Regulus POV
James’ hand is in mine and that's all I can think about. James is somehow taking notes with his left hand and tapping his thumb slightly, each tap sending a shot of electricity through me, my quill never moves.
I can feel Lily's eyes on me the entire time and I dutifully keep my eyes trained on the board trying to focus on what Slughorn's saying. His mouth is moving but I can’t hear what he’s saying.
James nudges me and I snap my eyes to look at him before I can even think about it, breath getting caught in my through as our eyes lock.
“While I enjoy you looking at me like that love, he gives a crooked smile, “I think Slughorn wants your attention.”
“Well Mr. Black,” he’s frowning, “perhaps you will learn to listen better in detention with me tonight, hmm?”
“Yes sir,” I mumble and look down at my paper. In the six years I’ve been here I have never got detention, one day with James and all that changed. I hear James chuckling next to me and glare up at him, “what are you laughing at?”
“Well, doll,” I roll my eyes at the pet name, “you just landed yourself in detention… with me.”
Oh.
“Honestly, Potter,” Lily says beside me, “it’s not bad enough that you get detention every other night now you have to drag a perfectly respectable student into too.”
James tenses, his smile suddenly gone, “perfect sensible? If I recall correctly, Evans, it was you who were judging me for dating a pureblood Slytherin earlier today.”
“Well I-” she starts but James cuts in.
“Which one is he? Evil or a perfect student?”
“James,” I whisper, turning my hand over to lace our fingers and draw his attention to me.
He looks over at me and I swear his eyes soften, “hi,” he breathes.
“It’s okay,” I whisper back.
“It’s not she can’t just-”
“I’m used to it.”
“Put you shouldn’t,” he frowns and rubs his finger absent minded. Absentmindedly driving me crazy.
“I don’t care what people think anymore, they don’t matter, remember.”
“Hmm,” he hums, staring at our hands before he whispers, “you said it again.”
“What?” I asked, tearing my eyes away from our intertwined hands.
“You called me James.”
“Yes well,” I clear my throat and look away.
“So friends then?” His face is hopeful and the bell rings. I quickly pack up my untouched things before turning towards him.
“No James,” I say quietly and his face drops, “I’ll see you tonight.”
I rush out before he has a chance to say something, hoping not for the first time that I can escape to the library, and not for the first time, I’m disappointed.
“Hello, Reggiekins,” Evan sings songs next to me.
“Didn’t I tell you that if you called me that again I would kill you?” I mutter and try to escape.
“Nope, not happening,” Barty grabs my bag and pulls me into an empty classroom.
“What is this an interrogation,” I huff and reposition my bag on my shoulder.
“Only if it needs tobe, “Evan shrugs.
“What do you want?”
“Oh don’t play stupid,” Barty rolls his eyes, “The Potter boy? Really Reg?”
“What about him?”
“What about him?” Evan repeats as if it’s the strangest thing he’s ever heard of, “what are you doing with him?”
“Well we talk and hold hands, occasionally we snog,” I shrug.
“Gross, not what I meant,” Barty looks like he’s going to throw up.
“That’s gross? You should hear you two every night like "come on you’re a bunch of rabbits.”
“Don’t turn this on us,” Evan counters. Worth a try though, “why are you with him exactly?”
“Why? Look at him Evan,” I say at least stating part of the truth, James is attractive and you’d have to be blind not to see it and I’d bet my entire inheritance that the sun in his smile could break through even that darkness.
“Yes he’s hot but there’s more than that, “ Barty counters, looking me over. He’s been my best friend for years and he was there when I cried over losing my brother to James Potter. He knows better than ‘he's hot’.
I sigh. I was a fool to think that I could lie to Barty and Evan, “it’s fake.”
“What?”
“It’s fake,” I slump against the wall, “we’re using each other.”
“Reggie,” Barty starts stepping closer but I back away.
“Don’t it was my idea, it's fine,” Barty and Evan stay silent looking at me and I just huff, “are we done here I have to meet with Pandora.”
They don’t say anything and I send them a curt nod before walking out the door making my way to the library.
Evan and Barty know me better than anyone in the world, they know how much I rant and rave about how much I hate James Potter. They know how often I cry over Sirius and never being able to go back into his life. They know how much I cry over James and how I will never be the pretty redhead girl.
I know that I am in danger of getting hurt here, but maybe the universe meant this to happen. It could have been anyone in the astronomy tower that night and it was James. Maybe the universe is giving me something good. Or maybe I am a fool.