Chapter Text
The warm rays of the setting sun streamed through Regulus’s open window. He was in his flat just a street away from Hogwarts, the school where he had spent the best years of his life surrounded by friends, his brother, and endless knowledge. A smile tugged at his lips as he remembered the nights he, Barty, and Evan stayed up until dawn watching horror films or talking about their romances. Or the times Sirius begged him to cover for him and his friends after one of their pranks.
He was happy to be back in that place where happiness had always seemed like the path forward, and where his brother and friends were part of the way to it.
He took a sip of his wine just as his phone began to ring. It was Sirius.
“Everything alright, Sirius?” He put the phone on speaker and leaned his head against the windowpane, admiring the castle in the fading light.
“Can’t I call just because I want to, and not because I need something from you?”
Regulus chuckled. “Can you?”
“Of course I can!” Sirius exclaimed indignantly, and Regulus caught the sound of Remus’s laughter in the background"
“I’ll believe you,” Regulus said, taking another sip of his wine. “So, what did you call for?”
“To congratulate you, obviously. Tomorrow’s your first day at work! I’m so proud of you!” Regulus laughed softly
“Thanks, Sirius.”
“Though I still don’t get how you can go back to that school after finally being free of it.” Regulus laughed again at his brother’s tone, as though it were a personal insult.
“Ask Remus, he’s a teacher too.” Sirius gasped dramatically.
“At a university!” he shouted far too loudly. “That’s not the same!"
“Drop it, Sirius,” came Remus’s distant voice.
“Fine, Moony,” Sirius muttered. “I hope you have a great first day, Reg.”
“Thanks, Sirius.”
“Don’t forget to pack your lunch, and don’t let the older kids bully you.” Sirius’s tone was suddenly serious, almost maternal, making Regulus roll his eyes so hard it hurt.
“You’re insufferable.” Sirius burst out laughing, the last sound Regulus heard before hanging up.
★–★–★
Hundreds of students wandered across the Hogwarts grounds. The youngest—barely eleven or twelve—looked a bit lost, intimidated by the enormity of the school. The oldest—seventeen or eighteen—were gathered with their friends, sharing warm hugs and broad smiles.
Regulus walked among the children who would now be his students, remembering all his own first days.
His first class would be with a group of brand-new students, which, in a way, made him feel a little more confident.
It didn’t take him long to reach the classroom since it was on the ground floor. He glanced out at the courtyard—the stage of many of his childhood mischiefs—before stepping inside.
At once, a group of about thirty boys and girls stood up, looking nervous and smaller than they really were, all in immaculate uniforms and smelling of soap and perfume.
“Good morning, Professor,” they said in unison.
Regulus’s heart softened, and he smiled at them.
“Good morning. You can sit down.” The children obeyed immediately, taking their seats in stiff silence.
Regulus walked to his desk and set down his briefcase carefully. Not even on his very first day as a student had he felt as nervous as he did now.
“Hey,” he said gently, and every head turned to him. “You can relax, it’s my first day too.”
A few shy smiles appeared on their faces. A girl slowly raised her hand.
“Yes, go ahead.” She stood nervously, twisting her hands.
“Did you just start school here too?” she asked softly, sitting back down right away.
Regulus nodded, leaning against his desk.
“Yes, it’s my first day as a teacher.” He saw a few shoulders relax. “My name is Regulus Black, and I studied here as well, along with my brother Sirius. Those of you who join the football team will probably hear a lot about him and about James Potter.”
He caught a few students exchanging surprised looks before one boy raised his hand eagerly.
“Go ahead,” Regulus prompted, and the boy shot up, full of enthusiasm.
“Was your brother really that good at playing?”
Regulus chuckled softly, remembering when Sirius and James were the stars of the football team.
“Yes, he was the best. Watching him play was incredible.” He leaned forward slightly with a conspiratorial smile. “Just don’t tell him I said that, or it’ll go straight to his head.”
The children laughed, and Regulus noticed the last traces of tension slipping away from their bodies.
The rest of the class passed more easily. Regulus had the children introduce themselves and share some of their hobbies, and by the end of the period, they were saying goodbye to him with renewed cheer.
His next class was with the fifth years. Having survived his very first class with children even more nervous than he was had eased his own nerves. He left the room alongside other teachers and students taking advantage of the short break to head to the restroom or visit friends in other classrooms.
“Regulus!” The informal, almost cheerful call of his name made him turn.
A few steps away, James Potter was jogging toward him, dressed in a black sports uniform and wearing a smile that belonged to no one else: a brilliant smile that could light up the darkest corner and give Regulus a headache all at once.
“Potter? What are you doing here?” James reached him and, before Regulus could step back, wrapped him in a brotherly hug.
Regulus went rigid in his arms, confused by everything. James was Sirius’s friend, not his.
Even so, James didn’t seem put off. He simply pulled back slightly, leaving his hands on Regulus’s shoulders.
“I’m so glad to see you here, Reggie!” Heat rushed to Regulus’s cheeks at the nickname.
“Thanks, Potter.” Regulus took a small step back, but James didn’t remove his hands.
“Hey, I’ve got something to do, but I want to catch up with you. Want to grab lunch together?”
Regulus froze, overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information his brain had to process: James hugging him, calling him Reggie, asking him to lunch, and all of it without even looking surprised to see him.
“Uh?” James laughed softly.
“Come on, Reggie, my treat.” James finally dropped his hands, clasping them together in front of his face like he was begging. “Please!” he whined childishly, loud enough to make passing students turn to look.
Mortified, Regulus pushed his hands away from his face.
“Fine, but stop doing that,” he muttered, while James’s grin widened. “And don’t call me Reggie,” he added in a whisper.
“Alright, fine,” James said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
Regulus nodded. “Don’t be late, Potter.”
“Of course not.” James walked past him, continuing on his way. Regulus turned at the same moment James did, and when their eyes met, James’s smile turned mischievous. “Good luck, Reggie!”
“Don’t call me that!” Regulus shouted, making James burst out laughing as he hurried away.
Regulus stood frozen in the corridor, watching until James disappeared into the crowd.