Chapter Text
“Hello my dear,” Euphemia says as she walks up to where Regulus is looking over the area his art is in, “How are you doing?”
Regulus turns to her, “I’m alright, how are you, Euphemia?”
“How many times will I have to tell you to call me Effie.” The woman smiles, gently placing her hand on his shoulder before turning and looking at his art, “These are wonderful pieces that you’ve chosen to put up out here, I’m sure there will be many people looking for your contact here soon.”
Regulus smiles at the woman, “Thank you, these are… they’re my favourites by far. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”
“It’s no problem, Regulus.” The woman hums, “Looking further down the hall. Do you know where my child went?”
“I think they went to go talk to McGonagall. She was in here a bit ago talking to the others in the hall.” Euphemia nods, thanks him, and walks off. Regulus watches her go before going to look at the other paintings. His art was put in the hall with all of the other students that Euphemia and Fleamont chose to sponsor from his and James’ class, a little plaque by the door to the hall explaining what these artworks are.
It’s not long until the gallery starts so Regulus chooses to meander around the rest of the gallery hall to see all the other works that the Potters have sponsored. There are many artists that he’s heard of, some that he’s loved and looked up to and others that he never had any strong opinions about. There are a couple people milling about, more local artists that have their works showing, some of the staff that are helping run the event, and some agents that are here representing people. It’s not long until Regulus finishes looking at all that he wants to look at.
Fleamont is out in the main foyer of the building, where all of his and Euphemia’s new works are displayed, standing in front of a table that holds glasses of drinks and some platters of food. He’s talking to one of the people dressed in nice clothes that arrived earlier, waitstaff if Regulus is to guess, but turns to look at Regulus when the man walks away, “Hello Regulus.”
“Fleamont.” Regulus nods, taking a step towards him. Fleamont smiles at him and raises a champagne glass to him, which Regulus takes. He clinks it against the glass that Fleamont grabs for himself, “Thank you for giving me this opportunity.” He says, despite having said it to Euphemia. This is a big thing for him, rich people and big businesses come from all over Europe to see the Potters’ art gallery -- Regulus has been wanting to go to one of these since he first head about them still living back with his parents, but they refused to let him go and he and Sirius couldn’t afford it after they left.
Fleamont smiles and takes a second to drink from his flute, “It’s no problem at all, Regulus. Your art is incredible and you’re a good kid. You deserve to be here.”
“That means a lot to me.”
“I mean it,” the man nods, “We’re going to be opening soon, so shall we go and grab my wife so she and I can get ready to welcome people.” Regulus nods and the two of them take off towards where Euphemia went. She, McGonagall, her wife, James, and the six students from Regulus’ class are talking in a back room at the end of the hallway that Regulus’ art is in. Fleamont walks up to his wife and takes her into his arms, pressing a kiss to her cheek, “Hello, my love. We’re opening soon, did you want to come with me?” Euphemia smiles, presses a sweet kiss to his lips, and nods. Together, the two of them walk out of the room and back towards the main foyer.
James smiles after them before turning to Regulus, reaching out for him, “You ready for this?”
Regulus smiles back, “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Then let’s go.” And as the two of them walk back into the hallway, they can hear McGonagall telling the other six students to be ready to meet people, which causes the rest of the group to leave just behind them. The woman locks the door behind her and Pomfrey. While the two women walk out of the hall, James and Regulus stop in front of the art that Regulus has displayed.
There are four things on display, one of them being the mix media painting that they did with the pond. James’ eyes drift over the other three, still holding Regulus close, “Tell me about these?”
Regulus hums. He gestures to the furthest one at the end. The painting is a hallway, dark and with three doors, one on either side of the hall and one at the end. The two on the sides are closed and don’t have doorknobs but the third one is open and leads into a dark room with what looks like scratch marks on the wood floor in front of it. There’s shattered glass throughout the hall and paintings with people seemingly staring at the viewer with disdain, “That’s… that’s my home. It was the first thing that I made when Sirius and I moved out, it’s Sirius and my doors on either side, our door knobs were taken off so we couldn’t hide from my parents.”
“Reg, that’s horrible.”
“Not as bad as when we didn’t have doors for a year after my parents learned about Sirius going out with a boy.” Regulus shakes his head, staring at the painting with a distant look in his eyes, “The door at the end of the hallway wasn’t actually there, it was a painting of my parents but that’s the door to my father’s office. That’s where…” he shakes his head but doesn’t finish his statement, he doesn’t have to, “Moving was such a big experience. I felt lost because all that I ever knew was my house, I didn’t want to leave. Sirius had to physically drag me out of that God forsaken house because it was all that I knew. But I also felt… free, I guess. I just needed to get all of what I was feeling at the time out and this was the result.”
“Reg…” James says, pulling their boyfriend just that much closer to their body.
Regulus shakes his head again, “I love it, it’s horrible and it makes me tear up everytime I see it but it…”
“It was the moment that your life changed,” James smiles, “I get it. What about the other two?”
“They’re happier.” Regulus laughs. He points at the one next to it. This one is of a rose burning in front of a fire, “But only by a bit, thinking about it. Barty, Evan, Dorcas, Pandora, and I would go out and burn shit all the time. Homework, letters from our parents, bad tests, you name it. If there was a negative memory associated with something flammable, it went in the bonfire. It was one of those things that anytime something changed or we needed to have a release, we’d text the others and they’d be there with a lighter and some shit to burn.” He smiles softly at the memory, “This was the first time we burned something after Sirius and I got out. Dorcas went through a nasty break up and needed to burn all of the things that reminded her of her ex, so we all grabbed things that were negatively associated with romance in our lives and burned them. We bought a bouquet of roses and each burned one.
“Except for Barty. Well- he set that one on fire and gave it to Evan, asking him to be Barty’s ‘Rose’.” He shakes his head, “It was gross and romantic, but that was the night that they got together. I felt… on top of the world that night, burning things with my friends, free from my family, and letting go of all those shitty past relationships.” He smiles softly when James bumps their hip against his before pointing at the third painting, his smile turning bashful. This painting is of a record player with two shadows against the wall holding each other and, judging from the cocky grin that they have, James knows what this painting is.
Regulus clears his throat, “This is… it’s our first date. I know that we were dancing in the kitchen but… I don’t think I have to explain what happened to you.”
“No,” James shakes their head, their grin going from the cocky one to something softer as they turn Regulus in their arms so they’re facing each other, “I remember it well enough. You’re so sweet.” Deigning them with a response, Regulus just pushes at their chest until their arms break loose from around his waist, his face burning. It takes them a second before they’re able to get Regulus’ attention back on them, grabbing his chin gently and guiding him to look at them, “I love you, Reg.”
And Regulus can feel his entire body soften at the words, breathing out, “I love you too.” James opens their mouth to say something but they get interrupted by the door to the hall opening and a crowd filling into the room. Regulus hums and walks towards an empty space next to their painting, dragging James with him, “My friends and Sirius said that they were going to be here soon.”
James nods, leaning down until their nose is resting against his cheek, “Mhm, I can go and watch for them while you deal with the people that might want to talk to you. I imagine that Remus is coming with Sirius.” Regulus nods and James kisses Regulus one final time before slipping past the crowds and heading out of the hall.
It’s not long until they come back with their group of friends, Lily, Mary, Marlene, and Peter having come with the rest of them. The introductions between Regulus and Pete are short before Sirius rushes up to his brother and pulls him into a big hug, “I’m so fucking proud of you, Reggie.” He pulls away with a laugh when Regulus pushes at his chest, “Look at you, all big and standing in a professional art gallery standing next to your partner.”
When Regulus looks up, there are tears shining in his eyes and he blinks to try and hide them, “I always knew that I’d always end up here, what do you mean?” Sirius barks a laugh and pushes at his younger brother’s shoulder and Regulus laughs softly, “Thank you Sirius, it means a lot.” And that’s a loaded statement. He has everything to thank Sirius for: saving him, bringing him out of his shell, encouraging him to pursue his dream, pushing him to go on that date with James, being his older brother, and giving him a second chance after the shit that they went through. Sirius seems to understand this, tears filling his own eyes before he wipes at them desperately.
Their moment, however, is cut short when Barty pushes Sirius out of the way, cackling, “You fucking put up a painting of me and Ev.” He pats Regulus’ shoulder a bit harder than he should, making Regulus wince, “I knew that you loved me, you cunt.”
Regulus rolls his eyes, finding it easier to blink away his tears with Barty in front of him, “That’s debatable.”
“Not when you have a drawing of when we got together hanging in a professional art gallery.” Evan adds, a cocky grin on his face.
“You have to admit, Reg.” Dorcas says, butting her way into the conversation, “It doesn’t give off the most ‘uncaring’ message.”
“Fuck off.” Regulus shakes his head. He notes that Remus and Sirius have walked away, Remus making eye contact with him and nodding quietly before turning his attention to another piece of art. Regulus continues talking to his friends before Lily and Mary walk over, give their congratulations and compliments and head off. Peter and Marlene have walked off at some point as well.
After a couple more minutes, the rest of Regulus’ friends finish up and wander off, leaving him and James alone once more. During the duration of the rest of the event, their friends come and go and several people come to talk to Regulus. A couple walk up to James and start a conversation with them -- they explained to Regulus that they’ve been helping with these galleries since they were a teenager so the repeat guests have come to know them rather well.
Eventually, just as the gallery is going to close and the halls have been significantly emptied, McGonagall and her wife walk up to Regulus. The professor looks over the artwork that he has displayed for a moment before turning her gaze on Regulus, giving him a smile, “I always knew that you would have potential, kid. From the moment that you walked into my classroom with your portfolio.”
“Even before I started dating James.”
“Even before then,” the woman pulls her wife forward just a bit, “I don’t suppose you two have met properly. Regulus, this is my wife Poppy. Poppy, this is Regulus, he was one of my students this semester.”
The woman gives Regulus a soft smile, “It’s lovely to meet you Regulus, and congratulations.” She extends her hand.
Regulus shakes it, “Nice to meet you as well, and thank you.” And with that, the two women say their quick goodbyes before heading out of the building after James promises to tell their parents that they left. It’s not long until the rest of the crowd filters out and the hall is left with only the art presenters -- although many have left throughout the hours that the even was running -- and there is a silence that blankets over Regulus, calm and yet buzzing with the last tendrils of energy from the night. It’s not until the silence sinks in does he realise how tired he is.
James seems to notice this as well, allowing the boy to slump into their body, “Tired, love?” Regulus nods and James nods back, “Alright. We’ll go finish up with my parents and I can take you back home. They’ll pack everything into boxes tomorrow that we can pick up, yeah?”
“Sounds good.” Regulus nods and lets James guide him out into the foyer where Fleamont and Euphemia are saying goodbye to the last of the patrons.
Upon hearing them approaching, Fleamont turns around and smiles at the two, “How are you feeling, Regulus?”
“Tired, but good.”
Euphemia laughs at that, soft and comforting, “That tends to happen. How about you two get going and get some rest?”
James nods, “I was going to take him home, figured that we’d come say goodbye.”
“Of course.” The woman nods, walking over to the two and pressing a kiss to James’ cheek and, after a couple seconds of debate, one to Regulus’ temple. James kisses her cheek as well before they’re once again guiding Regulus. This time it's out of the building and into their car, which they start up and put on their conjoined playlist at a low volume.
Just as they start driving, Regulus mutters, “Can we go back to yours?”
“Are you sure?”
“Mhm.”
James nods, “Of course, just make sure to let Sirius know.” Regulus nods and pulls out his phone to text his brother, getting a thumbs up before he turns his phone off and lets his head fall back against the headrest and his eyes close. He enjoys the ride, James’ soft humming and tapping on the steering wheel to the song playing lulling him into a comforting half-sleep.
Before he knows it, they’re at James’ place and James is helping Regulus out of the car. James sets Regulus down on the bench in the entryway to take off his shoes before they go into the kitchen to grab the two of them some snacks and water and telling Remus that Regulus is staying the night before going to fetch their boyfriend.
Once in James’ room, they help Regulus change into some pyjamas that he left there and change themself while he brushes his teeth. Regulus settles in the bed just as James is finishing up with their nightly routine and they’re quick to join him, pressing their body against his. Regulus finds himself talking, voice quiet and slightly slurred with sleep, “Thank you, Jamie.”
“You deserve the world, my love.” Is James’ response into his back, their breath fanning over their neck, “You’ve had a big day, go to sleep.” And with those words, Regulus allows the edges of sleep to pull him under, happy in a way that he never thought he could be: his art being presented in one of the biggest art galleries in the area, laying in bed with his partner, -- someone who treats him so well that he almost doesn’t believe he deserves it, until they remind him that he does -- and with a wonderful crew of friends at his side alongside his brother.