James
James trailed after Regulus, slightly paranoid that either Regulus was leading him into some trap or that someone would see him in his current state. Regulus appeared to sense his unease and placed a comforting? hand on his lower back, guiding him behind a suit of armour and through a tunnel James had never seen before.
However, James’s anxiety kept building as the pair continued along the tunnel in silence, only to stop as Regulus halted opposite a blank walk.
‘What’re you doing?’
‘Shut up.’
‘Sorry.’ James just stood there, intrigued as Regulus paced back and forwards three times, his eyes scrunched in concentration. He looked a lot cuter when he didn’t have his usual mask of indifference up and James almost felt privileged to be witnessing this other side of Regulus.
This feeling was abruptly stopped when he realised that a door had appeared and Regulus was halfway through it, so James hastily scrambled after him, not even knowing where they were going.
As James stumbled through the door he gasped. The room was warm and cosy with a large double bed laden with blankets, a big squidgy sofa planted in front of a roaring fire and a small table laden with James’ favourite food - pumpkin pasties. He turned around to question Regulus and saw Regulus staring back at him, almost nervously.
‘How did you do this?’
‘It’s Hogwarts magic, I thought the Marauders would’ve know about this room by now?’ Regulus frowned a little before risking his next question, ‘do you like it?’
‘Do I like it?! It’s amazing Reggie, thank you.. I honestly have no idea why you would do this.. why would you do this?’ It was James’ turn to frown now.
‘You needed help. I was there.’
James’ mouth almost dropped open. He had intense urge to hug Regulus but deemed that it would be too much, so tried to offer him a smile instead.
Regulus walked over to the table and grabbed two pasties before taking his shoes + robes off, leaving him in pants and a soft green jumper James could swear was one of Remus’.
‘Are you just going to stand there?’
James jolted back to life, taking his shoes off and thanked Merlin that he’d already changed into his quidditch hoodie and joggers before his apparent meltdown. He cautiously sat on the double bed opposite where Regulus was sat, not quite sure where the boundaries between them stood.
‘Get in the bed Potter.’
‘Oh erm okay, sorry.’ James wiggled under the covers next to Regulus. His brain was going at a thousand miles a minute and he couldn’t quite decipher Regulus’ behaviour. James almost felt as if he was dreaming.
‘You need to eat, have a pasty.’
Regulus pushed the plate towards James. He took a pasty and eyed it queasily. He normally loved pumpkin pasties but right now he didn’t trust his stomach.
'James Fleamont Potter if you don't take at least a bite of that pasty I will pin you down and shove it down your throat.'
'You know my middle name?' James quirked an eyebrow quizzically.
'Is that seriously all you took from that?' Regulus asks, disgruntled.
‘Nope!’ James replied, taking a small bite rather than risking the alternative. However, the moment the sweet filling hit his tongue he was overcome with the need to spit it back out. Regulus somehow seemed prepared and handed James a glass of water to wash the taste away.
‘Thank you for trying,’ he said, reaching over to rub James’ back. James was beginning to get whiplash from the changes in Regulus’ demeanour. He couldn’t figure out why he and Regulus were here, why he helped James or what this meant from here on, but he knew that he was highly intrigued by this version of Regulus. He leant back against the pillows and sighed.
‘Thank you Reggie, for all of this. I don’t know why you did it but I am so grateful.’ James said, not quite daring to look Regulus in the eyes.
‘It’s fine. I don’t really know why I did it but I’m glad I did. Next time you plan on having a poorly disguised breakdown please schedule it for when I haven’t planned a study session that would be appreciated.’ Regulus replied, his eyes trained carefully on the boy next to him despite the playful smirk on his lips.
‘Prick,’ James retorts laughing,’ wait... what do you mean next time?’
‘Next time you feel like you have to hide away from everyone, next time things get too much, next time you just need someone to talk to. Don’t make me repeat myself I’m not Lupin.’
‘You talk to Remus?’
‘Believe it or not Potter, I am much more of a human than I let show. Remus Lupin is a good person and a good listener, something that is rather rare to find.’
‘Sorry,’ James said, Regulus’ words sank right into his brain. It was true that James hadn’t thought very highly of Regulus until tonight, he’d never bothered to try and interact with the Slytherin, he simply pieced what he could together both from Sirius’ stories and the general Hogwarts gossip.
‘If you ever need somewhere to go, you’re more than welcome at my house Reg.’ James offered.
‘It’s Regulus and I’m perfectly fine at taking care of myself thank you.’ Regulus retorted.
The was a moment of silence and James held his breathe, frozen at Regulus’ tone.
Regulus sighed, ‘I apologise, that came out harsher than intended. I appreciate it, and if the worst comes to I will consider it.’
‘Anytime,’ James smiled, relieved that Regulus had half-accepted the offer. He moved the plate and now-empty glass onto the floor and lay down in the bed, almost groaning at how soft it was.
‘James?’
‘Yes?’ He led there with his eyes closed, waiting for whatever question was on the tip of Regulus’ tongue.
‘Why do you hide this from everyone?’
James rolled onto his back and sighed.
‘It’s easier I suppose. No one really needs to know, only my mum has ever known anything about it, and she was so heartbroken... I can’t hurt anyone else just because I’m hurting sometimes you know? I can get by on my own, and to be completely honest pretending to be fine means that you don’t have to admit to yourself how shitty you’re really feeling I guess.’
‘Oh James...’
James choked out a surprised gasp as Regulus almost flung himself at him, hugging him fiercely. He cautiously wrapped his arms around the boy’s small frame, a warm feeling blooming in his stomach.
‘You can’t tell anyone I did this and if you do I will kill you,’
Regulus’ voice was muffled but James could still hear the deadly intent behind it.
‘I would never dream of it.’
They led there for a long time, not moving until the sun rose again, coming out of hiding and ready to spread its light once more.