Chapter 8 - The Potters’
"Regulus you're going to be fine. You look great and adults love you." James assured the boy.
"But parents don't." Regulus remarked casually making James frown.
James pushed the door open as Sirius pushed past them.
"Monty! How have you been?" Sirius quizzed.
Regulus was just realizing this would be the first time he'd see Sirius interacting with the Potters'.
"Lovely to see you again, Sirius." Fleamont said from the armchair as his eyes moved from the boy to Regulus.
The man stood up from his chair, placing the paper down onto the coffee table.
"You must be Regulus, James talks about you all the time." Fleamont muttered.
"He does?" Regulus quizzed, wiping his sweaty hands causally on his pants.
"The boy practically never stops!" Euphemia exclaimed as she walked into the room.
She looked like the mother Regulus created in his dreams.
Curly hair with a kind smile. Sporting a pastel apron which was covered in whatever she'd been working so hard on.
Whatever it was, it smelled heavenly to Regulus.
"Look at you! You're just as cute as James said you were!" Euphemia gleamed as she pulled Regulus into a bone-crushing hug.
"I didn't know this was 'everyone embarrass James day' or else I wouldn't have come." James whined.
Regulus smiled at the woman as she pulled away, making sure he caught the breath that had been knocked out of him.
"Mia!" Sirius gleamed before rushing to hug the woman.
"How have you been? Are you hungry?" Mia quizzed, pushing Sirius' hair from his face.
"Always." Sirius gleamed as he followed her into the kitchen.
Fleamont pulled James into a hug, welcoming the boy home.
With the attention off him, Regulus was finally able to take in the home that was James' childhood.
The wallpaper was a yellow-beige color with small intricate flowers, extremely detailed- something probably only Regulus would take to noticing.
The decor and furniture took on a light brown theme.
Plants were scattered around strategically, much like his own collection at Grimmauld- except better of course.
The small fireplace, crackled with a soft glowing fire- giving Regulus a very Gryffindor common room vibe.
Pictures of James and his parents were placed all around- birthdays, flying his broom, family photos of zoos and parks.
His eyes locked on one in particular, James without a front tooth smiling with coins in his hand.
Regulus' smile grew at the sight.
So he'd always been cute- not surprising.
Regulus was pulled from his thoughts as James' arms wrapped around him from behind.
"What do you think?" James quizzed.
"Well anywhere is better than where I grew up", Regulus joked as he turned to face James, the boy frowning slightly, "Its lovely, James."
It was lovely.
He hadn't been many places, but compared to Grimmauld or even Narcissa's lonely manor it was everything Regulus would want in a home.
The Potters' was a lot like the Lupin's house when it came to a feeling of comfort.
James pressed a kiss to the boy's lips, pulling him closer.
The kiss was way better than pity, in Regulus' opinion, so he didn't fight it.
As they pulled apart, James rested his forehead on Regulus'.
"Tired?" James questioned as Regulus hummed.
Traveling with Sirius- without Remus to keep him in check- did that to you.
"Let's eat and then we can cuddle." James suggested, pressing another kiss to Regulus' lips before dragging the boy into the kitchen.
Regulus was quiet at dinner, he just listened to James talk as if it were the most fascinating thing- though it usually was.
He made sure to be polite and still maintain his manors unlike Sirius who would've been eating with his hands if he could've.
After dinner James, Sirius, and Fleamont headed out into the living room as Regulus offered to help the woman clear the table.
It was the least he could do.
And besides- he desperately needed Euphemia to like him.
He wouldn't go as far as to say James would break up with him if his parents didn't like him, but Regulus knew James had the highest regard for the opinions of his parents.
"Everything was lovely, Mrs. Potter." Regulus complimented politely, trying to hide the fact that he wanted to throw up from nerves.
"Call me Mia." Euphemia muttered at the boys formality.
The pair watched from the kitchen- after finishing the dishes- as Fleamont and James wrestled, with Sirius laughing from the sideline.
Regulus smiled at the genuine gleam in James' eyes.
He was such a child and being home only brought out the youthfulness in James.
Regulus wished James could be as carefree always as he was in that moment.
He knew with the war and everything that Regulus put him through, that sometimes the youthful part of him was tucked away.
Regulus knew James wouldn't want him to blame himself, so instead Regulus decided he would just have to make it up to James- potentially for the rest of their lives.
Regulus was so grateful for James' parents- mostly for creating James in the first place, but also raising him to be the amazing person he was.
From what he gathered about both adults, it made sense James turned out the way he did.
They were selfless and collected. They'd raised the boy on happiness and love, while teaching him that appearances aren't everything and blood is a red, sticky substance- not status.
Regulus almost felt the need to thank them.
James had taught him how to love, based on how he was taught to love.
Regulus hadn't taken to noticing the smile that grew on his face, but Euphemia had.
"You love him, don't you?" She quizzed.
James' hair was unwieldy after being purposely messed with.
His glasses were crooked and had slid down his nose.
He wore his signature smile that took on a more childish expression in the presence of his parents.
Regulus gently sighed, although it ended up being the most loving sigh, "I do."