Part 1
Regulus watched as the stars appeared like they do every night. He loved seeing them shine in the inky black and joining their patterns to form his favourite constellations. Of course he looked for his and his brother's star. As always Sirius was always far from Regulus but they were both up at the same time. Regulus sat on the floor and sketched tonight's sky and constellations. They always looked different, a new sky every day. It always helped him relax after a rough day. He used his knees as a small table whilst he was drawing each individual pattern in the unknown. He had always believed that when you died your soul went to the star that was chosen for you. He enjoyed drawing as it helped clear his thoughts. There were a few moments, though, that drawing couldn't even clear his head but this didn't happen too often, thankfully.
He was nearly finished with the sketch but he was beginning to feel restless. He had to move. He had been in the same place for far too long. It just didn't feel right to him. He made sure the ink was dry before closing the book a placing it in his bag in a small pocket at the back. He stood up and began pacing around the room. He was getting faster and then slower before picking up his pace again. It continued like this until he was finally out of breath. He slumped back onto the floor with his head in hands. He couldn't focus on anything around him. the pattern of the bricks started to blur together. His breathing was becoming choppy, cutting in and out. He tried up to look up at the stars before him but his neck was locked. Tears rolled down his cheek. He couldn't control anything, not even his mind was co-operating with him. He could hear his breathing, sure, but his senses had left him completely. He had lost track of time, how long he had been sat on the floor with his face buried in his palms. At least he could move his neck now. He looked up at the ceiling. Painted with swirling blues, blacks and golds in varying shades. It was a comforting painting. An imitation of the stars. He scanned every detail. He had lost track of how many times he had studied that piece of art.
Footsteps echoed through the stairwell. It didn't sound like any of the teachers which he found worrying as no-one was supposed to be awake right now. Well wasn't he a giant hypocrite. A knock came at the door, it was soft and gentle, made not to startle anybody whilst still getting attention. The door slowly creaked open, without a hand on the twisted door knob. Regulus saw the empty space behind the door shift slightly, moving the brick behind it in swirly patterns., somebody was wearing the invisibility cloak. Damn it James.
"Hello James I see you found my hiding place?"
"You know I will find you! You're too predictable!" James laughed as he shrugged of the cloak, dumping it on the floor. He walked over to the youngest Black, who was still sitting down and gazing at the ceiling. "Regulus."
"Yes James? What now?" Regulus asked him, refusing to look the boy directly.
"You ok? You know you can talk about right?"
"James." a warning tone slipped into Regulus' voice, putting James on edge. "Do you really feel like you are responsible for everybody in the school? Do you really think you can handle everybody's emotions? Do you really think you have the space for that? Sure you have dealt with Sirius and Remus and Peter but you can't go around fixing everybody's problems!"
"Well. It's not everyone but just people who I think need that extra helping hand!"
"And you can read everybody like a book?" Regulus asked looking right at James, staring into his soul.
"Uh, well-"
"James. You do realise that so many people hide their emotions, right? Guess work is not enough!" James flinched at the sudden way that Regulus raised his voice. James sat down next to him and hugged him. His arms around the youngest Black's shoulders. Regulus shifted slightly and wrapped his arms around the boy. They were now facing each, their faces buried in the others shoulder. He had gone too far. He realised that. "I am so sorry James. I won't hurt you I promise." he whispered into his ear.
"It's going to fine. Listen to me. Look at me James." James did as he was told at looked at his face. That face. It was normally this beautiful but once it was illuminated by the dim moonlight it was ten times as lovely. The way that his eyes reflected the light, highlighting every colour in them. How his skin shone in the light, showing the freckles that lay on his nose, reminding him of the night sky that lay above them. Every little detail was shown on his face, making James drown deeper in his love and admiration for the speaking to him.
"James, stop star-gazing. You haven't blinked in over a minute." Regulus told him quietly. He was trying to not disrupt the peace that James seemed to be in. He was so adorable when he was peaceful. He couldn't stop looking at hazel eyes in front of him.
"Right, yes. What were you saying?"
"I didn't say anything whilst you were gone!" Regulus laughed softly, his eyes lighting up. "You really were spaced out I guess!"
James swore that that laugh would be the death of him. It was just so soothing. It wasn't cold and harsh and it wasn't a forced laughter. It was a genuine soft laughter. It made James regret everything he had said. He wanted to here it over and over again. He had to snap himself out but Regulus was just far too hypnotising to stop staring at.
"James. You went out again. Try to keep yourself on Earth ok?" James nodded slowly shuffling back to his space against the wall. He became aware of how late it was already.
"Regulus I think we need to go back to our dorms. You know how Barty and Remus get when people are late. Come on." James said already picking up his cloak, making sure that the map was still in its little pocket. Regulus picked up his bag and made a swift move towards the door, before looking back at James and smiling lightly. He made his way down the stairs, light foot steps against the cold stone.