Chapter Text
James was fifteen, it was the last night at school before winter break and Regulus was there in the common room decked in red.
They were sitting together in a corner just talking when Regulus asked it. “Have you ever kissed a boy?”
James shook his head.
Regulus was quiet. “Do you want to?” he asked after a minute.
James stared, and without thought he leaned in, pressing his lips to Regulus'. The younger boy grasped James' arm. James held Regulus' face.
Oh, it could have lasted forever and James would have been fine with it.
But the “get-together” had to end, and Regulus left, and James lay in bed staring at the ceiling for hours without sleeping, just replaying the experience. Over and over.
Regulus firm grip keeping James in place. His cool hand wrapping over James' warm skin. His soft curls falling just over his face for James to push away, Regulus' grey piercing eyes, his lips tasting lightly of mint.
James looked over at the bed a few feet away from him, Sirius sleeping, arm dropped over the other side to hold hands with Remus.
“Padfoot?” James spoke quietly.
no response.
James looked back to the ceiling. He didn't even know what to say.
Standing in his bedroom at home Christmas evening, not too late yet. He paced the room, repeating words trying to figure out what to say. He set his hands firm by his side, took a deep breath and left the room.
Down the stairs, his parents were sat in the living room, some muggle news station playing on the tv while his mother embroidered, his father read through a newspaper.
“Mum,... Dad?” James said into the room. His parents looking up cursorily.
“Yes?” they both said at once. Smiling at each other.
“I-I uhm, I have something to tell you.” James scratched the back of his head anxiously.
“What is it?” His father asked, setting down the newspaper.
He took a breath in. Finally the words came out.
“I like boys, I think I'm gay.”
The room felt still. His parents looked between each other and back to James. “Okay,” Fleamont said. “You're happy? That's all that matters.”
James let the air he'd been holding in his lungs. “You're not… upset?”
“No, son, not at all.”
Effie chimed in “Why would we?”
James came fully into the living room, hugging his mum. He felt his father's arm wrap over his back as well.
When he pulled away he looked over to the hallway, Sirius stood looking at them. The person he'd called his best friend for five years, and brought to live with him finally. Sirius turned away, to the kitchen without a word.