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The sound of the violin, combined with the piano, blended into James’s ears along with his heartbeat. He heard it as a slow, rhythmic pulse. His eyes followed the slow steps of the person in front of him, walking in his direction.
Potter had spent hours in the past imagining what it would be like to see Regulus Arcturus Black dressed in white—the boy who had always worn black, even his pajamas were that shade. But nothing could have prepared him for the angelic sight of Black in dark attire: a fine, elegant suit, his hair styled with a short braid at the side, pinned with a small arrangement of white flowers. Everything formed a harmony with his pale, almost porcelain skin.
His eyes lifted and met James’s, who was staring at him with a wide smile. Potter then glanced toward his parents seated in the front pews of the church. His mother seemed to be holding back tears that had long since begun to fall, while his father, in contrast, looked at him as if encouraging him.
His friends—and of course Sirius Black, his best friend and now future brother-in-law—were not present. Earlier, Sirius had been helping him get ready for the ceremony, but after a conversation, they hadn’t seen each other again. James found his friend’s absence strange; his expression must have shown it, since Remus Lupin gave him a “just wait” kind of look.
When he realized it, Regulus was already standing before him, eyes lowered but wearing a satisfied smile.
This was what he had always dreamed of: getting married in a church, to his first (and only) boyfriend, having children—even if adopted—and then living in the family house that had stood for generations.
He had always been the golden boy of the Black family. It hadn’t been difficult to convince them that he should inherit the house instead of his older brother, Sirius.
And so…
The ceremony began. The priest recited the usual words, the grooms exchanged their vows, and then came the fateful moment.
— You, Regulus Arcturus Black, do you accept James Potter as your lawful husband, until death do you part? —
His eyes turned to the named man, who smiled and looked deeply into James’s eyes. His answer came instantly.
— I do. — Nothing more. He spoke with the certainty of someone who had practiced this for centuries—and no one would doubt that he had.
Then all eyes turned to James.
— You, James Potter, do you accept Regulus Arcturus Black as your lawful husband, until death do you part? —
This time, the answer didn’t come immediately. He froze. Regulus had made it seem so easy, as if the decision were simple, when for him…
It wasn’t.
He looked around. Everyone watched them—some in confusion, others in hope. But when his gaze returned to Regulus, expecting anger, he was instead met with a calm, slightly melancholic smile.
Regulus raised his hands and gently held Potter’s face. The soft affection didn’t seem to fit the scene.
— James… — he began. — It’s okay, you know. I love you so much that I’ll let her walk down the aisle in my place… —
What was he talking about? Potter didn’t understand—but then the doors burst open with a loud bang, and the sound of hurried footsteps made everyone turn around.
Everyone except them. Regulus’s eyes remained fixed on James, just as James’s stayed on him.
His attention only shifted when he heard someone shout:
— I OBJECT! —
Lily Evans.
She shouted, leaving everyone stunned—all except the youngest Black. He walked toward her with slow, calculated steps, took the ornament from his own hair, and placed it in hers.
He whispered something to her. The girl smiled and hugged him.
Then she ran toward James, stopping in front of him with an euphoric smile.
And suddenly, everything fell into place…
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— Sirius, I don’t know if I can… — James admitted, letting out a sigh of exhaustion—not physical, but mental.
Sirius stared at him, stunned. He didn’t know how to react. He had just heard his best friend say he couldn’t marry his younger brother because he was in love with someone else.
He felt torn, unsure of what to do. His reaction was simply to leave the room.
With hurried steps, he knocked on a door at the end of the hallway. Hearing a “come in,” he did just that.
— Something wrong, Six? — Regulus asked, concerned.
— Reg… I need to tell you something, it’s just… —
He ended up spilling everything—his doubts and James’s doubts. He was a loyal friend, but his principles came first.
He expected shouting, heavy crying, a scandal—but the only thing he heard was a melancholic laugh, one of disbelief… or perhaps relief.
— Thank you for telling me, Sirius. I’m going to ask you something important: go find Lily and bring her here as fast as you can—
A request spoken through quiet, restrained tears.
— But… — he fell silent upon seeing his brother’s determined expression. He simply nodded and left the room.
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— You may kiss the bride — the priest said after repeating the entire speech.
It didn’t even take a second for the redhead’s and the brunet’s lips to meet—a desperate, yet slow kiss.
A marriage that would last.
Unlike many others… that never even had the chance to begin.
The End!