Chapter Text
Regulus had been coming to Hogwarts for 3 years now. Since then he had met his brother's annoying friends, besides Remus occasionally. He also had his own friends now. Over this time he’s grown closer than he’d like to admit to Sirius’s group. Especially one James Potter, who also had unfortunately liked to be liked and could not deal with Regulus not at least tolerating him. He left him alone after first year when he was satisfied when Regulus said hello to him, but recently he’s been pestering him again. To be honest he's always been quite the annoyance.
It had been a rather nice day outside and for once Regulus was enjoying the weather. That is until one James Potter ruined it. Maybe. He isn’t entirely sure.
"Regulus! Reg! Hey!" James came running at him from the other side of the pitch.
"What is it Potter?" He snapped at him, a disaster on its way to happening.
"Do you have any Chapstick on you?" Point proven. An annoyance.
"No. Why are you asking me? Shouldn't you be with your team?"
"Well Moony always has Chapstick but apparently he doesn't have it today, I think he just doesn't want to give it to me." James rolled his eyes.
"Clearly. Your point?"
"I usually borrow his cause my lips get all dry from the wind and cold on the broom. And Sirius says you always have some as well."
"Of course he said that," blank face he continued, "I have it because I bite my lips. Not that I would let you use mine anyway."
"C'mon Reg. Just quick," James was practically begging him now.
"I highly doubt it would be quick. Seeing as your brain works as fast as a snail."
"It doesn't, I'll have you know! Did you even use yours today?"
He was getting quite annoyed with James. As pretty and loyal he was, nevermind not pretty where did that come from. Anyway he’s easily a nuisance.
"Yes I used it. Why else would I have it?"
"Perfect! So it's on your lips?"
"No I put it up my nose, of course I put it on my lips, seriously-"
Regulus stopped talking as James quickly leaned down and kissed him.
"Thanks for the chapstick Reg!" James called over his shoulder as he ran away, suspiciously like a deer. Regulus’s mouth hung open in shock. Then he heard the shriek of his brother with Remus and Peter laughing.
"PRONGS YOU DID NOT JUST KISS HIM?!" Sirius' voice heard from all around the pitch. "MY BROTHER?!"
He could also hear the laughing of Lily, Mary and Marlene now. All of them in a hysterical fit of laughter now joining Remus and Pete. Except for Sirius. He was glad his friends were already in the change room and the stands. He rolled his eyes and pretended that James Potter did not just kiss him and run.
Regulus would never admit it but it was bad enough to like your brother's best friend. Having him kiss you and run away was another story.
The Quidditch match would be starting so he took his mind off of James and got ready.
Slytherin won the game obviously. James played pretty well, not that Regulus was watching.
"Nice flying James," He said as he and his friends passed him and his friends, walking up into the castle.
"Thanks Regulus!" James smiled brightly, practically lighting up the area around him.
"So you're speaking with James again?" Pandora questioned, as they continued up the hill.
"Not that I want to. He's been more talkative towards me since he decided to steal my chapstick."
"Really? Because I'm sure you love the attention. And he kissed you Reg," Barty said, batting his eyes at him, plainly trying to imitate James.
"Stop it. He's an idiot and he likes Lily Evans. Not me." He said with a wave of his hand.
"Really." Barty said, stretching out the y.
"Yes really. Everyone knows it,” Which was a complete lie.
"Actually I'm not so sure. He's left Lily to herself for a while now. He's realized they're just not for each other." Pandora stated.
"How would you know that?"
"Someone told me." She shrugged.
"It was Lily, wasn't it." Dorcas said.
"Yes I suppose it might have been."
"Don't you have astronomy with her?" Regulus questioned.
"Yes. Me, her and Mary. She has quite the connection with Mary."
"Hm." He thought while the group entered the castle.
"Well I think you're in denial Reg. He's certainly over Lily. Figured he has been for a while. And he kissed you so…" Dorcas said, always trying to reason with him.
"Seriously. Would you drop it please. I'm hungry."
"Fine. I'm hungry too,” Dorcas said, continuing her walk more hurriedly as hunger took over.
Regulus had just finished his potatoes when he looked across the Great Hall to a particular doe eyed boy smiling his way. It wasn't new to find a certain gryffindor looking his way. It was possible that maybe Sirius had mentioned him or something of the sort.
"Please Jamie, who are you looking at?" Sirius whined in his ear.
James had been looking across the hall at almost every meal for about a week now. One black brother caught his eye. A certain Regulus Black. Of course he would tell his friends if he had a crush, like Lily. But crushing on your bestfriends brother was a little different.
He had been completely infatuated with Lily but after 3rd year he realized she wasn't the one. He knew that she loved someone else. Not completely sure who though.
After that he was happy being single for a while. It was his fifth year now and someone else had completely caught his eye. It's not like James fancied him.
Though never actually meeting Sirius's younger brother he had heard quite some about him. He had tried to be friendly but Regulus just wouldn't accept it. He eventually warmed up to James though and he liked to think they were on friendly terms.
He had never thought of Regulus as his type. After being ridiculously annoyed by Moony not giving him any chapstick, he thought why not steal some of Reg's? And when he didn't have any, why not just steal it straight from his lips? Bad idea.
After that he couldn't stop thinking about it. He shouldn't have done it but Regulus hadn't seemed to mind. It's been a week and James thought he might have been feeling a little weird about it, or maybe it was just the odd looking gravy tonight.
"Seriously. Just tell me," Sirius again nagged in his ear.
"I'm not telling you I'm sorry, you just wouldn't like it" at that moment Regulus just happened to look over. James immediately whirled his head in the opposite direction.
"Oh fabulous! The only attention you've got is my brother's," Sirius said, rolling his eyes.
"Really? He did now?" Remus said, questioning Sirius.
"Doesn't matter. I'm tired, lads. Let's go back to the dorms. Quidditch wore me out."
"Alright, fine. But I still want to know who it is," Sirius said standing up out of their table.
“You'll live Pads,” Remus assured him.
James couldn't sleep. The thought of Regulus was keeping him up. It was something completely out of the ordinary, he never felt like this. Not even with Evans. He needed a place to clear his head without getting caught.
The thought of him and Regulus really confused him. He had always thought being in different houses would keep them apart but being Sirius's brother did make him closer. They were just friendly though. No doubt in James’s mind.
He grabbed the cloak and went through a few passages before wandering the halls, keeping watch for Mr. Norris. Then he saw him.
Regulus walking through the shadows of the hall, clouded in darkness James could barely see him strolling his way along. Not even needing a cloak.
Then from out of the blue he heard Mr Norris and her awful noise tracking through the halls. No sign of Filch anywhere but he was likely to show up soon.
He watched Regulus spin around seeing the cat and James immediately ran over as quietly as he could.
"Reg! Reg!" He whisper shouted.
"James? Is that you?" He could hear Reg's voice quiver from fear of being found. Mr Norris was now round the corner and steadily approaching. He wasn;t sure if the stupid cat was blind or not at this point.
"What is it Mr Norris?" Mcgonagall. She was following the cat. Not filch, which meant even bigger trouble.
"Take my hand! Quick!"
"No! And I can't see you!"
"I'm not asking you to marry me, I'm trying to save your life! C'mon Minnie's coming!"
"Oh shit."
James then grabbed his hand and yanked him around the corner quickly throwing the cloak over Regulus.
"Up here quick!" Still whisper shouting, James jumped up into another secret passage and helped Regulus up.
"Whew." Regulus sighed, once the pair roaming the halls had passed. He looked pale as a ghost, with streams of the moonlight shining on him in the narrow corridor.
James then dropped to the hard cold stone floor to catch his breath and Regulus did the same beside him.
"Thanks. For y'know, saving me from detention."
"Yeah, no it's fine. Just went out walking tonight and saw you and that crazy cat. I thought you might not want to get caught so I became your knight in shining armour and saved you."
"Really," Reg rolled his eyes but James saw the smile creeping at the sides of his mouth.
"Yes, of course my prince."
"Seriously, stop that,” Regulus countered, but James could now see his face flushing.
"Fine. I'll stop. But I still have to get you home."
"James."
"Reggie."
"Don't call me that."
"Alright, but I'm still taking you to your dorm."
After a good amount of bickering, James got Regulus under the cloak and back to his dorm. Their hands intertwined the whole way as James led him there, even though Regulus knew the way.
"This is as far as I can go, my prince."
Regulus rolled his eyes, and then pecked James on the cheek.
"Thank you my loyal knight for bringing me home safely," he said, his tone joking but sounding sincere.
Then for the first time he saw Regulus's actual smile before he disappeared into the Slytherin dorms.
James slept quite well after the encounter. Still remember the feel of their linked hands.
James was now convinced that he and Regulus were on friendly terms. He had also come to terms with the fact that he had some sort of feeling for him.
Though he wasn't sure what yet. Regulus now smiled at him in the halls and did an occasional wave.
"Hi Reg!"
"Hello James."
It usually went like that. There wasn't much enthusiasm but Regulus always had a small smile.
Regulus had told his friends about the encounter in the night and to say they had a reaction was an understatement. They absolutely lost it.
"What do you mean you kissed him?!"
"Holy shit he totally likes you!"
There were so many voices yelling he wasn't sure who was who.
"Seriously guys. It's not a big deal," he kept walking down the hall while his friends trailed behind him.
"I think it is Regulus. I mean James doesn't go around saving everyone from detention," Pandora said.
"Actually he does. Now quiet, I want to pay attention today," Regulus said sitting down.
James had not told his friends about Regulus. He was thinking he should probably never. It was nothing right? Sirius would also totally kill him. Quick James saves the day moment with a pretty boy and done, nothing else.
But that boy is different. Regulus brought new feelings. It was so odd. Then it hit him like a truck going full speed on a highway.
He liked Regulus. A lot.