the preposition
Despite their newfound friendship, Regulus was still cautious to approach James. He couldn’t help but feel a little unwanted, out of place, and awkward when James was surrounded by the rest of the Gryffindors, golden magnetism often making him the oblivious center of attention.
Regulus could handle it.
He’d lived perfectly fine without James before the other sought him out, and this new thing they had which felt sacred and fragile and…well. Regulus didn’t want to ruin it. So he could stay back until James was alone, wave across the great hall yet never approach, and return James’s ‘Hi’s’ in the corridor before ducking his head and moving on.
James had encouraged the opposite of this, although he never pushed, yet Regulus still struggled. He was a creature of habit, after all. Admiring James from a distance, picking his voice out amongst the hustle and bustle of the great hall, pretending not to focus only on him during quidditch matches. Keep him at arms length he’d tell himself, wistfully. No point falling harder than you already have.
Until, James cornered him after his transfiguration lesson on a snowy December afternoon.
“Hello,” was all James said as he appeared, suddenly in Regulus’s space, having weaved through the bunch of fourth years fleeing the classroom. Upon his arrival, some lingered.
“James?” Regulus uttered, unable to hide the surprise in his voice. He was also unable to prevent the corners of his mouth lifting up at the sight of him.
James was sporting his robes, for once, no doubt due to the cold, with his typical ruffled curls and sparkling eyes. The boy was looking slightly sheepish, glancing at the other students around them before pulling Regulus to the side.
“I have a question,” James began, then paused. “Less of a question really, more of a demand.” Regulus opened his mouth to speak, but James pushed on. “I know you have a shitload of work to be doing, with mocks and stuff, and that even if you claim you hate Christmas, I don’t believe you, so-” He stopped to breathe.
“James, where is this going?” Regulus asked, trying for exasperation although he couldn’t hide the delight in his voice at the sudden ambush, and his curiosity.
“Patience!” James grinned. “Regulus Black, will you do me the honour of joining me in Hogsmeade tomorrow?”
Though the corridor was mostly empty now, Regulus glanced to his side before meeting James’s gaze again.
“You’re here to preposition me?” Regulus couldn’t help but feel giddy, drunk on James’s gaze and the unabashed attention, heart beating quicker as he was sure he was blushing.
James let out a small laugh, amused, leaning against the wall beside Regulus. He was still as tall as he’d ever been, looking down slightly at Regulus, mirth in his eyes.
“Would you like me to preposition you?” James asked, voice smooth and calm, smile unwavering. The opposite to Regulus’s heart.
Before Regulus could make a fool of himself, James laughed in his charming way and Regulus laughed too, bumping James’s arm with his shoulder, tension dissipating.
“You’re so annoying,” Regulus huffed, yet his tone of voice was saying the opposite. He pushed off the wall, James following, and began his walk to the common room.
“You love it,” James singsonged, a bounce in his step as he stuck to Regulus’s side, walking in tandem, brushing against each other. “Seriously, though. Hogsmeade?”
“Hmmm..” Regulus began, having to bite his lip to hide his grin. “I don’t know, I think I need more persuading than that.” His answer was a yes, of course. One thousand times yes as soon as James asked, but the other didn’t have to know that.
“Is my company not enough?”
Regulus rolled his eyes. James smiled.
“Fine,” James tutted, shoving a hand in his pocket. “First of all,” He held a finger up,” I will be gracing you with my presence, and can assure you I know how to have the best time in Hogsmeade.”
“Tempting,” Regulus quipped.
“Second of all, my friends have abandoned me for their own company, so without you I would be extremely lonely,” James pulled some sort of puppy dog expression, his smile tilting downwards until Regulus snickered and pushed his face away with a small ‘ew’.
“Third of all, and most importantly,” James brought them to a stop in the corridor, in front of the opening to the castle’s courtyard. Snow dusted every surface, the white powder glinting at Regulus, untouched. It was beautiful really, making the castle more picturesque than it already was. “I would like to spend time with you.”
Regulus drew his eyes away, meeting James’s earnest gaze. He couldn’t help it. His heart sored.
“We haven’t enjoyed Christmas cheer together yet, Regulus, and no better place is Hogsmeade!” James’s dramatics broke their eye contact, as he gestured around them to the snow, as if to emphasise his point. It was cold outside, their breath's mist mingling in the air together, yet Regulus felt fuzzy warmth straight down to his toes.
“I don’t know James,” He said slowly, pretending to ponder the idea. “I’m very susceptible to the cold. I don’t think I’d last out there.”
“I’ll warm you up?” Was James’s quick reply.
“And I’m not entirely sure your friends would appreciate me dragging you away?”
“Sirius and Remus have detention, Marlene has a date, Peter’s sick and Mary and Lily don’t want to hang out with me because they’re doing girl things.” Regulus raised an eyebrow. “Their words, not mine,” James amended, holding his hands up in defense.
“What, so you only want me to go with you because your friends are busy?” Regulus pretends to look scorned.
“No!” James says hastily. “This is the only time they’ll let me be with you without bugging us.”
“I’m not some sort of last resort, am I?” Regulus continues to pretend to be skeptical.
“Trust me, plenty of people would want to come with me. I would prefer you, but if you’re unavailable….”
James begins to step back, away, and Regulus’s expression cracks as he grins and pulls James back in.
“You paying?”
“Of course.”
“I’m in.”
James beams.
A bell rings.
“Oh shit!” He suddenly laughs, grabbing Regulus’s hand in a quick squeeze as if to solidate their plans before beginning to hurriedly walk away. “I’m late for…something.” Whatever that something is nearly falls from his lips, and Regulus raised both of his eyebrows in a question.
“You’ll hear about it soon enough!” James is still going backwards down the corridor, ignoring the students walking past and eyeing him curiously. “But still, tomorrow! Meet me at the great hall!” Regulus can’t help but laugh, shaking his head. Casting a final glance to Regulus, James calls a quick,”Make sure to wrap up warm!” over his shoulder before running off.
Blushing, Regulus bites back his smile all the way down to the dungeons. He has a… His mind screams date at him, a date with James Potter, yet Regulus soon shuts that down. Not a date. However, he is hanging out with James tomorrow, going to Hogsmeade with him, and will have him all to himself.
Regulus is elated.