Chapter Text
Everyone knew that the most attractive and important boys were a group of 3 in slytherin. They had 2 friends that were girls they regularly hung out but the three of them were inseparable. They often played pranks on the entire school. They were in their sixth year at hogwarts. Their names?, Evan Rosier, Barty Crouch Jr and the infamous leader Regulus Black. Their other friends Pandora Lovegood and Dorcas Medows. The five of them tricked the teacher to give them classes with each other at the beginning of every year. They were all on the quidditch team all thanks to Regulus being the captain.
The boys were all known as players. All having dated boys and girls. Regulus' parents hated him and didn't hide it. However they worshipped his little brother Sirius Black. Everytime Sirius did something bad, Regulus got blamed for it. He got “punished” which really meant locked in their basement without food except maybe a very thin slice of bread. But Sirius rarely did anything bad and Regulus only got punishment that bad when it was Sirius’ fault. He usually just got hit or got a hex thrown at him. Sure the hex was usually Crucio but he was used to it at least so he kind of just zoned out. But then he was zoned out for hours, unable to do anything.
Sirius was a good student at the top of his classes, he often studied. He had three friends. That was it and they had been friends for years. They all focused on studies and they never attended the parties his brother held them most of the time. Regulus often made snarky comments about his brother and co. Though they didn’t date anyone they were not unattractive they just couldn't date because all they talked about was their next test or exam. Regulus often found his gaze focused on them. Or one of them James Potter, the quietest of them. He always had a book in his hand though Regulus never recognised them he assumed they were muggle. Regulus had never seen James with anyone apart from his friends. Everytime he went on a date at hogsmeade he saw James with his friends or not there at all. Regulus didn't know why but he was captivated by James Potter. When James’ smiled which was only once a term ( If he was lucky) , the room lit up. His smile was like the sun. Regulus knew why god would give James that smile because if he smiled more than once a day everyone would get burned.
Though Regulus had many friends his closest were his everything. They met on the train all sitting alone in a carriage then suddenly breaking into conversation which hasn't stopped for 6 years. Though Barty and Evan had a slightly different friendship, they had both had crushes on each other for years and it pained Regulus to see them running circles around each other. They had both told him within a month of each other that they like each other. Regulus rolled his eyes both times because it was obvious that they did even before they told him. Bary had a flirty nature so when he does try to flirt with Evan it doesn’t work. Regulus found it entertaining though and always watched them. He wishes that he’ll find something like that, where you love them so much that your an idiot.
Regulus always tries to talk to his brother although it never works. His brother turns away with his head held high and ignores him and his words. Once he tried to just ask how he did on a test which he was studying all summer for and got a simple good mother will be proud back. Which means he got a hundred percent and topped his grade. Thats great, Regulus is proud of him he really is he just wished that Sirius would study for himself not for their mother because she puts a lot of pressure on him. His mother had given up on him years ago, he remembers they day when she stopped caring about what he did. Sirius was nine and they were playing with a ball but they were inside and the ball ended up hitting a vase and it broke. Regulus took the blame then while he was getting yelled at he flipped of all the painting in the room and said “ Fuck off you nosy bastards”. His mother just stopped yelling, turned towards her alcohol cupboard and poured herself a full glass of red wine. It was nice that she stopped caring because when he was at home he spent most of the time smoking or stealing alcohol from her cupboard. Regulus had picked up smoking in fourth year when Barty came back with one and dared him to smoke it while they were at a party, and it became a habit. Evan always told him how it would make him sick but he didnt care.
Regulus was walking purposefully slow on the way to class because he was waiting for his prank to work. He had put dung bombs along the walls of the potions classroom and he didnt want them to go off when he was in the class room because that defeats the purpose. James was in his potions class because he was too smart for the fifth one so he got moved up. Regulus almost wanted to run to class and pull James out so he didn't get hit but decided against it. Regulus heard screams begin so he ran towards them putting on his best distressed face. When he saw the class they were all outside and the whole area smelt like shit. He could see James standing there with his arms crossed looking directly at him. Then James started walking towards him.
“ What in Christ's name is wrong with you”. James whispered. Of course he couldn't swear properly. Regulus had forgot to respond because James’ glasses were resting on the tip of his nose. He looked like a cute little grandpa telling his grandchildren some bullshit story about his childhood.
“Hello?, we were going to start Amortentia. Thats the potion that decides our grade, you imbecile.”. James was clicking in his face clearly trying to continue the story.
“ I don't know what you are talking about little Jamie boy. I didn't do this, I wasn't even here. I was with Poppy in the hospital wing. Had a little headache.”
“ Your getting on my nerves, I need to do this potion.”
“I didn't do anything.” Regulus put his hands up beside his head shrugging. James rolled his eyes and put his hand, Regulus wasn't sure what James was going to do but if he touched Regulus that would be everything on his mind. Just then a new voice called out.
“ Boys, we are good to go back. I did a masking spell. Also Regulus and James come here.”
So they did the walked towards their teacher. He put his hand on Regulus shoulder and whispered.
“ Regulus, you're not doing the best so i've decided that James will tutor you.”
“ But sir I can’t teach this idiot I'll lose brain cells, I'm pretty sure I already have by standing next to him. “
Regulus put on his best hurt face, throwing himself backwards with his hand resting on his forehead. Regulus opened his eyes and saw a small smile on James’ mouth. Just the corner of his mouth lifting up gave Regulus the motivation to agree. So now he had a tutor and James only agreed because he was a teacher's pet and didn't want to lose marks. So that was how Regulus ended up being tutored by his brothers best friend.
Regulus knew that the tutoring sessions but he hadn't expected that James wouldn't even talk. He wrote everything Regulus had to do on a blackboard and the sat down with a book. Regulus was pretty sure that that wasn't the way you tutored someone. Regulus was up to one section and he hadn't even remembered learning that. He realised that was probably the day Barty dared him to go to class high. So he realised he would have to ask James’. Regulus stood up and walked over towards James sitting in front of him on the floor holding up the work book. James looked down at him with a smirk.
“ does baby Regulus need some help reading the book?”. James asked sarcastically. Regulus looked up at him shocked, he didn't think that James could be rude. It was kind of hot. Wait no it wasn't, why did Regulus think that.
“ No i can read perfectly well, I just don’t remember learning this part of the curriculum.”
“ Curriculum?, I didn't know you learnt such big words. Proud of you.”. Damn James was really going at Regulus. Though Regulus wasn't sure what he had done. Though maybe James just acted like that normally. Regulus felt warm when James said he was proud of him. Now Regulus knew that he would actually try. So maybe James would mean it the next time he said he was proud.
“ I actually learnt it from Minnie, and I just need you to explain what happened in the prac because it just tells you the steps not the results.”
James went on the explain what happened . Regulus listened harder than he thought he ever had. Regulus learned more from James than he ever had the whole year. Maybe because James was the one saying it. There was something enticing about the way James spoke. He made a bubble around the person he was speaking to ans held them hostage till he was done and the ballon popped. Though Regulus never felt the bubble pop. Even when James was done talking Regulus felt as though he was still connected to James. Their study session ended and James left. Leaving Regulus trapped inside his bubble. Regulus made his way back to the the dorms still in a trance thinking about the way James face lit up when he talked about certain parts of potions and how he used his arms an excessive amount when he got excited.