Shadow of a Star

September 1st, 1977

It had been raining all morning and even with umbrellas Regulus, Barty and Evan were all sopping wet by the time they’d reached the muggle half of kings cross station. They got loads of strange stares as they carted their trunks around, but Barty and Evan just scoffed and raised an eyebrow at anyone who looked for a bit too long. 

Regulus still felt awful, his headache wouldn’t seem to go away, and the dreary London day wasn’t helping a bit. He could still feel his mother’s presence somewhere deep in his mind, she’d likely leave him be once he’d boarded the train to school. He’d never actually said anything to his friends about his mother, but by the way they were acting he reckoned that Evan had told Barty what his mother was exactly. 

Barty was being his typical self and making a fuss over Regulus, which of course included not letting him walk all over London and insisted that he sit on the luggage trolley. Regulus had protested for a bit before he gave in, this eventually led to Barty flashing some puppy eyes and Evan and getting him to push both of his friends around the train station. 

“Alright free rides over loves,” Evan pulled up to the pillar between platforms nine and ten, “I don’t fancy accidentally smashing you into the wall.” 

Barty snorted, “oh yes I remember when you did do that.Christmas of third year was it? You’d gotten so pissed with me at the ministry holiday party in my dad's office you were too scared to run at the wall the next day!” 

“Merlin I’d give anything to see that,” Regulus smirked weakly, getting up from the trolley and taking his small case with him. 

Evan was a bright red as he smacked Barty on the head lightly, “go on you gits, I’ll meet you on the train.” 

“Thanks darling,” Barty smirked, so obviously flirting with the other boy that Regulus wanted to lock them in a broom cupboard at school until they admitted their feelings for one another. Instead he ran straight at the wall, squeezing his eyes tightly shut before coming out the other side onto the bustling platform. The magic in the air already made his headache subside slightly, that was until Barty came ramming into his back as he passed through. They both fell into a group of taller boys standing nearby. 

“Bloody hell Reg,” Barty rubbed his head slightly then extended his hand to help him up then stopped halfway. “Sorr-” 

Barry’s eyes widened a bit and he gave Regulus a look, tipping his head to motion behind Regulus. 

Fuck. 

“Hello Sirius,” he said blandly. Not even looking behind him to confirm. Barty’s face  said everything he needed to know. “Potter. Lupin. Pettigrew.” 

“Regulus,” James said cautiously, extending a hand to the younger boy. 

Regulus didn’t accept, just pushed himself up and turned to face his brother. His ankle was throbbing and he felt for certain he’d sprained it. 

Sirius looked as though he wanted to say a million things at once, not much of a difference than how he usually looked in Regulus’ opinion. 

“Reggie…” he said quietly, reaching out slightly. 

“Don’t. You lost that right when you left me in that bloody house.” A twinge of sharp pain ran through his head. He winced just enough for Sirius to see. 

“Come on,” Sirius touched his brother’s wrist. “Can we at least talk? I tried to send a letter, suppose mother didn’t give them to you?” 

“You suppose correct,” Regulus narrowed his eyes. “Besides, even if I had gotten them there wouldn’t be much I could have done now would there? I’m the heir now Sirius, I couldn’t leave even if I wanted to. Thanks to you.” His words were coated in a sweet venom that made Sirius pull his hand away. 

“Leave ‘em alone Regulus,” Lupin took a step forward to be by Sirius’ side, a raw pink scar ran down the left side of his face. Severus Snape was convinced that the boy was a werewolf, and though it was a long stretch Regulus came closer and closer to believing the slimy git every time he and Lupin talked. There was a kind of magic radiating off of him that was new to Regulus, new and beautiful. 

“I’ll leave him alone if he does the same for me,” Regulus sneered. Turning away quickly.  

“See you later in the prefects compartment I suppose,” one of them called after him and Barty. Regulus was sure that Lupin had been prefect the year before but that was most certainly not the same boy who’s just tried to intimidate him. Maybe Pettigrew? He seemed to relish the rules, only breaking them for their stupid pranks. Most definitely not Potter or his brother. They’d had more detentions last year than the Prewet twins had their entire seven years at Hogwarts. 

“You alright Reg?” Barty touched his arm gently. 

“Honestly? I have no idea.” 

… 

5:21 pm

“I’ve got to go,” Regulus sighed, the prefect meeting started at 5:30 and they were a few cars away from where it was being held. 

“I still have absolutely no clue how you made prefect,” Barty mused. 

“Yeah I’m sure you and I were wonderful candidates for prefect,” Evan laughed. They were sitting next to one another on the other side of the compartment, Evan resting his head on top of Barty’s. 

“Honestly glad I made it,” Regulus closed his book and tucked it into his bag. “Mother would’ve had a fit if I didn’t. That’s the last thing I needed.” 

“That woman has way too many expectations for you Reg,” Evan said empathetically. 

“She just wants what’s best for the family,” Regulus said instinctively, that response had been nailed into his head since he could remember. He’d even caught Sirius say it once or twice after they’d started not getting on. 

“Whatever you say I guess,” Barty shrugged. “Now go before you’re late.” 

Regulus waved and left from the compartment, hearing all the chatter from students around him. He arrived in the car at exactly 5:30 and it was already packed with prefects from each house and the head boy and girl. Only a handful of seats remained; one next to  a noisy ravenclaw in his year - Gilderoy Lockhart. He was the definition of egotistical maniac, even more so than his brother. 

And the other was next to none other than James Fucking Potter. 

Fuck me. 

Regulus grumbled and sat next to the older boy without a word. 

“Hello,” he said gently. 

“If you’re going to bring up my brother then just piss off,” Regulus grumbled. 

“Alright then, I won’t bring him up.” 

“Great.” 

“How’s your day going then?” James was awkward, but Regulus had to admit persistent. 

“Fine. Yours?” Regulus had no idea where the sudden interest in talking to James Potter came from but there was no going back now. 

“Great, mum brought us all pastries this morning an-” 

He was cut off by a sharp ringing of a bell. 

“Well it’s now 5:33, so as the last few people trickle in let’s get started shall we?” The head boy was smiling at everyone, he was a 7th year hufflepuff. “I’m Frank Longbottom, and unfortunately my co-head had a family emergency and she’s unable to come to the meeting today. But Alice is a Gryffindor, I’m sure many of you know her, and for those of you who haven’t been acquainted she’ll be at our next meeting in December!” He was smiling but Regilus could hear a bit of strain in his voice as he talked about Alice. She was a muggle born girl, there’d been a few attacks over the summer. He didn’t remember the names but that may have been what was keeping Alice at home. 

He turned to his right and found that James was staring right at him. He looked away, seemingly embarrassed as he turned a bright shade of red. 

“Anyways,” Frank cleared his throat. “I’m going to hand out the patrol assignments for the first term, there isn’t much room for switches so I’m sorry if there’s a conflict but you’ll most likely have to work around it. I looked at all of your schedules you sent in and did my best to schedule you all without conflict but there were a few unavoidable exceptions.” 

A pile of paper got to Regulus and he took on, passing the rest to James. Everyone took a moment to skim the page, there were a few audible groans from students who presumably had to miss a quidditch practice or were paired with someone they didn’t want to be with. 

Regulus only got to the second week when he was interrupted by the annoying voice of Severus Snape. 

“Excuse me Frank, but I was wondering if it would be at all possible for me to be on patrol with anyone else on December 9th? It would seem that Potter and I don’t work very well together.” 

James sighed and shook his head.

Frank took a sharp deep breath and pulled out his log of the schedule. “I’m sure I can find someone, yes,” he seemed annoyed. “Uh, Regulus Black? Could you go instead of mr. Snape? Since he seems to be the one with an issue?” 

Regulus dug his fingernails into his palm but nodded politely. “Yes of course I can.”

“Thank you, that's very appreciated.” 

Snape was fuming, and both Regulus and James found that very amusing. 

“Now I believe that’s it for now, if all seventh year prefects could stay behind for a bit of a chat then that would be great! Everyone else, you're free to go.” 

Regulus stuffed the parchment with his schedule into his bag and got up, his ankle was stiff and inflamed even after Barty attempted to heal it. He was trying his best to conceal his limp as he hurried out, being followed closely by Potter. 

“Reg? Are you alright, you're limping.” James caught up quickly, he was a few inches taller than Regulus and he had to look down slightly to meet the younger boy‘s eye. 

“Yes I’m fine Potter. This wasn’t my mother’s doing if that’s what you’re asking.” 

“Oh no I wasn’t-” James quickly tried to correct himself. 

“It’s fine, I can understand where you’d get that notion from.” Regulus was still astounded by his ability to be so cool with the older boy. Not understanding where his newfound tolerance for James Potter was coming from. 

“Yeah,” he replied uncomfortably. “Sirius really wants to talk to you.” He blurted out. “Alone.” He added quickly. “Not with your friends, or his. Just you two.” 

“If my brother would like to talk to me he can come ask me himself,” Regulus snapped, getting annoyed at the other boy once again. “I’ll see you around.” 

And without another word he walked off back to his compartment. 

… 

“Bloody hell Reg, you’ve got seven patrols with the bloke!” Barty exclaimed about an hour later, reading over the list of pairs and dates for patrols. 

“Who?” Evan asked, peeking over the other boy's shoulder. 

Barty was stretched out on the floor, swimming in a sea of candy wrappers and chocolate frog cards. Evan was sitting above him, playing with his hair, and Regulus was trying to nap. It was another hour before they would reach the village, then they had the feast and Merlin knew how late Barty and Evan would keep him up after that. A bit of shut eye was all that he wanted and needed right then. 

“James Potter?! Merlin Reggie, your mothers not going to be happy about that one.”

“What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her,” he shrugged, only half listening, or caring.

“What about Narcissa? Won’t she tell?” Barty straightened up at the idea of his best friends being in any kind of danger - physically or mentally. 

“Cissy. Couldn’t give less of a fuck Barty, I promise,” Regulus assured him. It was true, Cissy and him had always gotten along, and now that it was her last year at Hogwarts and she was going to be married to Lucius Malfoy over the holiday break she really didn’t care much for the family’s ordeals. 

“Seven nights with James Potter. Yikes.” Evan said blankly. 

“Eight actually, I took Snape's spot on the 9th of December.” 

“Dammit Reg, I’d bet ten galleons he’ll snog you one night,” Barty said nonchalantly.  

“What?” Regulus was suddenly wide awake. 

“Oh come on, he’s fine as  hell, and you’re most definitely his type if he’s into that kinda stuff you know?” 

“What do you mean ‘that kinda stuff’.” Evan asked cautiously. 

“I don’t bloody know! Like guys fucking guys and that shit?” Barty scowled, looking Evan directly in the eye. 

“Oh,” he said quietly. 

“Yeah oh,” Barty replied sourly, turning back to Regulus. “Anyways I’ll bet you ten galleons right here right now.” 

“Oh you’re on Crouch,” he smirked. “Romance is BS anyway.” 

“You won’t be saying that once you find someone,” Evan assured him gently, obviously avoiding saying ‘finding the perfect girl’. Attempting not to make the conversation more awkward for himself. 

“Eh,” Regulus shrugged and leaned his head back up against the window. His thoughts drifted back to that moment in the meeting when he’d caught James staring at him. 

It’s just a coincidence. It had to be.