus let himself wonder what smells could cause such a reaction.
If Lupin and Evans' potion was made correctly, then James should be smelling things he enjoyed.
Sirius elbowed James, sending him a look that said, 'what the fuck?'
Regulus was so distracted by the scene that when the smell reached his nose, he fell out of his chair.
Everyone's eyes were on him.
Evan held his hand out for Regulus, scoffing, "Get up, I didn't even push you that hard."
Evan quickly disinterested the class in the pair of them.
The class disregarded them, brushing it off as Slytherins being Slytherins.
"What is going on with you?" Evan quizzed, after Regulus settled in his chair.
"My nose is broken, I think I was caught off guard by the smell of the potion." Regulus explained, slightly out of it.
"You don't smell pleasant things?" Evan questioned as he sniffed the potion.
Pleasant?
No.
There was nothing pleasant about the smell of cedar wood that mixed with the smell of worn leather.
The hint of clean cotton and pine.
The was nothing pleasant about the distinct smell of James Potter.
Regulus wanted to throw up and if he wasn't currently going through so many emotions in so little time, he probably would.
"I don't know", Regulus shrugged, "It's overpowered by whatever Madam Pomfrey lathered my nose with to stop an infection, so it's not that nice."
It was a lie, but what Evan didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
"What happened anyways?" Evan quizzed, stirring the cauldron.
"What do you think." Regulus huffed.
"That disgusting traitor", Evan spat, as he realized, "Say the word and I'll take care of him-"
"Don't", Regulus sighed, "He'll just retaliate with pranks and I don't want to deal with that right now."
Evan wasn't happy with that answer, but he would abide by Regulus' wishes.
Knowing himself that nothing was worse than being at the brunt end of a Marauder prank.