Regulus Black knows two things,
He was completely and utterly in love with James Potter,
And being in love with your brother's best friend sucks
Regulus doesn't want to be in love with him, he goes against everything he was taught, but he's just so pretty. His warm tan skin and crazy hair, or the way his face lights up when he laughs. He has a heart so kind he can make anyone swoon.
Regulus was screwed
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"Uhm hey Regulus."
Regulus spun around at the use of his name. He was met with the one and only James Potter.
"Hello, Potter, did you need something?" He was trying to get the interaction over as quickly as possible because how could he focus when James looked like that? His hair was somehow messier than normal, but just as beautiful. A windswept curl fell into his eye, regulus had to stop himself from reaching out and tucking it behind his ear. He still had on his Quidditch uniform, the sight of him made it difficult to speak or breathe.
"Slughorn told me you're supposed to tutor me," he toyed anxiously with the hair on the back of his neck.
Oh god no thought regulus, this can't be happening. He knew he would be tutoring someone but it can't be James. Not when he looks like this, regulus can't trust himself to be alone in a room with him for 3 hours. But it doesn't seem like he has a choice.
"Oh, right, uhm. Potions room, 20 minutes," he managed to stay this without making a fool of himself. With that James nodded, Regulus didn't stick around long enough to see where he went. The one thing he noticed before he fled is Lucius Malfoy looking curiously at him.
When he reached his dorm he slammed the door. "Shit, shit, shit" he mumbled flopping on his bed. He glanced at the clock on the wall, a 'gift' from his parents, 10 minutes. He scrambled out of bed grabbing the cologne (read: perfume) he had stolen from Barty. After putting it on he tries to tame his hair after messing it up laying down. On his way out a spot of silver catches his eye, rings. He grabs them.
He makes it to the classroom to find James already there, still in his uniform. He has yet to notice him, so regulus takes this moment to stare. Perfect. Staring at the sun was supposed to hurt, but at this moment regulus was content to go blind if the last thing he could see was him.
James realized regulus's presence, "Oh there you are, thought you ditched me for a moment," he kinda laughed.
Regulus sat without a word, not meeting James's gaze.
"Alright then. We're brewing -Amortentia."
If he hadn't been sitting down regulus may have passed out. They spent the next hour brewing in silence in the cold dungeon, regulus occasionally correcting mistakes, still refusing to look directly
at the older boy. Just as Regulus finally felt like he could breathe again, James spoke.
"Oh shit, you're shivering."
He was, as he looked down at his pale arms he could see goosebumps. He nodded, and finally looked at James, he was taking off his Quidditch sweater.
"Oh no you don't have to do that, you'll be cold," him being cold was the least of his concern, regulus was worried about being near James in only a tank top.
"Guess I'll just have to stay close then," a grin tugging at his lips as he inched closer, his muscular arm pressing against regulus.
"See Reggie, all better."
Regulus's breath hitched at the nickname as he pulled on the sweater. It was too big for him, pooling at the wrist, but it did the job. It smelled like green apples and daisies, like James. His arm burned, he hoped the blush he felt rising to his cheeks wasn't really there, it was—more silence.
"Do you believe in vampires?"
"What,"
"Vampires, are they real?" James repeated his question.
"Well werewolves are so I suppose vampires aren't much of a stretch," he said quietly, nervous. "What do you think?"
"I believe you," he paused a moment "So I'm guessing potions is your favorite class."
"No, I love potions but there's a certain thing about transfiguration that does it for me," he spoke more confidently, it seems James had broken through a bit. "You?'
"Astronomy. something about the stars makes you want to get as close as possible," he had his eyes glued to regulus as he spoke.
Regulus almost died. How could one sentence from this man make him melt? He was so in awe of the boy in front of him that he didn't even notice the hair that had fallen into his face. It finally caught his attention when a hand reached out and tucked it behind his ear, lingering there. Now the blush covered his face, he made a small sound as James rubbed small circles by his ear. James chuckled and pulled his hand away, smiling. Regulus was stunned, what the fuck.
He got back to work, and they continued meaningless conversation, well James talked and regulus stared.
Their time was up son enough, regulus survived, kinda.
"I guess we're done, where ya heading to?"
"what- oh library."
"What a coincidence, I'm meeting Remus at the library," James stood, grabbing his stuff. Regulus didn't move, "Well come on pretty boy, Remus will be mad if I'm late." That did it. Turns out regulus had not survived because that killed him. He went over by James.
They decided to go through to the courtyard to get there, if only they hadn't.
"There you are, finally done I suppose?" if he didn't know that voice so well I'd assume it was one of the first years, unfortunately, it wasn't.
"What Lucius," Regulus said harshly. Lucius ignored him keeping his attention on James.
"Didn't know he was on his rounds again, maybe you could give me a spin. I missed him last time but I'm sure you wouldn't mind sharing." oh, that's what he was talking about. He spoke directly to James like Regulus wasn't even there.
He sucked his teeth "What did you just say," he stepped up to him, towering over him slightly. This only seemed to spur Lucius on, he continued with a smirk.
"Well I'm sure you've heard about regulus's.... reputation," he had. In all honesty, it made him quite jealous, the thought of regulus being with all these other people, if the rumors are true of course. But it wasn't any of his business, and it certainly wasn't Lucius's.
"Listen blondie, whether the rumors are true or not it's actually none of your fucking business." What the fuck. Regulus was stunned, he could feel the anger off James. Why was he so angry?
Lucius scoffed, he was about to speak but James continued.
"Also I'm pretty that level of desperation doesn't happen. And looking at you, you being rich isn't even worth it." james growled.
"Why are you defending him, is he like your boyfirend or something." No he wasn't.
Regulus had really thought he'd escaped those rumors, but stupid fucking lucius wouldn't let it go. Last summer lucius and him had one (very disapointing) interaction and he read to much into it, when regulus didn't feel the same lucius started a rumor that rgulus sleeps around. He's gotten so much unwanted attention from it, but it's not like he could do anything, his family wouldn't be happy with more drama.
James chuckled dryly, he scaned the courtyard.
Then he swung.
The next few moments were a blur, by the time regulus caught up james was ontop of a bloody lucius, blood dripping from his nose. He only stopped hitting when he heard Mcgonagall screaming at him. He jumped up, leaving lucius on the floor, grabbing regulus's hand and running away.
once they lost mcgonagall james started rambling "I am so sorry, just the way he talked about you, i just i couldn't sit ther-"
Regulus cut him off by smashing his lips to the older boy's, there was the matalic taste of blood on his tounge but he didn't mind, he just wanted james. James recipricated. He never thought it would happen, but he had finally found the sun. Eventually they tore apart from eachother with a smile. They parted ways and regulus went back to his dorm, still in james's sweater.