Chapter 2
A week later, Regulus and James meet outside the crowded library.
“Hey, Regulus,” James says with a smile.
Regulus glares at him. How can Potter just be nice to him, even though he’s made it clear he hates him?
“Right, you’re mad at me still. Um, are we going inside or..” James trails off.
Regulus narrows his eyes and tuts before walking into the library to look for a table.
“Perfect,” he mutters. Not a single table is empty. He stands at the front of the library next to James and crosses his arms.
“We could share a table. I think I saw Remus and his partner- er, Dulaney I think- over in the back,” James offers.
“No.”
“No?”
“Yes, Potter, I said no. I don’t particularly want to share a table with you and Lupin and some Hufflepuff,” Regulus says.
“Er, Andrew’s a Gryffindor, actually.”
“Still no.”
“Okay,” James scratches his head. “Well, we could go up to the Gryffindor common room- it’s probably pretty empty right now, it being the middle of the day and everything.” he offers up.
“Absolutely not.” Regulus says.
There was no way he was going to the Gryffindor common room, despite the project being due in three days. No fucking way. Just as Regulus opens his mouth to speak again, a leather clad arm appears and wraps around his shoulders.
“Coming up to Gryffindor tower are we, Reg?” Sirius asks, not even bothering to act like he hadn’t been listening in.
Regulus sighs. “No, actually I’m no-”
“Great! C’mon Prongs, “ Sirius interrupts, reaching up to wrap his other arm around James' shoulders. He stands on the tips of his toes to do so, looking ridiculous. James just laughs and throws his arm around Sirius.
“Gryffindor tower it is,” James says looking over at Regulus. Regulus glares in return.
“Gee, Reggie, don’t look so happy,” Sirius says.
Regulus faces Sirius and grins menacingly.
“Okay, nevermind. Please go back to sulking” he says quickly. “Merlin’s balls, that’s creepy.”
“Creepy enough for you to not force me to spend all day with you?” Regulus asks.
“Not a chance,” Sirius answers with a grin. He keeps his arms around James and Regulus as they walk through the halls, emphasizing the height difference between the three of them. Regulus smirks as he stands over his older brother. Four years ago, he would have killed to be even 2 centimeters taller than Sirius, and here he is, almost 10 centimeters taller. The small triumph always lights a spark of victory in him, despite neither him nor Sirius being able to control their height. He looks over at James who practically towers over Sirius and scowls. Of course, along with everything else, James Potter is fucking 185 centimeters. Prick.
They walk up an obscene amount of stairs to what Regulus assumes is Gryffindor tower. They reach a life-sized portrait of a larger woman in a pink dress and Sirius reaches up to cover Regulus’ ears.
“What are you doing?” Regulus asks, immediately shirking away from his brother’s hands.
“Covering your ears. We can’t have you knowing our password, now can we?” Sirius responds, firmly clamping his hands over Regulus’ ears. “Er- do you remember it Prongs?” he asks.
“Yeah. I think it’s fortis eques,” he says. Nothing happens. “Well I guess that’s not it.”
“Well we can’t just stand here and wait for someone else. Maybe it's Capurt Draconus again?” Sirius says, gaining no reaction from the portrait.
“You know I can hear everything you two are saying, right?” Regulus says.
Sirius rolls his eyes. “Hush Reggie, the adults are talking.” Regulus folds his arms and raises an eyebrow.
“The adults who can’t remember the password to their own common room? Have fun with that.” he says, stepping away and turning to walk away.
“Oi! Where are you going?” Sirius asks.
“Anywhere else,” Regulus says before James lets out a gasp.
“Oh! I’ve got it! It’s lionheart.” he says excitedly. The portrait swings open like a door.
Sirius drops his arms to his sides, exasperated. “Well great Prongs, now Reg knows it.” James laughs. “It’s fine, Padfoot. He’s not gonna do anything with it, right Regulus?” he says.
Regulus just sighs and walks through the doorway into the common room.
Despite being nearly empty, it still feels cozy, with multiple different patterned red and gold rugs overlapping on the floor and all the warm toned, worn furniture by large brick fireplaces. Lion banners and red and gold flags hang crooked the walls, leaving space only for the large windows and the cork board right by the door. James and Sirius walk past him and sit at a table in the back, as if they’d done so a hundred times before. Regulus follows, feeling out of place in the plush red chair he sinks into.
Sirius leans back and puts his boots on the table, while James pulls out his books and parchment. Regulus follows suit, pulling out three books and his transfiguration notes. James opens one of his books and starts writing as Sirius chats.
“Are you lot one of the groups who have to present to the class?” he asks, running a hand through his shoulder length curls.
“Yeah, we’re presenting on the magical and personal differences between animagi, being a metamorphmagus and human transfiguration,” James answers, still working. “Did you have any luck on the bit about the genetics of being a metamorphmagus, Regulus?” he asks, glancing up from his writing. Regulus nods and pulls open one of his books.
“This section only mentions the heredity of being a metamorphmagus, but there’s a more detailed chapter in the back,” he answers, showing James the book.
“Can I see that?” James reaches out for the book and smiles as Regulus passes it to him. As James reads the chapter, Regulus sits back in his chair, flinching as a rolled up piece of parchment hits him square in the forehead.
“What exactly was that for?” Regulus asks Sirius with a scowl. Merlin, his brother was annoying.
“Had to get your attention, didn’t I?”
“You could have just called my name out like a normal person does,” Regulus says, tossing the piece of paper back at Sirius.
“Yeah but that wouldn’t have been as fun,” he says with a grin. “So, how are Rosier and Crouch? You still hang around with them right?” Sirius asks.
Regulus raises an eyebrow. “Why do you care about Evan and Barty?”
“I don’t. I’m just trying to make conversation with my baby brother,” Sirius says with a shrug. Regulus rolls his eyes.
“They're fine. Don’t you have work to do?”
Sirius waves his hand dismissively. “I’ll get Moony to help me out later,” he says.
“Isn’t that both cheating in your classes and taking advantage of your relationship?” Regulus asked with his brow still raised. This garners a scowl from Sirius and a laugh from James.
“What relationship?” Sirius asks. James grins at Regulus and stifles a laugh. “Shut up Prongs, I’ve asked the man a question.”
“Sorry,” James says through silent shakes of laughter.
“So I take it the two of you are not dating?” Regulus asks.
“No,” Sirius says. “Unless he said something else, then whatever he said is right,” he adds quickly, making James grin at Regulus again. Regulus just frowns and shakes his head.
As the day goes on and the common room slowly fills with people, Sirius continues to throw paper at both Regulus and James while they work. James speeds through his part of the project and starts working on his presentation notes while Regulus finishes up some research, occasionally stopping to explain something or go into further detail. Regulus comes across a particularly confusing section on the process of becoming an animagus, James’ eyes light up as he explains, waving his hands around and gesturing in the air.
“And after they keep the mandrake leaf in their mouth for an entire month -which is bloody ridiculous by the way- their body starts to tingle, almost like after you’re hit with a tickling jinx. And after that it really becomes a sort of journey with the self, you know. They have to sit in a trance and meditate, calling out to the animal within or whatever. Sometimes it takes days to have that first transformation, other times it can take months. It really just depends on the person and their- what? Oh, sorry, got carried away,” he says, wincing as Sirius kicks him under the table. He runs a hand through his already disheveled hair awkwardly.
“How exactly do you know all of this?” Regulus asks, his quill darting across his parchment to write down some of James’ explanation. James falters and looks over at Sirius quickly before looking at his hands.
“Er- I just really like reading about animagi,” he mutters.
“Right,” Regulus says. He opens his mouth to ask another question before Sirius throws another piece of parchment at him.
“Stop working, you two. Come to lunch with me,” he says, standing and looking expectantly at both his brother and his best friend. James stands immediately, leaving his books on the table. Sirius turns to Regulus expectantly. “Come on, Reg. Stop working for a half hour.”
Regulus frowns and packs up his things. “I’m not sitting with you for lunch,” he says as he stands.
Sirius pouts. “Not even for ten minutes?” Regulus shakes his head.
“Leave him be, Pads. He has his own friends to sit with,” James says, giving Regulus a small smile that makes his blood boil.
“But I’m his brother, I have seniority,” Sirius whines.
“Well Pads, you and I have hung out with Reg all day, let him see his friends for lunch,” James says with his arm around Sirius' shoulders. Sirius folds his arms and sighs dramatically.
“Oi, whose side are you on Prongs?”
“Yours, obviously. I’m just saying” James says with a shrug.
Regulus glances over at the two of them, walking down the hall in each other’s arms like they were made to do so. Like they’re brothers. Regulus’ frown deepens as he notices the way Sirius melts into James’ embrace, the way they effortlessly walk in sync. His stomach drops as Sirius throws his head back and lets out a laugh as James whispers something to him. Regulus’ steps slow, the two of them walking ahead. The two of them leaving him behind, just like they always do.
The sick feeling in Regulus’ stomach settles and boils up inside him, like the stinging tendrils of a jellyfish. That same burning, stinging anger that he’s been feeling since he was eleven, since his brother left him for the bespeckled, blood traitor Gryffyndor he called his best friend. Up until then, Regulus was his best friend-- his only friend-- and the worst parts of Regulus long for that to be the case again. They long for Sirius to come crawling back to Regulus, begging for things to be the way they used to be when they were children. But the rest of Regulus knows better.
Regulus falls back and follows them both from a decent distance, trying to ignore the nausea bubbling up inside him. He glares ahead at them, his usually icy demeanor turning sour and jaded. He walks slower and slower as he approaches the Great Hall and slides into a seat at the Slytherin table next to an annoyed Evan and a grinning Barty.
“Whoa- who pissed in your cornflakes this morning?” Barty asks, still grinning maniacally as he looks over at Regulus. Evan reaches around Regulus and shoves Barty, his annoyance still clear.
“Shut up, he’s obviously not in the mood.”
“I’m just asking,” Barty says with a small frown. “Not my fault he’s a grumpy twat.”
Evan rolls his eyes. “You’re impossible.” He says before turning to face Regulus. “What’s wrong?” he asks as Dorcas and Pandora slide into their seats across from Regulus and Barty.
“Nothing. Just tired of working with Potter,” Regulus says, pushing his food around his plate.
“Are we still upset with him over his transfiguration grade?” Pandora says, her soft voice muffled by the large piece of hair tucked in her mouth.
“No, we’re upset with him over the fact that he’s an insufferable prick,” Regulus says, reaching out and taking the hair out of her mouth. “And I thought you were going to stop chewing your hair, Dora.”
“I am. Eventually. Don’t change the subject,” Pandora says, tucking the hair behind her ear. “What did James do to you this time around?”
Regulus shrugs. “I don’t know. His existence just makes my blood boil.”
“His existence or his persistent kindness to you?” Dorcas asks. Regulus shoots a glare at her.
“His existence. I don’t care that he’s nice to me. He’s still a pretentious git.”
“Uh huh. That makes sense.” Dorcas says tossing her braids over one shoulder, earning another glare from Regulus.
“Have you ever considered that your hatred for Potter is a bit misplaced?” Evan says carefully.
Regulus shoots him a withering glare. “And that is supposed to mean what exactly?”
“That you may hate something or someone else but you think you hate James,” Pandora says.
“I know what it means, Dora,” Regulus says with a sigh “I just meant, who or what else could I hate? He is more than deserving of my hatred.”
Is he though? What did he do to deserve-”
“You know what.” Regulus snaps, his lips pressing into a thin line.
Pandora hums, apparently oblivious to his frustration. She places her fork down and folds her hands in her lap.
“Do I?” she says calmly, looking Regulus dead in the eyes with her soft blue ones.
“
What exactly is happening?” Barty asks Evan quietly.
“Shhh. I’m watching the staredown.”
“Why are you bothering, you know that she’ll win out.”
“She always does, doesn’t she?”
“Will you two shut up-” Regulus hisses, not breaking eye contact with Pandora,who sits eerily still, a soft, amused smirk dancing on her lips. Regulus narrows his eyes, frowning.
“Fine.” He says with a sigh, looking away. Pandora’s smirk grows into a smile.
“Does that mean you’ll-”
“I’ll try, but-”
“No, you’ll do more than try, Reg. He’s not-”
“He is, it’s his fault”
“It isn’t, you know that.”
“Okay can you two not do that? It’s creepy.” Barty says, interrupting Regulus and Pandora’s near-telepathic debate.
Pandora smiles. “Hmm, I was winning anyways,” she says.
“You were not,” Regulus says, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
“Whatever you need to tell yourself, love,” Pandora says, reaching across the table and tugging affectionately at a stray curl in Regulus’ face.
“Stop that,” Regulus says, swatting her hand away, his smile broadening against his will. Pandora had a skill for that, making Regulus happy, no matter how much he didn’t want to be. Wallowing wasn’t possible with her, even if Regulus was drowning in his ‘moods’ as she calls them, just one smile from Pandora would pump air into his lungs.
Regulus turns back to his food, shaking his head fondly. He tucks the stray curl behind his ear, unaware of the pair of eyes looking his way. Unaware that from across the Great Hall, James Potter has a small, fond smile on his lips, his eyes locked on Regulus and his friends.
★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★
Regulus sighs, slipping into the transfiguration classroom just in time for class. He takes his seat at the back of the room, next to Evan and Pandora and behind his brother. He glances around the room, his eyes landing on the empty seat next to Pandora.
“Lupin not coming today?” he asks, pulling out his presentation notes.
“No, uh he’s not feeling well.” Sirius says.
Regulus nods.
Remus Lupin was probably the smartest Gryffindor Regulus had ever met. Not that the bar was especially high, but still Lupin somehow managed to maintain O’s in all his classes, with the highest Defense against the Dark Arts grade even Professor Yearwood had ever seen. He also somehow managed to have the worst immune system Regulus had ever seen. He was sick practically every few weeks.
He sighs again, noticing the empty chair next to Sirius. “And Potter?” He asks, an annoyed frown on his lips. If Potter decided not to show for this presentation, he was going to fucking explode.
Sirius shrugs. “ He’s around somewhere,” he says, jotting something down on a piece of parchment. Regulus scoffs.
“So you're saying you don’t know where he is? I thought you two were bloody attached at the hip,” he says sourly.
“I know where he is,” Sirius says, oblivious to the sour tone in Regulus' voice. “He should be here soon, Reg. He wouldn’t bail on you when you have to present your project. He’s just… otherwise occupied right now,” he adds, a small smile on his lips as he continues writing.
Regulus rolls his eyes. Of course, there was some sort of prank planned for right now. Sirius and his friends were all absolutely obsessed with some kind of mischievous agenda they’ve had in place since first year. It was absolutely ridiculous.
“Speak of the devil,” Evan mutters, nodding to the door as a slightly sweaty, out of breath James Potter bursts in the door and scrambles to his seat.
Sirius looks up from his parchment and grins. “Another success?” he asks James, passing him the piece of parchment. James sits down, tucking a large, plain piece of parchment into his robes and runs his hand through his even more disheveled hair.
“As always, Padfoot,” He says, slightly panting as he takes the parchment from Sirius. He reads it and snorts before snatching Sirius’ quill and adds something to the writing. Sirius reads James' writing and pouts.
“Well that’s not very kind of you, Prongs. My ideas never need improvement,” he says.
“Tell that to every idea Moony’s had to fix up for you so we don’t get caught,” James says with a grin as he pulls out his own quill and parchment. He grabs his presentation notes and looks around the room before turning to look at Regulus.
“Did you finish up that last bit of the project alright?” he asks.
Regulus opens his mouth to say something rude but snaps it shut when Pandora lightly kicks his shin. “Ouch, Dora. I wasn’t gonna say anything mean,” he lies.
“I’m sure,” Pandora says simply, adjusting the extra green and silver tie she was using as a headband.
Regulus sighs and turns back to James. “Yes, I managed to finish the project just fine, thank you,” he says through gritted teeth.
James raises his eyebrows and smiles. “That may have been the nicest you’ve ever been to me. Having a change of heart, are we?”
“No. Can’t I just be nice every once and a while?”
“Now that’s an unsettling thought,” Sirius mutters, still scribbling away at the piece of parchment.
“Oh piss off, I can be nice,” Regulus hisses at his brother.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Sirius says with a small smirk.
Regulus opens his mouth to retort but is swiftly cut off by the door swinging open and Professor Mcgonogall entering the classroom.
“Good Morning, Seventh Years. I expect that those of you who are presenting to the class are ready for today.” She says, gliding up to the front of the room. “As for those of you who only had writing due today, now is the time to hand it in. If you will be presenting, you can turn in your writing once you're done,” she says, coming to a halt as she reaches her desk.
Most of the class scrambles to turn in their work, while the select few who are presenting sit back. Sirius swears under his breath and rummages through his bag, looking for something.
“Prongs, did Moony give me his project to turn in? I could have sworn he gave it to me to turn in but I can’t find it,” he says.
“Is it already on your desk?” Regulus says, nodding to the pieces of parchment sitting on Sirius’ desk, the handwriting clearly not his brother’s. Sirius whips around and picks up the parchment, scanning it quickly.
“Oh. Yeah, it is. Thanks Reggie,” he says, standing up and rushing forward to hand in both his and Remus’ work. Once everyone is seated again, Professor Mcgonogall nods to James and Regulus.
“Now, as you all know, these projects were on different forms of human to animal transfiguration. Each of your groups was given one classification of the following to research; animagi, metamorphmagus, and human transfiguration. Now, Mr. Potter and Mr. Black will be giving a presentation on all three, and the differences. I’ll let them tell you more,” she says to the room before sitting down at her desk and letting James and Regulus walk up to the front of the classroom to present. James grins at the room full of people before looking at Regulus. Regulus nods at him and takes a deep breath before beginning his part of the presentation.
At the end of class, Regulus and James walk up to professor Mcgonogall’s desk and hand her their writing. The professor offers them both a rare smile as she accepts their work.
“You two did quite well on your presentation,” she says, her stern demeanor off put by the small smile on her face. “Quite well indeed. You should consider working together on future projects, rather than choosing your friends- that means you, Mr. Potter- it would benefit your grades well,” she says, shooting a look at James who grins at her.
“Minnie, you can’t possibly expect me to leave my beloved friends to suffer without me. But I will admit, this project was definitely more productive than when I’m paired with any of them,” he says, glancing over at Regulus.
“Was that a compliment?” Regulus asks flatly.
“Maybe,” James says with a smile, still looking straight ahead.
Mcgonogall’s smile turns into a small smirk as she glances between the two of them.
“That being said, Mr. Potter, I cannot force you to work with Mr. Black in the future. And same for you Mr. Black. But I would recommend it. Not just in my class. You’re both incredibly bright, I’m sure working together in any class would benefit the both of you,” she says, stacking all the papers and placing them on her desk.
“Thank you, Professor, we’ll keep that in mind,” Regulus says, with no intention to do anything of the sort.
Mcgonogall looks back up at them. “Hmm, well, go on then,” she says, nodding towards the door. Regulus nods and turns to leave the room. James however, stays behind a second longer, grinning as he bids his favorite professor goodbye.
As Regulus turns out of the classroom, he sees Evan and Barty leaning against the wall, waiting for him.
“Ready?” Evan asks, throwing his bag over his shoulder.
Regulus nods absentmindedly. “Yeah, let’s go,” he says.
They walk through the halls, Barty and Evan bickering as usual and Regulus can’t help but block out their noise. His mind wanders, as they walk outside to sit by the lake, to none other than James Potter. Professor Mcgonogall’s reaction to their presentation was a good sign for his grade, but he can’t help but think about her encouragement that he and James work together again in the future. Regulus’ first instinct was to ignore her advice and work with quite literally anyone else, but no one he had ever worked with knew the nuances of transfiguration like James did. Which, to his credit, was one of the hardest things in all of magic to understand. There’s a reason why even the smartest witches and wizards did horribly in their transfiguration classes, and James just naturally understood it. It made Regulus’ blood boil that he couldn’t understand half of what James so naturally understood. But it also made him slightly more fond of James. It was a bit of a comfort that he wasn’t a complete idiot as Regulus previously thought.
A small smirk forms on Regulus' lips as he settles into the grass by the lake. James Potter may not be a complete idiot, but he was still a nuisance. A kind, amusing, nuisance, but a nuisance all the same.
“Oh no, he’s got a smile on his face.”
“He’s planning Potter’s murder in his head, isn’t he?”
“Should we warn him? I’d rather not see such a handsome bloke murdered at the hands of our best friend.”
“Warning him wouldn’t do any good, Reg would still succeed-”
“What the hell are you two on about?” Regulus snaps as he comes out of his daze.
“Ah, there he is. We were worried about you for sec there, you were… smiling,” Barty says with a feigned shudder. Evan rolls his eyes.
“We were worried. Not because you were smiling, but you got awful quiet, Löwenstern,” Evan says, a concerned frown shadowing his face. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, Evan. Really, I am. And stop calling me that,” Regulus says, shoving him slightly. Evan laughs and shoves him back.
“You don’t even know what it means, Löwenstern,”
“I know that it’s endearing and therefore, should not be associated with me.”
“Oh because you’re the opposite of endearing?” Evan says with a grin.
“Precisely.” Regulus says, another smile tugging at his lips.
“I think you’re plenty endearing, Reg.” Barty says, grinning as he throws his arm around his shoulders.
“See, even Barty says you’re endearing,” Evan says.
“ I am not,” Regulus mumbles, gaining loud laughter from his friends. “You’re laughing, but I’m serious.”
“I thought your brother was Sirius,” Evan says, waggling his eyebrows.
Regulus groans. “That’s not even funny. It hasn’t been funny since fourth year.”
Barty grins. “I think it’s plenty funny, Ev.” he says, ruffling Regulus' perfect curls. A noise of protest escapes Regulus. “Yeah, yeah, not the hair.” he says, purposefully messing Regulus’ hair up even more.
“You’re an insufferable bitch and I’ll laugh when you die,” Regulus mumbles, trying to fix his hair.
“Right back at you, Stellina,” Barty says with a grin.
“Stop calling me terms of endearment in languages I don’t speak,” Regulus pouts.
“No,” Barty and Evan say in unison, grinning at each other, and then at Regulus.
“I hate you both, I’m going to find Dora and Cas,” Regulus says, going to stand up.
“Have fun with that, I think they’re chatting up Evans,” Barty says.
Regulus frowns, sitting back down. “She’s the Gryffindor, right? Red hair, green eyes, insufferably loud?” He asks, picking at the grass at his feet.
Evan nods. “Yeah, she’s the one Potter drooled over for a solid five and a half years. Poor bird. Though I guess they’re good friends now that Potter’s finally gotten over her.”
Regulus frown deepens. A sick feeling washes over him as he remembers what Lily Evans looks like. She’s fucking breathtaking. And that’s just objectively speaking. It makes perfect sense why Dorcas and Pandora adored her, as well as why James loved her for nearly six years. She’s not just beautiful, but scarily intelligent, and even more terrifyingly fierce. Once about a year ago, Snape called her a mudblood- not that he had only done it once but this time it was to her face- and she beat the actual shit out of him, before hexing him, fixing her hair, and walking away. She wasn’t even reprimanded.
“I don't like her,” Regulus says simply, unsure of what made him come to such a conclusion.
“I think she’s alright, not my type though,” Barty says with a shrug.
Evan snorts, lying back in the grass. Regulus follows suit, laying back and staring up at the clear blue sky. Barty does the same, and for a few moments, they lie in rare, comfortable silence before Regulus speaks up.
“Hey, Evan?” he says.
“Yeah?”
“What does Löwenstern mean?”
Evan chuckles. “It’s German. It means lion’s star,” he says.
“Oh. That’s kind of nice, actually,” Regulus says softly. He can practically hear the grin on Evan’s face.
Yeah, it is.”