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Regulus is a girl who enjoys her little routine. Every day she wakes up at the same time to go to school, always choosing the most favorable clothing option for the day, and brushes her long black hair exactly twenty-two times on each side because odd numbers irritate her.
She says good morning to the adorable insects in her terrarium and, on her way to the kitchen, passes her not-so-adorable brother. Together they head downstairs to the kitchen, each kissing one side of Uncle Alphard's cheek. Regulus is complimented on her perfume, while Sirius is asked if he needs new clothes since his pants appear more torn each day.
Regulus politely thanks Kreacher for the breakfast and always kicks Sirius in the shin so that, reluctantly, he does the same. Her breakfast is also the same every day: a slice of avocado toast and a portion of mangoes cut into star shapes.
After breakfast, she politely excuses herself to go to the fridge. Contrary to what many who find her odd might think, she doesn't keep body parts there, but rather adorable snacks made with all the love her dark, pulsing heart could hold. She wraps them in black paper, tied with a blood-red ribbon. Today’s treat was protein chocolate muffins.
No, they weren’t for Regulus. They were for someone strong, handsome, athletic, kind—and who has been her crush for exactly four years.
James Potter, the captain of the football team.
He was simply magnificent. With his dark skin, unruly hair, golden glasses, and a smile that could compete with the brilliance of a supernova. James was also her brother's best friend, but Regulus didn’t care enough about traumatizing Sirius to stop her from kissing his best friend behind the bleachers.
No, the bigger problem—the only thing keeping Regulus from having James Potter wrapped around her finger—was her extreme shyness. She had great difficulty speaking to people, especially when said person was the embodiment of all the erotic dreams Regulus had ever had in her life. She would just leave the snacks for James to eat after practice in his locker and flee as quickly as possible. She had never stayed once, not even to see if he liked her cooking.
But one day, something unexpected happened. As Regulus was sneaking into the locker room, carefully placing the freshly baked muffins in James' locker, she heard voices approaching. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she quickly ducked behind a row of lockers, holding her breath.
It was James, laughing with Peter and a few of their teammates. Regulus couldn’t move. She wasn’t supposed to be there, and the thought of being caught by James, of all people, was mortifying. She had to wait it out.
As they talked, James opened his locker. Her eyes widened as she watched through a small gap in the lockers, her breath still caught in her throat. He picked up the snack she had left for him, examining it curiously. For a brief moment, Regulus thought he might just toss it aside, but to her surprise, he smiled. A wide, genuine smile that made her knees feel weak.
“Hey, Peter,” James called out, “You know who keeps leaving these? They’re amazing. I’ve been getting these for weeks now. Best thing after practice.”
Peter shrugged, looking utterly uninterested. “No idea. Some secret admirer probably. What, you think it’s a fan?”
James chuckled. “Maybe. Whoever it is, I want to thank them. I don’t know who they are, but they’re sweet. And whoever they are, they bake like a goddess.”
Regulus' face burned red as James tore off a piece of the muffin and popped it into his mouth. Her heart felt like it might explode. He liked them. He really liked them. For the first time in weeks, she had the insane urge to step out from her hiding spot and confess everything right then and there. But she couldn’t. The thought of his eyes meeting hers, of him knowing, was too much.
Instead, she stayed hidden, watching as James continued to talk about how much he appreciated the anonymous gifts, her pulse racing as she realized that he had noticed. He actually noticed her in his own way.
As they left, Regulus let out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding, her legs buckling slightly. She pressed her hand against her chest, trying to steady her heartbeat.
On that same day, when Regulus' face was contorted with happiness in a way that the other students around her gave her odd looks, she was stopped by Barty Crouch Jr.
Great way to ruin my mood , she thought, already crossing her arms defensively.
“What’s with that joy on your face?” Barty asked, his crooked smile shifting the piercing in the middle of his lip slightly to the right. “Did you finally manage to kill someone and sacrifice them to the devil?”
And here’s one thing about Regulus—she was extremely quiet and shy, but she was also a bitch when people asked for it.
“Not yet, Bartemius.” She put on that strange smile she had, the one that usually made people back away when they tried to approach her. “Who knows, maybe you’ll be the chosen one?”
Barty dramatically placed his hands on his forehead like a damsel in distress and, as usual, drawing more attention than necessary. “Don’t talk dirty to me, darling. You know my heart belongs to Potter.”
Regulus' face turned red with anger, and she grabbed the pen she had been using to hold up her hair, just to press its tip against Barty’s jugular. It didn’t matter that she had to stand on tippy toes to reach him—she was mad. And extremely jealous.
“Mention Potter again, and I’ll destroy you.” Her voice was low, the kind of tone that usually worked on people who still had their sanity intact.
“Wow.” Unfortunately, Barty was crazy, and he grinned at the pen digging further into his skin. “With a pen?”
“Yes, just like I destroyed you on the chemistry test with this same pen.”
“Oh, Regulus, but there’s so much chemistry between us.”
The last thing the curious onlookers saw was Regulus kicking Barty between the legs, while he tried his best to hide his pain, even though he was already on the ground.
As Barty lay on the ground, clutching his crotch and stomach, trying to regain his breath, Regulus stepped back, flicking the pen back into her hair with a swift motion. She glanced around at the gathering students, who were watching the scene with a mix of awe and confusion. Regulus had never been one to draw attention, and seeing her like this—fierce and unbothered—was a shock to many.
“Well, that was a good start to the day.” she muttered under her breath, turning on her heel and walking away as if nothing had happened. Her heart was still racing, but not from fear—from satisfaction. It felt good to put Barty in his place.
As she walked through the halls, the whispers followed her. Normally, she would’ve hated this kind of attention, but today? Today she felt invincible. James had liked her muffins, Barty was humiliated, and everything seemed to be going her way. For once, she felt like she had control over her life.
She was known as the weirdo of the school. The one who never spoke to anyone and was always lurking in the corners. Watching. Some students were even afraid of her. But none of that mattered anymore, because James Potter had liked her cooking. It didn’t matter that people thought she was odd, or that she didn’t fit in with the others. She had something more now, something they couldn’t take away: James Fucking Potter liked her muffins.
It was as if the world had shifted. All the whispers, the sideways glances, the rumors about her being strange or creepy—they evaporated in the light of that one moment. James had noticed her. Not as the girl hiding in corners or sitting alone in the back of the class, but as someone who made him smile.
That feeling of triumph carried her through the rest of the day—until, during lunch, she saw James. He was sitting at his usual table with Sirius, laughing over something as he bit into a sandwich. Regulus froze, her heartbeat quickening again, but this time for entirely different reasons. She didn’t know if she should approach him or just keep walking, but before she could decide, James' eyes met hers.
There it was again—that smile that could rival a supernova. Her stomach flipped, and for a second, she thought she might actually approach him. But her legs wouldn’t move. The sudden surge of shyness washed over her, pinning her in place. I could talk to him , she told herself. She should talk to him. This was my chance.
When she finally gathered the courage to stand up from where she was sitting alone, that damned Bartemius had taken a seat at James' table. She didn’t even need to guess what he was doing there—probably shamelessly flirting with James in front of everyone without the slightest bit of embarrassment.
Everyone said it was only a matter of time before James finally gave in and agreed to go on a date with Barty, and that thought made Regulus even more furious.
The thing about Barty was that they had known each other since childhood. Ever since Regulus was Regulus. Ever since kindergarten, they had this ongoing competition about who could win more gold stars from Mrs. Helena or who would receive more praise from the art teacher. As they grew up, that rivalry grew too. Living in a small town with only a handful of schools available, it was inevitable that they would end up together in every single class year after year.
They spent year after year competing—grades, projects, anything remotely related to academic life. And the victories were never one-sided; they shifted back and forth between them like a cursed balance, always teetering but never settling.
Barty was the kind of person who thrives on attention, always pushing to be the best, no matter what it took. Regulus, on the other hand, preferred to stay out of the spotlight, quietly outshining him in ways that mattered to her but often went unnoticed by the rest of the world. Yet, no matter how hard she tried to avoid confrontation, Barty always found a way to drag her into it.
One semester, Barty would ace the history exam by a single point, grinning smugly at her from across the classroom. The next, Regulus would top the chemistry project, earning a rare smile from the teacher while Barty sulked in his seat. It was an endless tug-of-war, neither of them willing to let the other claim an outright victory.
And it wasn’t just about academics. They competed in everything, from who could memorize more digits of pi to who would be the first to solve the crossword puzzle in the school newspaper. It was exhausting, and yet, neither of them could walk away. They were locked in this unspoken battle, neither willing to concede.
Regulus wasn’t sure when it had started. Maybe it had always been like this—two opposing forces, destined to clash.
But that damn balance—they could never just settle on one winner. Every time one of them pulled ahead, the other found a way to catch up. It was infuriating, and Regulus had grown tired of the constant back-and-forth. She needed a definitive win, something that would tilt the scales in her favor once and for all.
Then, James moved to town just as they were entering the last year of middle school. James was in his first year of high school, but he was often seen around, frequently visiting Sirius Black’s house. One day, Regulus was coming down the stairs and would’ve had the worst fall of her life if it hadn’t been for James catching her by the waist, which immediately sparked the years-long crush she still carried. They had never really talked beyond the basics, but Regulus had been a devoted admirer ever since.
Regulus didn’t know exactly when or how Barty had developed his crush on James—probably just to annoy her and see if he could win at something else too.
But this wasn’t just about gold stars or report cards anymore. It was about something that actually mattered to her, and she wasn’t going to let Barty take it away.
Now, as she watched Barty laugh a little too loudly at one of James' jokes, leaning in closer than necessary, Regulus' blood boiled. She clenched her fists at her sides, eyes narrowing at the scene. It wasn’t just a rivalry anymore; this was personal. And Barty knew exactly what he was doing.
Regulus didn’t care about being called the weirdo or being the quiet one that everyone whispered about. But watching Barty, with his over-the-top dramatics and constant need for attention, swooping in to steal what little chance she had with James? That was something she couldn’t just let slide.
Her mind raced with conflicting emotions. She wanted to storm over there and shove Barty out of the way, but that wasn’t her style. Confrontations made her nervous, and she wasn’t sure if she had the guts to do it in front of everyone. And James—he was sitting there, oblivious to the silent battle happening right under his nose.
Barty caught her staring and smirked, clearly pleased with himself. Regulus felt her stomach twist in knots. He was doing this on purpose, rubbing it in, just like he had done with every competition they’d ever had.
This wasn’t about being bold or confident. It was about not letting Barty win. But Regulus was a calculist person and all she could do was watch.
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
It was something their mother always said before she and Orion died in a car accident. Regulus didn’t carry many lessons from them, but she thought that maybe this time they might have been right.
Sirius, on the way home from school, proved once again that their mother was always wrong.
“I need to tell you something,” he said, his hands gripping the steering wheel painfully and his face pale as if he had seen a ghost.
“Are you coming out again?” Regulus asked, fiddling with the radio buttons in a way she knew Sirius hated. “We’ve been through this before. You’re gay, I’m trans, blah, blah, blah.”
Regulus finally felt satisfied when Paramore started playing, adjusting the flared skirt she was wearing and checking in the car mirror to see if her gloss was still as pretty as the last time she checked.
“It’s not that; it’s worse.”
Sirius' voice sounded so shaky and scared that this time Regulus had to turn as much as she could in her seat, paying attention to her brother and the color that was missing from his cheeks. “Sirius, what happened? Do I need to kill someone?”
“No, but you probably will.”
“Just tell me already!”
Sirius took a deep breath—nine times by Regulus' count—and pulled over just so he could look at his sister with all the sincerity and affection in his soul. “You have to promise not to freak out.”
“I won’t freak out, I promise.”
“Barty heard James talking about the mysterious snacks and said they were given by him, and I couldn’t do anything because it would expose you.”
Luckily, the sound of the radio drowned out the psychotic scream that Regulus let out.
Regulus was in shock. Her fingers, which had been playfully toying with the radio moments ago, now gripped the sides of her seat tightly.
“He what ?” Regulus asked, her voice low and dangerous as she processed the information. Barty Crouch Jr, her biggest rival, the guy who had competed with her in everything since childhood, had taken credit for the snacks she had been leaving for James? The anger inside her began to rise like an unstoppable wave.
“Barty said he was the one leaving the snacks for James,” Sirius repeated, his voice cautious, as though he were handling a ticking time bomb. “He overheard James talking about it at lunch and… took advantage. I couldn’t say anything because it would’ve exposed you.”
Regulus took a deep breath, trying to control the impending meltdown. But the thought of Barty taking credit for something so personal, so meaningful to her, was unbearable. This wasn’t a competition of grades or who could get more gold stars in school. This was hers —the most vulnerable gesture she had ever made in her entire life.
“That bastard,” she whispered, her gaze fixed ahead, already planning her revenge. “He’s dead.”
Sirius glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, worried, but he knew trying to calm her down now would be pointless. Regulus rarely lost her cool, but when she did, there was no turning back.
“I didn’t want you to find out like this…” Sirius began, but Regulus cut him off.
“No, you did the right thing. I needed to know.” She ran a hand through her long black hair, trying to regain composure, but her heart was in chaos. “This… This is worse than any grade or project. He messed with something that wasn’t his.”
Sirius sighed, knowing his sister was about to scheme something, likely nothing peaceful. “Look, I know you’re mad, and rightfully so. But don’t do anything too crazy, okay?”
Regulus turned to him, a cold smile forming on her lips. “I never promised I would not be crazy, Sirius.”
They arrived home, and Regulus remained silent the rest of the way, already mentally plotting her next move. Barty had tampered with something she would never forgive: her feelings. And for that, there would be a price to pay.
James Potter still didn’t know who had been leaving those snacks for him, but Regulus would make sure that, at the right moment, he found out everything. And when that happened, Barty would face the consequences.
She stepped out of the car with a firm purpose. Instead of blowing up immediately, she decided her revenge would be slow, cold, and perfectly executed. Barty Crouch Jr. would never forget that she was not someone to mess with.
Regulus walked into the house, going to the kitchen with an air of determination.
Revenge, after all, was best served cold.
The next day, during history class, three names were called over the school's PA system.
“Regulus Arcturus Black, Bartemius Crouch Junior, and James Fleamont Potter, please report to the culinary club.”
Confused looks were exchanged around the classroom, but not from Regulus. Regulus had fire in her eyes and a smile that could scare the devil himself.
She savored every second of Barty's suspicious glances as they walked down the hallway toward the culinary room, and enjoyed even more the sight of the beautiful, ethereal James Potter leaning casually against the doorframe.
Why hasn't he gone in yet? Was he waiting for me?
“Hey, guys.” His smile made Regulus subtly lean against Barty's arm, her legs weak—but she would never let that show. “Any idea why we’re being called here?”
Regulus took a deep breath, one, two, three times, before managing to speak. “No, none.”
Because clearly, it was better to say that than to admit she had used the perks of being best friends with the captain of the culinary club to make sure the three of them were ‘randomly’ chosen for the monthly charity cooking fair.
As they entered the culinary room, the air smelled of freshly baked goods. The countertops were lined with ingredients and utensils, and the club members were already busy preparing for the event. Regulus' heart raced, not because of the charity fair, but because of what was about to unfold.
James stood beside her, close enough that Regulus could smell his cologne—earthy, with a hint of citrus. She couldn’t focus. Her mind was swirling with the potential confrontation that was looming with Barty.
“Alright, everyone,” called out Dorcas, the club captain and Regulus' co-conspirator. “We’ve got a lot to do before the fair tomorrow, so let’s get started. Regulus, Barty, James—you three are in charge of the baked goods station.”
Regulus flashed a brief, conspiratorial look at Marlene, who winked back discreetly. Barty was already eyeing her, trying to piece together why they had all been pulled into this.
James, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed. “Baked goods, huh? Hope none of us burn the place down.” He chuckled, giving them both that radiant smile that made Regulus' knees go weak.
Barty scoffed. “Speak for yourself, Potter. I’m a master in the kitchen.”
Regulus didn’t miss the smug tone in Barty's voice. It made her want to wipe the floor with him. But not now. She had to play it cool—for now.
And if Barty tried to get in her way? Well, she was more than prepared to handle him.
“Let’s just get started,” Regulus muttered, trying to focus on the task at hand. She busied herself with mixing ingredients, her mind working in overdrive. This was her chance to make things right, to make James see that she was the one who had been leaving the snacks, not Barty.
Regulus forced herself to smile, but inside, her mind was already racing. This was perfect. She could show James her skills, prove that she was the one who had been leaving those snacks for him all along. Barty might have taken credit, but this was her chance to set the record straight.
As they were handed their aprons and led to their respective cooking stations, Regulus caught Barty's eyes. He raised an eyebrow at her, clearly suspicious of her motives. She just smiled sweetly and mouthed, You're going down.
As they worked, Barty kept up his flirty banter with James, which only made Regulus' anger simmer just below the surface. She had to bite her tongue to keep from snapping at him. She had a plan, and it was going to be executed perfectly.
Halfway through the baking session, Regulus caught James' eyes. “Hey, uh, James… you like chocolate, right?” She mentally cursed herself for how awkward that sounded, but it was too late to backtrack now.
James grinned. “Love it. Why?”
“Just, um… curious.” Regulus turned back to the mixing bowl, feeling her face flush.
Barty, catching the exchange, smirked. “Potter has a sweet tooth, huh? I heard I'm the sweetest.” He shot Regulus a sidelong glance, as if he knew exactly what she was doing.
Regulus clenched her jaw but stayed silent. She wasn't going to let him get under her skin. Not today.
Of course, talking was always easier than doing. At one point, when Regulus could no longer stand the sound of Barty's voice, she discreetly elbowed him in the ribs-only to get flour thrown on her favorite sweater in retaliation.
“I'm going to kill you,” she said, dead serious, leaving no room for doubt.
Barty adjusted his green and black streaks with his clean hand, flashing that charming smile that always made Regulus' stomach twist in the most unpleasant way
“Hey,” James intervened, stepping between the two and raising his hands in peace. “No killing in front of our children.”
“What children?” Regulus asked, her cheeks flushing.
“The muffins!”
“James Potter, the man you are.” And the only sound left from their little spat was Barty's laugh.
James had this way of lighting up a room. Maybe that's why both Barty and Regulus, so used to darkness, were drawn to him like moths to a flame.
Regulus sighed, trying to focus back on the task at hand. She had come here with a mission—to impress James, to prove that she was the better cook, and to finally get Barty out of the picture.
But with James right there, laughing and effortlessly charming, it was hard to keep her mind from wandering. Every time he smiled, her brain went into overdrive, imagining what it would be like to actually talk to him without feeling like her tongue was glued to the roof of her mouth.
Meanwhile, Barty was still hovering close, his smug presence impossible to ignore. “So, what’s the plan, Regulus?” he whispered, leaning over to look at the ingredients. “Gonna impress James with your baking skills?”
Regulus shot him a look that could kill, but James, ever the peacekeeper, stepped in. “Hey, I’m sure we’ll all do great,” he said, flashing that trademark smile of his. “Besides, it’s for a good cause.”
Regulus took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Right. For charity.” She picked up a mixing bowl and started focusing on the recipe in front of her. If Barty wanted to play games, she’d just have to beat him at them.
As they worked, James moved between them, chatting casually, completely oblivious to the silent war waging between Regulus and Barty. Every now and then, his hand would brush against Regulus' as they reached for the same ingredient, and every time, she felt her heart skip a beat. But the same thing happened between him and Barty.
The real challenge came when they started decorating the muffins. Barty, ever the showoff, was trying to make his look as elaborate as possible, while Regulus opted for a more elegant approach. She could feel Barty watching her every move.
When they finally finished, Dorcas came by to inspect their work. “Wow, these look amazing! You three really knocked it out of the park.”
Regulus smiled to herself, satisfied with the result. For once, it seemed like everything was going her way.
But just as she was about to relax, she caught sight of Barty whispering something to James. Whatever it was made James laugh, and Regulus felt her stomach twist.
“What did he say?” she asked, unable to hide the edge in her voice.
James turned to her, still grinning. “Oh, nothing. Just Barty being Barty.”
But Regulus knew better. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
As the others began cleaning up, Regulus saw her chance.
“James, Barty, wait,” she called as they were about to leave. She grabbed two types of muffins, giving one to Barty and another one to James. “I made these for you.”
James looked surprised, but his smile was warm. “Thanks, Regulus. That’s really nice of you.”
Barty was suspicious, but accepted the same way. “Yeah…thanks.”
Barty was the first to take a bite, his eyes widening in surprise at how delicious the muffin was—not poisoned, as he had probably assumed. Finally, a way to keep his mouth occupied , Regulus thought, watching him chew.
Then, she turned her attention to the person whose reaction she was truly waiting for, holding her breath as James took a bite. His eyes closed in appreciation, likely savoring the melted chocolate. When he finally swallowed, something seemed to click in his mind as his face lit up. “Wait, Regulus, did you—”
Before he could finish or make any move, Barty started coughing, red blotches quickly spreading across his face. “Regulus Black, what was in that muffin?” He managed to say.
“Nuts.”
Watching Barty sprint towards the bathroom to deal with his harmless nut allergy was as satisfying as the way James was now looking at her, like she had hung the stars in the sky.
Revenge wasn’t a dish best served cold—it was sweet.
But just as she was about to relish in her victory and enjoy James' company a little longer, he shook his head, snapping out of the cloud nine he had drifted onto. “We should check on Barty,” he said, a new seriousness in his voice that was hard to argue with.
“But James—” She tried, despite knowing better.
“Come on,” he insisted, but this time he reached out, offering his hand for her to take.
Well, how could I argue with that? she thought, taking his hand as they headed after Barty.
Regulus hesitated only for a moment before slipping her hand into James'. His touch was warm, grounding her in a way that made her forget, at least for a few seconds, about the chaos that had just unfolded. As they walked down the hallway toward the bathroom where Barty had disappeared, her mind raced with conflicting emotions—satisfaction from seeing her rival suffer, and a strange warmth at the thought of James actually caring about Barty’s well-being.
When they reached the bathroom, the door was slightly ajar, and they could hear Barty’s exaggerated groans from inside. James sighed, pushing the door open a little more. “Barty, are you okay in there?”
Barty’s muffled voice echoed back, thick with irritation. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll live. Just give me a second.”
James glanced at Regulus with a faint smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “He’ll be fine. His nut allergy isn’t serious, just enough to make him uncomfortable.”
Regulus crossed her arms, trying to act indifferent, but her lips twitched into a smug smile. “Good.”
James chuckled, shaking his head. “You two are something else.”
“What do you mean by that?” Regulus asked, raising an eyebrow. She felt her heart pound harder, bracing herself for whatever James might say next.
He leaned against the wall, still holding her gaze. “I’ve always wondered why you and Barty are constantly at each other’s throats. It’s like some kind of weird competition.”
Regulus' stomach twisted. She didn’t want to admit the real reason, especially not now, with James standing right in front of her, looking at her like she mattered. Instead, she shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Barty just... gets under my skin.”
“You literally poisoned me.” Barty emerged from the bathroom, pulling both James and Regulus inside. His face looked better, less red. “And I’m the annoying one?”
Regulus clenched her fists at her sides, knowing that if she didn’t control herself, she’d end up hitting him. “Everyone knows your allergy is mild! I just wanted you out of the way for a while.”
“You’re a psychopath!”
“As if you’re not!”
“Wait, wait.” James stepped away from where he had been leaning against the sink, watching them argue with an oddly satisfied expression. “Why did you want to get Barty out of the way, Reg?”
And, as his final card, Barty smirked and said, “It’s because she has the biggest crush on you and needs to get me out of the competition.”
Not even the sweet sound of James calling her ‘Reg’ could stop her from flying at Barty, her perfectly manicured black nails reaching for his throat, causing him to smile as if being in Regulus' angry hands was amusing.
“Hey, hold on!” James stepped in, once again preventing violence by grabbing Regulus around the waist as if she weighed nothing, pulling her behind him. “What do you mean, you both have a crush on me? I always thought the thing between you two was purely romantic.”
“No.” Regulus growled through her rage.
“Not anymore.” Barty added with a grin.
Son of a bitch.
“We were together the year before high school," Regulus explained, cutting James off before he could ask. She just wanted to get it over with, the weight of it all. “And it would’ve stayed that way if Barty hadn’t ignored the chocolates I sent him through the mail.”
“What? You ignored the letter I sent you!” Barty shot back, his expression shifting from smug to incredulous.
Oh.
Oh.
“Probably got lost along the way,” James whispered, glancing between them. “Big school, Valentine’s Day and all. That kind of thing happens.”
Regulus and Barty both paused, the tension between them shifting as they processed James' suggestion. It was such a simple explanation, but it made sense.
The miscommunication that had sparked their years-long rivalry… might’ve been nothing more than a lost letter and some missed chocolates.
Regulus blinked, her anger momentarily faltering. “You… really sent me a letter?”
Barty sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, Reg. I thought we were going to—well, I don’t know. But you never responded, so I figured you didn’t want to... continue.”
Regulus bit her lip, realizing how much time they’d wasted being at each other’s throats for something that was probably never meant to happen. She glanced at James, who seemed to be enjoying their shared moment of clarity a little too much, his grin soft but undeniably amused.
“Wow.” James said, breaking the silence.
Barty laughed.
Then.
Silence again.
James stood between them, eyebrows raised in genuine confusion. “So, let me get this straight...you both like me?”
Regulus, still fuming, opened her mouth to deny it, but Barty cut her off. “Oh, come on, James. You’ve known this the whole time. It’s not like we’ve been subtle.
James blinked, processing the sudden confession, and Regulus felt her heart sink. She hated that Barty was right, hated that he’d laid everything out in the open so easily. Her face burned with both anger and embarrassment.
“So… you both like me,” James repeated, sounding more intrigued than uncomfortable. He looked between them, that same charming smile tugging at his lips. “Well, that’s… unexpected. But not unwelcome.”
Regulus froze. “What?”
Barty raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest. “Yeah, what?”
James shrugged, a lazy grin spreading across his face. “I mean, you’re both...amazing. I thought I’d have to choose eventually, but this—this doesn’t seem so bad.”
Regulus stared at him, unsure if she was hearing things correctly. “You… like both of us?”
James nodded, glancing at her with a look that made her stomach flip. “Yeah. You’re both so different but equally brilliant. Reg, you’ve been leaving those snacks in my locker for months, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look forward to them. I know Barty lied about that. And Barty,” he turned to his friend with a teasing smile, “you’ve always had that chaotic energy that makes things…interesting.”
Barty’s smirk returned, his eyes gleaming mischievously. “Well, well, Potter. Didn’t take you for someone who enjoys a bit of chaos in their life.”
James laughed softly. “I like a challenge.”
Regulus, still processing everything, felt a strange mix of emotions flood through her. She had always assumed it was a competition, that James would eventually pick one of them—Barty, probably. But now, hearing that he liked them both?
“This is ridiculous.” Regulus muttered, but her voice lacked conviction.
“Maybe.” James took a step closer to her, his smile softening. “But I’ve never been one for doing things the conventional way.”
Barty also took a step closer to her. And the three of them looked at eachother.
Three idiots in love. Almost sounds like a joke.
But no, it was real. It was sweet.
Barty chuckled, stepping closer as well, his usual smug expression softened just slightly. “So, what now, Potter? You think you can handle both of us?”
James looked between them, his golden glasses catching the light as he grinned confidently. “Guess we’ll have to find out.”
And before Regulus could even blink, James and Barty were kissing. It was almost difficult to watch, not out of jealousy but because it felt like too much. It was like witnessing the Sun colliding with a black hole in a battle for dominance. Barty’s hands were all over James, his red lips nibbling at the captain’s as if he were a meal prepared specifically to be shared between two people.
It was, without a doubt, incredibly hot.
James' strong arms wrapped around Barty's athletic frame, tugging at his clothes as if no amount of closeness would ever be enough. Regulus could already see the marks on Barty’s pale skin where James had gripped a little too tightly.
Then, suddenly and quickly, the attention shifted to her.
James was on her lips next, the frame of his glasses slightly pressing against Regulus' rosy cheek. He kissed her with more delicacy, but there was a devotion in it that seemed to stretch back to the day he’d saved her from falling down the stairs. The grip on her waist was welcome, especially since she was sure she’d collapse from weakness in the knees if James continued to kiss her with such fervor and if Barty didn’t seem intent on distributing kisses along her neck.
“Your muffins really are delicious,” Barty whispered in her ear, playfully biting her earlobe. “I could taste them on James' lips.”
If that made her let out a soft moan, no one needed to know.
Meanwhile, James kept kissing her as if he were destined to do so, as if there was no purpose in life other than to kiss Regulus Black.
When the kiss finally ended and Regulus thought she might be able to breathe again, Barty took James' place.
“Just like a few years ago.” he breathed, his warm laughter brushing against her face. She caught a glimpse of James positioning himself behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist to keep her steady.
The way Barty kissed her felt like familiarity, like a fight, like someone who had been by her side, observing her, learning what she liked. Oh, how Barty knew what she liked. He used the pauses between kisses to whisper compliments in her ear, licking the red from Regulus' cheeks like the sweetest apple.
Barty was Barty, and he would always find a way to make Regulus' heart race in an attempt to show that he was there, that he existed, that it still beat for him. That it beat for two people.
Regulus felt a rush of warmth envelop her, an intoxicating blend of excitement and confusion as Barty and James continued to shower her with affection. Each kiss was electric, igniting something deep within her that she hadn’t fully acknowledged until now. She was no longer just the quiet girl in the corner; she was at the center of a chaotic, beautiful whirlwind.
“Are we seriously doing this?” she managed to whisper between breaths, her heart pounding as she looked from Barty to James, both of them grinning at her like they held the universe in their hands.
“Why not?” Barty replied, his eyes glinting mischievously. “We’re all here, and it seems like we’re all interested in each other.”
James nodded, his gaze unwavering. “I’ve been wanting this for a while, you know. Just didn’t know how to bring it up.”
“Neither did I.” Regulus admitted, feeling a shy smile creep onto her lips. “I thought I was the only one.”
Barty chuckled softly, a sound that resonated deep within her. “Oh, sweet Regulus, you couldn’t be more wrong. You’ve been the subject of countless conversations.”
“Mostly me complaining to Peter about how oblivious you two are.” James added, his playful smirk making her laugh.
Regulus felt her cheeks heat up as she recalled all the moments of tension and longing. “So, what does this mean for us?”
James leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin. “It means we explore this together. No expectations, just… see where it leads us.”
“Exactly,” Barty agreed, his fingers gently tracing her jawline. “We’re all in this together, and I think we could have a lot of fun.”
The thrill of possibility surged through her, and she nodded slowly. “Okay. Let’s see where this goes.”
As they exchanged shy glances and soft laughter, Regulus felt the weight of her past anxieties begin to lift. In that moment, surrounded by Barty’s playful energy and James' steady warmth, she felt a sense of belonging she had longed for. The trio forged a connection that was equal parts thrilling and terrifying, but it was theirs, and that made all the difference.
With newfound determination, Regulus took a step closer to both of them, her heart racing. “So, what’s next? More muffins?” she teased, her smile wide.
“Definitely more muffins,” James replied, laughter sparkling in his eyes. “But also more adventures. We can’t let the school year be boring, right?”
“And perhaps some revenge plots.” Barty chimed in, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
Regulus couldn’t help but laugh. This was the kind of chaos she never knew she needed, and it felt like a fresh start—one that came with all the sweetness of baked goods and the promise of something deeper.
There, in that dirty school bathroom, Regulus' soul looked at James and Barty and thought: Ah, there you are. I’ve been searching for you two.