Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series.
Chapter Ten
Regulus Black
"Mother wants me to take the Dark Mark." Regulus couldn't find it in him to meet Sirius' gaze.
Regulus heard his sharp intake of breath. "What did you say?" Sirius questioned slowly as though he was afraid of his answer.
"I didn't," Regulus replied, sounding lost. "I didn't give her an answer. I told her I'd think about it and... and Mother was so mad, Sirius." He released a shuddered breath as he rubbed his palms on his face. "I don't want to take the Dark Mark. Believe me, I don't."
"I believe you," Sirius said, grasping his shoulder and squeezing tight. "I believe you, Reggie. I'm here for you. Don't worry. I'll never leave you again."
Regulus nodded, not doubting him for a second.
"Padfoot!"
Their comfortable solitude was broken due to James who stormed into the room, waving a folded parchment in his hands. The messy haired Gryffindor paused when he saw Regulus and his joyful expression immediately darkened.
"What's that Slytherin scum doing here?"
Regulus looked down and crossed his arms, his hands clenching into fists. This was the boy who stole Sirius from him. Not only that but there were rumours that he fancied Hermione as well, his friend. As shocking as it was to believe, he really did consider Hermione his friend, and he couldn't understand how she captured the attention of the leader of the Marauders.
She might be his friend but he wasn't blind to the fact that she was plainer compared to other girls. Compared to Lily, she looked like a servant — and he's saying that because he was her friend. Regulus had no doubts that James was liking her to get Lily's attention. Regulus vowed that if he ever hurt Hermione, the last heir of the Potter line would answer to him.
"Prongs, cut that out," Sirius chided his friend. "Regulus and I have made amends already. He's not a scum anymore."
"Oh, really?" James sounded curious. "Oh, okay!"
Regulus looked up, surprised that he would easily accept him. He thought he would've put up a big fight against it, especially since he was a Slytherin after all.
Sirius was grinning up to his best friend. "So, what do you need, you prat?"
James stuffed the folded parchment in his back pocket. "I need your help with something, Padfoot."
"What's it about?"
Even in dim light, Regulus could see the way James' hazel eyes sparkled. "It's about the love of my life, my bride to my wedding, my future wife, the mother of my children—"
Lily?
"—Hermione!"
Regulus' eyebrows rose. So, he was that serious to Hermione. Huh. He hadn't been expecting that.
Sirius rolled his eyes and shot Regulus a knowing look before turning to James. "What about her?"
"She doesn't believe that I have feelings for her!" James pouted. "She thinks that it's a joke!"
Regulus couldn't stop his snicker. "Typical Hermione," he said to himself.
James turned his attention to him. "You know Hermione?"
Regulus shifted in his seat. The way he looked at him was unnerving. "Yes, I do. She's my friend."
Suddenly, James was sitting beside him, completely invading his personal space. Regulus shot an alarmed look at his brother and Sirius, the prat, only laughed at the obvious discomfort on his face. James must've not noticed his unease or he ignored it as he regarded him.
"Tell me," James demanded like a three-year-old child. "Does she talk about me often?"
Regulus snorted. "Hermione doesn't have any reason to talk about you."
James looked affronted. "I have quite a long list of good qualities why she should!"
Regulus merely raised an eyebrow. "Do you think that she'd care about that? Unless you freed house elves, you're invisible in her world."
"How do you know that?" Sirius questioned as he side eyed him.
Regulus didn't respond and just shrugged. He didn't want to tell them that that was how he had gotten to know Hermione. He had stumbled upon her one night carrying a sack of knitted hats and scarves on his way to the library. When he had questioned her, she made a rather lengthy and passionate speech about house elves and freedom and equality.
At the end of the night, Regulus found himself befriending and trusting the Ravenclaw witch. So far, he wasn't regretting it.
"She wants to free house elves?" James perked up. "I'll help her! And you're going to help us, Padfoot."
Sirius scowled. "Bloody hell no."
James wasn't deterred as he turned his attention to the younger Black. "So, what does she think about me? Does she see me as a potential husband for her?"
Regulus eyed him incredulously. "James, Hermione is completely oblivious about your feelings for her. In fact, she doesn't seem to realise that someone fancies her at all. Any thoughts about romance doesn't exist in her world."
James looked as though Headmaster Dumbledore just waltzed into the room naked. His face was so white and he looked horrified. Regulus worried for a second if James needed a Blood Replenishing potion.
"Oh no! How do I fix that? We can't get married if she doesn't know that I have feelings for her!"
"Doesn't she need to have feelings for you as well?" Sirius snorted.
James appeared to not have heard him. "What will I do, Regulus?"
The only Slytherin in the room squirmed. "Maybe let her know that you have feelings for her in the most obvious way." He snorted. "Because other than slapping it to her face, it'll be completely disregarded and be thought as an act of kindness. Or worse, she'd think that you're only friends. That's how clueless she is."
James looked contemplative and then his face brightened. "Reggie! You're a genius! I could kiss you right now!"
Regulus recoiled in horror. "Please don't!"
James ignored him and turned to Sirius. "I have a plan. Let's meet up in the dorm room later! Bring your brother. See you later!"
He immediately left after. Regulus blinked in shock.
"What just happened?"
Sirius chuckled. "That is James' way of declaring that you're his new best friend."
Regulus looked horrified of that thought.
"What have I just done?"
Sirius laughed. "Careful, baby brother. You might find yourself having Christmas in the Potter manor."
Regulus glared at him. "As if that would happen."
The next week, he really did spent Christmas in the Potter manor.
He ignored Sirius' smug smile the whole time.