French, Anyone?
“Regulus?”
Regulus looked up at the sound of his name. It was Saturday afternoon and he was in the library buried in a book, hair still very much green and red. It had earned him dirty looks from his house mates of course. Not that he could do anything about it. Regulus shut his book, scowling at Lupin. “I don’t know where Sirius is,” Regulus replied, assuming the werewolf was asking about Sirius.
Lupin chuckled softly. “I wasn’t looking for Sirius. I wanted to talk to you,” he replied. Regulus stared at him, not believing a word he said. “No, this isn’t a prank. But great hair color anyways,” Lupin added, seeming to understand that Regulus was doubting him. If looks could kill, Lupin would have been a dead, dead man already.
An awkward silence ensued. Regulus looked down to continue reading, ignoring the Gryffindor in front of him. “What do you want?” Regulus finally asked, uncomfortable with the heavy silence.
“Um…you and Sirius know French right?” Lupin asked. Regulus frowned at him, annoyed. “Of course you do,” Lupin continued before Regulus could say anything. “Can you teach me um, a bit of French?” Lupin asked. Regulus tilted his head slightly, eyeing him.
“You want to use French to charm my brother,” Regulus said. He had never been one to beat around the bush, not having enough patience for that. Lupin paused, before nodding slowly. “Give me a reason I should help you,” Regulus put down the book, folding his arms. Lupin drummed his fingers on the table, clearly having expected Regulus to ask him that.
“You read muggle books don’t you? I can lend you some to read,” Lupin replied. That…was actually a good bargain. Lupin was playing on Regulus’ interests to get what he wanted. Fascinating. Slightly. Regulus nodded, agreeing to the deal. Lupin grinned, clearly amused.
“What phrase do you want to know?” Regulus asked. “I’ll give two phrases per book.”
“That’s not a problem. Anyway, I have learned a bit of French, so I do know the basics. Um…” Lupin trailed off, flushing slightly. Regulus smirked slightly. The shy side of Lupin was showing then. “I don’t know…why not you just give me some?” Lupin requested.
Regulus considered this. “Tes yeux sont comme les étoiles. Your eyes are like the stars,” Regulus replied, thinking off the top off his head by now. “Tu as de la chance d'être jolie. You’re lucky you’re pretty. That’s one book, Lupin.”
“Slower?” Lupin asked. Regulus repeated the first phrase. Lupin tried to say it. Although his voice had an accent, it sounded quite right. Regulus nodded his approval as he repeated the second phrase and Lupin tried to pronounce it again.
This went on for about half an hour, and Lupin owed Regulus seven books. The mini session was interrupted by James calling out to Lupin. James. Regulus had been putting off the Amortentia problem, but it was back again. James had probably came from quidditch. Regulus recalled that Gryffindor did have a practice slot just now. “Hey Reg. What are you two talking ‘bout?” James asked, glancing between the two of them as he ran a hand through his damp curls. Regulus tracked the movement for a second before he caught himself.
“Regulus,” he corrected James mindlessly, returning to his book, unwilling to get distracted by him. James shot him a confused look. “Regulus. Not Reg,” Regulus clarified, rolling his eyes. James frowned at him.
“But Sirius calls you-”
“You’re not Sirius,” Regulus replied coldly, cutting James off. He ignored the burning feeling as he focused on the words of the book.
There was silence. “Anyway, Regulus was teaching me French,” Lupin said, clearly trying to lighten up the mood.
“French? What French?” James asked, looking confused once again. It was laughably easy to read him, like an open book.
“Tu as de la chance d'être jolie,” Lupin replied, pronunciation on point. He wasn’t kidding when he said he had learned French then. James’ eyes widened, awed.
“Tu es jolie. Comme le soleil (You're pretty. Like the sun),” the words slipped out before Regulus could stop them. Lupin burst out laughing, seeming to understand. James however, remained looking confused.
“What? Can you translate it please?” He asked, looking between the two of them.
“Regulus, you just called him joli (pretty),” Lupin barely managed to say, thrown into another fit of laughter. Regulus flushed, rolling his eyes as he flipped Lupin off. James sighed frustratedly.
“Regarde-le. Comment ne pourrais-je pas ? Il est magnifique (Look at him. How can I not? He's beautiful),” Regulus muttered, realizing he was saying that for the sake of convincing himself. James was pretty. Regulus immediately hated himself for starting to accept that he had a crush on James. Denial had certainly been a very good state to live in. Lupin shook his head, smiling widely. “Shut it Lupin.”
That was the moment Sirius crashed their little ‘party’. “Moony! Prongs! Reggie!” He called out, inviting himself to sit next to Regulus, who scowled harshly at his brother.
“Pads, they’re talking in French,” James complained, rubbing his eyes like a child’s. Sirius’ eyes widened, looking between all three of them.
“French? Why are you talking in French?” Sirius asked, suspicious now. Regulus shrugged.
“So James doesn’t understand-” Regulus bit his tongue too late. He hadn’t meant to say James’ first name. And the way he had cut himself off had made it obvious that he had messed something up.
Sirius, oblivious as he was, didn’t notice. Lupin looked slightly suspicious. James however, lit up at once, a smile breaking out on his face. Merlin, il est beau (Merlin, he’s beautiful). They held eye contact long enough that Regulus could absolutely confirm that James heard his mistake. Regulus broke it.
“-tu connais le français (know French)?” Sirius was saying. Lupin sighed. “I only know a bit, Pads,” Lupin groaned. Lupin. Scratch that, if he was going to be my brother-in-law or somehow related to me one day, it’s going to have to be Remus.
Sirius turned to glare harmlessly at Regulus. Regulus blinked quickly, a silent question of what? Sirius sighed, exasperated, turning away from Regulus. The three others fell into easy conversation, but Regulus could feel the burn on his skin. James was watching him.
“Regulus!” A new voice introduced itself. Pandora. Regulus shut his book, turning to face the Ravenclaw. Dorcas was standing behind her, eyeing the Gryffindors suspiciously. Sirius glared back at Dorcas. Of course they would recognise Dorcas as the Slytherin fighting with their McKinnon.
“Dora. Cas. What are you doing here?” Regulus asked in a way of greeting.
“We’ve got the potion!” Pandora replied, flashing the vial. Regulus dropped his head into his hands, sighing.
James
James stared at the vial in Pandora’s hand. It obviously held a potion, but what? James’ gaze tracked back to Regulus once again. The Slytherin was frowning at his friends. “Come on! Here James, smell it!” Pandora urged, handing the vial to James despite Dorcas’ protests. Curiously, James took it. He uncapped the vial, taking a breath as he did so. The first thing he smelled was his mother’s mince pies. Various other smells rose out, but the strongest were Sirius’ cologne, sandalwood and eucalyptus. James frowned, pausing for a few moments.
“Is this Amortentia?” James asked the two Slytherins and Ravenclaw, slightly horrified. Pandora nodded in confirmation. Why was he smelling Sirius’ cologne anyway? And he didn’t know anyone who smelled like sandalwood or eucalyptus. Remus was asking question after question and Sirius had snatched the potion from James. James ignored them, focusing on the lingering scent. Unless…
James glanced at Regulus. He was aware he was beginning to fall for the boy, but was it possible to smell him in Amortentia?
He needed to find out.