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The auditorium buzzed with nervous energy as the drama club gathered for their final rehearsal before opening night. James Potter adjusted his costume collar for the third time, stealing a glance across the stage where Regulus Black stood reviewing his lines. Three years of stolen moments, whispered conversations in empty corridors, and careful choreography to avoid suspicion had led them to this moment—forced to act out their love story in front of everyone, including Sirius.
"Right then, everyone!" called Mrs. Henderson, their drama teacher. "Let's run through Act Two, Scene Three. James, Regulus, this is your big romantic moment. Remember, the audience needs to believe you're madly in love."
If only she knew, James thought, catching Regulus's barely perceptible eye roll.
From the third row, Sirius Black lounged in his seat with his boyfriend Remus Lupin, having come to support his little brother. "This should be interesting," Sirius muttered to Remus. "Reggie's never been much for romance. And James kissing my brother? Weird, but I suppose it's just acting."
Remus, ever perceptive, noticed the slight tension in both boys on stage but said nothing.
As the scene began, James found himself marveling at how natural this felt—and how terrifying it was to perform their real relationship as fiction. Regulus delivered his lines with practiced ease, but James could see the subtle signs of nervousness that only he would recognize: the way Regulus's fingers tapped against his thigh, the almost imperceptible tightening around his eyes.
"You know I'd follow you anywhere, don't you?" James said, stepping closer to Regulus, the scripted words carrying three years of genuine emotion.
"Even if it meant losing everything?" Regulus replied, and James heard the real question beneath the theatrical one.
The moment arrived—the kiss that would seal their characters' fate and potentially expose their carefully guarded secret. James cupped Regulus's face gently, thumb brushing against his cheekbone in a gesture that was pure instinct, pure them. When their lips met, it wasn't the stage kiss they'd practiced in empty classrooms. It was soft, tender, filled with all the love they'd never been able to show publicly.
The auditorium fell silent.
"Cut!" Mrs. Henderson called, beaming. "Absolutely perfect! The chemistry between you two is remarkable. I almost believed it myself!"
From the audience, Sirius shifted uncomfortably. Something about that kiss had looked... different. Too real. Too familiar. He glanced at Remus, who was watching him with knowing eyes.
"What?" Sirius whispered.
"Nothing," Remus murmured. "Just... maybe pay attention to what's right in front of you."
As the cast dispersed for break, Sirius cornered James by the costume rack. "Alright, Potter, what was that about?"
"What was what about?" James tried for casual, but his voice pitched slightly higher.
"That kiss. With my brother. It looked..." Sirius paused, struggling for words. "It looked real."
James's heart hammered against his ribs. "We've been practicing. Mrs. Henderson said we needed more authenticity."
"Practicing?" Sirius's voice rose. "You've been practicing kissing Regulus?"
"Sirius—"
"How much practicing, exactly? And where? And when? And why didn't you tell me you were—" Sirius stopped abruptly, his face cycling through several expressions before landing on shock. "Oh my god. You're together. Actually together."
It wasn't a question.
James opened his mouth to deny it, but found he couldn't. After three years of hiding, of careful planning and stolen moments, he was exhausted. "Sirius, I can explain—"
"How long?" Sirius's voice was quiet now, which was somehow worse than the shouting.
"Three years," James admitted.
"Three years?" Sirius stared at him. "Three years, and you didn't trust me enough to—"
"It wasn't about trust!" James interrupted. "It was about protecting him. Protecting us. You know what your family's like, and I know how you get about Regulus. We just... we needed time."
Across the room, Regulus appeared at James's shoulder, having sensed the tension. "Sirius," he said carefully. "We were going to tell you."
"When? At your wedding?" Sirius's voice cracked slightly.
"We wanted to be sure first," Regulus said quietly. "Sure it would last. Sure we could handle whatever came after people knew."
Sirius looked between his best friend and his little brother—really looked at them. He saw the way James's hand moved protectively toward Regulus without thinking, the way Regulus stepped slightly closer to James when he was nervous, the careful distance they maintained that he'd always attributed to mutual dislike.
"You love him," Sirius said to James, and it wasn't a question.
James met his eyes steadily. "Yes."
"And you love him?" Sirius asked Regulus.
"Yes," Regulus said simply.
Sirius was quiet for a long moment, processing. Finally, he ran a hand through his hair—a gesture James recognized as pure Black family nervous habit. "Well," he said. "I suppose if Regulus had to fall for one of my friends, at least it's the decent one."
"Sirius—" James started.
"But if you hurt him, Potter, I'll hex your bits off," Sirius continued, pointing a finger at James. "Best friend or not."
"Understood," James said solemnly.
"And Reggie," Sirius turned to his brother. "You could have trusted me, you know. I might be protective, but I'm not stupid. I can see how happy you are."
Regulus blinked in surprise. "You can?"
"You smile differently when he's around," Sirius said softly. "Have for years, actually. I just never put it together."
"So you're... okay with this?" Regulus asked hesitantly.
Sirius looked at them both—his little brother and his best friend, standing close enough to touch but still maintaining their careful public distance—and felt something settle in his chest. "I'm okay with you being happy," he said. "Both of you."
From across the room, Remus appeared with tea from the vending machine. "Everything sorted then?" he asked mildly.
"You knew too, didn't you?" Sirius accused.
Remus smiled. "Darling, they've been making heart eyes at each other for three years. It was hardly subtle once you knew what to look for."
"Why is everyone better at this than me?" Sirius groaned.
"Because you see what you expect to see," Regulus said gently. "You expected us to hate each other, so that's what you saw."
"Fair point." Sirius paused. "So what happens now? Do you keep sneaking around, or...?"
James and Regulus exchanged a look—one of those wordless conversations that comes from years of understanding each other.
"We were thinking," James said slowly, "that maybe it's time to stop hiding."
"The play ends this weekend," Regulus added. "After that, maybe we can just... be ourselves."
"About time," Sirius said firmly. "I was getting tired of pretending not to notice James sneaking out of our dorm at weird hours."
"You noticed that?" James asked, horrified.
"James, you're about as subtle as a neon sign," Remus observed kindly.
"Places, everyone!" Mrs. Henderson called. "Let's run it once more from the top!"
As they headed back to their positions, Sirius caught Regulus's arm. "For what it's worth," he said quietly, "I'm glad it's him. James is good people. And he clearly adores you."
Regulus smiled—one of his rare, genuine smiles that transformed his whole face. "He does, doesn't he?"
"Disgustingly so," Sirius confirmed with a grin.
This time, when James and Regulus performed their scene, there was a lightness to it that hadn't been there before. The kiss was still tender, still real, but now it carried the promise of more—of a future where they wouldn't have to pretend to be acting when they were simply being themselves.
From the audience, Sirius watched his little brother fall in love on stage, and for the first time in three years, it wasn't a performance.
---
That evening, the four of them had gathered in James and Sirius's dorm room. It felt surreal, Regulus thought, to be sitting openly beside James, their hands intertwined, while Sirius and Remus occupied the other bed. No more sneaking around, no more careful distances. Just the four of them, talking and laughing like they should have been able to do all along.
"I still can't believe you kept this secret for three years," Sirius was saying, shaking his head. "I mean, I knew something was different, but—"
A sharp tapping at the window cut him off. They all turned to see a large, ornate owl perched outside, a red envelope clutched in its talons. The color drained from both Sirius and Regulus's faces instantly.
"No," Regulus whispered, but James was already moving to open the window.
The owl dropped the Howler onto Regulus's lap and flew away without ceremony. The red envelope began to smoke ominously, and Regulus's hands trembled as he held it.
"Regulus, don't—" Sirius started, but it was too late. The seal had already begun to break on its own, and his mother's voice filled the room, magnified to an unbearable volume.
"ELIZA WALBURGA BLACK!" The voice was sharp, aristocratic, and dripping with venom. "How DARE you disgrace our family name further than your brother already has! First that blood traitor Sirius abandons everything we've built, and now YOU—following in his footsteps like some lovesick fool!"
Regulus flinched at the name, his whole body going rigid. James's hand tightened protectively around his, while Sirius looked murderous.
The voice continued its assault: "Parading around with that Potter boy like some common—we have EYES at that school, Eliza! Did you think we wouldn't hear about your disgusting display? You were raised to be a proper daughter of the House of Black, and this is how you repay us?"
Remus quietly cast a silencing charm on the door, protecting them from curious ears in the corridor.
"You have until tomorrow to end this foolishness and remember who you are, or you will find yourself following your brother into exile. The Black family has no place for degenerates and disappointments. You know what is expected of you, ELIZA!"
The Howler burst into flames and crumbled to ash.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Regulus sat frozen, staring at the pile of ash in his lap, his breathing shallow. James could feel him shaking.
"Regulus," James said softly, but got no response. It was as if his boyfriend had retreated somewhere deep inside himself.
"Reggie?" Sirius moved closer, his voice gentle. "Hey, look at me."
Slowly, Regulus lifted his eyes. They were bright with unshed tears and something that looked like panic.
"I can't," Regulus whispered. "I can't lose everything. I'm not brave like you, Sirius. I can't just—"
"Hey," Sirius interrupted firmly, sliding off his bed to kneel in front of his little brother. "Listen to me. You are the bravest person I know. Do you know what it took to love James for three years in secret? To choose happiness over their expectations, even quietly?"
"But they'll disown me," Regulus said, his voice breaking. "Cut me off completely. I'll have nothing."
"You'll have us," James said fiercely, bringing their joined hands to his lips to press a soft kiss to Regulus's knuckles. "You'll have me. Always."
"The family money, the house, the connections—none of that matters," Sirius added. "Trust me, Reggie. I've been without all of it for two years, and I've never been happier."
"Because you're strong," Regulus said miserably. "You're everything they said I should be, and I'm—"
"Stop." The sharpness in Sirius's voice made everyone freeze. "Don't you dare repeat their poison. You are not weak, Regulus Black. You are not a disappointment. And you are absolutely not Eliza."
At the name, Regulus flinched again.
"That's not who you are," James said quietly. "That was never who you were. You're Regulus—brilliant, funny, stubborn, incredible Regulus. The boy who helped me with Potions homework and who knows every constellation story. The boy who makes me laugh until my sides hurt and who holds my hand like it's something precious."
"They'll never accept it," Regulus whispered.
"Then that's their loss," Remus spoke up for the first time, his voice calm but firm. "Some families are born, and some are chosen. You've got a chosen family right here."
Sirius reached out and gently tilted his brother's chin up. "I should have told you this sooner, but I'm proud of you, Reggie. So proud. You've been living your truth in the only way you could, and that takes incredible courage."
"What if I'm not ready?" Regulus asked, tears finally spilling over. "What if I can't handle being cut off like you were?"
"Then we'll figure it out together," James said without hesitation. "All of us. You don't have to do anything you're not ready for."
"But they'll keep sending Howlers. They'll make school hell."
"Let them try," Sirius said grimly. "They want to threaten my little brother? They'll have to go through me first."
"And me," James added.
"All of us," Remus confirmed quietly.
Regulus looked around at the three faces surrounding him—his brother, his boyfriend, and Remus, who'd become like family over the years. Slowly, something seemed to settle in his expression.
"I don't want to hide anymore," he said finally, his voice stronger. "I'm tired of being afraid of them. I'm tired of pretending to be someone I'm not."
"You don't have to decide everything tonight," James said gently. "But whatever you decide, I'm with you."
Regulus leaned into James's shoulder, finally allowing himself to accept the comfort being offered. "I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too," James replied, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.
From across the room, Sirius watched his little brother choose love over fear, and felt his heart swell with pride. Regulus was braver than any of them had ever given him credit for—it had just taken him time to see it himself.
---
The next evening, the school's autumn dance transformed the Great Hall into something magical. Fairy lights twinkled overhead, and the usual house tables had been cleared to make room for dancing. Students milled about in their finest dress robes and formal wear, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement.
James stood near the entrance, adjusting his burgundy dress robes for the third time, scanning the crowd nervously. They had agreed to meet here—their first public appearance as a couple. After last night's Howler and everything that followed, he wasn't sure what to expect.
Then he saw him.
Regulus appeared at the top of the main staircase, and James's breath caught in his throat. Gone were the traditional wizarding dress robes most students wore. Instead, Regulus had chosen a perfectly tailored midnight blue muggle suit that seemed to be made of starlight itself—the fabric caught the fairy lights and shimmered subtly with every movement. The cut was modern and sharp, emphasizing his lean frame, with a crisp white shirt open at the collar and no tie. His dark hair was styled with just enough product to look effortlessly tousled.
He looked absolutely stunning. More than that—he looked confident. Like he belonged exactly where he was, exactly as he was.
Conversations around James seemed to pause as other students noticed Regulus's entrance. There were whispers, surprised looks, a few appreciative stares. But Regulus paid them no attention. His eyes found James across the room, and his face lit up with that rare, brilliant smile that James loved so much.
James began moving toward the staircase, weaving through the crowd, unable to look away. When they met at the bottom of the steps, James reached out instinctively to take Regulus's hand.
"You look..." James started, then shook his head, grinning. "There aren't words."
"Good words, I hope?" Regulus asked, though the confidence in his posture suggested he already knew the answer.
"The best words," James confirmed. "You're going to give me a heart attack, looking like that."
Regulus laughed, the sound light and genuine. "I wanted tonight to be special. Our first real date, technically."
"Our first public date," James corrected, bringing their joined hands up to brush a kiss across Regulus's knuckles—a gesture that sent another ripple of whispers through the nearby crowd.
"James Potter and Regulus Black," someone murmured. "Well, I didn't see that coming."
"They make a stunning couple though," came another voice.
Across the hall, Sirius appeared with Remus, both of them dressed in elegant black dress robes. Sirius's face broke into a proud grin when he spotted his little brother.
"Bloody hell, Reggie clean up nice," Sirius called out as they approached. "Where did you even find a suit like that?"
"I may have borrowed some muggle fashion magazines from Lily," Regulus admitted with a slight blush. "And convinced the house elves to help with the tailoring."
"It was worth it," Remus said warmly. "You both look wonderful."
As if summoned by the mention of her name, Lily Evans appeared at James's elbow, resplendent in emerald green robes that complemented her red hair beautifully. "Regulus! You look absolutely incredible," she said, then grinned at James. "And you look like you're about to faint."
"I might," James admitted, still staring at his boyfriend with obvious adoration.
"Well, don't do it here," Lily laughed. "People are already staring enough."
And they were. The revelation of James and Regulus as a couple was clearly the evening's biggest gossip, but as James looked around, he realized most of the attention seemed more curious than hostile. A few disapproving looks from the usual suspects, but nothing like the catastrophe he'd sometimes imagined.
"Shall we dance?" Regulus asked, nodding toward the dance floor where couples were already swaying to the magical orchestra.
James's answer was to lead him onto the floor without hesitation. As they found their rhythm, Regulus's arms settling naturally around James's neck while James's hands found his waist, the whispers around them seemed to fade into background noise.
"Any regrets?" James asked quietly, searching Regulus's face for any sign of doubt.
"Only that we waited so long," Regulus replied without hesitation. "I should have worn a stunning suit for you years ago."
James laughed, pulling him closer. "The suit is beautiful, but it's not why everyone's staring."
"No?"
"No. They're staring because you're glowing, Regulus. You look free."
And he did. The careful mask Regulus had worn for so long was completely gone, replaced by joy so radiant it was almost tangible. He moved with a confidence James had only seen in private moments before, his head held high, completely unashamed of who he was and who he was with.
As the song changed to something slower, James spun Regulus gently, earning a delighted laugh that made several nearby couples smile.
"I love you," James murmured as they swayed together.
"I love you too," Regulus replied, then added with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "And I love that everyone knows it now."
From the edge of the dance floor, Sirius watched his little brother dance with his best friend, both of them looking happier than he'd ever seen them. Whatever their parents had tried to do with that Howler, it had clearly failed spectacularly. Regulus wasn't hiding anymore—he was shining.
"They're perfect together," Remus observed softly.
"Yeah," Sirius agreed, his voice thick with emotion. "They really are."
The evening continued around them—friends congratulating them, a few curious questions, some surprised but supportive comments from classmates who had never seen this side of either of them. But for James and Regulus, wrapped in each other's arms on the dance floor, the rest of the world had faded to a gentle hum.
They had chosen love over fear, authenticity over approval, and each other over everything else. And surrounded by fairy lights and soft music, dancing in a stunning midnight blue suit that caught the light like captured stars, Regulus had never felt more like himself.