Chapter 11
Regulus sat at his desk, his mind still racing with thoughts of the day before.
James.
James knew they were soulmates.
James had kissed him.
It had been unexpected and confusing, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he wanted more. He knew that at some point, of course James would figure out they were soulmates, he would connect the dots sooner or later, but for some reason he thought he had more time. He especially didn’t expect him to act like that.
He groans into his hands, tugging at his curls nervously. He had to stop, he already had a plan for all this, already knew what he was going to do. For now, he pushes all those thoughts aside and focuses on the task at hand.
Regulus flips through the pages of his new potions book James had gotten him, looking for a potion that would… teach Mulciber a lesson. He finds the perfect one, smiling wryly to himself as he lays the book open on his desk.
Regulus gathers the ingredients he needs and starts following the instructions in the book. The potion was difficult to make, but he was determined to get it right.
As he stirred the potion, no matter how hard he tried to make it stop, his mind kept drifting back to James's kiss. He couldn't believe how much it had affected him. How it made his stomach knot and heart flutter every time the memory replayed.
He grits his teeth and bites his tongue, cursing his thoughts as he stirs his potion. He had to get it right. He added a few more pinches of crushed herbs and stirred the potion again. The liquid turned a bright red color, and Regulus knew he had succeeded, laughing softly.
He carefully poured the potion into a vial and corked it tightly. Since Mulciber enjoyed telling the truth so much, he couldn’t wait to see his face when he realized he couldn’t do anything except that. Regulus smiled to himself, feeling a sense of satisfaction at the thought of getting his revenge.
“Regulus!” The door burst opens, Barty barging in, and he rolls his eyes lightly.
“So? So? Did you finish it?” He grins, and Regulus nods, smirking slightly as he shakes the vial. Barty grin widens as he reaches out to snap it, but Regulus snaps it back, fixing him with a glare.
“So? Did Evan give him the note?” He asks, and Barty nods, a cruel smile on his face.
“Yep. Currently, Mulciber thinks that in ten minutes he will be heading to snog the girl he fancies over a nice picnic,” he snickers, and Regulus smirks again, stuffing the potion into his pocket.
“Well then, now all we have to do is get there and pour this,” he taps his pocket, “into his wine. While he waits for her to ‘get back from the restroom,’ he’ll take a sip from his wine, and there we go,” he begins out the door, Barty right behind him.
“So? What does the potion do?” Barty asks mischievously, and Regulus lets out a cruel laugh.
“You’ll see,” He grins.
They meet Dorcas, Evan, and Pandora on the great lawn, Dorcas beaming. “It’s all set up!” She says cheerfully, and Regulus nods, glancing towards the lake.
“Let’s hurry then, before he gets here.”
“Oh please, he’ll be at least another ten minutes. He believes in letting girls ‘wait for him,’” Evan snorts, even as they begin walking across the lawn. He pulls a note from his pocket as they get closer, handing it to Regulus to read over.
Had to use the restroom, hope you won’t leave!
Will you pour us the drink while you wait? Enjoy some, please.
-Lucillia
Regulus snorts, and Evan throws his hands up. “I didn’t know what to write, okay? You should have had Dorcas or Dora do it!”
“Dorcas and Pandora had to set up the meal,” he waves a hand at the picnic as he kneels down, picking up the wine and uncorking it. He doubts Mulciber will notice it’d already been opened, the dim fool.
He pours the potion into the wine, stirring it quickly with his hand before magically corking the bottle once more, placing the note on top of the wine before stepping back and looking at their work.
“Looks romantic,” Pandora says whimsically, and Regulus snorts.
“You did a good job then. Let's go before he catches us here.”
They make their way back to the school, passing a well dressed Mulciber who was on his way out. He curls his lip at Regulus, who nods his head at him.
“Black,” he greets, pausing as he glances over the group, “I don’t suppose you’ve passed Lucillia, have you? Me and her our to have a date,” He smirks, looking at Regulus as if he was supposed to be jealous. He feigns an interested expression, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh? How interesting, though I don’t remember inquiring about it,” he replies back, and Mulciber sneers at him, “though I suppose that untidy picnic is for you then,” he waves a hand towards the blanket and basket, making Mulcibers eyes light up.
“Well then, good day to you, Black,” Ignoring everyone else, he grins cruelly and sets off to the picnic.
Regulus smirks once they are out of view, and Pandora pouts, twisting at one of her blonde braids. “Untidy picnic?”
“Oh Dora,” he laughs, “It was just for the show, it was very well done. I would enjoy eating at a picnic like that,” He snorts, and she giggles.
“I shall make you a picnic one day, then,” she smiles, and he gives her a soft smile.
“Salazar save us,” Barty suddenly snaps, and Regulus looks up, smile falling at the sight of his brother and his group.
Regulus felt a knot form in his stomach as Sirius approached him, his laughter stopping as he met Regulus’ eyes.
“Reg,” he breathes, glancing over Regulus’ friends before looking back to his brother. “Regulus- hi, can we- can we talk?”
Regulus felt a surge of anger burn in his chest, twisting down into his stomach and knotting it. He glares, grinding his teeth together as he crosses his arms over his chest.
“Piss off black,” Dorcas spits, stepping in front of Regulus. Sirius curls his hands into fists, gritting his teeth.
“Stay out of this, Meadows, it’s none of your business. These are family matters,” Sirius replies back coldly, face impassive.
“Oh, and all of a sudden you’re his family again? Please Black, we’re more his family than you’ll ever be again,” Barty replies back to him, lips twisting into a cruel smile. Sirius steps forward, eyes burning.
“Listen here, Crouch-” He snarls, and James takes a step forward, pressing a hand to Sirius shoulder as he glances over at Regulus, who tilts his head to the ground.
“We didn’t come here to fight, Sirius,” he says quietly, and Sirius takes a deep breath, hands shaking before he stuffs them into his trouser pockets.
Sirius took a deep breath, clearly trying to find the right words and start over. "I just wanted to apologise, Reg. I was- I was wrong,” he breathes out.
Regulus's eyes narrow. "You said yourself you weren't my brother, don't try and be now," he hissed, turning to walk away.
Sirius's face reddened with anger. "It was a mistake, Reg, I didn’t mean it! That doesn't mean I don't care about you," he shot back.
Regulus stopped in his tracks and turned to face Sirius, his eyes blazing. "You care about me?" he said, incredulous. "You've never cared about me. All you care about is your precious Gryffindor friends and your reputation in that stupid house." He spits
Sirius's expression turns defensive. "Don’t talk to me about reputation, Regulus, when everything you do is to uphold the family name and make your precious mummy and daddy happy. I made a mistake, but I'm trying to make it right."
Regulus is all but shaking with anger now. “Fuck off,” he hisses, and Sirius rakes a hand through his hair angrily as Remus steps forward.
“Why don’t we all calm down-”
“Why didn’t you just tell me it was a soulmark?” He snaps angrily, and Regulus looks to James, who shrinks back lightly at his glare.
“It was none of your business,” He replies back in a cold voice.
“None of this would have happened if you had just told me! Why couldn’t you just be honest with me for once!” He shouts, stepping forward and raising a finger. Regulus steps forward as well, face twisting into a sneer.
“Oh, don’t say that as if I didn’t try! I tried to talk to you! You wouldn’t hear it!” He bites back, and Regulus rubs a hand down his face.
“I said I was sorry,” he replies back, voice softer.
“No, you didn’t” He sneers, and Sirius blinks as he blows out a breath.
“I inferred I was sorry,” he tries again, and Regulus laughs coldly.
“That is not nearly the same thing as actually saying it,” he sneers, and Sirius opens his mouth as if to try again, but Regulus is quick to cut him off, face twisted with rage"save it,” he snaps, “I don't want to hear it, Sirius. I don't want anything to do with you or your friends." He shoves past him, avoiding eye contact with James as he does so. He can hear his friends right behind him as he walks off, head held high.
Sirius doesn’t say anything else.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Pandora asks again quietly as Regulus pushes his food around his plate.
“Yes, Dora, I’m alright,” he replies back for the tenth time as he glances up at Barty, who was shoveling food into his mouth like it was his last day on earth.
“Hey Reg,” Barty asks, and Regulus grimaces as crumbs fly out his mouth.
“What, you pig?” He asks, and Barty snorts, choking on his food for a moment before swallowing.
“When is,” he glances down the table at Mulciber, who sat only a seat away, and lowers his voice, “When will the potion kick in? Are you sure it’s going to work?”
Regulus raises an eyebrow. “Doubting my skill set, Crouch?” He says mockingly, and Barty grins.
“No, only wondering how long it will take to set in.”
Regulus rolls his eyes. “It probably already has,” he says, and Barty raises an eyebrow, glancing over and looking for symptoms, “now we just wait for him to slip up.”
“Slip up?” Barty repeats, and Regulus gives him an ominous smile.
“We all know Regulus has this covered, Barty,” Dorcas snorts, and Barty huffs.
“Stop getting on my case, I was just checking.”
Regulus smiles just as conversation rises beside them.
“So, how’d it go with Lucillia, Mulciber?” Goyle asks, and Mulciber looks up, a small, angered blush covering his cheeks before he smoothly smiles.
“How do you think?” He asks suggestively, and Barty snickers into his drink.
“Did you two snog?” Crabbe asks, stuffing a roll into his mouth, and Mulciber rolls his eyes.
“Such childish questions, really boys,” he grins.
“Come on, don’t be a prude, tell us how far you got,” Goyle whines, and Mulciber grimaces as he looks down at his food, before smirking as he looks up again.
“Well, I can say we did a lot more than snog,” he grins as Goyle and Crabbe chortle.
Regulus grins maliciously.
Mulciber grin drops as he swallows, clutching at his nose suddenly with a groan.
“Mulciber, what’s-” They both gasp as Mulciber jumps up with a shout, dropping his hand to expose his elongating nose. Everyone turns towards him as he lets out another yelp of pain, clutching his hand over his face as he runs out of the great hall. There's gasps and laughter, and Regulus looks up from his meal to see his friends expressions, Barty and Dorcas cackling as Evan stares at him with wide eyes and Pandora giggles.
“What the hell was that?” Evan asks, and Dorcas leans over as she clutches her stomach.
“Did you get that idea from pinocchio or something, Reg?” She gasps out, and Regulus furrows his eyebrows.
“What?”
“It’s a muggle story, about a little boy whose nose grows bigger when he lies,” she wipes her eyes with a sigh, grinning.
He hums, shaking his head, “No, I got it from a potions book that-” that James gave him. He grimaces lightly at the thought of him. Would he be mad, he wonders, at his outburst at his best friend?
Dorcas doesn’t seem to notice his internal dilemma as she giggles. “Wow, that was good, so glad I got to witness that once in my life. How long will it last?”
He shrugs. “It’s supposed to last until he tells the truth about all the lies he’s told,” he grins maliciously once more, “I wonder how long it will take him to realize.”
“Alright students, alright! Settle down and head back to your dorms this instant as we work this out!” Dumbledore calls, and there are groans as students stand up, filing back to their dorms. Regulus’ friend group is still laughing as they head out, and Regulus gives them a grin.
“I’ll meet you back there, okay? There were some other potions I wanted to try out before I go to sleep,” he tells them, veering off from them once they make it to the dungeons, and they wave him off with laughter and smiles.
Regulus pulls the potion book from his bag as he makes his way to the potions classroom.
“I mean, can you believe him? I try apologizing, and he blows me off!” He cries, outraged, for the near hundredth time. Remus groans, and James tries not to join him. Peter had already left, and James envied him at this point.
“So you’ve said, Sirius,” Remus muses, and Sirius glares, grinding his teeth.
“The little brat wouldn’t even hear me out! I apologized and he denied it”
“I mean, he was kinda right padfoot… you never did actually apologize,” James whispers quietly, and Sirius snaps his head towards James, eyes flaring.
“Well- I mean- I pretty much did!” He snaps roughly, and Remus rolls his eyes, looking up from his book.
“Pretty much is not the same as doing so,” he replies back, and they glare at each other for a moment, Sirius’ nostrils flaring before he huffs.
“Maybe, next time Padfoot, don’t catch him by surprise while he’s with all his friends,” James tells him, and he throws his hands into the air.
“Oh? Then how should I talk to him, James? Should I invite him for tea?”
“No- I mean, kinda? Write him a note asking him to meet you or something?”
Sirius sighs and rubs a hand down his face. “What if… what if he doesn’t want to meet me?” He asks quietly, and Remus sighs.
“So you try again later on. I mean, look at it from his point of view, Sirius. You hurt him, and then when you apologized, you didn’t even do it sincerely. You did it in front of your friends.”
Sirius bites his lip just as James jumps up from his bed, holding the marauders map in his hands. “Erm- sorry guys, I’ve got somewhere to be, but I’ll be back,” he stuffs the map in his pocket and gives them an apologetic look. Remus sighs, picking his book back up, and Sirius watches James go almost sadly.
Remus and him sit in silence for a good few minutes before Sirius clears his throat. “So that was some prank earlier, huh?” Remus ignores him, and he tries again, “I mean, it was hilarious! Who do you think did it?” He grins, before it slowly falls when Remus only shrugs.
“Okay, so I have a feeling that ‘pretty much is not the same thing’ was kinda pointed at what happened, huh?” Remus rolls his eyes, and Sirius groans. “I’m sorry, okay! I didn’t mean anything by it!”
Remus grinds his teeth together, continuing to stare at his book, and Sirius marches over and snatches it from him.
“Give it back,” Remus says coldly, and Sirius glares, shutting the book.
“No, listen to me!”
“I don’t want to listen to you tell me how unfuckable I am again,” he snaps back, reaching up to snatch the book back. Sirius holds it behind his back, and Remus gives him a deadpanned look.
“That is not what I meant and you know it,” he says quietly, and Remus throws his hands up.
“Well, that’s what it sounded like,” he sneers, and Sirius cringes.
“I just- I don’t understand why a gardener of all people, I mean, you could do so much better!”
“What, you think a gardener is too low for me? You do know what I am, right? I could never get too low for me,” he laughs coldly, and Sirius chokes slightly.
“That is- that’s not true, moony,” he whispers, and Remus swallows.
“So, tell me what you mean then, because I’m not understanding. Is sleeping with him considered dirty for you rich people, huh, Sirius? Do you think I’m dirty now?”
Sirius looks at him opened mouth as his face flames. “You’re taking what I had said totally out of context! That is not what I meant! I just meant- you have so many options, so many people who want you, what was so good about him, why not anyone else?” His voice comes out rough, and Remus furrows his eyebrows.
“Who is it that wants me so bad, huh?” Sirius flushes and shakes his head.
“Just- nevermind!” He snaps, and Remus stands up, blocking his path before Sirius can leave.
“You always try and do this, run away when the conversation takes a turn. Just talk to me, Sirius.”
He swallows, shaking his head. “I mean, you have almost every girl and guy's attention here, you could ask anyone and I’m sure they’d be down to do whatever you want. I don’t understand- I mean, what was so special about him?”
Remus stares at him, before stepping back and shrugging. “It didn’t mean anything, just like everyone you’ve been with didn’t mean anything, right? Why are you the only one allowed to sleep around?”
Sirius shrugs, shaking his head. “That’s not what i meant-”
“So tell me what you mean, because obviously I’m not understanding!”
Sirius stares up at him for a moment, before reaching up and grabbing his collar, pulling him down so that their lips crashed together.
When they pull apart, Remus gives him a wide eyed look. “Oh.”
Regulus mixes in the next ingredient, stirring it in slowly as he glances over at the next ingredient. He grabs the pitcher filled with liquid, slowly pouring it in.
Slowly… steadily… counting out each second as to not pour too much-
“Reg,” he startles, flinching, and then cursing under his breath as he watches the potion bubble an unpretty green and begin to bubble and pop. He sighs dramatically, turning to glare at James, who stares at him sheepishly.
“Potter,” he replies, and James smiles as if taking it as a cue as he steps forward.
“Reg,” he repeats with a flush, and Regulus fixes him with a glare even as his cheeks heat up.
“We can stay here all night and repeat each other's names, or you can tell me why you’re here,” he drawls, and James laughs.
“I don’t think I’d mind the first option, to be honest,” he grins at Regulus, who rolls his eyes as James continues, “but I came to check on you, about the… you know, fight.”
Regulus stiffens lightly, turning back to his ruined potion. “If you’ve come to try and convince me to make up with him, give up now, because there's no point,” he spits, and he can physically feel James step closer.
“No- no I haven’t. I’ve come to do just as I said, check up on you,” he replies back quietly, and Regulus swallows, turning to face him again.
“You don’t want to plead for your best friends mercy?” He snorts sarcastically, and James gives him a soft smile.
“I mean, I’d like it if you guys made up, but I’m not going to get in the middle of you guys, okay?”
Regulus looks at him for a moment, before laughing softly and shaking his head. James gives him a confused look, and Regulus smirks, shaking his head again as he snickers at him.
“It’s nothing- just, you not getting in the middle of something like this is an insane thought to me,” he grins, and James pouts. He may have been offended, but he couldn’t be- not while being blessed with the view of watching Regulus laugh.
James grins, leaning in closer, and Regulus trails off, swallowing again, and his smile falls as he looks up at him.
James leans even closer, and Regulus jerks slightly, gasping as the cauldron falls over and off the counter, spilling onto the floor.
“Salazers balls,” He curses, spinning away from James and around the counter to curse at the ground as if it had personally offended him.
“Reg- Reggie,” James says, but Regulus ignores him as he casts a cleaning spell. James walks towards him, grabbing at Regulus’ arm, and Regulus jerks back slightly when his fingers brush his forearm.
James stares, seemingly hurt for a moment, before his gaze darts to his forearm, and his expression changes.
“Reg, what happened to your arm? Is it still hurt? Is that why I’m not allowed to see the soulmark?” He inquires, and Regulus glares, pulling his arm to his chest.
“It’s nothing, piss off Potter,” he snaps harshly, and James looks at him worriedly, stepping closer over the fallen cauldron.
“Why won’t you tell me what’s wrong, Reggie?” He pleads, and Regulus sneers at him.
“Because it’s none of your business. If you’re going to hound me you can leave- you already ruined my potion.”
James sighs, rubbing his face. “Okay, I’ll drop it, okay?” He asks, and Regulus chews on his cheek before rolling his eyes.
“Whatever,” he mutters, and James gives him a smile, stepping closer and brushing his knuckles across Regulus’ face. Regulus flinches, and James drops his hand, looking down at him.
“I know you want to take it slow, and I will- but Merlins balls, this is hard,” he breathes, and Regulus heart flutters as he pushes James back with a flush.
“Calm down, Potter,” he snorts sarcastically, not meeting his eyes, “you just gathered you had a crush on me, and now all of a sudden you can’t control yourself?”
James grins, cheeks tinging pink. “Well, you can ask anyone. When I fall for people, I give them my whole heart. I don’t fall easily, but I fall hard,” he winks, but Regulus doesn’t smile. He inhales sharply, turning his head to the side.
“You- you shouldn’t give your heart to me,” he mutters, and James’ smile softens.
“It’s too late for that, Reg,” he breathes, and Regulus’ eyes widen as he continues, “and I hope you trust me enough to give me yours one day.”
“That’s insane, there’s no way I have your heart, you hardly know me,” he scoffs.
James shakes his head. “You say that, but I do.”
“You don’t even know my favorite color,” he crosses his arms.
“I don’t have to know your favorite color to know you,” he whispers, and Regulus swallows as he continues, “but even so, I do want to know you more. I want to know your favorite color, your favorite food, your favorite animal. I want to know everything,” he grins.
Regulus flushes, letting out a harsh breath. “That’s ridiculous.”
James tilts his head. “Why?”
He opens his mouth to reply, closes it, and then opens it again, before closing it. Finally, he rubs his fingers over his temples, and they sit in silence for a few moments.
“It’s purple.”
“What?” James asks, startled by the break in silence. Regulus rolls his eyes.
“My favorite color. It’s purple. My favorite food is boeuf bourguignon, and my favorite animals are cats.”
James stares at him for a beat. “Cats, that suits you,” he muses, and then his eyes widen as he glances at his soulmark, “Cats! This makes more sense now,” he laughs, and Regulus rolls his eyes with a soft smile.
“My favorite animals are deers- or lions.”
“I didn’t ask- and how basic,” James laughs, taking a seat on the desk, and Regulus hesitantly sits beside him as James lays back, grinning up at him.
He scratches his jaw anxiously after a moment, and Regulus raises an eyebrow.
“Spit it out,” he says, and James laughs.
“Well, you know, the quidditch match is tomorrow,” he begins, and Regulus raises his other eyebrow.
“Did it finally hit you that you’re gonna lose?” James laughs and shakes his head.
“No, but I was remembering what you said- about hanging out after it. I had some plans for the day after- would you- i don’t know, maybe be up for them?”
Regulus swallows. “I can’t know if I’d be up for them if I don’t even know what they are,” he replies dryly, and James smiles.
“Well, we were going to go to Hogsmeade! I told you about that small shop right? I think you’ll like it,” he beams, and how could Regulus possibly say no to that face? He shrugs instead. “I suppose if I’m not busy that day.”
James laughs in joy, sitting up and grinning, “Great! I hope you won’t mind if we stop by the joke shop, I have to grab something for a prank my mates and I are planning.”
Regulus narrows his eyes, “I hope that prank doesn’t involve me somehow,” he replies back, and James quickly shakes his head.
“Nope, it’s for Filch- which reminds me though, did you see that prank on Mulciber in the great hall?” He laughs, before pausing, “Oh, I hope you two aren’t friends, sorry.”
“Absolutely not,” Regulus curls his lip up, and James grins.
“Good, he’s an absolute arse. Who do you think did it anyways? I don’t know many other people who pull pranks here.”
Regulus gives James a sly smile, and he gasps. “No way- really?”
He shrugs nonchalantly. “I had to get back at something.”
“Shit- that was so cool Reg,” he beams, and Regulus preens at the compliment.
“Thanks,” he glances down, “it was actually from the potions book you got me,” his cheeks are tinged a light pink.
James grins, knocking his shoulder against Regs. “Damn, should've been a marauder, really. Imagine the amazing pranks we could pull with your brains.”
Regulus snorts, shaking his head. “As if I’d want to be in your little band of geeks,” he grins and James pouts as he continues, amused, “but if I did help, you would for sure get away with a lot more. No more pranks where it’s obvious who did it.”
James laughs, shoulders shaking. “We should pull a prank together sometime,” he smiles softly at Reg, who rolls his eyes but returns the smile.
“As long as you didn’t touch anything. You would ruin the whole thing,” James feigns hurt, and Regulus laughs.
They stay and talk until it was time for lights out.