Chapter 1
Another Quidditch match, another party. This one thrown by Gryffindor, the music loud and almost overbearing, the celebrations sure to go well into the night. It wasn't exactly Regulus's scene, but the game was against Slytherin so really it was only fair to show up.
He caught sight of his brother, Sirius and Regulus' relationship was still a little rocky since he'd left to live with the Potter's but it was getting better. So he walked that way hoping to find some comfort in the whirlwind of the party. "Hello little brother." He huffed out a chuckle at Sirius's greeting but sat down in the seat he motioned to none the less. "Enjoying the party?"
"Something like that," he looked over the crowd of people and paused at the man standing with James, his hair was the same color but longer and was pulled up in a half bun, but his eyes were this stunning bright green that almost seemed to glow. "Sirius?"
"Hmm?"
"Who's that, by Potter?"
Sirius stood up and raised his head slightly, "Potter!" Both boys turned at Sirius's call, eyebrows rising in unison, Sirius pointed to the one that wasn't James and beckoned him over with a hand. He grinned said something to James before slipped through the crowd, as if in retaliation he jumped onto Sirius's back getting a chuckle as Regulus watched Sirius's hands jump to hold the other man up by his thighs. "Jem meet Regulus Black my little brother, Regulus meet Jem Potter."
"Lovely to meet you," he ruffled Sirius's hair before sitting his chin on his shoulder eyes looking over Regulus with an almost guarded kind of curiosity. He dropped down from Sirius's back knocking into his shoulder playfully before shooing him off. "So you're the famous Black brother I've heard so much about?"
"You have?" He shrugged not quite answering. "I didn't know Potter had a brother."
"I...I was in Paris, enjoying the scenery I guess."
"For 3 years?"
"We had a disagreement, I won." He said with another shrug sitting down. His eyes were clearer to see now, a soft deep forest color with hints of gold and lighter greens. His hair that wasn't pulled up fell about mid neck, a soft chocolate brown color. As if absently a small silver ball poked out between his lips running between them before he yawned, revealing it was a tongue piercing.
"Also get that in Paris?"
"Mhm," he hummed the answer picking up the cup Sirius had been drinking out of and bringing it to his nose. "Pads actually drinks this stuff?"
"What is it?"
He held out the cup, "Take a whiff." Regulus brought it to his nose, the sharp smell of bad beer hitting him.
"That's...gross. There's nothing good around here is there?"
"Yeah...you know what, follow me," he stood up and walked off without another word. He led the Slytherin up the stairs and into one of the rooms.
"Pretty sure I'm not supposed to be up here."
"It's not like anyone will care." He walked over to one of the beds, "Now he might not look like it but Remus is the only one with decent taste when it comes to drinks, he has the good tea, the good chocolate, and the good alcohol. He doesn't mind what you take as long as you leave enough for him to get more." He left a few coins on the bed and handed Regulus a bottle before reaching under the bed and pulling out two glass cups. In a smooth movement he traded Regulus the bottle for a cup before opening it one handed and pouring some in. He grinned pouring some in his cup and clicking the glasses together, "Voilà."
Regulus tilted his head, "Tu parles français?" (You speak French?) He asked the question absently while taking a drink, it was much better than whatever Sirius had been drinking.
"Un peu," (A little) he answered with a shrug. "J'ai dû apprendre à vivre à Paris, et vous?" (Had to learn living in Paris, what about you?)
It was Regulus' turn to shrug, "Les parents ont insisté pour que nous apprenions." (Parents insisted we learn.) Jem flopped down onto the nearest bed with a smile, holding out a hand for Regulus to join.
He took a sip from his glass before balancing it on his knee, "You're not what I thought you'd be like."
"No?"
"No."
"Well you're not what I thought you'd be like either."
"You didn't even know I existed until like 15 minutes ago. I don't think you have the right to say that."
"In my defense everyone Potter hands around tends to be douches."
"Are you calling Remus a douche because we're currently drinking his liquor."
"No, Lupin seems like an acceptation."
"Wise words." Regulus laughed.
"You know this isn't where I saw my night going."
"No?"
"No, I assumed I'd ditch the party at some point, probably find a book, relax somewhere in the Slytherin dorms."
"Well you get to drink with me so enjoy," he chuckled when Jem tapped their glasses together. "To be fair I probably would've done the same, or put my effort into finding wherever Remus stashed his weed. Actually that seems like a great idea, what are your thoughts?"
"Weed? Contrary to popular belief I haven't done all the things my brother has."
"First time for everything I suppose," he got up, setting his cup down on the nightstand, he set a gold coin on the same bed as the others before reaching under the bed and pulling out two boxes, he hummed bringing one up to his nose and shaking his head quickly, face scrunched up, "Not weed."
"No?" He shook his head some more quickly putting down the box and picking up the other one. "How do you know?"
"Animagus." He answered setting the box down on the bed and pulling a pin from his hair.
"You are?"
"Yep. You get a few things, better sense of smell, touch feels really weird after a change like overly sensitive it's not particularly pleasant so far, but hearing's better, for example," he tilted his head closing his eyes, before scrunching his face up quickly opening his eyes again, "Sirius is trying to talk someone into bed, I really don't want to hear that ever again." Regulus laughed some sitting up, watching as he messed with the lock and then the box popped open. "Success!" He came over, sitting down beside Regulus once again.
He set the box down on the bed and took a drink before pulling out some kind of paper and a bag. Regulus just watched, his nimble fingers twisting the paper and whatever he had put inside it, he rolled it before bringing it up to his lips and running his tongue over the edge sealing it together. "Roll one for me?" He chuckled handing it to Regulus before getting out the stuff and starting again.
He closed the box a few minutes later getting up only to slip it under the bed and open the window, motioning for Regulus to come over. He got up grabbing his glass and sitting down across from Jem who was watching the grounds from the window almost absently.
Then he snapped out of it and pulled a lighter from his pocket his fingertips guiding Regulus to hold the rolled paper and herb out, the fire enveloping one end before he released the Slytherin's hand. He lit his own and set down the lighter, "Okay," he set it between his lips, inhaling and letting smoke float from his nose and lips, "trust me?"
"I barely know you."
"Has nothing to do with this," Regulus smiled but nodded, Jem moved closer tilting his head away so he wasn't blowing smoke directly at the other, he pulled the joint from Regulus's fingers and set it against his lips, "Ouvert," he mumbled and Regulus did so, letting his lips fall apart. "Inhale," he did so only for the burn in his throat to make him cough, a soft chuckle and it was taken from his lips so he could breathe mostly fresh air.
"Merlin," he muttered between coughs and a hand ruffled his hair.
"Talking helps," Jem offered handing him the rolled paper. "Uh when's your birthday?"
"I'm turning 16 in a week. You?"
"Turned 16 last week, it's when I got back from Paris." He took another deep breath only coughing a little this time as he followed Jem's gaze to the trees.
"What's out there?"
"I'm not sure," he admitted, "but I want to know."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."