“Stalking me on the map, are you?” Regulus questioned at the sound of James entering the Astronomy Tower, not looking up from the textbook he was currently working from.
James blushed deeply, a small smile forming on his face and a warm feeling settling in the pit of his stomach at the sight of Regulus, pouring over his work, his eyebrows furrowed slightly in concentration.
And of course he looked beautiful, he always did.
James closed the door behind him, swiftly making his way over to where Regulus was sitting.
“How did you guess?” James asked, looking down at Regulus from where he was standing opposite him, he was scribbling notes down onto a piece of parchment.
“You’re predictable,” Regulus replied, the corners of his lips perking up slightly as he continued reading, quill making quick work on parchment. And James chuckled.
“What are you doing?” James questioned, eyes scanning over Regulus’ textbook before he took a seat beside him, their knees gently knocking together.
“Usage of Dittany in Potion making,” Regulus stated absentmindedly, dipping his quill in ink before looking up, his gaze landing on James.
And James felt his heart leap inside his chest. He found himself breathless, unable to respond, as he stared back into grey orbs. Regulus’ stare so mesmerising, so warm, it rendered James quite literally useless.
Regulus reached out a hand, softly grazing his thumb along the underside of James’ jaw. And James practically melted into the touch, his legs turning to jelly as he crossed them.
“Hi,” Regulus smiled, his voice soft as he used his free hand to close his workbook, discarding it onto the floor as he turned his body fully to face James. Now giving him his undivided attention.
“Hello,” James breathed out, leaning further into Regulus’ touch. His hand soft and warm on James’ face.
“I’ve missed you,” said Regulus, now cupping James’ face oh so gently. James felt his cheeks burn once again, his heart hammering in his chest.
“Yeah?” James mumbled, moving closer to Regulus, needing to be as close to him as possible, needing to feel his warmth.
Regulus was a knowingly cold individual, but with James, and James only, was he warm. His touch warm and delicate - magical.
His entire aura shifted when in the presence of a certain curly headed Gryffindor.
“Always,” Regulus whispered, knocking their foreheads together, their noses touching slightly. And James’ heart took another leap.
“I missed you too,” James confirmed, his eyes fluttering closed when Regulus’ hand found his hair, carding soft fingers through it.
There were silent for a while, basking in the company, the feeling, of having each other close. Rarely did they have moments like this - alone and undisturbed. It felt nice.
James never took the time they spent together for granted, taking mental snapshots of every little thing; the way Regulus smiled, his dimples popping softly when James made him laugh.
And his laugh, it was James’ favourite sound, sending shockwaves through his body every single time he heard it.
“Tell me something,” James mumbled, his head falling forwards, now resting in the crook of Regulus’ neck. His skin soft and warm against his cheek.
“Something?”
“Anything,” James replied, leaving a tender kiss to Regulus’ neck, smirking to himself at the feeling of Regulus shivering under his touch.
“Okay,” Regulus muttered, standing up and lending a hand for James to take. James took it willingly, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet.
Regulus led him over to the balcony, intertwining their fingers together, squeezing James’ hand gently. James gave him a squeeze back, trying to push down the feeling it gave him in the pit of his stomach.
The sky was so clear from where they were standing, the stars shining brightly into the night. And James looked up in awe, his grip tightening slightly on Regulus’ hand.
And with his spare hand, Regulus pointed up to the stars. “Do you see that constellation right there? It’s sort of shaped like a lion crouching down.”
James breathed in, his eyes instantly falling to where Regulus mentioned, he nodded his head.
“That’s the Leo constellation, located in the northern celestial hemisphere,” Regulus continued on, letting his hand fall back down. He turned to face James, his eyes lighting up as he stared. “Leo was identified as the Nemean Lion which was killed by Heracles, according to Greek mythology.”
James hummed along in acknowledgment, and Regulus could feel his neck grow hot.
“The constellation is marked by six stars, Epsilon Leonis, Mu Leonis, Zeta Leonis, Gamma Leonis, Eta Leonis, and Alpha Leonis,” Regulus took a quick breath, eyes scanning over James’ facial features. “Alpha Leonis being the brightest star in the constellation, and one of the brightest stars in general, also known as Regulus.”
“Regulus,” James replied, letting the name bubble on his tongue, his gaze falling to the brightest star in the constellation. Regulus, his Regulus.
There was a small huff of laughter, and James adverted his gaze to Regulus, they locked eyes for the second time that night. “You look beautiful out there,” he whispered, closing the remaining space between them.
James was never really that great at Astronomy. But at this time of night, with the stars so bright - so clear, and with Regulus staring up at him, he felt as if he knew everything to do with the subject.
Regulus blushed a deep pink. “Regulus lies close to the ecliptic,” he whispered, voice suddenly very small as James leaned closer, their faces only inches apart.
“Does it?”
“Yes,” Regulus swallowed, a delightful shiver coursing through his body when James leant down to leave an open mouthed kiss to his jaw. “The star marking the path in which the Sun passes through, meeting up with Regulus in conjunction each and every year.”
James blinked, brushing their noses together. He could feel Regulus’ hot breath fan across his face. “You know everything.”
“I know nothing,” said Regulus, rolling his eyes playfully, one hand sliding around James’ waist, pulling him even more closer. “Don’t you see what I’m saying?”
James blinked again, lost in Regulus’ touch, lost in his voice, his soft voice. He shook his head, feeling slightly fuzzy.
“When Regulus and the Sun meet up, the star is lost in the Sun’s bright gaze,” Regulus stated, and James nodded, spurring him to continue. “I’m the star, James.”
“Well, yes,” James chuckled, tucking a strand of Regulus’ hair behind his ear. “You’re called Regulus after all.”
“But what I’m saying is,” Regulus started, standing on his tiptoes to leave a soft kiss to James’ lips, pulling back almost instantly. And James whined low in his throat, his hands finding the back of Regulus’ neck in an attempt to keep them together. “You’re the Sun, James Potter. You’re my Sun.”
James crashed their lips together then, immediately relishing in the feeling. Regulus held him gently at the waist, hands disappearing under the hem of his shirt, tilting his head back slightly to grant James more access.
James shuddered at the feeling of cool hands against flush skin. He craved all of Regulus. All of him, all the time.
“You’re my star,” James mumbled, each word punctuated by a kiss to Regulus’ lips, soon trailing down to his neck. And Regulus moaned, digging his nails into the plush skin on James’ waist. “I love you.”
“Je t’aime,” Regulus whispered into his ear, voice as soft as always, almost lulling James into a trance like state. “Wake up, love.”
James stopped in his tracks, lips brushing over Regulus’ earlobe. He furrowed his eyebrows. “What?”
“Wake up, James,” said Regulus, his touch almost ghost like, barely even there.
Despite standing in his presence, Regulus sounded far away, distant. James could feel his insides screaming.
No, no, no.
James woke up in the dark, alone. His curls stuck to the sweat forming on his forehead.
He curled in on himself, bringing his knees up to his chest as he tried to level out his breathing.
The ghost of Regulus’ touch still present. It felt real, so real. And James squeezed his eyes shut.
It was a common occurrence nowadays, almost second nature, that James would dream of Regulus, alive and well and with him.
When James closed his eyes, Regulus was there. Always. He couldn’t escape his dreams. But he wasn’t sure if he wanted to.
This August would be coming up to one year.
One year without Regulus.
His Regulus.
August also being the time of year where the Sun passes through the ecliptic, stealing Regulus away from the night sky as they met up in a short, but sweet sort of passing.
Regulus was the star. And James was very clearly the Sun. But metaphorically speaking, the stars and the Sun didn’t mesh well.
James and Regulus made it work, though. They always made it work. And without Regulus at his side, James felt empty, he felt hollow.
So, he longed for the day where Alpha Leonis and the Sun would pass by each other.
He longed for the day they would be together again, hoping and praying that when that time comes around, they wouldn’t have to separate ever again.
Hoping that when they meet up next, the Sun would be stolen by the star’s gaze instead.