Chapter 7
“Jesus! Prongs what the hell happened to you?” Remus asked him, as he was walking into the common room. Sirius turned his head towards him, and immediately smiled “Oh please tell me it had something to do with Snivellus? Or at least a Slytherin?” he asked, having sat up straight, looking just a bit too excited at James “Not Snivellus unfortunately, but it was a Slytherin” he chuckled. He was debating in his head whether or not he should tell them the truth. He felt like it would be best kept as a secret. Not for him, but for Regulus. His heart broke for him, every time he was being misgendered, or simply just mistreated. So if James were to say this out loud in the common room, it would bring so much unwanted attention to the situation.
Of course James had been able to tell immediately that Regulus didn't want him to meddle. Sometimes James hated himself for being the way he was. As if he was going to be able to just stand there and watch his best friend's brother get hate crimed? Absolutely not. So he reacted. Perhaps a bit too violently, but at least his heart had been in the right place.
“Just some seventh year, he shouted a couple of insults at our training. And I had a bad morning” James lied to them. He hated lying. In fact ,Sirius and him had taken an oath around second year, that they would never lie, unless absolutely necessary. Which it was.
“Padfoot can I borrow you for a minute?” he asked, as Peter and Remus had already walked down for dinner, in the great hall “Sure. Have I told you how sick that bruise looks? I bet the other guy looks even worse huh?” Sirius chuckled, letting his pure hatred for the Slytherins shine through “Thanks, but uhm I just wanted to tell you what really happened. Couldn't really say it in front of the others” this made Sirius sit down, his expression now slightly concerned “Okay”
“I had just finished practice, so I walked by and saw a group of seventh years having cornered Regulus. So I asked them what the problem was. Apparently those arseholes didnt believe that Regulus belonged in their locker room” James watched the anger build up in his friend as he spoke “Wilkes, I think his name was. Kept misgendering him, calling him all sorts of crap, so I just sort of lost it '' He chuckled “You know you could've come and found me and I-” James stopped him “Pads, it's fine really. Slughorn sorted it out. Regulus is free to use the locker rooms, and also gets a private one in case the guys make him uncomfortable. It's all sorted I promise” He explained “But you shouldn't have to, you didn't have to. I'm his brother James. I'm the one who is supposed to protect him” Sirius had gotten up, facing James “I know you are. And you have, many times. I just happened to be around for this one, and Regulus is okay” James tried, knowing very well why his best friend had now turned his anger onto him.
Ever since Regulus started at Hogwarts, he had sensed how much Sirius was constantly worrying about him. Especially since he had transitioned, he was constantly keeping an eye out for his little brother. James knew that the reason for this wasn't just brotherly love. Sirius felt guilty. And he had felt guilty ever since he ran away, to go live with James. He had hated leaving his brother alone, with their awful parents, especially since Regulus had come out to them.
Sirius walked right past him, shoving him slightly as he walked out of their dorm room.
James was walking back from astronomy, when he spotted Regulus and Evan, sitting outside the courtyard. He wasn't really thinking, he just sort of walked over there “Potter” Evan had smiled immediately, sitting up straight “Hi. I just came to check if everything was alright after the other day?” He was looking at Regulus, who had now looked up from his book. His expression changed, as he got a good look at James face “I alright yeah, but I think we should be asking you. Didn't realise Wilkes could punch like that” Regulus chuckled, making James remember the giant bruise, taking up most of the space on his jaw “Doesn't really hurt to be honest, well it did in the moment but i think I'll live” James explained “Of course, a strong guy like you couldn't possibly be taken down by a couple of punches” Evan had said, in the flirtatious tone imaginable. James just smiled at that, not quite sure what to do when being flirted with, specifically when it was a guy “So I heard you lot are having a party this weekend, any chance someone like us might join you?” Evan asked, leaning on his elbow “Sure of course, all houses are invited actually. I reckon it'll be a sort of warm up for the halloween party” He explained “Alright, then we will definitely be there” Evan smiled at him, but James turned his gaze towards Regulus “Lovely, it'll be fun to mix things up a bit” He smiled, leaving Regulus with a sort of puzzled look on his face.
Flying had always been one of James's favourite things, ever since his dad taught him when he was younger. He absolutely adored the freedom of it, and the adrenalin he felt, whenever he was flying through the air. He was good at it too, but that wasn't the most important part for him. He loved training alone. Since he joined the quidditch team, he had looked through the schedules to find holes where he could be completely alone on the pitch.
This was one of those times. It was Saturday morning, their big party was tonight, and the Slytherins had the field in about a minute, which meant he had to go back. He heard voices. Scared that it might be a teacher, he hid behind the nearest wall. To his luck it wasn't, it was just Regulus and Barty. James had hoped that Regulus wouldn't need escorting anymore, but unfortunately people were still incredibly small minded at Hogwarts.
Blood. This was the first thing James noticed as he laid eyes on Regulus. He had a terrible black eye forming, and a small amount of blood, just below his nose “Potter” Regulus had said, with a light terror in his voice “What happened? Was it Wilkes again? Who did this to you?” James felt immediate anger building up inside of him, seeing the state Regulus was in “No it wasn't” Regulus said looking up at James, who was now standing directly in front of him.
As James inspected his face, the bruising and the blood, he noticed something that he hadn't before. Regulus's lips had slightly parted, revealing a small cut on his bottom lip as well.
Regulus was quite beautiful. He had the same sort of bone structure as Sirius, very prominent jawline, and so on. James had never actually taken the time to notice how handsome Regulus was, and had gotten over the years. Before this year, Regulus had always just had a constant annoyed and quite intimidating look on his face.
But here he was, a couple of inches shorter than James, looking up right into his very soul.
“It was some dumb Hufflepuff” Barty said, making Regules immediately shoot him a glare “He had heard about the whole locker room thing, good thing I stopped by, or im sure he would have -”
“Barty enough. I've got practice” Regulus walked past James, towards the locker rooms “But are you alright? Did you get his name at least? I can-”
“Merlin, what is it with you guys? I am perfectly fine Potter, I can very much take care of myself. Now if you would excuse me” and with that, he disappeared behind the door.
Regulus had not participated in more than a couple of parties, since he came to Hogwarts. He wast particularly fond of them. Too many people, the music was always too loud, and people straight up acting like animals, the second a drop of alcohol hit their lips.
But here he was. Having just walked into the Gryffindor common room, Barty and Evan in front of him. Once again too many people, the music was alright though.
He immediately spotted a head of fluffy brown hair, making its way through the crowd. He had always found it fascinating whenever he watched Potter. The amount of confidence a person would have to have, in order to behave the way he did. He said hi to so many people, that Regulus was sure he only knew half of them. He felt envy towards him, but then again Regulus couldn't ever imagine being like that. He couldn't remember a single time where he had felt even remotely close to being confident like that.
He had felt just an ounce of it, the first day he walked around Hogwarts after having cut his hair, but that had been ripped away awfully quick.
“You came” Potter was now standing in front of them, a big, slightly drunk smile plastered on his face “Of course we did, now where do we find some alcohol?” Evan asked, as if he hadn't downed half a bottle of red wine before they came “Right over there” Potter smiled politely, pointing to their drinks table, where his brother was of course standing.
Barty had convinced Regulus to have a couple of drinks, but he hadn't really felt it yet. He was sat on some couch next to Barty. He looked up, being faced with two people snogging. He then realised that those two people were in fact Potter and Evans. He felt an ache in his heart, and the sudden need to throw up “Evan sweetheart I'm sorry to say, but look over there” Barty said, making Evans smile disappear, but then quickly came back “Snog me” he turned to Barty. The look on his face was priceless “What?” he asked “Snog me, I need him to notice me Barty please” Evan begged “No absolutely not. I will not be a part of this” Barty excused himself, and Regulus felt so bad for his friend “Reg?” Evan had now sat beside him “No! Seriously Evan just go talk to him I'm sure he'll snog you too if you just ask nicely”
Regulus chuckled, but then immediately froze as he looked behind Evan “What? Oh is that the Hufflepuff?” Evan asked. Regulus gulped, but nodded, feeling sort of locked in place “You guys having fun? There's plenty of alcohol left” Potter had walked over, placing an arm around the both of them “Thanks Potter” Evan quickly smiled, then looked back over at the Hufflepuff “Is that? That's the guy who hurt you Regulus?” James asked, and he just looked up at him nodding slightly “But please dont- no Potter” It was too late, he had already walked over there.
Potter was drunk, which means there was no possible way for this not to turn violent. He was correct. Potter went right up in front of him, giving him a hard punch to the jaw, sending him to the floor “Frank get this tosser out of here please?” He had asked an older Gryffindor, who immediately grabbed a friend and escorted him right out. Well they threw him out, on his hands and knees “Now that everyone can be comfortable, would you like a drink? Looks like you could use you” Potter was now by his side again. Regulus was baffled. The way that there had been no hesitation whatsoever for Potter to punish the guy “Yes. I would like a drink actually” Regulus found himself not being able to say no to him.
He watched Potter's bloody knuckles as he mixed him a drink, finding himself not being able to take his eyes off of him “You are okay right? Can't have anyone in here who makes you feel unsafe, ever”