Chapter 16
Exams, after skipping rather a few days of classes over ridiculous reasons, were harder than Regulus expected. He spent his entire week locked away, revising everything his professors and tutors had sent him over the course of the semester, before finally emerging to attend his exams. The week of cramming made things slightly easier, as he luckily sailed through his exams.
After the seven days of exams, which were long and taxing, Barty dragged him to a celebratory party at another first year's dorm on Wednesday they finished. On Thursday, with a hangover, and a bad taste in his mouth, James called to organise their trip to his house.
Barty was asleep on the couch when Regulus stumbled out of his bedroom, phone pressed against his ear, the winter sun filtering through the window. “Hello?” Regulus mumbled.
“Did I wake you up?” James questioned, tone light.
They hadn’t spoken since the night of his party, and he was rather relieved to find James in a teasing mood. His brother hadn’t dared get in touch, nor had anyone else from the party. Remus had sent a simple text inquiring whether Regulus was okay or not, but that was the only contact he’d had with anyone.
He shuffled past Barty who groaned loudly. “No,” Regulus lied, beginning to fill up the kettle. “What time is it, though?”
“Almost 2,” James responded. “I woke you, didn’t I?”
“Late night,” he grabbed cups from the cupboard, dropping spoonfuls of coffee into them both. “Exams are done.”
“Of course, yes.”
“What can I do for you?” Regulus enquired, wandering into the living room. He reached his foot up, prodding his friend in the arm. Barty slapped his foot away, groaning louder.
“Do you have company?” James questioned. Barty opened his eye a crack as Regulus mouthed the word coffee at him.
“Barty,” Regulus mumbled on his way back to the kitchen, pouring the boiling water into the two mugs. “He likes my couch.”
“Well, it’s lovely, how could he not?” He let out a quiet laugh. “Look, I’m heading home Friday. My parents want me there a bit earlier than usual. They’re having a party, need me to run errands and stuff, and considering everyone else is leaving, I thought I’d head too… So…”
“So?” Regulus questioned, stirring the coffee as quietly as he could. Barty was still groaning.
“So, do you want me to book you a train ticket, or do you want to come down the week after?” James asked. Regulus could hear him typing something in the background. “You’re more than welcome to come down early, with me, but I just don’t know if you want to put up with my parents for that long.”
Regulus snorted, placing a mug beside Barty, who mumbled something unintelligible. “‘Put up’? Your parents are a dream, in comparison to my nightmare of a family, James. This is basically a holiday.”
“So, you’ll come Friday?” James questioned.
“If you’re okay with it.”
“I’m fine with it, I just need to make sure we book tickets. I think the whole bloody schools booking their trips home for Friday.” There were more typing sounds. “Does 12 work?”
“Anytime works, classes are finished,” Regulus took a sip of his coffee.
“Oh, yeah. Well, we should get down there around 5, if that’s okay? Bit of a trek with the stops, but, y’know,” James sounded like he was shrugging.
“Yeah, that’s fine. Let me know how much the ticket is.”
“No, my treat,” James batted him off.
“You’re letting me stay rent-free, at least let me pay my way,” Regulus sighed.
James laughed, lightly. “I invited you, Reggie. It’s my treat. All you have to do is have your bags packed for Friday morning, and meet me at the train station, okay?”
“Okay, I’ll be there at 11:30.”
“Okay, I’ll see you then!”
Barty finally made it into the kitchen, clutching his mug as if it were a crutch. “Hello.”
“Good morning,” Regulus rose his glass to clink with Barty’s. Barty leaned against the counter, huffing to himself.
“Who could possibly call this early?”
Regulus showed Barty his phone, indicating the time. “It was James.”
“Your brother's friend? The one from last week?” He questioned.
“He’s my friend too,” Regulus shrugged casually. His friend rose an eyebrow. “I’m going to his house for Christmas.”
“Romantic,” Barty grinned.
“It’s not like that.”
Barty rose an eyebrow. “Cmon, you like him, he likes you..”
“He has a girlfriend, Crouch. We’re friends,” he shrugged.
Barty simply shook his head, seeming amused by the idea. “Christmas brings out the romantic in all of us!”
“Oh yeah? What are your plans for the Christmas break, then?”
Barty grinned. “Big plans. Big secret plans that involve tons of romance. And you know why?” Regulus shrugged. “Because Christmas brings out the romantic in all of us, Regulus!”