New beginnings
Regulus regrets his fiasco. He has promised himself to never drink again. Because now his big secret is lifted and he does not know what to do about it. All he wants to do is lie in his bed and die of embarrassment.
But he knows that he has to confront it. A fear does nothing else other than lingering and complicating the life of the person too afraid to face it. And Regulus is not afraid.
So he does what every normal person would do. He complains to his friends about it. And every time he sees Barty he has the urge to strangle him. Even though he knows that it’s not really his fault. The only person he can blame is himself. But he was never good at that.
He still doesn’t know what to do about it. Potter and his friends now know about his second identity and they probably hate him for spying on them. They shouldn’t, of course, since his motives were purely good-natured. But if they believe it? Well, that is another question.
He hasn’t talked with any of them yet, even though the party was a few days ago. But that was not because of fear, of course, but because he simply didn’t know what to say. Yet.
Because when he gets an owl, requesting him to be at the astronomy tower at 6pm, he notices that he maybe should not prepare what to say without knowing the thoughts of the other people involved.
So he climbs the ladder to the astronomy tower at exactly 5:59pm, knowing absolutely not what situation he is about to be confronted with.
To his surprise there is only Potter waiting for him, fiddling his hands with a nervous expression on his face. When he sees Regulus, he hurries towards him, helping him up the ladder and guarding him towards their favourite spot. There, they wait, silently, urging the other person to start talking. And after some time, Potter starts.
“Well, this has been quite a surprise a few nights ago, hasn’t it?”
“I guess so.”
Silence.
“Uhm, well yeah, I didn’t expect you and Paws to be the same person, you know? I mean, animal. No, I mean, living, breathing beings. Actually, I don’t know how to sum you up, I’m sorry. I was actually so nervous to send you this letter, I wasn’t sure if you’d come. I can understand if you are angry with me, I-“
“Wait, angry with you? Why would I ever be angry with you? You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Well, I don’t know. Maybe because I haven’t defended you enough in Sirius’ presence? Because you felt the need to walk away from that situation and I felt and still feel responsible for that.”
“Okay, first of all, you aren’t responsible for every negative reaction that I have. That is just stupid and you only hurt yourself with that. I am my own person and if you do a wrong thing, I will tell you that you did. Just as I told Sirius that he hasn’t been the best brother lately. But this is not your responsibility, you don’t have to carry that around with you, okay? I really like you and I think I’m starting to fall in love with you, if it has not already happened yet, this does not happen when I feel uncomfortable in your presence.”
“You’re falling in love with me?” James asks breathlessly.
And shit, yes, he does. He does!
“Yes. How could I not?”
That’s all he can utter before James’ lips crash onto his. Regulus hasn’t allowed himself to wish that he’d ever feel this again, after revealing his secret to so many people. He thought that he had lost it. Lost James. Only now does he realize how much that idea truly hurt him.
And with his lips on James’ and his fingers in his hair, he promises himself that he’d never let that happen. He’d never let this boy, who means so much to him, leave, because he was his and Regulus was his, whatever the future has planned for them.
**A few months later**
Life is... fine. No, it is great, actually. He still cannot believe how lucky he is. He has a loving boyfriend, great friends who support him, no matter what.
And he has a brother again, surprisingly. With James' help, they made up. They were actually able to have a conversation without arguing or screaming or putting the blame on the other person.
No, they just talked. And they noticed that they both made mistakes. And they forgave each other.
And with the help of his new and old friends, he was able to leave his parents and the burden of their responsibility behind.
He still isn't as brave as Sirius. But he doesn't need to be. Because he has been smart enough to notice what was the best for him and acted on behalf of that.
Life isn't perfect. A dark kind of magic is rising and it is uncertain what is gonna happen in the near future. But they are all together and that is all that counts for now.