Warm

Regulus groaned as he slowly waded into consciousness, awareness gradually creeping up on him.

His head was pounding, his mouth felt drier than a desert, a lingering sort of exhaustion made his whole body feel heavy, and his stomach churned with nausea. He was immediately struck with a host of conflicting urges; to brush his teeth, go to the toilet, hurl his guts out, shower…

After a few moments of contemplating his existence and cursing himself from last night, Regulus became vaguely aware of light behind his closed lids. Blinking them open reluctantly, Regulus noticed sunlight pouring in through the windows.

Wait.

Windows?

The dungeons didn’t have windows.

Freezing at this realisation, Regulus cautiously took in his surroundings. Scarlet covers. Maroon curtains. A warm brown rug. Clothes and books littered in a pattern Regulus didn’t recognise.

Oh no.

This was a Gryffindor dorm.

Trying not to panic, Regulus assessed the situation. 

A small bedside table sat beside the bed he was currently lying in. Regulus examined the contents. An empty bottle of water, a muggle alarm clock, a single hair tie, a small cloth and a small stack of books, none of which were on the school curriculum. These items were not particularly telling, but then he saw it. Slightly hidden from this angle behind the books, there it stood: a small, framed picture of a familiar couple.

Fleamont and Euphemia Potter.

Fuck. This was James’s bed. James’s dorm. Sirius’s dorm.

And Regulus was in James’s bed.

Fuck.

He got a blurry flash of himself spouting nonsense and leaning heavily on James as the Gryffindor urged him up the stairs.

Fuck. They didn’t…?

A soft snuffle came from behind him before it smoothed back into quiet breathing and Regulus froze once again.

Oh Salazar. He wasn’t alone in the bed. There was someone else behind him. Regulus cursed himself for not registering it earlier.

The breaths were soft and steady, rhythmically flowing in and out as the person slept peacefully behind him. In the same bed. Regulus belatedly registered the press of a body against his own under the covers.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

What if–? He can’t have. Then again, Regulus had been so drunk by the end of the night. After the game of Truth or Dare, there had been dancing, and shots, and more dancing, and more shots, and– oh fuck.

He tried his best not to panic and to calm his beating heart.

Ever so slowly, Regulus lifted his head to peer behind him and identify the mystery person, only to find two bodies instead of one.

Oh, thank Merlin.

Pandora and Dorcas slept on undisturbed behind Regulus, squished together and entangled slightly to fit on the bed that was only technically meant for one.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Regulus carefully extricated himself from the bed, somehow slipping out without waking anyone else up. He hurriedly located the bathroom and made a beeline for it. After sorting himself out, casting a few cleaning charms and so on to make himself feel a little more human, he cautiously returned to the dorm.

Luckily, no-one else seemed to have woken up yet. As before, Dorcas and Pandora were sleeping soundly in James Potter’s bed, though they seemed to have spread out a little more at Regulus’s absence.

The bed next to it and closest to the bathroom had the curtains firmly closed and a lingering silencing spell on it, but the chess set left haphazardly on top of the trunk at the foot of the bed meant that Regulus guessed it to be Pettigrew’s.

On the other side of James’s bed was another one with the curtains closed and a ward up. This bed had books piled all over the bedside table with no room for anything else but a single pack of cigarettes. Books shoved under the bed. Books filling up the open trunk. If that wasn’t Remus’s bed, Regulus would eat his hat.

Finally, Regulus regarded the last bed closest to the door. There was a couple of books, an assortment of jewellery, a pack of cigarettes and a pair of sunglasses on the bedside table next to the bed, so it could only belong to Sirius. Instead, though, Regulus recognised the familiar figures of Barty and Evan passed out on top of the covers, still fully clothed – shoes and all.

The closed curtains and silencing ward on Remus’s bed suddenly made a lot more sense – Regulus guessed his brother was in there too, disgustingly enough. He shuddered at the thought.

Emmeline was nowhere to be seen either but, then again, given the closed curtains and wards on Pettigrew’s bed… What an interesting development.

Still suffering the effects of his hangover, and quite eager to escape the clusterfuck that would inevitably happen when this unlikely group started to wake up, Regulus decided to go in search of James. Firstly, because he likely had hangover potions based on Regulus’s memory of his potions stash last night. And secondly, because it didn’t seem like he slept in this dorm at all and Regulus was curious.

Miraculously, he crept through the dorm and out the door without waking anyone, groggily stumbling his way down the stairs and into the Gryffindor Common Room. Though it was relatively empty of students, clean-up already seemed to be well underway. Most of the decorations had already been taken down, Bianca Green tackling the last of them with the help of a levitation charm. Fenwick and his boyfriend seemed to be leisurely dealing with the rubbish as they chatted, vanishing empty cups and cleaning up spills as they went around. Meanwhile, an extraordinarily awake Evans was micro-managing a grumpy-looking Macdonald and Mckinnon as they moved the furniture about.

“Regulus!” Evans called when she spotted him. “Good morning! How are you holding up?”

“I want to drown myself in the lake.”

She chuckled far too cheerfully for Regulus’s liking. “Hangover’s that bad, huh? Tell you what – help me clear those tables and you can earn yourself a hangover potion; Potter and I brewed a batch but it’s for helpers only.”

Regulus considered for a moment, eyeing the table in question – most of the food was already gone from last night but it was littered with rubbish and laden with dirty serving platters. The drinks table seemed to have already been cleared of bottles but it was sticky and dirty. He mentally weighed whether it was worth the potion but when his head throbbed painfully, he conceded.

“Deal.”

The two worked amiably clearing up the table. They vanished the rubbish and sent a truly upsetting amount of cleaning charms at the surfaces. Regulus made to remove the serving dishes but Evans stopped him.

“We’re going to need those.” She said, arranging them neatly.

“For?”

“Breakfast – or well, I suppose it’s more accurate to say lunch, given the time, but it’ll be breakfast food really.” Evans explained while she worked. Regulus’s stomach lurched conflictedly at the mention of food.

“You’re… There’ll be a breakfast buffet?” Regulus said in disbelief. Merlin these Gryffindors really did have wholesome partying down to a science. Regulus would have thought it would be the Puffs.

“Yeah!” Evans responded. “We’re trialling it – James’s idea.” Of bloody course. “It’s half an apology to the people who don’t like parties; this way they can grab some food without having to leave the tower as a special treat. But at the same time, it’s quite nice on the partygoers too – breakfast has already come and gone and lunch will be finishing soon – so, this way people can get some food in them without forcing themselves to wake up earlier or scavenge for themselves!”

Not sure what else to say to that, Regulus just nodded. Salazar, what time was it if lunch was already ending? A subtle tempus told him 12:48. Damn he had slept for… he wasn’t actually sure. Seven or eight hours? The party had raged on well into the night; Regulus thought it must have been sometime after four that he’d finally hit the pillow.

Regulus was helping Evans move another table over when the Portrait entrance swung open. James’s loud, cheerful voice immediately filled the room.

“My Mum always adds ground espresso powder to the mix – she insists it adds ‘depth of flavour’. I’m not really sure what that means but her chocolate gateau is to die for so I believe her 100%!” He was saying to his captive audience of three house elves and Gideon bloody Prewett.

The elves were listening intently while Prewett watched him with a smile. An obscene amount of breakfast foods and drinks floated around and past them, levitated by the elves. James absently gestured towards the tables as he led the elves over.

“Henny is thinking Mr Potter’s Mum is being right! Flavour is being very important, Mr Potter, sir!” One of the elves responded, looking up at James quite adoringly.

“Absolutely!” He gave the elf a dazzling smile. “I’m sorry I don’t have much more to say on the matter but I’ll be sure to write to my Mum – maybe I can even get a few recipes for you to try!”

The elves gasped at the prospect. Another one stepped forward to answer him. “Mr Potter is too kind! Too kind!”

James waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t be silly! It’s the least I can do to repay you all for the help – you’ve gone above and beyond!”

The third elf beamed up at him. “We is being happy to help Mr Potter and friends! Mr Potter is not needing to be repaying!”

James smiled fondly at the elf. “I think we’ll have to agree to disagree, Cooky. For now, would you three mind setting the food down over here, we already have some tables…” He finally noticed Regulus and Evans. “Oh, hi! Good morning! Regulus, Lily, this is Cooky, Henny and Fobbs, plus you already know Gid. Guys, Regulus and Lily.”

The elves greeted them enthusiastically while James smiled fondly and Regulus’s heart just about melted. The Gryffindor was being so unbelievably sweet to the house-elves, which was, horridly enough, quite the feat in Wizarding Britain. Regulus’s mind wandered to Kreacher – he hoped his dear friend was keeping well in that awful house.

Regulus made sure to greet them all thoroughly despite the foul mood his hangover had put him in, leaning down to shake each of their small hands. Evans awkwardly followed his lead.

“I’m enchanted to make your acquaintance.” He said with a polite smile. “You seem to have created quite the feast and I must admit I’m rather looking forward to it! So, you certainly have my thanks.”

The elves greeted him enthusiastically in return, seeming overjoyed to shake his hand. He and James spent the next few minutes chatting lightly with them as they directed the stream of food and drink onto the tables, Evans and Prewett chipping in here and there. Regulus found himself quite fond of the trio by the time they were leaving and promised to visit them down in the Kitchens soon.

When they were finally gone, the group started perusing the table, fixing up food for themselves.

James turned to him with a raised eyebrow and a small smile. “Well, that was unexpected.”

Regulus shrugged defensively. “I like house-elves.”

James’s expression turned teasing. “More than humans, I’ll bet.”

“Oh, har, har.” Regulus rolled his eyes before scanning the buffet. He made a beeline for the croissants.

“Here.” James snatched up a jar and held it out for him.

Raspberry jam.

Taking it, Regulus bit back a smile. “I can’t believe that was your question. Of all things.”

“Oh!” Evans snapped her fingers in remembrance. “During Truth or Dare! Why on earth did you ask that, James?”

The boy shrugged, smiling coyly.

In response, Prewett bumped his shoulder against James’s casually before reaching for a muffin. “Come on, Jamie-boy. You’ve got to admit it was out of the blue!”

Regulus wanted to set the bloke on fire. Why was he so touchy?

James just chuckled. “That was kind of the point. I was trying to diffuse the tension.”

“Tension?” Prewett frowned. “What tension?”

Evans’s eyes widened in understanding and she looked unsubtly over at Regulus, who tried not to react.

“Rosier looked about two seconds away from snapping my neck. Didn’t you notice?” James answered smoothly and Regulus relaxed. He hadn’t really noticed in the moment, too consumed with his own raging jealousy, but Evan had most certainly been jealous – he had been all over Barty for the rest of the night, even sleeping in the same bed, apparently.

Prewett nodded. “No, but I don’t doubt it. They’re together, aren’t they?”

Regulus sighed. “No.”

All three Gryffindors looked up at him in surprise. “No?” Evans asked.

“No.” He confirmed. “They’re both idiots.”

James winced. “My condolences. I know how much it sucks to watch two of your dorm-mates pine needlessly over each other.”

Regulus gave him a commiserating look. “Any tips?”

“Pester them both separately every day until they confess and then invest in some good earplugs.” James answered wryly.

Regulus grimaced at the implication.

Prewett on the other hand, laughed brightly, slapping a hand on James’s shoulder. “Godric, I want to feel bad for you, but I’m just glad I can’t relate.”

If he choked on his muffin, Regulus wouldn’t be upset.

Eager to get James’s attention back on him, the Slytherin looked up at the boy through his lashes. “I was promised a hangover potion in return for my help.”

“Oh!” James jumped into action instantly, dislodging Prewett’s hand. “You should’ve said!”

He hurriedly reached into his pocket and pulled out a miniaturised case. Enlarging it to brief-case size, he set it down on a nearby chair and opened it. “Here, mine and Lil’s special recipe.”

“It tastes like vanilla!” Evans chimed in.

Regulus took the potion, smug when James offered it to him before Prewett. It instantly soothed his hammering headache and swirling stomach enough that he could enjoy his croissant.

“Thank you. I presume you’ve already taken one each.”

“I have, but James hasn’t.” Evans answered, squinting at the boy in question. Regulus got the feeling he’d accidentally opened a crate of flubberworms.

Prewett laughed obnoxiously. “Our boy Jamie here, doesn’t get hangovers. Ever. I’m not entirely convinced he’s human.”

Evans nodded sagely. “You’re a freak of nature, Potter.”

James grinned winningly. “I prefer the term: ‘better than you’.”

“Godric, you’re so weird you probably went on a run this morning.” She shook her head disappointedly. “You did, didn’t you?”

“I’m an active soul.”

“You’re so healthy it’s disgusting.”

“Don’t be bitter, be better!”

“I hate you, you ray of sunshine.”

James just laughed at that. Regulus thought it was all quite on brand for him.

The hangover potions attracted the other helpers and soon the whole group milled about picking from the buffet and chatting.

That was, until a loud screech could be heard from the boys’ dorms. Predictably, it was Regulus’s brother.

“PRONGS!”

James sighed tiredly. “Here we go.”

*

Just as Regulus had expected, the dorm was in utter chaos when they got there.

A raving Sirius Black was throwing random items of clothing at a cackling Barty and Evan, who were deliberately spreading out on Sirius’s bed and shouting taunts right back at him. Remus and Pettigrew were trying and failing to calm Sirius down – or well, Remus was trying, Pettigrew sat on his bed half-heartedly saying things like “Oh no. Don’t do that.” while Emmeline cracked up next to him. Dorcas and Pandora seemed to be watching the scene with amusement from James’s bed while throwing out their own taunts here and there. In short: chaos.

The moment James stepped into the room, Sirius turned his attention on him, lobbing a jumper his way. Regulus leant against the doorway to watch the show.

“You!” Sirius shrieked. “This is your doing, isn’t it!”

“Padfoot…” James held his arms up placatingly.

“Don’t Padfoot me!” Sirius threw a sock at him. “It was bad enough you invited them to the party, but to my dorm?”

“It’s my dorm too.” James argued gently.

“So? Make them sleep in the Common Room, not my bed!” A single glove hit James’s chest. He made no move to defend himself.

“Sirius, you haven’t slept in that bed in months.” Gross. “It’s not like you were using it, and besides, they’re the guests – of course, they get the beds.”

Barty stretched out some more, grinning evilly. “It’s so comfy.”

The other glove bounced off James’s arm.

“See! Look what you did! He’s rubbing himself all over my sheets! I’m going to have to burn them now!” Sirius yelled dramatically.

“Or, we could just ask an elf to clean and change the sheets?” James tried, voice still gentle and at a regular volume despite Sirius’s screaming.

“Nope! I might just set the whole bed on fire to cleanse the room! Yours too!”

Evan raised an eyebrow in amusement, making a show of laying back comfortably. “Dramatic much?”

James gestured helplessly. “He’s kind of right. We don’t need to burn anything.”

“Prongs, there are Slytherins in my bed!” A balled-up shirt sailed towards James.

“Being Slytherin isn’t a disease.” James rolled his eyes. A rare sight.

“And yet, you seem to have been infected!” A hat hit James’s stomach. “Moony and Wormtail too!”

Pettigrew lifted his hand which was clasped in Emmeline’s. “Whatever shall I do?”

She snickered in response, leaning into him a little.

Okay, Regulus hadn’t predicted this pairing but he was on board, actually. They were rather well-suited. And bonus: it helped the revenge plan. Not that Regulus thought Em had done it for that reason. And Regulus wouldn’t have asked that of her; her love-life was her concern and he would support his friend no matter who she dated. Regulus mentally renamed the Gryffindor Peter in his head.

“We’re not infected, Sirius, we’re just friends with them!” Remus reprimanded loudly, not seeming to possess any of James’s restraint. “And it’s not like you even noticed they were in here until you woke up! So calm down and stop acting like a child!”

“Yes, please.” Dorcas drawled. “My hangover is bad enough without your incessant screeching.”

James shot her an apologetic look. “There’s a breakfast buffet and a case of hangover potions down in the Common Room, if you want. Lily will pretend they’re for helpers only but that’s just to bribe people into clean-up.”

Regulus frowned. “That little sneak. She tricked me.”

James gave him a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his neck. “That’s Lily for you.”

Dorcas regarded him interestedly. “I think I’ll take you up on that offer after I freshen up.”

“Oo, me too.” Emmeline pecked Peter on the cheek before getting up. She offered a hand up to Pandora and they followed Dorcas to the bathroom.

“And now they’re in the bathroom! Our bathroom! And they’re going to take all the hangover potions!” Sirius lamented. His dramatics were getting old fast.

“There’s plenty to go around Pads.” James sighed tiredly. “I made sure of it.”

“Well, okay then! If Perfect Potter is on the case, we should all just skip merrily along after him!” Sirius spat, ignoring when Remus called his name sharply. “You heard it here first, folks! The Golden Boy has got it all under control!”

James visibly slumped. “Sirius…”

“No, no! Far be it for me to get upset! I’m causing a scene, aren’t I? And it’s getting in the way of Perfect Potter’s sunny little brunch time!” Sirius sneered at him nastily. “If you want to play house with snakes, then by all means. But don’t come crawling back to me when they bite you and leave you for dead.”

Regulus saw red. He opened his mouth to spit venom right back but James got in first.

“I’m sorry I made you uncomfortable by letting them crash here. I was just trying to be nice, and you were all so sloshed…” He shook his head in remembrance. “… It was just easier to put you all in the same place. And I really didn’t think you’d mind this much.” He gave his friend a contrite look. “But I’m sorry. I should have thought about it more.”

“James, you were also drunk. And it really shouldn’t be an issue.” Remus defended softly but the boy shook his head.

“No, there’s no excuse. I’m sorry, Pads.”

There was a heavy pause.

“You should be.” Sirius said tightly. “But I’ll forgive you this once.”

James sighed in relief. “Thanks, mate. It won’t happen again.”

Regulus couldn’t believe his fucking ears.

“What the hell are you on? James shouldn’t be the one apologising when you just went off on him like a bloody toddler!” Regulus couldn’t help but shout.

“Regulus it’s fine.”

“No, it’s not fine! You’re acting like a bloody doormat and letting him walk all over you!”

“Regulus.” James started to walk over to him.

“He was throwing things at you, James.” Regulus stressed, looking the boy in the eye. “Throwing things.”

Gently, James placed a hand on Regulus’s elbow.

“I know.” He said quietly. “I’m fine.”

Regulus stared at him, still brimming with rage.

“I’m fine.” James repeated, staring right back.

Abruptly, Regulus felt something lift within him. “You’re fine.”

James nodded. “I’m fine.”

“Merlin’s fucking tits! You’re fine! I’m fine! We’re all bloody fine!” Sirius threw up his hands, irritation radiating off him in waves. “Ugh, I need that potion stat. Prongs, let’s go!”

Sirius crossed the room swiftly, grabbing James’s arm and hauling him away. Regulus stood there dumbly for a few seconds.

“Damn there are two of them now.” Peter commented absently glancing at Regulus in the doorway. The Slytherin bristled.

“James has really got his hands full.” Remus shook his head with a huff of amusement.

“Don’t envy him that.” Evan joined in with a smirk. “One Black is enough.”

“Bloke’s got to have huge fucking balls to go along with that massive prick of his.” Barty snickered.

At this, Peter whirled on Regulus. “You told them? I knew that would be a selling point!”

Evan waved a hand in denial. “Oh no, Reg was already interested in climbing Potter like a tree. His enormous cock is just the cherry on top.”

This set all four of them off into a round of laughter.

Regulus glared at them coldly. “I hate you all.”

*

The rest of the morning went relatively smoothly. It was undeniably stilted as they all tried to co-exist now under sober circumstances, but there weren’t any major squabbles of note other than a brief incident where Dorcas and Mckinnon almost got into a duel. Regulus was starting to get suspicious of the two – Dorcas didn’t get heated particularly often.

Students flowed in and out of the Common Room – mainly for the food – and while there weren’t enough hangover potions for all of Gryffindor house, there certainly were for everyone James and Evans seemed to deem ‘friends’.

Eventually, people started to peel off for one thing or another. Barty and Evan went off to sleep some more. Dorcas and Pandora muttered something about homework before they left. Evans and Remus set off for the library while James and Sirius went for a fly. And so on.

Regulus somehow got roped into helping Emmeline in a chess match with Peter.

“So…” Peter ventured after he moved his pawn to e4.

Regulus gestured for Emmeline to move her pawn to c5. “So?”

“So… you haven’t said anything about… us.” Emmeline said moving the piece. She seemed oddly nervous.

Regulus raised a brow. “Do you want me to say something?”

“I’m not sure after that answer.” Peter responded, moving his knight to f3.

Regulus’s lip twitched up. “Pawn to d6, I’d say.” She moved the piece. “And I’m happy for you both.”

The pair looked up at him in surprise.

“Really?” Peter asked. “Pawn to d4.”

Emmeline took it with her own pawn, only for Peter to take her piece with his knight. Regulus gestured for her to develop her own knight.

“You’re both my friends.” He answered deliberately. “I don’t see why I’d take issue.”

“Not even with…” the plan. Emmeline trailed off but Regulus understood.

“Em, I’d never stop you from dating anyone.” He paused considering. “Except maybe cousin Bella.”

She laughed. “No offense, Reg but she’s mental.”

“None taken.”

“Sirius and Marls aren’t too pleased. Siri especially.” Peter said after a moment. “Queen’s knight to c3.”

“Pawn to a6. Dorcas didn’t seem happy either.” Emmeline added, biting her lip.

“They’ll just have to get over themselves.” Regulus stated firmly. “This isn’t about them it’s about you. Do what you want.”

Peter smiled. “Queen’s bishop to e3. That’s probably the sappiest thing I’ve ever heard you say.”

Em moved her pawn to e6 and Regulus rolled his eyes. “Don’t get used to it.”

Peter’s other bishop moved to e2. Regulus advised Emmeline to develop her Queen.

“Don’t let him fool you. He’s a softie really.” She smirked.

“Queen to d2. Aww, I knew you cared Baby Black!” Peter teased.

Regulus gave him an unimpressed look. “Don’t call me that.” He said automatically. “Pawn to b5, maybe?”

“Well, I’m glad you approve.” Peter moved his own pawn to a3. “Didn’t expect you to.”

“I’m more just annoyed I missed it.” Regulus grimaced, disappointed in himself. “Queen’s bishop to b7?” Emmeline did as he suggested and Peter moved a pawn to f3.

“In your defence, it was a quick turnaround and you’ve been preoccupied.” Emmeline admitted. “Speaking of which, it looked like you made some progress with Potter! Knight to c3.”

Peter castled his king. “Oo yes! I’m so curious.”

“Pawn to b4. Tell us everything.” She grinned.

Regulus’s eyes flicked to Peter and back. “Absolutely not.”

Peter took her pawn with his own. “Pleaseeee.”

She took his pawn with her knight after Regulus prompted her. “No.”

Peter moved his pawn to g4. “You two looked awfully cosy this morning. Did you sleepover and cuddle down here?”

Em moved her bishop to e7.

“No,” He said emphatically, “I slept up with Cas and Pan, then came down looking for hangover potions.”

“In James’s bed though.” Peter waggled his eyebrows. “Pawn to g5.”

“James didn’t sleep in James’s bed. Retreat the knight to d7. He slept on a sofa down here, apparently.”

Peter hummed. “Well, your defence of him was very sweet anyway. He can be too much of a pushover sometimes. Pawn to h4.”

Emmeline’s eyes lit up. “And you helped him yesterday too – swooped in like his knight in shining silk and downed more shots than I think I’ve ever seen you take in one go! Knight to c5.”

“Oh, you were so plastered after that.” Peter grinned. “King to b1.”

“Go fuck yourselves.”

“No, it’s good! Potter seemed to appreciate it. I think so at least. Castle to b8.” Em mused.

“He definitely did.” The Gryffindor confirmed before looking up at Regulus. “He gave you a sobering potion after, didn’t he?”

Regulus nodded, not quite following.

Peter gestured triumphantly. “Well, there you go, then. Pawn to h5.”

Emmeline castled after Regulus prompted her, frowning. “What do you mean?”

“Prongs doesn’t just hand out potions from his emergency stash for just anyone.” He examined the board. “Pawn to g6. He didn’t even give me any even though I’m pretty sure I upchucked at some point.”

“You did.” Emmeline confirmed. “Bishop to f6.”

“Oh sorry.” Peter winced.

“Don’t worry – I did too. I was just as trollied.”

The Gryffindor perked up. “Oh! That’s okay, then. Castle to g1.”

These two were definitely a match made in hell.

“Go with bishop to a8, I reckon.” Regulus advised before switching gears. “I thought James was just thanking me for not letting him die of alcohol poisoning.”

“Probably a bit. Bishop to g5. But he wasn’t just being nice, I promise.”

Regulus hummed in acknowledgment, examining the board. He advised Em to move her bishop to e5.

“Oh! Actually, I bet he was trying to impress you!” Peter exclaimed, eyes lighting up.

Regulus and Emmeline both looked up at the boy in interest. “What do you mean?” She ventured.

“Well, you’re into potions an’ all that, aren’t you Baby Black?”

“Don’t call me that.” Regulus snapped back on autopilot. “But yes.”

Peter made a finger-gun gesture. “There you go!” He emphatically took Em’s pawn with his own at h7 as if to emphasise his point.

Emmeline swiftly took the piece with her king, causing him to pout.

“You mean to say that Potter, in his inebriated state, decided that that was the perfect time to show off his potion making skills, and proceeded to give Regulus a potion from his private, semi-secret stash.”

Regulus bit back a smile. That sounded very on brand.

“A right puppy-dog, isn’t he?” Peter confirmed, moving his knight to b3. Regulus nodded slightly, unable to keep the fondness from his eyes.

“Oh, you’re disgustingly smitten.” Em teased, moving her knight to c2 and taking a pawn in a ballsy move.

“Piss off! Like you’re one to talk about falling for Gryffindors.” Regulus shot back.

Peter smiled smugly to himself as he took Em’s other knight at c5.

Regulus gestured for her to move her knight to a3 and check Peter’s king even as she glared at him. Peter swore quietly.

“I’m nowhere near as bad as you.” She argued. “You think the sun shines out of Potter’s arse!”

Regulus’s first thought was that it would be more accurate to say that James was the sun… but he supposed that proved her point.

“You couldn’t even wait 24 hours before snogging Pettigrew.” Regulus said instead, causing her glare to intensify.

Peter gingerly moved his king to a2 and out of check.

“You wish Potter would snog you!” She bit back. “Queen to c5!” She said in the same aggressive tone, taking Peter’s knight.

“Wait you two haven’t snogged yet?” The Gryffindor asked, moving his knight to a4. The pair of Slytherins turned on him and he winced. “Sorry, it’s just that I assumed you had and that James just wasn’t admitting it.”

“No.” Emmeline sighed. “Your boy is playing hard to get. Knight to c2.”

Peter gave her an incredulous look. “James Fleamont Potter? Playing hard to get? Are we talking about the same person here?”

“Yes, now take your turn, I’m about to win.” She urged impatiently.

Her boyfriend? sighed. “King to b1.”

“Queen to a3! Checkmate!” She whooped and held up a hand to high five Regulus, who reluctantly indulged her. “Fuck yeah! I win!”

“Yes, you do.” Peter gave her a soft smile and leaned forward to kiss her cheek. “Now tell me what on earth makes you think James Potter is playing hard to get. I love him but he’s easier than a First-Year’s homework.”

Emmeline nudged Regulus, who took a deep breath before answering. “Every time I make a move, he pulls away.”

“It’s true.” Em nodded seriously. “One time, Regulus called him ‘pretty boy’ and Potter literally flew away from him.”

Peter huffed a laugh. “Classic Prongs. Well, that one’s easy: Sirius.”

Regulus frowned. “Sirius is rarely around when we talk.”

“Sure, but Sirius is never far from Jamie’s mind.”

The pieces clicked into place.

“Oh, I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“What? You lost me.” Emmeline complained in confusion.

Regulus gave her a meaningful look. “James is resisting because he feels like being with me would be a betrayal to Sirius.”

Emmeline processed this for a few moments. “Oh, what a noble prick.”

Regulus tilted his head. “I do admire the loyalty.”

The girl smirked at him in understanding. She raised an eyebrow in silent question: ‘You’re going to snap that loyalty in two, aren’t you?’

Regulus nodded in answer. Her smirk widened.

“Okay, now I feel like I’m missing something.” Peter whispered performatively.

Emmeline kissed his cheek then patted it twice in sickly sweet condescension. “Don’t worry your pretty little head about it, darling.”

The boy gave her an adoring look. “Okay.”

*

Remus looked like an utter mess as he dropped into the seat across from Regulus.

His clothes were rumpled, his skin was pale, and his hair was sticking up in places as though he’d been running his hands through it or trying to imitate James. He looked utterly exhausted and barely keeping himself upright, yet he opened up a textbook and hunched over it anyway.

“Remus.” Regulus called quietly, aware of the silence in the library.

The boy didn’t stir.

“Remus!” He whispered a little louder, a little more urgently.

The boy in question sighed heavily and drew his eyes up to Regulus with what appeared to be great effort. He stared at the Slytherin expectantly.

“Are you ill?” Regulus whispered, concern skimming his tone and probably ruining his reputation.

“M’fine.” The Gryffindor dismissed, dropping his gaze back down but Regulus wouldn’t be deterred.

“Remus, you look ill. Perhaps you should go lie down.” He insisted, taking in the bags under the boy’s eyes.

Remus sighed heavily again as he faced him. “I’m fine. Just tired.”

“Then you should sleep.” Regulus countered.

“Regulus…”

“Remus.” He whispered sharply. “Do I need to drag you to Gryffindor Tower? Do I need to shove some tea and chocolate down your throat? Do I need to haul you to the Hospital Wing? Because I will. You look like shit.”

“Thanks.” The Gryffindor gave him a sardonic look, slumping further in his seat. Then: “I get ill quite often. I’m fine, I promise.”

“So, you are ill.” Regulus immediately started packing away his own things.

“What are you doing?” Remus hissed.

“I am going to drag you to bed.” Regulus told him, leaving no room for argument. “You need rest.”

“Regulus!”

Regulus started on the Gryffindor’s things next. Remus’s movements were sluggish enough that he couldn’t stop him. “Remus, if you could see yourself right now, you’d understand. You look like a light breeze could topple you over.”

“Regulus, wait! Please!” Remus grabbed his wrist, causing him to pause.

“What?” The Slytherin asked, brow creasing in concern.

“I…” The Gryffindor took a deep breath. “This isn’t a normal illness. I’ll be fine.”

Regulus regarded him as a wave of worry and care for this boy washed over him unexpectedly. “Some sort of magical malady?” He asked, his worry slipping into his tone.

Remus visibly retreated into himself. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

It was something serious then. Likely lifelong. Regulus’s heart ached to think of how this affected this boy. A boy he was genuinely starting to see as a true friend.

“Then, you don’t have to.” Regulus told him decisively. “I won’t pry. But you do need to lie down because Remus, I’m not exaggerating when I say that you look like you could faint at any moment.”

Remus’s expression twisted stubbornly for a second, that Gryffindor fire burning behind his eyes, but his exhaustion must have won out in the end. “I feel like I could faint at any moment.” He admitted heavily.

“Then, let’s get you back to the Tower.” Regulus replied, gentler than was usual between the two of them. More often than not, they communicated in snark, sarcasm and academia alone.

This time, Remus let him pack things away and sling both bags over his own shoulder. He also let Regulus guide him up and out of the library. He was walking on his own but Regulus was alert the whole way, ready to catch him if he listed too heavily in one direction. It was a slow and laboured journey on Remus’s part, but they made it to Gryffindor Tower eventually, and Regulus helped him through the portrait and followed him right up to his dorm.

“Moony!” Sirius greeted instantly before he noticed Regulus, his expression souring. “And… Reggie?”

The three other occupants of the dorm were all piled on one bed, pouring over some books and notes that didn’t look academic at all; Regulus got the feeling they’d walked into a prank planning session.

“Remus is ill.” Regulus informed them tightly. “I am delivering him to bed…” He gave the boy in question a pointed look. “…which he will get in right now.”

Remus gave him a mildly annoyed look but obeyed all the same. “Yeah, yeah. I’m going, I’m going.”

Regulus watched him closely as he climbed into bed, relieved when the boy’s head finally hit the pillow. He fell asleep in an instant, revealing how right Regulus had been.

“Thanks.” James called out, and when Regulus turned to face him, he was smiling gratefully. “We didn’t know it had gotten that bad.”

Beside him, Peter was giving him an echoing smile of thanks, while Sirius was looking at Regulus as though he didn’t quite understand what was happening.

Regulus abruptly held out Remus’s bag. “Yes, well, this is his. Where shall I put it?”

“Just on his trunk will do.” Peter answered.

Regulus complied, and he was about to leave to continue his studying, when he paused, turning back to the other three.

“Remus’s illness…” He started, and was intrigued to see that all three of them tensed up. So, they knew what it was then. Regulus probably should have expected that with how close they all were.

Still, he forged on. “I promised him I wouldn’t pry and I won’t.” Both James and Peter sagged in relief slightly, though Sirius remained alert. “I was just wondering if there’s anything I should know about – given how often we are around each other. Is there anything I can do that would help? Anything I should look out for?”

James’s smile could have melted the polar ice caps and it completely distracted the Slytherin from the other two’s reactions. “This was already wonderful. If he looks like he needs to rest, bring him here. Other than that… there’s not much that can be done.”

Peter nodded in agreement, the movement pulling Regulus’s focus. “He gets irritable so we tend to be more patient with him and shower him in chocolate, but that’s about it.”

Regulus hummed a bit in displeasure. It was unclear exactly how this magical malady affected Remus but that still seemed inadequate. “I see.”

“He likes to read.” James offered after a moment. “But sometimes, he’s too tired, so we read to him instead.”

Now that. That Regulus could do.

“How long will he sleep?” He asked them.

“Not long.” Peter answered sadly. “He can barely get more than an hour of uninterrupted sleep when…”

Regulus nodded in understanding. “I’d like to stay then.” He told them somewhat decisively. “I’ll read to him when he wakes.”

Without waiting for permission, he dragged a desk chair over and sat himself beside Remus’s bed, pulling out a copy of his textbook to read in the meantime. He heard violent whispering between the other three – probably Sirius protesting his presence – but he ignored it. This was about Remus.

This was about his friend.