i think your house is haunted
London had always intrigued Regulus. He never had the opportunity to explore it, since his family believed muggles were the scum of the Earth. They never entertained the idea of an outing into the muggle world, so unless he was going strictly to meet Death Eaters or family members, he never truly saw it. And London was…a lot. Overwhelming, to say the least. James kept a tight grip on his hand, which made him feel better. He was like an anchor for Regulus, since James was better versed in how this area operated than he was. Eventually, James dragged Regulus into a used bookstore, smiling brightly at the boy behind him. “My mum used to take me here once a month to get a new book when I was little,” James said, still holding onto Regulus’ hand. “I loved it, and reading muggle books was always a treat. Pick out anything you want, we want you to be as comfortable as possible.” He said, smiling down at Regulus.
Regulus smiled softly and nodded, turning to look at one of the many displays of books around him. Almost immediately, he spotted a muggle book he had wanted for ages; Fahrenheit 451. He heard muggle born students talking about how the novel was banned at their schools, and Regulus had always been intrigued by it. He walked over, his hand slipping from James’, and he picked up the book in his hand. James followed behind him, resting his chin on Regulus’ shoulder. “Found something already?” He asked. Regulus nodded. “I’ve heard the stories of this book being banned from schools, and I’ve wanted to read it ever since. But they never had it in the library at school,” He said quietly, flipping the book over to read the synopsis on the back. James hummed, standing up straight. “What’s the deal with the book that made it be banned? Why does a book need to be banned anyways?” He asked, adjusting his glasses on his face.
Regulus laughed softly. “I believe it had something to with it being inappropriate for high school students? I’m not sure,” He said, turning back to look at James. James nodded and grabbed hold of Regulus’ hand again. “I don’t wanna lose you in the city, you’re short enough that I might miss you!” James teased, and Regulus rolled his eyes. “Shut it, I’m average height, you’re just weirdly tall,” Regulus retorted.
James laughed. “6’4” isn’t weirdly tall. Maybe 5’9” is weirdly short, hm?” James asked. Regulus gasped and turned to look back at him. “James Potter, I’m not 5’9”. I’m 5’11”, and I resent you for saying that,” He teased, leading James down another aisle of books. James threaded their fingers together, following behind him. “Whatever you say, darling,” James said. Regulus was thankful his back was to James, as his cheeks burned bright red because of the nickname.
They spent about 30 minutes in the bookstore, and Regulus found three books he wanted to get. Fahrenheit 451, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Romeo and Juliet. “Shakespeare? Really?” James asked, nudging Regulus’ shoulder. “Really! I’ve always loved this story, and I left my copy at home,” Regulus said. “Something about love between two people, families forcing them to despise each other yet defying those odds, and going against their family just…intrigues me, I suppose.”
James nodded, watching as Regulus talked about the story. “Kinda like us,” James said. His eyes widened and he began to panic. “I- uh, not like that, I mean. I mean like your family doesn’t like people like my family, and us being such good friends kind of defies those odds. Not, like…a romantic way.” He said quickly, his tanned cheeks burning red. Regulus laughed softly, his cheeks a warm pink color. “I get what you’re saying, don’t worry.” He said, squeezing James’ hand reassuringly. James let out a breath, smiling down at Regulus. James took the books to the counter and paid for them, grabbing Regulus’ hand and leading him out of the street and into a department store nearby.
From across the street, the piercing blue eyes of Lucius Malfoy watched the two boys curiously. He didn’t recognize Regulus at first, as it had been a few months since he had been to visit the Black family and court Narcissa. He did, though, recognize James. It was hard not to; he was tall, tan skin, a large mop of dark brown curly hair. Lucius smirked, turning on his heel and heading to a spot where he could apparate to Grimmauld Place.
Once he arrived in the dark manor, he navigated the corridors to find Walburga’s office. Knocking on the door, he waited a moment before she allowed him to enter. Her manicured nails, coated in a deep emerald varnish, tapped against her desk as she eyed the man. “What can I do for you, Lucius?” She inquired, the scraping of the large armchair in front of her desk skidding against the wooden floors echoing in the large room. Lucius sat down, pursing his lips. “As I’m sure you are already aware, both of your sons no longer reside here,” He began. Walburga quirked an eyebrow up, chuckling lowly. “Yes, I am aware of that.”
“Well, I believe I have knowledge of where they both are residing.” Lucius said slowly. Walburga breathed in deeply. “And what knowledge is that, Lucius?”
“I was in the city, leaving a meeting with my father, when I spotted Regulus walking into a muggle department store with one James Potter. I’m sure you know that he is Sirius’ best friend, correct?” Lucius asked. Walburga’s eye twitched. “I assure you, it may seem as if I do…did not listen to my son’s incessant babbling when he returned from his studies, but I did. I am aware of who James Potter is, that blood traitor,” Walburga said, leaning back in her chair and folding her arms across her chest.
Lucius smirked. “Perhaps we could use this knowledge as a way of…oh, I don’t know, petty blackmail. Use the knowledge of where the two brothers are residing as a way to encourage, or perhaps force, them to come back. Join the right side of this fight.” Lucius explained. Walburga considered this; after Sirius left, she knew that Regulus was her only chance at having a stronger allyship with the Dark Lord. When he extended the Death Eater enrollment age to the age of 15, rather than the age of 18, both her and Orion were hesitant to allow Regulus to join. Looking back on it, she supposed she should have forced his hand harder.
Walburga stared into Lucius’ icy blue eyes before nodding her head, extending her hand out for a handshake. “Let’s get on with it, then.”
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“Regulus, Sirius, there’s post for you on the dining table!” Effie called, letting the two envelopes fall onto the tablecloth. The envelopes were small, but the emerald green wax seal with a large cursive B embellished into the wax made it immediately apparent who they were from. Regulus, Sirius, and James all came downstairs, rubbing their eyes and desperate to find food. “You boys, always sleeping in late,” Fleamont said jokingly, scooting past them to give his wife a kiss on the cheek. James rolled his eyes, opening the refrigerator to find milk for his cereal. Regulus eyed the envelopes on the table, reaching out to grab the one with his name on it. He felt his heart stop, as his eyes trailed over the cursive writing for the return address.
Walburga and Orion Black
The Most Noble and Ancient House of Black
London Borough of Islington
Regulus shakily reached out to shake Sirius’ shoulder. “What, Reggie, I’m trying to get my cereal,” Sirius said, before turning around and spotting the envelopes on the table. “What the fuck?” He exclaimed, causing Effie to send him a glare. He gave her an apologetic smile before grabbing the envelope, tearing the wax seal and ripping it open, reading the letter quickly.
Sirius Orion,
As I am sure you are aware, it is your mother. I am aware that you and your brother, Regulus Arcturus, are staying with a blood traitor. You know my feelings about him and his…status. His blood may be pure, but his constitutions are not. You and your brother will come home this instant, take the mark, and become loyal to the Dark Lord. This is not up for debate. We will see you soon.
Regards,
Walburga Black, The Most Noble and Ancient House of Black
Regulus slammed the letter down on the table. “Pardon my french Effie, but fuck that entire letter.” He exclaimed. James choked on his cereal, turning to look at Regulus. “Woah, Reg, who was the letter from?” James asked, wiping his chin with a paper towel. “From our mother, begging us to come back and take the mark,” Sirius said, gripping the letter tightly in his hand. “She has to be joking, right? She isn’t expecting us to come back and take the mark.” Sirius exclaimed, turning to look at Regulus.
The smaller boy shrugged, rubbing his eyes as he did. “It wouldn’t surprise me if that was her intention. She’s always had it in her mind that she could convince you to come back, and if she couldn’t convince you, she would force you,” He said. Effie scoffed, taking a sip of her tea. “Good lord, Regulus, you and Sirius’ mother sounds…absolutely dreadful,” She said, earning a small laugh from the two brothers. “She truly is. You’ve seen what she’s capable of,” Regulus said.
James moved to stand closer to Regulus, resting his chin on the shorter boy’s shoulder and reading the letter on the table. Regulus felt his head lean against James’, his curly hair tickling his cheek. James snorted as he finished reading. “Yeah, wow, she sounds like a tosser,” He agreed, standing straight to finish off his bowl of cereal. Regulus nodded, turning to grab a bowl and pour cereal for himself and Sirius.
“You guys aren’t going back, are you?” Effie asked. Sirius cackled, shaking his head as he pulled his hair back into a bun. “Absolutely not, mum. You’re way better than Walburga, I’d rather live here anyways.” Sirius said, earning a soft smile from Effie. “And you, Regulus?” Effie asked. Regulus blinked a few times, setting the cereal box back on the counter.
He knew his answer; it was a no. But this was the first time he ever had to fully admit it to himself, let alone his brother, friend, and his friend’s mother. Taking this step, admitting that he wasn’t going to follow in the footsteps of his family, was the first step he needed to take to begin healing. To begin feeling normal again. As he picked up the cereal box again, pouring it into the bowl, Regulus shook his head and turned to face the others in the room. “No. I’m not.”
James smiled warmly, nudging Regulus’ shoulder with his own. “I’m proud of you, Reg,” James said, causing Regulus’ stomach to flip upside down. A deep flush covered Regulus’ cheeks as he poured the milk into his bowl. “Thanks, James.”
“So am I, little star. Two brothers, basically on the run from their horrible family. It’s like, uh…Monty Python and the Holy Grail, I think.” Sirius said, causing Regulus to laugh loudly. “Sirius, us running away from our abusive family is like Monty bloody Python?” He exclaimed. Sirius shrugged, throwing his hands into the air and grabbing his cereal bowl. “I dunno! I only saw it once in a muggle theatre with James, I barely remember it.”
Regulus rolled his eyes. “Sirius, you are incredible.” He said sarcastically. Sirius grinned and threw his arm around his brother’s shoulders. “I know, little star, I know.”
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James Fleamont Potter is a lover. He feels love for people to the highest degree possible, so much that it physically hurts. But one feeling he is still unfamiliar with, and that feeling is romantic love. Sure, he had a small crush on Lily Evans during their first few years at Hogwarts, but he could hardly say he loved her. With Regulus, it seemed different. He cared for Regulus in a way that he had never felt before. He wanted to hold him tight, away from the clawed grip of the Noble House of Black, and make sure that his mother never got ahold of him ever again. James wanted to protect Regulus from the sideways glares of Hogwarts students, the people who didn’t know Regulus, his Regulus. The Regulus that fiddled with his hands when he was nervous, the Regulus who loved Romeo and Juliet because he admired their bravery in defying their parents all because of love, the Regulus that loved his brother with the ferocity of a thousand fires. His Regulus, his moon.
The bright, gleaming moon to his warm, shining sun.
It was another night in the Potter house where Regulus had asked James to stay with him for the night. After his nightmares started getting worse, they had decided that it would be best for someone to stay with him. James thought back onto how that conversation even began.
The night after Regulus and Sirius received their letters was rough, to say the least. Sirius had been somewhat okay, taking slightly longer than normal to fall asleep. But when James got up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water, he glanced outside into the back garden to find Regulus sitting in the grass, hunched over and shaking. James immediately set his glass down, walking outside to talk to Regulus.
“Reg?” James asked, sitting down in the grass next to him. Regulus sniffed, quickly wiping the tears streaming down his cheeks away with the sleeve of his hoodie- well, James’ hoodie. Regulus turned to look at James, eyes wide and full of fear. “I’m scared, James,” Regulus whispered, as if he was unable to speak louder. James wrapped his arm around Regulus’ shoulder. “I’m so scared. What if she comes to find us? What if she hurts your family, James? What if they hurt you?” Regulus said through his sobs, burying his face into James’ shoulder. “I can’t let my family be the reason that you die.”
James let his cheek rest against the top of Regulus’ head, his dark hair brushing against his cheek. “Reg,” He said. “If that heinous bitch comes to my home, with my family and the people I care about, then she has a lot more to worry about than just trying to get you and Sirius to come home.” James said, squeezing Regulus tight. The smaller boy sniffed, tears falling onto the sleeves of his hoodie.
James sighed, looking down at the boy in his arms. “Regulus, you mean a lot to me. I would let myself walk barefoot over broken glass if it meant you had at least the slightest reprieve from how the universe treats you. You deserve peace more than anyone else I know,” James said, pressing a kiss to the top of Regulus’ head. Regulus smiled softly, tears still streaming down his face, and the pair sat on the grass until the sun began to rise in the morning.
After that night, James waited with Regulus until he fell asleep every evening.
As the stars danced across the midnight sky, the chirps of crickets fading into the background, James Potter pondered what love really felt like. His hazel eyes traveled across Regulus’ sleeping face. The moon illuminated him enough that James could study him, taking in every freckle and mole that was littered across his ivory skin. The way his eyelashes rested against his cheeks, or the way his hair fell into his eyes as he slept. Regulus squeezed James’ hand in his sleep, pulling it closer to his sleeping frame. Finally, after pondering what love felt like for longer than he cared to admit, he had come to the conclusion that love felt like Regulus Arcturus Black. And if Sirius ever found out about this conclusion, he would be a dead man walking.