three
Everyone had already left him so he was now alone in the astronomy tower, which was fine. Regulus likes being alone from time to time. Helps him relax after spending the day with people surrounding him. Evan was the first to go. He briefly mentioned something about some girl and then he disappeared down the steps. Barty wasn’t long after that, but he was much more hesitant than Evan was to leave. He looks back a few times to make sure Reg is okay, and then once Reg gives him the okay, by actually saying ‘merlin Barty, just go,’ he goes.
Now, Regulus is leaning up against the wall by the edge of the tower, quietly staring up at the sky. In his own little world, too busy thinking to hear the door creek open a bit.
James steps in and, for a moment, he didn’t notice the younger boy sitting on the other side of the room. Then, Regulus let out a shaky breathe and James pauses in his spot.
“Merlin, Regulus. Warn someone before you scare the shit out of them.” James says, catching his breathe and covering his chest with his hand dramatically.
Regulus was startled by James’ sudden appearance, but doesn’t show it. He’s gotten pretty good at hiding the flinch from being scared.
“Don’t sneak up on people if you don’t want to be scared in return, Potter.”
Regulus wants to scream. What is he, out of all people, doing up here? This is his only quiet spot.
“I wasn’t sneaking up on you. I didn’t even know you were here.” James defends himself, and then he takes a moment to look around and get a better look at Regulus.
Regulus won’t admit it, but it makes him feel… not uncomfortable when James stares at him, which is strange because staring makes him want to curl up and rot in a hole… apparently unless it’s James.
Of course it would be James Potter who doesn’t make him feel like rotting in a hole.
The one person it can’t be because of how he hurt Barty. Because of how he took his brother and hurt his best friend. It can’t be James. It never could be.
“I’m supposed to believe that James Potter, Gryffndor royalty, is up in the astronomy tower because he wants to.” Regulus scoffs, shaking his head at the other boy and pulling his kn-ees closer to his chest. “Sorry, but that’s not believable.”
“Gryffindor royalty?” James asks the other boy, but then pauses once he realises how Regulus is sitting so close to the edge. “Why don’t you come down from the ledge and we can… talk?”
Regulus huffs quietly and rolls his eyes. Of course James is worried that he’s going to throw himself off of the astronomy tower. Regulus refuses to let his death be that predictable.
“Relax Potter, I just like the view. No one up here is in need of your saving.” Regulus tells the other boy.
“Can’t you just watch the view while, you know, standing on the ground?” James asks him, and Regulus shrugs.
James realises he’s not going to give in and get down and then gets annoyed. I mean, he’s not being a dick about it. He’s genuinely worried and rightfully so. He’s Sirius’ moody, little brother who always looks like he’s quite miserable. The things they went through in that house, that would be enough to make anyone miserable.
James will just have to keep an eye on him and stay up here as long as he’s up here.
Regulus notices the boy sit down and wants to scream. This was supposed to be time for him and James is ruining it, like he ruins everything for Regulus.
“You can leave now, Potter. I told you no one here needs saving and I’d rather you not be here when Barty gets here.” Regulus says to James, and watches his expression change from worry to shock. The name of his former best friend ringing in his ears, and it gives Regulus great satisfaction to see him actually a bit worried about him coming up here.
“Right,” James mumbles, and Regulus noticed something has changed. Something bigger than an expression. His whole demeanour. “H- is he alright?”
Oh, bloody perfect. This turns into a ‘how’s Barty’ conversation because he feels guilty.
“We’re not doing this, Potter. You know what you did, and you have to live with it. I’m not going to tell you anything because it’s none of your business anymore.” Regulus snaps. Then he jumps down off of the ledge and starts towards the door.
“You used to be so shy,” James mutters to Regulus and Reg freezes halfway to the door.
“Well I had to get over that pretty quickly when I was sorted into Slytherin.” Regulus tells him, and then races out of the tower and slams the door behind him.
James stands there for a moment and stares at where Regulus was just standing. How did the little boy who used to send Sirius the sweetest letters from home, turn into this mean, sarcastic, git? James is surprised that he’s so different from Sirius because they look so much alike.
Except Sirius is softer, he’s sarcastic but it’s not mean. Regulus is angry and holds a lot of it in, but clearly has no problem telling anyone what he thinks of them.
He’s stunned. Honestly.
How can someone who Sirius basically raised, be so sour? Sirius is quite dramatic, but never intentionally rude like that.
“Merlin,” James mutters to himself, feeling quite exhausted after that interaction.
He walks out the door and back to the Gryffindor tower, where he curls up in bed and falls asleep. Any worry about Regulus from earlier has drifted away, and he falls asleep almost instantly.
Regulus on the other hand, goes to his dorm to find his friends still awake and his other friend sitting on his bed.
“Regulus, you can’t just let her walk in here!” Barty says, motioning to Pandora, who looks quite pleased with herself.
“Why not? It’s my room too.” Regulus says, ignoring his friends annoyed faces and giving Pandora a hug. “Besides, I didn’t know she was stopping by.”
“That’s not any better, Reg.” Evan adds. “We just want some boundaries. How does she even know how to get in here?”
“I gave her the password, you git. And before you say anything about that being fucked up, it was for emergencies.” Regulus explains to his friends, “You know how the Gryffindors can be. She has a second option to go.”
Barty smirks at his friend, because he’s convinced they’re hooking up. He’s known Regulus for four years now, and he’s never seen the guy care about anyone else like he does for Pandora.
“Fine, but a heads up would be appreciated.” Barty gives in, knowing this isn’t the first time this argument has happened, and he never wins it. There’s no point.
“I brought something for us, but if you’d rather we leave and-” Pandora began but Barty cut us off.
“What did you bring?”
Pandora smirks and shows Regulus and his friends the bottle of fire whisky she snuck in here. Regulus smirks as he watches his friends eyes light up and Pandora looks proud.
“Alright, fine. She can stay for now I guess.” Barty says, and Evan and Regulus shake their heads and Pandora nods her head.
“I thought so,” Pandora nods her head and opens the bottle.
“You guys are going to feel like shit in the morning,” Regulus tells his friends.
“You’re not drinking with us?” Evan asks Regulus and Barty and Pandora shake their heads.
“Regulus doesn’t drink.” Pandora tells him.
“Well, he doesn’t get drunk. He drinks a little but not enough to get drunk.” Barty adds.
“Then what are you going to be doing?” Evan asks Reg.
“Watching the entertainment of you lot being drunk.” Regulus tells them. “And, you know, making sure you don’t do anything stupid.”
“Considerate of you, Reg.” Pandora laughs as she hands the bottle to Barty.
“You know what, I might like this girl.” Barty says, taking the bottle and bringing it to his lips.
Regulus wants to focus because this is a big moment for him. His two best friends finally getting along, but all he can think of is James’ reaction when he brought up Barty. Something about it made him feel… strange. He’s seen James be happy and loud but never… guilty. Never that upset.
Regulus wonders if anyone has truly seen James upset, or if he hides all of his real emotions and pretends he’s happy all the time.
“Snap out of it, yeah?” Barty tells him. Throwing the cap at him and causing Reg to get out of his own mind.
“Fuck off,” Regulus responds but he’s really thankful. Forget about James.
Forget about all of it and just be here with your friends.