This Isn't Normal
***TRIGGER WARNING*** Internalised homophobia
James was searching for someone. A very important someone. He looked everywhere; In the owlery, in the library, in the dungeons, but he couldn’t find that someone. It was frustrating and annoying, for he really needed to see that person. Where were they? Where the hell was Regulus Black?
James was about to give up. It was getting late and was nearly curfew. If Filch caught him out after curfew, Merlin knows what punishment he would get, He already had several detentions and he didn’t need another.
He was just rounding the corner to the moving staircases when he heard muffled sounds of someone crying. His curiosity drove him to investigate who it was. And, his kind Gryffindor heart wanted to comfort whoever was crying, not that he would admit it. He followed the sound and came to an empty classroom. Hesitating for a moment, he pushed open the door a crack and gasped quietly when he saw who was crying.
Regulus Black.
James didn’t hesitate to run into the room and wrap his arms around the younger Black brother. Regulus let out a yelp of surprise, but when he realised it was James, he melted back into James’s embrace, sobbing into James’s shirt.
“Alright there Baby Black,” James whispered, pressing a kiss to Regulus’s neat black hair, using his nickname for the boy on purpose to try and calm him down a little, “Just let it all out.”
He held Regulus, letting him cry until he had cried himself dry and just lent into James, sniffing.
“Want to talk?”
“James I-” Regulus hesitated, “We can’t... I can’t... We shouldn’t... Salazar... I’m sorry.”
“Hey, no. It’s okay. Just take your time. No rush.”
“But curfew. Filch’ll-”
“Hush. He won’t catch us. I have a secret in my bag,” James grinned mischievously, tapping his bag in which his invisibility cloak was stored. Regulus shot him a sideways glance but didn’t pull away. James smiled and quickly cast locking and silencing charms on the door, hugging Regulus closer to him.
“C’mon. You’ll feel better if you talk.”
“I... I don’t know where to start,” Regulus bit his lip.
“How’s about you start at the beginning?” James joked, earning himself a small smile from the smaller boy. He beamed down at Regulus and kissed his head again.
“This isn’t normal,” Regulus said, his voice barely audible.
“Wha-” James was confused, “Of course it is! People cry. It’s perfectly normal.”
“No, James,” Regulus backed away slightly, James’s arm still around his shoulders, and looked up into James’s eyes, “I mean this isn’t normal,” He said, gesturing between the two of them.
James’s eyes widened, “It’s very normal Reg. Same sex couples are very normal.”
“No, they’re not. It’s a boy and a girl. That’s normal. That’s what every normal couple is. Anything else is not normal. We aren’t normal. Me loving you isn’t normal.”
“You love me?” James said, a small smile on his face.
“Of course, I love you, you git! But I don’t get how ‘coz it’s not normal!” Regulus had tears trailing down his cheeks again.
James lent forward and kissed Regulus’s cheeks, pulling him back into his embrace, holding him while he cried again.
“Reg, listen,” James lent back a little and rested his forehead against Regulus’s, cupping Regulus’s face, “This is normal. Being gay is normal. Loving me is normal. Look. I don’t know what your parents have told you or all your pureblood values since my parents aren’t like that, but same sex couples are normal. Look at Remus and Sirius. Marlene and Dorcas. Dumbledore is gay and I swear McGonagall is a lesbian. Or bisexual. Whichever, but she cannot be straight. Look at us, Reggie. There are so, so many people who are a part of the LGBTQ community. Please don’t think you are abnormal or weird. You are just extra special, and you are you. Don’t be scared of who you are. Just let yourself be. Be happy, be gay and be you,” James paused to kiss Regulus’s forehead, his nose then his lips.
“Reg... You are incredible, beautiful, amazing... I can’t believe I ended up with someone as awesome as you. This is normal, okay? Please Reggie. Don’t hate yourself because you are in a relationship with a boy. I love you so, so much, alright? And this. Is. Normal. Believe it is. You are incredible and I am so proud to be your boyfriend,” James was stopped as Regulus’s lips crashed into his and Regulus flung his arms around James’s neck. The Gryffindor was taken aback but quickly responded to the kiss and pulled Regulus onto his lap, securing his arms around Regulus’s waist.
The kiss was soft and caring as each boy wanted to show their love for the other in a way that wasn’t heated, or lust driven. It was pure love and nothing else.
When the separated, Regulus lent his forehead against James’s and stared into James’s eyes.
“So,” He whispered, “It’s okay?”
“It’s more than okay. We may be a bit different to other couples, but it is normal,” James smiled and pressed another chaste kiss to Regulus’s lips.
“Okay,” Regulus said, a small smile engraved onto his face. James thought his heart was going to burst with love for the Slytherin in his arms. Who knew James Potter could love a Slytherin on the way he loved Regulus? He lifted a hand from Regulus’s waist to cup his cheek, brushing away the last few tears falling from Regulus’s eyes.
“C’mon Baby Black,” He said, standing up, “Let’s go before we are at real risk from being caught by Filch.”
“Okay. What’s this secret you have in your back,” Regulus asked. James grinned and pulled out his invisibility cloak, causing Regulus to gasp.
“It was my dad's. He gave it to me at the beginning of third year,” James said, wrapping the cloak around the two of them.
“Wow,” Regulus reached out and grabbed James’s hand. The two boys crept hand in hand out of the classroom and along the corridors towards the dungeons. When they reached the entrance to Slytherin, Regulus turned to James and hugged him tightly.
“Thank you,” He whispered into James’s ear, kissing his lips softly.
“I love you so much Reg, okay?” James whispered back.
Regulus smiled, the stepped out from under the cloak and through the portrait, disappearing into Slytherin. James stood alone outside for a few moments, smiling, before he turned on his heal and made his way back to the Gryffindor tower. When he collapsed into bed that night, he instantly fell asleep, dreaming of his gorgeous Regulus.