It was nearing the end of the week, just a day or two before winter break. James and the other marauders were excited as always. There was a full moon pretty early on this year, so Remus was able to stay at the Potter’s house for the full time. The four had been so overjoyed until the morning before their departure.
“Mornin’ lads. Reckon you’re all chuffed for tomorrow innit?” nodded Remus, shoving his signature Moony toast into his mouth.
“Ayup of course we are. There ain’t nothing better than Christmas at the Potter’s, especially if that means some alone time with you Moony”. Sirius sat down at the bench and Remus moved into his lap.
“Oi you wankers, get a grip. You poofs have to be more subtle around my parents,” scoffed James.
They continued conversing as the morning post came in. Sirius groaned as the Black family owl’s dropped off letters to both him and his younger brother Regulus. He quickly opened it, his jaw dropping.
“Right, what’s all this then?”
Everyone gathered around to see as well. James took it, reading it aloud.
“Dear Mr. Sirius Black,
We have been informed that you will not be returning home this holiday season. We shall not stop you as you are a useless good for nothing piece of rubbish whom we want nothing to do with. Though, to ensure you are not up to anything, you are to my accompanied by your brother Regulus. May you perish and suffer.
- Walburga Black.”
None of the marauders could believe what they had just read. They looked over to the Slytherin table, seeing an equally pissed-off Regulus.
“Reg is coming?! James, surely you can stop this. There’s no way I’m dealing with Reg for two weeks.”
“I can’t do much for you there Sirius, just try to ignore him.”
“Won’t your parents object?”
“No, not really. Mum’s always looking to have more people at the house.”
“Oi, that’s bollocks.”
“A load of rubbish,” Remus chimed in.
“W-we can still have fun though, right?” asked Peter.
“Right, fuck off Wormtail,” snapped Sirius.
Regulus stood up and was walking over to the Gryffindor table where the marauders were eating their breakfast. He held out his letter.
“What’s this.”
“I dunno why don’t you ask mum?”
“Why am I being punished because you broke the rules?”
“Don’t ask me you prick. Besides, it’s not like I want you here anyway.”
Regulus looked at James.
“Can’t you fix this Potter?”
“I’ll tell you the same thing I told Sirius. No.”
“Why?”
“You really think I have any authority to change this? Look, just see it as a chance for some brotherly bonding.”
Regulus and Sirius both rolled their eyes. Reg then returned promptly to the Slytherin table among his very curious comrades.
“This is going to be a hell of a ride,” sighed James.
It seemed as though there was about to be a huge change in the lives of the marauders.
The next morning had come along and the boys were on the train home to James’s. After receiving the news yesterday, everyone was scheming about how to make the holiday better. Sirius seemed particularly pleased.
“Okay, Remus and I got some tricks from Zonko’s last night, and we’ve been practicing some spells.”
“Yeah, we’re planning on using aug-”
“Don’t tell them yet Remus, I want it to be a surprise!”
James nudged Sirius.
“Go easy on Reg, ay? He’s probably more upset than you I reckon.”
“How do you suppose?”
“You have Remus and me.”
“A-and me,” chimed Peter.
“Yeah, sure, whatever, but Reg don’t care about that stuff. He’s going to be miserable no matter what and so I’m going to help him achieve that. Don’t worry Potter, we won’t let this ruin the break.”
The train ride continued on and eventually reached their stop. James’s parents were waiting for the boys just outside the platform.
“Mum!”
“Hello, my boy how are you! Oh, and there’s Sirius and Peter and Remus! Hello boys!”
She gave them all a kind, warm hug. James looked over to Regulus.
“Oh, mum, I should probably mention, Regulus will be staying with us as well.”
“Don’t worry, I already know. The Black’s sent an owl already. It’s great to have you Regulus!”
Reg nodded. He wasn’t particularly keen on staying with his brother, let alone with his brother’s friends and their parents, but he decided to simply do what he had to to get it over with. He had thought to just stay in his room and read, or perhaps just sleep most of the time. Upon arriving, Regulus thought to himself that the Potter’s actually had quite a nice home. It smelled like butterbeer and had lovely Christmas decorations moving around the room. For a brief moment, he wondered if he may actually enjoy himself. That time of solace was quickly ruined by his very loud brother. Sirius and Remus had already run off to a room, without much hesitation. James was about to follow but stayed to show Regulus where he would be staying.
“We only have two spare rooms, so Remus and Sirius have agreed to share one. You can take this room here. Mines just across the hall.”
He opened the door, showing Reg inside, and then went to go find the other marauders. Regulus went to sit down on the bed, unpacking a few of his belongings.
“I guess this is where I’ll be for the next while.”
He sighed. As he planned, Regulus did in fact remain in his room, trying his best to avoid any human interaction. He occasionally saw Mrs. Potte. Reg could hardly stand how kind she was. It soon grew fairly dark out, and Reg decided to read a bit before heading to bed. He opened the book, and skimmed through the pages. Regulus was reading about mermaids and other creatures of the deep sea. He was so immersed that he could almost feel the water coming down on him. He looked up.
“Oh, what the…”
Reg was wrong. He wasn’t imagining the water. It was actually there. It began flooding into the room. He tried a couple of counter-jinxes but none seemed to stop the flooding. He was about knee deep now with th e water rising fast.
“Did the book have a curse?”
He tried to make his way to the door. With the weight of the water it didn’t open. He groaned.
“Bombarda,” he whispered at the door.
It blew open, though the water remained in the room. He walked out, unbelievably drenched. Everyone came out of their rooms at the sound of the explosion. James was first.
“Oi, what’s all the noise?... Reg? Why are you all wet?”
“It’s not like I asked for this.”
“What happened to the door?”
“I blew it up.”
“Why?!”
“I didn’t fancy drowning.”
Mr. and Mrs. Potter, and well as Remus and Sirius came out as well.
“Regulus dear, are you alright?”
“Yeah.”
Remus and Sirius snickered.
“Oi what’s so funny.”
“Nothing at all Reg.”
“Was this your doing?”
“We would never! Would we Remus?”
“Of course not!”
Mrs. Potter looked at the two of them.
“Boys be nice to Regulus! Now, Regulus, you can go get cleaned up in the bathroom there, we’ll fix up the room.”
He walked off, trying his hardest not to retaliate. He was more bothered that he couldn’t sleep over anything else. Regulus found himself quite temperamental but knew it was better to just ignore Sirius for the remainder of the holiday. Even his gay lover Remus could be a bit much at times.
Reg took a shower, trying to warm up after the events that had taken place and threw his soaked clothes in the dryer. He walked back to his doorway, though there was still ample water in the room. James was the only one there.
“Mum and Dad said we’d have to wait for the charm to ware off. Apparently Remus and Sirius jinxed it with some time lock. They don’t know how to reverse it. So uh…”
Reg groaned.
“Maybe I’ll just floo-powder home.”
“Oi, nonsense Reg! We don’t have any spare rooms, but I’ve got space on my bed!”
“Absolutley not.”
“Oh, come on, don’t be like that, I’ll fix it up”
James dragged Regulus into the room. He had a fairly large bed on which he put pillows down the middle.
“Look, now it’s all separated! It’ll be great!”
Regulus rolled his eyes.
“Fine.”
The both got on either side of the bed. Neither said much, or rather. Regulus didn’t.
“So… how’s school going Reg?”
“I’m sleeping.”
“Oh, of course of course, my bad. I’ll be quiet. I’ll just stay over here. On my side of the bed. Quiet. Not talking.”
“James.”
“Right, right, sorry.”
James stayed quiet after, as did Regulus. In fact, nothing more was said until very early the next morning.
James and Regulus opened their eyes as the sunlight from James’s window came shining through. Regulus’s head was on James. He buried his head deeper into James’s chest in protest of the brightness.
“Morning Reg.”
“Morning James.”
The two froze, suddenly realizing how the two of them were positioned. They jolted up.
“WHY WERE YOU-”
“ME? YOU WERE THE ONE WHO INVITED ME INTO YOUR BED.”
“THERE WAS A PILLOW WALL.”
“THEN HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!”
“YOU WERE THE ONE ON ME!”
“DO NOT BLAME ME FOR THIS.”
“OI I DON’T WANT BLAME EITHER WANKER.”
“Piss off. Look, let’s just pretend that this never happened, okay?”
“Agreed.”
James and Regulus got up from the bed to meet the rest of the house for breakfast.
“Mornin’ James.”
“Hey Remus.”
Sirius grinned at Regulus.
“You two have a fun night last night?”
Reg turned a shade of bright red.
“Last night? Nothing happened last night? We didn’t do anything why do you ask?”
James kicked Regulus.
“Oi! What was that for?”
James put his head down on the table.
“That was a weird response Reg, what did you and James get up to?”
“Nothing.”
“James?”
“Nothing at all Sirius, you’re brother’s probably in shock from yesterday night. Remember, you caused this wanker.”
“It was quite funny James, you have to admit.”
“Yeah, for you. I got like no sleep, it was so hot in that bed.”
“Wait, you both slept in the same bed?”
“Yeah, why?”
“HA! WHY DIDN’T ONE OF YOU SLEEP ON THE FLOOR YOU CHEEKY LITTLE GAYS.”
Regulus and James looked at eachother.
“Why didn’t we think of that?”
“You were the one insisting on the bed, not me.”
“I was being nice.”
“Oh my god.”
Sirius and Remus couldn’t hold back their laughter.
“I simply cannot believe you two slept together.”
“It’s not like that fuckin’ prick.”
“Sure, of course.”
After breakfast, everyone sort of forgot about the matter and went on with their day. The marauders hung out with Peter until it got dark. Regulus was sitting outside by himself. James sat beside him.
“Mind if I join you?”
“Yes, but I reckon I don’t have a choice.”
Reg held out a cigarette.
“Want a fag?”
James took it, but very hesitantly. Regulus helped him light it. It was obvious that James didn’t partake in smoking, but Reg thought it was funny to watch him struggle.
“So, why are you out here? It’s kind of dark innit?”
“I suppose, but I like the stars. It reminds me of when Sirius and I were kids. He would always brag about how cool he was because he was named after some dog or something. It was really dumb but I miss that.”
“Do you and Sirius ever talk at home?”
“Sometimes, but rarely.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“I don’t even know why I’m telling you this. Sorry I guess.”
“Hey, Reg, don’t appologize. You can always talk to me!”
“Why are you so nice? It’s sickening. We aren’t even friends. I’m a prick most of the time. Why do you even talk to me?”
James froze up.
“What?”
“I mean, I know I can be cold and all and usually people don’t want to be around me because of that, but you don’t seem to leave me alone. But even your parents are like this.”
“I don’t find you cold.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, you’re actually a lot like Sirius, you know? You both have this way about you.”
Regulus blushed.
“I guess.”
“I mean it. I know you act all tough on the outside, but lets face it, you’re a big softie.”
Reg rolled his eyes, but he smiled a bit.
“Piss off.”
“You don’t have to put up that front with me Reg, okay?”
Reg had never had someone in his life like James. No matter what he did, James was always so persistent, trying to make him happy. He kind of… liked it.
Regulus looked at James, the two of them gazing deep into each others eyes. They got closer.
“Hey, Reg?”
Regulus took James’s face in his hands and kissed him.
“Holy shit I just came my pants.”
“Me too, James.”