Faded with you

James loved running at dawn. It was a tradition he had started since he was little. When he did this, his thoughts went away, even if only for a short time. He had been trying for years to get Sirius to come with him, however, after the boy came one morning, he said that he loved him, but needed his beauty sleep. He had tried to convince Peter too, since they were little, actually, but obviously the answer had been the same every time: "between the two of you, you'll always be the one who will never stop running and flying, dude." At the beginning of their years he had also tried to convince Remus, but one look from the boy was enough to make him understand that he wouldn't go with him.

He hadn't asked Regulus, though. Also because when James went for a run he always found him with his eyes closed. He didn't believe the boy was seriously asleep. In fact, he knew that he wasn't sleeping. He doubted that Regulus had slept at least an hour since they were there, even though the boy didn't look like he hadn't slept in days. How he did it, James couldn't understand. He was always beautiful. The only thing that could perhaps be noticed on his face was the fact that some light dark circles were forming, but nothing more. His hair, his posture, even his voice were always the same, put in order. An order that James honestly wanted to break. He wanted to discover Regulus' true order, not the order everyone saw. The order that he wanted everyone to see.

After following his usual route, the boy arrived, as he does every day, in front of the cafeteria and entered, to be immediately hit by the scent of freshly brewed coffee and freshly baked sweets, the warmth that entered his body.

“Good morning James!” Peter said from behind the counter as soon as he saw him, and James smiled widely at him, walking over and sitting down.

“Good Morning, Pete. How are you?”

Peter handed him a warm croissant, “You know how it is. Everything is fine and nothing is in order.” He answered him and James felt a sense of deja-vu. It was the same phrase that his Peter said when he was playing magic chess against someone, when he asked him how the game was going, and then checkmate in a few moves.

“Of course.” James nodded while Peter did the same. “So. Remus isn't working today?”

“Of course he is. I can't be alone here. Until 9am yes, but then the children arrive. Many children. James, that's a lot of children.” Peter said in a serious tone and the boy couldn't help but laugh.

“Don't you like children?”

“I love children.”

“So what's the problem?”

“Many.” Peter said and James shook his head smiling the exact moment Remus entered the cafeteria, looking tired, two dark circles visible under his eyes.

“Good morning, Remus.” James said and the boy nodded at him before heading towards the counter and making himself a coffee.

“Morning, James. Always before me, huh?”

“You didn't sleep?” Peter asked worriedly and Remus shook his head.

“Headache.”

“Have you ever tried closing off all light sources?” James asked and both Peter and Remus turned to him curiously. “I have this friend who also suffers from headaches, and usually prefers to be in the dark, he says it helps his pain. Maybe you could try it too.”

“Oh? This is new.” Peter said and while Remus stared at James for a few more seconds, before nodding.

“Thank you. I'll try it next time. Hopefully not soon. Thanks Pete.” He then said as Peter handed him a glass of water with a pill, which Remus swallowed within seconds. “How is Regulus?” He then asked James which he nodded.

“Everything okay. And nothing in order.”

“Not you too.”

“But it's cool.”

“See Remus? It's cool. James is cool, I know my motto is cool.”

“Yeah. Whatever.”

“You're just jealous.”

“Anyway.” Remus said turning to James. “I have a question.” He then added and James smiled.

“Ask whatever you want, Moo—Remus.”

“How do you always get there before me? I mean, I don't see any cars out here and—”

“I actually come on foot. Or rather, running.”

“You run?” Remus asked and James nodded

“I run, yeah.”

“At 6 in the morning.” Remus said slowly

“What's wrong?”

“Okay, as much as I want to be on your side, I don't see how. It's 6 in the morning, James!” Peter said and James laughed.

“It's a great way to start the day!”

“A run? Is a run a good way to start the day? What are your days, James?” Peter asked and Remus next to him nodded.

“You're crazy, dude.”

“Oh, c'mon. I'm not the only one who does that.”

“You are.”

“Yeah, the only one.”

“I'm not!”

“As you say, James.” Remus said as he finished putting on his apron and headed towards the couple who had entered the cafeteria at that moment.

“I know people who do that,” James said sadly as Peter smiled at him.

“If I didn't work I would come with you.”

“I wonder why I don't believe you.”

“Mhm. Real. Pretty unreal. However. But I'm there in thought.”

“Thanks, Pete.”

“You're welcome, James.”  Peter said handing him the freshly brewed hot coffee.

“Could you also make me a coffee and a couple of brownies?”

“Let me guess. Does that boy you came with the first time have anything to do with it? The one with the dark curls?”

“Am I that obvious?”

"Slightly. But hey, it's love, right?”

“…yeah.”

“Not to say anything eh, but not even…”

“Regulus.”

“Oh yeah, Regulus. Well, Regulus doesn't run with you in the morning either I see.” Peter said and James made a face at him which made Peter laugh. “Okay, okay, no comment.”

“You play sport, right?” Remus asked and James smiled. “Here you are. Problem solved. Pete, he is an athlete!”

“Ah here. I had to figure it out straight away.”

“You just had to look at him. I mean, stand up for a minute, James.” Remus said and James stood up. “See? Look at him.”

“Oh. I see, yeah. I see.” Peter said and James looked down at himself, trying to see him too, but failing to find anything obvious, causing a small frown of confusion to appear between his eyebrows which made Remus smile and Peter laugh.

“I don't see it, honestly.” James said confusedly, which made Peter laugh again.

“Here, take this, and say hello to Regulus. Try to convince him to come sometimes.”

“I'll try. Thank you.” James said taking out a banknote, which was from the rest of the shopping they had done days ago but Remus pushed him out of the cafeteria.

“Wait—”

“The house offers.”

“But—”

“Bye, James.” Remus said as he walked back into the cafeteria, leaving the boy with the envelope in his hand and a smile. Peter waved to him from inside and James did the same.

Regulus entered the living room, where Pandora was sitting on the sofa, and passed her the cup of hot tea, sitting next to her in silence, slightly uncertain. He had just finished telling practically everything and the girl had been silent the whole time, listening to him attentively.

“Thank you.” said the girl, taking the cup and taking a sip.

“You're welcome.”

“I'm ready.” Pandora said then placing the cup on the coffee table and turning to Regulus, who nodded. “Okay, let me get all of this straight. You are a wizard living in 1977. James too. You go to this wizarding school, Hogwarts, and during detention you fell from a great height.”

“It was his fault, but yeah.”

“I'll have to ask James, but yes. Then you woke up in this world, where you apparently never existed and where your magic doesn't work. You met some of your friends and no one recognized you, until me.”

“Until you.”

“And you and James don't know how to go back to 1977.”

“Pretty much yes.”

“Okay.” The girl said with a sigh and Regulus looked at her carefully. She seemed calm. Too calm. “I suppose you and James are not married then.”

“We are not.”

“But you like each other.” Pandora said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“What? No. We don't like each other.”

“Really? I mean. Are you sure? I'm pretty sure that you like him and he likes you so—”

“I don't like James Potter. I hate him.” Regulus quickly interrupted, and Pandora tilted her head.

“You don't act like that with a person you hate. And then, who cooks with a person they hate?”

“Well, I do! Because—I hate him.”

“Reggie…you're—okay, maybe you don't like him. Let's say it's also true."

“Because it's true.”

“Yeah yeah.” Pandora said, gesturing roughly with her hand in the air, “But you sure as hell don't hate him.”

“It's complicated, okay?”

“Maybe it is. Everything it's complicated, Reggie. But you don't hate James Potter.”

“You are literally the same Pandora. I swear.” Regulus said rolling his eyes while Pandora smiled slightly.

“So. There is another Pandora.”

“Yeah but, you two are the same person. in everything. Maybe she has longer hair.”

“Really?”

“You are the same person, Dora. You are—simply Pandora. Apparently not even different worlds can change Pandora Lestrange.”

“Oh, shut it.” The girl said smiling as Regulus did the same. “Can I tell you a secret?”

“Of course.”

“You are the same person too. In everything. The character, the way you speaks, the eyes…always the same Reggie.” Pandora said and Regulus looked at her silently. “Except that you are a cat.” She added and Regulus laughed lightly.

“About that. James doesn't know. And he doesn't have to know. It's—okay, being an Animagus is illegal in our world.”

“You did something illegal? That's—woah. Compliments."

“Oh shut up. Like you did nothing wrong or illegal.”

“I'm a good person. Wait. In the other world I'm an Animagus too?”

“No. I'm the only one. But Barty is working on that since he discovered me and you're helping him. The shape of the animagus however corresponds to the patronus and yours is a wolf, so you would be a wolf." Regulus explained and Pandora's eyes lit up

“A wolf? But it's so cool! And James, what would he be?”

“Um—I actually don't remember his patronus. I never…saw it, I think.” Lied Regulus. He did see it. One time. But of course, he was the only one who knew.

“Oh.” The girl said with a sad look and Regulus patted her ankle affectionately.

“So we're still welcome here?”

“Does it seem obvious to me? What kind of question is that? Where else could you go? From what I understand you have no money or phones. We have to go buy some phones, by the way.”

“A phone—ah yes, the rectangular thing.”

“The rectangu—oh my god. We have so much to do.”

“We have the phones! They invented, I mean, the muggles. The invented them. They are different though.”

“What about the music?”

“What about that?”

“You have Queen, sure. I also bet David Bowie and—oh my god. My god, help me. You don't know Conan Gray. You don't know Harry Styles or Taylor Swift, or Hozier or—we really have to do a lot of things.”

“Conan Gray?”

“My god. You need a huge summary in just a few steps.”

“Huge summary in just a few steps.”

“Yeah! It's like—” Pandora began but she stopped when she heard the keys unlock the front door. “James is back.”

“He is. No word on the cat.”

“Yeah yeah. You'll tell him in the future anyway.”

“I won't—”

“Oh. Hi, guys.” James said as he entered the living room and stopped seeing Pandora, who was usually already in the conservatory at that time and Regulus sitting on the sofa. “Everything's okay?”

“Oh yeah. I just discovered that you are two wizards trapped here.”

“What?” asked James glancing at Regulus who nodded at him. “Oh. So you know everything. That’s—” said James looking again at Regulus who simply nodded again. “Cool. Yeah, that’s cool.” He said and Pandora smiled, 

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Yeah?” James said still standing where he was, the forgotten envelope in his hand.

“What is your patronus?”

“Okay, stop it. Don't you have to go to the conservatory?” Regulus asked standing up as the girl pouted.

“Today I have class in the afternoon. There was an accident. Anyway, James! What is your patronus?”

“Pandora.”

“How do you know about patronus? Did you tell her that much?” James asked curiously to Regulus who simply rolled his eyes and pushed the girl out of the room.

“James!” Pandora said with a laugh as she was carried out and James smiled.

After a few seconds Regulus returned. “Hi.” Said James with a smile.

“I'm sorry. Something happened and I had to tell her.”

“It’s fine. What did she say?”

“She is okay, actually.”

“Good. I would have liked to be there with you.”

“It's fine. I didn’t need you to be there.”

“Of course not.” Said James nodding while Regulus rolled his eyes. “For you.” James said after as he held up the envelope and handed it to Regulus, who took it and opened it.

“It's a brownie.”

“Yeah. You like brownies.” James said and Regulus looked up at him.

“I do. How do you—”

“Remus and Peter asked me to convince you to come with me one day.”

“Are you going to Remus and Peter?”

“Yeah. Every morning. We—it's not the same, but seeing them makes me feel better. We're becoming friends, you know. And…I would like you to come with me.” added James and Regulus looked at him. “Please?” Asked James with low voice and Regulus was silent for a few seconds before nodding.

“Okay.”

“Really?! Thank you.”

“I'm not doing it for you. I just—”

“Yeah, por supuesto. You hate me, I know.” James said with a smile as Regulus gave him a flat look.

“I—”

“Stop flirting and come and help me.”

“With what?” asked Regulus and Pandora appeared in the doorway.

“With pillows. Since you're not married or anything, I thought you wanted to sleep separately. Unless you prefer to sleep together, no problem. Maybe the door is locked...”

“Are you serious?” asked Regulus flatly and James next to him smiled,

“She is Pandora, mi amor, not Sirius.” He said and Regulus hit his arm hard.

“You are so stupid, I swear. So stupid. You and Sirius are made for each other.”

“Wait. Who is Sirius?” Pandora asked and before Regulus could answer she did James,

“He is Reggie's older brother and—”

“Don't call me that.”

“He is my best friend.”

“Wait. So you're telling that Regulus is your best friend's brother?” Pandora asked with a huge smile as James nodded.

“He is my best friend's brother.”

“The first song you'll hear will be Best friend's brother, James. By force.” Pandora said as they walked up the stairs.

“Is there a song?”

“Hell yeah!”

“Can you please stop it?” Regulus asked tiredly and James turned to him, staring at him for a second, before turning to Pandora.

“Which room is the largest?” He asked changing the subject and Regulus was grateful.

Regulus was staring at the black ceiling, in the darkness. He couldn't sleep that night either. The room was one of the quietest he had ever been in, especially now that James was sleeping in the next room, leaving him in their room. During the night, he could hear the regular breathing of the boy next to him, or the movements he made unconsciously in dreams, but now the bed was still. Even the air was still. Without magic or his ingredients he couldn't even make his usual sleeping potion, or any spells.

He had even transformed into his cat form, but that night hadn't been enough to make the nightmares or the thoughts go away. So at a certain point he got up, turned on the lamp on the bedside table and took one of the books that were in the library and read. What else could he do, anyway? And so it was that Regulus finished a book in the night, which had more than 300 pages at least. In the future, when the boy couldn't sleep, it became a hobby, and every night the boy started a different book, unless he had to finish the previous one.

It must have been around 5:00 in the morning when Regulus decided to go downstairs and go to the kitchen. He glanced at James' door, to see that although almost completely closed, there was a small open crack connecting the corridor to the room. Pandora's room, however, was empty. The door was open and the bed was made. Regulus furrowed his eyebrows in confusion and slowly and noiselessly descended the stairs.

To then enter the kitchen and find Pandora humming very softly, while she was making herself, Regulus noticed, toast with jam. She had in her ears, his friend had explained it to him that same day, AirPods and she was certainly listening to music. Regulus smiled before approaching and gently touching her shoulder, making her friend turn in surprise but as soon as she saw him she smiled widely, removing a headphone from her ear.

“What are you doing?” asked Regulus not too loudly,

“A toast. What are you doing here? Can't sleep again?” asked the girl in a worried tone and Regulus shook his head, lying.

“I slept, don't worry, I was just thirsty.”

“Do you want some toast? I saw that you bought my favorite strawberry jam. I assure you it’s very good.” The girl said handing him what she had prepared, but the boy shook his head.

“No thank you. But will I help you finish them?”

“Always ready to save a damsel in distress, huh, Reggie?” asked Pandora offering him the knife with the butter on top of it as the boy rolled his eyes. “Here, put this on.” She then added, offering him the white earphone she had taken off. Regulus did as he was told and Pandora took her phone and then played a song that played the next moment in Regulus's left ear, who smiled slightly. “We are gonna listen to my favorite songs.” She then said,

“Dear me, then.”

“I have great taste.” She said hitting him on his shoulder, giggling, as Regulus smiled sweetly at her, taking a piece of toast and filling it with butter, the melody filling his ear.

Pandora was right. She had excellent taste, and most of the songs the two heard, of which Regulus obviously knew none of them, they liked too until she Pandora stood up and hit herself in the face, under Regulus' extremely confused gaze.

“Why?” 

“Because Regulus. Because! I forgot to let you hear our song!” the girl said, taking her phone and starting to scroll through her downloaded songs.

“Do we have our own song?”

“Of course yes! I should have thought of that before.” Pandora said as she continued scrolling through her playlist, finally managing to find it. “Here she is!” The girl said turning the phone towards Regulus, which she quickly read,

“Ribs by Lorde?”

“Exactly. Here.” Pandora said as she started the song with a huge smile as Regulus now focused on the song.

“Can I read the text?” asked Regulus and Pandora handed him her phone with the text, before starting to dance by putting away the plates they had eaten from. “It's really beautiful.” Regulus said softly, pausing especially on the phrases after the bridge.

“I know! C'mon!” Pandora said screaming-whispering and holding her hand,

“What?”

“Dance with me, Reggie.”

“I won't.”

“C'mon! I want 'em back, I want 'em!” She sang and Regulus couldn't help but grab her hand and stand up and follow Pandora's rhythm.

“Why am I doing this?” Regulus said as Pandora grabbed both of his hands and the two began to spin,

“Because you love me”

“Yeah,”

“You're the only friend I need, sharing beds like little kids,” Pandora sang laughing and Regulus smiled, lowering his back slightly and making the girl spin around, “and laughing 'til our ribs get tough! But that will never be enough, sing with me, Reggie.”

“I don’t know the words!”

“You read them!”

“How can I remember them?”

“Fine! Repeat after me then.” Pandora said laughing and Regulus rolled his eyes smiling.

“Fine!”

“You're the only friend I need..."

“You're the only friend I need...”

“Sharing beds like little kids,”

“And laughing 'til our ribs get tough?” crooned then Regulus, with a questioning tone, but smiling when he saw that his lyric was right, turning her around again and pulling her towards him,

“But that will never be enough.” Pandora finished laughing, moving away from him to see his face and smile deeply. The next moment there was a sound of clapping and their heads whipped around to find James clapping enthusiastically as he stood in the doorway.

“Fantastic.” He said and Pandora gave a huge bow laughing as Regulus blushed, straightening his shirt.

“We so are. Good morning, James.” Pandora said and James smiled at her, then looking at Regulus, who now had his head down, focused on his shirt.

“Good morning Pan. Good morning Reg.” He said and Regulus simply gave him a quick nod, handing the headset back to Pandora who laughed, seeing the blush on Regulus's cheeks, who rolled his eyes.

“I can tell you've been taking dance lessons, Reggie.”

“Oh yes. Sirius told me about it.” added James and Regulus rolled his eyes again.

“Oh, shut it. Both of you.” Regulus said and they both laughed.

A short time later, however, after the girl had come downstairs with her violin case ready to go to the conservatory, Pandora's phone began to ring and the girl took it, smiling, but her smile froze, confused,

“What’s wrong?” asked James looking at her and Pandora turned to him, confused,

“I thought it was my girlfriend, but is it a call from France?”

“France?” asked James at the same time Regulus asked,

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

“Yes to both. Should I put it on speakerphone? I do not speak French.”

“Regulus does.” James said at the same time Regulus said,

“Answer, if he speaks French, put it on speaker.” Regulus turned to James, and he shrugged,

“Yeah, that could work too.”

“Okay, okay. Hello?” asked Pandora replying, “Yes, I am. What?” Pandora asked confused looking at the two boys now, “I don't. A black BMW of mine? I assure you that—wait, what? Tomorrow night? But it's not mine! Yes, I am, but—oh.” Pandora then said as realization hit her face. “Okay, thank you. Yeah, see you tomorrow night. Good day.” The girl said closing the call, confused.

“What happened?”

“Apparently I have a car in France that will be brought here tomorrow night.”

“What?”

“It's your car. James' car. Regulus bought it for your birthday. But apparently it's marked in my name?”

“Because we don't exist here.” Regulus concluded softly and Pandora looked at him confused.

“But I know you. I mean—I get the part where nobody remembers you but—You were—I mean, how could I know you, then, if you don't exist here?”

“I don't know, but this is proof that we don't exist here, otherwise the car would have been mine, right?” James said and Regulus nodded.

“Yeah, he's right. We don't exist here.” Regulus said as Pandora sighed, looking at the clock,

“I have to go to the conservatory. We'll talk later.”

“Dora, wait.” Regulus said before the girl left,

“What?”

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

“Yeah? In the other world I don't?”

“No, you don't. Who is she?” Regulus asked curiously and the girl tilted her head,

“Actually, you've already met her. Before leaving for France. We went to the same university and she also comes to the conservatory with us. Mhm.”

“Who is she?” James asked now but Pandora seemed lost in her thoughts.

“Now that I think about it, when I told her about you, she didn't seem to remember. I thought it was because you only met once, but now.. I don't think so...”

“But, who is she?” asked James again and Pandora nodded,

“You'll find out at dinner tonight. I'll invite her, she won't say no obviously, and we'll see if she recognizes you. If she won't then I'm seriously the only person who knows you are. Anyway. See you tonight, then! Dress cute.” The girl said before running out of the room, now late.

“But—”

“Wait, Dora—and she is gone.” Regulus said with a sigh,

“Am I wrong, or did she decide everything?”

“Yes, our Pandora does this too.” Said Regulus fondly

“I thought you were the one doing that.”

“And as usual, you were wrong.” Regulus said and James chuckled

“You do too, Reg.” James said fondly and Regulus shrugged, “Do you think it's someone we know?” He then added,

“I honestly don't know. I hope so. I hope not. I don't know.” Regulus said wearily,

“Maybe it’s Dorcas.”

“Merlin, I hope not.”

“What? Why?”

“Because Dorcas is with Marlene. They are literally made for each other.” Regulus said as if nothing had happened and James watched him in silence for a few seconds, before smiling,

“That's really cute, Reg.”

“What.”

“You know what.”

“It’s not. It’s just the truth.” Regulus said with a shrug and James tilted his head looking at him.

The evening eventually arrived and Regulus didn't know exactly what to wear. At that moment the boy had been in front of the wardrobe for at least 10 minutes, looking for something suitable to wear. What exactly do you wear to meet your best friend's girlfriend, who in theory has already seen you, but in theory not, but in another theory is someone you already know? Honestly. It was too much.

“Can I come in?” James asked suddenly appearing and Regulus turned to him. The boy was wearing a simple pair of blue jeans and a plain white t-shirt. And anyway he was better than Regulus had done in 10 minutes.

“If you want to.”

"What are you doing?" James asked sitting on the edge of the bed looking at him curiously.

“I was deciding what to wear.”

“I see. You don't know what to wear.”

“Forgive me if I have never met my best friend's girlfriend.” Regulus said flatly and James raised his eyebrows high, adjusting his round glasses on his nose,

“Haven't you met Lee?”

“When I met Marlene I was wearing my Hogwarts robes, James.” Regulus said turning back to the wardrobe.

“Oh. Dressed normally?”

“Is this your big advice?”

“I don't know! Honestly, whatever you wear you'll be perfect anyway.” James said, his eyes widening as soon as his words left his mouth, realizing what he actually said,

“What did you say?” Regulus asked, turning to him, and James cleared his throat,

“I said that what you would wear will be perfect because…because the important thing is that you are there, right?”

“That's not what—” Regulus said confusedly, stopping and looking at James, who smiled nervously. “Sorry, I'm just tired. And I don't know what to wear.”

“I can help you, if you want to.”

“You. Are you sure? Because Sirius always says that—well,”

“What does Sirius say?”

“Nothing.”

“Reg.” James said in a pleading tone and Regulus simply shrugged.

“I don't know. I swear.” He said with a smile and James rolled his eyes, standing up and approaching the boy then looking inside the wardrobe, then taking a pair of white trousers and a beige t-shirt, but after seeing Regulus wrinkle his nose, he put it back together. He then tried a pair of jeans and a light sweater, but Regulus' expression didn't change, and he couldn't help but smile, putting everything down again. After taking at least three other different combinations, he settled on a pair of black silk trousers and a beige t-shirt, which he handed to Regulus, who was now looking at them with a different expression,

“Here. These are perfect.”

“Mhm.” Regulus said taking his pants, but not his shirt. “Not with that, though.”

“Why not? The black goes with everything!”

“Because they're made of too different material. With this one instead,” Regulus said, picking up a simple white turtleneck t-shirt, which would obviously fit in his pants, “it looks much better.”

“I still chose the pants. I feel satisfied.”

“Obviously.”

“There are a few minutes left and they should arrive. You better prepare yourself.” James said and Regulus opened his eyes slightly, looking at the clock on the wall, to see that he was indeed right.

“Don't tell me what to do.” he said and went into the bathroom, leaving James smiling in front of the wardrobe.

After a few minutes Regulus came out of the bathroom all done up and perfect, but before James could say anything, both boys' heads turned towards the window, the sound of a car approaching the house.

“They are here. How do I look?” James asked running a hand through his hair and Regulus stared at him for a few seconds,

“You look…” Regulus started but then stopped. Then, “Okay. You look okay.” Regulus said with a breath, putting his back even more straight and his shoulders back, to be... perfect, accentuating the position he always had. “Let's go.” He said and James followed him a moment later.

The two opened the door, to find themselves in front of Pandora who was parking the car at that exact moment, with a person sitting in the passenger seat, who however could not be seen, due to the slightly dark windows and the fact that it was now evening outside.

“Can you see who she is?” James asked squinting but Regulus shook his head,

“Shouldn't you see better than me? With glasses and everything?”

“Actually I think it's the opposite, because you don't have glasses you should see better.” James said looking at the car.

“I feel like Barty right now.” Regulus said with a sigh and James looked at him confused. “Most of the time he can't see us from a distance, because the lenses don't work as they should, I think? At least he always says that. I obviously don't believe him.” Regulus explained and James nodded.

“He could wear glasses.”

“It's Barty we're talking about, James.”

“Yeah, you're right. Oh, they're coming down.” James said and stopped confusedly when he saw Pandora get out first and after a few seconds a girl who had her head down on something she was holding. A small box. He would have recognized that red hair anywhere, which, struck by the light of the lanterns, lit up even more. Pandora stood next to her with a sweet smile on her lips, looking inside the box.

“That's—” James began but he stopped himself as he couldn't find the words to say it exactly. It was strange to see them so close. He had never seen them so close. It felt…right. It was right.

“Evans. This is going to be weird.” Regulus ended up next to James, who continued to look towards the two girls, who were smiling at each other, approaching the two boys.

“What? Weird? Why?” James asked confusedly but before Regulus could answer him, the two girls had already arrived.

“Reggie, James, she is—”

“Lily.” James said and Pandora looked at him nodding,

“Yeah. Lily Evans. My girlfriend. Lils, these are Reggie and his fiancé James.” Pandora said as Regulus sent her a flat look. Lily looked up, and her eyes met first those of Regulus and then those of James.

“So you should be the two wizards.”

“What?” asked Regulus confusedly towards Pandora, but she looked at Lily with a sad look.

“Nothing, huh?” Pandora said with a sigh and Lily shook her head, lowering it immediately at the sound of a meow in the box she was holding, and both boys' gazes dropped to the box. Inside there was a small kitten, he must have been around 4 months old, who turned his head towards the two and meowed again.

“Is that a—” Regulus began but James came over and quickly picked him up,

“Oh, Merlin. Tell me that is ours.” He said as he gently petted the cat, who leaned into his hand affectionately.

“Yes! Guys, this is Romeo! Romeo, these are Reggie and James, your new dads!”

“The Persian cat from the conservatory?” Regulus asked and Pandora nodded enthusiastically.

“They decided to let me adopt him! Isn't he adorable?”

“Romeo, you're adorable.” James said smiling and petting his head, while the kitten tilted his head curiously.

“He is…cute. Yeah, cute.” Regulus said watching as the cat pushed into James' chest.

“So. Shall we go in or not?” Lily asked and Pandora laughed.

The four of them now sat at the table, in silence for more than 10 minutes, each concentrated on their own dish. Romeo, on the other hand, was on James' lap, asleep under the gentle caresses of the boy, who was eating with his other hand.

Pandora and Lily seemed to be having a private conversation of glances, while Regulus glanced at James who was looking at his plate in silence, something not usual as he caressed Romeo absently.

“Evans.” Regulus said suddenly and all eyes fell on him, “So, how did you meet Pandora?”

“Really, Reggie? Really?”

“What? It's too silent here, okay? The two of you have private conversations, while James is too embarrassed to speak. I could easily take Romeo and I'm sure he would be more company.”

“I'm not.” James said in a surprised tone but Regulus ignored him.

“Actually, you're right.” Lily said and now their gaze fell on her,

“Really, Lils?” asked Pandora with a smile and the girl smiled at her,

“Mhm. I met Pandora at the conservatory. One day she had stayed to rehearse a piece by Paganini, and I had finished my essay later, so as I was about to leave I heard her play and I already knew.” She told the girl with a slight smile and Pandora quickly squeezed her hand. “But now, I want to know how you two met, wizards.”

“Did you seriously tell her everything?”

“Certainly. It's Lily!”

“You're incredible.” Regulus said flatly and Pandora smiled,

“I know.”

“And you really believed her?”

“Of course. How could I not believe her? First is Pandora. Second, I've always liked these things and knowing that they exist in another world…it's right.”

“Really.”

“How did you meet then?”

“We haven't met because we're not together. James is in love with you and that's it.” Regulus said then closing his mouth suddenly, then realizing what he had actually said. Pandora's eyes widened and Lily turned to James in surprise.

“You what?” asked Pandora and James shook his head quickly.

“I don't love Lily. I swear. We are just friends in the same house. She is one of my best friend's best friends. That's all.”

“Oh, c'mon. That's not true.” Regulus said turning towards him now, what was done was done, and James looked at him surprised,

“I assure you it's true.”

“James, you're in love with Evans. You always have been. Everybody knows.” Regulus said as if it were a matter of fact,

“I—”

“I remember in my second year you made all the Gryffindors dance to ask her to Hosgmeade.”

“That's 4 years ago! I had a crush on her when I was young, yeah, but it's over now. I mean, I don't like Lily since my...fourth year.” James said and the boy looked at him in silence. “Do you think I'm in love with Lily?” James then asked in a now lower and more serious tone, and Regulus shrugged at him.

“Everybody thinks that.”

“Well, I don't. Actually I—I like someone else, Regulus.” James said and the boy in front of him stared at him in silence.

“So, I suppose we are not together in the other world.” Pandora concluded after several moments of silence, and Regulus turned to her.

“You are in different houses and different years, so you never talk to each other.” He explained and Lily nodded.

“And you two are not together.”

“No.”

“Okay. Now that everything is clear.”

“Sure.” Regulus said sarcastically, but Lily ignored him with a nod,

“Would you like if we tried to understand the events that brought you here and together? Four heads work better than two.”

“Reggie's head counts two.” Pandora said with a smile and James nodded,

“He is one of the best students at Hogwarts.”

“I'm not.” quickly said the boy, but James looked at him with a raised eyebrow,

“You're kidding? Sirius told me about how you were moved into the Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms classes in my year, but you refused.”

“That was a—of course Sirius told you. I will never tell him anything again in my life."

“He was just proud of you, Reg. I could see it.” James said and Regulus was silent the next moment, not knowing what to say. Honestly he didn't expect it. When he told Sirius, his brother was surprised and told him that it would be fantastic to be able to copy from him, even though he obviously didn't need to, given his skill. Nothing more. He didn't even think James knew.

“Yeah. Anyway.” He said turning to Lily and Pandora who were looking at them curiously, their expressions quickly changing to a serious one.

After the evening passed, Pandora accompanied Lily back to her house, while James started washing the dishes, stopping Regulus from doing it with a single look, which Regulus obviously listened to also because he had almost never washed the dishes in the Muggle way. So it was that the boy found himself in the living room on the sofa, with a book in his hand reading, while the cold was slowly rising.

“Reg?” James asked as he looked out the door of the living room, Romeo standing next to him, tilting his little head towards Regulus, imitating James. Regulus looked up from the book with a flat look, mainly because of the nickname and James smiled “Pandora asked me before leaving to go get some wood and light the fire. Would you like to help me?”

“You have no idea how much I miss my magic.” Regulus said with a sigh, closing the book, after quickly placing something between the pages that James couldn't catch and standing up, placing the book on the coffee table.

So it was that the two boys found themselves inside the hut outside, which was illuminated only by a small light inside. “Here.” James said, taking at least three of wood of different sizes and handing them to Regulus, who looked at them for a few seconds, not knowing exactly how to place his hands, “Put your arms forward, Reg.” James said with a half laugh and Regulus did as he was told, rolling his eyes as the wood was now placed on his arms. “You know, me and Sirius used to compete to see who could bring the most with no magic into the house.”

“Obviously.”

“You can't imagine what happened when a splinter got into his hand. I think dad laughed for at least a good five minutes while mom magically took it away from him in a few seconds.”

“He probably acted like he was dying. Or as if he was losing his hand.”

“He said his hand would never be the same again.” James said fondly as he placed one last piece of wood into Regulus' arms, on which a small mountain had formed, and he headed off to take his share now, then return to the house. “Um. Can you open the door?” He then asked as soon as he found himself in front of the door, with far too many pieces of wood in his hands James.

Regulus turned his head and was surprised to see that half the boy's face was covered, "Why did you put so many?"

“So that we don't have to go out again afterward.”

“If you had fallen you probably wouldn't have even seen yourself under all that wood.” Regulus said, quickly reaching out and opening the door, avoiding Romeo who, seeing them, had moved as if he already knew near the wall, and quickly putting it back under the pile of wood but then feeling a pang in the palm of his left hand. “Oh, fuck.”

“What? Everything okay?” James asked immediately as Regulus entered the house and quickly placed the wood next to the fireplace, in which a nice warm fire was already burning. James followed him and did the same, then turning to Regulus, who was carefully observing his hand. "Are you hurt?"

“I think—a splinter got into my hand.” Regulus said slowly, as he could clearly see the large dark sliver already inside his skin.

“It ruins in the family I guess. Let me see.” James said, approaching Regulus, who looked at him for a few seconds and then offering his hand to the boy who took it delicately between his, which, unlike Regulus's, were warm. As if they hadn't just been outside in the cold all the time. James brought his face closer to their hands, to get a better look at the palm, while Regulus watched curiously. After a few seconds James gently pulled him towards the fire and placed his hands in front of it, turning Regulus' hand over and studying the splinter carefully.

“It's okay. I can—”

“If I don't take it off it will get infected. Unfortunately I can't do it with the wand, so I think it will hurt a little. I'm sorry." James said looking up but not his head from his hands and looking at Regulus through his glasses,

“I can—”

“I'll try with my fingers, otherwise I'll have to go get a needle.” He said and Regulus stiffened,

“A what.”

"A needle. To take it off. If it's too deep.”

“It's not deep.” Regulus said quickly and James tilted his hand,

“Well, a little.”

“You will not put a needle in my hand, Potter.”

“Reg—”

“No.” Regulus said removing his hand from James's, immediately missing the warmth. “I can do it alone, I don't need your help.” He said simply and James looked at him confusedly.

“I can help. It's on your left hand and you're not right handed. You couldn't take it off.”

“I don't need your help, James.” Regulus said and James, who was still bent on one knee, raised his head towards Regulus' face, which had tensed up more than usual,

“Are you afraid of needles?”

“Forgive me if I'm not thrilled about James Potter putting a needle in my hand.” Regulus said sarcastically and James smiled sweetly,

“I will try not to use it. It's only worst-case scenario, I told you.” James said holding out his hand to Regulus for the boy to hold out, which of course he didn't and James sighed. “If I hurt you or anything, then you can hit me.”

“I don't need to hit you.” Regulus said and James tilted his head,

“Can I take the splinter out of your hand, Reg?”

“Stop calling me that.” Regulus said as usual, looking at James' still outstretched hand, before raising his and slowly holding it out. “You—”

“If I have to hurt you I'll warn you. Promise.” James said interrupting him and Regulus watched as he adjusted his glasses further on his nose and approached his hand, illuminated by the light of the fire. He placed two fingers and began to squeeze to get the splinter out, but the result was null. It had obviously gone too far. “I'm sorry.” He said and Regulus sighed heavily.

After James had gone to get the needle and disinfected it under Regulus' instructions, with the tip passed over the fire, the two boys were now sitting in front of the fire and James had his head concentrated on Regulus' hand, which he had preferred looking away, but still being able to clearly feel the metal entering the skin.

“I'm sorry. It's—okay, I'm almost there.” James said after a few minutes of him continuing to push the splinter to the surface as much as possible, “Here! Done!” He then said in a loud and triumphant voice as he placed the needle on the table and extended his index finger to show it to Regulus who nodded slightly, touching the spot where it had been before.

“Thank you.” He said and James smiled widely, “I’m sorry about…you know, all the Evans’s situation.” Added Regulus and James looked at him, his hand still in his hands. 

“It’s okay.” 

“I didn't think about it at the time.”

“It’s okay, Reg. Really.” Said James smiling softly and putting some disinfectant on a piece of paper and holding out his hand again to ask for Regulus's,

“I can do it alone.”

“I wouldn't be a very good healer like that, though. And if you really want to make it up to me…” James said and Regulus rolled his eyes, “then let me do it.” James concluded with a smile and Regulus looked at him, but after two seconds, he gave him his hand, which as before was taken delicately by James, who slowly placed the now stained piece of blue liquid on the spot of skin and began to press gently. “I didn't know you had a scar here.” He said after a while, noting that there was a scar next to his thumb, lightly caressing it with the tip of his thumb, while Regulus tensed in his shoulders. “Isn't that the same one Sirius has?” James then asked confusedly,

“How did he tell you he got that scar?”

“Falling.”

“Of course he did. It's a lie. We—we're both left-handed. As Father. Mother did not agree with this. She said left-handed people weren't normal. They weren't—pure. Like muggles. So that we would write and use the wand with the right hand—” Regulus began to say in an emotionless tone,

“She forced you.” James interrupted, looking up, and Regulus nodded.

“I thought there were no secrets between you and my brother.”

“I'm sorry, Reg.”

“Thanks to her I am now ambidextrous. I can do everything with both hands. At home I used my right hand. At Hogwarts the left. Sirius obviously always used his left hand.”

“And now you use it too.” James said looking at him carefully, his hand still in his and Regulus looked at him silently, not taking his hand off of him.

“I do.” He whispered and James slowly approached just a few centimeters, without ever leaving Regulus' gaze, while Regulus tilted his head slowly, watching him in silence,

“Reg…” Said James in a whisper and Regulus looked first at their hands and then again at him, “I—”

“Guess who is back!” A female voice said and Regulus quickly removed his hand, placing it behind his back, taking a step back, the instant Pandora entered her, Romeo in her arms looking thrilled. “Did I interrupt something?”

“No. We were sorting out the wood.” Regulus said as James stood up next to him, their hearts now beating faster than before, but of course no one could hear each other's heartbeat while they looked at Pandora, who was not really convinced, but she smiled anyway, 

“You are so gentlemen. Thank you.”

“With pleasure.”

“I don't know about you but I'm really tired. How about we go to sleep?"

“Didn't you have to study for tomorrow's exam?” Regulus asked and the girl shrugged,

“I'll go by feeling.”

“I'll stay here until the fire goes out.” Regulus said and Pandora nodded turning towards James who instead nodded and followed her after the girl had placed Romeo on the sofa, gently.

“Goodnight Reggie.” Pandora said giving him a kiss on the cheek.

“Good reading, Reg.” James said instead before following her and leaving the boy alone in the living room, who silently watched him leave the room and only after a few minutes went to sit on the sofa, now the only noise that could be heard was the crackling of the fire and the boy's heartbeat in the place where before there was the sliver, pulsing with a faint echo.

Romeo observed him in silence for at least a good ten minutes, before slowly approaching and resting his head on the crossed legs of Regulus, who looked up from the book to see the cat close his eyes, making himself more comfortable in his lap, now completely climbed up on it. The boy looked at him curiously, raising a hand in the air and then placing it delicately on Romeo's head, giving him a delicate caress and the cat leaned into his touch, making himself more comfortable, the thing caressing the boy's stomach. Regulus smiled as he removed his hand, but the cat looked up at him in confusion, looking at him as if to say "why did you stop?" And Regulus put his hand back on the kitten who rested his head on his lap, closing his eyes and then falling asleep a few minutes later.

And for the first time in days, while the fire had now gone out, the living room was now completely darkened, Romeo was now stuck to the boy's stomach, Regulus's head slowly slipped on the sofa and the boy's eyes closed even more slowly, falling into a deeper sleep than usual. The only thing that could be felt was the slowly fading throb of Regulus' left hand.

That night, the screams were not heard.