crush

James Potter is a lover.

He loves to love, and he loves to such an extreme that he sometimes wonders how it doesn’t just burst out from him, pulsing out in waves in time to his heart.

Especially when he’s around Regulus Black.

Honestly, James is surprised they’ve managed to keep their relationship a secret for so long. Well, kind of.

Remus and Peter know, and James is pretty certain Regulus told Barty, Evan, Dorcas, and Pandora. Lily, Mary, and Marlene might not know for sure, but they’ve probably caught on just from the way James often stares at Regulus across the dinner hall, or the fact they’re never too far apart when the two groups hang out as one. So, really, it’s only Sirius who doesn’t seem to know.

Which is for the best, Regulus has assured James.

“I’ve seen how he treats the people I’ve dated, James,” Reg explained when they’d first agreed to be boyfriends. “He’s overprotective. He’d hate you, so much. And probably threaten you, if not curse you outright”

“I’m sure he wouldn’t be like that to me–” James had tried to reason.

“He would.”

“But I’m his best mate?”

“And I’m his little brother.” Regulus gave James a stern look. “I’m not budging on this, James. He’s not to know – not until he’s seen how happy we are.”

Gently, James had pressed his lips against Regulus’ forehead, resting his chin atop dark curls with a small hum. “Okay, love. No telling Sirius. Got it.”

And so, that was that. It’s been a little over a month since then, but still neither of them have told Sirius. It’s almost become a joke within their friendship circles about how oblivious Sirius can be sometimes – not for the first time, mind you; it took him nearly three years to realise he was in love with Remus, though thankfully only a week or so to notice Remus felt the same. It had still been a very long week.

Now isn’t the time to be thinking about Sirius though, James reminds himself with a smile. No; now is the time to think about Sirius’ little brother. More specifically, his little brother’s lips as they press against James’ own, drawing low moans and needy whines when he pulls away again.

Regulus chuckles against James’ neck where he’s buried his face, letting his breath brush lightly over James’ skin. “God, James,” Regulus murmurs. He nuzzles into the back of James’ jaw, just under his ear, and James sighs happily.

“Not quite,” James jokes back. “But you can worship me all the same, if that’s what you’re into.”

James can almost feel the heat flooding Regulus’ cheeks at that, making the older boy laugh.

“I hate you,” says Regulus, with none of the sharpness those same words once held. He fists a hand in the front of James’ shirt, tugging him back in for another kiss. James cups Regulus’ face with one hand while the other starts slowly lowering them down on the bed, so that he's hovering over Regulus. A firm hand tugs in James’ hair and he lets out a small groan in response–

The dorm door opens with a dramatic bang, making James and Regulus part hastily from their kiss, and from the look the couple share from behind James’ bed curtains, they know exactly who that is. Only the Black brothers can be so dramatic, and considering one of them is currently laid under James… “Sirius,” they whisper in sync, despite the silencing charm cast around the bed.

“Oi, James!” Sirius calls out. “You in here, mate?”

“Go, go!” Regulus tells him urgently, ushering James out of the curtains while careful to keep himself hidden.

“Hi, Sirius,” James says as he stumbles out, trying to keep his voice neutral. It doesn’t seem to work, by the look on Sirius’ face. Of course it’s now that he notices anything, grumbles James in his head.

“What the hell happened to you?” Sirius asks with a laugh. “You look like you’ve walked through a tornado.”

Glancing down at himself, James could see his shirt crumpled where Regulus had tugged him closer earlier, and after running his hand through his hair, he could safely conclude it to be a complete mess.

“Uhm–” James clears his throat nervously, feeling his cheeks flush lightly.

“Oh my god, have you got a girl in here?” asks Sirius excitedly, almost bouncing on his toes. He’d been trying to get James in a relationship ever since he and Remus got together, and it’s been utterly insufferable for James, as it was only a week or so later that he and Regulus became more than friends.

“No! Bloody hell, Sirius!” Your brother, actually, he thinks, though daren’t say it aloud. Even if he had been tempted to a few times just to shut Sirius up, James had made a promise to Regulus, and there was no way he was going to betray his trust like this.

“Fine, fine. Whatever. Look – me, Remus, Pete and Marlene are gonna head to the library before Slughorn’s test tomorrow; you coming?”

James has to stop himself glancing back at his bed, where he could only imagine how amusing Regulus would be finding this. Next time, you’re dealing with him, James grumbles in his head.

“Actually, I was just about to take a nap. All this uh… Head Boy stuff is tiring me out, y’know?”

It’s a poor excuse, especially since he’s not really done all that much yet, but Sirius seems to accept it, at least.

“Fair enough. Lils said the same, and Mary’s keeping her company–” James hides a laugh in a cough. Oh Sirius… “–so I don’t blame you. I think a couple of Reg’s mates are joining us though, courtesy of Marlene and Dorcas. Dunno if Reggie’s actually gonna show up, seeing as he wasn’t with Barty and Evan when I saw them.”

“Oh,” James replies, doing his best to act nonchalant. “That’s uhm– That’s unusual. They uh, don’t know where he is then?”

Sirius crosses his arms. “Didn’t say so, nope.”

“Huh, weird.” James shrugs, as if he isn’t aware of Regulus waiting on his bed for him. “Well uh, have fun studying. See you at dinner.”

“See you later, mate.”

James almost lets out a sigh of relief when Sirius starts to walk away, and has to school his features out of a scowl when he turns back around at the door.

“By the way, I’ve noticed you and Reg getting closer recently,” Sirius says, and James tenses up, suddenly even more nervous than he had been of getting caught. “I’m glad you’re friends – don’t get me wrong – I think it’s good you two are friends now he’s living at home with you as well. But just… Do me a favour; be sweet with him, yeah? He kinda has a crush on you.”

James struggles not to laugh. That’s actually so adorable, he thinks to himself, letting a smile grace his lips.

“Does he really?” he asks, knowing full well that Regulus can hear all this, only making it that much better. “I had no idea.”

“Of course you didn’t,” says Sirius, shaking his head. “You never do. Just, be nice. I don’t want him getting hurt.”

WIth that, he finally – finally – leaves, and James doesn’t hesitate before launching himself back onto his bed, where he finds Regulus with his face buried in James’ pillow.

“You’ve got a crush on me, have you?” James teases, poking at Reggie’s cheek playfully.

“Shut up!” Regulus cries through muffled laughter. “I can’t believe he said that; I spoke to him in confidence!”

James sobers suddenly. “You told him that?”

Regulus nods. “Yeah. Testing the waters for telling him we're together, or something.”

A smile breaks out across James’ face. He gently grabs Regulus’ face, pulling him in for a long kiss, showing his adoration for the Slytherin through actions rather than words. Though, words can’t harm. “You’re bloody brilliant.”

“Show me,” Regulus instructs, and James is only too happy to comply.