Chapter Text
Friday evening found them all arranging for the party in the Gryffindor common room. James was in charge of the food and drinks, Sirius and Remus on music and dance stuff, Mary and Lily on the decorations, Frank and Fabian putting 'little surprises' on each and every corner, well Fabian was, Frank just sighed and tried stopping him from doing anything reckless, Gideon and Peter were arranging the armchairs, tables and couches to make more room while Alice and marlene made an invitation list.
The party they were having now was originally planned last week, after Gryffindor won the match (barely) against Slytherin but it was postponed, because their keeper, George Hawkins was injured.
"James! When are you even going to get the drinks and food?" Marlene yelled from where she was sitting with Alice on the steps of the staircases.
"Bloody hell, McKinnon, don't need to blast our ears" Sirius muttered, to which she flipped him off without looking up.
James sighed from where he was draped over the couch Gideon was levitating.
He jumped down and grabbed the map on his way out, ruffling Remus's and Mary's hair. Mary stuck out her tongue while Remus sighed fondly.
James ran a hand through his hair, taking out the magazine article. He knew reading and walking at the same time wasn't safe, but since when was James Potter ever done anything safe? Besides, he'd seen Lily, Remus and Regulus do it often.
"Once you have gained his attention through theses lines, which are guaranteed to work"- James had doubted that seriously, but it seemed to be working-"Let him know that you appreciate and will cherish him if he does agree to be your lover"- blah, blah, blah James scanned over it quickly- "The next step to do is to make it clear that you're interested in him, without the lines. Some instances are of the following-"
"Hphhh" James was knocked out of reading it as he stumbled, putting one arm on the staircase and the other quickly wrapping around the person who he had knocked into. He realised with horror that the person was about to fall from the top of the staircase and the said person was-
Oh shit
-Regulus
Regulus's eyes were wide as he quickly wrapped an arm around James's shoulder, the other on the staircase. James vaguely registered both his- well, not exactly his- magazine and Regulus's book falling down.
"James! Do watch where you're going, would you?" Regulus frowned, still being in an awkward dip.
"Sorry love, wasn't looking. Besides, weren't you reading too?"
James grinned, though on the inside he was running out screaming because Regulus was right there. In his arms. Not exactly what he had imagined, but still.
"That's irrelevant and could you let me go?" Regulus grumbled, suddenly registering their position as he flushed.
"If you were a dementor, I would be a criminal just to get a kiss from you" James smirked, because well, he was impulsive and Regulus' blushing always made him go crazy.
Regulus stared at him, a slow smile and blush creeping on his face as he replied, "Salazar Potter, you've compared me to a snitch, bludger and now a dementor? What's next, a snake?" He sighed mournfully, but his mouth was still curled up.
"Oh but you already are one" James really should learn to control his mouth but he just couldn't resist saying that, honestly.
Regulus opened and closed his mouth, before scoffing and rolling his eyes, muttering about 'oblivious stupid gryffindors'
James grinned, pulling him out of the dip and lifting Regulus off his feet.
" POTTER!! Let me down!" Regulus gasped and yelped, firmly planting his hands on James's shoulder.
James spinned him around before letting him down gently, still grinning
Regulus was laughing a little breathlessly as he rolled his eyes, but still smiled up at him.
James blinked as Regulus tilted his head and took off his glasses, wiping them on his own robes.
"Wow"
"What, Jamie?"
"You're really fucking blurry"
"What a great observation. But of course I'm blurry, what with you being blind as a bat" Regulus scoffed, before carefully putting the glasses back on James's face, standing on his tiptoes a bit.
James gaped because honestly, this was a whole new world. He really should have done this ages ago.
"Thank you, Reggie" James gave him a bright smile, which hopefully conveyed how much he appreciated him.
Regulus smiled back, dipping his head a little to let his hair fall over and hide his face. Why he did that, James didn't know, Regulus had a beautiful face, really.
James looked at Regulus. The mole under his right eye, his long eyelashes, the slight dusting of freckles he got during the summer, the slightly mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
They stared at each other a bit.
"Oh" Regulus uttered quietly, eyes widening a bit before it was all masked quickly.
"Huh?" James tilted his head in confusion, raising his eyebrows
"Nothing, uh, I have to meet up with Dorcas in a bit. I uh, I'll see you later, James' ' Regulus quickly said, bending down to pick up his book, taking the magazine and handing it to James as well.
"Here and bye Jamie" Regulus gave him one last small smile before walking off.
James frowned in confusion before shrugging to himself. He rolled up the magazine and walked off to the kitchens.
_______________________________________________________
"SIRIUS!! Come on, let's dance!!" Marlene shouted, pulling up Sirius who had drunkenly fallen on the couch. James blinked, they were all drunk, really. James is a bit sober than them. He looked around the room. Alice, Frank's girlfriend and James's childhood friend- they are still friends, really, just not as close- was braiding Gideons long hair, who was flirting with Frank. Frank looked really red and Alice kept breaking out into giggles and snorts.
James took his cup to take a drink and promptly choked on it when he saw Regulus. Oh dear Merlin, he had forgotten Regulus would be here. Of course he would be, Mary, Lily and Regulus were friends. Barty and Evan were there as well, looking one minute away from snogging each other. Dorcas was laughing as she was pulled into dance by Marlene. Pandora and Peter looked like they were having a deep conversation.
He looked back at Regulus, who had his mouth covered as laughed with Mary, Remus rolling his eyes beside them.
James made his way over to them, ruffling his hair and smiling
"Hey Reg"
"Hello Jamie" Regulus gave him a small smile, grey eyes bright.
Mary raised an eyebrow in interest, smirking. "Hi James"
"Hey Mary, Moony," James smiled sheepishly, glancing at them.
"I'm going to dance, you coming Remus?" Mary asked, her eyes lightning up mischievously
"N-" Mary smiled a bit more sweetly, her eyes sharp.
"I mean, yes" Remus sighed again, letting Mary pull him up
"Uh-Bye?" Regulus arched an eyebrow
"Bye Reggie! Bye James! Have fun, you two!"
"I- yeah, bye! Have fun!" James grinned nervously, hoping Regulus hadn't caught up.
Regulus muttered Something about confusing gryffindors before raising an eyebrow at him, "You gonna stand there all night, Potter?"
James realised he was standing in front of the couch, and quickly sat next to Regulus, letting a bit of distance between them.
"So how's this year going, Reggie?"
James was swept into a conversation with Regulus.
He loved talking to Regulus, when he got really passionate, he would wave his arms around, his eyes always bright, expressing more than he ever did.
"Uh, Jamie, I need some air, I'll just go take a walk, bye-"
"No! I-i mean, I'll come with you! I need some air too" James quickly said, ruffling his hair. Regulus did look a bit out of it, the party inside getting louder and louder as the night wore on.
Regulus hesitated, before nodding and getting up.
James got up as well, leading him by his hand through the crowd. Finally, they got out of the portrait hole and then did James realise he was still holding Regulus's hand. Regulus didn't seem particularly bothered by that, instead giving him a small smile. James slowly intertwined their fingers and released a breath when Reg didn't pull away.
They walked through the corridors in a comfortable silence, hands interlocked.
James exhaled when they got out of the castle safely, it was welk into the night and all the patrols were completed.
"Uh-Reg?" James asked before he could stop himself
"Yeah, Jamie?" Regulus turned to him, raising an eyebrow
"The things I said to you.. it's all true,, you know that, right?" James licked his lips nervously
Regulus glanced at his lips before looking back up, "I-I mean, I wasn't so sure at first..like, I thought you were joking or-or It was a prank, or something…"
James frowned, he was a little hurt that Regulus would ever think that he would do that. Regulus sighed, probably seeing his expression, "I mean, I knew you wouldn't do something like that but.."
"Regulus" James stopped walking, turning to him and slowly taking both of Regulus's hands in his, searching his eyes.
"I like you. Like, really really like you"
Regulus bit his lip, glancing up (and up and up) at him.
"I..I like you too. A lot" Regulus exhaled, smiling up at him a little.
James's face split into a large grin, leaning a bit down to whisper,
"You're one hell of a thief, you know?"
Regulus scoffed, rolling his eyes, "You're now calling me a thief, Potter? Honesty-"
"Because you stole my heart faster than I had blinked" James finished, slowly putting a hand on Regulus's cheek.
"Oh" Regulus blinked as he blushed
"...Are you the sun? Because you're so beautiful it's blinding me" Regulus smiled up at him, leaning into his palm a little
"I-well, if I had a star for every time I thought of you, I would be holding up the whole galaxy" James said back, raising his eyebrows but he could still feel heat creeping up his neck
"Well, I'm lost, can I get a map to your heart?" Regulus fired back, bow starting to smirk
"Oh but baby, you already have my heart" James grinned, moving closer
"Oh, pet names now?" Regulus teased lightly, raising his arms to wrap around James's shoulders.
"I mean, if you're alright with it-" James quickly said, wrapping his arms around Regulus's waist.
"Of course. If it's you, I'm alright with anything" Regulus whispered, biting his lip.
James blinked. They were so close now, he could count Regulus's freckles. He could see eyelashes that went on for days. Their noses were almost touching.
"Are you going to kiss me now or do I have to lie to my diary?"
"Wait, you have a-"
James didn't know who made the first move. But they ended up kissing anyway, so it doesn't matter. It was sweet and chaste. It was awkward and they kept bumping noses. His glasses got in the way. But they laughed, they snorted and giggled, leaning into each other and kissing again and again. Because it was all they wanted and that's all that mattered.
Regulus pulled away first, breathing a bit hard, but smiling brightly. James knew he was smiling like an idiot but who honestly cares.
"James Fleamont Potter, could you please do the honour of going out with me?" Regulus asked, he was smiling a little hesitantly.
"That's the most formal way I've ever been asked out but yes! Of course, I would love to, honestly who wouldn't-" James was then cut off from his babbling when Regulus leaned in his tiptoes to kiss him again. Most probably to shut him up, but if this was the way he was going to be shut up now, he wasn't going to complain.
They sat under a tree after a while and spent the rest of the night talking and kissing, not getting enough of each other.
It was only after he got inside the common room, after dropping off Regulus at his common room, did he come to a halt at Sirius's raised eyebrow.