Eli

Queen Dorcas has arrived 😌💚

Give me the wretched name!!!

Regulus and Pandora, 2/5 of the Slytherin Skittles🥰

“I still get them.” Regulus whispers, breaking the familiar silence between him and his brother.

Sirius raises an eyebrow in confusion. “Get what?”

“The dreams. Nightmares.” Regulus hums. “Whatever you’d like to call them.”

Sirius’ eyes widen in understanding, swallowing harshly before responding. “The ones…about the water?”

“About me drowning. It’s alright, you can say it.” Regulus mumbles, voice void of emotion, harshly reflecting his lifeless and dull eyes. Regulus stays quiet for a moment, eyes locked on the Canis Major constellation in the night sky, before he speaks again. “I think they’re true, whatever they are. I think that’s how I die.”

“Don’t say that, Reggie-”

“Accept it, Sirius. You’ve found your family, your true family, and I have…nothing. I am nothing.” Regulus chokes out. “If the war doesn’t kill me I might just do it myself because”— Regulus laughs—“I have no reason to live anymore.”

Regulus laughs and shifts closer to James, wisps of black hair tickling the side of James’ cheek as he does so. James’ breath hitches as he feels cold fingers press against his wrist, gently guiding his arm upwards to the star freckled sky above.

“Right there.” Regulus breathes, presumably pointing towards the Leo constellation. James is clearly supposed to be following where the tips of Regulus’ fingers meet the stars, but he’s unable to tear his eyes off the lone star next to him, shining brighter than the galaxies they’re lying beneath. Regulus’ lips are slightly parted in concentration, his eyes wide with childlike wonder to match his boyish, tousled curls. James doesn’t think he’ll ever get tired of admiring Regulus Black.

“James.” Regulus groans, letting gravity take hold of their arms as they fall down to James’ chest. “James, you’re not even looking.”

Regulus tilts his head upwards, his curls messily spilling over his forehead as he gazes fondly at James through his eyelashes. “Is that right?”

“Mhmm.” James hums, pulling Regulus closer onto his chest. “I have our whole future planned out, love. We’ll have our own quaint little house-“

“I do like little houses.”

“…but we’ll have a big backyard.” James continues, waving his arm animatedly in the air as if he’s picturing the scene vividly in front of them. “And we’ll make it a quidditch pitch, big enough to raise our own family of quidditch players.” He nods to himself before glancing down at Regulus. “Does that sound good to you?”

“I don’t care what you think I deserve!” James cries, reaching out and tugging at Regulus’ sleeve, spinning him back around. “All I know is that I want you, Regulus. Can’t you see I love you?” His voice breaks as he brings Regulus closer, pressing their foreheads together.

Regulus whimpers as he leans into the touch, his prior intentions immediately forgotten the second James’ skin meets his own. “You can’t, James. I can’t.” He protests, despite not showing any signs of moving away. “I can’t. It’s not right, not for you.”

“It’s alright to love me.” James whispers, pulling back to meet Regulus’ glistening eyes. James wipes a tear from his cheek, Regulus was unaware one had fallen, and presses a kiss on the tear’s remnants. He keeps his lips there, warmth pressed against cold skin, as Regulus melts into his awaiting arms.

“Good night, James.” Regulus smiles shyly from his doorstep, his hand slowly turning the doorknob of his apartment open.

James fidgets in place awkwardly, not remembering what is considered appropriate “first date goodbye” etiquette. Regulus appears to be in the same predicament, pulling at the hems of his oversized sweater before deciding to turn and enter his apartment.

Regulus stands still in the entryway with his back facing James, and for a moment, James thinks Regulus might turn back around. And he does.

Regulus twists around quickly, practically leaping off the doorstep and into James’ awaiting arms as he takes a hold of James’ collar. James only has time to widen his eyes before Regulus is pulling him down into a kiss.

A kiss. Regulus is kissing him.

By the time James comes to his senses and kisses back, Regulus is pulling away, smiling at James one last time before slamming the door in his face.

Time is suddenly meaningless to James as he stands dazed, confused, and hopelessly smitten on Regulus’ doorstep. The second his brain finally catches up to his body, James breaks out into a goofy grin, laughing and giggling to himself as he skips down the staircase and hops into his car.

James immediately sits up in his seat. His hand goes straight to his tie, lifting it up to examine the color and cursing himself when he finds it green, not red. James suddenly finds it hard to breathe as he looks over at his friends, each of them curiously glancing over in his direction and waiting for a response.

“Um…” James trails off, trying to make up a believable explanation. “Oh! A Slytherin must’ve charmed it! To get back at us for last week's prank.” He nods feverishly, trying desperately to appear sincere.

It seems to work as Sirius makes a disgruntled noise, rolling his eyes as he reaches for another piece of bacon. “Those slimy snakes.” He shoves the bacon into his mouth, chewing on it angrily. “Don’t worry, Prongs. We’ll get ‘em back.”

Peter nods across the table in agreement, and the two immediately delve into a conversation about hair dye and explosions. James tries not to seem conspicuous about his relief, though a tap on his shoulder lets him know he was unsuccessful. James sighs in defeat.

He should’ve known nothing gets past Remus Lupin.

“You don’t suppose the Slytherins also pranked Regulus Black, now would you?” Remus whispers, nodding over to the Slytherin table. James follows his gaze to where Regulus is scowling, his face as red as the tie around his neck while his friends laugh hysterically around him.

“What do you want, Lupin.” Regulus sings monotonously, his gaze never once deviating from the pages of the astronomy book in his hands.

Remus doesn’t waste energy wondering how Regulus knew it was him, that’s Blacks for you, as he draws out a chair across from Regulus and sits himself down. “What?” Remus questions casually, throwing his school books onto the table. “Can’t a man simply sit and read with his friend?”

“I am not your friend, Lupin.” Regulus retorts, tightening his grip on the cover. “And you’re certainly not a man.”

Remus snickers at his response, not expecting anything less. “Alright, then. How about a scholarly acquaintance?” Regulus starts drumming his fingers against the book. “A study buddy?” His lips curl in annoyance. “A fellow literature enthusiast?”

Regulus huffs in annoyance. He slowly tears his gaze off the page, as if the act itself is a laborious chore, before meeting Remus’ eyes with his own silvery blue. He looks Remus up and down. “I find it hard to believe we have similar taste.”

“I think you’d be surprised.” Remus smiles, pulling up his book bag from the floor and sliding it against the polished desk. Regulus peaks down at the worn leather, raising an eyebrow at Remus before tentatively peeling the bag open and examining its contents.

Remus waits for a flicker of emotion, a change of demeanor, the smallest slip of a mask, or really anything at all. But as Regulus’ eyes scan the pile of Remus’ collection of muggle classics, books he has accidentally caught the Slytherin reading, he finds nothing. Regulus simply purses his lips, drops the bag as if it was filled with multiple contagions, and wipes his hand on his robes for good measure.

Regulus looks at the bag for a few moments more, before his gaze catches Remus’ once again. Regulus lifts his hand from the table and for a brief moment, Remus thinks Regulus might actually slap him, before he recognizes the gesture for what it truly is.

A handshake. A truce.

“Scholarly acquaintances it is, then.” Regulus concedes.

Remus’ smile could rival the devil’s in that moment, as he reaches to shake Regulus’ hand. He thinks he can see a faint glint of amusement flickering in Regulus’ eyes, but he’s gone before Remus can check, standing up from his seat and taking his books with him in one swift motion.

A small, pristinely wrapped present resides in the trembling hands of Regulus Black. Though the gift was sure to be torn to shreds in just a few minutes, Regulus can't help but fiddle over the package, his nimble fingers smoothing over the edges repeatedly as if the motion could somehow make the wrapping appear even more perfect.

The faint click of a lock startles Regulus out of his thoughts, his attention now focused on the colorful Christmas wreath hanging on the door in front of him. A few quick clicks later, and the wreath is replaced by a giddy James Potter, leaning against the doorframe and beaming at Regulus like a child at Honeydukes.

“You came.” James giggles before pulling Regulus into a slow kiss. Regulus sighs into the familiarity, but as much as Regulus would love to remain on the doorstep the rest of the night, kissing James’ lips until they froze, he knew James was buzzing with energy for something else entirely.

With some unknown found strength, Regulus pulls away from James, one hand cradling his cheek and the other gripping onto the small present like a lifeline. James’ eyes trail down to the box and he smiles instantly. “For him?”

Regulus nods, his gaze flickering to the house. James nods to the door and raises an eyebrow, a silent question of ready to go in?

No. Regulus was not ready to go in.

He nods regardless.