Better than him
James and regulus were a Cliche. The ‘jock’ quidditch player that girls pined over and regulus the opposite, a nerd that girls pined over. They were opposites. Gryffindor and slytherin. That didn’t stop them.
Everyone found out that they were dating last year when James was in 6th year and regulus was in 5th year. Sirius wasn’t happy at first. He actually punched James but then came around to it. He trusted James. He was his best friend. Most Girls weren’t happy either, nor were the small percent of boys who were gay for either one of them.
It was around November when they decided to split up for a bit. James got caught up in pranks and regulus was jealous of his friends that spent 24/7 with him. They both regretted it but were too awkward to reconcile.
Everyone feared playing quidditch with james. He became aggressive. Other teams keepers were terrified during games and sirius was scared during practice. James distanced himself from his friends for a week and then returned back to them to plan a prank on slytherin. He didn’t want it to be too aggressive because he didn’t want to hurt regulus but he kind of wanted to because he missed him and was angry at the break up. They didn’t do any more pranks and James often zoned out. His grades were slipping too.
Regulus got kicked from the quidditch team because he refused to play against gryffindor. Regulus didn’t take the break up well. He was no longer known as a nerd. He was very different. He started to wear eyeliner and styled his clothes better to seem more attractive. It worked and he began sleeping with everyone who asked. Girl, boys, enbies. Everyone. He started smoking and mostly kept himself to himself. He became known as the ‘slytherin slut’. James didn’t like this, he still felt possessive towards the younger boy.
After around a month of this Barty finally decided to make his move. Barty asked regulus out and regulus said yes to a date in hogsmeade. James obviously became jealous from this and asked Phoebe Dawson (the seeker of gryffindor) on a date and she said yes. She knew it was to make regulus jealous but she didn’t care, honestly she wanted them back together. It was better for the team.
The two pairs were now in the three broomsticks. Sat on opposite sides of the pub.
“James, are you alright?”
“I’m Fine, how are you?” James was obviously not alright. His jaw was set, nose was flared and he was focused. Focused on one person.
“I’m ok. James I know this is to get back at regulus. I think you should get back together with him”
“He broke up with me”
“Go to him. Talk to him. He might say yes”
“But what if he doesn’t”
“He will. Everyone can tell. James I’m speaking as your friend, the breakup was not good for either of you, you were better together”
“I-I- I can’t. He obviously didn’t want to be with me. He’s better off without me”
“You know that’s not true James”
“Let’s go find the others. They’ll probably be at zonko’s”
———————————————
“Regulus are you okay?”
“Yeah I’m fine.”
“Good”
They sat in silence for a minute. Regulus was staring at James talking with his date.
“Regulus. I like you yknow. I really do”
“Cool”
“Do you like me back?”
Regulus didn’t reply. He didn’t want to make Barty feel bad but he didn’t like him.
“Regulus did you hear me?”
“Yeah I did. Um well I’m not sure. Why don’t we start going out and I’ll decide if I like you or not”
Barty shouldn’t be okay with this but strangely he was. He got regulus so he was happy. Although to regulus he saw it more as friends with benefits.
“Do you reckon his date is going well?”
“Can we please not talk about your ex on a date”
“Sorry I forgot it was a date”
“It’s fine, I think it may be going well. Look they just left”
“Oh. I need the toilet, I’ll be back in a minute”
“Okay. I’ll order another drink”
Regulus walked into a stall and sunk to the floor. He started to cry. He didn’t want the date to go well, he didn’t want to go out with Barty, he didn’t want to break up. He eventually went back to his table and carried on his date with Barty.
————————
“Hey guys.”
“Hey prongs, how was the date?”
“I’m going to try get back with regulus”
This took the other marauders a second to register. It took them by surprise.
“O-oh when?”
“Tonight. I can’t deal without him anymore”
“I’m happy for you prongs.”
“Don’t be yet. He hasn’t said yes”
“He will do”
“How do you know?”
“Because I know my brother. He wouldnt act out like he has unless something was up. Only thing that changed was the breakup. He missed you. He’s upset about the breakup”
“So why did he go on a date?”
“To make you jealous. Same reason you went out with Phoebe”
“Oh”
“Come on James let’s go back to the castle. We have home work to finish”
“Ok then”
James didn’t do any homework. He just thought about what to say to regulus. Every night regulus goes up to the astronomy tower to do whatever he does. James spies on him with the marauders map, though he’ll never admit to it.
Nightfall came and James grabbed his invisibility cloak. He started heading towards the astronomy tower. Luckily for him it wasn’t that far away from gryffindor tower. It took him around 5 minutes to get the the top of the tower.
Regulus was sat by the edge smoking a cigarette looking at the stars. James stood there for a couple of minutes building the courage to speak.
“Hi”
Regulus turned around and stood up after seeing it was James.
“Hello potter”
“Regulus”
“Yes”
James was thinking of how to say way he wanted to say.
“Spit it out then”
“Well. I don’t know how to say this”
“Just say it”
“I miss you regulus. God I really fucking miss you”
James walked closer the where regulus was stood.
“Regulus. I still love you. I want you”
“Seems like you knew exactly what to say”
“Regulus-“
“Im going out with Barty now”
“Really?”
James clenched his fists. He was getting angry but he tried to keep calm.
“Well we went on a date”
“Is that right?”
“James step back”
“Why should I? I mean I know you want me back. Just admit it reg”
“Don’t call me that”
“So your not denying it?”
No reply. James chuckled to himself and smirked at regulus. Regulus had, had enough. He grabbed James’ jumper and pinned him to the wall kissing the smirk off his face.
“Well I like this”
“Shut up James”
They went back to kissing. It was passionate and lust-filled. It was as if they’d been touch starved for years.
“I really missed you James. I love you so much”
“What about Barty?”
“Forget him”
“Did you sleep with him?”
“Regrettably yes. He’s not very good”
James grabbed regulus and swapped the rolls making regulus against the wall with James above him.
“I could be a better boyfriend than him, I can do the shit that he never did”
“God you are so hot”
“I know”
They stayed there for another hour making out. They both got a bit carried away leaving hickeys along each other’s necks and collar bones.
—————————
The next morning James woke up and remembered last night and felt over the moon. He slept shirtless so when he got up everyone in the dorm could see his hickeys. James was the last one awake so everyone was dressed and ready for the day.
“Oh my god James. I take it went well”
“Oh god my brother did that put a shirt on”
“It went amazing. I have a boyfriend again”
“I’m happy for you”
“Thanks moony. And I’ve put a shirt on sirius you can come out from behind moony”
“You can still see them on your neck”
“Oh well. Just don’t look. I’m going to find regulus I said I’d meet him, see you at breakfast”
“Cya”
James walked down to the common room and when people noticed the hickeys they all stared at him. He was proud of regulus for his work. Much like he was proud of himself for his work and he hasn’t even seen it. He got to the agreed meeting spot a little bit late so regulus was already there.
“Why are you always late?”
“Not always”
“Mostly”
“Maybe so”
“Barty wasn’t happy”
“I didn’t think he’d be”
“He wouldn’t speak to me”
“I’m sorry reg”
“Don’t be. He’s a bit of a jerk”
James laughed at that. It was true but hearing it from regulus was strange because Barty was his best friend.
“Come here james”
James walked over the regulus and kissed him.
“You do realise everyone is going to be talking about us again reg”
“Let them”
“I know I said it last night but that eyeliner really works for me”
“Good because it’s not going anywhere”
“Let’s get to breakfast. Sit with me”
“Okay”
They walked into the hall hand in hand. Everyone’s eyes were on them and people starting whispering and talking about them.
“Hello brother”
“Hello regulus. Are you going to start sitting with us again?”
“Yes”
“Okay then”
“Hey remus, how are you doing?”
“I’m doing good regulus. I’m happy that you are back together”
“Thank you. Where Peter?”
“He went to the library”
“Ah okay”
Some of the girls from gryffindor walked over to where the couple were sitting.
“Are you guys back together?”
“Yes”
James looked at regulus.
“Yes we are”