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20 December 1987
Grimmauld Place
Regulus pinched the bridge of his nose and prayed to deities above and below to give him strength to deal with his brother.
“Aw come on, Reggie! Tell us…” Sirius begged.
He had unfortunately let slip after one too many glasses of merlot during dinner the previous night with his brother that he wanted to throw James a surprise Christmas party with all of their friends in remembrance of the anniversary of their first kiss. It was a moment of weakness for him as he was exhausted from running after Harry all day, and he was missing James who had been away on a work trip for two weeks.
Since then, Sirius had been like a dog with a bone trying to get details of their first kiss out of him and hadn’t left him alone all day.
“Your first kiss can’t be that embarrassing! If I guess it right, would you tell me?” Sirius insisted, bouncing around like an over-excited puppy.
Regulus ignored his brother. They were in the drawing room of Grimmauld Place, decked out in Christmas decorations in all its grandeur, there were floating trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres everywhere, and guests were slowly starting to trickle in. Regulus was waiting for James’s portkey to arrive, and Sirius was hovering to pester him while Remus kept Harry entertained on a nearby couch with some colouring books.
“Padfoot, what’s a first kiss?” asked Harry inquisitively with all the seriousness of a three-year-old.
“Well sprog, c’mere, I’ll tell you a little tale!” Sirius said, beckoning Harry over, tapping his hand on the empty space beside him on the couch.
Regulus groaned, admitting defeat, knowing there was nothing he could do to shut his brother up once he was fixated on something. He looked at Remus with a pleading look indicating towards his brother but Remus gave him an apologetic shrug, mouthing the word ‘sorry’.
Harry gleefully strutted over to his godfather who picked him up and seated him on his lap.
“You see Haz, here is the story of your dads’ first kiss. Once upon a time..” Sirius said dramatically and continued.
“One summer, a wicked witch who wanted to curse Reggie gave him a very powerful sleeping draught. When he took it, he fell into an enchanted sleep and couldn’t wake up. And this draught was so powerful that Reggie’s tiredness leaked out everywhere and everyone fell asleep too! And soon the whole street was asleep and eventually, the whole of London! Afterwards, the witch turned into an evil dragon and came to destroy the city!” Sirius roared, grabbing Harry theatrically.
“But then! James rode in on a horse with a sword and he slayed the dragon and then kissed Reggie, waking him from his enchanted sleep, ending the curse and saving everyone! Reggie kissed him back as thanks when he woke up and gave James a handkerchief as a token of his gratitude.”
“And what's a handkerchief, you ask, Harry? It’s something damsels in distress give to knights in shining armours like your daddy! And there you have it, that’s the story of your dads’ first kiss.” Sirius said with a flourish.
Harry clapped his hands in glee and cheered.
“Padfoot, you know that’s the plot to Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, you just watched it last week!” Remus said, shaking his head.
“No Harry, don’t listen to your silly Godmoony! That's not the plot to Sleeping Beauty, I don't know what you're talking about.. What’s a Disney anyway?” Sirius said defensively.
“That makes no sense! And why am I the damsel in distress?” Regulus added in a huff.
“Shush, I’m the one telling the story, we need flair, adventure and romance!” Sirius said.
“Okay so a story that goes like how we kissed under a charmed mistletoe because we were trapped underneath, and it wouldn’t let us go unless we kissed?” Regulus said sarcastically.
“Completely cliched. You’ve been reading too many of Moony’s steamy romance novels, Reg.” Sirius replied.
Remus threw a tickling charm at Sirius who yelped. Harry broke out into more giggles.
“What, as if snogging in a broom cupboard isn’t the biggest cliché? I know for a fact that’s where you two…” Regulus said, gesturing at Remus and his brother.
Remus had the grace to blush, “Ah broom cupboards. God, the number of times we were caught in there,” he chuckled. “What can I say, I was a teenager – completely unable to escape the Sirius Black charm, still can’t really…” Remus said fondly, and came to sit on the perch of the arm rest on the couch beside Sirius.
“I’d kiss you in a thousand more broom cupboards, Moony,” Sirius said, looking up at Remus.
Remus rolled his eyes but placed his hand along the back of Sirius’s neck, massaging down the neck and shoulders, and pulled Sirius forward for a kiss on his forehead, a soft playful smile on his face. The outside world around them forgotten for a moment. They’d always been like that.
“Hello, my favourite people in the world!” said a voice behind them.
“Daddy!” Harry squealed and ran towards James who scooped up his son enthusiastically for a cuddle. Kissing his son on the forehead, James walked the both of them over towards Regulus and pulled him in for a hug.
“Hi love,” James whispered.
“Welcome home, darling,” Regulus replied, leaning into James’s embrace, smelling his familiar cologne, only realising then just how much he missed James.
“Papa planned this for you, Daddy!” Harry poked his head in between theirs and blurted, “I helped too! Kreacher and me did all the stars,” he said, gesturing to the room.
“It looks amazing, Harry,” James said fondly.
“And.. and Padfoot and Moony made the falling snow, look!” Harry continued, showing his father the enchanted ceiling made to look like a snowy night sky.
“Heya Pads. Alright, Moony?” James said in greeting to his best friends.
Sirius gave a two-handed salute with a wink, and Remus waved, “Welcome home, Prongs.”
“And papa made these, these shiny floaty snitch... bubbles.” Harry struggled to say.
“Baubles, mon chou,” Regulus said slowly.
“Yeah! Bobbles!” Harry screamed in delight, pointing at the golden snitch shaped baubles that were floating around the room, emitting a golden hue. The child was quidditch obsessed like his father and had been begging for his own broom to his dads, uncles and anyone who would listen.
“He did, too,” James said slowly, giving him a knowing look.
“And everyone came to visit!” Harry said in excitement.
James beamed, “This is incredible Reg, it’s the perfect welcome home gift! Who else is here?”
Peter Pettigrew came through the Floo at that moment, and said in greeting, “Hey everyone.”
“Wormy!” James exclaimed excitedly.
“The whole gang's back together!”
*
The party was thriving. Regulus had invited all their old friends, and James had been bouncing around in excitement all night despite having been away for work for the majority of the month. James had been travelling all over Europe helping schools set up holiday Quidditch programs for students in need, providing shelter, free broomsticks and mentoring. He poured a lot of their estate into this project, but had been hard at work gaining ministry support to maintain the program permanently and across countries. Regulus was so proud he couldn’t bear it sometimes. He wanted to throw millions of galleons into this project for James but he was stopped gently by Remus, who said he should let the ministry do something right for a change. Remus was right of course as always, that’s why he was a professor.
Regulus had been torn about what to get James for Christmas – what do you get someone who wanted for no material possessions and was one of the most thoughtful and kind people in the world? Last year, James had gotten Regulus a collection of candid pictures that he had taken during the year from one of those unmoving Muggle polaroid cameras, each picture complete with a funny or memorable caption of what they were doing during each moment. Regulus had placed a dozen protection charms on the pictures, and he never told anyone, but it was one of his most treasured possessions in the world.
And so, Regulus had arranged for portkeys and arrangements for everyone - Peter even travelled back from Asia halting his ever-top-secret curse breaking cases. They didn’t see him often the past year as he worked so often but Peter always dropped work for his friends and never missed an important milestone. Marlene and Dorcas who now lived in the United States working joint operations between the Ministry and MACUSA had also dropped in to visit. Frank and Alice had taken the night off from auror duties and were there with their son Neville, and the rest of their friends who lived in England were all there. Everyone loved James Potter and came through in his honour. How could you not?
Through the night as the party went on, Regulus was doing his host duties and was being talked to death by Gilderoy Lockhart about a hair-care range he was hoping Regulus would invest in. He could see Sirius talking to Harry animatedly from the corner of his eyes and slyly redirected Lockhart to Lucius Malfoy, hinting that he might be more interested in this business venture. Regulus escaped before he could be dragged into this further and tried to listen into Sirius and his son’s conversation.
“...and that’s the true story of your dads’ first kiss, Haz.” Sirius said with mischief in his eyes.
“Whoa.. a rescue from the giant squid? Cool!” Harry said, eyes as wide as saucers.
“Exactly, James was a hero, and your papa kissed him as thanks,” Sirius said very seriously.
Regulus could feel the vein on his temple throbbing and felt what he liked to call a Sirius-headache coming on. But before he could intervene, he spotted Barty place Evan in a circle on the floor, with drawings on the edge that looked worryingly like the beginnings of a blood ritual. They were talking and gesturing to a very excited looking Nymphadora. Regulus hurried to break it up before his cousin Andromeda cursed his bollocks off for allowing his friends to teach her daughter blood magic at a tender impressionable age of 6.
*
As the night went on, Regulus started to attempt to relax. Last he saw James, he was busy leading a conga line with Sirius in the next room chanting the Gryffindor team song, and Regulus wanted nothing to do with that, thank you very much. So he was about to check up on Harry when someone grabbed him by the arm. Regulus collided with strong arms and a solid chest to find it was James who had snatched him up.
“Hi I lost you for a while” James said, his eyes bright and cheeks flushing.
“Didn’t want to join your Gryffindor foolery,” Regulus replied.
“Har har…do you know something?” James asked.
“Hmm?”
“I haven’t danced with you tonight yet,”
“So you haven’t…”
“Can we please rectify that? I would love a dance with my wonderful hot husband,” James asked.
“No one is dancing right now though, Sirius will tease,” Regulus countered.
“Sirius… has been walking around half naked with only tinsel wrapped around his arse for the past hour because he lost a bet to Wormy. I’m pretty sure he lost his pants too somewhere in the process.. he has no grounds to be making fun of anyone tonight,” James said with a laugh.
“I’m actually not sure my brother has ever felt self-conscious for a day in his life,” Regulus said.
James laughed.
“Pleaseeeee…”
Regulus had never been able to pass up an opportunity to make James Potter happy, and he was powerless to do anything but say yes. He rolled his eyes and fell into James’s open arms, “Fine, one dance,” he said, hiding his smile.
James swayed them on the spot, his palm was solid on Regulus’s lower back and pulled him in, so their chests were flush against each other’s. Regulus placed an arm on James’s shoulder as they danced in contented silence. A soft melody played somewhere in the house in the distance. Regulus could do the Venetian Waltz as he had been trained to do, but in James’s arms he just wanted to be held as close as he could be and sway to the soft music, dance routines and social etiquette be damned. His brother would be proud.
“I noticed the snitch baubles floating around,” James said softly.
“Yeah?”
“I love them.”
“You remembered.”
“Love, I’ve never forgotten anything when it comes to you. I dunno if you’ve noticed but I’m stupidly in love with you,” James said, and leaned in towards his ear to whisper, “And you look so fucking pretty tonight.”
James lingered there with his lips against Regulus’s ears, his thumb rubbing circles into the small of Regulus’s back, pressing into his skin.
Regulus blushed furiously, silently pleased and nuzzled his face against James’s, “Stop that…”
“No can do, love. You planned all this for me, invited all my friends, the snitches… and 10 years ago tonight huh? I can hardly believe it…”
They danced for a while like that, and James continued, “Thank you for doing this, I know you hate big parties like this.”
“I don’t hate them that much, besides, you like them…”
James smiled at him with that smile that could end wars. Regulus thought that perhaps for him, it had in a way. Sirius taught him how to be brave, but James’s never-wavering light was what got him through the war during his stint as a spy in the Dark Lord’s army. He held James closer and ran his fingers through his messy curls softly, “I’m glad you’re home.”
They leaned in towards each other to share a kiss, familiar and comforting. Regulus smiled against James’s lips, and thought back to their first kiss 10 years ago…
*
20 December 1977
An abandoned classroom near the Gryffindor Common Room
“Hello you,” announced James, and Regulus turned towards the door to find his crush walking in.
“One of these days, you’re going to have to tell me how you keep finding me, Potter,” Regulus replied.
“A guy’s gotta have a little mystery, Reg.” James said, walking towards him to the front of the empty classroom where Regulus was seated atop a table.
“What are you doing here anyway? I thought you were going to come to our Gryffindor Christmas party! The whole castle is there. We missed you,” James said with a smile.
Why would James Potter miss him?
It was true that he was working on his relationship with Sirius since he left home, and Regulus found himself in the company of Gryffindors quite regularly nowadays. On the first day back of the school term, his brother had found him and apologised for leaving him with their parents at Grimmauld. Regulus hadn’t minded, he knew Sirius had to leave – his idealistic brother with his soft heart wasn’t made to be around their family and their pureblood mania, not to mention their involvement with the war. The Dark Lord’s propositions to Regulus to join his ranks lingered in his mind, and he shivered at the thought.
James must have noticed because he said suddenly, “You must be cold, you’re not wearing a cloak! And blimey it’s a bit drab in here, isn’t it? Let’s see…”
James casted a warming charm and swirled his wand around and conjured golden baubles that glowed a golden hue. The baubles floated across the room and hovered around them.
Regulus smiled, feeling the warmth fill him that wasn’t completely physical.
“There, now it’s festive!” James said, and came to sit beside him. They sat there together in contented silence for a while.
After a while, James asked tentatively, “Are you worried because it’s a Gryffindor party? It’s not really a big deal. Everyone’s there, even some Slytherins.”
“And Sirius would be glad to see you,” James added thoughtfully.
“I saw him rush off with Lupin a while ago actually. Lupin was dragging him away in a hurry..” Regulus said.
James looked thoughtful for a moment.
“Oh, they must be heading to the kitchens to get more food! Although, I do hope they’re not planning a prank without me…” he said, frowning a little.
Regulus smiled softly, “Yeah maybe..” he decided not to tell James that he saw his brother holding hands with Remus as they walked off. He would find out eventually.
“See? The party is wrapping up anyway, Reg. No one would care if you wanted to come.” James said hopefully.
Regulus knew it wasn’t a big deal. He could. Even if any of the Death Eaters heard about this, he could handle himself. But he didn’t want to share James. Even though he wasn’t really his.
“Maybe later, it is kind of nice here now that you made it all festive with all these,” he said, nodding at the floating golden balls dancing around them.
James lit up, beaming, and they sat there for a while chatting about nothing in particular.
“They look like golden snitches, they move like them,” Regulus said after a while, gesturing at the glowing baubles during a quiet moment.
“That would be amazing!” James exclaimed, “The perfect Christmas ornament!”
Regulus took out his wand, pointed it towards the baubles and whispered a spell. Then suddenly the glowing baubles sprouted little wings mimicking a snitch, and they floated around them in a circle.
“Reg… this is… You’re amazing you know,” James said gazing up at the golden snitches. “They’re beautiful…”
“Yeah, beautiful,” Regulus replied, looking at James.
Regulus shifted to sit closer to James, their thighs touching.
James smiled at him, his eyes crinkling with a happiness so palpable and reassuring that Regulus longed to touch it, to feel that happiness on his skin. Near James, he stopped worrying about the Dark Lord, the war, and his family.
Sitting face to face, they gravitated towards each other slowly. And it took a while, but neither pulled away and eventually they both leaned in to kiss each other on the lips softly.
In truth, he and James’s first kiss wasn’t a grand affair, there were no dramatic declarations of love. It was tentative and the kiss was rife with hesitation, hope, enthusiasm, and awkwardness. It wasn’t special because it was grand or ridiculous, it was special because it was James. And Regulus didn’t even know it then that it would be their first of forever.
As he kissed him, Regulus felt James’s smile on his lips for the very first time, and he vowed to himself right then that he wanted to make that happen again and again for the rest of his life.
And he did.