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“SALAZAR POTTER! For the last time— the Chudely Cannons are better than Puddlemere United.” Barty said frustratedly.
James raised a single brow, “Who has the most league wins?”
Regulus and Evan watched on as Barty got ragebaited by James. A feat, really. It was usually Barty doing the rage baiting.
Barty groaned aloud, throwing his head into his palms in frustration which only made James smirk smugly, “That’s right, Puddlemere does. Twenty two wins.”
“So it’s ahead by a singular win. That hardly matters—”
“It hardly matters?!” James yelled back outraged, “Every single win counts for something! Especially if it’s a league win!”
Barty groaned yet again, aiming his glare at Regulus now, “Why the fuck are we keeping this big git around?”
James replied before Regulus could, “Because I love Reg.”
Regulus felt his heart skip a beat as his eyes widened just a fraction. Barty and James continued their bickering— Evan now egging them on— but Regulus couldn’t focus on anything but those words.
“I love you, Reg.”
“I love Regulus.”
“You’re the love of my life.”
James had proclaimed his love for Regulus about 68 times now— over the span of two months. Yes Regulus kept track, yes Regulus was still counting and yes he still felt like his heart was failing every time James said it.
Yet despite it all, Regulus still hadn’t said the words back.
Not because he didn’t feel the same— he’s been in love with the dumbass since second year— but because he couldn’t make his tongue form the words.
Because, somewhere deep down, he still believed that ‘love’ couldn’t exist without all the pain and trauma that was bound to follow.
A voice in his head kept warning him— to love someone is to hurt yourself. Never make yourself that vulnerable. Love doesn’t exist for Blacks.
But he also trusted James.
He was scared to love, he was taught to be afraid of such a delicate yet powerful emotion, he had experienced enough hurt because of it— but he also trusted James.
Regulus looked up after his heart calmed down and his gaze immediately found James’s, who was already looking back at him.
James gave him a small, private smile— you don’t have to say it. Take your time.
And Regulus found himself smiling back. Yeah, he definitely loved this idiot, even if he couldn’t tell him that just yet.
————
They had been hesitant about the idea of Pandora meeting, as James and Sirius had dubbed them, The Marauders and Co.
People often made fun of Pandora’s whimsical, dreamy attitude and the Slytherins were over protective in one word.
“They are literally some of the most popular kids in school. They will make fun of her.” Barty stated simply.
Dorcas, who was dating Marlene, quickly retorted, “I’m telling you, Barty. They aren’t like that! I’ve been meeting—”
“Dearest Marls might not be a stuck up bitch but that doesn’t mean the rest of them aren’t!” Barty shot back, cutting her off.
“I think we can trust James.” Regulus interjected. Barty whipped his head around so fast Regulus thought he’d get whiplash.
Barty narrowed his eyes, “Oh so you’re going to side with Potty now?”
Regulus glared, “What was that?” He asked, his tone practically dripping with venom.
The three of them— Dorcas included— began to argue back and forth. Two in favor of meeting the other group, and Barty against the idea.
“OKAY— Evan! Ev, what do you think?” Barty said, looking hopefully at his boyfriend for back up.
Evan looked up from the book he had been reading, “I think we should just ask the person you’re all worrying about.”
The three of them blinked as Evan rolled his eyes, “Honestly, this is expected from Barty. But has love made you both stupid as well?” He asked pointedly.
Regulus and Dorcas blushed embarrassedly while Barty spluttered his protests.
“I wanna go!” Pandora accepted later, during dinner, when they finally met the Ravenclaw.
Barty sighed defeatedly while Dorcas and Evan beamed.
Regulus gave her a small smile before his eyes drifted to the Gryffindor table. James met his gaze only two seconds after and smiled.
It’s a yes, Regulus mouthed to him. James’s eyes widened.
He was bound to be surprised, the Slytherins had declined his previous seven invitations (Barty had been quite convincing).
James nodded once the shock wore off and happily went back to eating and yapping to his friends.
Regulus observed him fondly. He finally had something to look forward to.
—————
“Wait, the acromantula talked to you?!” Peter asked, completely bewildered.
Pandora nodded enthusiastically.
“Why is that so surprising?” Lily asked Peter.
“I mean— how is the creature talking to a human? We don’t speak acromantulan!”
Nearly everyone in the room burst out laughing, “Acromantulan?!”
Remus gave Peter a small smile, “Acromantula are capable of human speech, Pete.” Peter’s mouth dropped open in an ‘O’ which only served to make the others laugh harder.
Everyone got side tracked, some teasing Peter while others (namely: Lily, Remus and Regulus) began to debate over the different characteristics of Acromantula that made them such a unique species.
About five minutes into the heated conversation, Regulus relaxed back against the sofa. Only then did he see Pandora simply waiting for everyone to finish.
She obviously wanted to complete her story.
Regulus looked around and pretty much everybody was too wrapped up in their own business to notice.
“Oi! Pandora isn’t done yet!”
Regulus spun his head to look at the person sitting beside him, his boyfriend, James.
Everyone apologised to Pandora profusely, before settling down to listen again when she told them it was completely fine.
James turned to meet Regulus’s eyes, giving him a questioning smile when he saw that he was staring.
“That was quite nice of you.” Regulus whispered simply.
James really smiled then, “I try,” he brushed his finger softly against Regulus’s cheek, “Especially for the people that matter.”
Regulus’s heart stuttered in his chest as James turned his attention back to Pandora’s story (Sirius was completely invested at this point.)
“Especially for the people that matter”, Regulus moved his gaze to his and James’s intertwined hands as he calmed his racing heart.
James had a way of doing that— saying such huge, heavy words as if they barely held any weight at all. But at the same time, he said it so surely, so genuinely, you know he meant it.
Regulus squeezed his hand just slightly as he thought about James who lit up any room he walked in, James who was unconditionally kind to every person he met, James who respected his loved ones and was always there when they needed him most, James who could rival the sun’s brightness if he wished to.
James who had confessed his love for Regulus over and over without expecting anything in return.
“I love you.” The words were whispered, out of Regulus’s mouth before he could properly process them.
The sound was carried away by the wind. Nobody heard it, but that didn’t matter because Regulus knew.
Regulus knew he had said the words aloud, Regulus knew his mouth had finally finally allowed him to say what he had meant to be saying for nearly two months now.
Regulus felt ecstatic.
James noticed the shift in his mood, of course, “And what’s got you smiling like that?” He asked fondly. Regulus simply tilted his head up slightly to meet James’s gaze, left a quick peck on his lips and dragged his attention back to Pandora.
Regulus felt James freeze out of shock for a moment before he was readjusting his body to grab Regulus around the waist and pull him back towards his chest.
He kissed Regulus’s cheek and then his neck before resting his chin on the smaller boy’s head. Regulus had to bite back a smile.
“Oi! No sexual shit in front of the groupie!” Sirius yelled nearly ten seconds later.
Everyone laughed at that.
————
“OI BLACK! WAKE UP!”
The blinds around Regulus’s bed ripped open, allowing all the light and all the Barty to trickle in. Regulus simply grumbled, shoving his face deeper into his pillow and hoping Barty would take the hint.
Evan chuckled from somewhere behind him.
“REGGGG! REGGIE! Darling little brother, wake uppppp!” Sirius yelled this time, flinging himself on top of Regulus because he had no sense of personal space.
Regulus prayed to Salazar to give him strength— he didn’t wish to commit murder first thing in the morning.
“Reggieeee, RegGieEEeE~” Sirius poked him all over, which only served to annoy Regulus more. He shoved Sirius off him and turned all the way around so that his back was to Sirius.
That’s when Regulus heard a chuckle and, oh, he’d recognize that voice anywhere, “Reg, wake up. It’s snowing!”
This finally got Regulus to crack one eye open. He was blessed with the image of James Potter— in all his messy haired glory— but he didn’t love James so much he’d sacrifice his beauty sleep for it.
So, instead, Regulus pinched James’s sleeve and tugged gently, inviting him into his bed.
James laughed softly as Sirius and Barty started sputtering profanities.
James took his glasses off, putting them on the bedside table and climbing into bed beside Regulus. Sirius was having none of it.
“Don’t you dare Prongs.”
James made himself comfortable against the pillows, looking up at Sirius amusedly, “Whatever do you mean Pads?”
Sirius narrowed his eyes, “Reg is still my baby brother, don’t you go d-deflowering him!”
James spluttered, “Pads?! What?”
Barty, Evan and Dorcas (she was here too?!) guffawed from somewhere near Sirius, making the morning far too noisy for Regulus to even consider it an okay one.
Regulus closed his eyes and prayed to Salazar, yet again. This time praying for the strength required to prevent him from committing mass genocide of all his dear and loved ones.
James saved Regulus the trouble of replying by simply closing the blinds around them and binding them closed with a spell.
“Don’t have too much fun in there!” Barty screamed maniacally (he always sounded like a maniac though).
“We’ll be waiting for you lot downstairs.” Evan called back.
“And use protection!” Dorcas said, making them all fall into another laughing fit, except Sirius that is, “Don’t you touch my baby brother Potter!”
The door to the dorm clicked shut.
Regulus let out a sigh that directly translated to ‘good riddance’ making James laugh again. He moved to lay his head on James’s chest.
“Morning love.” He said gently.
“Hush Potter.” Regulus said, though it was barely coherent. He heard James chuckle, “Oh so I’m Potter now?”
Regulus ignored him.p
They stayed like that for a few moments— laying down in complete silence, simply soaking in one another’s presence.
“Is it really snowing?” Regulus asked alas. He used to hate talking first thing in the morning because it made him sound soft. But with James, it was hard to hate anything at all.
James hummed affirmatively.
“We should get up then.” Regulus said after a pause.
“Do you want to get up?” James asked in reply. Regulus thought about that for a moment.
He wasn’t particularly fond of the snow— not to say he hated it, he just didn’t see the appeal— but his friends would probably be looking forward to him coming… so would his good for nothing brother.
“We should get up.” Regulus answered. James clicked his tongue.
“Not what I asked, love.”
Regulus huffed, burying his face in the crook of James’s neck, “I don’t.” He said after a moment, “Want to get up, I mean.”
Regulus felt James’s body relax further into the bed, “Well then, that’s that.” His arm slithered around Regulus’s waist— warm and comforting.
And it was stupid, really. To get so emotional over somebody asking whether you wanted to sleep in. But Regulus couldn’t control the rush of fondness that travelled through him.
He lifted his head to look at James, who tilted his own head downwards to meet his gaze.
Regulus found himself choking up, but he needed to say something, “Y-you,” he cleared his throat, “you don’t wanna go down?”
James blinked before his entire face softened, “I don’t not want to go, but I just really want to be with you more right now.”
Regulus took a deep breath, “Then I’ll just go down with you, let’s go.”
James brought his hand to the back of Regulus’s head and pulled him down towards him again, “I want to be with just you right now, and you want to stay in bed. I think both of those boxes are being ticked.”
Regulus smiled against James’s neck slowly but it did nothing to lessen the blow of all the emotions he was feeling.
He had never thought he’d feel so seen, so appreciated, so loved by anybody. Love was happiness at its best, and the Black family didn’t do happiness.
Yet there Regulus was— feeling satisfied, content and just so full of love and happiness he thought he’d explode.
“I love you.” Regulus said the words aloud for the second time in his entire life, and this time he was fully aware he was saying it. James went still.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t say it before—”
This seemed to snap James out of his trance, “You have nothing to be sorry for, Reg. Just— I—” James took a deep breath, “Can you say that again please?”
Regulus smiled and looked up, the moment he met James’s gaze his pupils dilated. James scanned his entire face reverently— as if he were some divine gift or god himself.
“I love you James.”
James stared at him for a long moment and Regulus’s heart sped up— with nervousness and anticipation but, most of all, the satisfaction of having finally said it.
“I love you so much.” Regulus said again.
James breathed out shakily and pulled Regulus in for a kiss. It was brief, a simple brush of the lips, but everything that needed to be said passed between them in the gesture.
They rested their foreheads against each other’s, “I love you too, Reg. So much.” James opened his eyes and Regulus was shocked to see them slightly glassy, “And even though you didn’t have to say it for me to know, thank you for telling me.”
And, well. What was Regulus supposed to say to that?
He kissed him instead, James whispering small I love yous between the kisses. Regulus found himself grinning when he finally said, no hesitation at all this time, “I love you too you big sap.”
They stayed in bed for a long while and Regulus found himself thinking that— yes— he had fallen for this big git a hundred times before, and he would probably continue to a million times again.
It’s just that he’d finally be able to voice it now.