playdates and babies with a dash of senile old men
James woke up to screaming. It seemed Hadrian was up and wasn't having it staying in his bed. Regulus seemed to be able to sleep through anything. He looked at the clock, it was 4 in the morning. He groaned and got up.
He followed the screaming to Hadrian's room where he stood holding the railing of his crib. James made a mental note that they'll need to upgrade him to a toddler bed soon, unless they want him climbing over the railing. “Hello hari. Good Morning. I see you're ready for the day” he said, rubbing his eyes. “Da!” Hadrian started doing grabby hands and happily babbling.
“Yes, dada is here” James cooed while picking the toddler up. “Are you that excited to meet Luna?” and Hadrian just giggled. Luna had been born a few months ago and Pandora and Xenophilius were finally ready to let others see Luna. She was born a little early, so they were worried about her getting sick. They had planned it so the boys can also have a playdate, and the parents can talk. Alice was sick so Frank would be bringing Neville and Narcissa was going to bring Draco. Both Regulus and Lucius had to catch up on their work at the ministry so they wouldn't be coming.
“So, what do you want to wear today?” he asked as he sat Hadrian on the dresser. James picked out some shirts and pants for Hari to pick from. Once Hari was dressed, he brought him into the playroom and called for Loopy. “Hey could you please put on a pot of coffee and tea? Thank you” Loopy nodded and popped away. Hadrian was currently able to stand with support, they were working on getting to walk a little.
“What do you wanna play with while we wait for papa to get up?” Hadrian looked around, wild unbrushed curls bouncing. He pointed at the play wand and made grabby noises. “Ok” James chuckled, rolling on the floor, not feeling like getting up to get the wand.
He rolled back and Hadrian was a giggling mess. “It's so easy to entertain you, just wait till I'm able to get you a practice broom” James heard the door open, and Regulus answered him “he's not getting a practice broom until he’s at least seven James”. James pouted and looked at his sleepy husband, “come one~, why not six?”
Regulus just raised a brow, walking into the room sitting down next to Hadrian who crawled into his lap, cuddling into Regulus’ robe. “You can go get dressed, I'll watch Hadrian” he said with a yawn. “Ok, I told Loopy to put on some coffee and tea” the dark-haired man just made a grunt in acknowledgement.
James left the room to get ready for the day, once he moved around more, he was awake for the day and strode back to the playroom. Only to find Regulus asleep on the floor and Hadrian curled in his arms sleeping under the warm robe. James shook his head with a smirk.
He went over to them, kissing both of them on the cheeks until they stirred. Regulus grumbled and Hadrian rubbed his eyes. “I was only gone for half an hour, I swear your twins” James said getting back up. “Come on, let's get some food in your two, maybe that will wake you up.”
Regulus handed over Hadrian and went to change. James went downstairs to find their loyal house elves had already started breakfast. The gray wizard sat his toddler in the highchair at the small little dining space they had in the kitchen area for just the three of them.
It took Regulus until breakfast was done and set on the table for him to show up. “Thank you guys for cooking” he thanked the elves as they cleaned up. “Thanks yous master” Tiny said excitedly.
Regulus had wet hair and still looked a little tired as he went for some coffee, tea seeming to not be strong enough today. “When you spose’d to meet at Pans?” Regulus slurred out before taking a sip of coffee. “At eleven o'clock- Hari, don't eat so fast!”. Hadrian thought it was fun to stuff food into his mouth.
After a cup of coffee, Regulus seemed to come to life. “Why did they have to wait until Orion was knocking on death's door to start organizing things for when I take the title, now I have all this rubbish to do quickly” Regulus was grumbling to himself and James smiled at him.
“I can just drop off Hari and come and help you know” James suggested. “No, no. It's fine, it's just bust work really,” he said, waving his husband off.
“Honestly I want to come with you” Regulus said with a small pout while eating. There was a pop and Drifter appeared in the Kitchen “Masters Regulus, reminds thats you needs to go works” the old elf stared up at Regulus over his hair eyebrows with a stern gaze.
Regulus sighs and thanks Drifter. He got up and kissed James on the cheek and Hadrian on the head. “I'll see you tonight” Regulus said before leaving out the door. Once James and Hadrian were done eating, James cleaned up Hadrian. “I hope you're excited to meet your friends and Luna” James told the toddler and Hadiran flapped his arms in response, giggling. “I'm excited to. And I get to tease Barty for thinking he wouldn't become Luna's godfather” Hadrian hugged James as he picked him up and babbled excitedly “Bart Bart” He barked Barty's name making his dad laugh. “Is Dory?” It took a moment to understand what his baby was asking.
“Oh! You mean Dorcas. Yes she will be, but only for a little while. To say hi to her goddaughter and everyone else” Hadrian started to wiggle around happily. Hadrian loved aunt Dorcas because she always had pretty things from far away places; like Grandpa Tom!
Once James got Hadrian situated, they told the house elves they were leaving, and he left for the apparition point and took them to Pandora's home. Hadrian whined, hiding, holding James closer. “Sorry buddy, I know you don't like it” He said, rubbing the toddlers back.
The duo went up the trail and into the safety of the wards that surrounded the rook shaped home that the Lovegoods lived in. It was a sunny day with no shade in the plains around the home. It was currently April and the sun was shining well for the month.
James knocked on the door and Xenophilius opened the door. “Ah hello you two. Pandora and Luna are with the others up in the living room” He said letting them in. The dining room and kitchen were on the ground floor, while the living room took up the second floor. “Hello Xeno, I hope everything have been going well” the other wizard nodded with a bright smile “oh yes, we've doing quite well, both Luna and Pandora are very healthy thankfully”
James nodded and tried to ignore the growing impatient boy in his arms, seeming to have gotten over his apparition dizziness. “Come, Draco and Narcissa are here as well as the Godparents, Nevillie and his father are not yet” Xeno led them up the spiral stairs in the center of the room. They went up to the living room and Draco immediately started wiggling off of his mothers lap, even if he can't fully walk on his own he was determined to get to his friend. James sat Hadrian down to crawl “Drago!”he said excitedly as the blonde boy finally got down. “Hady!” Draco said getting hugged by the dark haired boy.
Narssica laughed to herself at the boy's eagerness. “Hello James,” she said with a polite smile. “Hello” he said while hugging Dorcas who then knelt down dramatically to the two boys who were babbling happily to one another. “Hello little chaps!” the witch said happily.
“Dory!” Hadrian launched himself at the witch who laughed sitting down on the floor. “Draco did the same thing. I think you're spoiling them too much” Pandora said with a smile, rocking a small baby in her arms.
“Well expect Luna to do the same thing cuz im going to spoil all these babies so rotten i'll make my own army” Dorcas told matter of factly. Barty let out an amused scoff from the corner he was in.
That got James attention and looked over at the man with a smug look. “Don't even say it,” Barty said, pointing at James. “I…” Barty groaned, letting his head roll back. “Told you so!” he said happily.
“Yeah, yeah get all your peacocking out now you lion” Barty said trying to sound annoyed but the happy look on his face betrayed him. “So how is the little girl?” The deer Animagus changed the subject. Pandora leaned forward a little to show the swaddled baby.
Luna was currently asleep, looking as comfortable as can be. James cooed sitting down next to Pandora on the sofa. “She's going to be so smart, seeing how her parents are like,” Narcissa said, looking at the small little girl with a softness that only she can pull off. for the ‘coldest witch of her time’ she could be the warmest and most caring to those who deserve it.
While they were cooing and aweing over Luna, Frank arrived with Nevllie. Hadrian and Draco climbed at Frank's legs to get to the third of their little friend group. The others in the room laughed at Frank's confused face. He sat the chubby boy down and was immediately surrounded by Draco and Hari.
Neville giggled uncontrollably at his two friends. At first Narcissa was worried about Draco making friends with a prominent light family like the Longbottom's, but every time she sees how happy Draco looks she can’t help but ignore her worry. The Longbottom's were known for hating dark wizards but Alice Longbottom seemed to turn that around in her family, Frank following suit after marrying in. most of her family hated who she socialized with except for Agusta who seemed on the fence about all of it.
“Hey Frank, how is Alice doing? Lily said if she's still feeling sick that she can make stronger nausea potions” Dorcas spoke up from the floor where she had taken all the boys in her lap. “She seemed to feel a little better, she's able to get out of bed anyways. I'll let Alice know anyway just in case” Dorcas nodded.
Most of the time at Pandora's cozy home was spent joking and cooing over a sleepy Luna and clingy little boys. Draco, when they had gone to eat, refused to leave Hari and Neville alone and had to sit them in the same chair or Draco would start crying. Neville patted Draco on the head telling him in a little voice that it was ok. Hadrian was just as attached and held either of the other boy’s hands while they ate.
James was dreading having to take him home, all three always started through a fit. Frank seemed more quiet than usual, the tall bulky man usually having something to say. It worried the other adults in the room a little but Frank seemed comfortable so they didnt bring it up. Luna wasn't very fussy throughout the day, only making spit bubbles and grabbing fingers in death grips.
When James had brought it up Pandora said it was fine, She suspected that Luna would be like Xeno when he was small. All in all the day was great and everyone was able to catch up. It seemed that the three boys also became just as attached to Luna as they were to each other. They looked at the baby in wonder and asked broken questions in their growing toddler language. Throughout the day, James wondered how Regulus was doing.
Regulus’ day started off alright, he wasn't able to go with James and Hadrian to Pandoras which made Regulus a bit cheesed off. His day was spent going back and forth from the Ministry and Gringotts, one or the other needing something the opposite has. At some point he wondered why the hell he was the one putting Orion's affairs in order, then thought this was probably their way of punishing him since they can't beat him anymore, Regulus rolled his eyes at his own thoughts.
And then his day seemed to plummet after a run in with a certain man when he was finally going home. He was walking down the entrance hall where he stared scornfully at the fountain that was the centerpiece at the end of the hall. His glaring was interrupted by a presence coming up next to him. Dumbledore seemed a little startled by Regulus turning towards him sharply, he had tried to be quiet.
“Hello headmaster Dumbledore,” Regulus said curtly. Regulus did not entertain a smile and kept his face stony when Dumbledore gave him a grandfatherly smile. “Good evening, Heir Black, how has your day been?” Regulus looked the older man up and down; he was wearing bright gaudy purple robes with a design that should be on a wall instead of clothing.
Regulus tried to keep his opinion neutral on the headmaster, more for James' sake but there was only so much Regulus can take of the old man ignoring serious issues. James’ view on Dumbledore has changed over the years but he still holds out hope for him, Regulus just thinks they should view him for the scum he is. “All right?” Regulus said curtly. Dumbledore didn't seem to take the hint and continued on with the conversation.
“I heard that your father has been quite sick as of late. I hope he makes it through” Regulus wanted to say, ‘I actually hope he doesn't’ but he set his jaw and only said “yes”.
He couldn't help but be short with the headmaster, after everything that happened to him while he was in Slytherin, and what he did when Regulus had told him about his parents' abuse.
“I was wondering if you had time to discuss something with me?” Dumbledore finally asked. Regulus bit his tongue; he was trying to be courteous for his husband. Regulus’ thoughts grew darker, ‘what so you can go run to my parents and tell them I ratted them out to you?’ Regulus, despite his thoughts, nodded his head stiffly. It was in the past, ‘you can't get back the years of torture so stop thinking about it before you kill him’ he thought scolding himself.
Dumbledore led him to a bench on the side of the fountain, looking out at the many fireplaces for flooing. “So, I was wondering what you were thinking about for the future of your Wizengamot seat? Do you plan to take your seat in court like Lord James?” Regulus side eyed the older wizard. “Yes, that is my plan, Lord Potter and I have some plans” Regulus said, keeping it vague.
“Well, I was just worried because if both of you are taking your seat it could make you quite busy. What about your boy, Hari, was it?” Regulus tensed. “What are you implying?” Regulus narrowed his eyes looking at Dumbledore, who was smiling softly. “Oh, I'm just worried about the stress that it would put on both of you, with talking about trivial things in court most of the day, arguing about tedious things most of the time. You wouldn't want to bring such stress home to little Har don't you think?” Regulus’ skin crawled, was he insinuating…
“Are you saying that I would hurt Hadrian just because some posh purebloods you're highly underestimating me professor. Sirius may have been heir before me but I was always trained for the role. My parents have put a lot of effort into me being perfect…you would know that, wouldn't you…. Lord Dumbledore.” Regulus sneered at the old man.
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow like he was looking at a misbehaving first year. “Now now, no need to jump to conclusions…I was only wishing to see if i can help to lighten the load, seeing as i know how your parents….training was, I was thinking you might have wanted a break from what they wanted from you” Regulus looked at him, sucking on his teeth; ‘this old man really thought he could use my parents against me like that?’ Regulus thought incredulously. Dumbledore took the dark wizard's silence as a sign to continue. “I know you parents wanted you to take over everything. I was just hoping to help give you and break and…let you live how you want” Dumbledore said soothingly.
It felt like Regulus couldn't breathe, his heart was hammering in his chest. “I was thinking that to help I could be the proxy for you and represent you in the Wizengamot” Dumbledore seemed to finish, placing a hand on Regulus’ still shoulder. Regulus felt like puking.
Where Dumbledore touched Regulus, it felt like he wanted to burn his skin away. It felt like Regulus was suffocating being so close to Dumbledore, someone who was always on his parents side. “No…” Regulus said finally, getting his head under control.
“I will be taking my seat officially once my father dies, and I won't be changing my mind” Regulus said while getting up and taking Dumbledore's hand off of him. Dumbledore seemed to be shocked for a moment and didn't register Regulus stalking away quickly.
Regulus quickly went outside, almost running. He gulped in the fresh air, letting the gentle breeze outside sooth his warm skin. The last time he felt so suffocated was in his mothers presence, the break when Dumbledore told them he had told the truth of his parents' abuse. his body shivered and hands twitched like he had just been hit with the Cruciatus curse. Regulus wiped his hair out of his face as he walked to the apparition zone.
Why did he feel like that around Dumbledore? He was a scumbag, but it shouldn't have warranted such a reaction. Was it because he was trying to gaslight him like his parents? Was he having this reaction because of it?
Regulus took a shaky breath. His goal right now was getting home to see Hadrian and James, he just wanted to see them. He felt so pathetic, he had thought he was finally getting better but he was acting like he was 14 again, his big brother just leaving and terrified of how his parents would treat him.
Will this happen every time someone reminds him of his parents? His thoughts raced. Just get home, just get home to see James and Hadrian, that's all you need to do. He kept his head thinking about his son and husband, if he thought about them it felt like his heart and mind wouldn't break.
The moment he got beyond the wards he immediately apparated. He was praying to fate that they were home by now. He burst through the front door, surprising Loopy and a relaxing James in the living room. “Da!” Hadrian yelled from his play pin on the floor. “Regulus?” James said, concern written all over his face. “You're crying, are you ok?” the Gryffindor said, getting up from the couch. Regulus had not realized he was crying, how long had he been? Did anyone see him? What if they tell his dad?
“Hun look at me, Regulus, you're at home, you're safe” James said, putting a hand on each side of Regulus’ face. Regulus took a deep breath, letting James’ touch ground him. “Dada?” Hadrian was raising his hands up, wanting to be picked up by Regulus. After another long moment he broke away and took Hadrian from his playpen.
“Hey kiddo, how was your day?” he said, sitting down, ignoring the worried look from James, wording later quietly. Hadrian just hugged Regulus and babbled in broken words about his day, Hadrian told him about Luna and getting to see Neville and Draco. And that Da got angry with him for screaming when they had to leave.
Regulus started to feel better after having James and Hadrian near him. Listening to their voices and keeping them close. After Regulus had stopped crying James calmed down a little, just glancing over every once in a while. James knew something was very wrong when Regulus seemed to not be able to leave Hadrian or his side. Even around dinner he sat as close as possible to both of them, he seemed to be battling his own thoughts about something.
Once they were finally able to get Hadrian in bed after a few stories, James had to practically drag Regulus out of their son’s room. “Ok it's later, can you please tell me what's gotten into you?” James said as he bought Regulus into their room. He put up a silencing charm and looked at Regulus expectantly. Regulus raised an eyebrow at the silencing charm. “What, I wouldn't want our talking to wake Hadrian. Exceptionally if you need to rant or something, it took far too long to get him to sleep” Regulus smiled. “Yeah he's been having a hard time sleeping, I hope it's not something that'll stick” James took Regulus’ face in his hands, making Regulus look at him. “Don't try to avoid the subject, I would really like to know what happened” he said softly. Regulus sighed, “it was nothing, I overreacted is all” the dark haired man held James’ hands were they were on his cheeks.
“Regulus you looked like you had seen a ghost when you came in, i've never seen you cry over an overreaction” Regulus bit his lip and took a step back from his husband. He didn't want to tell James, he didn't want to tell James that Dumbldore was the one that made him feel this way. ‘What if James doesn't believe me? He still likes Dumbldore somewhat…’ his mind was bullying him and he hates how he believed it.
He knows he can trust James, he loved James and he knew James loved him. But he was terrified of the thought of James leaving, what if Dumbldore is the reason for that, just like he was the reason his parents hurt him more.
“Reg…your shaking” James looked at his lover with wide eyes. Regulus had started to hug himself, looking at the floor with glassy eyes, shaking.
James had kept his distance when Regulus backed away, not wanting to step over a line. But he would be damned if he was going to let Regulus shut himself down. James was by his side in an instant, he wrapped Regulus in a tight hug. Regulus hid his face in James' shoulder. “Regulus, Darling, take a deep breath, I'm right here” James cooed, placing a hand in his hair, messaging Regulus’ long hair gently. “It was over something stupid, really nothing bad happened. I'm just being pathetic” the dark wizard said in a cracked voice.
James tensed, eyes widening at his husband's gutted words. ‘Who the hell made him believe such rubbish!’ James thought angrily. “Who made you believe such shite” James rumbled angrily, “Regulus, how you're acting isn't pathetic, what it's doing is scaring me because the only other time I've seen someone act like this and that's Sirius” James, if possible, held him tighter. “Did you run into your mother, is that it? Cause if that-” Regulus moved his head to look at his angry partner. “No, no I didn't see her,” he said quickly.
“Then who made you feel so horribly!” James said, looking Regulus in the eye. Regulus still stayed quiet. James looked up at the ceiling, praying to magic. James looked back down and locked lips with Regulus. Keeping it soft and short. James keeps his eyes closed as he puts his forehead against Regulus’. “Darling, honey, light of my life. You made a promise to each other, didn't we?” James asked, opening his eyes to look at the almost silver eyes of his husbands. “You promised not to feel so guilty over things you can't control, and I promised to start telling you how I feel more often” the dark-haired man mumbled.
James made a noise of affirmation. Regulus took a deep breath, “my day was going really well until I was going home…someone stopped me in the entrance hall and said they wanted to discuss something with me…” Regulus swallowed a lump in his throat.
“Dumbledore wanted me to make him proxy for the Black seat…” James furrowed his eyebrows. “What did the geezer say after that made you so upset?” James wanted the whole story; he had been suspicious of the old man for a while now. “He had said that he wanted to help, that he would be the proxy so I can have a break from what my parents wanted from me…he basically said that with both of us working in the Wizengamot that we wouldn't have time for Hadrian…and that…well…that I would bring work home and…he was insinuating that I would take out my annoyance in court on Hadrian…he…tried to gaslight me and it just felt like I was sitting next to my parents again when they were trying to play on my good side to get what they wanted…”
Regulus’ voice got quieter towards the end, pushing out the words like it was burning him. James couldn't believe it… “that no good bastard…” James said icily.
Regulus looked up at James in shock, James had murder written on his face. Regulus looked down and held onto James tighter. The look on James’ face gave Regulus more resolve to continue. “There's one more thing…” James made Regulus look him in the eye “what else did he do?!” James said angrily. “It's something that happened in school…I hadn't told anyone after because I was terrified of what would happen, not even Sirius knows” the taller man wrapped his arms around Regulus’ waist, holding him close to try to help comfort him.
“Dumbledore had approached me in school, the school year after Sirius went to live with you” he told slowly.
“He had brought me to his office and had asked if Orion or Walburga had hurt me…this was after a whole summer of watching them get worse and worse with Sirius, after watching them drive Sirius away. I was so scared because when Sirius left it was so quiet I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop, for them to turn on me…I had told him everything. How they treated Sirius, how they made him run away, how I couldn't stand being around them” James rubbed his back as Regulus started to pick up the pace in his story, getting angry saying it out loud. “He had said that he would do something! He had said that I wouldn't have to worry about them hurting me anymore…” Regulus' voice suddenly strained. “When I went home that winter break…when I went back to that place…” Regulus’ eyes started burning.
He had to say this, he had to tell someone. He couldn't keep it silent anymore, he needed someone to know.
“It was the second time they used the Cruciatus curse on me, they had said Dumbledore had come by and had said I had told him some worrying things about my home life, He told them everything I said about them…” James’ breath caught in his throat.
He had never known they would use such a curse on their own children, James started shaking with rage. “That old man has lost the plot, hasn't he?! That bastard…oh he's not gonna see it coming!” James said dangerously. Regulus looked at James and his eyes were dark in anger that they were almost black. Regulus was held tightly in his arms, the only thing grounding him in reality. “Even my own father never used that spell on me…sure he took his belt off but to use such a thing on a child…it's unthinkable, it's disgusting!” he ranted.
“They used it on Sirius more than me, I only got it a handful of times. Sirius got about a dozen” Regulus said quietly. James grumbled obscenities. “I'm sorry if I made you angry, I shouldn't have told you-” James grabbed his shoulders suddenly. “Never apologize for something like this. I'm so glad you told me this, I would have gone on trying to help that old bloody bastard if you didn't. Never think I won't believe you or turn my back on you!” James said fiercely.
“Thank you…for believing me” Regulus said. James gave a vicious smile “anytime darling, now I would really like to stop being angry right now. It's late and I wouldn't want to surprise the old geezer by killing him in his sleep, he doesn't deserve a quiet end” Regulus snickered.
“You and Sirius are more similar than you think. You should ask him what type of plans he has for Dumbledore. The old man has slighted Sirius in other ways as well” James’ eyes twinkled in mischief. “I think we need to get the marauders back together and plan some pay back. We’ll start the real take down later” James said, and Regulus thought he might have fallen deeper in love with his crazy haired, vengeful Gryffindor. Sometimes a Slytherins revenge is too slow, maybe seeing a Gryffindors work will give him some inspiration. He's been in need of some motivation recently.