Chapter 7
James~
It was pitch black, James was leading the way purely by muscle memory, Reggie was too scared of being caught to cast an illuminating spell. He also seemed to be scared of the noises around them, getting closer and closer to James with each noise. James was holding onto his sleeve pulling him along but he might as well be holding his hand.
“James, are we almost there? I don’t like this.” Regulus asked, moving in closer to James.
“It’s fine, trust me it’s worth it.”
Regulus finally caught onto where they were heading, “Why are we going to the bridge?”
“The views amazing at night, you can see the stars too.”
“Okay, but the astronomy tower has a better view of them.” Regulus argued.
“Can you just trust me?” James asked, trying his best to copy Regulus’ signature eyebrow raise.
“It’s almost 10:30pm and you’re walking me to a bridge, you see how that may be hard to trust, right?” An owl hooting cut off Regulus’ full intended sass, which honestly feels like he saves up all of it through his week just to throw at James. James hopes he never stops. Regulus practically plastered himself to James’ side.
“Relax, relax, it’s just an owl.” James slipped his hand down from Regulus’ sleeve and into his hand. Regulus didn’t pull away, just stiffened a little.
“I swear if we can’t see anything, I’m going to throw you off the edge of the bridge.” Regulus grumbled, though it lacked its usual bite, especially when his hand was clasped tightly around James’.
“Throw me and I’m taking you down with me.” James threatened playfully, avoiding the urge to pull Regulus into his arms. Regulus laughed softly next to James, his grip relaxing. James guided them onto the bridge, walking them to the very middle. Regulus’ eyes shone as he looked out at the view. The crescent moon and twinkling stars alike, reflecting off the Black Lake and lining the mountains around it.
“So, you weren’t horribly wrong, it’s quite pretty here. Though you would still see the stars brighter from the tower.” Regulus debated.
“But you like it?” James looked at Regulus, his mind willing him to look back.
“Yeah, I like it.” Regulus visibly relaxed next to him.
“What star are you looking for?” James questioned.
“Cassiopeia.”
“Which ones that?”
“The one that’s in the shape of a W” Regulus answered.
“No offence, Reg. But they all just look like a bunch of dots to me, you couldn’t pay me to find these ‘shapes’.” Regulus laughed quietly next to James, a small laugh, just for him. He went to pick up his hand to show him the shape of the stars, then shot him an apologetic smile when he realised they were still holding hands. James wanted to run his fingers across the strain in Regulus’ smile. Tell him that he doesn’t have to apologise for letting James close to him.
Regulus pulled his and James’ hands up to outline the stars, “There, see, Cassiopeia.” James nodded along, but he still couldn’t see her.
“Why were you looking for her?” James questioned, moving in closer now that Regulus had let go of his hand.
“She makes me laugh. And makes me hopeful.” Regulus isn’t normally this open but today he’s been letting James see him.
“Why’s that?”
“Because she’s quite pathetic really. Basically, she was a Queen and she had this daughter named Andromeda.”
“Your cousin's namesake.” James cut in.
“Yes, her.” Regulus smiled up at him as if he’d done something good, James liked that. “Well, Andromeda was quite beautiful, so beautiful that her mother - Cassiopeia - decided to tell everyone that she was prettier than the sea nymphs, Nereids. But obviously, a claim like that doesn’t go unnoticed, Poseidon - god of the sea - heard of what she had said and decided the only rational thing here to do was send a sea monster called Cetus to fuck up the kingdom.” Regulus rolled his eyes.
“Obviously.” James chimed in, making Regulus grin.
“Well, obviously Queen Cassiopeia didn’t want her kingdom ruined, so she - like any good mother would - sacrificed her daughter.” The suddenness pulled a choked laugh out of James. Regulus smirked. “She tied her to a rock as prey for the monster.”
“Shit.”
“Shit indeed.” James couldn’t help but laugh, Regulus was so effortlessly funny. “But this demigod, son of Zeus, named Perseus, saved her and slayed the monster. She ended up marrying him but that’s not important.”
“I think it’s important, tell me more about that.” James cut in, annoyed at Regulus for avoiding the clearly epic love story.
“We’ll get to it. Anyways, eventually they all die but they all get preserved as stars. But Cassiopeia, oh well, the gods got the last laugh. She was forced to wheel around on her throne in the sky, most of it spent upside down, clinging onto her throne for dear life.” Regulus laughed softly, almost fondly at the deranged story.
“That’s a bit extreme, isn’t it?” James questioned.
“James, please. If that’s extreme, then what’s Medusa’s severed head in the sky?” James choked out a cough.
“I’m sorry, her what?” Regulus burst out laughing over his question, holding onto his stomach, doubling over. James is sure he heard a snort or two.
“Godrick, James. Relax, it’s just a story.” Regulus’ laugh subsided into small giggles here and there.
“A very graphic story.” James corrected, causing Regulus to burst out laughing again.
“It’s Greek mythology, I can assure you there are far worse.” Regulus smiled, pressing his side to James’.
“Why do you like Cassiopeia’s star so much? It's such an intense story. Couldn’t pick a love story to favourite?” James questioned.
“Her vainess and scapegoat-like sacrificial tendencies reminds me of someone. Let's just say it’s fun for me to see her get what she deserves. Gives me hope.” Regulus smiled sadly. James suddenly felt like Poseidon, sending a monster to harm the person who caused his Nereids sadness. The Nereids were his, he couldn’t let them be treated like that. If James had a sea monster at hand (Marlene could pass, she’s an immaculate swimmer. Plus she’d do it for 2 galleons) he’d send it after whoever Regulus was thinking of.
“Are all your favourite stars like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like, the gods getting payback, people getting what they deserved. Stuff like that.” James clarified. James couldn’t help but stare at Regulus, he looked like an angel with the moon hitting his skin, making him look like he was glowing. James had to fight the urge to reach out and caress his cheek. Regulus really was beautiful. In a subjective way, of course.
Regulus stopped and looked up at James, his pale silver eyes softening. “Not all of them.” A soft smile graced Regulus’ lips, James was almost convinced it was made for him.
“Tell me about the one that isn’t all payback and comeuppance.” James asked, holding Regulus’ soft gaze.
“It’s the Lyra constellation,” Regulus looked down at James’ hand, asking to touch him. James offered up his hand, as if it was ever a question. “It consists of a few stars but the most well known one is Vega,” Regulus traced a shape into the sky, landing at one point. “It’s the brightest star of the Summer Triangle.”
“The Summer Triangle?” James questioned.
“We can’t see it yet.”
“When can we see it?”
“May through to October. It’s a triangle formed by Vega, Deneb and Altair. Vega being the brightest.”
“Can you show me? You know, in March?” James asked, really just wanting to be close to him.
“I doubt you’ll still be teaching me how to skate in March.” Regulus said, dropping James hand. James wanted to pick his back up, or beg for Regulus to do it.
“What's that have to do with stars?” James raised his eyebrows at him.
“Well I doubt we’d hang out after that’s over. So, it has everything to do with stars.” Regulus supplied.
“Well if that’s how you’re taking this, then I’m never going to stop teaching you. Not even when we’re old and grey and can hardly pick up the board.” James laughed at the thought of an old Regulus falling off a board into his arms again. The thought of himself and Regulus old together brought heat to his cheeks.
Regulus rolled his eyes, “Back to the stars?”
James nodded, “Back to the stars.”
“Well, Lyra is the Lyre of Orpheus.”
“Who’s Orpheus?” James questioned, just wanting to see the annoyed scroll Regulus gave him.
“If you’d let me finish I’d tell you.” Regulus rolled his eyes. “Orpheus was a poet and a musician, he played a lyre. His music was charming, so charming it moved inanimate objects.” James laughed at the idea of a stick feeling moved by music, he’d have to bring this to Peter later. “His music was so beautiful that Jason and the Argonauts asked him to join them, so he could rebel against the voices of the sirens. But that’s not the point of this, at one point he met this ethereally beautiful oak Nymph Eurydice. And they were going to get married but on the day of their wedding, as she was walking up the aisle, she was bitten by a snake. Dropping dead at his feet.” Regulus said it like it was nothing.
“What? Just like that? She’s gone? You’re joking right?” James questioned, offended on behalf of Eurydice, who he thought deserved at least a bit more story time.
“Can I finish?” James nodded, moving his hand in circles telling Regulus to hurry up. Regulus rolled his eyes but continued on nonetheless, “Orpheus obviously couldn’t handle her not being there with him.”
“Obviously.” James agreed.
“So he went to the underworld to bring her back.”
“Not so obvious.” James added, making Regulus laugh. Godrick, he loved that sound.
“To get to Hades, he had to get past Cerberus, the three headed dog.” James didn’t understand how Regulus could say that without the slightest bit of awe, like, come on, it’s a three headed dog! “So he played his lyre and apparently it was so beautiful, it put Cerberus to sleep.”
“That’s all it takes to get by? Put them to sleep? I could do that easily.” James concluded, nodding his head obnoxiously.
“No you could not. If anything, you’d wake them up even more.” Regulus said as if it was obvious.
“Yes I could! I’m amazing at bedtime stories. My little cousins used to love my stories, they still do.”
“Sure, but would a literal three headed dog?” Regulus cocked his eyebrow at him.
“Probably, I’m quite the charmer, much like Orpheus.” Regulus stifled a laugh.
“Sure you are. Anyway, he gets past Cerberus and is still playing his lyre, Charon-”
“Oh I know him!” Regulus threw his hand over James’ mouth.
“Great, you know him, don’t alert the whole school. Anyways, so normally Charon would charge people a golden drachma if they wanted to cross the River Styx to see Hades. But, Orpheus’ music was so beautiful that Charon rode him across free of charge.”
“Lucky.” James grumbled.
“I’m sorry, are you planning on riding across the River Styx some time soon?” Regulus asked sarcastically.
“I could be.” James muttered.
“Sure. So, when Orpheus got to the palace of the underworld, where Hades and Persephone were, he sang to them.”
“Sang? What’s he gonna do, shag them into letting Eurydice free?” James asked, making Regulus choke out a laugh.
“Shag? Where’d you pull that from?” Regulus laughed.
“He charms them, I just assumed that was the next step.” James stated as if it was a common assumption.
“Please, never assume again. No, he doesn’t shag them.” Regulus rolled his eyes. “He sang to them about Eurydice and how much he loves her, about how she was taken from him too soon. He sang about how one day she would end up in the underworld anyway, so why couldn’t Hades give her just a little bit more time, just a bit more, to spend with him. Orpheus’ song was so beautiful it even made the Furies, the three demonic goddesses, cry. Hades granted him his wish, but gave it on one condition. Orpheus was to leave the underworld and Eurydice would follow, but he was not to look back to see if she was there.”
James cut Regulus off, “That’s it? That’s all? Are you taking the piss?”
“You think that was too easy?” Regulus questioned.
“Obviously, just don’t look back.” James rolled his eyes.
“Okay, let me finish. If Orpheus looked back, Eurydice would be sent back to the land of the dead. Orpheus left but with every step, the thought of Eurydice not following him clouded him more and more. He couldn’t hear her, so how could he know she was there? He just wanted to see her, no- he needed to see her. So, just as he was about to step out of the underworld, he turned to look at her and she was pulled back down to the depths of the underworld. Orpheus couldn’t get back into the underworld to try and get her back, he was denied each time.”
“Seriously? That’s all? Eurydice dies because Orpheus was an idiot?” James asked, mad on the behalf of Eurydice.
“I’m not done.” Regulus rolled his eyes.
“I don’t see how you could fix it, but sure, continue.”
“Orpheus swore off love, refusing to give himself to another as strongly as he did Eurydice. So he just sat and played his lyre, he only ever sang songs about lovers. He sang of Ganymede, Pygmalian, Adonis and others like them. His loss allowed him to see the loss and love of others. Orpheus’ songs eventually got on the nerves of this group of women, called the Maenads. He sang of love yet he refused to love them. It maddened them, so they attacked him, ripping him to shreds with their spears-”
“How is that better? How is this any better?” James questioned.
“I never claimed it was. But, if it comforts you, Orpheus and Eurydice are now said to walk the banks of the River Styx together.” Regulus consoled.
“That does not make me feel better. Orpheus was an idiot.” James concluded.
“He quite literally created the love poem, because of Eurydice.” Regulus argued.
“He still looked back.”
“Wouldn’t you? Just say the girl you love dies and your only way to bring her back is to just trust that she’s following you out of the underworld. Yet, there is no way for you to know because you cannot hear her. Knowing you probably couldn’t come back in after this and this is your only chance to save her, wouldn’t you look back to check if she was really there?” Regulus questioned.
James stopped and thought about it. Trying to put a face to his Eurydice, he looked down at Regulus, who was looking back up at him. He really was beautiful, his eyes and skin shone under the pale glow of the moon, making him look ethereal. James couldn’t help that his mind connected Regulus’ face to his Eurydice. The thought of Regulus being taken from him made him queasy. The thought of not knowing if he was there or not made him sympathise with Orpheus. “Okay, so maybe it would be a little harder than I anticipated.” James admitted.
“So you’d have lost her too?” Regulus said, far too prideful for the thoughts crossing James’ mind.
“Yes, but I wouldn’t have left yo- Eurydice, there.” James stuttered.
“James, he was refused re-entry, he quite literally couldn’t get her back if he tried.” Regulus rolled his eyes at James arrogance.
“Well I don’t care. I’d fight to get back in. I’d slay Cerberus and Charon. Fight whatever she-demon-goddess they want me to. Merlin, I’d fight a god. I wouldn’t leave you there. I’d never.” James decided.
“Me?” Regulus questioned, his eyes blown wide.
“What?”
“You said, “I wouldn’t leave you there.’ You, as in me?” Regulus looked fearful. Was James imagining him as Eurydice really that bad? Regulus said she was ethereally beautiful, who else was James supposed to connect to her? There was no one else who James could see fitting the part like Regulus does.
“No, I said ‘Eu', short for Eurydice.” James lied, knowing Regulus wouldn’t buy it. Regulus nodded, James could tell he believed him.
“We should probably get back, James.” Regulus said, looking back out at the lake.
“What? We’ve barely enjoyed the view.” James clearly said something that upset Regulus but he couldn’t think of what.
“James, I have to get up early tomorrow. I promised Pandora I'd help them pack for Easter break. I also by default have to help Evan and Barty, but then Dorcas by extension also would want help.” Regulus answered, silencing all of James’ worries.
“Okay, but can’t we stay just a few more minutes?” James pleaded.
“Fine, but no talking. Just appreciate the view.” Regulus demanded.
“I will.” James sat, staring at Regulus.
“Regarde les étoiles, mon soleil qui brille juste pour moi.” Regulus spoke in the prettiest voice James has ever heard. Everytime Regulus speaks in French to him, James feels the world shift. He’s so pretty. His voice is so pretty. Of course he’s Eurydice, no one else could be. James decided he’d remember the words off by heart, so he could repeat them to Sirius, find out what he’d said. Regarde les étoiles, mon soleil qui brille juste pour moi. Regarde les étoiles, mon soleil qui brille juste pour moi. Regarde les étoiles, mon soleil qui brille juste pour moi. Regarde les étoiles, mon soleil qui brille juste pour moi. James repeated in his mind.