Warm

“Fuck!” Regulus raved as he paced his dorm-room. “Fucking fuck!”

“How long has he been at this?” Pandora side-eyed him as she entered the room.

“Too long.” Evan answered from Barty’s bed. “That’s why I called this emergency meeting.”

“And that’s why we called you, Little Miss I-deal-with-my-emotions-healthily.” Emmeline added.

“Argh!” Regulus tilted his head back frustratedly. “Fuck!”

“I see…” She said, coming to take a seat beside Dorcas.

“I think he might have snapped.” Barty commented absently. “The Black Family Madness strikes again.”

“Fucking fucker!”

“Regulus, darling. What’s the matter?” The Ravenclaw asked soothingly.

“I have… I have responsibilities!” Regulus raved as he continued to pace. “I can’t just do whatever the fuck I want!”

“I understand…”

“Is that what I want? No, of course it bloody isn’t!”

“I hear you…”

“But that doesn’t matter! What I want doesn’t matter!”

“Mhm…”

“Because I have responsibilities! I can’t just do whatever the fuck I want!”

“You’re repeating yourself, dear.”

Regulus screamed in frustration.

“Regulus, honey. You’ve spent the last few months trying to convince James to go after what he wants, fuck the consequences.”

“Are you saying I’m a hypocrite?” Regulus asked her snidely.

“Yes, dear.”

Regulus stopped pacing. “Fuck, you’re right.”

“I know, darling.”

“I hate feelings.” He complained.

“I know that too.”

“I hate this.”

“That’s quite clear.”

“I can’t just… I can’t–” Regulus cut himself off abruptly and sat on the ground where he stood.

Slowly, Pandora came over and sat beside him, her leg pressed against his. They sat there quietly for a few minutes as Regulus’s mind spun in circles.

“Fuck.”

Pandora placed a gentle hand on his thigh. “I’m not going to tell you what to do, darling, but I can say that you’re not alone in this. All of us in this room are with you, whatever you choose.”

There was silence for another few minutes.

Unbidden, Narcissa’s warning came to his mind.

‘Run while you can.’ Her eyes had said.

“More.” She had promised him was out there. Promised him that he could have if he was only brave enough to try.

“If I…” Regulus began quietly. “If I chose him, I’d be disowned. I’d have to leave.”

“Who gives a shit?” Barty sneered. Regulus looked up at him sharply, but Barty ignored the look and came to sit on Regulus’s other side. “You’d probably be better off anyway.”

“Barty–”

“I’d go with you, you know.” Barty interrupted, not looking at any of them. “Shit parents club and all that.”

The group froze at the admission.

Regulus stared at him with wide eyes. “You’ve never said–”

“It’s not like you did either.” Barty shrugged, staring at the pattern on the carpet. “We never really talk about this shit.”

That was true. They sort of just joked about it and moved on.

“You’d really…”

Barty traced the pattern with his finger. “Only if you did.”

“Why not on your own?”

“Why haven’t you left yet?”

A beat.

“That’s fair.”

They lapsed into silence again.

Evan eventually got up and sat beside Barty, taking his hand. When he spoke, he was looking down at their joined hands intently. “I’ve been telling myself for a while now that 17 isn’t that far away, but it is, isn’t it?”

“It is a long time.” Dorcas said sympathetically.

Evan hummed in agreement.

“17 won’t make much difference for me anyway.” Regulus confided quietly, leaning into Pandora’s warmth.

Barty nodded slightly. “Me neither.”

“I’ve kind of been holding onto the hope that it will be different.” Evan said. “Salazar, that’s so delusional.”

A pause.

“When I left home to go live with my cousin, I was scared.” Pandora told them. “But I’m a lot happier now.”

“Sirius seems happier now.” Regulus commented absently.

She hummed in agreement. “I would offer for you to come with me, if we had the means.”

Emmeline came to sit on the floor too, tucking herself into Evan’s side. Dorcas followed and sat between her and Pandora, completing the circle.

“Would you go to the Potters?” Em asked carefully.

Regulus sighed. “James offered.” He told her. “But I’m not sure.”

A beat.

“You reckon the Potters would take us too?” Evan asked, bringing Barty’s hand to his lips for a light kiss.

“They took Sirius. Their standards are low.” Regulus deadpanned. This elicited some small huffs of laughter.

“Seriously, though.” Barty said after a minute. “They’d take all the three of us, wouldn’t they?”

“They raised James.” Regulus said quietly. “If they’re half as kind as he is, then yes, I’d say.”

“How wild would that be.”

A beat.

“Fuck, I’m really thinking about it now.” Barty swore. “Bloody Potter making me hopeful. Fucking fuck.”

Regulus gave him a wry look. “Now you see my dilemma.”

“I could kiss you in the corridors.” Evan said suddenly. “B, I could kiss you wherever I wanted.”

“Fuck.”

Regulus felt a tear run down his cheek. Oh. He was crying.

Just thinking about it was overwhelming. He could have everything he ever wanted. His brother. His best friends. All safe and sound. A safe home. A happy one. And the boy who loved him so much he couldn’t bear the thought of having anything less than all of Regulus. Flaws and trauma and everything all at once.

Merlin, it sounded so beautiful.

Could he really do it? Could he leave? Was it even possible? Without an heir, his parents would surely go ballistic. They would hunt him down and curse him until he was the perfect son that they had always wanted but never had. Could the Potters protect him from that? They were a powerful family, Regulus knew, with connections in the Ministry and some of the strongest wards in the country. Hell, they were even close with Dumbledore, who was supposedly the greatest wizard of a generation.

But his parents’ faces swam into his mind. His Father’s cold and uncompromising sternness, his Mother’s insurmountable wrath.

Regulus remembered his Seventh birthday with startling clarity to this day. It had been the best day of his life before he got to Hogwarts. Kreacher had cooked up all his favourite foods and his parents had showered him in presents, each grander than the last. A set of cutlery in pure gold. An ancient Potions tome. A set of one-of-a-kind robes from an illustrious designer. A baby-grand piano with ivory keys. He had received them all with the biggest smile on his face, but his parents hadn’t been done. They had taken him to the bookstore next, letting him pick out whichever books he wanted, an indulgent expression on their faces. He had even been allowed to play in the park with some other children, picking flowers and swinging high on the swings without a reprimand in sight. When the evening came and Regulus had eaten as much cake as he could manage, his Mother had stroked his hair gently and told him that she loved him. A rarity that had made his heart sing.

Then, she unlocked the cupboard beside them and Sirius came spilling out, bleeding from his legs profusely.

Regulus’s excellent day had been a punishment for Sirius and a warning for himself.

He had learnt a valuable lesson that day: that love was always conditional. No matter how freely it seemed to be given.

James’ love was conditional too. In a way. He could only give it if Regulus played by his, albeit gentler, set of rules.

He was essentially choosing between his parents’ conditional love and James’s.

Perhaps, it wasn’t fair of Regulus to think of it that way. James was not trying to be cruel. He didn’t have a malicious bone in his body. And he wasn’t just trying to protect his own heart, he was trying to protect Regulus’s too. Save them both the heartbreak.

But Regulus’s heart was already invested.

Adding Barty and Evan into the equation was world-changing, though. If leaving his own abusive home spurred the two of them to do the same, then how could he not? It always made his heart ache to think of the two of them at home with their cold fathers and cold homes. It broke his soul a little bit that all three of them learned healing spells to help each other recover from their time with their families. To see every letter that dulled the shine in Evan’s eyes. Every bruise that marred Barty’s skin. All of it could be gone.

Oh, that was a lot of pressure.

Could he do it? For them?

For himself?

For James?

“Fuck.”

*

“This is an intervention.” Peter announced when Regulus walked into the room.

He narrowed his eyes at the Gryffindors around him. “I thought this was a study session.”

“We can study after.” Remus bargained. “Now sit down.”

Currently in the old classroom they were supposed to be using for studying, was James’s whole cohort of friends (minus Sirius and James himself). Well, they were Regulus’s friends too but… his point was that he was the only Slytherin in sight. Instead of sitting on chairs like normal people, they were littered around the room, perched precariously on the backs of chairs and table tops, probably thinking they looked rather cool. Regulus thought a chair would be far more comfortable.

“I’m not doing this.” Regulus turned to leave but the door slammed and locked before his eyes. When he turned back with a glare, Evans had her wand out.

“Sit.” She said.

“I’m not a dog.” He sneered but he sat anyway. Knowing this lot, he’d genuinely have to duel his way out, bunch of crazy Gryffindors they were.

“You helped us with our relationship, so we’re going to help you.” Macdonald declared from her cross-legged position atop a desk.

“I’m just here for the entertainment.” The better Prewett snickered only to pout when his boyfriend elbowed him in the side.

“What the fuck is going on?” Fenwick asked the Slytherin bluntly. “We’re only a getting a fraction of the story because neither you nor James will open your bloody mouths.”

Regulus stubbornly set his jaw. “That’s because it’s none of your business.”

“We’re only trying to help.” The lesser Prewett raised his hands in mock surrender and Regulus did not have the patience for his existence today.

“You’ve all been spoiled by knowing what was going on for months now but this is not your business.” He spat emphatically. “If neither of us want to say then fucking stay out of it.”

That actually did give them pause but only for a few seconds.

“Regulus…” Remus started patiently and the Slytherin pierced him with an icier glare than he had ever directed at the boy before. Remus seemed a bit taken aback by his vehemence but forged on anyway. Fucking Gryffindors.

“Regulus, you don’t have to tell us everything but we just want to know how we can help. You’re both clearly miserable and it’s hard for us all to watch.”

Against his will, something in Regulus softened a bit. As much as they would all be on James’s side when it came down to it (he fully understood and expected the same from his own friends), these people genuinely did care about him. They just wanted the best for both him and James.

He blew out a breath from his nose in frustration. “It’s complicated.”

Peter looked as though he was trying to be understanding but having lots of difficulty. “You’ve said that to me before. What’s so complicated about it?”

Regulus tilted his head up for a moment and inhaled harshly. “You can’t possibly be that dense.”

“Is it something to do with your parents?” Remus asked but there was a knowing look in his eye. The look of a boy who knew a conflicted Black when he saw one.

“Ding, ding, ding, you get a prize.” Regulus said flatly before he could think about what he was revealing to them. He felt vulnerable immediately after.

“Does James want you to leave home?” Evans frowned, trying to piece it together. “Is he pressuring you?”

“He wouldn’t.” Mckinnon shook her head. “He’s not like that.”

It was true, he wasn’t. James hadn’t once asked Regulus to leave, respecting that it was Regulus’s choice, no matter what he wanted himself.

“Then what is it?” Macdonald asked. “I don’t understand.”

“Does he want to go public?” Fenwick asked astutely. “Is that it?”

“And you’re scared about your parents’ reaction?” The better Prewett filled in the hypothesis.

“If you went public, you’d have to leave.” Remus stated surely.

“But you’re not sure you want to.” Mckinnon guessed, sounding unimpressed.

“No, he’s not sure if he can.” Evans corrected sympathetically. “That’s got to be hard to actually do.”

Regulus felt bare in front of them all. It was a conflicting mess of feeling relieved that they knew and being terrified that they knew.

“I can’t love you in the dark.” Regulus said quietly, echoing James’s words on the train, as he gazed down into his lap, unable to meet any of their eyes.

The others instantly went quiet, staring at him.

“That’s what he said.” Regulus admitted in an emotional whisper, eyes still fixed on his own hands in his lap.

“That’s what you can’t give him.” Peter finally put it together, his voice quiet.

“I told him I’d love him in the light if I could.” Regulus replied.

“You can.” Remus told him strongly, causing his head to whip up in surprise. “You can do it. I know you can.”

This lot would never understand what it really meant. Would never understand how fucking terrifying the thought of leaving his whole life behind was. Regulus had known and accepted his place for as long as he could remember, and this was the first time in his whole life he was questioning it. He wasn’t sure he even knew how to breathe right without his parents instructing him. He was more puppet than boy in his mind and the thought of cutting his own strings…

“I don’t know.” Regulus whispered.

Remus got up and strode right up to him, crouching down to his level. “You can do it, but not because of James. You can do it because you’re stronger than them. And braver than they ever will be.”

“Gryffindors are the brave ones.” He breathed out, barely audible.

“And Slytherins are the ambitious ones.” Remus reframed it, his gaze drilling deep into Regulus’s soul. “You know what you want. Now, how are you going to get it?”

You know what you want. Now, how are you going to get it?

That phrase echoed around in his skull for the next few days.

You know what you want.

Now, how

are you going

to get it?

*

The crowd was alight with cheers, a thrum of excitement in the air.

The Gryffindor-Hufflepuff Quidditch match was turning out to be a highly entertaining one, and Regulus was glad he came. He was sitting in the Slytherin section with his friends, but Peter had managed to wrangle him into a bright red hat before the match, and he found himself freely cheering on with the raucous crowd.

“And there’s another goal for Gryffindor! Our Golden Boy has done it again, bringing us up to a whopping 240-30 to the Lions! For those keeping track, Potter has scored an even twenty goals thus far – let’s see if he can beat his high-score of twenty-three!”

For the sake of James’s liver, Regulus was kind of hoping not.

He was on a roll today, though Regulus probably shouldn’t have expected anything different. He flew through the air like he was born to do it, weaving this way and that with an ease the Slytherin had never seen in anyone else. But Regulus’s favourite part?

James was feeling showy today.

Where in the last match Gryffindor played, James had been all stone-faced and determined, James was all smiles and waves today, playing up to the crowd at every opportunity. He completed complicated moves for the sole purpose of eliciting oohs and ahs, and shot every goal with an unnecessary amount of flair, winking into the crowd after. During a penalty shot, he even performatively held a hand to his ear and motioned for the crowd to cheer louder before he took it and scored.

It was absolutely ridiculous, incredibly arrogant and also… the most fun Regulus had ever had watching a game of Quidditch.

Of course, all the performance might have something to do with the Tutshill Tornado players who had decided to show up and watch the game. Or perhaps, the small crowd of journalists who were reporting on James and the game. Knowing James, it had more to do with his parents watching. Or maybe just all three.

That was not to say that James was not concentrated – he was absolutely preforming just as well as normal. Actually better.

“And Turner catches the Snitch! Gryffindor wins the game! The final score is 460:60, with a record twenty-five goals by our Gryffindor Captain, and the newest face on the Tutshill Tornados: James Potter!”

‘Twenty-five goals.’ Regulus thought. ‘Absolute madness.’

He took his time making his way down from the stands, deciding on a whim to go congratulate James. They might be in a complicated spot but the boy deserved all the praise in the world, and Regulus wanted to see him. There was an abnormally large crowd outside the changing rooms, crowding to get to James and the Tornados while the Professors struggled to keep the students back. Meanwhile, the small group of reporters were hanging back restlessly under the watchful gaze of Professor McGonagall.

At the centre of it all was James. He was standing a few feet away from the changing room entrance, the Tutshill Tornado players surrounding him as they clapped him on the back and showered him in praise.

Something in his gut told Regulus to speak to him right now, so he found himself fighting his way to the front of the crowd. He wasn’t sure whether James would be able to notice or hear him over all the noise but he called out the boy’s name anyway.

James’s head snapped towards Regulus, a wide grin on his face.

“Regulus!” He called over the ruckus. “Hey, Professor! Could you let Regulus through?”

And so, somehow, Regulus found himself sidling up to James and half of the Tutshill Tornados.

“Who’s your friend, little bug?” Jennifer Underwood, one of the best Keepers of the century, asked. She once saved twenty-nine goals in a single match.

“Guys, this is Regulus.” James introduced easily, grinning ear-to-ear. “Regulus, this is Jen, Olly, Bran, and Nicky.”

Merlin, he just referred to Professional Quidditch stars by nicknames.

“Nice to meet you all.” Regulus greeted awkwardly, trying not to seem too starstruck.

“Oh, he’s cute.” Oliver Farley commented with a smile. He was such an excellent Chaser that he played on England’s Quidditch Team too in the international league. “How do we know him, bug?”

“He’s Seeker on the Slytherin Team. A pretty excellent one too!”

“Oo! A Seeker!” Nicola Hunt perked up at that. She had over forty Snitch catches to her name since her debut. “The superior position, amiright?”

Regulus nodded dazedly.

“Oh, I think we’ve broken him.” Said Brandon Sharpe, Chaser and Heartthrob Extraordinaire. Regulus used to have a poster of him on his bedroom wall before his Mother had gotten suspicious.

James nudged him gently to get his attention. “Hey, now. You’re supposed to showering me with obscene amounts of praise.” He teased with a lop-sided smile.

Regulus shook himself back to reality. “And inflate your ego any more? I don’t think so.”

James pouted cutely. “Must you torment me so?”

“It’s my favourite pastime.” Regulus drawled with a smirk.

“Oo I like him, bug. He’s feisty.” Nicky grinned, bumping James playfully.

“Bug?” Regulus repeated, unable to ignore his curiosity.

James immediately groaned, embarrassed, while his team-mates adopted shark-like grins.

“He’s the baby.”

“Our precious little one.”

“Practically an infant, really.”

“But he flies so well.”

“Like a little bug.”

“Just flits about.”

“It’s very cute.”

Regulus turned to James slowly, delighted beyond belief by this information. “You’re the baby of the team.”

James’s ears burned, a flush lighting up his features. “Yes, I know.”

“Do they fuss over you?” Regulus asked, trying not to break out into a grin.

“All the time.” James groaned, slumping dramatically.

Oh, this was brilliant. “That must be so weird for you.”

“You have no idea.” James replied in agreement.

“Why’s it weird?” Olly asked, looking between the two of them, intrigued.

“Because he’s Captain of his baby team?” Bran guessed.

Regulus turned to the adults with a wicked gleam in his eye. “Because he’s a complete mother-hen.”

“Regulus!” James protested.

Jen’s eyes lit up interestedly. “Tell us more.”

“I’m not a mother-hen.” James tried to insist but Regulus turned on him with a raised eyebrow.

“You carry snacks for others around with you almost all the time.” The four players looked at him with interest.

“Because I’m a good friend!” Their gaze snapped to James like they were watching a Muggle tennis match.

“You nag your friends about eating their vegetables.” Then back to Regulus.

“I don’t want them to get scurvy.” And James again.

“You once tucked nine people into bed in one night. I was there.” Regulus.

“You were all drunk! What was I supposed to do? Let you choke in a pile of your own vomit?” James.

“You brew warming potions specially for the younger students in the cold months.” Regulus.

“They could get pneumonia!” James.

“You tutor kids and help them with their homework.” Regulus.

“You know that’s a favour to Minnie!” James.

“Peter quite literally calls you ‘Mum’ all the time.” Regulus.

“That’s ‘cause he’s a prick. You can’t listen to a word he says.” James.

“James. You’re the Mum-friend. Accept it.” Regulus.

James tilted his head to the sky in defeat. “I hate you.”

Regulus smiled victoriously. “No, you don’t.”

James sighed. “No, I don’t.”

“Oh, this is gold.” Bran burst their bubble with a smirk.

“Merlin.” Olly swore. “Baby bug is a mother bug! I’m too young to be a grandmother!”

Nicky was staring at James with a mixture of bemusement and amusement. “I’m not sure what to do with this information.”

“Friend of little bug, I thank you for your service.” Jen added. “I will never let him live this down.”

“You’re welcome.” Regulus responded magnanimously.

“Why did I invite you over?” James said more to himself than the Slytherin.

“Because you make many and numerous mistakes in your life… bug.”

“Fucking hell.” James groaned in annoyance. It was almost as satisfying as his groans of pleasure.

“Can we also talk about this dynamic?” Nicky said pointing between the two of them. “I’m sensing sexual tension.”

Jen swatted her on the arm. “Nicky! They’re kids!”

“No, she’s right. There’s tension.” Regulus found himself admitting for some insane reason.

James gaped at him in shock. “Regulus!” He hissed warningly.

“Okay, now I simply have to hear all about this.” Olly declared, rubbing his hands together excitedly.

“Maybe another time.” James diverted smoothly.

Bran wagged a finger at him. “We’ll be holding you to that, bug.”

Regulus decided to take pity on him, changing the subject. “You were quite good today, but your liver will be paying for it later.”

“Ah!” Bran sighed wistfully. “The Shots Ceremony. Good times.”

“The what?” Olly asked, prompting the Gryffindors of the group (James, Bran and Nicky) to reveal the tradition.

“God that’s stupid.” Jen commented after.

“They’re Gryffindors.” Regulus reminded her. “We can only expect so much sense from them.”

“I s’pose that’s true.” Olly conceded with a sly smirk, ignoring the protests from the Gryffindors.

“Do you have a plan this time?” Regulus asked James.

He shifted on his feet awkwardly. “Might bribe Amelia to help me out.”

“You thought of that just now, didn’t you?”

“…Possibly.”

“And how would you bribe her?” Regulus raised a challenging eyebrow.

“Er…”

Regulus rolled his eyes fondly. “Get her and her girlfriend tickets to a Tutshill game.”

“Oh! Vanity, right?” He turned to the others briefly. “Emma Vanity. Captain of the Slytherin Team. Girlfriend of Amelia Bones, Hufflepuff Chaser.” Then back to Regulus. “That’s a great idea! Thanks!”

“What would you do without me?”

“Die of alcohol poisoning.”

“Okay, I really need to hear about what’s going on here.” Nicky cut in again, looking between the teenagers.

“Tension.” Regulus repeated playfully, just to piss off James.

It worked. The Gryffindor turned on him with an accusing finger. “You’re a menace.”

Just then a couple of new voices entered the fray.

“Jamie! My darling boy, you were so good today!” Mrs Potter called out, opening her arms invitingly.

“Looked just like your Mother out there.” Mr Potter added with a dazzling grin. It looked exactly like James’s. Oh, if this is what James grew into later in life, Regulus was absolutely on board.

James grinned at them brightly, stepping into his Mother’s arms without a shred of hesitation or embarrassment. His Father ruffled his hair good-naturedly.

“Hey, Mrs Potter! Mr Potter!” “'Sup!” “Good to see you again!” “Hiya!” The Tornados greeted.

“Oh, and who’s this, Jamie?” Mrs Potter asked after dropping a kiss on her son’s forehead.

“Ammi, Abba, this is Regulus. Regulus, my parents.”

Regulus nodded nervously in greeting at them both. “Nice to meet you.”

Mr Potter gave his son a teasing grin. “Is this the one you were pining after all Yuletide?”

James groaned in embarrassment but the comment made Regulus’s heart sing. So, James had been thinking about him all Yuletide too?

“Monty!” Mrs Potter reprimanded, wacking her husband in the arm. “Don’t mind him sweetheart – he just likes to stir up trouble. You’re Sirius’s brother, aren’t you?”

Regulus nodded, trying not to panic. “Yes, Ma’am.”

“Nonsense. Call me Effie, dear. And feel free to come over any time – see your brother or James.” She invited easily, a warm smile on her lips and a kind shine in her eyes.

Regulus froze on the spot.

“Mum! Leave off!” James chided, attempting to take the heat off of Regulus.

Regulus’s mind was stuck on the offer.

“Don’t be silly, Jamie. I had simply had to let him know he’s welcome. Anytime at all.” She said deliberately, a hidden, bigger invitation behind her words.

Regulus’s mouth moved before his brain caught up.

“How many bedrooms do you have?”

James’s head shot in Regulus’s direction, staring at him assessingly. His Mother smiled kindly. “At the manor? Eight, dear.”

Eight. That was plenty. Regulus kind of wanted to cry.

“Good to know, Ma’am.”

“It’s Effie, darling.”

*

“They have eight bedrooms.” Was the first thing Regulus said when he arrived at his dorm.

“What are you on about?” Evan asked in confusion.

“The Potters.” Regulus said hurriedly. “They have eight bedrooms.”

“Oh.” Barty’s eyes widened.

“I want one.” Regulus declared decisively.

There was a pause.

“Fuck it! Me too.” Barty admitted.

“So, we’re doing this?” Evan asked breathlessly.

“I guess so. You sure?” Regulus’s whole body was vibrating with nerves.

“Not even a little bit.” Barty grinned. “Let’s do it.”

Evan pulled Regulus down onto his (Read: his and Barty’s) bed, hugging them both tight. “Agreed.”

There was a pause as they basked in giddy anticipation together.

“Now you’ve got to confess to Potter.”

Fuck.

*

The three of them didn’t sleep much at all that night. They laughed, they cried. They talked about everything they wanted to do and have in life. They talked about all the opportunities that this would open up and everything that they would lose too. And by the time the sun rose, Regulus was feeling lighter than he had in a long time.

He strode into the Great Hall for breakfast with a sure and steady gait, his head lifted in determination as he went straight for the Gryffindor table.

Upon Regulus’s arrival, James turned to face him instantly, an odd look on his face. Still, Regulus powered through.

“James.” He said nervously. “I have something to tell you. Something I should have said a while ago, but I was too scared. And now I’m not scared anymore. Well, I am but I’ve made my choice.”

“Regulus…” James said, his tone was odd too.

“No, let me say this. My maybe is a yes, James. And it’s not just because of you. It’s also for me. I’ve finally figured out what it is I want. And that’s you. In the light this time. With everything that entails.”

“Regulus.” James said again. “You… I–”

Was that pity in his eyes?

Regulus tensed. “What?”

Wordlessly, the boy held up the newspaper in his hands. The Daily Prophet.

Is Black Heir Sexual Predator?

“He wouldn’t take his hands off me.” ~ Gilderoy Lockhart. 17 yrs old.

Ice overtook Regulus’s body.

“I don’t believe it for a second.” James was saying.

A ringing started sounding in Regulus’s ears.

“I’m sure there’s something we can do.”

He felt violently ill.

“And I’m over the moon about what you just said.”

Regulus took a step back.

“I want all of that too.”

He felt like he couldn’t breathe.

“But right now, you need to breathe. Deep breaths, Regulus.”

He couldn’t do it.

Regulus had never thought of himself as a person who runs from his problems. In fact, more often than not, he stayed even when he shouldn’t. But in that moment…

Regulus ran.

*

Was this what Sirius felt like when he ran? Fled from the house in the night with nary a whisper. His heart pumping in his chest and blood roaring in his ears.

Regulus couldn’t understand the appeal.

All he could feel was fear. Panic. Rage.

He wanted to stop running and sink into the very ground beneath his feet. To stop existing in this plane and just become something else. Anything else.

Tears started streaming down his face at one point, clinging to his cheeks and stinging at his eyes. He felt like he couldn’t breathe. Like the world was sinking and collapsing in on his chest and that he was trapped under the weight of it.

He gasped for breath like a drowning man.

His feet kept moving. Running. Chasing. Chasing what? He didn’t know. Fleeing. Climbing. Racing until he couldn’t anymore. Until he would free-fall through the air if he ran any more.

He found himself at the Astronomy Tower.

He curled into a ball on the cold ground, hyperventilating as he sobbed silently. He was very good at keeping his tears silent.

It didn’t take long for James to find him.

He approached cautiously and when Regulus made no move to push him away, he immediately pulled him into his embrace. He even let Regulus crawl into his lap in a mirror of the last time they were up here together, James the one panicking.

His world might be crashing and burning around him but James was there. He was always there.

Regulus wasn’t aware of much in the time that followed. All he registered was James’s soothing tone washing over him and the warm press of James’s body against his own. Godric, he was so warm.

He was vaguely aware of other voices arriving – more people joining them in the tower. Regulus’s friends, probably. But they didn’t get closer. Regulus was glad because that surely would have overwhelmed him even more.

Eventually, Regulus began to come back to himself, awareness creeping back in little by little. The other people were indeed Regulus’s friends, watching him with concerned eyes. Dorcas and Emmeline looked to be standing guard, preventing anyone from entering and seeing Regulus like this, which he loved them for.

“There you are.” James said when the fog finally lifted itself from Regulus’s head. The boy pressed a light kiss to his forehead.

“Can you punch him for me?” Was the first thing to slip from Regulus’s lips.

“Absolutely.” James answered easily. “I’ll get Barty to hold him down.”

“Was coming to tell you.” Regulus said because James needed to know. He needed to know that Regulus hadn’t decided based on the article. He’d done it himself.

This wasn’t how Regulus had wanted things to go. It was meant to be his choice. His step to take. He didn’t want it forcibly yanked out of his hands and paraded around for the world to see.

“I know.” James assured him. “I’m so proud of you.”

Regulus felt his raw edges brushing against James’s soft ones. Soothed. Comforted.

“My choice. For me.” Regulus told him, still slightly out of it. “And for B and Ev.”

James paused. “Are you saying that they want to run away from home too?”

“You have enough bedrooms.”

“That we do.” James chuckled breathlessly, his eyes lighting up as he looked towards Barty and Evan. “I’m so glad.” He told them. “You’re welcome to come stay with me – my parents will be delighted. I’ll owl them right away.”

Barty sent him a wobbly grin while Evan nodded, his spine straight and defensive.

“I’m proud of you both too.” James added emphatically.

Godric, he was so perfect.

“No need to get so sappy, Jimmy.” Barty said but he visibly melted at the sentiment.

Evan too seemed to sag as tension flooded out of his body. “This just means we’ll torment you in your own home too.”

James smiled at them warmly. It warmed Regulus’s insides too. “Looking forward to it.”

“Can I have you now?” Regulus asked because he simply couldn’t wait any longer. Everything was a mess but he needed James to be his. That much was sure.

“In the light. In the dark. Anywhere you want.” James told him.

Regulus surged forward and caught his lips in a kiss.

It was far from romantic, really. Regulus’s face was still wet and snotty from the tears, and he was barely recovered from a panic attack.

But it was everything he needed.

The press of James’s lips against his own was a soothing balm on the rough edges of his heart, offering comfort and safety in every little movement. Regulus grasped his face in his hands, holding on for dear life. Willing the boy to never back away again.

And for the first time since Regulus had started pursuing James, Regulus was the one to back off first.

He pulled back for breath, gasping as he sucked in lungfuls of air, and James doing the same beside him.

And then they were kissing again. And Regulus never wanted it to stop.

“I’ll never stop.” James read his mind. Or maybe Regulus was speaking out loud, he didn’t know. “I’ll never leave you. I’m yours forever now, Regulus.”

He was so, so unbelievably warm.

*

Regulus was expecting the Howler.

It wasn’t a surprise given the circumstances.

But his reaction to it? Well, Regulus surprised even himself.

It caught him on his way through the Great Hall when Regulus was heading towards the Professors’ table to call a meeting with the Headmaster. He had hidden out with his friends all day, skipping class, but he wanted Lockhart punished (not with a punch in the face really) and the only way to do that was by facing it head-on.

He’d barely made it half-way down the hall when a crimson letter swooped down in front of him.

His body froze at the sight, cold seeping through his skin and into his bones.

The Howler promptly unfolded itself and began its message. 

“REGULUS ARCTURUS BLACK! YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO OUR FAMILY NAME! I WILL NOT HAVE YOUR PERVERSIONS INFECTING THIS BLOODLINE AND I WILL NOT HAVE YOU LIVING UNDER MY ROOF! I WOULD RATHER DIE THAN HAVE A FILTHY FAGGOT FOR A SON! YOU HAVE THROWN EVERYTHING AWAY WITH THIS DISGUSTING CHOICE OF YOURS AND I–”

Regulus set the letter on fire. It screeched wildly.

“DISAPPOINTMENT… SHAME… STREETS… SOME BOY… HALF-BLOOD AT–… DIRTY…”

It wailed as it tried to continue its message but it fell to the ground, shrieking in pain as it finally died.

Regulus expected to feel cold again, the confirmation of his parents’ disapproval staring him right in the face, but all he felt was utter relief.

He would never have to step foot in that house again.

He was free.

He stared down at the still-burning letter. It warmed him.

“What a shame.” He said to it.

Then he kept walking.

*

Regulus had been to Headmaster Dumbledore’s office only once before today. After his sorting in first year, he had been distraught, begging to be re-sorted, and had eventually ended up in Dumbledore’s office. The man had offered him a peppermint and then sent him on his merry way, babbling about staying the course and family most unhelpfully.

The office was just the same as it had been five years ago.

“Sherbet?” The twinkly-eyed man offered. His gaze made Regulus nervous.

“No, thank you.”

“And you, Mr Potter?”

James had been quite insistent on going with him, which Regulus had tried to argue against but to no avail. The Gryffindor had even convinced Regulus to let him send an owl off to his parents, who had promptly sent a Patronus message back, telling them they were on their way to help.

And so, he sat, James on the chair next to him, across from Dumbledore. Slughorn standing about awkwardly to the side. Flitwick was off collecting Lockhart which was sure to be interesting.

“No, thanks, sir.”

“I understand there has been an unfortunate rumour.” The Headmaster began.

‘an unfortunate rumour’? That was an understatement and a half.

“Yes, sir.”

“I must admit, I do not believe it to be true, Mr Black.” Regulus almost sighed in relief. “But you understand I must investigate such a claim.”

“Of course, sir.” He would be a shit Headmaster if he didn’t chase up allegations of sexual abuse.

“Will your parents be joining us for this discussion?” The old man asked.

Regulus tried not to let the sheer disbelief and incredulousness show on his face. The man had been therewhen that Howler came through. He had quite literally watched Regulus be disowned with his own eyes.

James did not have his emotion-concealing abilities. His mouth dropped open in shock as he frowned at the old coot. “What? You saw–” He collected himself quickly, face hardening visibly. “No.” He answered firmly for Regulus, who found himself quite glad that he didn’t have to answer. “His parents are not coming. But mine are.”

“Oh?” The man asked curiously. “Mr Potter, I cannot just let anyone in on this discussion.” Then why was James allowed? “It is a matter of safety.” Safety? What was this man on?

“I’m living with them.” Regulus cut in. James sent him a small, proud smile. “Or, I will be.”

“Ah.” The Headmaster leaned back in his chair, regarding them both with interest. From the corner, Slughorn’s beady eyes flitted between them, intrigued. “In that case, I see no problem with it.”

Just then, the door swung open and Lockhart came in with Flitwick. The boy was looking around the room incredibly nervously.

Good. He should be worried.

“Ah, Filius, thank you my friend. Mr Lockhart, welcome. Do take a seat.”

The Ravenclaw looked at the two filled seats, pale as he realised who was taking them up. “I do believe they’re full, sir.”

“You can take mine!” James said faux-cheerfully, his eyes boring into Lockhart. He made a show of standing up and coming to rest on the arm of Regulus’s chair, placing an arm behind Regulus’s head in a clear show of unity. The boy swallowed in response.

“O-oh! Thank you, Potter! How… kind!” He took the seat.

“Sherbet?” The Headmaster offered pleasantly to which Lockhart accepted. Regulus hoped he choked on it.

“Will your parents be joining us, my boy?”

“Er… No, sir. They have… important business. You understand.” Lockhart answered evasively. The Headmaster hummed in acknowledgment.

“I suppose we only have to wait for two more, then.”

Lockhart frowned in confusion at this. “Who…?”

“My parents.” James’s grin was perfectly genial when he answered but his eyes gleamed viciously. Regulus loved him so dearly.

The Ravenclaw boy, meanwhile, paled even further. “Lord and Lady Potter?”

James genuinely didn’t seem to care much about his status in Wizarding Britain, generally speaking. He loped around making a fool of himself, uncaring that his parents were two of the most politically powerful figures in Pureblood society. Uncaring that his face was splashed across newspapers regularly or that he couldn’t walk down a hallway without eyes on him. It was all just background noise to the boy, a fact which never ceased to amaze Regulus.

In this moment, though, James seemed more than willing to play the role of Heir Potter.

“My parents, yes.” He stressed the connection and Regulus could tell he was biting down a smirk when Lockhart shifted nervously.

James was a powerful man where Lockhart was a cowering boy. Even despite their ages being the opposite. Regulus was so proud that this man was his.

The door burst open, revealing two familiar figures, accompanied by a troubled-looking McGonagall. James smiled at them, standing up. “Speaking of… Ammi, Abba, thank you for coming.”

“Of course, Moujza.” Mrs Potter soothed as she gathered her son in a hug. When she pulled back, she looked like she wanted to do the same for Regulus but restrained herself to holding out a hand. Hesitantly, he grasped it, feeling so very warm when she cradled his hand in both of hers and squeezed comfortingly. “Don’t you worry, Regulus darling – we’ll get this sorted right out. Won’t we honey?”

Mr Potter was looking Lockhart up and down appraisingly. “Of course, dear.”

He then turned to Regulus and crouched down so that they were at eye-level with each other. He had a soft smile on his face, the skin at the corners of his eyes crinkled. “I’ve already spoken with some people at the Prophet. We’re suing for libel and they’ve already agreed to print a retraction, if you’d like.”

The eye contact was intense but Regulus found himself practically melting into it. Everything about this man was so unbelievably soft. From his warm, brown eyes that looked exactly like his son’s, to his gentle lilting tone.

He had moved down to Regulus’s level without a second thought, not just including him but centring the discussion around Regulus straight away. His very first action, making them seem equal to each other, and his second giving Regulus a choice.

So that’s where James got it from.

Regulus’s own Father would never have done such things. He was a cold, indifferent man who treated Regulus more like a stranger than his own son. But Mr Potter was the polar opposite. His gut instinct was telling him he could trust the man.

He was surrounded by the Potters now. James on one side and Mrs Potter on the other, grasping his hand. Mr Potter crouched right in front of him. And he’d never felt so safe in his life before. They would have his back. He just knew it.

“I’d like that.” Regulus found himself answering. “I’d rather this doesn’t affect my future.”

“Very practical.” Mr Potter praised. “I’ll see it done.”

Mrs Potter squeezed his hand once more to get his attention. Her expression more sombre now. “They’re going to want proof, darling. That it’s a lie.” She prompted him gently, her tone as smooth as honey.

It occurred to Regulus suddenly that the two adults hadn’t even greeted any of the teachers – they were simply focused on Regulus and Regulus alone. It made him feel warm.

Still, he hesitated before he spoke, looking to James for help.

The boy smiled at him reassuringly before turning to his parents. “I have a memory of Lockhart trying to drag him off and ignoring him when he said ‘no’, if that helps.”

His Father nodded in understanding, his warm but serious expression not shifting in the slightest. “Having a third-party witness helps. Thank you, James.”

There was a pause then as the three Potters looked at Regulus, but there was no pressure in their gazes. Somehow, Regulus knew they were not asking him to offer any proof, just if he was willing to give any.

Regulus decided to take a leap of faith.

“I could swear under Veritaserum that I never touched him without consent. And I have memories to validate that.”

Mrs Potter squeezed his hand again, not a shred of judgement in her eyes. “You’re so brave, sweetheart. I’m so proud of you.”

“Technically speaking, you’re underage, my boy.” Mr Potter brought up. Regulus appreciated his straight-forwardness. “And I believe I am correct in saying that Mr Lockhart is not.”

“You are correct, Monty.” Dumbledore chimed in from behind his desk. Mr Potter ignored him despite the fact that they were clearly friends.

“This will likely affect the way the story takes shape.” He warned Regulus gently, and the Slytherin understood instantly. Once the Potters started suing Lockhart, the media would flip on its head, declaring Regulus an innocent little victim. It would be humiliating and inaccurate and everywhere.

“I am not a predator!” Lockhart burst out like a toddler throwing a tantrum. “He wanted everything I did to him! I won’t go to Azkaban for that! He wanted it!”

“I’ll be saving that confession memory too.” James said, eyeing the Ravenclaw with barely concealed disgust.

“Oh, fuck you, Potter! Why does this concern you anyway?”

“I did warn you.” James bit back, his tone sharp.

“He rejected me!” Lockhart yelled, entitlement seeping off of him.

“So, you outed him and lied about him being a predator?”

“Yes! He deserved it!” Lockhart’s face was red with exertion but it went redder when he realised what he’d just said.

Silence filled the room in the wake of that statement.

Eventually, James was the one to break it, his tone flat. “That’s plenty of evidence, isn’t it Mum?”

“Yes, dear.” She confirmed tightly. “Albus?”

The Headmaster eyed her curiously. “I don’t suppose detention would satisfy you, Ef?”

“No, Albus.”

“I thought not. Mr Lockhart,” He began, “I hope you understand the gravity of this circumstance. You have not only admitted to having an intimate relationship with an underaged wizard, but you have also confessed to publicly slandering his name with false accusations in the press. All with the intention of attaining… revenge on said wizard.”

Lockhart paled again.

“I’m sure you understand that this cannot go unpunished.” He continued. “It is clear that Mr and Mrs Potter will be pressing charges externally but within the school, action must be taken too.”

“Professor, please…”

“The matter of the underage laws is out of my hands – I do believe you will be largely protected due to your closeness in age, but I cannot speak for how the media will portray things.”

“No…”

“Internally, I propose a temporary exclusion.” He finished.

“Albus!” Mrs Potter said disapprovingly.

“Euphemia,” He responded evenly. “In regard to the school rules, Mr Lockhart is only guilty of harassing and slandering a schoolmate.”

“On a national scale!” Mrs Potter argued.

“Be that as it may, my hands are tied.” The Headmaster told her.

She huffed in displeasure but her husband rubbed her arm soothingly. “We’re taking action externally, Ef. We won’t let this go.”

“Thank you.” Regulus said suddenly because he couldn’t help himself. He couldn’t fathom why they cared so much but he was so unbelievably grateful.

Mrs Potter squeezed his hand again then, and Mr Potter smiled at him comfortingly. They were as warm as their son.

“Of course, dear.”