If falling in love was a crime
"James. JAMES!"
James entered reality again looking a bit dazed. He looked at Sirius who was staring at him. Right at him. Concentrated on him. Unblinking. It was terrifying that he could do this. Just look at someone without an expression but still be entirely awake. Terrifying.
"James please take a seat next to Sirius. I simply do not care if Sirius is going to punch you, stop complaining about it James. Now, would any of you like tea or coffee?"
"No thanks." They said in unison looking at Regulus . One in awe and another still trying to process the events of previously. Sirius couldn't believe that Reg would still insist on doing this. But he knew why. He knew all to well why. It was customary or else in the words of that horrid woman. He knew the look on his brothers face like the back of his hand. The look of wanting to please the voice at the back of his head. Telling him to do this, stop doing that since it was wrong or not suited for a member of the noble house of black to do. It was all a stupid customary rule that was forced onto both of them since they were five. It often came with death glares from every adult member in the family. Sirius found it impossible to look in their eyes, he found it uncomfortable that they were just staring right into his soul. Walburga always made him watch them. Forcing his head in their direction. He hid the expression on face. Hiding it from everyone's expecting eyes. It felt like there were far more than 2 other people in the room and they were all looking at him with impatient stares. He wanted to leave the room so that he could escape that feeling but they would ask him questions. Sirius hated questions, they always seemed to dig into him, like they wanted to know every little detail about him. The eyes were getting stronger.
"Sirius, it's alright nobody is staring at you. We aren't going to ask ok? You can leave if you want, I promise I'll be fine." Regulus was still leaning on the wall, smiling lightly at Sirius. It was reassuring enough to work. A sad smile appeared on his face, assuring Regulus that it wasn't necessary, telling him that it wasn't expected of him.
"I'm fine, I promise Regulus. You don't have to check up on me. I should be the one checking up on you."
His brother looked back dropping his mask just long enough for Sirius to see his true expression. An expression that was commonly shared amongst the Black brothers. James didn't notice. He was always far too dense for that. Regulus quickly turned away and entered the kitchen, his fingers gently brushing the doorway as he went through, clutching the wood before disappearing into the room. Something was very wrong. Sirius could always tell. Regulus never held the doorway unless he needed something for support. He heard something fall from the room.
James was in awe. He was sitting there, mouth slightly open and eyes wide with love and admiration. James was still admiring every single feature of the youngest black. Every perfect feature. The way the dimples on his face became pronounced when he smiled. The way that if looked at the right angle you could see the array of freckles over the bridge of his nose. The way that his eyes softened every time he sees someone he loves talking to him to him. The way he held himself when he was too tired to keep the stiff posture. The way that he did everything task with caution and precision, carefully making sure that every rule and instruction written and said around him. The way that he looks at James when James 'accidentally' meets him in the Astronomy Tower. The way his hair perfectly covered his eyes when he looked down like a curtain. The way he walked around the castle trying to find his next class. He knew that he wouldn't be able to resist that boy. It was impossible to look away. He was in a trance, unable to break away from the boy who had stolen his heart from him ever since the first day that they had met. It pained him to see him leave. To see him walk through the doorway, his fingers lightly brushing the wood under his hand. Regulus was a beauty past comprehension to James. Somebody who made everyone fall for him with one look. A gift that James knew was from the family he grew up in. Where looks, magic and blood were the most important thing. So it wasn't surprising that James was so deeply in love. He knew that there was no way that Regulus could ever love him back. After all, the amount of hearts that have been broken by that boy was now in the hundreds. Many people have walked away completely shattered after finding out that they were not wanted by this boy. James knew how destructive it would be to confess to Regulus but something was telling to just try his luck. Just this once. What if he was an exception. What if he was actually loved back? He loved the way that Regulus seemed to come to life in the moonlight, the way that all his features lit up at night. James had silently called him a child of the stars, Regulus didn't know of course. If he ever knew he would he laugh at James with a cold tone in his voice, giving him a pat on the back before leaving him. James was spiralling further down, his mind never wanting to let go of the image stuck in his head. His charm was working. Working far too well for James to fight back. The one thing the Black Brothers shared between them. A look that sent everyone to their knees, begging for love and recognition.