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This was the last thing that any one had expected. There’s a tense silence over the great hall as James and Regulus part from each other, grins on their faces.
To the surprise of everyone, even to Sirius’ surprise and he knew about his little brother’s relationship, James had been arguing with their friends about the fact that James didn’t like Lily anymore, that he had another person that he was all over. Then their friends had told him to go up to them and either kiss them or confess to them. So James got a large grin on his face and winked at his best friend. He stands up and promptly stalks towards the Slytherin table, ignoring the looks that he gets from all of the houses.
Then he gets to Regulus, pulling him to a stand by his tie and bringing him into a kiss. It’s nothing too passionate, more gentle; sweet and loving. The Slytherin is confused for only a moment before he finally comes around to it, wrapping his arms around the taller and returning the kiss with just as much love. Evan and Barty hoot behind them and it makes the two of them pull away, both smiling. Regulus rolls his eyes and turns to push at Barty’s shoulder. Then James grabs his boyfriend’s wrist and pulls him out of the great hall, making sure to walk as close to the Gryffindor table as possible and throwing a sly grin in their direction.
And after they’ve disappeared through the doors, the hall erupts in conversation; most confused or shocked. And when Sirius turns back to his table, he doesn’t miss the looks that all of their friends are giving him. He doesn’t miss the way that Remus has pressed a hand to his arm and raised an eyebrow that Peter is giving him. He also doesn’t miss the way that several eyes from not only the Gryffindor table but several other tables bore holes into his back.
But Sirius doesn’t grace them with the response that they’re expecting.
Because he’s known for longer than all of them.
It’s like that other than the three boys themselves, only really Peter or Marlene would know this--not that James has told them everything throughout their childhood. However, Fleamont Potter and Alphard Black once dated when theywere in school. And while they both broke up and fell in love with the women of their respective dreams, the two made sure to stay friends. And when James and Sirius were born in the same year, the two men were thrilled.
It became a thing that whenever Regulus and Sirius’ parents couldn’t bother to take care of their own children, they’d pass the boys off to their Uncle Alphard. And it was almost without fail that every other time they were with their uncle, they’d end up being around the Potters.
And when the boys first met, Sirius and James naturally were drawn to each other. After they met, any time they got to be together they were attached at the hip--inseparable as they are now. However, it took Regulus longer to break out of his shell and get to know James; he was more the type of person to follow whatever their parents said and, due to his young age, he had no one else to believe than them.
But when Regulus did finally come around to James’ presence, Sirius immediately knew that there was something more; it felt like the two of them were soulmates. The first thing he noticed, even as the age of 8, was that hyper-active and loud James would sit down--mostly still, which even now James can’t sit entirely still to save his life--and go entirely quiet just so he could listen to Regulus uninterrupted; when he was younger, the Slytherin had a habit of stopping his train of thought the minute someone interrupted them and never picking it back up again.
Sirius also noticed that Regulus actually smiled around James. Even as his older brother, Sirius is still barely able to get a genuine smile out of his younger brother, and yet within a month of James and Regulus finally getting closer, Regulus was smiling at him. It was always something small and gentle, like he still didn’t quite know how to smile, but it was a smile nonetheless.
Then, when the boys were 11 and 10 respectively, Regulus came out to Sirius. Although he hadn’t had the name for it at the time, Sirius immediately knew what his younger brother meant when Regulus came up to him and told him about how he hated being a girl and wanted to be a boy--though he did get more in depth on that, Sirius hardly remembers the exact word choice. Then Regulus informed him that he was terrified of telling James, thinking that James would like him less--and that’s what the boys called ‘love’, they hadn’t quite figured out their feelings and their only perception of relationships was Regulus and Sirius’ future betrothed and their parents, and it’s not like they were the pinnacle of love.
But Sirius encouraged his younger brother to tell James, to say to him what he had just said to Sirius and that James wouldn’t care either way.
And he was right.
Because when Regulus finally got the courage to tell James what he was feeling, Sirius just a couple feet behind them to make sure things went alright, James just smiled at the younger and tenderly asked ‘what’s your name, love?’ James was then the first person to learn about chest binding and how he thinks it could help Regulus. Then he offered to go out with the brothers to get more clothes for Regulus, ones that fit him much better than his old ones; then gazed at Regulus with so much love in his eyes--again, not fully the emotion that Sirius recognized at that age but he knew that there was so much more to his gaze than normal. It wasn’t until later did he understand the look.
And that’s the second point in time when Sirius knew that Regulus and James were meant for each other. He not only knew how well they were able to compromise their personalities to fit well together, he also knew that James would forever support his little brother no matter what Regulus might throw at him.
Then the third point in time was when James and Sirius had gotten a bit too aggressive while rough-housing and got more than a bit scratched up. Just like always, James had taken to patching up Sirius, making sure that all his wounds were washed and bandaged up but conveniently forgot to take care of himself. Upon learning that, Regulus sat down and insisted that James accept his help until he inevitably couldn’t say no anymore.
Regulus then took two hours gently wiping away dried blood and bandaging scratches and putting ointment on bruises between fighting James on how it wasn’t a burden to take care of him because James is incredibly stubborn and refuses to take care of himself before taking care of anyone else. However, Regulus is just as stubborn and insists that James takes care of himself, even if he has to help James through force.
Now, due to Regulus’ help, James has gotten better at accepting care and help--but usually only from Regulus, and occasionally from Sirius or Remus.
Point two and point three, to Sirius, are the biggest shows of just how perfect his best friend and brother are for each other. They’re the biggest shows of support that Sirius has seen between the two of them; the fact that James hadn’t even questioned if Regulus was sure about how he was feeling, and instead just asked him what made him most comfortable. The fact that James had answered every questions that Regulus had asked, be it about their relationship now or if Regulus was a monster--’yes, Reggie, I still llike you’, ‘I don’t care if you’re a boy, I feel the same about you’, ‘no, you’re not weird for feeling this way’, ‘of course I’ll be by your side if you ever need help’. The fact that Regulus has always been so insistent that James takes care of himself in the way that he takes care of others.
They’re perfect for each other. They know how to read each other, they know what the other needs, and they listen to the other unquestionably.
And the fourth time that Sirius couldn’t help but look on the budding relationship fondly was in third year. James had a bad tumble from his broom and was in the Medical Wing for several days and Regulus refused to leave his bedside the entire first two days he was in. James was in and out of consciousness at the time, mostly unconscious, and Regulus wanted to not only make sure that James was alright but also that he was there when James would wake up as a comfort to him.
It got a little hard to cover for him when Remus and Lily and Peter and Marlene would want to see James in those first couple of days due to Regulus being at his crush’s bedside. It came to the point that the Slytherin would have slept there had Pandora not come to drag him away and back to the dungeons each night--though she couldn’t bring him meals, she just had to bring him food. Then she’d have to drag him to his classes, promising him that he could see James when he was done with them--that was the only time that Sirius has seen Regulus beg to not have to go to his classes or study.
But then, a week after the initial injury, James was released from care just in time for Hogsmeade weekend and Sirius helped Regulus sneak them away so Regulus could take his crush on the best ‘date’--neither of them outwardly stated that it was a date, but both confided in Sirius that they wanted it to be one. James had been blushing the entire time and whined to Sirius about how Regulus refused to let him buy anything and absolutely spoiled him and he didn’t know how to react.
Sirius had just laughed and patted his friend’s back, getting an elbow to his ribcage which only made him laugh harder.
“Sirius?” Remus’ lovely voice breaks Sirius from his train of thoughts. The hand on his arm has moved to clasp Sirius’ own. “Are you alright, love?”
Sirius gives Remus a smile, a genuine and loving one, “Yeah! I’m fine. Why?”
“I don’t know, Sirius,” Peter starts sarcastically, tossing his arms up, “It’s not like you’re incredibly protective of your ‘little baby brother’ and have threatened to kill anyone that even looks at him wrong. And it’s not like said little brother just kissed your best friend. Why wouldn’t you be okay?”
Marlene elbows her childhood friend in the side, but still levels Sirius with an indecipherable gaze, “Seriously, this doesn’t seem like something you’d just accept.”
Sirius just smiles at his friends, staying just as genuine as before, “With them? It was impossible not to accept.”
“What!?” Marlene shouts, slamming her hands on the table.
“Does that mean you’ve known for a while?” Lily asks, tilting her head a bit.
Sirius nods, “Yeah, I’ve known for… a bit of time.”
Specifically, he knew when he and Regulus ran away from home. The two of them had had enough after a particularly bad punishment sent in the direction of Sirius and Kreacher helped the two of them pack and get away from there the same night. Then when the brothers turned up at the Potter’s house, Monty and Effie took the two of them in with warm cups of tea and some midnight snacks.
And considering James had been asleep when the brothers arrived, it had been a lovely surprise for him to wake up to; Sirius and Regulus hadn’t been able to sleep that night and instead the two of them just spent the rest of the night helping the other decorate their rooms, so for once they had both been awake before James and were waiting for him at the table. Upon seeing them, James had gotten the widest grin and ran to them, hugging both with as much ferocity as he could put in his tired muscles.
And Sirius most definitely didn’t miss the way that James almost leaned in to press a kiss to Regulus’ lips when he pulled him into a hug.
The three of them spent the morning catching up and James spent the next week doting over the brother’s because they ‘deserved it after all that bullshit’. And while James did still spend a lot of time with Sirius, the ravenette was more interested in going out with Remus that summer, leaving James and Regulus to continue their weird tip-toeing around each other.
Which Sirius never understood. He knew for a fact that both of them had recognized both their own feelings and the other’s. He didn’t know why they danced around each other when he saw the way that they interacted, the way that they loved each other. The only thing he could come up with was that they were being awkward teenagers, despite the fact that they’ve been basically dating since they were children.
Which is why Sirius actually celebrated when he got home from a hang out with Remus and saw James and Regulus in Effie’s garden. They were laying side by side on a blanket with James’ arm under Regulus’ head and bending to press that hand to the younger’s upper-arm. Their bodies were pressed together and they were both looking up to the sky and Regulus was pointing at things and talking, Sirius just assumed that he was telling James about the stars they were able to see.
Sirius, as creepy as it felt, spent quite a while just standing there and watching them interact; watching the way James watched Regulus with pure adoration in his eyes and the way that Regulus would lean more and more into James’ body until he was practically on top of the older. Then, when they both decided to tuck in for the night, Sirius watched as they stood up and James gathered the blanket in his arms. He watched as Regulus pulled James’ body tight to his the second the older stood up straight and pressed their lips together.
James had dropped the blanket in favour of pulling Regulus’ waist closer and Regulus moved to wrap his arms around James’ shoulder. It was incredibly intimate--and Sirius did feel like he was intruding--but it was passionate and sweet and contained every single emotion that Sirius had seen and felt between the two, whether they knew about it or not.
When the two of them finally pulled away and saw Sirius watching them, stars in his eyes and the biggest grin on his face, they both turned bright red and didn’t say a word the entire time that Sirius was freaking out--in a good way--about what he just saw.
Needless to say, Sirius has been the number one supporter of their relationship quite literally since day one; whether literally from the day that Regulus and James came around to each other or from his witnessing of their first proper kiss.
And he really meant it, that it was impossible not to adore their relationship. Those two boys are the people that Sirius knows most about in life. He sees the way that Regulus will offer James a kind smile occasionally or the way that James has put in twice the amount of effort into his schooling simply because he likes the way that Regulus gets so happy and proud of him when he does well. He’s seen the way that the two will wait for everyone to get out of the changing room--Regulus does that anyways if he decides he doesn’t want to change in one of the stalls--so they can check each other over or softly congratulate the other after a game.
Sirius has seen the looks that the two will share when they can: across the Great Hall at meal times, when everyone is out in the courtyard, when they’re playing quidditch--whether they’re playing each other or one is playing another team. He sees the way that Regulus will hide a smile behind his hands while acting like he’s bored whenever someone mentions James.
The two of them are incredibly sweet and Sirius doesn’t think he could ever hate their relationship.
Sirius glances fondly back at the door, as if he can still see James and Regulus standing there, “They’re so obvious once you know what to look for.”
He turns back to his friends when he hears Marlene snap, “You’ve known this whole time and just haven’t mentioned it to any of us!? We’ve been sneaking around you, changing topics when you come into the room when we’re talking about them and you’ve just known!?” She throws her arms in the air, an exasperated look on her face.
Sirius shrugs, “It wasn’t my place to tell. I knew that quite a few of you knew about their relationship but I didn’t want to say anything about it.”
“So, do they know you know?” Remus asks, almost hesitant, beside him, “I’ve promised them that I wouldn’t tell anyone…”
The man presses a kiss to his boyfriend’s nose, “I know, and you’ve done so well trying to hide it from me. But, yes. They’re aware I know about them dating. I’ve known for longer than any of you, I was there the night that they first kissed--or at least what they claim was their first kiss. But honestly, I’m pretty sure they’re soulmates with the way that they used to act when we were kids.” He fondly rolls his eyes, once again thinking back to all the times that Sirius would watch them gaze at each other with stars in their eyes--like the other personally hung all the stars in the sky; and Sirius is pretty sure that James thinks that about Regulus.
Probably due to the fact that James, upon learning that Regulus could play the piano, told him, “I hope you know that I love you more than the sun loves the moon. And I would willingly set everyday and rarely get to hold you just so you and your stars could shine just like the sun did for his moon.” In the most breathless tone with pure adoration in his eyes after Regulus played a piece for him. It had made Regulus grow bright red and hide his face in his hands right at the old ivory piano that Fleamont had managed to drag from somewhere in the house.
Really, that night had just started out casually. The three of them had been cuddled up on the couch watching whatever movie they felt like and Regulus and Sirius had started cracking jokes about some of the notes that the pianist in the movie was playing being off. It made James look between the brothers confused; he knew that Sirius could play an assortment of instruments, he’d mentioned and shown as much previously, but he hadn’t known that Regulus had gone through the same lessons. Regulus had rolled his eyes and laughed and told him all the instruments he knew how to play.
So the next morning, Fleamont was off to search for a piano that he thought his mom used to play from one of the hidden rooms in the Potter house and Regulus was sitting down at the bench after tuning it. He’d placed delicate fingers on the keys, taken a deep breath and played the ‘most breathtaking rendition of “La Campanella”’ James had ever heard--his words, not Sirius’, although he can admit that his brother did know how to play incredibly well.
Since then, whenever Regulus could find a piano, specifically if he was with James, he'd sit down and play a piece and James would say the same thing he did the first time to his beloved. Because James is the sun and Regulus is his moon and stars and both of them are hopeless romantics that adore the stories of astral beings being in love.
“So they don’t think that you’re freaking out, about to murder them?” Remus pushes just a bit.
Sirius shakes his head, smile ever present, “Nope! Speaking of which, I should probably go find them. Would you like to join me, Moony?”
Remus, after a couple seconds, nods and takes Sirius’ extended hand to pull himself to a stand. Before either of them get too far away from the table, Sirius turns and throws over his shoulder, “Pete? Were you gonna come with us?”
Pete, similarly to Remus, takes a couple of seconds before he seems to process the question and shakes his head, “I’m alright.”
Sirius nods and turns back, leading his boyfriend out of the Great Hall. He pulls the map from his back pocket and makes quick work of locating the boys. They’re in the Astronomy Tower and Sirius decides to take the 50/50 of them walking in on something intimate in a sexual way or intimate in a tooth-rotting way and pulls Remus in that direction.
And as they’re about halfway there, Sirius throws a glance at his boyfriend, “You alright Moons?”
Remus nods, “Just fine.”
“Are you sure?” Sirius pushes, nudging his boyfriend’s arm with his shoulder, “You’ve been quiet.”
“I’m always quiet.”
“Yeah but you usually do something like hum around me, or like rub your thumb against my hand. You’re not doing that.”
“Well I’m sorry that I’ve not only had the shock of James and Regulus coming out to the entire school, even though I already knew about them that’s still a shock, then learning that you knew the entire time.” Remus throws him a critical look, “I’ve had a bit of a shocking last ten minutes, and I’m sorry that doesn’t make me very prone to talking.”
“I didn’t mean it in a bad way,” Sirius amends, having not expected the outburst, “You were just acting off and I wanted to make sure everything was okay.” The ravenette sighs and turns to look in front of them again, “Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t tell anyone about it, but Regulus and James didn’t really want anyone to know. What with the way that Slytherins aren’t the kindest about things like that and the way that everyone thought James was in love with Lily… They wanted to keep it a secret and who was I to take that away from them.”
“No, I get it.” Remus sighs, “I’m sorry I got a little worked up there. It’s just a bit odd…”
“I know.”
Remus squeezes his hand, “What was the whole thing with Lily? You’re making it sound like they’ve been together for years.”
“It’s hard to explain.” Sirius sighs, “It was one of those things where you and I and Pete were talking about girls in our first and second year and James felt like people were going to be suspicious that he wasn’t doing the same thing and Reggie suggested that he pretend to like someone. James, being who he was, decided that he could only really sell it when he was being loud and dramatic about it. Reggie thought it was funny, don’t worry. But, technically they hadn’t started dating yet, that wasn’t until Reggie and I ran away did they finally get together.”
“That’s why James stopped flirting with Lily as much.”
Sirius nods, “He thought it was weird to be dating Regulus and flirting with another person. I mean, he thought it was weird the entire time and he was actually constantly worried that he was harassing Lily, but especially when he and Reggie finally got together.”
“You keep saying finally.” Remus points out, somewhat ponderously, “And you mentioned you guys being kids earlier, just how long have you James known each other?”
Sirius huffs an awkward laugh, “Oh, that. James and I have been friends since we were like seven or eight. James and Reggie didn’t hit it off until like a year after James and I became friends.”
“And they’ve always been ‘in love’?”
“More or less,” Sirius bobs his head back and forth, “Even if none of us knew they were in love, I could always tell that there was something more. Reggie was always smiling and James was always calming down to listen to Reggie; he spoke really quietly when we were kids, so James would lean in until he was like inches from his face. Like I said, I really think they’re soulmates.”
“You know, I was reading that there’s recently been noted a trend between Slytherins and Gryffindors.” Remus points out, “The book that I was reading suggested that Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin may have been more than friends. The same goes for Arthur and Merlin, though neither of those have been confirmed because you know how history goes.”
“Especially in the wizarding world.”
“Exactly.” Remus smiles.
Then Sirius shrugs, “I mean, it makes sense. Uncle Alphard and Monty dated when they were in Hogwarts too.”
And this time, Remus stops dead in his tracks, making Sirius swing around to face him, “They what!?”
“Yeah, that’s how Reggie and I met. They’re still good friends even though they dated as teens.” Sirius shrugs, “I can see that being like a fate thing or whatever.” Sirius shrugs again and tugs at Remus’ hand, making them start moving once again.
“I’m normally good at taking in a lot of information at once but… what? Siri, you can’t just drop this on me then shrug it off!”
“I guess it’s just not that weird to me, Remus. I mean I’ve known all this for a long time. Just like I know that James loves it when Regulus plays the piano and the two of them love coming up to the Astronomy Tower because it’s the only place they think they can find peace.”
And, for just a couple seconds, Remus doesn’t respond to him. It eventually makes Sirius stop to look at his boyfriend, question in his eyes. Except Remus is just staring at him, adoration in his own, “You really are okay with them.”
And Sirius didn’t realize he was smiling until then, “Of course.” Sirius pushes forward, starting up the steps to the Astronomy Tower, “I mean, I’ve seen the way that they’re perfect for each other. I really am serious when I say they’re soulmates, meant for each other.”
By now, the couple are over halfway up the stairs to the Tower so Sirius shouts out, “Yoohoo! Prongs! Reggie! You have visitors, put your clothes back on!” From next to him, Remus rolls his eyes and they can hear James start cackling.
And just a couple seconds later, the two make it to the top of the tower. James and Regulus are sitting almost dead center in the room. James is sitting with his legs outstretched in front of him and Regulus has his legs on either side of James’ thigh, straddling him. Their foreheads are pressed together, eyes closed, and James has his hands just under Regulus’ shirt, holding his waist with his palms pressed to the younger’s skin. Even though they’re both aware of the new presences, neither of them seem to care to pull away.
Sirius doesn’t mind, however. Instead, he just walks towards them and plops down on the ground next to them, “I’m impressed, James, I didn’t think you’d actually do it.”
His words make the two finally pull their foreheads apart and turn to look at Sirius as Remus walks over to the three and sits down next to his boyfriend. James offers them a smile, “Reg and I have been thinking about starting to come out and this was a perfect opportunity to get it over with.”
“What made you guys consider it?” Remus asks, tilting his head a bit.
From on top of his boyfriend, Regulus shrugs, “I’m not in danger anymore. James is gonna be graduating soon. We wanted to be able to be more public with our affection, not have to sneak around as much.”
“Well, you did a good job at making it public. I think you’re gonna be the talk of the school for a while.” Sirius rolls his eyes fondly.
“Let them talk.” James smiles, turning to look back at his boyfriend. “They can talk all they fucking want.”
Regulus rolls his eyes but nods nonetheless, “People will get less upset at me for telling them to leave you alone now, which is nice.”
“Or they’ll be more upset ‘cause they think you’re being possessive.”
“I am possessive.”
James rolls his eyes, his tone teasing, “I know, you’ve made it very known.”
“Woah, what are you guys talking about?” Remus asks.
Regulus turns to him, his small smile faltering just a bit, “James has a hard time saying no to people so I’ve started saying no for him whenever we’re around each other and people tend to get upset at me.”
“I’m glad you do,” Remus just says with a shrug, “James needs someone to do that for him sometimes.”
The four of them sit and talk for a while longer before Sirius and Remus push themselves to a stand, telling the boys that they’re headed back to the dorm. As they’re walking away, Remus turns to his boyfriend and offers him a smile, “You’re right. They’re perfect for each other.”
“Aren’t they? You should’ve seen them when they were kids.”
“Tell me about it?” Remus asks, walking through the portrait and into the Gryffindor common room. Sirius nods and when they’re settled in Remus’ bed, Sirius starts telling him about some of his memories of the couple.