#background rosekiller

As they neared the end of the passageway, the ivy grew thicker, encompassing every surface of stone it could touch until the path became completely enclosed in it.

Regulus spun then, his eyes stabbing precisely into James'. "You will remember these are my friends, correct?"

James' smile brightened. "Come on, Reg. I've really been looking forward to it."

James tried to push in through the ivy, his stride all too confident. A firm hand gripping onto his shoulder stilled him, however, even from half a foot below his eyeline.

"Yes, but, if you're afraid of Barty, you will not survive Evan's stare alone."

"I'm sure I'll be fine." He poked Regulus' cheek innocently, earning him the harshest glare he'd ever seen the boy produce. "I mean it. I'm just excited to properly meet them."

Regulus nodded once, a sharp nod, before his hand pressed into the thick ivy before them. With the sparse flying of blue sparks, the ivy coiled back up into the fascia, and Regulus stepped through.

Evan silently stuck up a middle finger, the black "B" adorned with roses mirrored by a black "E" with bats beside it, Barty pouting dramatically at the two from behind his own hand. "What the fuck, Reginald? Come hold my hand instead."

Regulus only rolled his eyes and stuck up his own ringed middle finger in response before plopping down on a tree stump in front of Pandora.

She was in deep focus, her long white dreads pulled into an elastic behind her, the few framing her face curling into the ground before her. Her head was bowed a bit, hands gently brushing against a small white stone. Her thumbs pressed into the large round crevices, gentle touches coaxing old gray matter from somewhere far beneath the surface. She set the stone back, wiping her hands tenderly in the dirt, her long sleeves dragging behind, and grabbed another from the pile.

This stone was longer, more abnormal. James adjusted his glasses as he watched her pull the stone from the pile, brown eyes focusing in on-

"Regulus!" James whispered, eyebrows extending up over the ridiculously large frames of his glasses.

"What?" Regulus' eyes were already piercing, almost daring him to continue.

James swallowed. "You said it was a little get together."

Reg nodded. "For the tradition."

His eyelids practically snap. "Yeah, you said it was your special day! Forgive me, Regulus, but I believe you somehow managed to forget the part about the massive collection of bones front and center, yeah?"

Evan snickered a bit from across the garden, his eyes lazily drifting towards the hushed bickering. "Potter boy's shitting himself."

Regulus shot James a harsh look. "It's fine, I promise. You'll see."

James only gave him a slow nod, his eyes dismaying the situation as incredulous through them despite it. His pinky traced the edge of Regulus until he allowed him to curl the two, his stomach threatening to be sick as his mind tried to rationalize in dangerous places.

Pandora lifted herself from the remains, rot now clinging to her skin instead, clothes tainted with the stains of death. And yet, she smiled peacefully.

"Tonight, the earth finally welcomes back in its kin, so that my friends may finally know rest."

She turned then to the pile, tan hands retrieving an off white skull the size of her torso and holding it up to the moon's grace. "Evan?"

"An elk." His eyes traced the antlers extending past her arms, nodding when he was certain.

Pandora nodded, turning the skull to face herself. She brought a hand up to the skull's cheek, as if comforting the elk itself. "It's alright now. You were a beautiful creature. You may rest now."

Pandora stepped down into a grave dug beside the pile, placing the skull down into it with the tenderness you'd expect with a newborn child, placing a kiss to the cleaned skull before emerging again.

James' shoulders eased a bit then, his face filling with a strange endearment for the powerful scene before him, the beauty in the witch's simple act. Regulus caught it immediately, his eyes finally at rest from the way they'd been diligently watching him. His top lip pinched up.

There were seventeen graves dug that day. By the fifth, James' smile had stretched to his ears. By the sixth, he was crying. The rest of his hand found the comfort of Regulus' embrace, his heart inexplicably warmed. Regulus had been right- Pandora truly did care for every creature- alive or dead- that deserved the mercy of a kind soul.

When the seventeenth grave was filled (a mooncalf, Evan explained), Pandora knelt down in front of them all, a solemn calm falling between the group. James stood from his spot on the stump and knelt beside her, his eyes fluttering closed over warm cheeks as he breathed deep over them, his hand coming to the earth in front. Crossing his heart, he muttered a prayer to the god his mother had told him about as a boy.

Something in James' heart changed that night. He saw at once all of the lovely things Regulus had always seen in them, the twisted beauty lingering under the surface, unraveling gnarled roots to reveal an almost martyrdom that ran deeper than anyone else but those present could understand.

Pandora's tradition grew just as sacred as the full moons were to him, just as unexplainably necessary.

Regulus should have been concerned about how he might have a stalker, and how someone might be creepily obsessing over him. But no. Because Regulus was never normal. Whenever he read the poems every morning, he couldn’t help but soften a little. The poems were a little cheesy, sure, but the (anonymous) writer wrote about tiny details that were only usually written about in romance novels. Things about how he tugged on his hair when frustrated, about how he looked in the sunlight, the way his frown was endearing, it made Regulus feel seen. If you send sappy poems to an abused kid, what else would you expect?

So Regulus didn’t hate them, but what Regulus did hate was the unknown. So he was determined to find out who the writer of these love ballads were.

“Honestly, who does this person think they are? ” Regulus frowned, untying the envelope from the owl’s legs. 

“Reginfrithew my love, just start burning the sloppy poems into smitherines. It’s the only way the sender will stop!” Barty exclaimed, pouring his third cup of black coffee that morning.

“Violence is always the answer, Reginald.” Evan added solemnly, high fiving Barty.

“Come off it, you two. And enough with the nicknames!” Regulus snapped, rolling his eyes and opening the envelope.

Immediately, Regulus’s stance softened as he read the poem his anonymous admirer had sent him today.

“Your eyes

I could look into them for all of time,

So beautiful they make me rhyme.

One day, my love

We can run away together, 

As free as doves

Sorry for the short one. I was a bit busy yesterday :) 

Your secret admirer ”

Fuck. The writing was horrible so why did Regulus feel like-

“Our little Reg the egg? Blushing?” Barty gasped, dramatically falling into Pandora’s lap.

“Really Reg, we haven’t seen you this disgustingly soft since Christmas!” Dorcas piped in, an amused look on her face.

“Shut it!” Regulus groaned, burying his hands in his hair. “You lot are so annoying.”

“We love you too, Reg.” Pandora giggled, her hands raking through Barty’s hair. “But really. You need to find out who the sender is.”

“I know! I’m literally going mad trying to find out who the sender is, Dora! Like yes they may be sweet-”

“Regulus thinks these poems are sweet? Oooooooo….” Evan sing-songs, a grin on his face.

Regulus ignored him and continued tirading. “They may be sweet but I want to know who’s obsessing over me every bloody day since the start of this year!” He yelled, throwing his hands up.

“I love you, Rosie.” Barty sighed dreamily, looking up at Evan from Pandora’s lap.

“That’s not the fucking point- can we please focus?” Regulus sighed exasperatedly.

“Fine.” Barty rolled his eyes, motioning for Regulus to continue.

“Thank you. Anyways these letters are driving me bloody insane! I can’t fucking sleep at night because of them!” Regulus rambled, starting to pack up his books in his bag for the next lesson. 

At that moment, from the corner of his eye, Regulus saw Potter walk past their table, and his expression dropped from his usually bright grin to something uncharacteristically similar to a frown. Weird, Regulus thought. Who made Potter sad? Oh Regulus was going to kill them-

Anyways.

“And it’s just so annoying not knowing-”

“Don’t you think you’re overreacting just the slightest bit?” Dorcas asked, raising her eyebrows.

“I am not fucking overreacting!” Regulus said, sick of them.

“Take a chill pill, Reggie the veggie.” Barty cut in, a smirk on his face.

“I swear on Merlin’s saggy balls Bartemius-”

“Alright damn-”

“Anyways! I’m going to figure out who this person is!” Regulus announced, getting up from the bench to go to their next lesson.

“I’ll help!” Pandora chimed, clapping excitedly.

“After you find out who that secret admirer of yours is, you finally won’t be single!” Evan exclaimed, making kissy noises.

“Evan, I'm going to marry you.” Barty said solemnly, finally getting off of Pandora’s lap.

“Sure you will, Bat.” Evan replied fondly.

“Fucking idiots.” Regulus muttered. “Alright Panda, after classes are over, we’re going to find out who this secret admirer is.”

-

James was so fucked. Okay, so he may or may not be the ones sending the poems, but in his defence Regulus was just so fucking ethereal and if he said this in real life he’d scare him away! So James wrote the poems anonymously every night, sending them just in time for breakfast.

Pathetic, he knew. But he saw the way Regulus smiled a little when he read the poems, so he must have liked them! At least James thought he did, until now.

“Thank you. Anyways these letters are driving me bloody insane! I can’t fucking sleep at night because of them!” Regulus had yelled during breakfast, and shit. He seemed livid. Why was he so pretty when he was mad?

Focus, Potter. James scolded himself.

Back to the point. Regulus seemed pissed about the poems. But why would he? They’re nothing but positive. Maybe he found them creepy? Oh no. James didn’t mean for him to find them creepy or obsessive in any way. Even though James might be the slightest bit obsessed with him.

James chewed on his quill, at a loss for what to do. He was at some secluded table in the library alone. He made some excuse to Sirius about wanting a break, and Sirius always understood. James loved him. So here James was, brainstorming. He should probably apologise for sending those  poems if they made him uncomfortable. It’s the right thing to do, and it’s also something that his mum would encourage him to do. His mum said to never make girls uncomfortable, and that also applied to boys too!

But then James would have to reveal it was him that was sending the poems, and Regulus would never want anything to do with him ever again.

James groaned, banging his head on the rickety table. He knew he should apologise, his inner conscience screamed at him too. Regulus would never want anything to do with James ever again, though.

It’s not like he wants anything to do with you now, though. James’s brain taunted, and he hated how it was right.

All James had to do was tell Regulus that he was the one sending the poems to him. That’s all. James took a deep breath then stood up.

He had Regulus’s timetable memorised, and so James knew that he was about to leave divination. So off James went.

-

Regulus stiffly got up from the bean bags they were forced to sit on during divination, slung his bag over his shoulder, and left the classroom alongside Barty and Evan. Pandora said she needed to skip divination because the Wrackspurts told her to (nobody questioned it at this point), and Dorcas was in the year above them so she had potions.

“Imagine if  Reg’s secret admirer was Potter.” Barty snorted as they exited the classroom.

“Do not get my hopes up Bartemius. ” Regulus muttered, a blush steadily making its way onto his face.

“Oh that would be hilarious. Regulus won’t shut up about Potter, so they’d finally get together if he were his secret admirer!” Evan laughed, squinting as the sunlight shone directly in his face.

“I said shut it!” Regulus hissed. “Someone might overhear!” “With the way you’ve been talking about Potter since like— last year, I’m surprised no one else knows except us.” Barty remarked.

At that moment, James came barreling towards them.

“Speak of the devil and he shall appear.” Evan quipped as Barty burst into laughter.

“Regulus!” James exclaimed, panting heavily. 

Regulus immediately smothered his emotions, putting up that cold act everyone (except his friend group) was used to.

“Potter.” Regulus said cooly, looking James up and down with an unimpressed look on his face. 

James’s glasses were askew, and his hair was worse than it usually was. Regulus was fucked.

“I really need to talk to you-” 

“Why?” Evan cut James  off cruelly, stepping in front of Regulus over protectively. Evan was horribly protective of his friends, especially Regulus, Pandora, Barty and Dorcas.

“Uhm- it’s an important matter-” James stuttered, intimidated.

“And what would that important matter be?” Regulus asked, signalling Evan to stop by nudging him slightly. Regulus really appreciated Evan, but Regulus was curious as to what James wanted from him.

“Could I just talk to you in private?” James warily eyed Barty and Evan, both with malicious looks on their faces. Regulus knew those sadistic fuckers took pleasure in James’s terror.

“Sure, Potter.” Regulus sighed, curiosity taking the best of him. “I’ll be back, you lot.”

“If you do anything to Regulus just know I’ll cut your tongue off, Potter.” Barty warned, a manic grin on his face.

“Great!” James uttered, no longer wanting to be in the presence of Barty and Evan. He rushed Regulus to some secluded alcove.

“Merlin, those two are terrifying.” James muttered, then he straightened. 

“What do you want, Potter?” Regulus asked, that unimpressed look still on his face. He couldn’t hide the curiosity in his voice though.

“Right.” James cleared his throat, shuffling his feet, then sighed. “Uhm- so you know those poems you’ve been getting every morning?”

Regulus frowned, confused. “How do you know about that?”

“Yeah about that. So I was kind of the one writing them. And I'm so, so sorry. Because I know I made you uncomfortable, and it wasn’t respecting your boundaries and I-”

“Potter.” 

“I was so stupid. Please forgive me. I know you’re Sirius’s little brother and-” James rambled on, not hearing Regulus.

“Potter.” Regulus tried once more.

“And it was kind of creepy of me. I know that-”

“James!” Regulus finally shouted and James faltered at the use of his first name. It sounded so good coming from Regulus’s mouth.

“You were the one who wrote those?” Regulus asked, an unreadable look on his face.

“Uhm… yeah?” James replied, ready for Regulus to start yelling at him.

What James wasn’t ready for though, was for Regulus to quite literally jump on James, wrapping his legs around James’s waist, and thoroughly snog him.

James yelped, not expecting this, but kissed Regulus back immediately with an equal amount of fervor.

Regulus was not holding back. Years of repressed feelings came flowing through this kiss and his hands tugged harshly on James’s hair, pulling him closer.

James whimpered softly at that, and walked Regulus against the wall, his legs still around James’s waist.

“You’re so fucking annoying James.” Regulus gasped, pulling back for air.

“Mhm..” James mumbled distractedly, then captured Regulus’s mouth in his once more.

Regulus melted in James’s grip and tugged at James’s hair again. He needed to hear that sound one more time. 

“Wait!” James pulled back suddenly, his glasses fogged up.

“What is it?” Regulus snapped, pissed that James suddenly stopped using his beautiful mouth on him.

“Will you go out with me to Hogsmeade this weekend?” James asked, suddenly shy.

Regulus couldn’t help but smile at that, kissing James on the forehead softly.

“Of course I will.” 

TWS: BLACK FAMILY LEVEL TRADITION IN MARRIAGE, CHILD ABUSE, MISOGYNY, HOMOPHOBIA,  HEIR PRODUCTION, TRANSPHOBIA, GENDER ROLES AND STEREOTYPES, DUTY, ETC. MILD REFERENCES TO SEXUAL SCENES, NOTHING EXPLICIT. FEMINISATION OF AN FTM CHARACTER DUE TO TRANSPHOBIA. ANGST IN SOME PARTS. 

THIS IS A STUDY OF THE NOBLE AND MOST ANCIENT HOUSE OF BLACK AND ITS MANNERISMS. TIMELINE DELAY, REGULUS DOESNT BECOME A DEATH EATER UNTIL HE’S ABOUT 20 FOR STORYLINE PURPOSES. INTENSE GRIMMAULD PLACE STUDY.      

When he was six, Regulus Black's fate was sealed the moment he pinched a cupcake from a boy two years older than him who told him he was a pretty girl. It was easy, really. A bat of his eyelashes, a twirl of his skirts. The boy was angry, of course, but they were only kids.

Regulus Black the pride and joy of the Noble and Most Ancient House Of Black. Perfect girl. The Spare, destined to be sold off to some other family in marriage whilst his brother upheld the family line. Regulus knew it was duty. Nothing but Pureblood tradition. That didn't mean he had to like it. He complied for his mother's sake.

Three years later, Regulus Black became the Noble House Of Black's Heir. Three years later, when his brother was disgraced and became the Spare. Three years later, when Regulus became the True Male Heir to the House.

Five years after that, when Regulus entered Hogwarts for the first time. Home didn't feel the same that year. The year of Sirius' departure.

Alexander Belmonte was Regulus' walking nightmare. His brother's best friend, Casanova of the Gryffindor House, Regulus' parents utter exasperation and even alleged blood traitor. It was too late by then. The deal had been sealed in blood. The bane of Regulus' existence, captain of the Lion's Quidditch team, top of his class despite being in detention more often than the common room, an utter nuisance.

And presently? Regulus' husband.

Rivals at school despite their betrothal since childhood, Regulus was certain Alexander hadn't forgiven him for stealing his cupcake all them years ago. And frankly, he hadn't forgiven Alexander for every quidditch win, for every embarrassing prank, for every disgraceful action. Well, disgraceful by pureblood standards, typical teenager behavior by others. Alexander, however, had other issues. His father, a Cursebreaker, had come into contact with a rare artifact that had cursed him, and the cure lay in an heirloom lost to the world. Well, to the world outside of Grimmauld Place. His only hope? Regulus. Arcturus. Black. Joy and delight.