First, Starchaser

“Shit wait, Reggie-”

There were scuffling sounds, and Regulus paused in where he was opening the door, whipping around to look at- fucking James Potter (not that he couldn’t tell from the voice alone). He looked panicked, hand outstretched, but clearly not wanting to touch Regulus without permission. The sentiment shouldn’t make him melt as much as he did, but it still did. His invisibility cloak was half off him - oh, so that’s how Regulus didn’t notice him. 

Fuck. Wait. His heart seemed to stop as Regulus spoke slowly, carefully. “How much of that did you hear?” He prayed to whatever deity would listen that James hadn’t heard him pretty much confessing his feelings for him. Please don’t have heard that. Please don’t have heard that. Please-

“Everything?” James replied sheepishly, because of course. It was just his luck it would turn out like this.

“And why were you eavesdropping?” Regulus asked tersely, leveling a glare at James. 

He ran a hand through his fluffy, soft-looking hair. “I didn’t meant to. I came up here, and I saw Moony, then you came up and I sort of, panicked?” He offered. Regulus gave him an unimpressed stare. “Shit, this wasn’t how it was supposed to go,” James fretted, making the Slytherin raise an eyebrow at his words, contemplating whether to ask or not.

“How what was supposed to go?” He asked, curiousity getting the better of him. He was mad at James, yes, but still. He couldn’t really find it in himself to stay mad at those big, chocolate brown eyes. 

James lit up at his words, before rifling through the pockets of his sweatpants, producing a very familiar vial, one that Regulus had honestly forgotten about and wished he didn’t have to see again. Did Pandora not return it? He eyed the corked vial suspiciously, leaning away from it. 

“Aww, come on. Play along, Reggie. Please?” James asked, holding the vial out to him, turning his charm to the max. Unfortunately for Regulus, he found himself folding to James like origami. Seriously, he needed to build up some defenses against this man. He was getting as weak as Sirius was to Remus. Actually, Sirius was in another league when it came to that. 

Reluctantly, he stopped leaning away, giving James a half-glare. James broke into a wide smile, looking like an excited puppy as he uncorked the vial. It was horribly, horribly endearing. And bad for Regulus’ heart. James held the vial closer to Regulus, a silent ask to smell it. He did, and the smell hasn’t changed. It was still leather, pine and cedar wood. 

“What do you smell?” James asked, head cocked to the side, looking more and more like a puppy. 

“You’re going to have to work harder if you want me to answer that,” Regulus said dryly, because as much as a lost cause it was - he was pretty sure James already knew about his crush - he still had pride and dignity, damn it. 

“I can tell you what I smell?” James offered, surprising Regulus. He seemed confident in this, he noted. Which could of course, be all a ploy to embarrass and humiliate Regulus, because he refused to let his hopes up. Instead, he nodded numbly in answer to James’ question. He tried to ignore the little voice that chanted, please be me. Please be me. Please be me. How embarrassing. 

“Eucalyptus, sandalwood and cologne. Specifically, the one Sirius uses,” James answered, capping the vial again. Oh.

“So?” Regulus asked. “You like Sirius? That’s a lost cause if you do.” He tried to pretend his heart wasn’t currently breaking, that all his hopes had evaporated, that all he felt right now was numbing pain. Was that heartache? Probably. It felt worse than what all the books he had read described. Although, not to be dramatic, no words could convey the feeling properly. 

It felt like he was drowning, the feeling in his chest crawling up his throat, throughout his whole body, wrapping him in its branches and tendrils as it tried to suffocate him. No, he wasn’t dealing with this right now. Absolutely not. 

He barely registered James’ question. “…Right?” He blinked, looking up at James. Why was he even still here? Oh, because apparently he can’t say no to James. Fuck him for having a death grip on his heart. Probably ruined him for anyone else too. Just a crush? Who was he kidding? He fucking loved this man so much, it wasn’t fair. 

“Reggie?” The way James said those words probably meant he’d called Regulus quite a few times. Regulus snapped out of his daze, raising his gaze from the vial to look at James, and blinked in surprise when he found James closer than he thought, only about half an arm’s length away. He dropped his gaze immediately. Pathetic, really. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Regulus replied automatically. “What were you saying?”

“Um, I asked if you wear the same cologne brand as Sirius. You do, right?” James repeated, still looking concerned. “Oh and I don’t like Sirius like that, Remus is the only one in his eyes.”

Regulus nodded, then frowned. If he didn’t like Sirius, then…

Oh. Oh. 

It must have shown on his face, as James seemed to notice his realisation, leaning closer. “Can you tell me now?” He murmured, voice low. Regulus’ chest constricted, his breathing shallower as he averted his gaze again.

“Cedar wood, pine and leather,” Regulus mumbled, eyes firmly away from James. He heard James’ breathing hitch. Was he double checking to make sure Regulus did actually like him? How sweet. 

Only then did he notice James’ hands anxiously hovering around, wanting to touch but not having consent. Regulus huffed, because how could James get even more endearing? “You can touch,” he muttered, looking away again shyly. He didn’t have to look at James to know the other probably brightened, enough to rival the sun. 

A hand gently took Regulus’ chin, forcing his gaze up to James. Merde (shit). Brown eyes stared back at him, gaze intense. Regulus swallowed. They were close. Too close. Regulus could see the faint freckles peppered over James’ nose and cheeks. He briefly wondered if he would be able to find a constellation hidden within them. James was already the sun, melting Regulus’ cold exterior, and bringing warmth into his life. What more would it be if he had a few stars too?

Regulus’ tongue darted out to wet his lips anxiously. The movement didn’t go unnoticed, James’ gaze dropping to catch it. Fuck, this was really happening. He wasn’t dreaming or anything. 

“Reggie. Can I kiss you, please?” The words bordered on begging, a plea. Regulus was genuinely surprised at the raw desperation in James’ voice. And who was he to deny that? 

He’d barely nodded when lips were on his own. His breath caught, and he kissed back instantly. It was a bit messy, a bit awkward, but it was so utterly sweet, it left Regulus melting. Finally. 

Regulus broke the kiss first, the lack of air forcing him to do so. He watched in amusement as James chased him for a moment, before pouting at him. Adorable. A small, genuine smile pulled at his lips, and James’ expression changed to one of awe, staring at Regulus. “You’re beautiful,” he breathed out, a smile on his own face as well. 

Regulus looked away, flushing. “Aw, are you blushing?” James teased lightheartedly. 

“I’m not. You’re seeing things.”

“Really? But you look so pretty, I can’t possibly be seeing things.”

“Shut up,” Regukus muttered, hiding his face in his hands in embarrassment. 

Hands gently pried his hands away, holding them to the side. “Don’t hide your face, Reggie. I want to see you,” James said softly, because he was sweet like that. Regulus blushed an even deeper red. 

They kissed again, and Regulus could feel himself smile again, unbridled and happy. 

————

When he met with his friends near the Black Lake the next day, he paused. Everyone was here. Dorcas was braiding Pandora’s hair as she doodled, but more importantly, Barty was lying with his head in Evan’s lap, Evan playing with Barty’s hair. There was a sense of normalcy in the air, which he found that he had missed. 

“And the man of the hour makes his appearance,” Evan said, voice deadpan. His words made the other three look up.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Regulus replied, sitting down against a tree, opening his book.

“Oh come on!” Pandora whined. “You and James got together.” Regulus’ head snaps up so first he almost breaks his neck, staring at Pandora in disbelief. “Remus told us,” she added. 

Regulus rolled his eyes. He should have known James would have told them already. It just reminded him of seeing Sirius walk with Remus that morning, holding hands like the disgustingly sweet couple they no doubt were. 

As the four of them attempted to pressure him for details, Regulus snapped back, “why don’t we focus on what happened between Evan and Barty instead?” That got the two in question to shut up. 

“So? What happened?” Dorcas asked. 

It had started with Evan smelling Barty in his amortentia, while Barty had (stupidly) thought he had smelled someone else. That led to him talking about it to Evan openly, which Evan, for obvious reasons, didn’t want to hear. He had snapped, leading to them having a cold war. It was only worsened by Barty, being in denial, getting a girlfriend - which Dorcas spent a lot of time trying to talk him out of - while Pandora attempted to play peacemaker. In all honesty, it could have been avoided if they’d just talked. 

The general gist of the resolution was that Barty’s girlfriend had broken up with him, causing him to go through a rude awakening to find out he was bisexual. And very in love with Evan. It had taken a lot of tears, and forced conversations for them to resolve it and confess. Hence, they were dating now.

“Painful,” Regulus commented dryly. “And I was right, he’s bisexual. Pay up Pandora.” Pandora grumbled in reply, but she did. 

“You bet on my sexuality?” Barty gasped, shooting straight up. Regulus shrugged in response, giving Barty the middle finger, which he returned. 

“Hold on, I still want to hear how loverboy here started dating Potter,” Evan interrupted with a smirk, clearly trying to get back at Regulus. It worked, very unfortunately. Regulus was forced to tell them everything, although it wasn’t as dramatic as Evan and Barty’s (again, could’ve been entirely avoided). He was teased relentlessly as well, which he supposed he should’ve expected.

It felt…normal again. As Regulus listened to the chatter of his friends, he half listened, half reading his book. It was only when Pandora spoke up that he looked up. “Where’s the amortentia by the way?” She asked. There were resounding ‘I don’t know’s.

“It was with James, last I remember,” Regulus answered. 

And when the Great Hall was found to be sprayed with the amortentia, Regulus could only sigh.