Warm

“You’re a fucking coward!”

Regulus suppressed a wince, leaning further back into the comfort of James’s arms. They were making the most of the gradually improving weather that May brought along with it and enjoying a lazy afternoon in the intermittent sun instead of revising for the upcoming exams. (James made a convincing argument when he combined his big brown doe-eyes with being shirtless. Regulus’s willpower couldn’t seem to stay strong in the face of both.) They were lounging about and chatting in the West Courtyard with Evans, Mary and Marlene. That was, until Dorcas (and Emmeline) showed up and set Marlene off.

Dorcas stood stone-faced, her posture rigid, as the Gryffindor went off on her – and not for the first time this week.

“I thought you had a bloody heart in there somewhere but apparently you’re as much of a stone-cold bitch as you look!”

It was suffice to say they hadn’t resolved things yet. Not even close.

“I don’t bloody understand how you could just standthere!”

Dorcas rolled her eyes at that but didn’t otherwise respond. Still, her girlfriend? (Were they still together?) caught it.

“What?” She spat challengingly.

Dorcas slowly regarded her with a false nonchalance. “Well, you haven’t bothered to understand, now, have you?”

Marlene’s features twisted nastily. It reminded Regulus of Sirius whenever his brother looked in his direction.

“What’s there to understand? That you’re a spineless, unsympathetic cunt?”

Dorcas shook her head minutely, the anger practically radiating off of her. “I shouldn’t expect your privileged arse to understand.”

“Privileged?” Marlene repeated, incensed. “So what if I come from a well-off family? At least I don’t just stand by when literal children are being hate-crimed.”

Dorcas’s jaw clenched furiously. Regulus could tell she was seconds away from physical violence so he glanced at James in warning. He seemed to get the message, tensing up further as he went into high alert.

“But I suppose I shouldn’t have expected any better from a slimy snake like you!” Marlene forged on, spitting out her words like they were pure venom. “I don’t know how James can fucking stand dating a coward like you.”

Oh, James wasn’t going to like that. He could take a million insults aimed at himself, but the second someone went after someone else, especially his friends and Regulus, the Golden Boy wouldn’t stand for it. Regulus switched mental gears from preparing to intervene to getting ready to back James up. He loved Dorcas and liked Marlene, but his boyfriend had to come first.

“Marlene, I love you, but don’t you dare insult Regulus.” The man said quietly but firmly, his grip on the Slytherin in his arms tightening protectively.

The blonde girl turned her attention on them instead, the blazing fury still burning in her eyes. “The same Regulus who would happily waltz on by while eleven-year-olds are getting hexed within an inch of their lives. How the fuck you can forgive him for that is beyond me.”

“Because we talked about it and made an effort to understand each other’s perspectives.” James said slowly, his voice hard. Regulus could practically feel every inch of the man’s body straining to remain calm, and so he placed his own hands over the ones around his middle in an attempt to comfort him. “Neither Regulus nor I owe you an explanation about that.”

“Godric.” She sneered disgustedly. “He really has you by the balls, doesn’t he? Grow a spine and remember your fucking morals, James.” She aggressively picked up her bag. “The pretty face isn’t worth your dignity.”

Then she stalked off without another word.

“Well… that was awkward.” Evans said with a grimace.

“Lily!” Her girlfriend reprimanded quietly, hitting her on the arm.

Dorcas sighed, slumping subtly. “She won’t fucking listen to me. At this point, I’m over it.”

Regulus exchanged a look with James, entering a silently conversation with his boyfriend.

‘I’m sorry for causing you to fight with your childhood friend. Practically your sister.’ The look said.

James just leaned his head on Regulus’s shoulder. ‘I don’t blame you.’ The action said.

Regulus tilted his head against James’s. ‘Still, I’m sorry.’

James squeezed his waist a tad. ‘I’m sorry she insulted you.’

Regulus squeezed the man’s hands in turn. ‘Don’t be.’ Then, he looked over in Dorcas’s direction. ‘What shall we do about them?’

James sighed. ‘I don’t know.’

“How did you two make up so quickly?” Emmeline asked right on cue. She was still in a rocky spot with Peter, though not nearly as bad.

“Slept on it. Then talked about it.” James answered vaguely, probably because he knew that Regulus didn’t like airing their personal feelings-related business. It was sweet but the Slytherin thought that his friends really did need some advice right about now. It was a little strange that Regulus was in a position to be giving relationship advice but he supposed that stranger things had happened.

“It’s okay.” He muttered to James, squeezing his hands again. Then, he addressed the group more loudly. “I got… defensive…” He admitted even though it was difficult to force the words out. “But James has the patience of a saint.”

The man in question made a disagreeing sound at that but he nuzzled into Regulus’s shoulder anyway.

“I’m lucky in the sense that I didn’t actually have to explain much.” Regulus forced himself to continue. “James just… understood… without much effort.”

“It was a lot of effort.” James corrected, his voice somewhat muffled by the fabric of the Slytherin’s jumper. “I had to think really hard about your perspective but I got there eventually.”

“And what… was that?” Evans asked cautiously.

Regulus took a deep breath. Cleared his throat. Took another breath. He could do this.

“Because of my… upbringing… it has always been…” Why was this so hard? “…safer for me to just… not get involved.” He took another calming breath. “It’s difficult for me to… change my habits.”

“But you want to.” James filled in for him. “You probably still won’t be the bloke who jumps into a fight headfirst, but that’s perfectly okay. You just need to figure some things out, now that you have the support and the space to do so.”

Regulus made an agreeing noise as their friends regarded them carefully.

“So…” Mary ventured eventually. “You really did just talk it out?”

“Like I said, James has the patience of a saint.” Regulus answered with a sigh. “I yelled at him and I was mean but he didn’t rise to the bait.”

James rested his chin on Regulus’s shoulder so that he could look up at them. “When it comes to Marls, the only thing that’s going to get her to listen is if you shock her enough to shut up.” He advised. “Be blunt. Tell her your exact reasoning if you can. If you can’t… you might need a mediator.”

Dorcas processed this for a moment. “We might need a mediator.”

“I could try.” James offered. “But if she insults Regulus again, I can’t promise that I’ll stay calm.”

“I’ll think about it.” The Slytherin said in response with a subtle nod. By now, the Gryffindor was adept enough at interpreting Slytherins that he could probably sense her gratefulness.

“And with Pete,” James began, his tone thoughtful, “have you two properly talked yet?”

“We tried, but he didn’t get it.” The girl sighed, tapping her fingers against her thigh in agitation.

“What it’s like being a Muggleborn in Slytherin?” James filled in astutely. The four Muggleborn girls regarded him in surprise. “That’s what you meant about privilege, right?” He asked Dorcas, seemingly oblivious to the reactions around him. “I can only imagine how careful you both are to avoid putting more of a target on your backs. That must suck.”

“It does suck.” Emmeline admitted after a minute. “How is it that you get it, but Pete doesn’t?”

Regulus couldn’t help but feel proud of his man. “He’s smarter than he looks.”

James was still looking thoughtful. “Pete and Marls… it probably just hasn’t occurred to them what the problem is. They’re both Pureblood, and… we don’t quite have the same level of blood-status politics constantly going on in Gryffindor.” He hummed consideringly. “I think you need to be blunt with them about what’s at stake for you.”

“Marlene will just call me a coward again.” Dorcas scoffed.

“Cowardice isn’t the same as self-preservation.” James mused. “Though, there is some cross-over.”

“Oh my god.” Evans gave him a mildly disbelieving look. “Who are you? You’re philosophising.”

“Love does strange things to us all.” James grinned. Then he sobered up again. “But seriously, my only advice is to be honest and patient, I guess. That’s not very helpful, is it?”

“Much easier said than done.” Emmeline agreed.

“I’m not sure I want to subject myself to her vitriol again.” Dorcas muttered, though it was still loud enough for them all to hear.

“It’s worth it.” James said then, turning his head slightly to look at Regulus, only an inch away from his face. “You wouldn’t be with them if it wasn’t worth it.”

“You’re an enigma.” Regulus told him, feeling the man’s breath on his cheek. “I don’t know anyone else that would put up with the kind of shit I throw at you. Yelling, pushing you away. I’m not sure how you stand it.”

“It’s worth it.” He said again. “You’re worth it.”

Regulus promptly abandoned giving their friends advice and closed the small gap to crash their lips together.

“Aaaaand, they’re gone.” He heard Mary say distantly. “Good talk, boys.”

Regulus ignored them in favour of trying to devour James whole.

*

Emmeline did end up speaking with Peter – she later reported back that there was a lot of yelling at first, and then some tears, but they seemed to reach some sort of resolution. In any case, it was clear by the time they started indecently snogging on every available surface again that they’d made up.

Dorcas, on the other hand, wasn’t having the same luck. It was probably because she was as stubborn as Marlene was, and Regulus was slowly coming to the conclusion that James had been right after all; a mediator was going to be necessary at some point.

In the meantime, life went on.

James and Gryffindor won the last match of the year against Ravenclaw by a landslide. He flew right up to Regulus at the end of the match and kissed him for all to see. Someone must have snapped a picture because their lip-lock ended up in a dozen different newspapers. Regulus may or may not have kept a copy of Witch Weekly’s article, gushing about their ‘fairy-tale romance’.

Afterwards, they partied together, grinding on the dance floor and snogging in dark corners. Regulus was allowed to touch James’s prized stash of emergency potions and administer a sobering potion to his boyfriend after the Shots Ceremony threatened to decimate his liver once again. It was twenty-six goals aka shots this time, helped out by Olivia Green (Bianca’s Ravenclaw sister). James seemed determined to hit thirty by the time he graduated.

Regulus continued to study for his rapidly approaching OWLs, much to James’s chagrin. They actually had a number of small spats over it – the Gryffindor was convinced that he was working himself into the ground for no reason, while Regulus was feeling a little stifled by James’s constant intervention.

It was sort of comforting in a way, though, to know that they could fight and argue and disagree, but that it wouldn’t be the end of them. Every time, without fail, they talked things through and came to a compromise. It was a bit of a sign to Regulus. That their relationship had progressed passed the daydream honeymoon phase and transitioned into something… real. Something that wouldn’t go away if Regulus snapped at James or pushed him away. Something that didn’t fracture when James got upset with him. Something that took a lot of work and a considerable amount of patience on both of their parts but was so very worth it in the end.

Regulus began to settle into things more smoothly. He started to stop watching his every move around James. He came to worry less about doing something wrong and began to trust in the stability of their relationship. Of his life in general. He wasn’t anxious when he opened a letter from Monty or Effie; he didn’t fear that it would be filled with instructions for expectations. He didn’t worry that they would be disappointed if he didn’t get straight Os, and the fear of being kicked out by them faded into the back of his mind. He started to believe that James meant all his reckless declarations of eternal love, that the man would never leave him. That he didn’t have to dread the day he woke up utterly alone. It was incredible and liberating and completely insane but he believed James. That they were a forever thing. (He privately started to imagine their wedding on a regular basis. Imagined their courting process leading up to it. Imagined their lives together after as a successful Potions Master and Quidditch Player. It was all so beautiful.)

That’s probably why he missed the warning signs.

“Can you believe her?” Dorcas ranted as they walked back to the dungeons after dinner one day. “She called me a spineless rat! I had half a mind to slap her right then!”

“Salazar, she really needs to shut up and listen.” Evan sympathised.

“I would’ve hexed her by now, if I were you.” Barty added.

Regulus hummed in agreement as they rounded a corner. His eyes caught on a peculiar sight. And he wasn’t the only one.

“Is that Sirius with… Snape of all people?” Emmeline squinted at the scene up ahead.

“Looks like it.” Evan agreed.

“Weird.” The girl commented back.

“What on earth could they be talking about?” Dorcas mused, taking a break from her rant.

“Let’s find out.” Barty said, having learnt nothing from his last brush with confrontation apparently. He strode over towards them. “Hey dickheads! What are you talking about?!”

“None of your fucking business, Crouch.” Sirius spat nastily.

Barty held up his hands in mock surrender as he approached, the rest of their group following. “Hey, now. No need to be so sour, sweetness. I’m just curious.”

“We’re discussing how much we hate my brother.” Sirius replied, sickly sweet. “And you.”

Barty put a hand to his chest and gasped. “You talk about me? Do you dream about me too? I bet I’m in the wet dreams. I am, aren’t I?”

Snape sneered at him in disgust. “You really are… depraved.” He said in that annoyingly slow manner of his.

“Why thank you!” Barty shot back cheerfully. “But now, you’ve got me wondering – why the hate parade on my darling Regulus? His arse is too perky to hate.”

“Lily… deserves better than that… girl.” The greasy git answered.

“You’re blaming the fact that Evans is taken and entirely uninterested in dating you… on me?” Regulus asked with a raised brow. He had helped them get together but: “That’s just sad.”

Sirius scoffed. “There are plenty of other reasons to hate you too.”

Regulus just rolled his eyes. This was a waste of his time. “As riveting as this discussion is, let’s leave them to their sad little hate club.”

“Agreed.” Evan said, throwing an arm over his shoulder.

“You’ll get what’s coming to you one day soon.” Sirius warned as they walked away but Dorcas had already started up her rant again.

“Back to Marlene. See after that, she had the audacity to–”

*

Regulus finally got tired of all the fighting not long after that. By the time the weekend rolled around, he managed to convince both Dorcas and James that a mediated intervention was, in fact, necessary, and so he started looking for the perfect opportunity. It came on Saturday afternoon, when Cas, Remus and Evans were helping the Fifth-Years with some revision, while James and Peter made a nuisance of themselves.

“So, this is where you all fucking are?” Marlene spat. “Has everyone gone insane? They’re such a bunch of–”

“Silencio.” Regulus said calmly, cutting her off before her rant could properly begin. The girl’s eyes widened, positively incensed, but Regulus just signalled to his boyfriend.

“Now?” The man asked.

“Now.” Regulus confirmed. “This way.” He started walking over to a more secluded area and sat down, putting up some privacy wards. Dorcas hesitantly followed while James practically wrestled the blonde girl over.

When it was all set up, Regulus turned to Marlene and stared her down. “Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to sit down and shut up for once in your life because your girlfriend needs that from you right now. And if you ever have a hope of getting back with her again, you need to hear her side of things.”

The girl angrily mouthed what was probably insults at him and he just sighed. “If I lift the spell, are you going to cooperate?”

She glared at him and continued to move her lips in silent curses.

“Please, Marley.” Dorcas said quietly then. “I really need you to listen.”

The girl’s mouth snapped shut at that as she regarded the Slytherin girl conflictedly. Eventually, she nodded her head sharply and so Regulus lifted the spell.

“Well, fucking go on then.” Was the first thing to come out of the girl’s lips. Dorcas opened her mouth then closed it, so James stepped in to help.

“Okay, then!” He said probably too cheerfully, though Regulus found it quite endearing. “I’m sure we’re all familiar with Marlene’s perspective, so let’s have a go thinking about Dorcas’s together.” When it looked like the girl in question wasn’t going to say anything, James turned to Marlene. “Why do you think Dorcas didn’t get involved that day?”

“Because she’s a coward.” The blonde answered without hesitation and James winced while Dorcas tried not to flinch.

“Okay, new rule: no name-calling here.” James announced. “But moving forward: if you think fear is the motivator behind Dorcas’s actions that day, what do you think she would have to fear?”

Marlene looked at him as if he was an idiot. “I don’t know, getting hurt?”

“Yes! Short-term that was probably a fear. Now think long-term.” He encouraged.

“What the fuck are you on about?” She replied, looking more confused by the second.

“I’m Muggleborn.” Dorcas cut in.

Marlene visibly paused. “So? Shouldn’t that be all the more reason to help other Muggleborns?”

“I’m Slytherin.” She emphasised.

“So that means you can’t help people?” Marlene shot back. “Fuck off.”

“No need for that either.” James said smoothly. “Marlene, most of the bigots we know of come from what house?”

Marlene frowned. “Slytherin.”

“Now imagine for a second what that means for people like Dorcas and Emmeline.” He said gently. “Imagine constantly looking over your shoulder in your own Common Room. Imagine having to share a room with people who’d happily see you dead. Imagine having to deal with all that hate, all the time. Would you want to put more of a target on your back by stepping into fights?”

Marlene blinked. And then again. “Merlin’s tits.”

James nodded towards Dorcas to take over and she did gingerly.

Spine straight and expression carefully neutral she looked the blonde in the eye. “Do you get it now?”

“Yes, I get it!” Marlene cried out, looking vaguely sick. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

Dorcas gave her a pointed look which Regulus echoed off to the side. “I did try but you weren’t being particularly receptive.”

Marlene instantly looked guilty and remorseful. “Oh, Godric, I’m so sorry. I should’ve–”

“Yes, you should have.” Dorcas interrupted coldly. “I’m not doing that again. You need to fucking listen to me, even if you’re upset.”

The Gryffindor girl looked worse then. “I do. Fuck! You should have shut me up earlier. I’m so sorry.”

“You’re going to have to make it up to me.” The other girl told her. “I want to be showered in gifts. … And you’re going to let me do the thing.”

Marlene gulped nervously. “You mean… that thing?”

“Yes.” Dorcas said haughtily. “Or I won’t forgive you.”

“This feels like manipulation.” The blonde commented. “But fine.”

The Slytherin girl smirked wickedly. “Excellent.” Then she sobered a bit. “I’ve talked to Reg and Em about this, and… We’re going to try to do things differently in the future.” She swallowed. “I can’t promise I’ll jump into fights like you, but I’ll try to learn how to… help in a way that works for me.”

Marlene smiled slowly at her. “I appreciate that. It’s really good to hear.” She hesitantly reached her arms out towards Dorcas. “And I’m sorry again. Are we… okay?”

Dorcas allowed their hands to join, looking down at them. “I think we can be. I’m mad at you, but I think we can work past it. Also, you’re really hot when you’re angry.”

“You’re really hot all the time.” Marlene told her and that was Regulus’s cue to leave.

He abruptly stood, grabbing James’s hand and tugging him away. “Alright. Glad you’ve made up. No more screaming matches, please. They give me a headache.”

James grinned at the girls as he was pulled away. “I’m so happy for you both!”

He probably would’ve continued gushing but Regulus had other plans. “Your emotional maturity is a surprising turn-on for me, so I’m giving you ten minutes until I go back to studying.” He told his boyfriend in no uncertain terms.

James’s eyes widened and he switched so that he was the one dragging Regulus off. “Well, come on then – there’s not a second to waste!”

In their hurry, they bumped into someone in the corridor, causing the person to drop the items in their hands.

“Oh, sorry!” James started to help pick things up but was quickly stopped when he saw who it was.

“Get your filthy hands off my ingredients!” Snape drawled, snatching up a handful of Jobberknoll feathers.

Weird. They were kind of a rare ingredient. Off the top of his head, Regulus could only think of Veritaserum as a potion with them in.

“Right, whatever.” James said, holding his hands up in surrender. “I was just trying to help.”

“You’re down to nine minutes.” Regulus told him impatiently.

The Gryffindor swore and hurriedly pulled him away. They had much better things to do than get insulted by Snape.

*

The opportunity to put his new resolve to no longer be a bystander came quite soon. A group of them were once again making their way back from lunch when they rounded the corner to see Avery and Mulciber looming over a couple of Second-Years. Almost certainly Muggleborns again.

“Oh, here we go again.” Marlene said, already rolling up her sleeve but Regulus froze.

Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck. He had promised to do something this time. Or at least think about it. Fuck, what did he want to do?

“Wait!” The word came out of his mouth before he could properly think about it.

Marlene visibly paused, as did the rest of the Gryffindor horde who had already been gearing up.

“Regulus?” James questioned gently, squeezing his hand in reassurance.

“I want to handle this.” He told them, a half-formed plan coming to his mind. Salazar, it was risky but it might just work.

“Okay, what–?” His boyfriend tried to ask but Regulus interrupted.

“Just play along.” He told him, releasing James’s hand and straightening up, he projected power and confidence with every step he took forwards.

“Threatening twelve-year-olds, are we?” Regulus drawled as he sauntered over. “How classy.”

“Black!” Avery greeted warily. “You here to help or not?”

Regulus came to a stop a few feet away, drawing their attention away from the two kids. He made a show of examining his nails boredly. “Not. See personally, I have much better things to do.”

“Like getting it up the arse from that Blood-traitor of yours?” Mulciber sneered disdainfully.

Regulus bit back a smirk at the opening the git had just given him. “Funny you should mention him, because my boyfriend doesn’t like this sort of thing.” He gestured lazily towards their wands still pointed at the terrified kids. “He finds it… distasteful.”

At the mention of himself, James started slowly approaching, coming up to stand just behind Regulus in a show of support. It couldn’t have been any more perfect if Regulus had coached him through it.

“And why should we give a shit what he thinks?” Avery spat.

“I’ve been staying with him recently.” Regulus told them conversationally. “Lord and Lady Potter have been very welcoming.”

“So?” Mulciber said and they were both getting impatient. It was time to speed this up.

“Darling, when was the last time your parents had lunch with Dumbledore?” He asked smoothly.

“Last week.” James answered without a shred of hesitation. Regulus could tell he was beyond confused as to where this was going but he played along anyway.

“Are you threatening to snitch on us?” Avery asked unimpressed.

“And when did they last see the Minister?” Regulus stepped it up.

“The Minister for Magic? They had dinner together a month ago, but they have plans to meet again next week.” James responded dutifully.

The older Slytherins visibly paused.

“So? What’s that got to do with this?” Mulciber asked but anxiety was creeping into his tone.

“The Potters are very powerful people.” Regulus smirked nonchalantly. “You do remember that nasty business with Lockhart a few months ago, don’t you?”

When the Ravenclaw got eviscerated in the press and sued within an inch of his life, Regulus meant. The other two got it. They shifted nervously on their feet.

“So, you really don’t want to upset my man, here.” Regulus told them sweetly, reaching up to stroke James’s cheek demonstratively. “Or me, for that matter.”

“What do you want, Black?” Avery spat finally, defeat clear in his eyes.

“An apology to these two young lads. They deserve it don’t you think?” Regulus said with faux innocence.

There was a tense few moments as the two arseholes glared at him.

“Any time today.” Regulus prompted.

Eventually: “Sorry.” “Yeah, sorry.”

“For?” Regulus prodded just because he could.

“Threatening to hex your guts out.” Avery forced out pointedly.

“Threatening to cut off your tongues.” Mulciber said through clenched teeth.

“Well, that would have been messy.” Regulus commented idly. “Now how about a smile? Just for me.”

“Go fuck yourself, Black!” Avery bit out.

Regulus just smirked wider. “Why would I do that when I have the most powerful heir in the country to do it for me?”

“I think you should go.” James said to them, his voice hard.

“Well, you heard him.” Regulus shooed them away. “What my man wants, he gets.”

“Crazy bitch.” Mulciber muttered but he and his brutish friend stalked off.

“And if I catch you doing this shit again, it won’t be pretty!” Regulus warned to their retreating backs. Avery flipped him the bird without turning around.

Soon enough, they were gone.

Regulus relaxed slightly. He gestured to the stunned-looking kids. “Okay, this is your part.”

James grinned at him like he couldn’t help it and grabbed the back of Regulus’s neck, smashing their lips together for a hard but quick kiss. Then, he swiftly turned to the Second-Years.

“Hey, it’s Joseph, right? And I don’t think I’ve met you before.” Fuck, of course, James already knew one of them.

“Andrew.” The taller one said, looking dazed. “You’re James Potter.”

“That I am.” He smiled gently. “And this is my boyfriend Regulus. Are you both okay?”

“They got Andy with a stinging hex.” Joseph said, worriedly. “It was a bad one.”

“Regulus here is pretty good at healing spells.” James told them, motioning to his boyfriend. “Would it be okay, if he helps you?”

“Er, yeah.” Andrew answered hesitantly, holding out his arm which looked like it had been raked through some nettles.

Regulus didn’t waste a second before healing it up right away.

“Thanks!” The boy said brightly, flexing his arm after. “It didn’t even scar!”

“Anything else we should know about?” James asked kindly.

“No.” Joseph told him earnestly. “Regulus saved us before anything else could happen.”

Regulus saved us. Merlin, what a sentence.

“Well, that’s good to hear.” James turned that warm smile on his boyfriend for a moment, a proud look in his eyes. Then he refocused on the young boys. “We should probably report this to a professor–”

“I can go get one!” Emmeline volunteered suddenly from behind them.

“I’ll come with you.” Dorcas added. When Regulus turned around, he noticed that the two of them had been helping to hold back a small crowd and redirect people to a different hallway. He couldn’t help but smile faintly.

“Sounds good.” James agreed easily. “We’ll wait here, then.”

“Are your parents really that powerful?” Andrew asked him in awe a few minutes later when they situated themselves off to the side and the girls left to get a teacher.

James shifted a little uncomfortably in his seat. “Yeah. They’re really nice, though, I promise.”

“I was just trying to scare them.” Regulus confided hesitantly, a little awkward around these excitable kids. “There’s nothing like a good threat of ruination to get a Slytherin to back down.”

“It worked.” James said, pecking him on the cheek. “It was a very Slytherin standoff in general, really. I was so confused at first.”

“You’re easily confused.” He teased. Then, he looked at his boyfriend nervously. “You’re not mad I used you and your family name as tools to manipulate them?”

“No.” James smiled. “It was probably more effective than anything I could have come up with.” He leaned in to whisper in Regulus’s ear. “And it was really hot.”

Oh. Well, that was good news. Regulus would certainly be using that information in the future. Merlin, that was actually quite good motivation to play hero.

“Thank you for helping us!” Joseph smiled at Regulus. “I didn’t know there were Slytherins like you!”

He had no idea how to respond to that.

Luckily, James did. “Everyone in the world can do good things and bad things.” He told them sagely. “It doesn’t matter what House you’re from – anyone can be brave, or smart, or kind, or ambitious if they really try.”

“I never thought of it like that before.” Andrew said. “No-one’s really simple enough to only be one thing.”

“Exactly.” James grinned, looking right at Regulus now. “And we can all learn a lot from each other.”

“Maybe we should try talking to that Slytherin boy in Herbology.” Joseph suggested to his friend. “The quiet one who never insults us.”

“You mean Oscar?” Andrew replied. “Good idea. He’s probably nicer than he looks.”

Regulus hoped to Hecate that Oscar was, in fact, nicer than he looked. But maybe even if he wasn’t, maybe Oscar could learn to think differently, the same way Regulus had.

James leaned in seriously. “Even if he’s not, have patience. Sometimes people are worth getting to know even when they have some growing to do.”

The boys nodded eagerly at him and Regulus’s heart just about melted. Maybe there was hope that the cycle didn’t have to keep repeating itself over and over again. Maybe one day, things could change. Regulus certainly hoped so.