Chapter Text
The bell above the door rang for the third time in less than a minute, releasing a blast of cold air each time someone entered. Outside, winter was making its presence felt with an almost impertinent persistence, and inside, the Golden Café had become a warm refuge where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the steady murmur of conversation and the soft clinking of crockery.
"Welcome to the Golden Café!" Pandora Rosier announced enthusiastically from behind the counter, her voice lighting up the room as much as her smile.
"Pandora, you don't have to greet every customer who comes in," Evan said from the register without looking up from the accounts he was checking.
"Oh... right," she replied, placing a hand on her chest with a slight nod. "It's just that I think everyone deserves to know they're welcome. Sorry."
"Don't apologize for being charming," Barty interjected as she crossed the café with a tray balanced with dangerous precision. It is, quite literally, the reason we're collapsing.
Pandora smiled sweetly, completely unaffected by the sarcastic tone.
Behind the counter, Regulus Black didn't join the conversation. He simply continued with his task, aligning three cups with almost obsessive precision before pouring the coffee with measured movements, as if every milliliter were crucial. His concentration was such that the world around him seemed to shrink to steam, ceramic, and rhythm.
"Reg," Barty crooned as she passed him, "you just made the same order three times."
"That's what they ordered," he replied without looking up.
"No," Barty countered with amusement. "Two of those were hot chocolate."
Regulus stopped.
He looked at the cups.
He blinked.
"...Right," he finally admitted, letting out a soft exhalation. "I'll fix it."
A slight blush appeared on her cheeks, almost imperceptible.
“Of course you will,” Barty said with a smile that promised trouble. “Especially since that customer just came back in.”
Regulus didn’t need to ask who.
The bell rang again.
And as if the universe had decided to conspire with a particularly cruel sense of humor, James Potter walked through the door with that carefree energy that seemed to follow him everywhere. He lightly tossed his hair, adjusted his scarf, and smiled as if everything—the cold, the day, the world—was something he could take lightly.
Regulus had already seen him approaching from the window.
And yet, he wasn’t prepared.
“Good morning,” James greeted, raising his hand casually.
“James, welcome!” Pandora replied with obvious delight. “The usual?”
Regulus didn’t look up. He wasn’t going to.
There was no need.
"Hmm..." James murmured, approaching the counter with a slight, curious lean. "Not this time. Today I trust the barista's judgment."
Evan stopped typing.
Barty slowly turned his head.
Pandora brought a hand to her mouth, suppressing a smile.
And then, inevitably, Regulus looked up.
"My judgment?"
"Yes, your judgment," James confirmed, leaning his elbows on the counter. "Surprise me."
The silence that followed was brief, but thick enough to be felt.
Regulus held his gaze for barely a second before looking away.
"Fine," he said finally, turning away with a brusqueness that betrayed more than he intended. "But don't complain if you don't like it."
"I wouldn't dare."
Regulus didn't reply.
He concentrated.
Too much.
Every movement became precise, almost rigid. He measured the tea, the time, the temperature. He made sure the blend was exact, the aroma balanced, that nothing, absolutely nothing, was out of place.
And yet, he could feel James's gaze on him.
Constant.
Warm.
Disturbing.
"He's tense," Barty whispered from the side.
"He's always tense," Evan replied, though this time he looked up to check.
"Yes, but not like this."
Pandora said nothing. She just watched, smiling with a calmness that suggested she was enjoying every second.
Minutes later, Regulus placed the cup in front of James with a little more force than necessary.
"Black tea with vanilla and honey," he said, keeping his voice neutral. "Balanced. Not too sweet."
James took the cup.
He looked at it.
Then he looked at him.
"It looks delicious. Thank you."
Regulus nodded once.
Professional.
Flawless.
Impeccable.
Until their fingers brushed when James took the cup.
The contact was brief.
But enough.
Regulus pulled his hand away immediately, as if he'd touched something too hot.
"Enjoy it."
"I will."
James didn't move.
He stayed there, leaning against the counter, taking a sip while watching him intently, making no attempt to hide it.
Regulus decided to ignore him.
It didn't work.
He tried to focus on his next order, but the weight of that gaze was impossible to completely ignore.
Time passed more slowly than usual.
Until, finally—
"Hey," James said from the other side of the counter.
Regulus looked up.
"Yes?"
James smiled, with a tranquility that was almost irritating.
"Your taste is excellent."
Regulus held his gaze for a moment.
"I know."
But as soon as he turned, he grabbed the wrong cup.
Barty had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
Luckily, James didn't notice.
"Anyway," James added after another sip. "I have to go, but I'll be back to try something else."
And with a carefree smile and a wave goodbye, he left the shop.
The bell rang.
And then, for the first time since he'd walked in—
Regulus exhaled.
He hadn't realized he was holding his breath.
Behind him, glances quickly turned.
"Interesting," Barty murmured.
"Don't start," Regulus replied.
"I didn't say anything."
"No need."
---
Half an hour later, the bell rang again.
"Reggie!"
Regulus closed his eyes for a moment.
"What do you want, Sirius?"
Sirius Black appeared at the counter with a smile too wide to be reassuring.
"What a way to greet your favorite brother."
"You're my only brother."
"Which automatically makes me your favorite."
Regulus rolled his eyes.
"What brings you here?"
"To see you, of course," Sirius replied, still smiling. "And... to bring you this."
He took out an envelope and placed it on the counter.
Regulus took it without enthusiasm.
He didn't need to open it to know its contents.
His mother, probably reminding him of family obligations.
Christmas.
France.
Order.
Expectations.
He put the letter away without another word.
Sirius, meanwhile, was already observing the place with curiosity.
"I like this place," he commented. "There's always something new."
"Thanks," Pandora replied. "Speaking of new things... would you like to try something special?"
Regulus tensed.
"Don't tell her—"
"We have a drink with a unique ingredient," Pandora continued enthusiastically. "It's called Golden Leaf. It's my own invention."
Silence.
Regulus looked at her.
Pandora smiled at him.
Sirius raised an eyebrow.
"Golden Leaf?"
"It's irrelevant," Regulus interjected quickly. "Just ignore her."
“Now it’s extremely relevant,” Sirius replied. “Explain it to me.”
Regulus opened his mouth.
He closed it.
He gave up.
Barty intervened.
“It’s a mallow leaf treated with a potion that makes you say your soulmate’s name when you drink it.”
Silence.
Sirius processed the information.
And then—
he smiled.
"I want it."
"Sirius."
"I need it."
Pandora was already preparing it.
Regulus covered his face with his hand.
"This is a bad idea."
"For you, everything interesting is."
The drink arrived.
Golden.
Shimmering.
Hypnotic.
Sirius studied it closely.
Then back at Regulus.
Then back to the cup.
"If I say anything weird, you pretend it didn't happen."
"I'm not going to pretend anything."
Sirius drank.
He waited.
A second.
Two.
And then—
"Remus Lupin."
Silence.
Sirius blinked.
And then—
"I knew it."
He slammed his fist on the counter.
"I KNEW IT!"
He laughed.
"I have to go kiss him right now."
"Please, not here," Regulus murmured.
"To go," Sirius ordered.
Barty prepared the glass.
Pandora glowed with excitement.
Sirius was already on the move.
"Thanks! Reggie's paying!"
"WHAT—?"
The bell rang.
And the chaos vanished.
Silence slowly returned.
Pandora sighed.
"That was adorable."
Evan shook his head.
Barty smiled.
Regulus returned to his station.
Rigid.
Precise.
Perfectly composed.
As if nothing had happened.
As if nothing had affected him at all.