Much later, Remus will try to pass the incident off as a one-time offense.
Remus will stubbornly insist that the word 'relationship' has no place in his life, unless it pertains to Sirius. 'Infatuation', 'wanting,' 'love' -- feelings that he associates with Sirius, not Sirius's traitor brother.
Regulus has no place in his life, now. The encounter was over within minutes, and while the scratches and bruises and vicious red marks took a bit longer to disappear, they soon were camouflaged by a few Bludger-induced injuries. He can almost forget about what passed between them, in the brightness and color of daytime.
At night, though, Remus can't deny the poetry of it. Regulus, after all, is visible in the nighttime sky as the brightest star in the constellation Leo. Sirius adores star-gazing, and of course, he favors Leo as "their" constellation. Isn't it fitting? he asks. A lion for a pair of Gryffindors.
Leo is a gorgeous constellation, no doubt about it; especially the stubborn star down by the lion's chest, almost as if it's the heart. Regulus, breathing life into Leo, the Hemean Lion, which was murdered by Hercules in the first of twelve desperate pleas for penance.
Remus knows the story well. Hercules found the lion, the offspring of Zeus himself, in its home. He threw arrows at it, harassed it more and more; but the lion lived, and retreated, trying to protect itself. Eventually Hercules stalked the beast, backing it into a corner so it couldn't escape. Slowly he choked it to death with his bare hands, squeezing the very life out of a magnificent creature.
So how is it, Remus asks the sky, that Hercules is a hero? The Lion was just trying to live! It was misunderstood -- the offspring of Zeus, it should have been revered!
And indeed it is. Leo shines in the nighttime sky, and is the favorite constellation of many Gryffindors. But what Remus likes best is Regulus, bright and bold and so fucking beautiful, stealing the show.