Chapter Text
When my brother and I were 11 we went to Hogwarts, and I planned on us being the thickest of thieves, just like at home, what I didn’t plan on happening was James Potter. James bloody Potter. When we boarded the train, we immediately found a compartment to start planning out our year, when this tall, wild haired boy suddenly barges into the compartment loudly asking if we were first years, and if so what were our names, and did we want to be best friends with him, but wait you two seem similar are you brothers, also what house do you want to be in, I’m gonna be in Gryffindor.
And on and on he went, never seeming to stop. While I had felt daunted by this chaotic energy, Sirius had been excited by it, answering every question as quickly as they were asked, and asking his own even quicker.
I had soon felt forgotten, sitting there, dazed. Not long after that the boy, James Potter as he told us, dragged in another. He was much shorter and had blond mousy hair, he was also much chubbier. While Potter was tall and fit, this boy was much shorter and pudgy. Potter had introduced him as Peter Pettigrew, one of his neighbours. I had thought for a moment that I might become friends with Pettigrew, as he was also quite quiet compared to Potter and my brother, but he never once looked my way.
When we had finally lighted from the train and brought to the Great Hall, Sirius finally paid me attention again.
“No matter what,” Sirius had whispered to me, grabbing my arm and pulling me closer, “No matter what, we’ll always be brothers ok.”
“Ok”
The first few names were called, and I had watched as they walked up and sat on the stool nervously, they looked how I felt, but I would not show it.
“Black, Sirius”
I remember looking at Sirius nervously, but at the same time in a way that was hopefully assuring, but he never looked at me, he looked straight at Potter.
He’d sat on the stool, and before the hat even touched his head, the hat had yelled,”Gryffindor”.
The Hall had been silent, Sirius had made history as the first ever Black to be a Gryffindor.
“Black, Regulus”
I had walked to the stool, feeling nauseous and faint, and just like my brother, the hat never needed to touch my head before yelling,”Slytherin”.
I had walked to the Slytherin table to the congratulations of my cousins, all the while trying to catch Sirius’ eye, but he never even looked at the Slytherin table, let alone me. Instead, he was talking animatedly to James Potter.
Ever since then I have sworn to hate Potter. He took my brother away from me, he barely even acknowledges me now.
The only time any of his group of ‘Marauders’ as they like to call themselves, acknowledge me or my friends is Sirius and I’s birthday, or if they want to play a prank.
Now if you ask me, I believe I have done a fantastic job at hating and ignoring Potter, but my friends, those traitors, will tell you something else. They swear black and blue that I’m head over heels for Potter and I just don’t want to admit it. Which I think is rich coming from the lot of them.
Dorcas is hopelessly in love with the Gryffindor Chaser, Marlene McKinnon. She denies that she’s in love, she just says she is somewhat inclined toward McKinnon.
Then there’s Pandora, I know she likes someone, but I can’t for the life of me figure out who it is. I know they aren’t in Slytherin or Ravenclaw, her house, and she won’t tell me, she always deflects to my supposed romantic feelings for Potter.
And finally, Barty and Evan, they are hopelessly in love with each other, no matter what they say to others. It’s so glaringly obvious that everyone in the castle knows, except the two of them. I’m pretty sure some of the teachers have bets on when they’ll finally admit it.
I mean, take right now as an example, the three of us are sitting in the Slythering common room waiting for Dorcas and Pandora, and the two idiots are quite literally lying on top of each other. They’re cuddling on the couch whispering to each other while Evan has his hands in Barty’s hair gently scratching his scalp. They look like two lovesick fools.
“You two are making me want to throw up.”
“Awww, it’s ok little Reggie, you can come and join us.” Barty coos annoyingly, batting his eyelashes.
It’s because of that, that he doesn’t see the pillow I peg at his head.
“Can you two just kiss already?” Dorcas groans walking into the room.
“Thank you.” I exclaim.
“Reggie, you can’t say anything either, you need to go and kiss Potter already.” Dorcas adds, looking at me pointedly.
“Excuse you, I need to do no such thing, besides, you’re the one that’s hopelessly pining over McKinnon, why don’t you take your own advice and kiss her already?” I shoot back smugly.
“You know what…” Dorcas starts before she’s cut off by Pandora waltzing into the common room and gracefully sitting down right next to me.
“Reg, I have found you a job, and no you cannot turn it down, you are doing it. It will help get your creative energy out.”
“What…”
“Shush,” She cuts me off. “You are to write anonymous love poems for people. They will come to you, tell you who they want the poem for, and what kind of feel, and they will pay you to also secretly give it to the intended recipient.”
Barty, Dorcas, Evan, and I sit there looking dumb founded by what she has just declared. When suddenly,
“Oh my goodness! This is amazing, our Little Reginald is going to write love letters for people. Imagine he has to write one for Potter!” Barty laughs, falling off Evan and the couch landing on the floor. This only seems to make him laugh even more.
“Dora, no, I am not doing that.” I say turning from the spectacle that is Barty, talking to Pandora, “Besides who would even want to come to me for poems?”
“Oh plenty,” she replies, “I’ve already had some requests to pass on to you, though they’re all for James Potter.” This sets Barty off even more. He’s crying now, it’s honestly quite ridiculous.
I cast a quick silencing charm on Barty and turned once more to Pandora.
“No. Absolutely not. I refuse.” There is no way I am writing love letters to bloody Potter.
Pandora sighs almost mournfully, “I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this, but if you don’t do it, I will go and tell James right now that you are deeply in love with him and are planning the wedding.”
I gape at her, looking to see if she genuinely means it. She does.
“Ugh, fine.” I say, groaning. “But I don’t like it.”
“Thank you so much.” Pandora says standing up and clapping her hands together as she dances out of the common room.
I already know I’m going to regret this.