chapter 8
The next morning Lily awoke with the dreaded feeling of courtship siting on her shoulders. After her mother had told her about breakfast with James the night before she had been brainstorming many ways to get out of it. It’s not that she didn’t like James and regardless of what her sister thinks she had no eye for Regulus either. In fact, Lily never had an eye for men. They were alright but that’s all they ever were. Just alright. Lily knew the ton wouldn’t care if she chose to court a man or women, but her family did. A bit too much. They were always telling Lily she needed to allow love into her life. But Lily had love. A very special love who would be joining her in the country very soon.
As she walked towards the breakfast hall, she saw James was already there flicking through a work of Dickins, her mother and Viscountess Potter sitting in a nearby table and chair.
“Evans,” James rose from his seat with an obnoxious smile.
“Hello Potter. Mother, Ma’am,” Lily said making her introductions.
“Shall we sit,” said the boy.
“I guess we shall,” Lily said taking an uncomfortable seat.
“Tell me MS. Evans,” Lily hated when people called her that. Petunia was always MS. Evans, given that she was older. That all changed when the queen named her the diamond though.
“Sorry,” she saw as her mother shot her a glare as she realised, she hadn’t clocked a single thing the boy had said.
James let out a low laugh, “I asked if you read?”
Lily’s eyes widened, “Yes, I quite enjoy reading,”
“As do I. any favourites?”
“The Brontës of course but I do especially like the picture of Dorian Gray,”
“Sirius loves that book,”
Lily smiled,” You are quite close with him aren’t you,”
“He’s s good as my brother,”
“That’s nice. To have such a good relationship with your siblings even if he’s not blood,”
“My parents always told me family goes beyond blood,” James smiled to Effie, “however you and your sister do seem to get on well,”
Lily leaned in to whisper a secrete in his ear,” Between you and me Tunney’s sort of a prick,”
James laughed and matched her right back, “So is Sirius. At times,”
Lily’s face filled with laughter.
Maby Potter isn’t that bad.
----
“I’m serious Reg,” Lily said pacing the room.
“It really went that well,” Regulus said leaning into the conversation.
“Yea it was great. I mean he’s no McDonald but he’s tolerable,” Regulus was the only person who Lily had told about Mary.
“Are you excited for Mary to join us in the country,”
“Oh yes,”
“Lils,”
“Yea Reg,”
“What are you going to do about James, “Regulus said in a serious tone.
Lily huffed, “I don’t know. I don’t want to marry him,”
“I don’t want you to marry him,” Regulus mumbled.
Lily smiled, “I heard that Reg,”
Regulus placed a hand on his chest and fell back on the bed dramatically, “Whatever do you mean!”
“I know you fancy him Regulus,”
“Shut up I do not.”
“You should tell him,”
“Shut up!” Regulus said throwing a pillow at her.
“There’s no hiding from me Reggie. I’m your best friend,”
Regulus smiled, “Yea you are.”
Lily returned the affection, “Alright now get out of here I need to get changed for dinner,”
“Oh, do you think I won’t be able to control myself around you in your undergarments Lily Evans,” Regulus said sarcastically as he walked out the room.
“Oh no. it’s just that I won’t be able to control myself around you,” she said shutting the door.
-----
The last person Petunia expected to see in the garden of her country home was James Potter.
“Potter?”
“Petunia,” James said looking up to acknowledge her, “how are you?”
“Alright. What are you doing out here, looking all sorry for yourself.”
“I think you just answered that question yourself,”
“Is it my sister?”
James huffed, “No,”
“Is it Black?”
James’ eyes widened, “I- what,”
“Oh, come on Potter I’m not an idiot. I saw how you two were looking at each other doing pall-mall,” she said taking a seat next to James.
“You mean he was looking at me too,”
“Potter please,”
“Yea sorry,” James looked down in shame.
“Potter if it’s so clear you want Regulus. Then why go after my sister. Is it just cause she’s the diamond. Cause no matter what a prick she is, she is my blood, and I will not let you do that to her,”
“Petunia, Petunia calm down. No, I have no intention of hurting her. I just it makes sense you know politically,” Petunia let out a hum, “besides I don’t think she likes me too much,”
“No, it doesn’t. but that doesn’t give you any right to hurt her,”
“I promise I have no intention in doing so,”
“Good, now get up. Your pity party is over. Get dressed for dinner,”
James let out a laugh, “I like you Evans. You’re alright,”
“As are you,”
-----
Dinner was a mess. It started with a spilt glass of wine which thoroughly angered Orion and Walburga Black. The night was full of snide chatter from all three of the Blacks and every once and a while Fleamont threw in incredibly obvious hints about marriage to James. Which caused him to get death glared by Effie every time. The night was incredibly uncomfortable for everyone in the table, but the spark combusted in wild flames when James stood up to make a toast.
“I’d like to make a toast,” his voice silenced the room, “My sincere gratitude
to the Evans’ for having us. I’m sure you’d agree,” he said featuring to Regulus.
“Yes,” the boy said raising his glass. “It has been lovely,” James tried to keep his eyes from Regulus’ hands. He wore many rings like Sirius, including a changed bracelet which looked awfully good pared with the boys sharp dinner suite.
“It has been a pleasure having you,” said Sophie. James saw his father give him a look. Within seconds Fleamont and James had a whole conversation. James knew what he was expected to now do.
“Miss. Evans,” James said turning to Lily, “I believe I have a question to ask you,”
Shit Lily thought.
Shit
Shit
Shit
Not yet. No, I was supposed to have more time. To plan to at least tell Mary. Oh, how destroyed she will be when I tell her. And it’s not like I can say no. everyone’s here. His parents are here for God sake.
No
No
No
“I would like to ask you.”
What am I doing, James thought
“I should like to, uh...”
I can’t do this. I don’t want to do this.
“I should like to ask you to please”.
so, I won’t
“refrain from telling anyone back in London about yesterday's loss. I fear the harm to my reputation
would simply be too great.” Lily side in sighed relief as James met his fathers confused eyes. “To the pleasant days ahead.”
“Pleasant days,” Lily joined in enthusiastically, desperately trying to avoid her mother’s gaze. The table erupted with cheers as James locked his eyes with Regulus.
He
Looked
Mad
----
“What the fuck was that!” Regulus said violently against the wall of a supply closet.
“Reg I-“
“Shut up,” he demanded before crashing his lips into James’. This process of kiss, scream, kiss had been going on since everyone had cleared the dinner table. James tried to deepen the kiss bringing his arms to Regulus’ side before being promptly being shaken of.
“You flirt with me and call on me like crazy and then you go and pretty much propose to Evans!”
Kiss
“Reg,”
Kiss
“You know she doesn’t want you right,”
Kiss
“Your nothing special,”
Kiss
“Not to me. Not to her. Not to anyone,”
Kiss
“If that was the case, would you be making out with me like your life depended on it,” James smirked as Regulus allowed a gust of air.
“Shut up!”
Kiss, kiss
“Reg,” James said pushing Regulus away from him. Putting real distance between the boys. James dragged his eyes from Regulus’s swollen lips. A shade darker the Sirius’ but there was a sense of tempt that he never felt would the older black (but then again Sirius was family and that would be incest).
“What’s going on,” James said looking to stare into Regulus’ deep green eyes.
“What’s your deal,” he said annoyed running an angry hand through his hair, “Do you want me or not?”
“I want you. God Reg, I want you,” James moved closer but this time the other boy moved away.
“The what the fuck was that”.
“Duty, responsibility. You’re the heir of the noble house of Black, surely you know what I’m on about,”
“I am a respectable match you know,”
“Your parents. They’d never approve,”
“But don’t I matter more than that,”
“You do, Reg of course you do,”
Regulus let the boy approach closer, “Then what gives Jamie?”
“I don’t know,” James said bringing his head tiredly to Regulus’ shoulder, “I don’t know,” he repeated before lightly peppering kisses onto the boys next.
Regulus brought his hands to the edge of James’ hair, “Ok, ok.” He pulled James back a little, “we’ll figure it out right?”
“Yea Reg, we’ll figure it out,” James said reassuringly.
“Good,” he smiled bringing his lips to the boys temple before letting his head go back to resting on his shoulder, “Good,”