A plan
Living the life Regulus black lives is hard. Most people wouldn't make it or would make it through that house but end up a humanoid black hole. Regulus hasn't reached the end of that house yet, but he must survive. For Sirius. For himself, eight years old, sitting in that cramped closet with Sirius drawing figures with his fingers on Regulus's back and promising to get them both out of there. Regulus has to make it through that terrible place until he becomes lord of the Noble house of Black. Once he's in control is when he can rest. or give up, finally. When Regulus makes it through, he may as well be dead, that house and family draining every bit of light inside him drowning him with insults and curses. The living can only rest when they're dead. But being dead is cold, dark. That young and naïve light will never return. So, Regulus accepts that and welcomes the darkness in. Let's the darkness guide him. Regulus wakes to darkness. Shaking and sweating, he'd forgotten to take a dreamless sleeping draught again. A walk around the castle might help, Regulus is good at avoiding ghosts and Mrs. Norris. Regulus gets up and puts a cloak on, walks down through the cold common room and walks to the kitchens. Regulus likes the kitchen elves; they talk too much, but they listen to regulus. As soon as he enters through the portrait to the warm kitchen Regulus takes in the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg. "Master Regulus welcome, welcome! " Says one elf. " What can we make master Black? Tea, toast, oh I know what Mr. Regulus likes, orange poppy seed muffins!" that sets every other house elf off at once with questions and smiles. Regulus accepts the muffins but informs the elves he would like to make his own coffee. Regulus like his coffee black. no sugar or milk. Dorcas Meadows a fellow Slytherin and what she calls herself, Regulus's best bud ever. God Regulus should have never talked to his dorm mates his first year. Barty Crouch and Evan Rosier piss regulus off so much, Dorcas is less annoying but still unbearable and Pandora Lovegood. Regulus said he would get close to a single soul but Pandora, she is too much, and Regulus would never hurt her. Her soul so bright and young yet so deep and wise. Regulus makes his coffee and sits at the counter. Regulus can't keep having sleepless nights, He has to be focused and prepared. But for now, Regulus needs rest. Rest for Regulus however is just living a normal boring, exhausting life. School work, Friends, and quidditch. Shit! The quidditch match is coming up in a few weeks and Regulus hasn't been on a broom since last term. His mother believes 'it's a waste of time and how you should be preparing for real like jobs and not silly sports games.' Of course, regulus agrees to some extent but hey, the professional quidditch players get money. Regulus is halfway through is coffee when the portrait squeaks open, revealing his brothers best 'friend'. Regulus doesn't like to look at his brother but when his eyes betray Regulus, he sees how Sirius looks at Remus.
"Oh, it's another black brother. Just my fucking luck." Lupin grumbles out. Regulus looks at his wristwatch to see its almost breakfast, the elves getting busy to cook. How long had he been sitting here? "What's got you all riled up with the blacks? Sirius's bitchy personality finally get to you?" " Oh, wait I don't care. I'm leaving. Continue with the childish sulking Lupin." Regulus starts to get up but Lupin who is stupidly tall and annoyingly good-looking steps in his way. S0, what if Regulus had a minor crush on him in first year; everyone did. He's still friends with Sirius but if he wasn't Regulus might actual not hate him. "Look little black, I'm not looking for a fight, but I swear to Godric Gryffindor if you talk about Sirius like that in front of me again, I will smash you to a pulp." and Regulus can't help but giggle. He really just giggled?! and of course, Lupin has to laugh at him. "I will not be laughed at by a fucking half blood. Oh, and by the way your definitely not closed mouthed and sneaky with my brother." Regulus abruptly walks past Lupin and leaves the kitchens for the library. Most people who are unbearable for Regulus don't go to the library. Regulus goes to study, schoolwork that is, not for his plan he still needs to recharge.
***James***
It's abnormally loud for a school day and James doesn't have quidditch practice so for whoever is disrupting his day off sleep in better be dying or it isn't worth it. Oh, great it definitely not worth James' sleep being interrupted. As James lifts his head of his pillow Remus storms out slamming the door on his way out. Sirius is running to the door then decides it's the safer option to stay here till Moonys' cooled off. James only now gets up when Sirius has moved to his own bed. Holy Godric Gryffindor its way too early for a Moony and Padfoot fight. Good thing they'll both get over it by lunch.
"pads? Hellloooo earth to Sirius?" James says in a singsong voice. "James, I will actually punch you if you don't leave me alone." James knows when Sirius uses his Serious (HA) voice he just needs a good old Prongs and Wormy peptalk; No Moony, he'll always the opposing side when Sirius is upset. So, James goes over to the lump of Peter and pulls his blanket off and drags Peter over. "Alrighty wormy time for our... not stop don't go back to bed! Come oonnnn." James will not give up on making Sirius feel better, and if James' sleep is ruined so will the rest of the dorms. Time for some real work.
★★★
By the time James, Peter, and Sirius get down to the great hall for breakfast Remus is already there. On his left is lily Evans, James's dream girl, on his right Mary Mcdonald, a loud and proud pair of Gryffindor girls. And the love of James 16 almost 17 years of life. And so what if he only met Lily in first year, she's always been in his heart, but the name and face match the feeling.
All three boys sit to the opposite side of the table to Moony and the girls. Soon Marlene Mckinnon, her hair once long now bleached and cut, walks into the great hall catching James' eye. James thinks it suits her. "Looking good marls" James yells out. Everyone at the table turns to see Marlene and what made James feel the need to complement her on a random Wednesday morning. Everything of course but the new hair today as well. "MARLENE?! Your poor hair what have you done my love?" Mary says shocked and lips quivering, she's a dramatic. There is a few compliments from Lily and Remus, Peter, and Sirius. But Marlene is only looking across the Hall. James' eyes follow Marlenes to the Slytherin table. James dosnt catch who Marlene is looking at because the air is pushed out of James's lungs. The eyes he caught where Regulus black, AND BLOODY HELL when did he grow up?! He's...oh god he's handsome. Pretty even, his eyelashes so long, his jaw now defined and his eyes suck piercing green and grey James has to look away or he's afraid he'll get stuck there. James is still staring at Sirius's younger brother, breathless. The moment goes on, but Regulus breaks the eye contact, he continues to sip his drink. James is starstruck. But why? HE's always been aware of Regulus since he's Sirius's best friends. And then of course the summer of 75' happened and James was horrified, but after Sirius recovered, he'd told James that Regulus didnt' want to run away. So why is James's heart beating to toot, why is his eyes stuck on Regulus. Sirius aps him out of it. Good, James can't get distracted no matter the reason. He has his last year of Hogwarts ahead of him and a chance of a quidditch pro scholar ship.
"James what's wrong?" Sirius says slightly worried. "Huh? Oh, nothing I'm okay just... tired" that technically wasnt a lie. "Man, you're so odd sometimes Prongs, you know that right?"
"Oh yes I know that. Been told that every day since I met a certain short-tempered guy named Sirus. For his name he isnt very serious at all." Sirius cracks up at the joke. Remus and Peter banned that joke from ever being repeated but James does it anyway. That reminded James, the great big-happens every other day- Moony & Padfoot fight.
Looks like James and Peter- and hopefully the girls- have some work to do.