Chapter 15
James had sort of just put the thoughts at the very back of his head, but now they were sort of forced to come out.
Christmas break was coming up, which usually was a very exciting time for James, getting to see his family. But this year was certainly different. He had barely had time to think about his mothers delicious cooking, when he was so terribly worried about Regulus.
It had felt like things were starting to feel just slightly normal for him at Hogwarts, at least that's how James hoped he felt. Though that didn't take away from the fact that they all knew that Regulus probably wasn't coming home to a very supportive environment.
Sirius had tried to convince James that it was probably gonna be okay, since they hadn't kicked him out the second he came out to them. But James refused to believe that. He could see it, every time he looked at Regulus, that slight tint of worry in his eyes. This look was one that he simply wouldn't accept, so he had made it his life mission to take away any sort of hurt or discomfort that Regulus might be feeling. James knew very well that his feelings for Regulus were very deep and that it would absolutely destroy him, if for some reason they wouldn't be able to be together. Though he know how stupid it was, James had felt himself becoming just a tad codependent.
“Reg..” he practically begged “No. Too risky” Regulus continued to look down into his book “You cannot convince me that you aren't also terribly cold up here. And besides I would just love to spend time with you in a different setting” James explained, visibly frustrated “So your solution to that, is sneaking me into your dorm room?” Regulus asked, placing his book in his lap, turning his gaze towards James “For now, yes. I haven't been able to come up with anything else yet. But please..” James reached over, very gently taking his cold hand warming it up a bit “Okay fine- But” Regulus paused seeing as James had gasped with excitement “You bring your cloak, because there is no way in hell I am getting caught sneaking into the Gryffindor tower” Regulus said sternly, holding his finger up towards James, like his mother had done when he was a child.
Regardless of how closed off and straight up mean Regulus could be at times, James didn't care. He found himself swooning over every little thing he did, if it meant that he was paying attention to him “Okay, I will bring the cloak” James smiled fondly, grabbing his finger and pressing a kiss to it. He noticed a slight blush creep up on Regulus' cheeks before he turned back to his book “Alright then” he said, turning a page, and James was back to just admiring him.
“I checked okay? I promise you it will be fine” James was convincing Regulus as they were walking towards Gryffindor tower “So none of your little friends will be there? Including my brother?” Regulus asked, sceptical as always “Remus is studying with Lily, Peter is in the greenhouses and Sirius is in detention for at least a couple of hours. I promise I have got it covered” James explained, making Regulus go along.
They slipped the cloak over him, and luckily made their way through the portrait and up to the dorm, without any suspicion “We are clear, you can take it off now” James said. Regulus slipped the cloak off, leaving his hair slightly ruffled. That paired with his slightly pink nose and cheeks from the cold weather, made James fold completely.
“Well it's certainly cleaner than I would've expected-” Regulus said, before James had pulled him close, and kissed him deeply. As always he was hesitant, but melted right into it.
James had no idea how much time had passed, seeing as his brain had gone fuzzy, the second he had his lips on Regulus. They were sat, well sort of laid, on James bed. Both being incredibly flustered and unsure where to put their hands, scared that it might be too much for the other.
The sound of laughter, and a doorknob clicking, made them look at each other in horror “I thought you said-” Regulus started “I know, he might've been let out early. It was with minnie after all” he chuckled “Who the hell is minnie?” he asked “I will explain some other time, come” James slipped an arm around his waist, rushing them both into the bathroom, and closing the door “James” Regulus whispered making James look at him “Yes?”
“Now we are both trapped in here you wanker, what exactly are you planning on doing now?” He whispered clearly just as scared of Sirius as James was “I can think of a couple of things..” James smirked, only to be punched on his shoulder “Not now, he is right out there! What if he-”
“Prongs? You up here?” sirius had called out “Yes” James's hand immediately flew to his mouth “what the fuck?” Regulus mouthed. They heard Sirius walking towards the bathroom.
It definitely wasn't his proudest moment, but he would have to apologise later. James moved Regulus right next to the door, he opened it placing a hand over his mouth “Hi” James smiled nervously as he looked at Sirius “You alright mate? Didnt you have a study session with Moony and Evans?” he asked, looking slightly confused at him “No. Well yes I did, but unfortunately I am not feeling very well so I stayed in” He lied, coughing, hoping this might make him go “right…” Sirius looked suspicious as hell “Well you hope you feel better then, I'll go return some books so you can rest'' Sirius said, and James let out a relieved sigh, ignoring the fact that Regulus was attempting to bite the inside of his hand “Thanks” He smiled warmly, and Sirius just narrowed his eyes at him before walking towards the door.
James immediately let go of Regulus, only to be punched again. Though he was tiny, so it didn't exactly hurt “You could've just told me to be quiet!” Regulus said annoyedly walking out of the bathroom “I panicked okay? Would you have liked for him to find us like that?” he asked “No of course not, its just- you see how insanely dumb and risky this is right?” Regulus paused and looked up at James “Remember one of our first chats in the astronomy tower..?” James asked, discreetly slipping his arms around his waist “Maybe” Regulus glared at him “I told you that even though things are sometimes scary, even dumb, its definitely worth the risk” he explained, making Regulus soften and sigh in defeat “Im not so sure..” he smiled slightly, making James lift him up slightly “Oh but I sure am..”
“You seem better,” Sirius said, as James sat down beside Peter, across from Sirius as Remus.
“I feel better, maybe it was just something I ate” James said, hoping he would just forget about it “Let's hope that, you have a game this weekend” Peter said, smiling “Yeah I will be fine, what were you guys doing anyway?” James asked, leaning back in his seat, feeling very much relieved “Remus is freaking out” Peter chuckled “Sirius is fluent in french. Fluent prongs!” Remus said, sounding a bit too excited “Oh wow, that's honestly impressive” James chuckled “And attractive apparently, according to Moony” Sirius had a satisfied smirk on his face, as Remus blushed “Well, it is a very romantic language. Right guys?” Remus asked, mostly looking at James for help “Yeah definitely, no shame in finding it attractive Moony” James said reassuringly “And besides it's not really impressive, I have been taught it since I was a child. So it's technically my second language” Sirius explained, and something clicked in James's brain “So Regulus is fluent too? U-uhm I mean is your whole family then?” James asked, wanting to punch himself, for the way his cheeks were heating up “yeah, he's better at it too. Right git” Sirius chuckled, as James let his mind wonder.
“So it's true then? Merlin tell me something in french” James had asked him about it the second they had sat down in the tower, and Regulus had just laughed “No” He simply said, looking down into his book “Please Reg… Literally anything and then I will shut up about it I promise. Bloody hell it just sounds so attractive” James admitted, making Regulus chuckle again “You really aren't gonna stop are you?” he had turned to look at him, and was met with those damned brown eyes, making him unable to say no “No I am not” James smiled “Literally anything in french?” he asked, and he nodded eagerly “tu es un connard, mais oh comme je t’adore” he said, smiling to himself as James practically melted “I was right, that was indeed very attractive. Now tell me what it means” James said, still weirdly excited about the whole thing “No, that wasn't a part of the deal. You just told me to say something, so I did” Regulus huffed, and turned his eyes back to his book, ignoring how his cheeks were burning “Fair enough..really was attractive though. Well you're attractive so that sort of helps i guess, but the language in itself-” Regulus cut him off “James, breathe. And thank you for the compliment, now I would like to read” he said, and James was now full on blushing “Righ, sorry. And you're welcome” he said quickly.