They’re sitting outside in the grass when James says it.
“Lily’s pregnant.”
Regulus looks up. “Oh. Wow.” He didn’t know Lily had been seeing anyone.
“It’s mine.”
“What’s yours?”
“The baby. It’s mine.”
Regulus hears a familiar buzzing in his ears. He can’t feel his lips. His fingers tingle. It’s been so long since he felt this blind panic. But it’s familiar, a perverse welcome home. Regulus digs his fingers into the grass.
James is pale. He won’t look Regulus in the eye.
“You fucked Lily Evans.” Regulus desperately wants James to deny it. He doesn’t even care if it’s a lie. Please lie to me. Please.
James flinches, his glasses sliding down his nose. “I didn’t, it wasn’t-” James shoves his glasses up, pressing his fists to his eyes. “It was before you came back. I thought you were gone,” he whispers, voice breaking.
Regulus closes his eyes. Breathe it in. Hold the feeling close to your heart. Breathe it out.
He heaves a shaking breath, the buzzing in his ears easing. He looks skyward, the clouds are floating past. James and Lily and James and Lily and James and Lily.
“Are you in love with her again?”
“No. No. It wasn’t like that.” The words gush from James. “I love you. I love you, and I lost you.” A tear drops onto James’ cheek and he swipes it away. “It was a mistake.”
A mistake. Spilling ink is a mistake. Missing a portkey is a mistake. Mistakes don’t feel like they’re reaching inside your chest and grinding your heart to dust.
“When did this happen?”
“It was months ago. Nothing has happened since. She didn’t tell me until yesterday.”
Regulus drops his eyes back down to James. Darkness curls in the back of his mind. Darkness, and the sound of Severus Snape’s voice. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him.
“When is she due?”
James’ brows come together. “What?”
“When is she due, James?” The buzzing in his ears is back, full force. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies.
“The end of July.”
Everything in Regulus goes very still.
“Who else knows?” Regulus asks.
“I don’t know.” James is looking at Regulus closely now. “Reg, I need you to know that I-”
Regulus can’t listen to whatever declarations James needs to make. Regulus can’t fall apart. This isn’t about his feelings, not anymore.
“You can’t tell anyone else, James.” Regulus interrupts.
James closes his mouth, teeth clicking. “Reg, listen-”
“No. James, you need to call a meeting with Dumbledore. Now.”
James rears back, “What? Regulus, why would we need-”
Regulus reaches forward and grabs James’ forearm, digging in with his nails. “James, I cannot emphasize how important it is that you shut up and do as I say. Just this once, please, no questions.”
James swallows. Regulus watches the bob of his throat. “Okay, Reg. I’ll call a meeting.”
Regulus releases James’ arm and watches him disappear inside.
Fuck.