Regulus walked down the hallway with Evan by his side who was complaining about the amount of homework they had been assigned despite it being the first week of term. Regulus, who had heard this rant every year for the past 5, simply nodded his head and hummed in all the right places. As much as he loved his best friend, he couldn’t take his attention away from the shaggy haired gryffindor down the hall. James Potter was talking to someone from the quidditch team, his hands moving dramatically like they always did when he was excited.
Regulus had hated James for the first 3 years of school. He told people it was because James was a blood traitor, but it wasn’t the truth. Regulus had hated James because he made Sirius smile. Because Regulus had heard Sirius call James his brother with a tone of affection that was never directed at him. He hated James because Sirius chose him over his blood.
But the winter holiday of his 4th year changed all that. When Walburga had beaten Sirius worse than ever, he had run away to the Potter’s and never came home. Regulus understood, then, that Sirius hadn’t chosen James above him, Sirius had chosen comfort, love, and support.
Regulus was pulled out of his reminiscing when he felt a sharp elbow in his ribs. “Ow, you arsehole. What was that for?”
“You’re daydreaming about a lion again.” He said, shimming his shoulders.
“Oh fuck off,” Regulus scoffed. He didn’t even try to deny it, couldn’t really.
“He’s coming over here!” Evan whispered to Regulus before turning around and walking back a few steps to look out of the window to the suddenly interesting landscape.
Sure enough, his friend was right. James had waved goodbye to the person he had been speaking to earlier and began walking towards Regulus, his trademark smile on his face.
Regulus opened his mouth to say hello, but he felt a strange tugging on the hem of his shirt. As soon as he looked down, the shirt flew up and the hem wrapped around his head. Thank gods I have my binder, he thought before he felt a rip and it was split clean in the middle, exposing his chest to everyone.
The laughter was muffled by the shirt still wrapped around his head. He felt someone throw their robes over him and lead him down the hallway. It was Evan, whispering to him that he’s there, he’s safe, that it’ll be okay.
He’s led to an abandoned corridor far into the castle where Evan pulls Regulus’s shirt down off his head and immediately envelopes him, letting his best friend's tears soak through his shirt.
It took a few moments but Regulus was able to calm down enough to ask who it was.
“It was Snape.” Evan said, his voice hard.
“I can’t believe he pulled up my shirt in front of everyone,” Regulus said, tears forming in his eyes, “He basically made a total fool out of me. And the worst part is, he did it infront of James.”
“I tried to warn you that Snape would do this.”
And Evan had. Not many people at Hogwarts knew that Regulus was trans. Those who did, never asked about it and from what he gathered, most had thought he had already physically transitioned. Snape was one of the few people Regulus had trusted and opened up to. When Lily cut Snape off, he became hateful towards anyone that had anything to do with the Marauders. When Snape had learned about Regulus’s crush on James, he had set out to make his life horrible. Looks like Snape had officially succeeded.
Evan repaired Regulus’s binder as well as he could and handed it back, turning around to give him some privacy as he put it back on. Once Regulus was clothed again, they heard footsteps coming towards them. They both pulled out their wands, ready to hex Snape to Hades. It wasn’t Snape, however, that they saw. It was James.
“Regulus, can I talk to you?” James asked, his hands in his pockets and his usual smile gone.
Evan looked at his best friend, “It’s okay, Evan.”
Evan pocketed his wand and started walking, but stopped just inches in front of James. “If you so much as smirk at what happened to him, I will make sure you pay for it.”
James only nodded and waited until Evan was out of sight before rushing over to Regulus. “Are you okay? Sorry, that’s a stupid question. Did he hurt you? Physically, I mean. I’m sure you’re hurt by what he did, but did he-”
“James,” Regulus cut him off, laughing a bit at James’s rambling. “He didn’t hurt me. Humiliated, yes, but I’m physically fine. How much did you see?”
James grimaced, “Enough,”
Regulus let out a rough laugh, “Of course. So now you and the whole bloody school know.”
“It won’t change how people look at you,” James started but Regulus held up a hand.
“Yes, it will, James. You may be pureblood but you don’t run in the same circles my family does. This will definitely change how people look at me.”
“Well, it won’t change how I look at you.” James said, his eyes meeting Regulus’s.
Regulus wanted to roll off the question, shoot back with something sarcastic, but he was too emotionally drained. “And how do you see me, James?”
James took a step closer and placed a hand on Regulus’s forearm, right over where the Dark Mark would surely be one day. “I see someone who has been through severe pain. Someone who puts on a mask to be who his parents want him to be. I see a loving friend, a loyal brother, and a good man. Because that’s what you are, Regulus. You are a man.”
Regulus swallowed the lump in his throat. He wasn’t usually one to cry, but it seemed he couldn’t stop today. “Thank you, James.”
James’s smile was back. He moved his hand from Regulus’s forearm and linked their fingers, pulling him out of the corridor. “Come on, let’s get to class.”
Regulus dug his heels into the floor, “James, I can’t.”
James turned around, his face so close that Regulus could count the freckles on his nose, “Yes, you can. You are the heir to House of Black, a Slytherin, and Sirius Black’s little brother. Nothing can stop you from being who you are and who you want to be. So, let’s go.”
Regulus let himself be led by James, enjoying the feeling of his calloused hand in his too much to let him go.