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The day was winding down, and in the Gryffindor common room, the fire was roaring and friends were chatting and crowding the sofas around it.
The outside was icy, it was the winter after the Christmas holidays, so the cold bite of air was less exciting and more of a nuisance, but not a house does 'cozy' like Gryffindor.
James, Peter, and Remus were all crammed into the same love seat, overlapping each other and talking animatedly, not the slightest bit uncomfortable - of course that didn't last long, because at that moment, Sirius Black burst into the common room and took it upon himself to lay over the three of them, head in Lupin's lap, feet in Pettigrew's.
"You lot will never, ever, guess what I just heard."
And of course, his curious partner-in-crime took the bait and immediately asked the follow up question, "Did Snivellus take a fall down the stairs again? He really is stupid," James replied.
"No, no, I heard that Regulus Black, that's right, MY little brother, has gotten himself a girlfriend!" He extended the last word for comedic effect, as one does.
"Oh yeah right, everyone's always spreading rumours about him, where's the proof?" Peter had long since stopped bothering to try and push Sirius' feet off his lap, Remus stayed silent, focused solely on his finger wrapped around a strand of Sirius' hair, and the fire in front of them.
James was puzzled, but still remained relatively neutral.
"I heard from MULTIPLE sources, for your information Wormtail, that he snuck off into the observatory holding hands with a girl! Apparently they were 'pretty close' whatever that means, I just hope she treats my baby brother right, we can't have a melodramatic, heartbroken Easter holiday in the Potter household, can we James?"
Now here was where James' reaction actually began being noticed. When Sirius got no response, he looked to his friend, and the continued silence prompted the other two to look over as well.
James' face was... sour, to say the least. It was scrunched up, both in thought and maybe a little anguish, and it was peculiar. The three friends hadn't see this look on his face before, it was almost foreboding.
"Uh, James, are you okay? What's with the look?" Remus spoke up for the first time since Sirius had entered the room.
"Ah, uh, nothing lads! Just caught up in my own head. Where did you say this was? The observatory? Was this just now or is it old news?"
"Uh... According to the people spreading it, it happened around 15 minutes ago? Why does that matter?" Sirius responded, suspicious, but more concerned than anything.
"Right. Well, that's hilarious! I can't imagine baby Black growing up that's... just you know... hard to... believe... Oh Merlin! Look at the time! I'm late for a thing," James did everything in his power to rush out of that room before any follow up questions.
Regulus. In the observatory. With someone. Someone who was, obviously, NOT HIM.
It wasn't a well known fact that, well actually, it was a basically complete unknown fact, that Regulus Black and James Potter had in fact been 'seeing each other'. If 'seeing each other' means sneaking around, quickies, and kisses lit only by the light of the moon which, yes, is exactly what 'seeing each other' meant, but James couldn't help but think that the phrase was too casual for his liking.
James wasn't overthinking the relationship, no, that would be ridiculous. Ever since two summers ago, when Regulus had showed up at their doorstep, mid summer holidays, two bags in hand and tears in his eyes, James had fallen. And he meant FALLEN. Yes, whilst he was in second year and Reg in first, when Regulus had first graced the halls of Hogwarts with his presence, he couldn't deny the puberty ridden, messy, and kinda sick feelings he had, but that was a 'schoolgirl crush' as it were, nothing serious.
But when Regulus had shown up, asking for refuge, telling his brother how he had escaped the infernal scrutiny of the Black family, just like him, well that would make any rational man fall. At least, that's how he reasoned it. That first summer was probably the most awkward couple of months in his life, stumbling head first into love for the first time, with no way to escape the object of your affection is hell for a teenage boy, clearly.
Last summer though, wow, that was awkward for completely different reasons. They were a new couple, having confessed only a week prior, in a quiet hallway at night. They had barely kissed or touched at all, but of course, summer changed that. Sneaking around behind the backs of not only his parents, but attachment-issue-Sirius was a job not made for the weak, but luckily the only thing Reg and James were weak for, were each other.
They hadn't technically put a label on things, secrecy and different timetables made it difficult to have long, meaningful, conversations, but James had assumed that, after all the late nights and early mornings, the trips down to windy and dismal English beaches, they were at least exclusive. That Regulus at least regarded him high enough to actually tell him if he wanted to fuck someone else.
James came upon the observatory, and stuck his ear against the door, ever so maturely.
Inside he heard murmuring, so they hadn't left yet. James contemplated his next action, he could open the door and possibly throw up with despair, or he could walk away, feign ignorance and suffer in silence never truly knowing what went on. Of course, this 'contemplation' lasted a millisecond, before he threw open the door with a lot more force than intended.
"Wrap it up, lovebirds!"
Regulus turned around, usual scowl of annoyance mixed with disinterest peppered on his face, which changed to one of mild confusion when seeing it was James Potter that interrupted his little fling.
The fling in question, also turned around, long white hair flipping in time with the turn, glasses sliding down her nose.
Oh.
Pandora.
Upon seeing her, James face-palmed with all available parts of his brain separately. Wow, was he stupid.
Suddenly, he was hit with actual logic and reasoning. Regulus didn't even like girls. Regulus has expressed overwhelming interest in James and only James. James as in 'James Potter the massive idiot'.
"What are you doing," Regulus didn't even attempt to frame his statement as a question.
"Uh, well, I just thought that, well, people have been talking and, well..." James trailed off, what was the point? Another mental face-palm took place.
"If I heard you right, you accused Pandora and I of being... what was it? 'Lovebirds'?" Even Pandora giggled a bit.
"Well you know. People talk. And the talk this time was that you were popping the cherry, sowing the oats as it were, with a girl in here," James felt stupider and stupider as more words left his mouth.
"Pandora, it's probably time to 'wrap up' anyway. I'll see you tomorrow?" Regulus looked to his best friend, with what could only be described as a 'spectre of a smile'.
"Yes! I'll see you tomorrow, Reggie! We have not finished discussing stars and I do not intend to stop until we are both as knowledgeable as possible!" She gripped Regulus' hand as she said this (like she always did, James), and gave him a parting hug, before hurrying off.
"Now, what to do about you?" Regulus stood up from his, seemingly comfortable, little area on the ground, and approached James.
"Sorry Reg, I'm an idiot. I trust you, I do, and if you want to be with other people then honestly, I love you enough to do practically anything just to make you happy so have at it! But I should've trusted you to actually tell me beforehand, obviously."
Regulus just stared, as dumbfounded as was possible on his almost unmoving face.
"Excuse me? Someone else? I was under the impression we were exclusive. And what a way to tell me that you love me for the first time, in the midst of saying you'd be alright with me fucking someone else," he wasn't angry, just incredibly exasperated. James Potter had that effect on people.
"Oh, well yeah I thought so too, but well... You know how I get and well... Wait, oh Merlin, Reggie I did not just say I love you at the worst time possible. Please kill me," James dropped his head on Regulus' shoulder, completely defeated.
"It's completely in character for you, actually. And yes, I know how you get, and I can't deny it was a thrill seeing you jealous..." He trailed off, probably off in his own head about it all.
James lifted his head, face now in extreme close proximity to Regulus'.
"Really? Well, don't get used to it, I'm locking you down, I can't catch myself feeling this crazy again, I refuse, so the only logical next step is to literally chain you up and throw away the key."
"Tying me up, eh?" Regulus smiled softly at James' slowly reddening face.
He lowered his voice to a whisper, forehead meeting James', and closed his eyes.
"You have nothing to worry about, love. I am bewitched, as they say. Although, don't spread that around, Dorcas will never let me hear the end of it," they both laughed, Regulus with fondness and James' with breathlessness.
"I love you, too, by the way."
They kissed then, among the constellation diagrams, and James wondered how he could ever doubt a guy that could make the word 'bewitched' sexy.