Faded with you

“Good morning.” Regulus said, sitting next to Pandora, who at that moment was quickly studying the notes of the last lesson that she had scheduled for that day. The lesson was a week ago. Pandora hadn't studied. Definitely not new. But strangely she always managed to get top marks.

“Hi.”

“What are you doing?” Regulus asked, looking at the paper curiously, managing to catch the words «Germany» and «France» next to precise dates and notes.

Pandora handed him the last biscuit she had set aside for him, before lifting her shoe and tying it, without ever looking up from her papers. “Studying.”

“It's the first time I've seen you study in a while, honestly.”

“Shhh.”

“Fine, fine. You continue to study calmly. I will stay here and read in silence.”

“You love reading in silence.” Pandora said as she put her foot down and fixed her hair,

“No, I love—” Regulus began slightly amused but suddenly stopped when he heard a bang coming from above them, which made even the girl look up,

“Was it James?”

“I don't know.” Regulus said slowly standing up just as James was slowly walking down the stairs.

The boy realized too slowly. James never usually walked down the stairs so slowly. In fact, he never walked down the stairs slowly regardless. Pandora stood up as well, standing next to her best friend to observe the boy in front of them, who kept his head down.

“Good morning, James.” The girl said and only then James raised his head and Regulus realized that James was sick. If you ask him; terribly sick. 

He looked horrible. He was paler than usual, his eyes were half closed and his chest was making a completely uncoordinated movement.

“Good morning.” He replied before clearing his throat, causing a sudden fit of coughing, which he tried, in vain, to hide with a smile. “Saliva.”

Pandora turned to Regulus and the two understood each other with a look. So they implemented their plan A decided on the spot. The girl stood in front of the exit, in the most natural way possible, taking the papers from the table so as to read them standing, while the boy approached James in the same way, more convincing than her friend.

James narrowed his eyes even more, “What are you doing?” He asked confusedly as he saw Regulus approaching him, a neutral expression on his face.

“I'm just walking. What are your plans for the day?”

“My—My plans for the day?”

“Yeah. For today."

“I was thinking about going to Remus since I'd give him back a book about cooking that—okay, what..?” James said taking a step back as Regulus continued to advance undeterred.

James touched the wall with his back as the boy in front of him stopped a few centimeters away. “James.”

“Regulus?”

“You're sick.”

“I'm not.” He replied impulsively, resting his head against the wall, which at that moment was too heavy.

“You are. Your eyes are shining. And your hands are shaking. You breathe hard. You're not going anywhere today.”

“What are you going to do? Are you going to force me to stay here? You can't force me to stay...” James began but stopped when Regulus placed a hand on his cheek, which was hotter than the younger man thought.

James was burning. 

“You have fever.” 

James leaned into the boy's touch, who held his breath for a moment not expecting it but still didn't move, before chaining him with his gaze, the lenses of his round glasses slightly blurred, “You smell like chocolate.”

“I—what?”

“Of chocolate.” The boy repeated meaninglessly, “I didn't think chocolate would look good on you either. I was wrong.”

“James, you're burning.” The boy in front of him said confusedly,

The bespectacled man nodded knowingly, “I'm wearing two shirts. It's for that. I'm slightly warm.”

“Slightly warm.” Regulus repeated and James made a sound of approval before closing his eyes, involuntarily leaning forward slightly.

“I am fine.”

“Here's what we're going to do today. Pandora will go to the conservatory because she has to take an exam.”

“What test does she have to do?” James asked with his eyes still closed, his cheek resting on the cold palm of the boy's hand, which gave him relief and which he honestly liked, while his breathing was slightly finding a less labored rhythm.

Regulus ignored the question as he glanced at Pandora signaling her to go because he had everything under control of him, while the girl looked at them with a softened expression that the boy didn't understand and that he decided to ignore. “You and I will go upstairs—”

“Are you flirting with me, Reg? If I had known that it was enough to feel hot I would have done it much earlier than today.” James asked tiredly, opening his eyes but still not moving away from the palm of his hand,

Regulus decided to ignore that too, “Where you will lie down on the bed and sleep.”

“I already slept last night though.” James lied, because he actually hadn't slept. He had slept like hell. His throat had hurt all night and sometimes, when he fell asleep slightly, he felt that it tightened and did not allow him to breathe. Waking up in the morning, the pain had only gotten worse, and at the time he couldn't even swallow saliva without feeling pain. He couldn't tell if he was cold or if he was hot. And before Regulus got close to him, he was about to vomit.

“You'll sleep more then. Then you will take a hot shower and go back to sleep.” Regulus continued in the most neutral tone possible,

“I can't.”

“I'll be sincere with you, James.”

“Really.”

“Yeah, really. I don't care. You'll do as I say.”

“I have to go to Remus for the book.”

“I’m sure Remus will survive one day without his book by him.”

James just shook his head, “You don't understand.”

“I do understand. You're sick. And you're going to sleep to recover.”

James pulled away from the boy's palm, who lowered his hand slowly, and then shook his head again, “I have to go give the book back to Remus, don't—”

“James, please stop saying the word book. You can't even stand.”

“I'm standing, right?”

“James.”

“What if I go to Remus quickly instead and then go home? I swear, I will do everything you tell me next.” James said pouting and Regulus frowned slightly in disagreement, before saying,

“How about we do this. I'll take your temperature. If you are over 37.5 you will not leave the house and do as I say.”

“37.8”

“Ja—really?” The boy asked exasperated but the one in front of him nodded even more convinced.

“37.8” James said again trying to be even more convincing, and Regulus, who was convinced that the boy in front of him was delirious due to fever nodded with a light sigh,

“Fine. 37.8. C'mon, let's go and measure it to prove that I'm right.”

“You will see that I will be right.” James said almost losing his balance a second later due to the dizziness he had when he turned towards the stairs, only to be caught by Regulus who rolled his eyes, but still helped him up the stairs and go to take the Muggle thermometer, after quickly greeting Pandora, who, with a sorry and worried look, knew she had to run to the conservatory, as she was already late.

Regulus handed the thermometer to James when it was ready, and the boy stared with great displeasure at the three digits it showed.

38.7. “Now that we have proven that you are sick, will you please do as I say?” Regulus asked in a significantly softer tone than James had ever heard him use and looked up at him in silence.

“It's just a number, right?”

Regulus sighed, “James.”

“Remus—”

“Since you are sick, and don't try to say otherwise, you will now go to bed and not get out of there for any reason in the world. In the meantime, I will go to Remus to give him back the book and go buy something to get you well as soon as possible.”

James looked at him carefully before finally nodding and leaning on the boy to reach his room, where the next moment he sat up in bed, his head throbbing. “Are you going to do that? For me?”

“Mhm.” Regulus said helping him to settle down, and taking another pillow,

“For me.”

“For you, yeah.”

“But you don't have a car.”

“We do.” Regulus said, helping him to lie down, and then covering him with the blankets up to his throat while the boy grimaced slightly, placing the pillow that he had taken extra next to him,

“You don't know how to drive. How—see? That's why I have to—” said James trying to get up but Regulus put both hands on his shoulders and pushed him down as gently as possible,

“Jamie, for fuck's sake, stop it. I'll call a friend. And I'll be here before you even know, okay?” Regulus said and James wasn't so sure. Was he delirious, or had Regulus just called him Jamie?

“Jamie?” He asked confused as Regulus shook his head quickly, ignoring him. “Did you just call me Jamie?” He then asked the boy, resting his head on the pillow and feeling all the tiredness come to the surface for the first time.

Regulus sat next to him, making sure he couldn't actually «run away» if he wanted, and then quickly wrote a message to the number he had saved less than two days ago. “I didn't.”

“I'm pretty sure that you did, Reg.” The boy said, struggling to keep his eyes open as Regulus met his gaze, who, if James wasn't delirious, was he delirious? Honestly he didn't understand it, he softened slightly. “Am I delirious?”

“Probably.” Regulus replied, ignoring the message that came to him not even a few seconds later from Benjy,

“I'm being stupid, right?” James asked in a suddenly lower tone as he closed his eyes, “It's just—I don't want to be alone in this world. Don't leave me here alone.” The boy added with a decidedly more trembling tone than before,

“No. You're not being stupid, James.” Regulus said, reaching out and gently removing his glasses and placing them on the bedside table, next to the boy's phone. “I'll be back as quickly as I can, I promise.”

A long pause in which Regulus believed that James was sleeping, before, “Pinky promise?” The boy asked, raising his hand in the air and holding out his little finger, before sneezing and apologizing,

The boy looked at him for a few seconds before crossing it with his, “I, Regulus Arcturus Black, pinky promise you to be back before you 're up and not leaving you here alone.”

“Thank you.” James said closing his eyes while his pinky was still linked to Regulus's, “I think I have a bit of a fever.” The boy then added in a tired tone,

“Oh really?”

“It's not the first time I've taken it.”

“Is it because you never dress warmly even when it's cold?”

“I can also cure myself. I'm very good at self-care. And to care for others. I probably should have been a healer.” James continued, lowering his hand and resting it on Regulus's bent leg, their fingers still intertwined,

“You won't cure yourself, James. I already told you, you're not alone, okay? We are—” he said, looking down at their hands and away from the boy's face resting on the pillow, “This time, let me help you.”

A pause. (In which Regulus, again, thought the boy had fallen asleep) but then, “Okay. I'll do as you say.” James said and Regulus felt his grip getting looser and looser, “But just because I like you so much, okay?” He added in a whisper before remaining silent, his breathing now becoming more and more calm, leaving the boy to stare at him in silence trying to understand the last words whispered by the boy who had been delirious a moment ago, right? It was just the fever that made him say those things, right?

At that moment it was Romeo who entered the room, who approached them slowly, before rubbing himself on Regulus' leg first, and then climbing onto James' bed and placing himself next to him, resting his head delicately on the boy's legs.

“Will you take care of him?” He asked softly and the cat, as if he had actually understood, blinked one time. “Thank you.” He then said with a smile as he moved a strand of hair out of James' face, who was now slightly sweaty.

The fact is that until his phone began to vibrate and until he clearly heard a car approaching, Regulus did not take his gaze away from James' closed eyelids, and did not move even an inch, while the boy's words swirled around him in confusion in his head.

“I'm really sorry for making you wait and writing to you so suddenly.” Regulus said as he got into Benjy's car, who was looking at the house with genuine curiosity.

“Good morning to you too, Lus.” The boy said before turning around and leaving the garden of Pandora's house,

“I'm—”

“God, I hope you're not about to apologize again. Because I could easily make you get off and leave.” The boy interrupted him with a serious tone before Regulus could actually apologize again,

Turning to him, he said confidently, “You wouldn't.”

Benjy turned to him and thought for a few seconds before looking back at the road, “No, I wouldn't.”

“Exactly and that's why—”

“But you don't have to apologize for that.”

“But I'm truly—” Regulus began but stopped when the boy looked at him with a pout, “Okay. Then thank you for coming.”

“Better. And anyway, you're welcome. I am at your disposal today.”

“Private driver? I’m lucky.”

“Driver, dancer, painter, take your pick. Except the singer. Yes, the art of singing is not for me.”

“I wonder why I imagined it.” Regulus said taking his phone out of his pocket and quickly writing down what he needed and the steps the two needed to take in his notes.

“Low blow Lus. Definitely a low blow.” Benjy said in an offended tone as the boy quickly smiled at him, adding to the list to get another small pillow, because the one he had placed next to James was definitely not comfortable. “You can’t sing?”

“Me? No. My best one has a very melodic voice.”

“If you don't sing then do you play?” Benjy asked and Regulus gripped the phone slightly in his hands involuntarily,

“In the past. Piano. Now no longer.” He said before quickly adding, “You?”

“Probably not. Let's say that music isn't for me.”

“Didn't you say you were also a dancer?”

“Being a dancer is different.”

“Being a dancer means listening to music, they told me.”

“Nahh.” Benjy said and Regulus shook his head,

“Okay. Music and dancers? Two totally different things.”

“I sense some sarcasm there.”

“Me? Sarcasm? Never.”

“Yeah. Never.” Benjy laughed before standing up straighter, “Anyway. First stop?”

“How about we go get something for the…what do you think it might be with fever, cough, a little sneezing, chills and tiredness?”

“Maybe it's pneumonia, not a serious stage, but it could be, don't you think?”

“Pneumonia. Of course, he has pneumonia.” Regulus said shaking his head as he wrote that down too, “So first stop I'd say go get something for the not serious pneumonia.”

“Pharmacy then. Clear. Second stop?” Benjy asked, turning right after a few seconds and then entering a small road that was probably a shortcut. 

“Shopping center. I need to get a new pillow.”

“A new pillow?”

“Yes. That was practically a stone.”

Benjy smiled widely, “Fair enough.” He said before entering the parking lot of the pharmacy, which was much closer than Regulus thought. “First stop reached. Let's go.”

“I owe you one, Jy.” He said, quickly getting out and going inside the building, while Benjy remained in the car, resting his head on the seat and whispering,

“The favor is to get to know you better, Lus.”

After a few minutes however, Regulus returned to the car, with two different envelopes.

“Woo. What did you buy?"

“I didn't know what to take honestly.” Regulus said as he put on his belt and looked at the contents of the envelopes. “Are you saying that's too much?” He asked guiltily and Benjy shook his head quickly as he pulled out of the parking lot and headed towards their second stop.

“No, of course not. What did you take? For curiosity.”

“I took Tachipirina, both in powder and pill form, I honestly don't remember if he can swallow the pills normally. Do you know that there are people who can't do that?” 

“I’m people then.”

Regulus turned to him, “Seriously?”

“Mhm. That beats me.”

“But it's just a pill.”

“Oh, trust me, I know. It's just that if my throat knows I have to swallow something other than food, it suddenly closes up.”

“My brother does the same. I've never understood how this is possible. For me it's almost...natural?”

“At least I'm not the only one. Two bags for just two different types of medicine?”

“Oh no. I also took some sachets to dissolve in water for nausea. The pharmacist, who I tell you wasn't very nice, told me that they should also help with cramps. I don't know if he has cramps, I didn't ask him.” With pauses. “Should I have asked him?”

“No, I'm sure it will only do him good.” Benjy reassured him and the boy nodded thoughtfully, “Got anything else?”

“An orange syrup for the cough and some sachets to dissolve in water for the nose. The pharmacist said they should give him relief almost immediately. I don't know if he honestly has a blocked nose, but he sneezed, so.” 

“Show a little.” Benjy said glancing at the box which Regulus raised the next moment shaking his head, “Those don't help much. You don't notice the effects until four days.”

“Four days? Four days is definitely too long.”

“Did you also get any nose spray?”

“Huh…yeah. Eucalyptus.” Regulus said raising the little box into the green air and Benjy smiled,

“That's the best.”

“Oh good. And finally I also took throat lozenges. Only if you have a sore throat, though.”

“Nothing for me?” Benjy asked the next second and Regulus smiled, taking out two dried fruit energy bars, handing one to him too, after opening it for him.

“I got the berry ones. You seem like the berry type to me.”

Benjy happily took it into his mouth. “I'm so predictable. Thanks Lus.”

“One less favor than I owe you.”

“Oh, shut up.”

“What do you think about this one?” Benjy asked, waving his hand at a blue water bottle that was on the shelf.

“What is it?” Regulus asked without looking up and continuing to look for a suitable pillow.

“A water bottle. In my opinion it is useful. Usually when people are sick, doctors say to stay hydrated. I bet…”

“James.”

“Ah, James. Yeah, well, he'd drink more if he could suck through a straw, wouldn't he?” Benjy asked before pausing for a few seconds, “Okay, it came out worse than I thought. Did you understand, right?” 

“Take the best one. And let it be red.” Regulus said without looking up, they begin to touch every little pillow present there, and then, finally, find the right one. “Found it!” He said satisfied as he took it in his hand, so soft and light that it seemed to be waiting for that moment to be taken, and showed it to the boy in front of him, who was holding a box of tissues in one hand, while in the other he was already holding a slightly red water bottle, bigger than the one he had seen before, “What do you think?”

Benjy tilted his head, “Is that a deer?” He asked looking at the pillow, which, in the shape of a square, was gray and on it was printed in white lines that actually formed the head of a deer,

“I guess. It's too much?”

“The deer?”

“Do you think he won't like it?” Regulus asked, lowering it slightly as the boy in front of him shook his head,

“No. I'm sure James will love it. It seems to be very….”

Regulus looked at him curiously, “Very…?”

“Right. Very right in your hands. Was it on purpose?”

“I honestly hadn't seen the deer.” The boy then explained, taking both the water bottle and the pack of tissues and carrying them towards the cash register to pay for them, “I was just looking for the pillow with the right consistency so that James could be more comfortable.”

Benjy approached him handing him a milk chocolate bar from a shelf, his favorite brand, “I bet he'll like chocolate too.”

“I'm sure James loves chocolate—Oi, I'll pay.” Regulus said as he reached for it while Benjy quickly took it out of his sight,

“Nahh. Chocolate should be free.”

“Jy—”

“You bought him all this stuff and you won't let me get him a chocolate bar?” Benjy said pouting and Regulus rolled his eyes,

“I'll give you your money back as soon as we get out of here.”

“You will buy me a coffee in the future, okay? Come on Lus, I already told you.”

“All right. We still have to pass by the cafeteria. There, I'll get you a coffee.”

Benjy watched him quickly pick up his phone and check for any messages, as he had done every five minutes or so, “Last stop?”

Regulus looked up from the phone and after taking the envelope with all the purchases made he nodded. “Last stop.”

“Shame.”

“It will last five minutes and then I will leave you alone for today.” Regulus said getting out of the car as Benjy pushed him lightly in a friendly manner,

“I already told you, Lus. It's a pleasure to be able to help you.”

“You're only saying that because you have to.”

“From the fear that you might hit me? Obviously.” He confirmed while he smiled at him,

“Regulus! How come you're here?” Peter asked as soon as he saw the boy enter the club, accompanied by Benjy, who was looking at the place without surprise,

“Hi, Peter. How are you?”

“I'm good. All fine here.” he replied happily, “Fenwick.” He then said nodding to the boy next to him who returned the nod,

“Pettigrew.”

Regulus turned to Beny in surprise, “Do you know each other?”

“Reputation.” Peter answered him while Benjy rolled his eyes,

“Not mine.”

“Sure?”

“Pete.” Remus admonished him, coming out from behind the counter at that moment and going to greet Regulus, "Where's James?"

“He's sick.” The boy replied, looking away from Benjy and then looking at Remus.

“Really? Oh shit. That's why he didn't come today. What’s wrong with him?”

“By now you know what he is like. I practically had to argue with him, but yeah. He's sick. We think he has pneumonia. Or at least something close to it? So I decided to buy a few things and then go back to him. Do you think it's a good sign if he hasn't called yet?” Regulus said with a slightly worried tone as he handed the famous book to Remus who took it confused,

“He must be sleeping, I'm sure of it. What is this if I may ask instead?”

“The book you lent James.”

“I didn't lend James any books. But I definitely missed this.”

“Not—oh sure.” Regulus said, instantly understanding, “It's a gift. James gave you a gift. Obviously. Forgive me, he told me you had lent it to him.”

Remus smiled as he passed it to Peter, who as soon as he saw it began to quickly leaf through it, to find the recipe for a dessert that he had wanted to make for a while and that he had told James about. “Look here! There's the recipe for that dessert I told him I wanted to make. Thank him for me until he gets better.”

“I will do it.” Regulus said, meanwhile paying for the coffee for Benjy, who took it to go, and starting to leave. “It was nice to see you. See you next time? Honestly, I've been gone too long. I have this bad feeling...” he then added vaguely,

“Wait. I'm going to get something quick.” Remus said instead before disappearing and returning the next second with a packed box full of tea bags. “Give him the one with the blue envelope. I assure you, it helps a lot with headaches and nausea.”

“Who is nauseous?” asked a concerned female voice behind them, making them all turn, to see Mirabel who had just entered, a bouquet of flowers in her hand.

“Bel, earlier than usual today, huh?” asked Peter, quickly reaching her and taking the flowers in his hand, after greeting her affectionately.

“Mirabel, hi. It's good to see you again.” Regulus said with a warm smile as the woman hugged him the next moment,

“Who's sick dear?” She asked worriedly and Regulus, after throwing a quick apologetic look at Benjy who was leaning against the wall drinking his coffee, replied,

“Unfortunately James. I'm on my way home to him right now. Do you want me to say hello?”

“Oh, my poor James. Of course yes. Come, I'll give you a flower to bring him.”

“I—”

“Trust me. My flowers will help. You tell him, Rem.” The woman said, taking his arm and honestly, if it hadn't been her and if Regulus hadn't felt like a security, he probably would have pulled away right away.

“I confirm. Give our regards to James, please.” Remus said nodding at Regulus while Peter smiled at him,

“Thank him for the book and tell him that when he gets better we'll go out to dinner together.”

“Oi, Pete. He's not single, you know. Forgive him.” Remus said amusedly at Regulus while Peter shook his head,

“Yes I know. So handsome that he confused me.”

“See you in a bit my boys.” Mirabel said instead leaving the club with Regulus and Benjy who promptly followed them.

After a few minutes of walking, the three arrived in the same park where James and Regulus had woken up, and then reached a small flower shop.

Regulus looked up studying the small place, “Is this your place?”

“Yeah. You didn't know? Me and Oliver have had it for years now. Come inside, let's go.”

“Five minutes and we're done, I swear.” Regulus said softly to Benjy who was looking in amazement at all the different types of colorful flowers.

“Take it easy, Lus. I don't mind getting lost in the flowers.” He replied happily, following the old lady.

Regulus gave him a quick look before turning and noticing the whole arrangement, very tidy in reality, of the flowers, which seemed to follow the shades of color with great precision. “How is Mr. Oliver?” asked the boy then, and at that moment both Oliver and Mirabel entered from the rest, holding two different flowers.

“Oh, mon garçon, please don't call me sir. You make me feel old.” Oliver said giving him a sweet affectionate smile,

“Hi. I'm happy to see you, monsieur.” Regulus said with an equally sincere smile, accepting the flower that he handed him, after wrapping it in a newspaper page taken nearby.

“It's an azalea. It symbolizes love and tenderness. It seemed right up your alley.”

Regulus looked first at the plant and then at the man, starting to say something, exactly what he didn't know, but decided not to say anything when he nodded to him.

“This is for you…”

“Benji. Fenwick.”

“For you, Benjy. An Alstroemeria. Friendship flower, famous in Peru.”

“From Peru? Very nice. Thank you. How much do I owe you?”

“Your sincere thanks is enough. Give as a gift to anyone you know.”

“Friendship, right?”

“The most sincere.”

“Thank you so much, Mirabel. You shouldn't have.”

“Say hello to James and tell him that as soon as he recovers I will make him taste the best lasagna he has ever eaten. And of course you are invited to dinner with us. If you want to come too, Benjy, you're welcome.”

Benjy smiled widely at her, “Thank you so much.”

“See you in a few days.”

“As soon as my James gets better.” Mirabel said and Regulus nodded distractedly, looking at the flower,

“As soon as our James gets better.” He repeated as Oliver and Mirabel exchanged a look that only they understood, which was only seen by Benjy.

James' head was definitely heavier than it had ever been. The boy was certain of this.

The second thing he was sure of was that he wasn't in bed after he fell asleep. And he wasn't even sure whether he was awake or still asleep.

If he was sleeping, everything would be explained. A dream. He happens to everyone to dream of things like that. But he was pretty sure that he wasn't sleeping, because the pain in his head and especially in his right leg was definitely too strong and too real.

He couldn't even move. Or to open your eyes. But he could clearly hear sounds.

Well, “clearly” was a big word. But he could definitely distinguish sounds. A continuous…beep? Or controlled breathing. There was definitely more than one person present where he was. But exactly where he was, he couldn't figure out.

His eyelids definitely felt heavy and he couldn't lift them. And he felt someone carefully touching his hand. Maybe it was Regulus? No, Regulus would never do that. But he had done it before, right?

“I miss you, mi sol.” A soft female voice said that James knew all too well. How couldn't he have known her after all? The rounded, soft vowels, love in everything she said.

It was Euphemia's voice. And she looked terribly sad. “I would never have said it, but I miss waking up to your three knocks on the door too early in the morning.” continued the woman and James tried to open his eyes, he had to open his eyes, but he couldn't. He didn't have the strength. He tried to open his mouth to speak then. He wanted to tell her that he was there. That he was listening to her. That he didn't understand what she was talking about. That he missed her so much. That he thought about her every day.

He wanted to scream. Maybe his mother would have heard it by screaming, no? However, he failed to do any of this. “I think it's the first time Sirius has closed his eyes in hours since you've both been here.” Both? Both who? Him and Regulus? He should have asked her. He had to ask her. “I don't think it will last too long. He usually falls asleep for 10 minutes before he wakes up and checks to see if you're still here.”

Why couldn't he open his eyelids? Why? A second. A second, to show his mother that he was okay. To talk to her. To look at her. “I hope you're at least having fun with him. I'm sure you're not alone. If—” the woman said but she stopped short and James tried to move to follow her. Why was she missing? What was she saying? Why couldn't he feel anything all of a sudden?

“—We're here waiting for both of you, I'm sorry. I know you love—”

“—All right?" The woman said and James tried to nod. To give her a sign. Any sign. Also a rapid heartbeat. He knew his mother would hear it.

He knew it. He knew it.

And he knew that he had failed to do anything.

His voice was gone. The beep was gone. Even the smell was gone. And the pain. It was all gone. Why had everything disappeared? One more second. All a second—

“James?” Another voice that the boy knew well said softly and he opened his eyes suddenly, sitting up in bed, his breathing labored and his gaze looking for something in the room.

He had returned to the room. In the room of Pandora's house. He was in bed. Had he always been there? Had it been a nightmare? So why did it seem so real? Why did everything coincide? And why, at that moment, did he feel a tingling in his right leg?

“James, hey. Look at me.” Regulus said but obviously the boy wasn't listening so he took his face in his hands and turned him towards him, “Hey. It's okay. It was just a bad dream, okay? I'm here, you're here with me.”

James blinked three times quickly, trying to focus his vision, but without glasses it was a little difficult, and at that moment he wasn't doing much, “Reg?” he asked with a slight cough,

“Yes. Reg. It's only me. Just us. Breathe with me, okay? In and out. In and…exactly. Out.” Regulus said, never taking his eyes off the boy, who was trying to imitate.

After a few minutes the only noise that could be heard was their breathing in sync and when Regulus checked that James had actually calmed down he took the glasses and only after having cleaned the boy's tears, because apparently James had been crying, he placed them delicately on his nose.

“There you are. Hi.” He then said with a slight smile before James put his arms around his neck and pulled him into a tight hug unexpectedly. For a few seconds the boy tensed, not exactly expecting that, but still hugged him back, resting his head on his shoulder. “You're okay.”

“I'm sorry. I'm really sorry but—you're here, right? With me.”

“Yeah. I'm here.”

“Please, don't—”

“No. I'll be here as long as you want me next to you.” Regulus said nodding and James nodded back.

And the two lay embracing on the edge of the bed for what seemed like days, before Regulus said in a low tone, “Your fever's down.”

James pulled away from him slowly and Regulus smiled at him again, “Yeah. I'm feeling better. I don't even feel pain in my throat anymore.” The boy said promptly with a cough and he nodded.

“I have a lot of gifts to give you, you know?” He decided to change the subject and James was extremely grateful,

“Gifts?”

“Oh yeah. Gifts. But first, I'll give you mine so you can make yourself more comfortable.” Regulus said before bending over and then standing up and showing him the new pillow. James studied it for a few seconds before reaching out, trying and managing to avoid a cough, and taking it. “Well? Do you like it?”

“Did you choose it?”

“…I did, yeah.”

And if that wasn't a clear sign of fate, James no longer knew what to believe. How likely was Regulus to have chosen a pillow with a deer, his Animagus and patronus, for him?

“If you don't—”

“Reg. It's perfect. I love it. And it's one of the softest pillows I've ever touched.”

A pause. “Really?”

James nodded vigorously to prove his point and Regulus smiled, helping him get comfortable, using the new pillow and removing the old one. “Merlin, it's perfect.” James said leaning his back on it with a sigh of relief as the boy handed him the chocolate bar.

“That's from Benjy. I know you don't like him very much but he was my driver.”

“I don't hate—” cough, “—him.”

“Yeah. Sure. Remus and Peter were very happy about the book and invited us, as soon as you get better, to go out together for dinner or something. And Remus gave me some tea which I'll make you this evening for your headache.”

“The blue one?”

“The blue one.” He confirmed to him, “Then,” he continued, “this evening we also have to decide on the pills. Maybe I took too many.”

James smiled putting a piece of chocolate in his mouth, before placing it on the bedside table, “How many?”

“More than 7 types? I think.”

“Really? That much? For me?”

“Of course.” Regulus said, giving him a flat look, “And—this is from Mirabel and Oliver, who greet you and who want us to go to dinner with them as soon as you get well.” Regulus said then showing him the flower, which James took, smelling it (but not smelling anything yet) and smiling.

“I can't smell it. Could you…describe it to me?” James asked, already feeling his eyelids close, “tonight?” 

“Oui, with pleasure. Do you want to drink water?” And when James shook his head, “Then let me help you, c'mon.”

“Regulus.” The boy said as he bent down to lie down again,

“Yeah?”

“Could you—would you like to stay with me? I don't—I don't want to close my eyes—”

“Certainly.” Regulus said reaching down to take his shoes off his feet, “Oi, give me some room though.”

James laughed again, doing as he was told after placing his glasses on the bedside table, and the two lay down next to each other. After a few minutes of silence, James turned to Regulus, “I dreamed about Ma.”

“Yeah?” the boy asked cautiously, looking at the ceiling,

“Yeah but…it was different. I couldn't see anything. I couldn't speak or open my eyes. I heard a constant beeping and—and Ma talked to me. She talked about Sirius, saying that he didn't sleep. And that he was waiting for both of them to come back.”

Regulus turned to his side as well, looking at him, “Both?”

“I think he was referring to us. To you and me. She knows we're together. And…”

“And?”

“I don't think it's a dream, Reg. I—I could clearly feel the pain. I had a pain in my head and my right leg still hurts.”

“Right now?”

“Not like in the dream, but yes.”

“I don't know if it's a good sign or not.” Regulus said thinking while James had to close his eyes, which were starting to burn too much,

“I don't know either. But she was really sad. Like—really sad, Reg.”

“We’ll find a way to go back, okay? I promise you.”

“Mhm. Do you miss him?” asked James after a while and they both knew who he was referring to,

“Yeah. I miss him.” Regulus said with a sigh, closing his eyes as well. “That stupid.” Added for good measure. 

“Thank you for everything.” said after a long time James, his tone now decidedly sleepy and lower, so much so that if they hadn't been so close, he probably wouldn't have heard him,

“You don't have to thank me.” Regulus said as he felt Romeo make himself comfortable at their feet, his tail on the boy's legs. “You would have done the same for me.”

“Of course, you're one of my favorite people.” James said in a barely audible tone perhaps more to himself than actually to the boy, but Regulus heard. And that was something.

After hours, Pandora slowly opened the door and smiled to see James sleeping with his head on Regulus' chest, who had an arm on him, also sleeping peacefully, Romeo who raised his head as soon as he saw her, delicately getting out of bed and reaching her, before closing the door slowly and let them sleep in the silence of the now evening.