Regulus POV
This is a bad idea. I know it is. The alarm bells are ringing in my head. And yet the feeling of James besides me, his hand in mine and the slight laugh he huffs out is enough to drown them out.
“Here,” I stop at a large portrait of a fruit bowl.
“It’s a lovely painting Regulus,” he frowns slightly, “but it’s not real food.”
“No, idiot,” I roll my eyes and force myself to pull my hand away, pulling the hidden lever in the pear and revealing the entrance to the kitchen.
“Woah,” his eyes go wide and I can’t help but admire his astonishment.
“Wow, something I knew about before the biggest prankster in school,” I smirk and his eyes meet mine.
“Yeah, well, pranking food seems kind of harsh,” my put his hand to the back of his neck and looked down. I’ve never seen James Potter look so meek and small. He’s kind of beautiful.
Wait what am I thinking?
“Come on,” I grab his hand again and relish the way they fit together so perfectly.
“Mr. Black!” an excited voice calls as we enter the kitchen.
“Please Emmery, call me Regulus. We’ve been over this,” I roll my eyes but smile fondly at the short woman.
“Of course, of course,” she shakes her head and then looks at James, shooting me a wide smile, “and who is your friend?”
“This is James,” I step aside and Emmerys eyes go wide.
“The James Potter?”
“Ah…yes?” James sounds uncertain when he says this and I pray that Emmery won’t say anything.
“Emery has heard a lot about you,” her eyes sparkle and I swear my heart stops.
“Oh, well I promise I’m not here to cause trouble, I just slept through dinner and Reg here said we could get some food, but if it’s to much trouble I understand, I know its-“
“James,” I cut in, “breathe.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he runs his hands through his hair, “okay.”
“No trouble Mr. Potter,” Emmery shoots me a wink and I swear I’ll poison her tea one day, “I’ll heat something up real quick.”
“It’s James,” James tries but Emmery is already walking away and I pull James towards the table next to the widow I always sit at.
“I didn’t even know this was down here,” James breathes still taking in the room.
“Where do you think your food comes from?” I snort and he snaps his eyes to me.
“No well obviously I knew that there was a kitchen, I guess I just didn’t expect this. How did you find it?”
“I didn’t really,” I shrug and James is looking at me like he wants to know everything, “It was just after Sirius left and I saw him for the first time. Emmery found me and brought me here. She made me tea and let me rant and cry and never asked anything when I came in the next day and the day after, just always made me tea and let me talk. It’s my safe place you know?”
“Yeah I do,” James sighs and looks out the window and thats when it clicks.
“The astronomy tower,” I breathe but James doesn’t look at me just whispers, “yeah.”
“I didn’t know,” I frown and bite my lip, “I wouldn’t have done that.”
“Oh no don’t do that,” James' gaze is soft on mine and he takes my hand on top of the table, “I didn’t mind, well I did a little bit but now you’ve shared your place so I think we’re even.”
Before I could say anything Emmery rushes over with a plate of pastries and cheese and two cups of tea, “I hope Earl gray is okay James, it’s Regulus’ favorite and I forgot to ask you.”
“Earl gray is fine thank you,” he takes a cup and goes to drink it, the heat fogging up his glasses as he does so he takes them off and not for the first time I am struck by James’ beauty. His eyes are large and bright and eyelashes long behind the glasses. It strikes me then that James is the most beautiful human to have ever walked this planet.
Why would Lily turn the sun away?
James is staring at me and I get the feeling that I missed something, “oh um what did you say?”
He chuckles, “Emmery asked you if everything was okay but you were lost in thought.”
“Oh yes everything is perfect as always thank you,” I mumble and try to hide behind the cup but she sends me a knowing look before walking away. I clear my throught and turn back to James, “do you want to talk about it?
“About what?”
“You know what,” I sigh and set down the tea, “I know what it feels like to not want to talk about things. Trust me I do, but talking to Emmery helps a lot. I don’t even have to say anything, I can just listen.”
“Look Reg, I’m fine-”
“You’re not James, I can see it and that’s fine. You’re allowed to not be okay but what’s not okay is that you won’t talk to anyone about it,” he mumbles something that I don’t catch, “speak up, please.”
“I’m tired,” James sighs and finally sets his cup down.
“Tired of what?”
“Everything,” it’s simple. It’s one word. And yet… and yet he looks so sad. He looks like he’s holding the weight of the world in his hands and I want to do something to make him happy. I just need to do something, anything really. So I do what would make me happy if the roles were reversed. I lean in.