Illicit Affairs

“What do you tell your friends?” James and Regulus were sitting together in the astronomy tower for the third time that week. It wasn’t that Regulus went just for James. But it certainly helped.

“What do you mean?” James was writing a potions essay next to Regulus, occasionally pausing to ask for help.

“When you come up here, what do you tell all of them? I doubt you’re telling my brother who you’re spending all this time with.” Regulus pointed at a mistake in James’ essay, “You would use one lacewing fly, not two.”

“Hm? Oh, thanks.” James scribbled out the two and replaced it with a one before setting down his parchment and turning to Regulus. “I say I’m out for a run or something. They don’t really question it. Padfoot and Moony are too lost in each other’s eyes to notice anything and Wormy doesn’t really care as long as it doesn’t affect him.” He laughed.

Regulus knew about Sirius and Remus’s whole will they won’t they thing, but it was different hearing it from someone who didn’t also sound disgusted by it like the Slytherins did. They just called Sirius cruel names and talked about how lucky the Blacks were that he ran away so they didn’t have to disown him for liking blokes. It was honestly a little funny to Regulus seeing as he also liked blokes. Even funnier that he liked a Gryffindor as well. Merlin, no matter how hard he tried, he and Sirius were always so similar.

“So, Sirius and Remus are like, a thing, now?” Regulus didn’t often bring up Sirius in his conversations with James, but he couldn’t help being curious.

James chuckled, “Sort of? They’ve been skirting around each other since our fourth year and then the whole thing our fifth year happened, and they didn’t speak for months. Which is understandable. I can’t tell you obviously, but it was bad. Moony was really upset. But then, Sirius and he talked it out and they’ve been closer than ever. We’re all just waiting for them to come out and say that they’re together, but we don’t want to push them.” He laughed again, “Marlene and I have a bet going of if they’ll tell us or if we’ll catch them snogging in some broom closet one day.”

James shook his head, still laughing at his friends. Regulus felt a tightness in his chest. While his brother may tell his friends that he’s with Remus Lupin, he wouldn’t care to reach out to Regulus.

“I should go. It’s getting late.” James’ head snapped up at that. “What? It’s only 10 after curfew.”

“I’ve got early practice tomorrow morning. Our match with Ravenclaw is coming up. You know that.” Regulus got up to gather his things, ignoring the look on James’ face.

“Oh. Yeah, I get that. Monday, then? He seemed hopeful. It was all Regulus could do to ignore it.

“Maybe. Goodnight.” Regulus shrugged his bag onto his shoulder and rushed out the door. He made his way to the Slytherin common room as quickly and quietly as he could. He couldn’t risk being caught by a prefect and having to explain why he was out past curfew. He didn’t quite know what he would say. He would lie, of course, but his friends would be curious if he got a detention. They would see right through any lie he told, and he couldn’t very well tell them the truth.

His friends all knew about his hopeless crush on some Gryffindor but left him alone when he refused to say who it was. They had just noticed his lingering stares at the Gryffindor table during meals, never quite catching who he had been looking at. He quickly rid himself of the habit so that they would never find out.

He arrived at the portrait without being caught by any prefects or by Filch and entered the common room. The room was empty except for a few students lounging by the fireplace.

“Oi, Black! Where have you been?”

The students next to the fireplace turned out to be the very people Regulus had hoped to avoid.

Shit.

Barty Crouch Jr., Evan Rosier, and Dorcas Meadows all sat together. Barty had been the one to speak first and now they were all staring at Regulus, waiting for his response.

“Out.” Pitiful, Regulus.

Three sets of eyebrows raised in unison. Dorcas spoke this time.

“Out where?”

Regulus gathered himself, “I went for a walk and didn’t notice the time. That’s all.” And now three sets of eyes narrowed, searching for a flaw in Regulus’s lie.

“Right. You’ve been going for a lot of walks lately, hm? On some exercise kick?” Dorcas tilted her head, clearly not buying into Regulus’ explanation.

Regulus moved to sit next to his friends, trying to seem casual. “Something like that.”

They all exchanged looks with each other, seeming to discuss something with only their facial expressions.

“Who’s the bloke?” Barty broke the silence.

“Barty!” Evan and Dorcas said in unison, each as exasperated as the other.

“What? You two weren’t going to ask him.” He said, smirking.

They shrugged and turned to Regulus, waiting.

“There’s no bloke,” Regulus said, not even convincing himself.

Dorcas’ eyes softened, “Look, you don’t have to tell us who he is, but there’s someone, right? We’re not going crazy yet, are we?”

Regulus breathed deeply, “No. You’re not.”

Grins broke out across their faces, and they all cheered and hugged Regulus.

“Quiet! Someone will hear.” Regulus definitely didn’t want anyone to hear that he was interested in someone, let alone a boy. His housemates would have his head.

The other Slytherins settled. Barty put a hand on Regulus’ shoulder, “If he hurts you, just say the word and he’ll find himself at the bottom of Black Lake.” Dorcas and Evan laughed but nodded their agreement.

 Regulus smiled, he counted himself lucky to have friends like these. They didn’t care that he was gay, hell, they weren’t straight either. They didn’t pressure him to reveal his secrets or care if he didn’t tell them everything. After a few more hugs from Dorcas, she shooed them all up the stairs to the boys’ dormitories for bed.

Regulus changed and got into bed quickly, knowing he did really have to get up early for quidditch practice in the morning. He fell asleep quickly and he did not dream of James Potter, because that would be embarrassing.

Regulus made it through quidditch practice without falling asleep, which was a miracle seeing how tired he was. He had decided to take a long shower in the Slytherin locker room after practice and was only just leaving the pitch around 9 AM. He was heading toward the castle when a familiar voice called out.

“Hello, little bird.”

James was stood where he had been the first time that he had sought out Regulus. He was leaning against the stands, smiling. He was wearing joggers and a Gryffindor-red shirt and had his broom in hand.

“What are you doing here?” Regulus looked around to ensure none of his teammates were still hanging around. Luckily, there was no one except for him and James.

“My morning class was canceled. Flitwick is sick or something. Decided to go flying.” He paused, “But I also wanted to see you.”

Now, Regulus knew James could be a flirtatious individual. He’d seen him jokingly flirt with his friends in between classes or in the Great Hall, but Regulus hadn’t been on the receiving end of James’ flirtations. He wasn’t quite sure what to say.

“Oh.” Great, Regulus.

James laughed, “So, how was practice? You ready for Saturday?”

Regulus nodded, still glancing around in case someone else decided it was a good day for flying. “Yeah, sure.”

James waved a hand in front of Regulus’ face, “Earth to Regulus. Come on, pay attention to me.” He pouted and Merlin.

James Potter pouting because Regulus wouldn’t pay attention to him was something Regulus never knew he needed. He could stare at that face for hours.

James must’ve noticed that Regulus’ brain was no longer functioning and grinned. Well, if it’s between glancing around like a frightened animal and staring at me until you bore a hole in my head, I guess I’ll take the latter.”

A blush took over Regulus’ face. “I was not.” He replied, indignantly. James smiled wider, nodding.

“Right, whatever helps you sleep at night, little bird.” James brushed past Regulus and headed toward the pitch.

It took Regulus longer than he would care to admit to stop staring after him.