chapter 12
James couldn’t help but be giddy at the thought that Regulus would want to see him. Still, he was confused but James has always been an optimist first. He’s taken himself back to the altar and is trying to process if the last half an hour was even real.
He was getting married, he was looking at Regulus, Regulus dropped his ring, he picked it up for him, he slid the ring onto the boy’s hand, his soon-to-be mother-in-law called a recess, he talked to his father and got his blessing, he was called here by Regulus. In the midst of everything, of all of James’ worries and thoughts, one thought calmed him. That in the middle of all of this Lily, strangely enough, seemed absolutely fine.
He heard footsteps entering the chapel and turned to see Regulus; however, James wasn’t excited nor happy. No, he was worried. Regulus walked in head held high in the way Sirius did when he got stressed. I guess you never can escape the noble house of black, he thought. James could see that through the makeup, his face was bruised, and a small cut sat above his eyebrow, slitting it slightly. James wasted no time in getting by his side. He leaped to Regulus taking the boy in his arms, noticing immediately how Regulus’ frame went slightly slack against his own.
“Reggie, what on earth happened to you?” James said worried.
“Walburga,” Regulus breathed out.
Carefully James brought a couple fingers to Regulus’ face brushing over the cut and kissing his face despite the minor winces, “I’m going to kill her,”
“You’ll be arrested,”
“Then I’ll kidnap you like I did with Sirius,” Regulus let out a sad laugh at the boys naivety, “is that why you called on me. To tell me about this?”
Regulus’ face was now confused, “Me, I got told that you called on me. Mother was still there when the footmen appear, that’s how I got his,” Regulus said pulling down his collar to reveal a small gash.
“Reggie,” James let out before taking Regulus into a bear hug.
“It’s ok James I’m used to it,”
“That doesn’t make it better,”
“Anyway, if I didn’t call you, and you didn’t call me then who-“
Que Lily Evans stage right.
“I did,” came a voice from the entrance. James and Regulus turned to see Lily on her right Petunia and on her left Sophia. James felt his mouth go dry as his eyes met Sophia’s. apparently, Regulus felt this too as he strengthened his grip of James’ hand. “Hello gentlemen, please sit. Mother, sister you too,” as everyone took their seats on the front row James turned to Petunia.
“Do you know-?”
“Not a clue,”
“Now before I begin, I’m afraid I’m missing a few people,” gesturing to the footman she said, “could you please bring Lord and Lady Potter as well as Sirius Black,” shortly after, James saw as his parents and his found brother walked in the room. His parents shared similar expressions of confusion, but Sirius didn’t even look his way. As soon as, he walked in he felt Regulus’ hand leave his own and watched as he rushed to his brother. Sirius matched his pace and the two crushed into each other with a content grunt.
“Sirius,”
“It’s ok I’m here now Reggie, I’m here,” the brothers held on to each other for dear life until finally taking their seats.
“Now,” began Lily, “I am here to speak you all are here to only listen, the only person who gets any say in what I’m about to talk about is James do I make myself perfectly clear,” she takes the silence as a yes, “good. The wedding is over. I have no interest in James and James has no interest in me.” The rows adults looked at James for confirmation. In which he merely just nodded his head. “ We will tell the king and queen why the wedding is off and create a story ourselves to present to the ton. I know the Potters don’t need anyone else gossiping about them. We shall present this as a mutual decision, as it is. Then no later than next week we will hold a ball. To really show our unity. It shall be hosted in Potter manor; Effie is that ok?”
“Of course, dear,”
“Lovely, we shall let the ball be out statement. After that whatever happens at least the gossip will die down and soon James and Regulus will have a chance and,” Lily looks towards the figure in the doorway, “so will I,”
“Oh, but with who Evans,” Sirius teases.
“That is information you’re not privy to Black,”
“Wait I’m sorry. James and Regulus you mean to say,” began Sophia.
“Mother what I mean to say that those two boys are in love. Beautiful love,”
“But their men,”
“And I Iove a women, the gender of love doesn’t matter anymore. It hasn’t for a long time and if it makes you uncomfortable then I’m sorry but that is your business and your problem to deal with,”
“Lily Rose Evans,”
“Call me that while you can mother because very soon, I will have a very, very different last name,”