Chapter 1
"Merlin, I hate Regulus, he's such a prick." James complained, as he said the same sentence for the second time in the last half an hour.
Remus was many things, but dumb was not one of them. And this wasn't the same as when James spoke about Severus, no it was more like when he talked about Lily.
Any outsider would think that James just really, really hated the younger Black brother. But he was taking every single chance to talk about him. Following Remus around like a puppy whenever he wasn't around Sirius. Which was strange in itself. James kept nothing from Sirius, the boy whom he called his brother. And even though Severus was a bit of a sensitive subject to Sirius, James didn't stop talking about his hate with the older. But he didn't tell Sirius about Regulus now.
And Remus wasn't dumb. He knew that something had happened to James regarding Regulus and he knew that James was harbouring a secret crush. Even if James didn't know that yet.
Remus wasn't dumb but James was. Not academically, no, James was extremely intelligent in that aspect. He created the map, he was a fucking animagus. He was academically smart but that does not mean that he wasn't dumb. James claimed to lose his wand when it was in his hand. James thought he was dying from a cold. James cried over a spider loose in the room. James tripped over himself running down the stairs and broke his ankle. The list really does go on.
So James did not know that he had a crush. Even though Remus could see him stalking Regulus on the map. Even though he talked about him all the bloody time.
And Remus couldn't do anything. Or well he refused to. He would let James figure it out for himself. And maybe James would do something with that information too. Who knows? And maybe Remus found this a little bit funny but he'd never tell. Well maybe he'd tell Sirius if he ever found out.
"Moony, are you even listening?"
Remus snapped up out of his thoughts and gave James a look.
"Your saying the same things over and over again. I really don't understand where this sudden interest in baby black came about."
"I've always hated him you know that."
Merlin have mercy on me. Please help me.
"Shut up, prongs. I need to study, go talk to Sirius about it."
"I cant talk to Sirius, Moons. Why would I tell him?"
"Just sit there and don't speak, yea?"
"Eh. Sounds boring, imma go."
"Alright, mate, have fun."
"Will do."
Please, merlin, make him figure this out soon.
10 weeks later.
James had shut up about Regulus a week after that time. Which was odd but Remus only hoped something had happened between the two.
He had been sneaking out often, always with the map and the cloak. Luckily, James always waited until Sirius and Peter were asleep before moving, which was a smart move honestly.
If Sirius even had an inkling that James had started doing something without telling Sirius, all hell would break loose. Even more so if he knew who it was with. And James had only slipped up once but Remus covered for him that time so it went alright.
And James was dumb enough to think that Remus was just covering for him because he thought James was actually doing something like that. Idiot.
He had been trying to get Remus' attention all day. And Remus had a feeling it was something to do with Regulus. And maybe it was funny to see how angry James got when Remus avoided him.
He had chosen a secluded spot in the library. It was nice to see what type of books Hogwarts owned. Barely any muggle books but he made do on his own. Sirius bought him some if he even mentioned it. So he really didn't have to worry.
"Remus John Lupin you have been ignoring me all day! I have important things to tell you."
Remus rolled his eyes. "For fucks sake, Prongs what do you want to tell me?"
James seemed to shrink back which was quite unlike him.
"Spit it out, I dont have all day."
"Right well um Moony i have to tell you this but you cannot tell Sirius. Under any circumstance."
"Got it, now speak."
"MeandRegulusaredating."
"What was that?"
"Me and Regulus are dating."
"Right Prongs, for starters, it's Regulus and I. And secondly, I know you dumb shit."
James stopped in his tracks. "What do you mean you know?"
"I mean, you following me around, constantly talking about him, even if it was about your supposed hatred and you refusing to tell Sirius anything really said something. And then you stopped talking about him and kept sneaking off and mate did you forget that i'm a fucking werewolf. Of course I know."
James ran his hand through his hair, a nervous habit of his and chuckled a bit.
"Okay well maybe i'm a bit dumb but oh well. Are you okay with it?"
"Prongs, Ive seen how much happier you are. And if you're happy then Im happy for you. But be careful, yea? That family isn't a good one and their bound to have some plans for him. Dont get your heart broken."
"I won't, I promise."
Remus didn't really believe him but if Regulus had even a clue about how much he brightened up James' life, then he'd do the right thing. And he knew that Regulus was a smart person. Probably the smartest in the entire school at potions. So he had faith in the younger.
Only a little bit though.
"Also um Remus, there's more."
"What else could there be?"
"I'm not just dating Regulus."
"Oh?"
"I'm dating Barty and Evan too." He admitted, looking incredibly anxious.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm sorry, Moons. They're just like really nice and lovely and sarcastic and Barty and I can do dumb shit together and Evan and I can just be stupid and relax and Regulus is just ugh. I really like them."
"I- Uhm. Wow. How the fuck didn't i figure that out, for fucks sake." Remus wasnt mad, just slightly annoyed that he had only figured out about Regulus. Just slightly.
"That's all your gonna say on it?"
"I- well fuck it's caught me off guard. Okay so are you like dating the three of them or are all four of you dating eachother?"
"We're all dating eachother. Well except Regulus and Evan. They're just best mates."
"Cool. Okay well god Prongs be careful. And I don't just mean with them. Sirius will murder all four of you infront of eachother if he finds out. So please tell him soon."
"Wow you really care about me. I will, promise."
"Good. Now um how did this even happen?"
"Well I dont know what to tell you really, I started dating Regulus and then i became friends with Barty and Evan and then it just went from there?"
"Oh. Uh that's great, Prongs. And why did you only tell me you and Reg were together first."
"See how you react, get the worst of it out the way yknow."
"Smart move, mate."