Mum
Regulus looks back as James runs into the piano room, beaming ear to ear.
“Hey Reg!” James happily greets, “I have a question for you.”
“Ok,” Regulus hesitantly replies, “Is this going to be dangerous?”
“No, no, not really,” James looks up and contemplates his answer for a moment before shaking his head, “No, it isn’t, I’m settling on no.”
“I don’t trust you but go ahead,” Regulus encourages, although he knows whatever it is probably is stupid.
“So, Haydn sent me a letter asking about this indoor Quidditch Pitch that you can like rent and play for a day, I’ve heard of it before but this one is close and,” James bounces on his toes as he continues, “He wants to go there for his birthday! It’s passed technically but he got some money so he wants to have the three of us and he said he wants to invite a couple of your friends too from school and asked if we can bring Remus with us too. So, do you want to go?”
Regulus shrugs, “That sounds fun.”
“Yeah, I agree! And it’s for Haydn’s birthday which is good because he never gets out much,” James smiles, “I haven’t told Mum, though, so come on, we have to tell her.”
“Oh, me too?” Regulus questions as he swings his legs over the back of the piano bench so he’s fully facing James.
“Yeah, come on, come on,” James encourages, Regulus playfully sighing before getting up and following after James into the laundry room right across the hall. Mrs. Potter looks back.
“Oh, hello boys,” She smiles.
“Hi Mum,” James greets, “Haydn sent me a letter and he asked about going to that dome thing with the Quidditch pitch in it for his birthday? He invited me, Sirius, and Regulus on Wednesday since his birthday, you know, passed already.”
“How is he paying for that? Himself?” She questions, putting down the shirt she just folded into the basket and grabbing another, continuing to look at James as he speaks.
“Mhm, he told me he got enough birthday money to pay for it,” James tells her.
“Nonsense, you tell him we’ll pay for it, it’s his birthday,” She emphasizes, “Why did you have to bring Regulus with you?”
“Fun, I don’t know,” James shrugs, “He was the first person I asked so I just brought him with me.”
Mrs. Potter chuckles, “Well alright, that sounds fine with me. Give Haydn a call for me and let him know not to pay for anything, it’s his birthday, we’ll cover it. And if he argues let me talk to him, I’m not letting him pay for his own present.”
“Mhm, I will,” James nods.
“Was it just you three boys? No one else?” She puzzles.
“He said Reg can invite his two friends too, other than that I don’t know,” James replies.
“Ahh, that sounds fun,” She smiles, looking at Regulus, “That should be nice, having your friends there too.”
“Mhm,” Regulus nods, “They’re his friends too, technically. He’s joined our group.”
“As he’s told me, it’s good to hear that you all get along,” She comments, “I know talking to your friends is normally tough over break but I hope they get to go, you should probably write them today so they get it far enough in advance.”
“I will,” He assures her, Mrs. Potter looking back at James.
“Don’t forget to call Haydn today,” She calmly reminds him, James nodding.
“I’m going to do it right now, I promise I won’t,” He assures her, “Thank you, Mum!”
“You’re welcome dear,” She smiles at him, James walking out of the room, Regulus goes to follow but stops when he remembers he has something to ask her.
“Oh, is the Black stamp down here still?” He questions, Mrs. Potter pausing a moment before replying.
“I believe it is in your room, but if it’s not then let me know and I think I would know where it would be,” She tells him, Regulus returning a smile and turning to leave. He replies without even thinking about it.
“Thank you, Mum.”
He freezes the second the word leaves his lips, cupping a hand over his mouth and turning back to her, seeing her beaming at him but not processing it before he starts to profusely apologize, “I’m so sorry, I’m sorry, I don’t know why I said that.”
“It’s completely alright dear, you know I don’t mind at all what you call me,” She assures him, although Regulus doesn’t register any of it.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” He keeps apologizing, so afraid that he overstepped a boundary. She’s not his mother, he didn’t even call his own mother ‘mum’. That is beyond disrespectful and he’s so mad at himself for doing that.
“Really, it's completely alright, don’t apologize for it,” She tries to assure him, although he’s starting to work himself up over it anyway. “Calm down, dear, take a deep breath.
He closes his eyes and takes a calming deep breath, trying to push down on the anxiety buzzing in his brain and remind himself that she doesn’t seem to care at all.
“Can you look at me a moment?” She softly requests, Regulus opening his eyes and looking at her, who has put down what she was folding to put her entire attention on Regulus. “You know you are a son to me, dear, you know you always have been. I would be more than happy for you to address me as Mum if that makes you more comfortable, but if it doesn’t then Mrs. Potter works just fine. I will never be mad at you about simply misspeaking and definitely not about that. Keep reminding yourself of that, alright?”
He nods, feeling loads of relief that she’s not mad at him and that she said it out loud so that he could drill it into his brain.
“Would you like a hug?” She offers, Regulus immediately accepting and stepping into her embrace. It surrounds him with warmth, fighting away all the horrible thoughts about the mistake he just made. It also lets him think about her offer, and think about how he hates the idea of addressing her as Mum all the time. He looks at her when he steps back, thinking a moment before settling on telling her.
“I- I don’t want to call you Mum,” He practically whispers to her, “That word, it doesn’t feel right. I don’t have good experiences associated with it and it feels weird attaching you to those.”
“I completely understand, you’re completely justified in feeling that,” She gives him a warm smile that seems to melt away the fear he had about admitting that. “You’re welcome to keep calling me Mrs. Potter if it feels better for you, we can pretend this never happened.”
He eagerly nods, “Mhm.”
She chuckles, “I’ll make sure to keep it our secret then.” She picks back up another piece of clothing and keeps folding, “Just let me know if you can't find the stamp and I’ll see if I can help.”
“I will, thank you,” He nods, intentionally leaving out the name this time. He leaves the room and heads right back upstairs, searching for the stamp in the drawer, finding it exactly where he hoped it was. He finds it kind of funny, he didn’t really have to ask her that at all and he could have avoided that whole scenario in the first place.
Although, he’s kind of happy it happened anyway.