Chapter Text
"No, Reg, I'm not doing it. There's nothing in it for me, and this is just plain dumb." James Potter fluffed his hair and turned to walk away.
Regulus stared at him in disbelief as he walked off. This was precisely why James Potter was insufferable.
Stupid, annoying, infuriating… he could think of several other words for him too, though Euphemia would probably call most of them inappropriate.
Unfortunately, Regulus also happened to live with him.
And right now, he needed a very large favor from the biggest idiot he'd ever met.
Three Days Ago...
“You know,” Sirius said, shoving mashed potatoes into this mouth, “Lily Evans is meant to come back from France this term.”
Regulus nearly choked on his dinner. “What?”
Sirius grinned. "Oh, Merlin. You've still got it bad."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Right," Sirius said. "And I don't fancy Remus Lupin."
James looked up from his plate. "Lily's coming back?"
Then he glanced at Regulus.
Lily had spent the last two years at Beauxbatons. Apparently, Dumbledore had decided that every few years, two sixth years, one boy and one girl, would be sent abroad to "broaden their magical education."
Evans had been the obvious choice. She’s the smartest in their year.
All Regulus knew was that he had missed her.
"Oh." James hums. “Right. I forgot about that.”
The next afternoon, Regulus marched across the hall and knocked on James's door.
“Let me in, James.”
James opens the door and steps to the side, dramatically leaving him space to step through.
“James, for once in your insufficient life, I’m gonna need you to take something seriously.”
He smirked. “Oh, I can totally do that.”
"I need you to do something for me."
James folded his arms. "Go on."
"I need you... " Regulus swallowed. "To help me get with Lily."
Silence.
James blinked.
“…Evans?"
Regulus rolled his eyes. "No, James. Crouch."
“Calm down, kitty, you’re being a tad bit frantic.”
James pauses, and Regulus sighs.
“Look, Reg, I’m going with Lily to get our books for the year in a few days. She’ll be there. You can join us, if you want.” James shrugs, and goes to stand and open the door, signaling for Regulus to leave.
“Yeah, but can you help me get with her? Like…alone?” Regulus crosses his arms, annoyed with the fact that James doesn't understand how much this means to him.
It’s Lily Evans.
On the third day of first year, he'd gotten lost trying to find the library.
Lily Evans had abandoned her friends to walk him there.
She'd even sat with him for half an hour, helping him find a book about magical constellations.
No one had ever done something like that for him before.
He'd been a little doomed ever since.
He sat there, staring at James, and he tries not to think about the fact that he hasn’t seen her in a year, and how she probably doesn’t even remember him. He was just “Sirius’s baby brother,” who she probably only talked to because she felt forced to since he always felt left out when Sirius, James, and Peter hung out together.
Not Remus, though, Remus always included him.
Partially why Regulus liked him so much. He was sound.
“Help you get her? Mate, I don’t know if you’re hearing yourself right now.” James says, looking disappointed.
James looked disappointed.
Which was odd.
Regulus couldn't imagine why this conversation would disappoint him.
“Please?” Regulus never begged in his life. This was quite serious.
"You really like her that much?"
Regulus rolled his eyes. "Obviously."
"How long?"
"Four years," he said quietly.
Pause.
"Four years?"
James looked away.
"Yes."
"Right." He pretended to think for a second. “No.”
"What do you mean, no?"
"I mean no."
“Why?”
He shrugged. “It’s lame.”
“What? James, what do you mean?” He’s pushing Regulus out the door, now. “James, wait. What do you mean it’s lame? I’m not asking you to force her to hang out with me, I just think she might need a little push, that’s all–”
“You need a little push.” He pushes him fully out and closes the door, and Regulus is forced to walk back to his room.
He’s gonna find something that James really wants. Just to be able to convince him to do this for him.
Regulus doesn’t understand why James doesn’t want to do it. All he would actually need to do is just…tell Lily to talk to him. Not that hard.
Personally, Regulus would do this for one of his friends. Maybe.
He's probably the happiest person Regulus knows, somehow managing to make every room feel brighter. That’s the James that he knows, not this blunt, pushy one.
Maybe he’s just sensitive about Lily and his friends, Regulus thought. Although, James and Regulus aren’t really friends, are they?
Regulus decided not to go to Diagon Alley, even if Lily would be there. It wasn't worth the embarrassment.
Besides, if James didn't want to help him, there was no point. Lily wouldn’t like him on her own.
He flopped onto his bed and stared at the ceiling.
He didn't understand why James had looked so upset.
After all, he'd only asked for help getting the girl he'd been in love with for four years.
He'd try again tomorrow.