Chapter 3
James had arrived at work the following day several hours earlier than he needed to. After passing out in a heep on his bed, he'd awoken soon after. It wasn't unusual for him to go days without a good night's sleep as lingering anxiety from the war crept under his duvet. Following seventh year he and the marauders had joined The Order, spending nights away from home being hunted by Voldemort’s followers while attempting to retrieve the Dark Lords Horcruxes. Alice and Lily had found two soon in the search but it took months after that to even figure out how to destroy them. Moony found the diary, Molly and Arthur found the cup and Pandora Lovegood walked into Grimmauld Place one day with the diadem in hand. James and Sirius spent weeks after the ring until it finally found them. The Slytherin locket was rumoured to have been found and destroyed by Regulus Black to everyone's surprise in the last days of the war - James had never seen Sirius' body wrack with so much pain as he sobbed when McGonagall told them what his brother had to do to secure it and how he’d betrayed his family in the process. Dumbledore killed Nagini the following day and as quickly as their childhood had crumbled between their fingers, the war was over and they were supposed to just move on. But nights like this, James found almost as worse as when he was eighteen - forced to relive Moony's worst transformations, Sirius' splinches and The Order's failures again and again.
But unlike most nights, today James woke up with a sore head swirling and visions of the previous day and one particular person. Not of pain and torture but of Regulus’ face, his smile, his friends laughter and the adrenaline of the job he loved so dearly.
He had spent half an hour staring out the window from where he sat in bed until he got ready for the day and took his spot behind his desk at The Ministry - a steaming cup of coffee on top of a pile of papers while he sifted through owl messages flying in. He longed for the day the Ministry would think of something better than messy birds flying several floors under the ground.
A few of the messages were announcements from other departments, various correspondence from different wizards but one caught his particular attention.
Mr Potter,
Everyone here at the Highlands Dragon and Endangered Magical Creatures Sanctuary send out many thanks following the successful retrieval of two beasts.
Without the aid of you and your team we believe the dragons would have been sold onto the black market soon after the fight if either of them had even survived long enough. The sanctity of innocent lives was once again ensured with the help of such brilliant wizards.
Should you or any member of your team wish to visit us here, we would enjoy the opportunity to thank you in person.
Kindest regards,
William Penhallows
Head Keeper
James read over the words again thank you in person. Shoving his arms into his coat, he tucked the note into his pocket and sped out the door.
“Merlin Potter” Rosier held up his hands as James almost barreled into him. The previous evening’s drinks had clearly taken hold of his partner as Evan stood with dark bags under his eyes and a tall take out coffee cup from one of the muggle cafes he frequented on his way to work clasped tightly in his hand.
Evan’s voice was raspy and tired “Where’s the party?”
James held open their office door and Evan slid past.
“Off to visit the Dragon Keepers from last night to say thanks”
Evan turned around slowly, a devilish smirk on his face as he pulled away the cup he was sipping.
“Are you now? Well say hello to Regulus for me will you?”
James blinked. “I doubt I’ll see him”
Evan hummed. “Sure. And tell him he left a right mess with the floo power this morning. Little Bastard just throws that shit around as if we have a house elf to follow after him with a dustpan”
“Anything else?” James hung on the door as Evan shuffled further into the office and flung himself into his chair.
“Oh and tell him it’s pasta for dinner tonight”
“I don’t think-”
“Oo and that Pandora’s coming round”
James shot him a look and Evan shrugged his shoulders.
“What?”
“I’m not an owl”
Evan smiled.
“Of course you’re not if you were you would have left to convey my messages by now”
“I’ll see you later Rosier” James waved him away before Evan's voice caught him once more.
“You’re welcome to come too, you know, to dinner”
James nodded and Rosier rolled his eyes.
“He won’t bite you if you come round. He’s shy”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about?” James ignored him and walked away, just about hearing Evan carelessly yell out the door as he did -
“It would be nice to have my friends get along Merlin knows you can’t avoid coming to mine forever”
James held back his smile at Rosiers dramatics all the way to the floo point.
The floo spat him out in a large fireplace tucked in the corner of a quiet pub. A grey haired goblin stood upon the bar polishing glasses as he nodded in James’ direction. Pushing open the door, a great green landscape was revealed under the cover of clouds. The tavern sat on the edge of a forest deep in a valley. The cobbled path led him into a clearing where what appeared to be a small village materialised through the fog - wooden lodges sat in a circle, each with a dragon head sculpture guarding above the door. Moss crept up some sides and swallowed up the houses into the ground while a huge tent stood at the opposite end of the village lit up at its perimeter with lanterns and flags. James didn’t miss the roaring sound of a dragon emitting from within as he made his way over.
Upon walking under the wooden gateway a flash sounded beside him, an older looking man appearing from thin air with a smile.
“Mr Potter?”
The gentleman was somewhat out of breath as he brushed his hands on his sides before offering a handshake.
“William Penhallow at your service. I gather you read my letter”
“I did, yes. I wanted to come see the dragons, make sure they’re okay”
The man had a strong Scottish accent and shoulder length blonde hair. His face had clearly seen the worst of weather but his smile was nonetheless bright and cheery as he led James into the village. James’ eyes widened as he took everything in. People dressed in heavy robes walked to and from the woods and into the various houses, some pulling cattle along with them or hauling bales of straw across the floor as they walked over to what appeared to be stalls.
“We host all types of creatures here Mr Potter-”
“Please call me James” He interrupted.
The older man nodded and waved over to the different animals dotted around. They walked further down the pathway until William’s wand waved away the opening of the tent at the end.
Once inside, the seemingly small pitch turned into a great open expanse as the roof disappeared into a layer of cloud. Obviously enchanted, the tent revealed a large landscape of hills and greenery. From what James could see the space had several sections dedicated to different types of environments - little rolling hills swarmed around steaming pools while a roaring waterfall created a heavy mist behind it. Some areas seemed to flow under ground into a cave system while others turned into mountainous ledges each with a dragon or two settled within. A few of what James could see were free roaming and asleep in a pile of moss or half hanging off a boulder while others were more agitated and pacing behind a flickering forcefield.
“Some creatures roam free out in the village like our Nifflers and Mooncalfs Merlin knows you can’t keep them contained. But in our dragon house requires more specialist attention. To ensure each animal is able to be brought back to health and released back home, we need to replicate their natural habits and conditions. But you of course are here to see one thing”
“Regulus?” James’ mouth sputtered out the words. Regulus stood with his back turned before his head snapped around with his brows furrowed. His legs were wrapped in dark trousers and he wore tall dragonhide boots with an off white shirt tucked into the belt, a leather wand holster tied over his shoulder and when he turned to face James, he revealed in his hands, a small sleeping dragon, its face resting on the brown hide bracer on his forearm.
William beside James smiled. “Ah Regulus. James here is one of the Senior Aurors from the raid. He wants to see the dragons you saved” His hand motioned James to walk further into the tent but he hesitated a moment as he looked over his shoulder.
“Oh Merlin” Penhallow was staring off into one of the wooded areas. James followed his eye line and saw one plump dragon caught up in its chain as it thrashed about screeching.
“I need to go. Black my boy will you show James here around. Cheers” William nudged James in Regulus' direction as he pulled out his wand and ran away yelling, leaving James standing with his hands in his pockets as he suffered under Regulus’ uncomfortable glare.
“Hello”
Regulus almost looked as if he was about to respond when the small white creature in his arms stirred.
“I need to go put her down” His voice was matter of fact and flat as he looked over James and turned away. James assumed the way he didn’t tell him straight up to fuck off was an invitation to follow him as Regulus walked over a cluster of mossy rocks and under a huge blossom willow dragging on the floor.
James looked over at the man as he pushed away the white hanging flowers and ran his fingers over the scaly neck of the dragon while he cooed.
“Shush shush” The way Regulus spoke now was soft and quiet, barely as whisper as he placed the creature in a nest perched within the roots. It crawled out of his arms and accepted a scratch under the chin until it curled back into a ball and fell asleep. Beams of warm sunlight breathed through the blossom surrowing the two of them in a cloud of white petals. James smiled as he ran his fingers along the tree, his brown skin glowing golden in the light. He moved his hand along with the sway of the flowers as he looked up to find Regulus. Stood almost obscured by the white sway, Regulus was a vision of ethereal beauty. His black hair was a stark contrast against the paper tone of his complexion and the flutter of his shirt as a rare smile kissed his lips while he admired the dragon at his feet. James recalled back to the memory of Regulus Black the boy who always reflected the darkness that surrounded him though the shadows of his eyes and the scowls etched onto his face. James had spent many years thinking of him as his best friend's lonely little brother who was too cowardly to break away from his evil family, his face a mirror of the bad that sat around him. Then when he had found out about Regulus’ theory of Voldemort’s Horcruxes and his eventual destruction of one of them, James had spent hours running through every encounter he ever had with the boy - asking himself if that child, if that product of such bad blood could actually be capable of such things. Moony had helped him understand that people, no matter how much evil they endure in their life, will always do the right thing if they are truly good. James never thought of Regulus the same after that. He appreciated the thought of Sirius’ brother and silently thanked him for his help but now with the man he’d come to admire stood before him looking so unlike everything he considered he recognised, James found himself in a limbo of emotion. He recalled the green of his eyes and the shape of his face but the man before him now was not the same afraid child he’d so longed to hate after Sirius had felt such hurt.
“Stop staring at me like that”
James was startled by the sudden sound.
“I wasn’t-” he stepped back.
Regulus didn’t allow him to argue.
“You came to see the dragons from Edinburgh?” His stare was cold and James tried not to gulp as he was pinned under Regulus’ gaze..
“Yes. I was invited to visit. I wanted to see how they were doing”
Regulus hummed before instructing James to follow him. The pair moved across the mossy forest floor until James found himself led into a clearing. The woods broke away and let room to a green lake. The enchantment on the tent they stood within was something of wonder as it seemed to continue to reveal more and more.
“Stay there” Regulus turned quickly just as James stood forward and held his hand in front of James’ waist to stop him. His stomach felt like it was being dragged down at the proximity.
The Slytherin looked toward the lake and took slow steps into the water, his hands fanning out of the surface as he whistled. The water rippled and out from the depths a large dragon emerged. Its green skin was covered in water weeds and moss as it slowly crept out and bent its head down to meet Regulus’ outstretched hand, the beast letting out a low guttural purr as it did before lightly shoving Regulus back. It was the Welsh Green from the fight ring, its long scars recognisable. James couldn’t help but swallow when Regulus let out a short laugh, wrapping his arms around the animal's face.
Willow Peters was right. Dragon keepers were psychopaths.
“Come here”
James hesitated and it took Regulus to stare back for his body to kick in but it took a moment of two before he remembered he was a Gryffindor and that perhaps Regulus had changed enough not to drag him into a trap in which being eaten by a dragon wasn’t the final step.
Some seconds passed before James was at the edge of the water. It was cold and biting as it seeped into his shoes when he took a step in but the bright eyes of the dragon staring him down was all too distracting.
“Give me your hand”
James felt his ears grow hot. “What?”
Regulus reached down and picked up James’ hand by his wrist, yanking him forward a little. James was doused in complete terror as Regulus brought his hand close to the scaled head of the dragon. Its throat rumbled and James broke a panicked laugh. He looked over his shoulder and found Regulus trying hard not to snicker at the face James knew he was making. But every reasonable thought fled the scene when Regulus ran his hand over James’ to rest them on top of his fingers, pressing them down onto the dragon's head when it lent in.
“Scared Potter?”
“Of course not i'm an auror”
He shivered when Regulus laughed behind him, his body far too close to James’ as they stood in the water.
“Aren’t you a Gryffindor?”
James’ voice suddenly turned offerended and louder like the accusation of cowardice was a distraction of his current stance before a dragon.
“I’m stroking a dragon aren’t I?”
Regulus looked away when James noted he thought he was trying not to smile.
“She was pretty cut up by the chains they used on him when we rescued her but we spent all morning replenishing the healing spells and after she had had several breakfasts she was right as rain”
“And the Chinese Fireball?” Regulus’ hand was still over James’ as he spoke almost into James’ shoulder.
“He was a bit worse for wear and is still cooling down in one of the caves. He’ll probably take a few days for one of us to even get close enough to patch him up”
James relaxed and scratched just above the dragon's mouth but Regulus yelled.
“Wait don’t do that she’ll-”
James tried to respond but he suddenly found himself half submerged after the Welsh Green nudged the two of them forward, pushing them back into the water.
James shot up with a cough and laughed as the dragon sat back into the lake. He looked to his left and just as quick as they were shoved into the water, James’ smile fell off his face. Regulus had risen to his feet quickly and was dripping wet. His white shirt was now half translucent and stuck to his skin, allowing the slight shadow of his toned body to become exposed. Gone was the lanky body of a sixth year almost quidditch star and instead replaced with the light muscles of someone who lifted barrels of dragon feed and heavy chains everyday - his waist trim with two lines at his belt leading down, his skin cut in places and littered with scars no doubt from grumpy dragons. James coughed on the water he swallowed.
“She’s done that to me twice now. She’s ticklish there” Regulus was smiling and pulled at the bottom of his dripping shirt to wring it out, the hem lifting as he did. James had to look away.
“We should probably leave before she tries to sit on us next”
James shuffled through a laugh, his fingers digging into the mud beneath the water as he took several deep breaths.
They walked back to the entrance of the tent in silence. Somewhere along the way Regulus had dried his clothes with a spell and James felt the familiar chill of magic from beside him as the keeper did the same.
“You did that last night too didn’t you?”
Regulus’ face was unaffected by the accusation.
“You act like you don’t have magic”
“I forgot it happened”
“You forgot you took a hex to the face”
James shrugged. “It happens more often than I’d care to admit. Moony usually cleans me up, he’s good at spells like that”
Regulus hummed.
“You seem to have taken a few hits too” James nodded to the scar on his face, ignoring the memory of the other lines riddled over his chest.
Regulus pulled open the tent entrance and motioned James to head out into the more gloomy Scottish weather.
“It’s hard in my line of work not to get a bit roughed up too”
“And was that a dragon?”
James was scared. This was the most Regulus had ever spoken to him and he feared pushing him just that too far with questions might be a shortstop and a sudden drop to the death of this conversation.
“Embarrassingly no. It was from a baby niffler who decided to dig its little claw into my face when I took a golden key off it”
James smiled brightly, a warmth softening over his chest as he watched Regulus.
“But if anyone asks it was definitely a dragon”
The two of them stopped and stared for a moment.
“Thank you for showing me the Welsh Green. I’m glad they’re safe and happy now”
Regulus paused, choosing his words carefully.
“She is, She’s been through a lot but she’s strong, it’ll just take some time”
James nodded. I know.
Regulus didn’t say anything else after that and let James see himself back to the pub. It took James a little longer as he looked over his shoulder a couple times to watch Regulus turn back and into the tent, his heart still racing at the thought of the Slytherin dripping wet and smiling.
James spent most of the day after that trying not to blush at the thought, especially when Rosier said What the fuck is that face for? When he looked over at him from his desk.
Perhaps he’d have to finally take up Rosiers dinner invitation after all.
No particular reason why though. James tried to convince himself.