Chapter 6
James walked across the deck. He was nervous but tried not to show it.
A steward opened the door to the first-class entrance for him.
"Good evening, sir."
James nodded slightly and walked on.
James steps in and his breath is taken away by the splendor spread out before him.
Overhead is the enormous glass dome, with a crystal chandelier at its center. Sweeping down six stories is the First-Class Grand Staircase, the epitome of the opulent naval architecture of the time.
The young man crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against one of the narrow wooden pillars.
He watched the other people before standing up again and tried to imitate the men's posture.
An older couple passed him. The man nodded politely to James – he didn't know who James really was – and James nodded back.
So far everything has gone according to plan.
"Thousands of tons of Snape steel are in this ship," James heard a familiar voice.
He turned back to the grand staircase and saw Snape and Walburga walking towards him.
"Which part?" Walburga asked.
"All the right ones."
"Then you're accountable if there's a problem. Where are my sons?"
"They'll be along," Severus said.
While the two were talking they walked past James, maybe they recognized him, maybe they ignored him on purpose.
"There is the countess."
James let his gaze wander again. If the two were here, then Regulus wasn't far.
He was right.
James looked back at the stairs where Regulus was standing talking to his brother.
The younger Black brother recognized him immediately, left his brother and walked down the stairs without taking his eyes off James. He paused, James standing directly in front of him.
Regulus didn't expect James to look so good in a suit. It was almost a crime that he didn't wear a suit every day.
The younger Black brother didn't know where James got that suit from, but he didn't care either.
"Hi."
"Hi."
The two didn't even notice Sirius walking past them to join his mother and Severus.
"Can I kiss your hand?" James asked.
"What?"
"I saw that in a nickelodeon and always wanted to do it. Can I?"
"Um– okay."
James slowly took Regulus' hand and kissed the back of his hand.
Regulus couldn't help it, he felt special at that moment. The way James held his hand and looked at him.
James let go of Regulus' hand and Regulus felt… disappointment?
Together they joined Regulus' family.
"Severus," Regulus addressed him. "Surely you remember Mr. Potter."
"Potter?" Severus said, surprised. "It's amazing. You could almost pass for a gentleman."
"Almost."
"This is extraordinary."
Severus offered his arm to Walburga and the group headed into the main dining room.
Severus and Walburga were talking to other passengers. James, Regulus and Sirius stood to one side.
"There's the Countess of Rothes," Regulus explained, discreetly pointing to a woman.
"That's John Jacob Astor the richest man on this ship," Regulus said, indicating a pair. "His little wife, Madeleine, is one year younger than me and in a delicate condition. See how she tries to hide it."
"Quite the scandal," Sirius commented.
"Benjamin Guggenheim and his mistress, Madame Aubert. Mrs. Guggenheim is at home with the children, of course."
"Of course. What else?" James suggested.
Regulus chuckled.
James looked at him. The young man found it fascinating and wondered how Regulus knew all this. The younger man had amazing perceptiveness.
"And over here Sir Cosmo and Lucile, Lady Duff-Gordon. She designs naughty lingerie, among her many talents. Very popular with the royals."
"Escort a lady to dinner?"
Molly joined them. They hadn't noticed at first because they were too busy watching the other guests.
"Certainly."
James offered his arm to Molly and James, Regulus and Sirius followed the others to the table.
"Ain't nothing to it. They love money. Pretend like you own a gold mine and you're in the club," Molly advised the young man.
"Hey, Astor," Molly greeted the man.
"Hello, Molly. Nice to see you."
"J.J., Madeleine, I'd like you to meet James Potter," Regulus introduced his companion.
"Hello, James," Astor offered James his hand. "Are you of the Boston Potters?
"No, the Chippewa Falls Potters, actually."
"Oh yeah."
He must be so nervous, Regulus thought. But even if he was, he didn't show it. At times, Regulus was probably more nervous than James.
But the others assumed he was one of them. Heir to a railroad fortune, perhaps. Regulus didn't care. For the others, James was still a member of the club.
But you could always count on Walburga Black.
"Tell us of the accommodations in steerage Mr. Potter. I hear they're quite good," Regulus' mother said when everyone had sat down at the common table.
"The best I've seen, ma'am. Hardly any rats," James replied without batting an eyelid.
A few at the table laughed.
"Mr. Potter is joining us from third class. He was of help to Regulus last night."
"It turns out that Mr. Potter is quite a fine artist," Regulus tried to change the subject. "He showed me some of his work today."
"Regulus and I differ in our definition of fine art," said Snape. "Not to impugn your work, sir."
James shook his head slightly as a sign that it wasn't a big deal.
Regulus cleared his throat. James looked at him. The other young man pretended to wipe his mouth and pointed to James's napkin.
James quickly took his napkin from the plate and only now noticed the waiters who had positioned themselves at the table.
Then he noticed much too late that several forks, knives and spoons were lying next to the plate.
"Are all these mine?" James whispered, leaning slightly towards Molly who was sitting next to him.
"Start from the outside and work in."
"He knows every rivet in her, don't you, Thomas?"
"Your ship is a wonder, Mr. Andrews," Regulus said, and meant it.
He hadn't liked the ship at first, but he was starting to think it wasn't that bad.
"Thank you, Regulus."
"How do you take your caviar, sir?" a waiter asked James.
"No caviar for me, thanks. Never did like it much," he replied.
Regulus chuckled slightly.
He could have guessed. James was someone who was content with simple things.
The young man could imagine that James would rather eat some fast food at a carnival than sit here.
Regulus wished for James to be able to do that when they arrived in America.
"Where exactly do you live, Mr. Potter?" Walburga snapped her son out of his thoughts.
"Right now, my address is the RMS Titanic. After that, Lily, my best friend, and I are on God's good humor."
"Your best friend? Isn't she married?"
"Um no. She's still looking, and I'll take care of her until then."
"How heroic," Snape commented.
"Severus," Sirius said, annoyed.
"Well, I think it's very honorable that you look after your best friend, Mr. Potter. That shows a man's true character," Regulus' older brother added.
"How do you two have means to travel?" Walburga asked further.
"Mother," said Regulus. "This isn't an interrogation. I don't think—"
"Oh, no, it's okay," James assured, looking back at Walburga. "We work my way from place to place. Tramp steamers and such. I won our tickets on Titanic at a lucky hand at poker."
"A very lucky hand," James finished and looked at Regulus.
"All life is a game of luck."
"A real man makes his own luck. Right, Potter?"
"And you find that sort of rootless existence appealing, do you?" Walburga asked.
Regulus eyes widened and Molly also looked at her with slightly narrowed eyes
James thought for a moment.
"Yes, ma'am, I do," James replied. "I've got everything I need right here with me. I have air in my lungs and blank sheets of paper. I love waking up, not knowing what will happen or who I'll meet. Where I'll wind up. One night I'm sleeping under a bridge now I'm on the grandest ship in the world, with you fine people."
A waiter stood next to James. He picked up his glass and held it out to the waiter.
"I'll take more of that, thanks. Life's a gift. I don't intend on wasting it. You never know what hand you'll get dealt. You take life as it comes at you."
As James spoke, Severus went to light a cigarette but found no matches in his pocket.
"Here, Severus," James said, tossing the other man a box of matches. "Make each day count."
"Well said James," said Molly.
"Hear, hear."
Regulus raised his glass. "To make it count."
"To make it count," most of the others raised their glasses as well.
"Bravo."
From there the dinner left uneventful, but for Regulus it was a special dinner. For the first time in a long time, he was having fun.
"But Mr. Weasley didn't know I'd hidden the money in the stove," Molly told a funny story. "He comes home drunk as a pig celebrating and lights a fire."
The others at the table laughed.
"Next is brandy in the smoking room," Regulus murmured.
"Join me in a brandy, gentlemen?"
"No, I guess Regulus and I will skip today, won't we?" Sirius offered.
He got up with the other men but said goodbye and left the dining room.
"Now they retreat to congratulate each other on being masters of the universe."
"Joining us, Potter?" Colonel Darcie wanted to know. "You don't want to stay with the women."
"No, thanks. I have to head back," James politely declined.
"That's best. It'll be all business and politics. Wouldn't interest you," Snape commented, walking past James.
"But Potter," Snape turned back to James and tossed him his matches again. "Good of you to come."
James walked around the table to say goodbye to Regulus.
"Are you sure you want to go already?" Regulus wanted to know, disappointed.
"Time for me to row with the other slaves," said James.
He held out his hand to Regulus.
"Good night, Regulus."
Then he turned and left. Regulus noticed immediately, the note in his hand.
James looked back halfway to the door to make sure Regulus read the message too.
Heart pounding, Regulus unfolded the paper.
'make it count. meet me at the clock'
Regulus discreetly slipped the note into his jacket pocket.
He drank his glass quickly, but not too quickly, and said goodbye to his mother and the other ladies.
James was still waiting in front of the clock built into the wall of the grand staircase. He had his back to Regulus but turned as Regulus approached.
"So, you want to go to a real party?"