The Heir
„Regulus?“ James asked quietly as he stepped into the dorm room his boyfriend shared with his two friends.
Regulus didn’t seem to hear him as he was fast asleep. The dried tear tracks that were still visible were the only evidence of the tears that had undoubtedly been streaming down his cheeks not long ago.
„Reg? Reggie? Come on, wake up, love.“ James carefully shook Regulus’ body, waiting for the boy to open his eyes.
As soon as Regulus woke up, he sat up and stared at James with wide eyes.
„What are you doing here?“ Regulus asked, pretending he couldn’t hear his own voice shaking, in hopes that James wouldn’t notice.
It was a stupid thought though. After all, this was James Fleamont Potter he was talking about. And James, his James may be occasionally a dense idiot, but not when it comes to his loved ones.
No, in those situations he could notice something was wrong even if he was sitting on the other side of the Great Hall, and Regulus was a living proof of that.
One time, in Regulus’ fourth year, the flu was going around Hogwarts. Regulus, having a really weak immune system ever since he was a child was between the first ones, who caught it.
His mother never took care of Sirius or him when they were sick, and Regulus was used to it at this point. That's why he couldn't hide his surprise when one evening during dinner one of Sirius' friends came to the Slytherin table and sat down next to him with a worried expression, urging Regulus to let him take care of him. And take care of him, he did. It may have taken James thirty minutes to persuade (force) Regulus to leave the Great Hall without throwing another fit, but eventually, the boy had his way, and less than an hour later Regulus was lying in his bed with a cup of Yorkshire tea. His favourite.
How James knew that was not important.
„I came here to see you.“ James said in such a sweet voice it almost made Regulus cry.
„But you are mad at me. Why did you come here?“ He asked, fighting the tears that were threatening to well up in his eyes.
„Reggie-“ James started, but was soon interrupted by Regulus, who by the tone of his voice and heavy breathing was beginning to hyperventilate.
„Why did you come here?“ Regulus asked again, trying to calm down his uneven breathing, but seemed to fail to do so.
James knew it was better to not touch Regulus in his current state. He knew if Regulus wanted to be touched, he would indicate it himself.
So, James just carried on talking, hoping that at least his words would help Regulus to calm down. „It doesn’t matter if I’m mad at you or not, I still love you and care about you.“
After a few moments, Regulus finally seemed to get his breathing under control. Noticing this, James slowly reached out his hand and pressed it into Regulus' chest. „Let’s lay down, okay?“ He asked but didn’t actually move until he received a small nod from Regulus.
James then laid down next to him. Not as close as he usually did so as not to overwhelm his boyfriend, but still close enough so he could intertwine their fingers.
„Barty came to talk to me.“ James confessed after a moment of silence.
„What? Why?“ Regulus blinked in confusion, turning his head to look straight into James’ eyes.
He had to pause for a moment and take a deep breath.
Looking at James could be considered one of Regulus Black's favourite things to do, but just looking into James' caramel eyes was undoubtedly taking the number one spot.
„We just had a little talk. I noticed you weren’t at dinner (or breakfast and lunch, James thought) so I brought you a plate.“ James let go of Regulus’ hand so they could both get into a more of a sitting position. He then placed the plate, which Regulus hadn't even noticed James had brought, in his lap. Just the thought of food made Regulus' stomach churn and he had to fight the urge to push the plate away from him and crawl back under the warm blankets, hiding himself from the food, from James, and preferably from the whole world.
„Are you still mad at me?” Regulus asked, his eyes still fixed on the food in front of him. He stared at it as if it was a dangerous enemy waiting to strike. And it might as well have been. At least in Regulus’ mind.
„Reggie, that doesn’t matter right now. Please take your plate and eat, you look terrible.“ James let out a sigh, looking at Regulus with a soft but worried expression. He then moved closer to Regulus until he was behind him, letting the smaller boy rest his body against his chest. He could feel Regulus shivering. He didn't know if it was from being cold, nervous, or sheer exhaustion, but neither of those options sounded pleasant.
James decided to not comment on it, not wanting to distress the boy in his arms even more. Instead, he chose to wrap his arms around him and run his fingers through the bird's nest that was now Regulus' hair. It wasn’t the first time Regulus was feeling down, but James had never seen him in such a bad condition.
After all, this was Regulus Black. He never showed any weaknesses as that was what he was taught by his parents. James and Sirius were the only two people Regulus would ever allow himself to be emotional around, and even that took a long time.
As much as James appreciated it, it also scared him. He wasn't used to Regulus acting like this, and the fact that he genuinely didn't know how to help him, scared him.
„I can’t. Those are the rules.“ Regulus whispered after a while, pushing the plate away from him.
„What? Love, there are no rules when it comes to food. You just eat whatever you want whenever you want.“ James said, feeling his heart tearing apart. He now understood what Barty meant, and it made him absolutely sick.
„I can’t if you are still mad at me.“ Regulus cried out, not daring to raise his head and look James in the eye. He was so close to letting the tears spill from his eyes and he knew that one single look into James’ eyes would be his breaking point.
James cupped Regulus’ face, forcing him to look at him. „Reggie please, I need you to listen to me. I know what your mother did and I know it’s hard to forget those things and get rid of the habits, but you can’t do this to yourself.“
„I’m fine.“ Regulus whispered, not trusting his voice.
„No, love. No, you are not. You need to eat something and then go to bed.“ James smiled at him, caressing his cheeks and Regulus couldn’t help but push his face more into James’ soft palm, relaxing into his touch.
„I can’t sleep. I’ll just end up having another nightmare.“ The Slytherin said after a few seconds, rubbing his tired and sore eyes. He desperately wanted to sleep, to hide from all his problems, feelings and emotions, and just relax. However, the constant nightmares that haunted him in his sleep did not allow him to rest for more than 30 minutes.
„I’ll stay with you and wake you up if you do, okay?“ James gave him a reassuring smile and planted a single kiss on his forehead.
Regulus was about to protest, but before he could say a single word he had to stop and yawn for what felt like the twentieth time in the past minute.
He let out a sigh, rubbing his tired eyes. „Okay.“
James smiled triumphantly, but his smile was soon replaced by a worried expression as he remembered his conversation with Barty. „I was so worried when Barty told me you weren’t eating because of our argument.“
„Your mother instincts took over again?“ Regulus smiled, sitting up higher and looking at the food James had brought him.
„Shut up, Reg. I’m glad you are cracking jokes, but this is not the time.“ James said in a serious voice, but he couldn't resist the small smile creeping onto his face.
„I didn’t know what you would want right now so I grabbed a little bit of everything. You don’t have to eat it all, just enough to not make yourself sick.“ He added upon seeing Regulus’ frowning face.
„Thank you.“ Regulus said before eating a spoonful of the soup James had brought him, knowing that it was probably the only dish that wouldn't upset his stomach now after days of not eating anything.
„Can I ask you something?“ James asked as he slowly cut off the crusts from Regulus’ ham and cheese sandwich.
He honestly doubted the boy would eat the sandwich, but he was so used to doing it that it became a habit.
„Why didn’t you tell me? You know you can trust me, right?“ James glanced at his boyfriend before returning his focus to the sandwich.
„I didn’t tell anybody. Maybe Sirius knows, but I’m not sure since it started mostly after he left. 'Oh, and whenever somebody is mad at me, I starve myself because that’s the only thing I deserve for making that person upset.’ I mean, how exactly do you expect me to tell you something like this.” Regulus chuckled sarcastically.
James frowned. „True, but I would still prefer you to tell me. You know I would understand.“
„It’s not about that, James.“ Regulus let out a sigh. „It’s just that going around, trauma-dumping on my boyfriend is not my idea of a nice evening.“
„I understand that, but I want to try and help or at least be here for you so if something like this ever happens again, please come to me. I could be angry with you all I want, but nothing in the world would make me not want to talk to you or help you, okay, love?" James said in a soft voice, never taking his eyes off Regulus to prove his sincerity even more.
It wasn’t like Regulus didn’t trust him. No, he knew James would never lie to him or do anything to hurt him, but he appreciated it, nonetheless.
Afterall, there were only a few people Regulus actually trusted, and earning that trust was a long process.
„Okay.“ Regulus agreed even though they both knew he wouldn’t actually do it.
„Maybe you becoming a Death Eater but I don’t think we have to worry about that.“ James joked, not realising the severity of his words.
„Yeah, definitely not.“ Regulus smiled, but couldn't help but feel a strange feeling in his stomach.
He knew his parents idolised Voldemort and agreed with his beliefs, but they weren’t Death Eaters so there was no reason they would force their son to become one.
…Right?
„I love you.“ James said before kissing Regulus softly.
After a few seconds of gentle but still passionate kissing, they pulled apart but made no attempt to let go of each other. On the contrary, James pulled Regulus closer to his chest and smiled fondly at the black-haired boy.
„I love you too, James.“ Regulus smiled, laying his head on his boyfriend's shoulder.
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If only they knew a single Christmas break would change everything. The loving glances they once shared were now replaced by a look of disappointment from the Gryffindor and an emotionless one from the younger Slytherin.
The hands they used to hold now not even daring to touch the other. One forearm covered in tiny scratches as the younger one held on tightly, begging the older one not to let go, while the younger one's was covered with a black skull that had a snake coming out of its mouth. The sign of the Dark Lord. The Dark Mark.
He should’ve expected it.
They both should.
He was a Black, after all.
And the Blacks do as they're told unless they want to face a terrible punishment.
And Regulus knew at that exact moment that he should have never refused James’ invitation to spend Christmas with him and his family.
Because in that case, that terrible evil sign would not adore his forearm.
He should have known that once his parents told him they had an important guest coming to see him, it wouldn't end well for him.
After all, he was the heir, the only loyal son, who had always blindly followed his parents‘ orders, not realising his actions will have terrible consequences not only for him, but his loved ones as well.
Two years later, on a rainy September night, James Potter found himself crying. The Daily Prophet laid on the floor where it had been tossed almost an hour ago.
The front page was graced with a face that James once absolutely adored. The face of a young boy he loved and still loves dearly.
James never thought he would see Regulus again. Not on the front page of The Daily Prophet.
And definitely not with the headline that he was sure made his heart stop for a few seconds.
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'Regulus Black (18) pronounced dead.'