Chapter Text
Regulus
May 15th, 1977
A party was occuring in The Gryffindor tower tonight. James Potter and Sirius Black were hosting it. Of course they were.
And Regulus- he was the only Slytherin there. Figures. Since he's dating his dear Jamie right now.
The two have been dating since his fifth year at Hogwarts. Though not all the time.
However it may seem to anybody else, their relationship was quite complicated. With James constantly not being able to decide wether he wanted to date Regulus or that Evans girl, it was bound to be.
But, as they always did, him and James made up, and all was well for Reggie.
He put on his tie, sprayed some cologne and he was ready to leave.
The party didn't start until eight, but he had agreed to meet James at the astronomy tower for some 'talking', as Potter had so intimately put it, in ten minutes from now.
And who was he to refuse James Fleamont Potter a good snog in that broom cupboard up there?
"Crouch, Rosier, I'm out for the night, you lovesick idiots have the room completely to yourselves tonight. And for Merlin's sake, please do not even think about using my bed like last time."
The two were constantly all over each other. They didn't really try to hide their queernes, even though it was heavily frowned upon. At least in the House of Slytherin. The other houses were more accepting. Esspecialy Gryffindor. And Ravenclaw, too. That was Barty's house. But, he was so often with Evan that no one really knew anymore. Regulus didn't get why they didn't just do their shit at Barty's but he supposed it was because he shared his dorm with six people. It would be hard to get them all out at the same time.
Regulus got out of the common room in no time, unnoticed by anyone.
Partly because everyone was busy with their little pureblood nonsense (Reg didn't agree, but it's not as if anyone asked him), partly because he's had sixteen years of expirience with being unnoticed.
The Ancient and Most Noble House of Black really knew how to fuck you up for the rest of your life.
* * * * * * * *
James was waiting for him at the beginning of the hall that led out of the dungeons.
Of course, he greeted him with a kiss.
"Idiot." Reg murmured. He didn't really mean it. And the blush on his very pronounced cheekbones - courtesy of his mother's genes - did not do much to hide that.
"You love me though, really." James's smirk did not falter. He was always so confident, and...and perfect. Even when they argued. And even when he was dating bloody Evans.
Regulus' hatred towards the girl was nothing personal. She was nice, and they talked in the library a few times. It was just the fact that when James didn't love him, he loved her.
But, no time to think about her now. They were together, and that's all that mattered.
"Shut up, Potter." Regulus' grunted reply was greeted with another kiss. There wasn't much else to say.
Soon, they made it to the astronomy tower. Luckily, no one was there.
Except there was. The memory of fifth year Regulus destroying the first horcrux he ever found. The diadem.
So far, he'd found six. One more left. The locket of Slytherin.
He was planning to destroy it this summer.
With that, the man who permanently engraved that fuckass mark in his arm would be dead.
But so maybe would be Regulus. He didn't know what was in that cave on that cliffside. But he knew with certainty that it is not some light magic protection.
"What's bothering you, love?" His thoughts were interrupted by James' caring words.
"Oh, uhm, it's nothing, don't worry about it." As much as he loved James, he couldn't, he wouldn't tell him.
Because, if he told him about this, he had to tell him about the Dark Mark too.
And James would hate him if he knew.
He could never bear the burden of James' hatred.
"Okay, well, you know you can tell me anything, Reg. Because I love you."
"I love you too you insufferable prat. But, you know what else I love?"
"Wha-"
James couldn't finish the question. Regulus' lips met his and all thought was lost.
"I love kissing your insufferable, bratty, confident self."
And once again, their lips met in the fiery, emotional turmoil that their relationships were.
It was a good distraction to the fact that, deep down, they both knew that they are not compatible, and will eventually destroy each other, one way or another.
* * * * *
In some weird way, Regulus acctualy enjoyed the party-noise. Sure, it was loud, but anybody who wasn't meant to hear what you are saying just...won't. That was a very soothing thought to him.
"Reggie, baby, here, have some of this. It's muggle alcohol. Good ol' Moony brought us some. It's very good." James said. He was visibly drunk.
"I will have to pass. I do not plan on getting drunk tonight. Some of us do care that we have lessons tomorrow morning." He had potions first class in the morning. He did not need his head to hurt. Potions is one of the few classes he actually enjoyed. And Slughorn played a huge part in that.
And, besides, Slughorn knew his mother. He did not need a howler from her about 'Family reputation' and how he was ruining her life by making himself look bad.
"You're such a pussy, Regulus. Can't even get properly pissed without worrying about tomorrow." Regulus liked to think that James didn't mean it. That he was just simply drunk and talking nonsense. He did not wish to know if that was the case....or not.
"Whatever, I'm going to go talk to Remus. Bye." Remus was the nice, rational one of the bunch. Regulus liked talking to Remus for that exact reason. Sure, James was his boyfriend, but he could be too much sometimes. Sirius and him share too much trauma together that that's all they really talked about in the past month. And Peter is...well, Peter.
There was always something off about him. But Regulus couldn't quite put his finger on it. Maybe it was just that he was shy.
And Remus was kind of like Regulus. In some ways, anyways. Regulus would never willingly date Sirius.
Even if they were not brothers.
"Cheers for the music, Moons. What's up?" He had figured out that Remus was a werewolf a long time ago. It was kind of his thing - catching on before anyone else. It didn't quite bother him. And he never mentioned it. But he knew that Remus had caught on that he knew as soon as they started properly being friends.
"Nothing much, really. Basically just studying for my NEWTs. Though I did start reading some of those poetry books you gave me. You have very good taste. In books, that is." Remus was grinning now, just slightly. He had already commented multiple times before on the fact that choosing James as a partner is not generally considered good taste, in his opinion.
"Took you long enough. I gave you those in November."
That made Remus laugh. Regulus felt weird when he made anyone other than Barty, Evan, Pandora, James or Sirius laugh. He didn't quite come off as funny to himself. So what could they be laughing at?
"Hey, at least I started them, Reg. But I don't think I'll finish them before the year ends. I'll send them to you over the summer. Hopefully your mother doesn't burn them." That left Regulus momentarily stunned. Then he remembered that Sirius probbably told him all the bad things about Walburga Black. And that's all Remus knew. He didn't know the good side of her. The one that acctualy cared. But, it is whatever.
"No, she won't don't worry. At least I hope so." He cracked a smile. A real one. Which is a rare occurrence for him in public.
Remus smiled back. Then he froze.
"What is it? Whats wrong?" Regulus followed his gaze to the corner of the room, where, in an armchair- "Oh."
James Potter was making out with Lily Evans.
He should be suprised. That was his James. The one who said he loved him to the sky and back, the one who begged for him back.
But, he wasn't. He knew deep down that this was inevitable. James's heart belonged with Evans. Even their patronuses match. Regulus was just....there.
The numbness that took over his body was all too familiar. It was always there when things got tough for Regulus. It was how he coped with...well, everything.
"I'll....uhm....I'm leaving... Could you tell James we're breaking up?" He could not do it himself. Not again.
"I am so sorry, Reg. Yes, I can tell him that. I'll punch him, too. Don't worry, he'll get what he deserves. I could stop being friends with him, too." Remus' offer was far too generous.
Yet, "No need, Moons. I.....I knew that this would happen eventually. Don't let it ruin your friendship. And please, for Merlin's sake, don't tell Sirius." Regulus had to pass on it.
It was kind of his fault too, wasn't it? Getting cheated on?
"Okay, whatever you want, Reg. Uhm..... see you around?"
"Yeah, see you around, Lupin."
He easily made his way through the crowd, towards the portrait hole. Everyone, even though drunk, knew not to mess with an angry looking Black - it was the consequence of seven years of living with Sirius.
He didn't go straight to his dorm. Instead, he went where he ussualy did when he was too tired of this world to exist with other people even near him.
The Room of Requirement.
This time around, it had greeted him with a comfortable bed, in a room much like his mother's. To Sirius, it might have been scary. To Regulus - it felt like comfort. All those times her tough exterior had cracked at her son's vulnerability, when the loving mother the Blacks have made her hide came out, when she held him tight while he cried for hours - it reminded him of that.
And so, he collapsed onto the softness of the bed, letting his tears run wild just like the love that was now the most useless thing in his heart.