Chapter 1
Summary:
“MARRIAGE TO POTTER?!” Barty shrieked. "Reggie, have you lost your mind?"
“Quiet, Barty! Do you want the whole house to come running here?” Regulus hissed.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
October 20, 1977
Sirius
It was the day after a full moon. As always after such a night, an exhausted Remus was sleeping in the hospital wing while Madam Pomfrey, fussy and caring, bustled from bed to bed. James and Sirius sat vigilantly by his side, and Peter, meanwhile, had already snuck off to the kitchens to get some food.
James, hunched in a hospital chair, was diligently sorting through notes on Potions and Charms, while Sirius, sitting very close, was gently brushing the light strands of Remus's hair from his face. A silence filled the hospital wing, broken only by Madam Pomfrey's quick footsteps. Sirius, still sitting by Remus's bed, continued to softly stroke his hair. Then, his hand carefully, almost timidly, slid from his hair to his ear, touching his cheek where a fresh scar was visible. The light touches woke Remus. He slowly began to open his eyes.
“Sleep well, Moony?” Sirius asked quietly, his hand still resting on the boy's cheek.
Remus blinked sleepily and hummed faintly. “Hey, Padfoot, yeah.”
His gaze shifted to James, who was checking his notes without looking up. “Hey, Prongs.”
James looked up from his notes, smiled widely, and stood up from his chair. “Hey, Moony, how are you feeling? I brought you the Potions and Charms notes. You'll have to get the History notes from Evans, because the boys and I fell asleep in the middle of the lecture.”
Remus laughed quietly. “Thanks, Prongs, I really appreciate it.” He looked around. “Where's Peter?”
“He went to get food,” Sirius replied, "we'll meet him in the dorm." Unable to stop himself, he gently kissed Remus's forehead, making him blush instantly.
It had been hard for them to get to this point. For the rest of their fifth year, after that unfortunate prank, they barely spoke. Then summer came, and Sirius was forced to return to Number 12 Grimmauld Place, where Walburga and Orion berated him daily. One such day, Sirius couldn't take it anymore and, covered in tears and wounds from the Cruciatus Curse and other spells, he fled to the Potters' house. Sirius remembered little from those days, but he would never forget the frightened face of Remus who appeared at the Potter's doorstep. Sirius sobbed in his arms, apologizing for everything, while Remus gently rocked him in a hug. They spent the entire sixth year as friends, longing for each other, and finally started dating that summer.
“Oh, my boy, you're already awake!" Madam Pomfrey, having just interrupted their conversation, approached the bed. "How are you feeling, Remus, any complaints?”
“I feel great, Madam Pomfrey, and I'm ready to leave,” Remus replied, his hand finding Sirius's, which he gently squeezed.
Madam Pomfrey gave him a skeptical look, searching for the slightest hint of pain. Seeing nothing, she nodded with satisfaction. “Alright, but I'll still give you a pain-relieving potion to take with you. And you, Mr. Black, will make sure that Mr. Lupin drinks it if he feels unwell.”
“I promise,” Sirius nodded seriously. Behind him, James added, “I'll make sure Sirius makes sure.”
“Alright, now get out of here, and I don't want to see you back here until next month,” the woman grumbled, and, although kindly, she shooed the boys out of the hospital wing.
Laughing, the three friends slowly walked through the corridors toward the Gryffindor Tower. The walk took a little longer because Remus was walking slowly, leaning on his cane. Reaching the tower, the boys helped Remus up the stairs to the seventh-year dormitories. Upon entering their room, they immediately froze, shocked by what they saw. Sitting on the floor, in tears and holding a crumpled piece of parchment in his hands, was Sirius's younger brother, Regulus Black. Next to him, trying uncertainly to comfort him, was Peter.
Sirius was the first to recover from the shock. He took three long strides toward his brother and fell to his knees. “Regulus, what happened?”
***
Regulus
Regulus was having a good day. First, being away from home was always a sign of a good day. In the morning, he had a good Quidditch practice, and then a double Transfiguration class with Ravenclaw, which allowed him to sit next to Pandora. He also earned twenty points for his house in Herbology. It seemed nothing could ruin this perfect day.
Until lunchtime. Although it was post day, Regulus wasn't expecting a letter from home. He had always been the exemplary, well-behaved heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, so he didn't expect a rebuke from his mother.
He had just started to eat his favorite pudding with gusto when Barty carefully nudged him on the shoulder, pointing a finger upwards.
“Look, Reggie, your family's owl,” Barty whispered.
“Damn,” Regulus swore softly as the black owl dropped a letter onto the table.
The younger Black carefully took the letter from the table. The parchment was heavy and oppressive, as if it already contained bad news. He immediately recognized his mother Walburga's handwriting, and his heart sank. Letters from home were rare, and if they came, it was only when something important had happened.
He unfolded the parchment. The lines written in ink seemed like a cold iron net, entangling him more tightly with each word. He felt Dorcas and Barty on either side trying to peer at the letter.
"There's no time to wait... We have found a suitable match for you, Regulus... A very wonderful, pure-blood girl, the daughter of my relative... This marriage will put an end to all the talk and strengthen our position..."
Regulus could barely breathe. A match. He had just turned sixteen, and they had already decided his fate. He hadn't even finished school. He was only in his sixth year, for Merlin's sake! But the worst was yet to come.
"...After the marriage, you will, of course, swear allegiance to the Dark Lord. You understand that this is our only way out..."
Regulus heard Dorcas gasp next to him.
No, he didn't understand. He didn't want to. His stomach twisted, and he felt tears welling up in his eyes. He couldn't let this happen. Not here, in the Great Hall. He stood up abruptly, almost staggering, and the pudding he had just eaten tasted as bitter as poison. He ran towards the doors, ignoring Barty who was trying to stop him.
Outside, in the cold corridor, he felt tears streaming down his cheeks. And the only thing he could do was run, run away from everything. He didn't know where, but he knew he needed someone who would understand. And he realized with horror that the only person he could turn to was Sirius.
Everything was a blur until he reached the Gryffindor Tower. He stopped in front of the portrait. Regulus didn't know the password, and there were no Gryffindors nearby who could let him in. He was acutely aware that he was from Slytherin, and that was a problem. Gryffindors hate Slytherins and Slytherins hate Gryffindors.
His only option was to wait for Sirius in the corridor, so he hid in a niche near the entrance to the tower. His hand still held the ill-fated letter. He sat there for about ten minutes until he heard heavy footsteps echoing in the empty corridors. Carefully peeking out of his hiding place, he saw Peter Pettigrew walking with his arms full of food. Regulus decided to try his luck and, coming out of the niche, called out to the boy.
“Pettigrew.”
Peter froze, then turned around.
“What do you want, Black?”
“I want to talk to Sirius,” he tried to sound confident but his voice trembled.
Peter must have noticed, because he looked at Regulus intently, then muttered something to himself.
“Sirius and James are picking up Remus from the hospital wing right now, but you can wait for him in our room,“ he said. “Come on.”
Peter said the password and led the younger Black through the, thank Merlin, empty common room to the Marauder's bedroom.
Regulus sat on the floor by Sirius's bed, his body tense and still. He stared into space, clutching the crumpled parchment tightly in his hands. The only thing that broke the silence in the room was Peter's clumsy fidgeting, who clearly didn't know how to act in this situation.
Suddenly, a muffled sob escaped from Regulus. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to hold back the tears, but they still streamed down his cheeks. He began to cry quietly, silently, his shoulders trembling.
Peter looked around, startled. He had never seen someone like Regulus Black show weakness. Always proud, always reserved. He quickly waved his wand to conjure a glass of water, then awkwardly handed it to the younger boy.
“Here, drink this. It will help,” he said, offering the glass.
Regulus took a few sips, but his tears didn't stop. Peter, hesitating, sat down next to him and carefully placed a hand on his shoulder.
At that moment, the bedroom door creaked open, and Sirius, Remus, and James entered the room. They froze in the doorway, seeing the unusual sight – Peter comforting a tearful Regulus.
Sirius was the first to recover from the shock. He took three long strides toward his brother and fell to his knees. “Regulus, what happened?”
“Sirius...” Regulus sobbed faintly and threw himself into his older brother's arms. Sirius blinked in stunned surprise for a few seconds, then hugged his brother back tightly. “What's wrong, petite étoile?” he whispered gently, and Regulus sobbed convulsively again at the sound of the long-forgotten childhood nickname.
They sat on the floor like that for a few minutes, hugging each other tightly, and then Regulus pulled away and with a trembling hand, handed Sirius the letter. Noticing the mixture of shock and curiosity on the other Marauder's faces, he mumbled quietly, “You can read it too.”
Sirius took the letter with trembling hands and began to read. James, Remus, and Peter peered over his shoulder to read it. With each word, Sirius grew angrier and angrier, and it seemed the other Marauders were losing their minds, too.
“That bitch,” Sirius snarled and threw the letter to the other side of the room.
He roughly ran a hand through his hair, then, hearing his brother's sob, he took a deep breath and softened a little.
“Reggie.”
“I don't want this, Siri,” Regulus sobbed. “I don't want to become a Death Eater.”
“I know, Reggie, I know,” Sirius whispered and hugged his brother tightly again, stroking his hair. “We won't let it happen. No way.”
Sirius lifted his head and turned to his friends.
“We have to do something,” he said, his voice sounding desperate. “We can't let them do this.”
Remus sat down next to Sirius and Regulus. “But what can we do? They can find him no matter where he is. Your parents...”
“I know,” Sirius replied.
“We can go to Dumbledore,”James began. “He...”
“He won't be able to do anything,”Regulus interrupted firmly. “It's a family matter. He has no right to interfere until they break the law. And marriage, even forced, isn't a violation if it's within a pure-blood family. This is the wizarding world; it's strange, and early marriage is unfortunately normal.”
Everything just seemed hopeless. The room was filled with oppressive silence until Peter exploded. “So what are we going to do?! I'm sure there's a way out. Why aren't we in the library looking for one?”
Sirius and James looked at their friend in surprise. They had never seen Peter so passionate and dedicated to something. Remus looked a little amused by his friend's state. “Calm down, Wormtail. When are you supposed to get married?”
“I'll meet her and get married during the Christmas holidays,” Regulus whispered.
The Christmas holidays. They had time but very little. Every minute was precious, and they had no idea what to do.
“Well, they can't marry you off if you're already married, can they?” Peter said unexpectedly again, and everyone stared at him in surprise.
“Wormtail, you're a genius! If I didn't have a boyfriend, I'd kiss you right now!” Sirius exclaimed.
“It won't work,” Regulus smirked. “I'm a minor, and I'll be marrying that girl with my parent's consent. And besides, who would I marry? It can't be Pandora or Dorcas, or any other girl, because I'm, kinda gay.” Regulus kept quiet about Dorcas being in deep, secret love with Marlene and Pandora also having her eyes on Xenophilius Lovegood.
“And it can't be Barty or Evan, because they're stupidly in love with each other. I can't trust anyone else.”
“I know one person I can trust with this,” Sirius said, and his voice sounded determined.
Immediately, all eyes were on James. He stood with his arms crossed, his face a mixture of shock and indecision.
“Me?!” James asked in surprise.
Sirius nodded. “You're the only person I can entrust my brother to, even if it's not a real marriage.”
James took a deep breath. He looked at Regulus, his eyes were hard to read but James could find a glimmer of hope in them.
“Alright, I agree,” he said quietly. “But how do we present this to people at Hogwarts? We've never been close before, and now suddenly, not just a relationship, but a marriage. Besides, Regulus is right, he's a minor.”
“Who cares what people say, Prongs,” Sirius scoffed. “As for the marriage, it's better to go to McGonagall and Dumbledore. But that will be tomorrow. For now, you'd better go rest, Reggie.”
Regulus nodded and, getting up from the floor, stopped in front of James. “Thank you... for the help, Potter. Really.”
James just gave him a reassuring smile in return, and Regulus, after saying goodbye to everyone, went to the dungeons to tell his friends about...
“MARRIAGE TO POTTER?!” Barty shrieked. "Reggie, have you lost your mind?"
“Quiet, Barty! Do you want the whole house to come running here?” Regulus hissed.
“Regulus, do you really think this will work?” Evan asked quietly. “You... well, you pretty much hated him until now.”
Regulus sighed wearily.
“I don't hate him. I just... I hate his idiotic jokes. But if this is the only way, I'll do it. Potter is better than incest and joining the Dark Lord.”
Barty and Evan exchanged glances, and Pandora, meanwhile, hugged him.
“Okay,” Barty said, his voice full of resolve. “We're with you.”
“We're with you, Reggie,” Dorcas repeated, and a mischievous gleam appeared in her eyes. “Besides, your marriage to Potter means we'll get to hang out with Gryffindors, and I can finally flirt shamelessly with Marlene.”
“Salazar, Dorcas, I'm tired of you and your stupid crush,” Regulus joked. “I hope your flirting is successful, and we won't have to listen to your whining anymore.”
At that moment, he got a pillow to the head.
***
October 21, 1977
James
James Potter never thought he would one day find himself in Professor Dumbledore's office, and in such company. His visits here were usually related to pranks or breaking rules, but today was different. Next to him stood Regulus Black — a person he didn't interact with very often, a person he might soon marry.
They were not alone. Sirius, as Regulus's brother and James's best friend, was there, his face tense. Behind him stood Remus, who was Sirius's pillar of support, and Peter, who was eagerly waiting for it all to be over. Behind Regulus were his friends, his support—Evan, Barty and Pandora.
James felt his heart pounding in his chest. They were here to talk about the letter, about the forced marriage, and joining the Dark Lord, and, most insane of all, to ask for help with a fake marriage that was meant to save Regulus.
James looked at Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, who were looking at them with a strange expression. Their eyes were wide with surprise. James realized this was one of the craziest ideas he had ever had. And he was ready to go through with it.
“I beg your pardon?” Minerva asked again, still looking at her students in shock. On the other hand, Dumbledore looked quite amused.
“You heard us, Minnie, we're not going to repeat ourselves,” Sirius replied irritably. “Will you help my brother or not?”
“Mr. Black, I understand that you're worried about your brother,” Dumbledore said gently. “But please, calm down. Sit down. All of you.”
Everyone sat. A silence fell over the room, filled only by the soft crackling of the fireplace. Dumbledore looked at Regulus, then shifted his gaze to James. Professor McGonagall's face was pale, and she looked at them with a mixture of shock and concern.
Finally, Dumbledore spoke again, his voice quiet and conspiratorial, as if he were revealing a secret.
“Mr. Potter, do you understand what you are asking?” he asked. “You are of age, but Mr. Black is not. Your request is very... dangerous.”
James's gaze met Regulus's.
Usually, Regulus Black carried himself regally, with his head held high and a cold, indifferent look. But that wasn't there now. There were tears in his eyes and his shoulders trembled almost imperceptibly. No one except Sirius had ever seen Regulus like this. The sight affected James much more deeply than he had expected.
“Yes, I understand,” James replied firmly. “I've been thinking about it all night, Professor. I know it's risky but I want to help.”
“Mr. Potter,” Dumbledore spoke, his voice serious. “I understand your noble purpose. But this is not just a matter of consent. It is a matter of magical law. Mr. Black is a minor. His parents...”
“We know,” Sirius interrupted, leaning forward. “We already discussed this. Their consent is what we're trying to circumvent.”
Dumbledore slowly nodded, his gaze sweeping over the faces of everyone present.
“Marriage in the wizarding world is a magical contract made between two souls. Usually, for minors, it requires parental consent. Without it, it would not be considered lawful. However,” Dumbledore continued, his eyes gleaming, “as Headmaster of Hogwarts and the one responsible for the safety of my students, I can act as an emergency magical guardian. There is no legal precedent for this. It's my personal responsibility.”
“This could cost you your freedom, Albus!” Minerva exclaimed.
“Perhaps, Minerva,” Dumbledore replied softly. “But with our inaction, we will lose Mr. Black's life.”
He looked at James and Regulus again.
“We can enter into a magical marriage contract that will have full force. We will enter into it immediately, and it will be registered with the Ministry under a secret decree. Rumors will still reach your parents, Mr. Black. But by the time that happens, your marriage will be a done deal. It will be impossible to annul. This is the only way for you, Mr. Potter, to enter into a marriage with a minor.”
“And we must do it immediately,” Dumbledore added, looking at the clock. “Tonight.”
The tension in the room disappeared, replaced by a mixture of surprise and relief. A plan that had seemed impossible suddenly became a reality.
***
Regulus
Regulus slipped out of the dungeons, carefully looking around to make sure none of his classmates were following. He expected to have to walk alone, so he was surprised to see James and Sirius waiting for him by the entrance. They just nodded, and the three of them, treading quietly, headed toward Dumbledore's office. It was only a few minutes before midnight.
They walked in complete silence, not a word spoken. No one seemed to dare say anything. Finally, they reached the office, said the password, and entered. In the warm room, filled with the glow of the fireplace, Professor McGonagall and, to Regulus's dismay, Horace Slughorn were waiting for them. Regulus felt his stomach tighten. This stupid man always groveled before his parents, which meant his parents would know about everything by tomorrow morning.
But Regulus's attention was drawn to two other figures standing by the fireplace. His gaze stopped on them, and he saw their smiling faces, which were...
“Mum? Dad? What are you doing here?” James asked, throwing his arms around his parents.
“Well, son,” Euphemia said, her gentle smile illuminating her face. “When a letter arrived from Dumbledore today asking us to come to Hogwarts if possible, we thought you and Sirius were up to something again. Another one of your pranks. But when we arrived, he told us about the whole situation and about... the wedding.”
“And what do you think,” James asked carefully, not knowing what to expect.
"We think it's very kind and right of you. And we are very proud of you,” Fleamont replied softly, looking at his son with pride.
“Oh, and Regulus!” Euphemia exclaimed happily, “I'm so glad to meet you! Sirius has told us a lot about you. May I?” Euphemia opened her arms for a hug, asking for permission.
Regulus blinked, bewildered, then nodded uncertainly. The woman immediately pulled him into a hug. It was the first time anyone other than Sirius had hugged him with such warmth and tenderness. His body tensed, but instantly relaxed. It was so unlike the cold hugs he knew.
When Euphemia finally let him go, Fleamont shook his hand.
“It's a pleasure to meet you, Regulus.”
“You too, Mr. and Mrs. Potter,” Regulus replied, barely audible.
“You can just call us Euphemia and Fleamont, dear,” Euphemia said, pulling away from Sirius's embrace.
Regulus looked around. Dumbledore and McGonagall were smiling, Fleamont was talking to Sirius. Only Slughorn seemed not to understand what was happening.
“I beg your pardon, Professor Dumbledore but what is going on?” he asked.
“Oh, Horace, we're about to have a small wedding ceremony here," Dumbledore said cheerfully. “A student of your house, Regulus Black, is marrying Mr. Potter.”
“What?!” Slughorn's eyes bulged. “Is that even legal? My student is a minor! This cannot happen.”
“Don't you worry, my friend, I have it all handled,” Dumbledore winked. “Shall we begin?”
“Oh, wait, I brought something!” Euphemia remembered, her eyes lighting up. She pulled out two rings. “They're our family heirloom.”
Regulus gasped. He looked at the rings, unable to say a word. They were beautiful, but the weight of their meaning was unbearable.
“I... I can't,” Regulus mumbled, shaking his head. “It's... an heirloom. It's too valuable. I... I don't deserve it. This is just... an arrangement.”
“It's alright, dear,” Euphemia said, her voice soft and soothing. She walked up to him and gently placed her hand on his cheek. “They are ours, and we want them to be yours. You are going to be a part of our family, Regulus. That's why we're here.”
Fleamont walked up and put a hand on his shoulder. “We're giving you the family you deserve.”
The kindness in their words was so genuine that Regulus's eyes filled with tears again. It was as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He looked at Monty and Euphemia, then shifted his gaze to James, who was smiling warmly.
“So, shall we begin?” Dumbledore asked again.
The room fell silent, waiting for Regulus's answer. He took a deep breath, wiped his tears and looked at James.
“Yes,” he said, his voice full of a new courage. “Let's begin.”
Dumbledore smiled gently and began. “James Fleamont Potter,” his voice was solemn yet warm. “Do you take Regulus Arcturus Black to be your lawfully wedded husband, to cherish, love, and support, in sorrow and in joy, in sickness and in health, until magic do you part?”
James didn't take his eyes off Regulus.
“I do,” he answered firmly.
“Regulus Arcturus Black,“ Dumbledore continued. "Do you take James Fleamont Potter to be your lawfully wedded husband, to cherish, love and support, in sorrow and in joy, in sickness and in health, until magic do you part?”
Regulus looked at James, at his parents, at Sirius, who was beaming with pride. He thought about his life at home, the coldness and fear, and this new warmth that enveloped him here.
“I do,” his voice was quiet but resolute.
Euphemia came closer, holding the open box with the rings.
“Now, exchange the rings,” Dumbledore said.
James carefully took one of the rings, his hands trembling slightly. He lifted Regulus's hand and, looking him in the eyes, slowly slid it onto his ring finger. The moment the ring touched Regulus's skin, both boys felt a faint but warm flow of magic.
Then Regulus took the second ring. His hand was also trembling, but he did the same. When the ring was on James's finger, a soft golden light filled the room. It was like an invisible handshake between two souls that magic had joined.
“The magical contract is sealed,” Dumbledore said solemnly, his eyes smiling kindly. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mr. Potter.”
There was silence for a few seconds, and then Sirius began to clap. Slowly at first, then faster and louder. His eyes were filled with tears, and a smile was on his face. A smile reappeared on McGonagall's face, while Slughorn was still just blinking in confusion.
“I don't want to interrupt this wonderful event but as you know, classes are not canceled tomorrow,” Dumbledore said, looking at the clock. “It's time to get back to bed.”
Euphemia and Fleamont hugged James and Sirius, and then turned to Regulus. Euphemia took his face in her hands.
“Regulus, I would be very happy to see you at our house for Christmas,” she said. “We have a lot to talk about, and you're part of our family now. You will always be a welcome guest there.”
Her words were so sincere that Regulus almost cried. He just nodded.
Euphemia and Fleamont said goodbye to everyone and walked to the fireplace. James watched them disappear into it, then turned to Sirius and Regulus. “Go back to the tower, Sirius,” he said, knowing that his best friend wanted to return to his boyfriend's arms. “I'll walk Regulus to the dungeons.”
The corridors of Hogwarts were shrouded in the night's silence. The only sounds were the echo of their footsteps and, somewhere in the distance, the faint meowing of Mrs. Norris. They walked in silence, stealing glances at each other from time to time. Their new rings shone dimly in the light of the torches. After all the ceremony and emotion, the awkward silence seemed especially loud.
They stopped at the entrance to the Slytherin common room. Regulus shifted his weight awkwardly.
“Well, here we are,” he mumbled, looking at the stone wall.
“Yeah,” James replied just as awkwardly. “Well... see you tomorrow.”
Just as Regulus turned to go inside, James called after him.
“Regulus,” his voice was quiet but serious. “Do you regret it?”
Regulus stopped. Without turning his face to James, he said:
“Better to be married to you, Potter, than to have a marriage with some distant relative. See you tomorrow, Potter,” and he disappeared behind the stone wall.
Regulus quietly entered the Slytherin dorm. The room was dark, lit only by moonlight streaming through the window, and the silence was so profound that he could hear the echo of his footsteps. On the beds closest to the window, two people were awake. Evan and Barty were sitting, talking quietly. They had been waiting for him.
“Well, how did it go?” Evan asked quietly, noticing him.
Barty, as always, was more impatient. He sat up, and his eyes lit up.
“Tell us everything!”
Regulus silently sat on his bed, as if he had just returned from another world. He held up his hand, and in the dim light of the dorm, the ring on his finger glinted.
Evan and Barty, seeing it, smiled widely.
“He did it! He actually did it,” Evan whispered softly, and Barty jumped up and squeezed his shoulder.
“And? What was it like?”
“It was strange,” Regulus admitted. “Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Slughorn were there.”
Evan and Barty's eyebrows furrowed.
“Slughorn? Why?” Evan mumbled.
“I don't know. Maybe because he's my Head of House,” Regulus shrugged, trying not to remember how Slughorn had tried to stop it all. “But... James's parents were there, too.”
A mixture of surprise appeared on Evan and Barty's faces. This was much more unexpected news than the marriage itself.
“Potter's parents?” Barty asked in astonishment.
“They were in on it. They brought...” Regulus paused for a moment. “They brought these rings. Family heirlooms. And they... they were so kind, they invited me to their house. For Christmas,” Regulus said quietly.
Evan smiled. “Well, that's good, isn't it?”
“Yes, it's good,” Regulus replied, and a corner of his lips turned up.
***
October 22, 1977
James
The next morning, walking to breakfast with his friends through the crowded corridors, James immediately felt curious stares and heard whispers. This could only mean one thing —Hogwarts knew.
“How the hell did they find out?” James hissed into Peter's ear. Ahead of them, Sirius, Remus, and Marlene were laughing at a joke. “It's barely eight in the morning!”
“We can ask Barty and Evan,” Pettigrew nodded toward Regulus's friends, who were standing nervously near the entrance to the Great Hall. “They look nervous; maybe they know something.”
They walked closer, and Barty, without greeting them, immediately said:
“The Slytherins already know.”
“But how?” Sirius asked, gesturing for Remus, Marlene, and Peter to go on without them.
Evan sighed, looking at Barty.
“Slughorn,” he began, his voice filled with contempt. “He was too happy with the gossip. He told to our Head Boy, and he carried the news to the common room.”
“Is Regulus already at breakfast?” James asked.
“No, he's still in the dorm,” Evan replied.
Sirius pressed his lips together, barely containing his anger but James put a hand on his shoulder.
“Go have breakfast, guys,” he said, looking at them. “I'll wait for him here.”
They left, and James hid in a small niche near the Great Hall. A few minutes passed, and then Regulus finally appeared with Dorcas Meadowes. Regulus tried to walk calmly, as always, but James could see how tense his shoulders were and how he was trying to ignore the stares.
When they got closer, James stepped out of the niche.
“Hi.”
Regulus stopped. Dorcas looked at both of them intently, then nodded and left, leaving them alone.
“Hi, Potter,” Regulus replied.
“How are you doing?” James asked, his voice sincere.
Regulus flinched and shrugged.
“Okay. The gossip, as you can see, spread faster than I thought,” Regulus scoffed but when James held out his hand, his expression softened.
“So, are you coming, husband?”
Regulus blinked. Then he uncertainly took James's hand, which was warm and firm.
“Yeah, I'm coming, husband,” Regulus replied with a slight mockery, letting James pull him toward the doors.
They entered the Great Hall together, and it seemed as though all conversation stopped at once. Dozens of eyes were on them. James acted as if nothing had happened. He smiled gently, kissed Regulus on the temple, and whispered:
“Bon appétit, love. Have a good day.”
Then he walked to the Gryffindor table, where all his friends started cheering happily.
“Well, that was sweet,” Lily said, looking at James with surprise and admiration, and all the other seventh-years agreed with her.
The whole time he ate, James's gaze didn't leave Regulus on the other side of the hall. Evan, Dorcas, and Barty seemed to be trying to distract him, but the other Slytherins were looking at Regulus with malice. Then James and Regulus's eyes met, and James subtly mouthed, “It's going to be okay, Reggie.” He laughed when Regulus scowled a little at the nickname.
Throughout the day, the whispers, stares, and pointing became much more intense than in the morning. Honestly, James even found it a little funny, but he was a bit worried about Regulus and hoped that Evan and Barty were looking after him.
While the students whispered and gossiped, the professors were calm, only Slughorn in Potions class just stared at James, and then, after Defense Against the Dark Arts class, as James was walking to lunch with Remus, a Ravenclaw seventh-year dared to walk up and ask directly, “I'm sorry, I don't mean to be nosy, but... is it true that you're married to the younger Black?”
To which James answered clearly:
“Yes, it's true. And he's a Potter now.”
He watched her walk away in surprise. James felt he needed to see Regulus to make sure he was okay. As soon as Professor Binns finished his boring History of Magic lecture, James immediately left the classroom, stuffing his things into his bag as he went. Sirius had said that Regulus's last class was Potions, so he quickly ran to the dungeons. He was glad when he met Regulus and Evan halfway.
“Oh, here comes your husband, Reg,” Evan said with a smile.
For which he immediately received a punch on the shoulder from Regulus.
“Alright, alright, I'll leave you two alone,” Evan smiled again. “Barty is waiting for me.”
When Evan left, James carefully examined Regulus. His hair was disheveled, and his eyes were tired. It seemed like he was at his breaking point.
“How are you?” James asked cautiously.
The younger boy just groaned, which amused James. He laughed and asked, “Want to go for a walk?”
And he held out his hand again.
Regulus looked at James's outstretched hand, then at his face, where there was nothing but genuine concern. After a long, stressful day filled with whispers and stares, this hand was the only thing that felt real. He took a deep breath, let go of his hesitation, and hesitantly took James's hand.
His fingers carefully intertwined with James's. Regulus didn't know what it felt like, but it was warm and comfortable. They walked, slowly making their way through the corridors to the main entrance. Regulus could feel people looking at him again, but this time, James was by his side. It gave him courage. They walked in silence until they stepped outside, where the air was cool and fresh. James led Regulus toward the Black Lake. They stepped off the rocky path onto the soft grass and walked to one of the benches near the shore. The lake sparkled calmly in the evening light, reflecting the pink hues of the sunset. They sat next to each other in silence.
"How are you really feeling?" James asked quietly, turning to him.
***
Regulus
Regulus's day was filled with endless whispers and stares, which were much worse than ever before. In the corridors, he could feel the Slytherins pointedly turning away when he passed by, their looks filled with hatred. No one said anything to his face but the silent contempt was unbearable.
In Potions class, Regulus was slightly late. When he entered, Professor Slughorn stopped mid-sentence and his face contorted into a grimace of confusion. “Oh, Mr. Blac—” he stopped, his eyes darting. “Potter, you've finally graced us with your presence.”
He wasn't angry, just confused, and Regulus realized that his new status had put Slughorn in an awkward position. After all his classes, Regulus felt exhausted. He was so tired he just wanted to fall into bed and forget everything. He was heading to the dungeons with Evan when he met James.
And now they were sitting together on a bench by the Black Lake, warmed by a heating charm. They were eating sweets that James had secretly taken from the Great Hall. Regulus didn't talk about how the Slytherins had treated him all day; instead, he complained about Slughorn.
“And he called me Mr. Potter! In front of the whole class.”
“Well, you are Mr. Potter,” James remarked, smiling.
“Yes, but you don't have to emphasize it so much,” Regulus replied, wincing.
“Slughorn was staring at me all class too. And a Ravenclaw girl even asked me directly if it was true that we were married. Let them gossip. Let them stare. The more they get mad, the more they get used to it.”
When James said that, Regulus suddenly sat up straight, then bent over sharply, grabbing his head. He let out a low, painful moan that turned into a stifled scream.
“Regulus?” James called out, confused.
Regulus didn't answer and only bent over more. A strong pain coursed through his entire body, a pain unlike any injury or spell. It was like a river of fire in his veins, his bones were burning, a magical storm was tearing him apart from the inside, and every cell of his body was screaming.
Then, gradually, the pain began to subside. Regulus was breathing heavily, his body trembling. James slid off the bench and knelt in front of Regulus, taking both of his hands in his own.
“Regulus, should I call Madam Pomfrey?” James asked, his voice filled with panic.
Regulus just shook his head. He was breathing heavily, his eyes filled with tears. When it was all over, James was still holding his hands in his.
“What was that?” he whispered.
“That was a message from my mother,” Regulus replied in a hollow voice. “I've been burned off the family tapestry. Just like they did with Sirius.”
“Did Sirius feel that too?” James asked.
“Yes, but probably not as much as I did. When he was burned off, he had other painful injuries that overshadowed it,” Regulus explained. “It's a family curse. Everyone who is disowned by the Black family feels it. So, I've been disowned.”
“Do you want to see Sirius?” James asked, his voice quiet but determined.
Regulus nodded.
“Then let's go,” James stood up. “You can even stay overnight if you want. Sirius has been sleeping in Remus's bed since the beginning of the year, so his bed is free.”
When they entered the common room, only the seventh-year students were there. Lily, probably acting as Head Girl, had sent the younger students to their rooms, and as a result, the room had a quiet, cozy atmosphere. Lily herself was sitting on the floor, with her back to Mary, who was sitting in a red armchair and braiding Lily's hair. Sirius was lying on Remus's lap while he read a book. Peter was playing magical chess with Marlene.
But when James came in with a disheveled Regulus, Sirius immediately jumped up from his boyfriend's lap, panic in his eyes.
“Regulus, what happened?” he exclaimed, his voice filled with alarm.
Regulus looked at his older brother, then said carefully, “I've been disowned, Sirius. I felt it.”
Sirius lunged forward, hugging his younger brother tightly. They stood like that for a few minutes, and it seemed like the whole world had stopped.
“Sleep, Siri?” Regulus asked, his voice so quiet that James could barely hear it. Sirius replied softly:
“Yes, let's go to bed, mon étoile.”
Everyone watched in silence as the brothers carefully climbed the stairs to the dormitories. Sirius was whispering something gently into Regulus's ear. About an hour later, when James, Remus, and Peter went up to their room, they saw the two brothers sleeping in each other's arms.
Notes:
English is not my native language so I apologize for any mistakes.
Chapter 2
Summary:
“Ah, my little brother!” Sirius exclaimed, walking up to him with a smile. “Came to wish us luck?”
“Well, I'd be a terrible husband and brother if I didn't, wouldn't I?” Regulus replied with sarcasm
*
Well, it's time for me to go,” James said, and Regulus just nodded. He took a few steps toward James, quickly kissed him on the cheek, and said, “Good luck, Potter.”He turned and ran to the stands, leaving James in a daze. James's hand unconsciously rose to his cheek, where Regulus's lips had just been, feeling the warmth.
Chapter Text
October 30, 1977
A week had passed.
Hogwarts was slowly starting to get used to their marriage. The students curiosity was already fading, and everything was slowly becoming normal.
As for Regulus's parents, two days after he was disowned, he received a letter. But he didn't get to read it because Dorcas snatched it out of his hands without a word and burned it right at the lunch table.
Things with the Slytherins hadn't improved. He was still ignored, and he heard himself being called a blood traitor. And he had even been kicked off the Quidditch team.
This happened when Regulus was walking around the Hogwarts grounds with James, Dorcas, and Marlene. The girls wanted to get to know each other better but were shy about being alone, so Dorcas invited Regulus, and Marlene invited James. They walked a little ahead, their voices soft, while James and Regulus walked behind them. When they reached the Black Lake, Mulciber blocked their way. His face was filled with contempt.
“Well, look what we have here, the blood traitor,” he said, looking at Regulus.
“Shut up,” James hissed rudely, his hand already ready to pull out his wand.
“I came to tell you that you've been kicked off the team,” Mulciber said, ignoring James.
Regulus froze. He lived for quidditch. He loved to fly. And now he was being kicked out?
“That's nonsense!” Marlene said, her face red with anger. “Regulus is the best Seeker Slytherin has ever had!”
“I don't want a blood traitor on my team,” Mulciber hissed.
“If it weren't for Regulus, Slytherin wouldn't have won the first match of the year in September against Ravenclaw,” James said, looking at Mulciber.
Mulciber didn't say anything to that; he just looked at Regulus with hatred and then left.
This was his new reality— a reality where he was caught between two worlds. Regulus lived between two houses. He stayed in the Gryffindor tower in Sirius's bed more often than in his own Slytherin dorm, and some of his things were in the Marauders' bedroom.
But Regulus didn't complain, because he had found new friends. Add four Slytherins and one Ravenclaw to seven Gryffindors, and you get an explosive mix.
The younger Regulus wouldn't have liked such a loud, crazy crowd but the older Regulus, on the contrary, enjoyed it. Everyone found common ground. Regulus became friends with Remus and Lily, and they loved to discuss books together. Sirius and James liked the company of Evan and Barty, Dorcas and Marlene flirted all the time and Mary, Peter, and Pandora were always discussing something about herbology.
It was a new world for Regulus, a world where he was accepted.
So, as a whole group, they ended up in the library.
They had to push two tables together so everyone could fit, and they promised the strict Madam Pince that they would put everything back when they left. They studied diligently, but sometimes someone would say something funny, and then everyone would start laughing loudly. The other students looked at them disapprovingly, and Madam Pince said that if she had to come to their table with a warning one more time, she would kick them out.
Regulus was writing an essay for transfiguration —not his favorite subject. For some reason, he found this subject difficult, even though Professor McGonagall always explained everything clearly. So James would sometimes get distracted from his arithmancy homework and explain the material to Regulus.
They sat like that for hours until Sirius closed his potions book and said:
“Prongs, isn't it time for us to go to quidditch practice?”
James looked at the large clock on the wall.
“Yeah, it is,” he said, carefully patting Marlene on the shoulder. “Let's go, Marlene. We need to practice if we want to win tomorrow's match against Hufflepuff.”
Sirius, Marlene and James quickly gathered their things. Before he left, James kissed Regulus on the top of his head.
“See you, Reg,” he said.
A second-year Gryffindor girl sitting at a table a little further away with her friend squealed, “How cute!”
Regulus blushed a little.
After James, Sirius and Marlene left, the library became much quieter. However, it didn't last long.
“I'm leaving,” Dorcas said, closing her book. She smiled, and Regulus, who knew her so well by now, realized she was going to the stands to stare at Marlene. “Mary, Pandora, do you want to come with me?”
“Yes!” Mary exclaimed happily. She must have been really tired of studying. Soon, Barty got up, stretched, and looked intently at Evan. Evan looked back at him and smiled slyly.
“It's our time too,” Barty said, winking at Regulus, who grimaced. He knew they were going to find a cozy broom cupboard to fuck around in.
Ew
Later, Lily also got up from her seat. “It's my turn to do the prefect rounds,” she said wearily.
Regulus nodded and, looking at Lily, thought that she would definitely find Barty and Evan in one of the cupboards. So, Remus and Regulus were left alone. They studied for about another thirty minutes, and the silence between them was quite comfortable. Then Remus slammed his textbook shut and, sighing, said, “I need to have a cigarette.”
He began to pack up his things, then stopped, looked intently at Regulus, and asked, “Want to come with me?”
Regulus agreed. Together, they moved the tables and benches back to their places. As they were leaving the library, Remus reached into his bag and pulled out a chocolate bar, which he handed to the librarian.
“This is for you,” he said. “Sorry for the noise.”
Madam Pince softened a little and, smiling, took the chocolate.
They left the library, then the castle itself, and headed toward the quidditch pitch. The Gryffindor team's practice was still going on. They joined Dorcas, Mary, and Pandora in the stands. Remus took a pack of cigarettes out of his bag and offered them to Dorcas and Regulus.
They sat in the stands and smoked, watching the Gryffindor team practice. The pitch was lit by magic, and players in red robes darted across it in bright flashes. James, as captain, was at the center of the action, running his team, making them practice complex maneuvers.
“It's cool that the match is tomorrow, on Halloween,”Dorcas said, exhaling smoke happily. Her eyes sparkled as she watched Marlene. “That hasn't happened before.”
“It's insane,” Remus laughed, looking at James, who was running his team, “Look at him, he's crazy. James is really taking this very seriously.”
They watched the Gryffindors practice. James flew with incredible speed, his movements were fluid, and his voice could be heard across the pitch as he gave instructions.
Soon, practice ended. The players landed, exhausted but satisfied. As they began to climb into the stands, Remus took out another cigarette for himself, and Regulus held out his hand.
“Can I have another one?” he asked.
He took a drag, just as he heard Sirius's playful voice.
“Teaching my brother to smoke, Moony?”
Sirius leaned over, kissed Remus on the neck and sat down next to him. Remus handed him the pack of cigarettes, and Sirius took one. Marlene also took one.
On the other side, James looked at Regulus, who was taking another drag, and, laughing, snatched the cigarette from his hands. Regulus frowned in displeasure, but James only laughed in response and took a drag himself.
"He has a beautiful laugh," Regulus thought. His heart filled with a strange, warm feeling.
They sat in the stands, laughing and enjoying the peace for another half hour, until the cold air began to get to their bones and the twilight reminded them that curfew was approaching. Eventually, they decided it was time to return to their dorms.
***
October 31, 1977
James
The morning of Halloween arrived, bringing not only fresh, cold air but also a nervous tension that could be felt throughout the castle.
The Great Hall was already adorned with festive decorations — pumpkin lanterns and bats flying under the ceiling but James paid no attention to them. His thoughts were far away, on the Quidditch pitch. Today, Gryffindor was to play Hufflepuff and the fate of the entire season depended on this match. If they won, they would advance to the final, where they would meet Slytherin, and James would get a chance to win the Cup.
James felt a terrible anxiety that kept him from eating. He just stirred his oatmeal with a spoon, staring into space. Sirius and Marlene sat nearby, looking excited but not nervous. They were eating with appetite, laughing, and discussing strategy, until Sirius noticed that James wasn't eating and patted him on the shoulder.
“Don't worry, Prongs,” he said. “You're the best captain we've ever had. We're going to win.”
James only nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on the plate, and his thoughts were far away.
Later, in transfiguration class, when Professor McGonagall was explaining a complex topic, James was looking out the window. He didn't hear her words, only felt the cold wind that seemed to come directly from the quidditch pitch. His thoughts were far from the classroom — he imagined himself in the air, felt the wind whistling in his ears and saw a golden snitch gleaming somewhere nearby. On his parchment, instead of notes, he was unconsciously drawing flight strategies.
“Mr. Potter,” Professor McGonagall's sharp voice cut through his thoughts. “Are you not interested in our topic today?”
James immediately blushed, his cheeks flushed. “I'm sorry, Professor.”
“Are you with us, or are you already on your broom?”
“With you, Professor,” James mumbled, feeling the eyes of the whole class on him. He forced himself to focus but it was no use. This was his last chance to win the Cup, and he felt the pressure suffocating him.
In potions class, it was no better. When Professor Slughorn disappeared into his storeroom, James, who was paired with Remus, stopped stirring his potion. He stared into space, his hand frozen in the air. The potion, which was supposed to turn blue, began to darken, giving off smoke.
“James,” Remus whispered, gently touching his shoulder. “You almost ruined it.”
James snapped out of it. “Sorry, Moony.”
“It's okay,” Remus said, smiling kindly, “ I'll finish it myself.”
James took a step back, his face red with shame. He couldn't focus on the simplest things, and it frustrated him.
This continued all day until it was time to go to the locker room to get ready for the match. The atmosphere in the locker room was loud and chaotic but it was a perfect chaos. The team was making noise, exchanging last-minute jokes and gossip, pulling on their uniforms, and checking their brooms. This was the place where all nervousness dissipated into the general noise.
James stood, looking at his teammates. He felt his own tension dissipate, replaced by a sense of determination. He allowed himself to take a deep breath, and then stepped into the center of the room. The team immediately fell silent, all eyes fixed on their captain.
“Alright, team,” James said, his voice resolute. "I'm not going to talk about the Cup or the fact that for most of us, this is our last year. Today, we're not here for that. Today, we're here to play. To play for fun. To play as one team. Let's just go out there and show them what we're made of. GRYFFINDOR!”James shouted, raising his fist in the air.
“GRYFFINDOR!” the team roared back, their voices filling the whole room.
One by one, they began to leave the locker room, radiating confidence. James and Sirius were the last to go.
“Potter,” Frank Longbottom's voice rang out. “Your husband is here.”
James turned around and his gaze indeed fell on Regulus, who was casually leaning against the locker room wall, arms crossed over his chest.
“Ah, my little brother!” Sirius exclaimed, walking up to him with a smile. “Came to wish us luck?”
“Well, I'd be a terrible husband and brother if I didn't, wouldn't I?” Regulus replied with sarcasm. He pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Sirius. “Remus gave this to you. He's already in the stands with Lily and Peter.”
Sirius carefully unfolded the note, his eyes quickly scanning the text. He blushed, muttered something, folded the paper, and, without another word, quickly headed toward the team, hiding a smile.
“Do you think Remus wrote something... inappropriate?” Regulus asked, raising his eyebrows, and James burst out laughing.
“One hundred percent,” James replied.
Regulus also started laughing. Their laughter filled the space, creating a bubble of silence around them. When they stopped laughing, Regulus was looking at James, who was looking at him, still smiling.
They stared at each other until their moment was interrupted by Marlene's piercing scream:
“WHERE THE HELL IS POTTER?”
„Well, it's time for me to go,” James said, and Regulus just nodded. He took a few steps toward James, quickly kissed him on the cheek, and said, “Good luck, Potter.”
He turned and ran to the stands, leaving James in a daze. James's hand unconsciously rose to his cheek, where Regulus's lips had just been, feeling the warmth.
“POTTER, HURRY UP,” Marlene yelled again.
James shook himself out of his stupor and rushed to the team.
***
Regulus
"Idiot, idiot, idiot," pulsed in Regulus's head as he ran to the stands. His cheeks were burning, and his heart was pounding wildly. He didn't know why he did it; truly, no one was around... but he just felt compelled to. Some force he couldn't explain made him take that impulsive step and kiss James Potter.
He finally reached the stands, where his friends were already waiting for him.
“Regulus, are you okay?” Pandora asked, noticing his shortness of breath and flushed face.
“Yeah, I'm fine,” Regulus replied, trying to normalize his breathing.
At that moment, the teams were already starting to appear on the field, and the commentator, Ravenclaw Benjy Fenwick, began his commentary.
The stands erupted in a roar as the teams took to the air. From his seat, Regulus watched James. The nervousness that Regulus had noticed at breakfast that morning had vanished without a trace. James was in his element. He flew with incredible grace, his movements so free, so natural, that Regulus felt a slight pang of envy. He still had memories of what it was like to be part of a team.
The game had been going on for almost an hour, and Gryffindor was in the lead.
“James Potter has spotted the Snitch,” Benjy's voice rang out, and Regulus watched as James shot forward, followed like a shadow by the Hufflepuff Seeker. They disappeared for a moment, then reappeared, plummeting. Regulus saw James's hand stretch forward, his fingers closing around something golden that glinted in the sunlight.
Regulus held his breath. His eyes were fixed on James, who held up his hand, clutching the Snitch. James circled the stadium, greeting the crowd, but then, as if by a call from his heart, his gaze swept toward the stands, looking for Regulus. Their eyes met. James smiled and Regulus felt his own heart fill with warmth.
The whistle blew. And thousands of voices erupted in a roar.
“JAMES POTTER HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH. GRYFFINDOR WINS WITH A SCORE OF 250 TO 100!”
Dorcas tugged on his robe, and Regulus, tearing his gaze away from James, let himself be pulled. The noise was deafening and the crowd was dense. Students poured down the stands, cheering for the winning team. Regulus tried not to get lost in the sea of people, following Dorcas. She pulled him through the crowd, pushing through the noise, until she spotted Marlene.
She suddenly shouted her name, let go of Regulus's hand and ran to her, leaving him in the middle of the crowd. Next to him, like a bolt of lightning, Sirius sped past, throwing himself onto his boyfriend. Remus hugged him tightly, then began to kiss Sirius all over his face, as if trying to reward him for the victory. Regulus watched them, and his lips involuntarily stretched into a smile. He was glad his brother was so happy.
Regulus scanned the crowd, looking for James. He pushed his way forward, ignoring the surrounding noise, until his carelessness caused him to bump into someone's broad shoulder.
“Sorry,” Regulus mumbled, lifting his head.
And he saw James. His hair was disheveled and stuck to his forehead, his cheeks were flushed from the cold and wind, and his smile was so wide and genuine that it seemed like the brightest light at this celebration.
“Congratulations,” Regulus said, feeling his cheeks begin to burn. “That was a great game, truly.”
James's smile widened even more, and, without saying a word, he took a small golden snitch from the pocket of his red robe. He held it out to Regulus.
“This is for you, Reg.”
Regulus's heart hammered. He carefully took the snitch and felt its weight in his palm. It was just a snitch. He had caught enough of them himself not to consider this special. But why did it feel so good? And why were his cheeks burning so much? He couldn't understand what was happening to him.
At that moment, Frank Longbottom's loud voice rang out,“JUST KISS ALREADY.”
Regulus froze and blinked. James's smile faded a little but he seemed to immediately understand Regulus's discomfort. James held out his arms and hugged him tightly, pressing him against himself. Regulus, relieved, rested his head on James's shoulder, hiding from curious eyes.
“My husband and I will kiss in private,” James replied loudly and playfully.
Regulus held his breath, burying his face in James's shoulder. He could feel James's hot, damp clothes and the smell of wood mixed with sweat and James's cologne. While the crowd roared around them, there was a wonderful silence in their bubble. Regulus felt his heartbeat calm down, and the tension that had appeared after Frank's words instantly vanished. It was amazing how James, without knowing his feelings, sensed his discomfort and, by hugging him, protected him from the whole world.
Regulus lifted his head, and James smiled at him, his eyes radiating warmth. “I have to go change,” he whispered. “But I'll find you after.”
He let go of Regulus and, with one last look, headed for the locker rooms, leaving him in the middle of the celebratory crowd until someone bumped into him.
“Did you see that, did you see?!” Barty exclaimed, his face shining with joy. “Damn, that was one of the best games I've ever seen! I can't wait for their game against Slytherin. Don't let the other Slytherins hear this but I hope Potter and the Gryffindors win that damned Cup and wipe that smug look off Mulciber's face.”
Regulus smiled. His cheeks were still burning, and for the first time, he wanted Slytherin to lose the next match.
***
James
If you ask James Potter when he started looking for Regulus Black in the crowded school corridors, James would definitely say — in his sixth year.
He returned to his sixth year at Hogwarts with only one, very important goal — to finally win over Lily Evans and prove to her that he had changed. And it seemed he was succeeding. He became a Prefect, which meant he had become responsible. The pranks were much less frequent than usual, as he tried to focus on his studies and duties. Peter followed him around, while Sirius and Remus were sorting out their very personal drama. James had truly changed but he kept getting rejected by Lily Evans again and again.
Until one day.
It was a Halloween party in his sixth year, and it was in full swing. Music was blaring and the air was filled with the smell of Firewhisky and other alcohol. Feeling the need for a break from the loud music, James walked out of the common room and stumbled upon Lily, who was sitting on the floor right by the common room entrance, crying quietly.
“Lily, are you okay?” James asked, sitting down at a respectable distance. He didn't want to get another slap, thank you very much.
Lily sniffled, blowing her nose. “No, I'm not okay.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” James tried to speak as carefully as possible.
She was silent for a few seconds, then lifted her head.
“You've really changed a lot, Potter.”
“Thanks, I guess?” James chuckled nervously.
“I'm really sorry I can't return your feelings now that you seem to have really grown up,” her words were slow, with pauses, and James realized she was a little drunk. “And it's not about you, James.”
“I don't understand, Lily.”
“I... James, I think I'm a lesbian. You're the first person I've come out to.”
OH
OKAY
“Lily,” he breathed out, “I... I'm so glad you trusted me with that, and I... I... I'm bisexual, by the way.”
Her eyes widened.
“Does anyone know? I've never heard that.”
“Well, my parents know, Sirius, Remus, and Peter do too. I don't hide it.”
“Have you ever been with a man?” Lily asked.
James blushed a little, remembering his little summer fling. “Yes,” James replied.
Lily just nodded her head.
“What's it like, coming out to your parents?”
“Well, it was a little scary but they accepted me without any doubt. They love me for who I am.”
Silence fell again, and then James smiled broadly.
“So, do you have a crush, Evans?”
Lily blushed and stammered. “Well... maybe...”
“And who is it? Come on, Lily! You owe me a little for all those years of rude rejections and slaps,” he joked.
“It's Mary,” she whispered.
James smiled even wider. And, sitting so friendly with Lily, discussing her crush on Mary, James didn't feel disappointed or hurt. For some reason, he felt relieved, as if a stone he had been carrying his whole life had finally fallen from his shoulders.
But then Regulus Black happens.
Actually, it all started with Sirius constantly complaining about his brother. After running away from the house at 12 Grimmauld Place, their relationship became strained, and their arguments escalated into a real feud. It was a constant conflict that eventually resulted in an open fight, after which they completely ignored each other. However, James started noticing Regulus's black curls everywhere: in the crowded corridors, on the Quidditch pitch, in the Great Hall, and even at Prefect meetings, because, of course, little Black became a Prefect in his fifth year.
James couldn't help but look at him. Always, from every corner, he would catch his gaze. All he could do was just watch from afar. He never hated Regulus, just like Sirius, who, despite all his drama, never hated his little brother. James was glad when on a warm May day, the Black brothers finally started to mend their relationship, and James no longer had to pretend to hate Regulus.
They weren't friends, of course. When they met in the corridor, they would just nod at each other, and there was no tension, just a quiet, calm acknowledgment. It was more than simple politeness and less than friendship. It was a truce that was slowly turning into something new, something that didn't have a name yet. This silent acknowledgment of each other's existence eventually led them to today.
Instead of a loud victory party, the Gryffindors decided to have a cozy get-together. They settled on the sofas and armchairs, their feet propped up on the tables. Quiet music from Remus's records played from a magical gramophone by the fireplace. The air was filled with the pleasant scent of butterbeer and sweets. Most of the seventh-year students were in the common room, along with a few fifth and sixth-year students who were talking quietly.
James sat in a soft armchair by the fireplace, smiling. The whole common room was in a relaxed atmosphere, but he was only looking at one corner of the room. There, Regulus was sitting on a sofa, shaking his head and laughing while Marlene painted his nails with bright green polish.
James was so engrossed in his observation that he didn't even notice Lily slide past and quietly sit on the armrest of his chair.
“Regulus looks happier than last year, doesn't he?” she whispered, smiling, her gaze as warm as his.
“Yeah,” James replied, his voice full of warmth.
Lily nodded. She opened her mouth as if to say something but then changed her mind and closed it again, leaving an unspoken question in the air.
“How are things with Mary?” James asked.
The delight in Lily's eyes faded, and she slumped a little.
“Perfect! I introduced her to my parents this summer, and they just adore her. She had a wonderful time.”
“That's great,” James was genuinely happy for her. “How... how did Petunia react?”
The delight in Lily's eyes faded and she slumped a little.
“She wasn't there when Mary and I visited. Mum said she was with her new boyfriend.”
James just nodded, his smile sympathetic. He placed his hand on her shoulder, showing his support. But their conversation was interrupted by a loud shout “Lily, your turn.”
Lily laughed, jumped off the armchair and hurried over to her friends to get her nails painted too.
James's gaze swept across the common room, looking for the familiar dark curls again but Regulus was no longer on that sofa. James blinked, surprised that he had lost sight of him. At that very moment, he felt someone's hand on his right shoulder. He flinched a little; his shoulder was still a bit sore from the match.
“Sorry,” he heard Regulus's quiet voice, and the hand immediately disappeared as if it had been burned. “I didn't mean to scare you.”
“No, you didn't scared me,” James replied, relaxing. “I think I just pulled my shoulder a bit.”
Silence fell, but only for a moment. Then James felt two hands uncertainly touch his shoulders and begin to gently massage the muscles. He tensed for a split second, not expecting that from Regulus, but the pain receded under his skillful, thin fingers, and he completely relaxed, closing his eyes. They were silent, just enjoying the common room's atmosphere. Peter and Mary were engrossed in a game of magical chess, Remus, with Sirius on his lap, was telling a story, and Marlene, who was painting Lily's nails, was laughing.
“So, Hogsmeade tomorrow?” James asked quietly.
Regulus hummed a quiet response, continuing to massage his shoulders.
“Do you want to go with me?”
“We're all going. We agreed to meet at the Three Broomsticks, didn't we?” Regulus asked.
“Well, yeah, but everyone has their own plans before that. I thought... Maybe you want to take a walk with me? If you don't have plans, of course. I need to buy some things for Sirius's birthday party on Monday. I'd take Peter, but he finally asked that Hufflepuff girl out on a date for tomorrow, and she said yes.”
“Really?” came Regulus's shocked voice, and James threw his head back to look at him.
“Yeah, really. I also lost a bet and now I owe Dorcas ten Galleons. So, will you go with me?”
Regulus smiled at the corner of his lips.
“Yes.”
***
If you ask Regulus Potter (Black) when he started to notice James Potter, he would answer — from his first year at Hogwarts.
Because he was James Potter and it was impossible not to notice him. He was everywhere, in every corner of the castle. His loud, infectious laugh could be heard all down the corridor, and his new pranks, which were constantly talked about, seemed to appear daily.
Regulus found out about James from the first letter from Sirius from Hogwarts. In it, Sirius seemed truly happy for the first time and his happiness had the face of his new best friend, James.
They first met on the train. Regulus had just taken an empty compartment, trying to seclude himself from the noise and chaos of others but it didn't help much. He hadn't even sat down when the door opened, and a shining smile appeared in the doorway.
“So you're Sirius's little brother, aren't you?” a cheerful voice asked.
James stood there, smiling. His smile was so wide and genuine that it seemed to light up the entire corridor. His hair was disheveled and his eyes radiated a warmth that Regulus had almost never seen in his life. Regulus's legs felt a little weak.
“James Potter,” he said, smiling even wider.
“Regulus Black,” Regulus replied, looking into those curious brown eyes. His heart beat faster, and he felt his own inner wall of ice begin to melt.
Those eyes haunted him forever.
“So you're going to Hogsmeade with Potter?” Barty asked. He was lying sprawled out on his bed with a cunning glint in his eyes, watching Regulus get ready in a hurry.
“Holy Salazar,” Regulus cursed, throwing one of his turtlenecks at Crouch Jr. “Yes, I'm going with Potter. And by the way, in case you forgot, he's my husband. It would be strange if we didn't spend time together, wouldn't it? Besides, who else would I go with? Dorcas is with Marlene, Pandora is helping some second-year with transfiguration,and you and Evan will fuck while no one is in the room.”
“Just admit that you like spending time with him,” Barty insisted, his voice softer.
Regulus hesitated, picking through his scarves.
“I...” he trailed off, then exhaled with a slight annoyance. “Maybe. Look, I have to go. See you at the Three Broomsticks,” he said. “Have fun with Evan.”
Regulus, pulling on his best woolen coat, left his room and went down the stairs to the common room. He took a step toward the exit when Severus Snape appeared in front of him like a shadow.
“Ah, Bla-ack,” he drawled in his terrible voice, looking at Regulus with contempt. “Going on a date with your... husband?” The last word he spat out as if it were poison.
“Back off, Severus. I don't have time for you,” Regulus replied in an icy voice, taking a step back. “And I'm a Potter.”
Without hesitation, he walked around Snape and headed for the common room exit. But Snape didn't back down.
“I was just wondering how you could marry that idiot?” Snape's voice was venomous, and anger twisted on his face. “How could you betray your family, betray the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black for that arrogant, conceited, self-satisfied boy? You're a blood traitor, Regulus, just like your brother. Hanging out with mudbloods and other blood traitors. Disgusting.”
Regulus stopped. His fists clenched, and his jaw hardened. He didn't answer, just turned to Snape, his gaze filled with cold fury.
“Who I'm married to and who I hang out with is none of your business, Snape. You're nobody to me,” he replied, taking a step forward. “Now be a good little errand boy, go and report to my former, thank Salazar, mother about what I'm doing. You always do that, and you thought Sirius or I didn't know? You're a pathetic person, Severus.”
Snape's face contorted with rage.
“How dare you!” he hissed, pulling out his wand. He raised it, aiming at Regulus, but a voice stopped him from doing more.
“Reg, are you okay?”
James. His hair was a little tousled, and there was no trace of his usual cheerfulness in his eyes. His gaze shifted from Regulus to Snape, his wand ready.
“Yes, mon soleil,” Regulus whispered gently, taking a step toward James. He put a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down. They didn't need a fight. “Snape and I were just... talking. But we're done. Now we can go.”
The tension in James's shoulders eased a little, but he still looked at Snape with suspicion. Then Regulus gently took his hand and pulled slightly, as an invitation.
“Let's go,” he said quietly.
“Okay” James muttered, letting Regulus lead him.
They had already walked a few steps when James suddenly stopped and turned back to Snape.
‘Hey, Snivellus,” he yelled, his voice echoing down the corridor. “Don't you dare come near my husband again. And by the way, wash your hair finally. It looks terrible.”
James started walking down the corridors again, and Regulus was laughing softly beside him. They left Hogwarts, and the fresh wind hit their faces, washing away all the tension.
When they stepped onto the path that led to Hogsmeade, James immediately broke the silence.
“What did he want?”
“Nothing,” Regulus replied. James gave him an unimpressed look that said "I don't believe you." He didn't argue, he just waited. Regulus felt this silent pressure.
“Really, James,” he said, and his voice became softer. “Nothing I'm not used to. It's okay.”
James's gaze softened. He was silent, and Regulus was grateful that he didn't have to say more.
“So, where do we go first?” Regulus asked, changing the subject.
James squeezed his hand tighter.
“I need to stop by Honeydukes,” he said. “To buy sweets for Sirius's party, and then we can go wherever we need to.”
Regulus nodded, and they plunged into the sweet, sticky chaos of the shop. The warm air, smelling of sugar, chocolate, and vanilla, immediately enveloped them. There was a buzz of movement, noise, and laughter all around. The bright light from the magical lanterns glinted on the thousands of candies piled high on the shelves. James took a paper bag and began to fill it with Sirius's favorite sweets.
Their next stop was Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop, where Regulus, with his characteristic attention to detail, chose two new quills and a vial of new ink.
As they passed Zonko, they saw Peter and his date, a Hufflepuff girl named Amanda. They were heading to Madam Puddifoot's tea shop.
“He looks a little nervous, doesn't he?” Regulus asked quietly, as Peter noticed them. Amanda was saying something, and his eyes, wide with panic, were desperately looking at James. His gaze was begging for help, and James, holding back a smile, gave a thumbs-up and mouthed, "It's going to be okay." Peter and Amanda disappeared around the corner, and Regulus burst out laughing.
“Don't laugh, Reg,” James said with feigned strictness. “It's his first date ever!”
“But it's a little funny,” Regulus giggled. “He looked like he was about to faint.”
They walked along the path past the Flourish & Blotts and Regulus couldn't help but look at the window where the books were displayed.
“Want to go in?” James asked.
“No,” Regulus replied, trying to make his voice sound confident. He really wanted to but his pocket money was running out, and he had to save it.
“But I see that you want to,” James insisted.
“James, stop it.”
“No. We're going in, and you're going to pick out some books. I'll pay,” James gently tugged on his hand.
“You can't pay for me,” Regulus protested.
“I can. I'm your husband, Reg. Come on,” James gently pulled him through the door.
Unused to such gestures, Regulus obediently entered the shop. They spent almost an hour there. Regulus walked between the high shelves, running his fingers over each tome, choosing something interesting for himself. He was so absorbed in reading the synopses that he momentarily forgot that James was with him.
“Sorry,” Regulus said, heading toward the counter where James was waiting for him. “I know you're not very fond of places like this.”
James just shrugged. Regulus showed him two books and James frowned. He had hoped that Regulus would choose more books.
“Are you sure you don't want any more?” he asked.
“Yes,” Regulus replied confidently.
James, sighing, paid for the two books and they headed to the Three Broomsticks to meet their friends. Inside, there was a buzz of noise mixed with laughter and cheerful shouts.
“Go sit down, Reg, I'll get us some drinks,” James said, pointing to a long wooden table.
Regulus nodded and, taking off his coat, walked over to the table where most of their friends were already sitting. Lily was sitting with her head on Mary's shoulder, Sirius and Remus were holding hands under the table, and Barty and Evan were in a lively argument with Marlene and Dorcas.
“Hey,” he said, sitting down across from Barty and Evan. “I see you had a good time.”
He nodded toward Evan's neck, where a fresh, noticeable hickey was visible. Barty just smiled slyly and winked, showing complete satisfaction with himself.
“What were you and James doing, Reg?” Lily asked, lifting her head.
“Oh, we just walked around, went to a couple of shops, nothing much,” he replied, shrugging. “But we also saw Peter.”
“Oh, we saw Peter and Amanda too!” Marlene said, breathless with excitement. “They seemed to be having a pretty good time.”
Just then, James walked up, holding two mugs of hot, frothy butterbeer. He placed them on the table and sat down next to Regulus. There wasn't much room, so their thighs were touching.
“Well, I don't know,” Regulus drawled, taking a sip of butterbeer. “I thought poor Peter was about to faint.”
Sirius barked with laughter and James looked at Regulus with narrowed eyes, who just shrugged innocently. At that very moment, the bell on the door chimed, and Peter entered with Amanda. Everyone at the table fell silent, watching them. Peter, all shy but proud, helped Amanda take off her jacket.
“Merlin, it's like watching your child take their first steps,”Sirius muttered tearfully. Everyone around them chuckled softly. They watched as the couple said something, and then Amanda leaned in and gave Peter a chaste kiss on the lips. At the same time, Sirius let out a loud whistle, for which he received a slap on the back of the head from Remus.
Then Amanda smiled brightly and headed toward her Hufflepuff friends, leaving a stunned Peter standing in place. A few seconds later, he finally walked over to the table and sat down. Everyone was looking at him expectantly.
“She agreed to a second date,” Peter breathed out.
Marlene and Lily squealed with delight and Dorcas, under the table, handed ten galleons to Remus, who took them with great pleasure.
“Well done, Wormtail, I believed in you,” Remus said.
"Well, how did the date go?" Mary asked. "Come on, tell us, we're curious."
And they sat, smiling, listening in detail as Peter, blushing and gesticulating, recounted how the date had gone. At that moment, as they were together, it seemed that all the problems left outside the walls of the Three Broomsticks had faded into the background.