Potter-Black

 the rest of Regulus’s days in the country were mostly spent in bliss. He spend his days reading In the Evans grand Library. He sat on the chair that was mostly reserved for Lily’s father and read through Lily’s books adding to her annotations in the margins.

On the third day of this routine Regulus noticed another figure sit in the chair next to him. James had been coming into the library 5-10mintues after Regulus and read through his own collections of books. Regulus found this infuriating at first, Potter intruding on his quite time however after four days of this. Of the two boys sitting and reading in a comfortable silence, Regulus got used to it. Some could say he even enjoyed it.

 by the end of the week, James and Regulus had subconsciously moved closer together, still on separate chairs but still together. They shared passages from time to time to make the other either think or laugh. James worked up the nerve to rest his head on the other boys shoulder and to his delight (and surprise) Regulus let him.

By the time it came for the everyone to return to Mayfair, James and Regulus had taken to sharing a small sofa at the other end of the library, facing the window. James sat at one end with his legs wide and Regulus sat in the space between. He moved closer to James every day until he was practically laying on the boys chest. Regulus cherished this time with James. He got to be as close to the boy as he wanted, without having to say a word.

 When they were together, Regulus could forget about the fact he could never really have James. He could ignore the fact that he was as good as bethored to his best friend. When they were together that was all, they were. Together.

However, like all good things these calm and pleasant days with James Potter had to come to an end. And oh, oh what an end it was.

------

The carriages to take them all to Mayfair were already outside, Regulus was talking to Lily when he saw James come out striding in

“I need to talk to you?” he said coming up Regulus and Lily,

“Potter?” Regulus said to take a step closer.

“Miss. Evans,” James said taking to the floor.

Regulus’s first thought was excuse me, he looked at Lily and the smile which she wore ripped off her face as she looked at James, being very confused.

“Miss. Evans would you do me the honor,”

Regulus’ eyes widened is he serious.

“Of being my wife,” James said opening the velvet box.

Oh, so he is being serious. Regulus saw Lily stared back at the ring jaw hanging in shock. At that moment Regulus hated James, not for leading him on but for what he just did to Lily. Regulus knew Lily had feelings for someone else. He knew how saying no to this proposal would ruin her. And yea maby he was a little annoyed that James was doing this at all. That night after dinner James told him, promised him that he would try. Regulus thought by this James meant he would try and get out of courtship. But no, of course not. How could he be so foolish. Who even was he compared to the diamond of the season. Nothing, or at least not enough. He knew he had never been enough.

“Sweetheart I believe the Viscount asked you a question,” chirped her mother.

“I- I um,” Lily stuttered, she took a breath as she straightened her dress, “I would be honored James.” She said giving a smile which Regulus knew was fake as she extended her hand out to James.

James smiled as he stood up, the boy turned his head to Regulus who was already walking into his carriage.

---

It had been a week. A week since his proposal to Lily and a week since he had last spoken to Regulus. Sirius had been jumping all around him when the news reached London. James tried but  apart of him just couldn’t mask his disappointment anymore.

“What’s wrong mate,” Sirius said joining him in the garden, “weddings coming up. You should be glowing,”

James let out a laugh, “I’m fine pads,”

“No you’re not. Really, what’s wrong,”

James sighed turning to Sirius, “Can I be honest with you?”

“You know you can Prongs,”

“I don’t want to marry Evans,” James was genuinely shocked when he noticed Sirius’ eyes widen.

“Why not mate, she seems like a treat,”

“Oh yes she’s lovely don’t get me wrong but-“

Sirius gave him a knowing look, “But my brother,”

“But your brother. Wait! How did you-“

“First of all, I know everything. I get it from Effie,”

“Sirius you’re not actually related to-“

Sirius ignored him, “Also Regulus wrote me when you returned from the country,”

“What! Why didn’t you tell me!?”

“I knew it would come out eventually,” he said taking a sip of his tea.

“Do you have the letter with you?”

“Not just with me on me,” he said holding out the slip of parchment to James. James took the paper and unfolded it, taking a sip of his tea before he started to read.

“Darjeeling tea,” he smiled.

“I know how it calms you. Now read it,” James opened the slip.

Dear Sirius

I hope you are well, and I hope that you are still keeping the lupin boy under wraps. You love him Sirius I know but you narrowly avoided scandal last season. Please be careful. I am writing to you concerning your other brother. James. In all of your letters to me. All of the times you mentioned him. You never mentioned what a swine he was. He called on me you know and danced with me at my coming out ball. He held me so many times. So close. Made me feel so safe. In the country he used to sit with me at the library. The one I told you about and we would just read. It was perfect, he made it perfect. And then he ruined it by proposing to Evans. You know how much I care for Lily you know that, but he promised Sirius he promised me. He said he would try, and I really thought he would I thought we had a chance. But no that lying, manipulative git just led me on. I bet he knew. I bet he knew how I felt for him, and he just used those feelings to toy with me. I hate him Sirius I hate him so please reframe from writing about him in your letters from now on.

Your brother

R.A.B

“Pads I-“

“Don’t worry James. You’re not in trouble,”

“How can I not be?” he asked, holding up the letter.

“Because I know you, James. Because I know you,”

“So, what now,”

“I’m going to write him. I’m going to tell him to go to the peach orchard. You’re going to go to and then you’re going to fix it,”

“How will you know he’ll show up?”

“Because I know him, James. Because I know him,” the two sat there in silence for a short while just drinking their tea and not making any advances in the conversation. It was Sirius who broke the silence, “Prongs?”

“Yea Padfoot,”

“My brothers a respectable match and you clearly care for him more than Evans so, why did you propose to Evans,”

“Papa,”

“Monty! I’m sorry James but I refuse that man would force anyone into anything, especially marriage,”

“He didn’t really force me to say. But I knew how much he wanted this,”

“What about Effie?”

“She knew about Reg,”

“James she would have talked to him,”

“I didn’t want to disappoint my father Pads. I’ve never disappointed him before and I don’t intent to start now,”

“James,” Sirius said putting a hand on James’s shoulder and squeezing it tightly, “the Potters taught me love. Taught me how to love. You and your family are the living embodiment of unconditional love. Your father James, he would just want you to be happy,”

“I know Pads,” James said his eyes hazing with tears, “I just don’t want him to think different of me. The plan was always for me to marry the diamond. I just,” he started whimpering tears falling from his eyes. Sirius promptly wiping them away with his shirt sleeve, “I don’t want to ruin the plan,”

“You won’t be Prongs. You won’t be,”

------

It had been a week. A week after James’ proposal to Lily and a week since he had last spoken to James. He had written Sirius about James and now was awaiting a reply. His parents were out for the day leaving him alone in the manor. He heard a knock on his door.

“Yes Kreature,” he said assuming it was his butler.

“Not Kreature,” said the boy opening the door with his horribly sweet smile.

“James?” Regulus stood from his bed, a mixture of anger and confusion sat on his face.

“Hi Reg,”

“What are you doing here? How did you get in?” he questioned.

“Kreature let me in,” as being summoned creature walked by Regulus’ door closing it behind him giving him a wicked yet kind smile. Regulus cursed under his breath, danm you creature.

“so,” he began sitting back down on the bed, “excited about your upcoming nuptials,”

“Reg,”

“No James tell me all about your wedding. Autumn, I presume you seem to like the slight chill in the air. What are your wedding colors? What about catering? I bet Sirius is the best man, isn’t he?”

“Reg please stop,”

“What. What Jamie are you possibly, possibly feeling guilty. About toying with me. Lying to me,”

“Reg-“

“No, let me finish,” Regulus’ voice got angry as he closed in on James, “you are selfish James Potter. You’re selfish and don’t care whatsoever about anyone but yourself, did you even care that I actually liked you. That I actually cared for you,”

“I did,”

“Oh, oh and you were so happy that you went and proposed to my best friend. Lily doesn’t even want to marry you. She just couldn’t say. You trapped her Potter, you trapped her,”

“I-I didn’t mean to,” James whimpered.

“Oh, don’t you dare cry you wet blanket. Man up. You messed up. Messed up bad and now you have to face it,”

“Reg you don’t get it,” Regulus’ words had no effect on James as tears began working down his face.

“oh, I get it fine,” the boy said furious, yet still brushing a thumb under James’ eyes, “Potter stop crying,”

James tried to ignore how he was clutching onto Regulus for dear life,  “I’m sorry. I just wanted to do the right thing,”

“James,” Regulus said softly.

“I messed up. I know. I know. I know, I just I wanted to do right by everyone. You, Lily, my father, I never. I never,” James started hyper ventilating at this point.

“Ok, ok James breathe, breathe Jamie,” Regulus said bringing a hand to James’ hair, carding his fingers through them as James lightly sobbed into his neck. “Shhh, you’re ok it’s ok,” Regulus Black was never good at emotions especially in English. So he switched to French to help comfort James.

“Bébé, bébé hey regarde-moi. C’est bon, je suis énervé mais je promets que tout ira bien. shhh tu vas bien l’amour,”

James looked up with a small smile, “I don’t know that much Reg,” Regulus let out a soft laugh brushing of the remains of James’ tears, “what did you say?”

“That’s not for you to know amour,” he smiled.

James straightened his back before trying to speak again, “Regulus,” but he couldn’t, he was quickly interrupted by the quick and soft feeling of Regulus’ lips. This was not like the chaste kisses back in the country. This was not out of hate but out of love. Regulus kissed him deeply, holding him gently yet still keeping him pinned to the wall. He kissed James for what seemed like eternity. As the older boy pulled away, he could still feel Regulus’ lips on his. He still wanted more. He looked at Regulus with eyes of a doe,

“Reg?”

“Je te souhaite du bonheur dans ta nouvelle vie James,”

“Ki?” James said confused.

“Nothing James,” he said before kissing him quick on his temple, “I’ll be seeing you,”