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James Potter was late. Again.
The morning had started peacefully enough. He had woken up in a warm cocoon of blankets, Regulus still half-asleep beside him, golden morning light filtering in through the enchanted windows. Regulus had grumbled something incoherent when James shifted, burying his face deeper into James’s chest, one arm lazily draped over his waist. James, naturally, had taken the opportunity to press a lingering kiss to the top of Regulus’s head, letting himself sink into the moment for just a little longer.
“I have to go,” James murmured eventually, running a hand through Regulus’s tousled hair.
Regulus groaned. “Five more minutes.”
“You said that ten minutes ago.”
“I don’t recall.”
James chuckled, shifting slightly. “McGonagall is going to murder me if I’m late again.”
Regulus sighed dramatically but relented, finally letting James go. But as soon as James sat up, Regulus tugged him back down with an exaggerated pout. “Just a little longer.”
James hesitated, torn between responsibility and the warmth of Regulus's arms. “Fine. But only a little.”
Of course, “a little” turned into much longer, and when James finally woke again, he realized with a jolt of panic that not only had he missed breakfast—he was also very, very late to class.
“Shit, shit, shit,” he muttered, scrambling to get dressed as Regulus smirked sleepily from the bed.
He sprinted down the corridor, shirt half-tucked, hair even messier than usual, and barely managing to loop his tie around his neck as he went. His mind was still half-asleep, focused only on making it to Transfiguration before McGonagall decided to hex him into next week. It wasn’t until he skidded into the classroom and everyone went dead silent that he realized something was off.
Peter, seated beside him, leaned in and whispered, “Mate… why are you wearing a Slytherin tie?”
James frowned. “What?”
Then he followed Peter’s gaze to the tie he had just finished adjusting around his collar.
A very, very green and silver tie.
“Oh, shit.”
McGonagall, who had been eyeing him suspiciously, cleared her throat. “Mr. Potter, is there something you’d like to share with the class?”
“No, Professor,” he croaked, voice an octave higher than usual.
Her sharp eyes lingered on him for a moment longer before she continued with the lesson, but James could still hear the barely restrained snickers around him. Marlene was grinning, Remus was smothering a chuckle, and even Lily had an eyebrow raised in amused curiosity.
James, meanwhile, was slowly, carefully loosening the tie and stuffing it into his pocket as discreetly as possible. His ears were burning.
By the time class ended, the entire Gryffindor table knew about it, and James wasn’t sure if he’d ever live it down. But that was the least of his worries.
Because standing outside the classroom, leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, was none other than Regulus Black.
And in his hand, held loosely between his fingers, was a very red Gryffindor tie.
James groaned. “Brilliant.”
Regulus smirked, twirling the tie lazily. “I believe this is yours.”
James snatched it back, but not before Regulus could enjoy the deep shade of crimson spreading across his face. For a second, James hesitated, looking around the hallway. There were still plenty of students around, all whispering and casting glances in their direction. The secret was out.
Well, might as well go all in.
“Yeah, yeah,” James sighed dramatically. “Guess there’s no point in hiding it anymore.”
And then, before Regulus could react, James grabbed him by the waist and kissed him.
Regulus stiffened for half a second before melting into it, fingers curling into James’s robes. The noise around them exploded into shocked gasps, whispers, and what sounded like someone dropping their books in surprise.
And then—
“WHAT THE FUCK?!”
James barely had time to register the voice before Sirius Black appeared, horror written all over his face.
“GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY BABY BROTHER, POTTER!” Sirius bellowed, marching toward them like a furious storm.
Regulus sighed, resting his head on James’s shoulder. “Merlin, here we go.”
James groaned. “Pads, please, not here—”
“NOT HERE?! NOT HERE?! I’LL TELL YOU WHERE YOU WON’T BE—NEAR MY BROTHER, EVER AGAIN—”
“Sirius, shut up,” Regulus said dryly. “I’m literally leaning on him.”
Sirius looked between them, jaw working furiously, before throwing his hands in the air. “UNBELIEVABLE! BETRAYED! BY MY OWN FLESH AND BLOOD!”
James couldn’t help but laugh, pressing a quick kiss to Regulus’s temple. “Guess the whole school knows now.”
Regulus just sighed. “Yes, well. At least I’ll never have to worry about you stealing my tie again.”
The next morning, Hogwarts was buzzing with one very particular rumor: James Potter had shown up wearing Regulus Black’s tie, Sirius had made a scene, and, most shockingly of all—Regulus had willingly let James kiss him in public.
Slytherin and Gryffindor were never going to recover from this.