After the past few times he saw people at the lake, Regulus was feeling a bit better about everything. He knew there was no use in worrying about things he couldn’t control. He would simply have to deal with the punches and surround himself with people who helped him feel better. He also realized how much better he felt around the lake. So he headed there again to relax. As he got closer he could hear music. He paused and closed his eyes. There was a guitar playing beautifully. A smile grew across his face. He opened his eyes and headed closer. He could see James at the lake. Regulus was far away enough to not be seen by the other boy, so he just took in the sight. It made his fingers itch for a pencil despite his minimal drawing ability. He wanted to capture the sight before him. He wished that he could paint. He would paint the sky in watercolors, the dark calm surface of the lake in oils, and he would draw James and his guitar in pastels. He paused there a few moments and headed over. He smiled at James and sat down beside him.

Regulus seemed to hear James from far away. He heard the shift in the way he was speaking. This was it, wasn’t it? This was the moment that Regulus lost James for good. Regulus took a deep breath. He was trying to hold himself together when he was coming apart at the seams. It wasn’t working. He pulled his hand from his friend’s as if he had been stung. Regulus looked at James. Tears were welling in the younger boys eyes once more. He was so pathetic. It was no wonder James couldn’t love him the way he wanted more than anything. Regulus hardened his eyes and let anger fill in alongside the tear. It was self-hatred, but it would suffice. Regulus couldn’t handle the thought of James continuing their friendship because of pity. His heart was running rampant in his chest and he spoke, not really aware of his words any more. “How do you know, James? How do you know that it wouldn’t work? I love you. She doesn’t care about you at all. Why can’t you see that? She treats you terribly. Anytime you try to be nice to you she thinks you’re playing a game and aren’t genuine. I know you James! You can’t deny that. We know each other so well. It could work. That Ariel girl doesn’t know you the way I do either and still instead of me you go to her. It would work better than either of those stupid girls.”

Regulus was happy for a day off. He felt free for a day. He had all his homework and all the studying he had planned done. Today, he was going to surprise James and spend the day with him. They had a lot of catching up to do. He headed nervously up to the Gryffindor common room and waited for a first year to come by and open the portrait for him. He handed the boy sweets in return for his service and ignored the stares of the silly Gryffindors around him. Bribery was much more effective than intimidation in his opinion.

Regulus headed up to the dorms and more specifically James's room with a spring to his step. Hopefully James was alone in there. He still wasn't in the mood to deal with his brother. He opened the door widely surprised by the sight there. "Hey, mate. I didn't know you played guitar."