Faded with you

Regulus remembered perfectly that day four years ago now. How could he forget that, after all. You can't forget the face of one of the people you care about the most falling and breaking into a thousand pieces in front of you, being unable to do anything to avoid it. It was the day Pandora received a letter. A letter containing the death of her father. Regulus will never be able to forget the look in the girl's eyes, because the first person she looked at was him. First they were discussing how Barty had gotten into a fight with someone and the next moment everything fell apart. And of course, because the time is a fucking bitch, the day is repeating every year, like today.

“Barty. Wake up.” Regulus said for the umpteenth time while his friend was sleeping. “Okay, you asked for it.” He said raising his wand and causing a small stream of cold water to appear which fell elegantly on the boy's face who woke up abruptly.

“What's wrong with you?” Barty asked sitting up and starting to dry himself with the sleeve of his pajamas.

“Nothing. Do you know what day it is today?”

“The 26th?”

“The 27th.” Regulus said as the realization hit Barty's face.

“Oh shit. Panda.” The boy said standing up still slightly half asleep as Regulus handed him his clothes.

“Evan is in the bathroom. You have minutes for…you two. I'll go get Dorcas and we'll meet at the entrance, okay?” Regulus said as he put his hand on the knob and walked out of the room, hearing a muttered "bastard" from Barty that made him smile.

“The fact that the prefects have all the words is not right.” Barty complained after the four boys entered the Ravenclaw common room.

“You could have become a prefect.” Regulus said as he nodded to Benjy, a Ravenclaw prefect that Regulus got along with very well, who greeted him happily.

“Mcgonagall would never have made me prefect and stop saying hello to your boyfriend.”

“He's not my boyfriend.” Regulus said rolling his eyes.

“Didn't McGonagall make you prefect because you get into fights almost every day?” Dorcas asked innocently.

“Or for the fact that you always arrive late for class?” Evan asked as Barty gave him a flat look.

“Or for the fact that you're a complete idiot?” Regulus asked flatly while Barty made an offended noise.

“I may be an idiot, but that hasn't stopped you from dating me.”

“I have done so many things that I regret.”

“Oh, please. You don't regret being with me.”

“Who knows.”

“Everyone knows that, actually.” Dorcas said as Regulus rolled his eyes, unable to get past the stairs. “And this is where I come into play.”

“This rule is ridiculous. Why can you enter in our dormitory but we can't enter yours?”  Barty asked as Dorcas smiled.

“For our honor.”

“Which you don't have?” Evan asked as Dorcas rolled her eyes.

“You're the one with Barty, not us.”

“Ev is proud to be with me.” Barty said putting an arm around his shoulders while Evan said nothing. “Oh come on.”

“Sorry. I can't lie.” Evan replied with a smile as Barty rolled his eyes away and Evan smiled at him as Dorcas disappeared behind the wall.

“Goodmorning.” Pandora said with a slight smile as she walked down the stairs and saw her friends waiting for her.

“We have breakfast!” Barty said with a smile.

“And homework already done. From Regulus.” Evan added, holding up the various papers in the air.

“And we will go to breakfast on the lake.” Regulus said as Pandora smiled softly at the boys as Dorcas touched her shoulder softly.

“You are idiots.” the girl said fondly as she gave everyone a quick hug. Regulus held out her arm and the girl took it with a sigh and a laugh, entwining hers.

“Oi! Pandora.” Benjy said as soon as he saw them go by.

“Jy, hi.”

“How are you?” asked the brown-haired boy hugging her friend who smiled.

“I'm fine. We are going to have breakfast at the lake. You want to come?”

“Nahh, not for me. I just wanted to give you this. It's muggle so I hope you like it. They say it's the best.” Benjy said handing her a chocolate bar in the shape of a butterfly.

“You did not have to.”

“It's the least. See you later at the meeting, if you'll be there of course. I can cover you today with no problems, you know that, just let me know, huh? Guys. Lus.” Benjy said, nodding first to the boys and then winking at Regulus and disappearing the next moment.

“I'm sorry, what was that?” Barty asked as soon as Benjy was out listening as Regulus rolled his eyes and walked off with Pandora.

“Lus?” Evan asked with equal interest as Dorcas nudged them both.

“We'll ask him at the lake, now move.”

“Since when are you and Fenwick so close?” asked Evan for the umpteenth time after Regulus didn't answer the other questions.

“Benjy and I are not that close.” Regulus said as Pandora finished putting yet another white flower on his black curls, while Regulus had his head tilted slightly behind her.

“Sure? I mean, Lus? Who calls you Lus?” Dorcas asked as she was eating his breakfast.

“Who would ever give you a nickname? You'd probably kill him.” added Evan, who was currently himself on Barry's lap.

“Barty gives me a nickname that I routinely hate every week.” Regulus answered rolling his eyes.

“Because have I known you since we're both 6 years old? And then, I can.”

“Obviously.”

“You know he has a crush on you, right?” Dorcas asked curiously while Regulus didn't answer.

“Wait. He told you, didn't he?” Barty asked instead.

“Fine. He told me. Maybe one time.” Regulus said with a sigh while everyone turned in surprise towards their friend.

“Or two.” Added Pandora with a smile as she arranged the last flower neatly in the boy's hair.

“What? Did you know?”

“Of course.”

“I was the one you told secrets to!” Barty complained as Regulus rolled his eyes again and Pandora smiled.

“Have you ever kissed him?” Evan asked instead as Regulus stiffened into his shoulders.

“No.”

“One time.” Pandora said instead as Dorcas gasped.

“WHAT.”

“Thank you Dora.” Regulus said flatly as the girl smiled at him.

“When?”

“At some party, I don't remember.”

“Yeah, of course you don't remember. You remember when I fell, and it was five years ago, but you don't remember kissing someone.” Said Barty

“That was a wonderful day and I was drunk, okay?”

“If you're drunk, do you kiss people? Who are you, Barty?” Dorcas said as Barty made an offended sound.

“Listen it was one time and…we never talked about it and…”

“Actually he asked you.” Pandora interrupted thinking while Evan laughed.

“What did you answer him?”

“I officially hate this conversation.”

“I think I know. He probably told him that he's not ready for a relationship. Or that the kiss wasn't the best.” Dorcas said as Barty nodded.

“Or that he's in love with someone else and he doesn't want to hurt their feelings.”

“Or he ignored it.”

“Or he apologized to him and told him it was a mistake.” Pandora said shrugging her shoulders as Dorcas smiled as she opened her mouth to say something.

“Oh, fuck you and shut up.” Regulus said standing up as his friends looked at him smiling. “It's time to go to lessons.”

“But—”

“Get up. All of you. And shut up.”

“Love when he is bossy.” Barty said as Evan nodded.

“Right? He is so—”

“Shut the fuck up.” Regulus said rolling his eyes while his friends smiled satisfied.

“See you on lunch.” They then said going to Charms class leaving Pandora and Regulus alone.

“Aren't you going to class?”

“I'm going there.”

“You have Charms.”

“I will make Potions.”

“Regulus, you don't have to come with me to every class.” Pandora said, smiling like every year while her friend ignored her like every year as they walked towards the girl's class, who had lessons with the Hufflepuffs.

“Mr. Black. Wrong class?” The professor asked as soon as he saw him next to Pandora.

“Today I felt like making Potions.”

“But don't you have Charms?”

“I already have the maximum spell rating.”

“As in potions.” Pandora said rolling her eyes as Regulus looked at her smiling.

“Can I stay for today?”

“If I told you to leave, would you do it?”

“Probably not.”

“Welcome to our Potions class then.”

“You're an idiot. I am fine.”

“I know. I just want to make potions.”

“…thank you for…you know…not leaving me alone today.” Pandora added in a low voice as Regulus smiles at her sweetly.

Querido mi pequeña alma,

Did I just hear that you got a top grade in Advanced Astronomy? Are we sure you are my son? The one who believed that the sun and the moon were soulmates and that they were separated due to the time? We are sure?
If you're really my son, I'm proud of you, mi pequeña alma, if you copied, congratulations. You took somethingfrom me too and not only from your dad.
How are you, mi querido? Your dad and I miss you, the house is definitely quieter without you and Sirius at the moment! We can't wait for you to come back for Christmas, not long after all. This year I was thinking of trying again to inviteRegulus, and of course also Narcissa. I tried to get in touch with Narcissa but unfortunately she is no longer a resident of her two old addresses, and Monty and I are unable to locate her. I doubt Regulus will say yes if Sirius asks,couldn't you try to ask him, mi querido? Maybe he'll say yes to you.
Your dad just told me to say hello, as if I haven't already. I did it? Wait. Oh. I did not. My bad. Oh well, your father and I say hi. Say hello to everyone and a special hello to my second favorite daughter. (She writes me every week, unlike someone else) (you.)
We’ll see very soon. (I'll wait for your reply by tomorrow or no Christmas present, I swear, James)
Te extraño más de lo que la luna extraña al sol por la noche, mi sol.

With all my love,

Mom.

James read the letter on the Astronomy Tower as a smile appeared on his face, reading the words written by his mother and imagining her writing and his father appearing from behind, kissing her brown curls with a huge smile, telling her to write the greetings that she hadn't actually written before. “I miss you too, mom.” He said with a smile as he closed the letter and reached for pen and paper to write her an answer. The problem was, the exact moment he picked up the quill, he heard footsteps and okay, he was one of the Head Boys, but if McGonagall caught him around again at that hour, he'd be grounded. Again. So he took his things, put them on his legs and quickly put on the invisibility cloak.

The moment after the door opened, though, he realized it wasn't McGonagall. And no Hogwarts professor. But it was Regulus and Pandora, who closed the door behind them, and James held his breath so they wouldn't feel he was there. Regulus looked him straight in the eye the next moment and James really feared that he knew he was there. Regulus took steps forward, not looking away and James pulled back slightly. How would he explain his presence there? It wasn't quite the best. But then Regulus sat right next to him, a few inches away, while Pandora sat next to the boy with a slight sigh looking at the sky. James didn't dare move.

“You know, dad always told me myths about the stars, or the moon.” Pandora said in a softened tone as Regulus turned to her slowly.

“Really?”

“Mhm. Every night. Before I went to sleep. I don't know where he got so many stories from, but he said there were too many stars and that he surely would never be able to tell me all of them.”

“Which was your favorite?”

“My favourite? I think it was his too. The one about the Moon and the Sun. And about them being soulmates.”

“The Sun and the Moon?”

“Yes. In the past they were in love. Like, really really in love.”

“I know what «in love» means, Dora, thanks.” Regulus said as Pandora gave a soft laugh.

“But not their love. Dad always said their love was infinite. And that he was not well seen by others. So one day, Time decided to speak to them on behalf of everyone, saying they had to separate. But obviously the Moon and the Sun didn’t want to. So, during one night they decided to escape.”

“To escape?”

“Yes. Sadly, Time discovered them and separated them, punishing both.”

“Poor Moon and Poor Sun.” Regulus said in a sad tone as Pandora hit him on his arm smiling.

“So the days went by and the Moon and the Sun were no longer able to meet. But Fate didn't agree.”

“Wait. Fate?”

“Fate was the only one who didn't agree with Time, and after talking to both the Moon and the Sun and realizing how blissfully they loved each other, he decided to help them.”

“Let me guess. So was the eclipse born?”

“Exactly. So the Moon and the Sun can meet again and fall in love even more each time.”

“So they're kind of in a long-distance relationship.” Regulus concluded with a smile while Pandora rolled her eyes smiling.

“You are impossible. It's a beautiful story and—”

“Never said otherwise.”

“—and you call it a long-distance relationship?”

“In short words!”

“When do you ever use few words?”

“I always use a few words!” Regulus said in a mock offended tone while he pulled back, dodging Pandora who tried to hit him laughing. James quickly moved slightly further back so Regulus didn't rush into him, now touching the wall as Regulus got closer and closer.

“I miss him.” Pandora then said in a low voice while Regulus looked at her sadly.

“C'mon, you can't be sad. He's watching us right now. See? Say hi to your dad and don't be rude.” Regulus said pointing to the sky while the girl smiled.

“Hi, dad.”

“You don't intend…I don't know, introduce me to him formally?”

“Why don't you do it? Now I'm curious.” Pandora said with a smile as Regulus lifted his head and most of his curls fell down his back.

“Hi, sir. I'm Regulus Black.”

“The middle name.” Pandora whispered to him as Regulus turned confused towards her.

“What?” He too asked in a whisper.

“Your middle name. Don't forget that.”

“Oh. Yeah, yeah, sure. Hi, Mr Lestrange. I'm Regulus Arcturus Black. His daughter's boyfriend.”

“No, you're not!”

“Oi, i am.”

“You're gay, Regulus.”

“So? If I wasn't gay I'd be your boyfriend.”

“No. You won’t.”

“Don't you want to be my girlfriend?” asked Regulus offended as Pandora laughed.

“Of course not.”

“Good to know.”

“You're so stupid.” The girl said affectionately while Regulus smiled.

“Do you think he likes me?” He asked in a whisper as the girl nodded.

“He would have loved you. Dad also loved classical music, Quidditch and magic. You would have been best friends.”

“You think?”

“Oh, I know that. The first time I told him about you, he was curious to meet you.”

“I'm curious to know him too.” Regulus said first to Pandora and then to sky full of stars.

“It's eleven in the night, Regulus.”

“Why are you in a hurry? Are you busy tomorrow?” Regulus asked confused while Pandora smiled.

“I have to root for an idiot tomorrow.”

“Oh really?”

“I already bet with Marlene.”

“What?”

“She is convinced they will win.”

“I hope you bet otherwise.”

“It seems obvious to me. I can't help but root for my favorite player, so now we're going to sleep so you can win tomorrow.”

“We will still win. Ziana made us train even at night.”

“The Gryffindors have been training well too.”

“Yeah, Potter told me that.”

“Have you talked to James?”

“In passing.”

“Since when do you talk to James?”

“Since you sit next to Marlene.” Regulus said rolling his eyes as Pandora still looked at him unconvinced.

“I do not believe you.”

“Weren't you sleepy?”

“Ah, when we talk about James, do you change the subject?”

“Walk to the door, Pandora.” Regulus said rolling his eyes as the girl listened to him smiling and walked out the door, leaving Regulus on the Tower.

“I swear I'll never leave her alone. It’s a promise.” Regulus said to the sky while James watched him in silence. “See you next year, sir.” He then said making a nod to the sky.

“You coming?” Pandora asked looking out the door

“I'm coming!" Regulus said smiling as he followed her out of it, leaving James alone, who then took off his Invisibility cloak, who looked up at the sky, which Regulus was talking to earlier.

“I think I'm in love with that boy, Mr. Lestrange.” James said with a sigh looking at the stars, while they looked at him in return, all silent.

All silent, except for Fate.