Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or it's characters. This is merely a work of fanfiction.

A/N: This was a very early fic I wrote, before I started putting stuff online, so it may be different from my other work you are familiar with. I have edited it, to make it a bit more cohesive. Enjoy!

A/N #2: I remember being inspired by another piece I read at the time I wrote this, but for the life of me I can't find that piece now. So if you have read a very similar piece please comment the name so I can tag it, if it is the one. Thank you!

Regina sank to the floor in the corridor outside of the Gryffindor Common Room. She had come here to talk to Sirius, to beg for help, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. He hadn't spoken to her all year, and she had doubts that he would fulfill his duty and help her.

She thought perhaps James could help her. If anyone could, it would be him. Yet, when she had knocked on the portrait, she had been rudely informed that he wasn't there, and the painting slammed in her face.

When Sirius left home their relationship had effectively ended.

Her brave big brother left her with Walburga and Orion.

Maybe he thought she would be okay. They weren't as hard on her, after all.

It never came to physical blows with her. Well, not like it did with him, but she had been smacked by Walburga enough to have a healthy fear of her backhand. Emotional and verbal abuse were nothing compared to what they did to him.

She knew logically that he had to leave, but that didn't stop her heart from shattering when he walked out the front door with his trunk in one hand, and his broom in the other. Walburga would have killed him eventually, or he would have killed Walburga.

Without Sirius to shield her, Walburga doubled her scrutiny of Regina, determined to make her the perfect pureblood lady.

And now Regina knew why-

They were preparing to sell her off like so much chatle to the highest paying, or most well connected, pureblood Lord.

So here Regina was, sitting on the cold stone corridor outside of Gryffindor Tower. Her bravery from the elf wine was wearing off every moment, as she clutched the letter from Orion in her hands.

Steps echoed down the corridor and Regina wiped her tears. She turned her head toward the approaching footsteps and looked up through her wet eyelashes into the face of James Potter.

"What are you doing out of bed? It's past curfew! Wait, Regina? What are you doing out here? Are you okay?"

James had moved down onto his knees while he was talking and was now brushing her hands away from her face and holding her gently by her elbows. He brushed her considerable amount of black curls out of her face and looked worriedly at her red eyes and haunted face.

"Help me James," she choked out as the tears started again, and wracked her body. She launched herself forward into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her, holding onto her tightly.

Every pureblood knew that Potter's were honorable. Their word was their bond. If anyone could help her, it was him.

James was at a loss for words.

Regina Black had always been a bit of a mystery to him, one he would love to unravel. Her usually impeccable occlumency shields kept her emotions hidden from all, but those she allowed close. She clearly strived to carry herself by the pureblood etiquette they were all taught as children. She must be devastated to behave this way.

He knew he needed to move them. She was not supposed to be out of bed, and even being with a prefect would not help them if a professor came along.

"Regina, would you accompany me to the Head Boy quarters? Sirius should be there, and we can fix whatever is wrong."

Regina began to cry even harder but nodded her head into James' chest. He gave up her walking as a bad job, and scooped her up into his arms. He made the short journey to the Head Boys quarters, and gave the password to the portrait of Godric Gryffindor that guarded it.

When James walked in he could hear Remus and Sirius laughing in the common room and made his way to the armchair they usually left open for him.

The laughter cut off as Sirius and Remus took in the sight of Regina being held by James. He walked to his chair and sat down with her in his lap, as Sirius walked over to them and kneeled before her. She still had her face buried in James' chest and seemed reluctant to give up her shelter.

"Regina? Reggie? It's Siri, I'm here. What's wrong?"

The tenderness in his tone was something James had never heard before, and for the first time it struck James how hard it must have been to be separated from his sister. He obviously loved her a great deal.

At the sound of her brother's voice Regina hesitantly lifted her head from her hiding spot. She shoved the letter in her hand at Sirius while she dried her tears.

She knew it was improper to make such a scene, and to be sitting on James Potter's lap, and to be in his quarters, but she really didn't care.

She had done everything her parents ever asked, had given them everything, and for what?! They were still going to sell her away in the end, she didn't really matter to them. Nothing she did would ever be good enough for them. She was done trying.

As Sirius finished the letter, he began to see red. They wanted his sister to bond with Rabastan-fucking-LeStrange? He was a high ranking Death Eater and a cruel man. He relished in the violence and mayhem he created.

He couldn't let his sister bond with that monster.

Regina was a Slytherin, but she wasn't cruel. She was just so loyal. She still loved their family, even as they destroyed her.

She had never been as brave as Sirius, as willing to leave everything behind, but Sirius could see this was her breaking point.

Sirius stroked his sister's cheek and was glad to see she was reassured by his presence.

"I won't allow it, Reggie. I'll kill him before I'll allow him to bond with you. I swear it!"

Regina gave him a weak smile. She looked at James who was glancing between them with concern. Remus looked on from his spot across the room, with confusion written clearly on his face.

She stayed in James lap but addressed the room, "In their infinite wisdom, Orion and Walburga have decided that I will bond with Rabastan Lestrange this summer."

Remus' face drained of blood, and James' arms tightened around her, as if he could keep her safe with the strength of his arms alone, and well...maybe he could.

Regina thought that if she had these arms to run to, it would have been a lot easier to endure Walburga's endless rants about her imperfections. No wonder Sirius had run to the Potter's when he made his escape.

The magic she felt rolling off James was protective and reassuring in a way that she hadn't experienced since Sirius left home. She felt safe in his arms, and cloaked in his magic.

James felt his Potter magic purring in his chest knowing that the petite witch in his arms trusted him to protect her. She had asked for his help, meaning she found him to be trustworthy. Her magic was clearly receptive to his, allowing his magic to cloak hers in a protective manner as she sat in his lap.

He had loved her from afar for years, but he had been determined to court her in the traditional manner, since she followed all the pureblood customs. She wouldn't welcome his outlandish gestures, and dramatic overtures. He wouldn't risk scaring her off, she was too important.

Regina's sparkling grey eyes captivated him, and he longed to run his hands through her riotous black curls that she subdued into traditional braids every day.

What would the strands feel like against his skin? What would her lips feel like?

She was clearly not as straight laced or as rule-abiding as Sirius had led them to believe. It was beyond improper for her to be sitting here, outside of curfew, in his lap. Yet she made no attempt to move, or correct him. On the contrary, one of her hands kept a tight grip on his robes, as if afraid he might leave.

James was willing to bet she had followed all those rules as a way to escape the wrath of her parents. It could not have been easy without Sirius, and James cursed himself for not getting her away from them earlier.

"Right," Remus started, "we need to form a plan. There are only a few ways to stop a pureblood bonding. They don't need her consent if they plan to follow the traditional ceremony."

Regina shuddered. Her parents were very traditional. It was disgusting that they could make her bond without her consent.

Everyone was listening to Remus now as he paced up and down the length of the room, fiddling with his hands as he addressed them.

"What I suggest is that we make a list of single pureblood wizards that you would feel comfortable bonding with. The faster you get bonded, the better. Once the binding magic is complete, there's no going back. You'll belong to your husband's family, and Orion and Walburga won't be able to touch you."

Remus had stopped pacing now and was looking at Sirius with a fond smile. Regina was warmed by the love in his eyes. She wondered when they would complete their own bonding, but pushed the thought aside for now.

Regina tried to call names to mind, but was quite at a loss. She didn't want to bond with a Dark wizard. She had her fill of that for her entire life.

She knew all of the pureblood families and what sides of the war they were on, but she had seldom ever interacted with wizards on the "Light Side" besides the Marauders.

Remus was clearly in love with her brother, Peter gave her the creeps, and she dare not even dream about James having feelings for her, the pain would be too great if it never happened and she had dreamed about it.

Remus grabbed a piece of parchment, and he and Sirius wrote diligently as they whispered names to each other and wrote whatever they agreed upon.

Regina looked shyly up at James. "I don't know who would actually want me from your side. I'm a Slytherin...and a Black...and well...me. Just Reggie. Nothing remarkable. Nothing special."

James' anger was ignited at her words. What had her parents done to her to make her believe that?!

Regina was the definition of beauty. She was graceful, and dainty, and gorgeous. Her pale white skin was flawless, and her dark black hair was always done just so.

Not to mention, she was extremely loyal, and had a wicked sense of humor. She followed all the stupid pureblood rules her parents could spout. Apparently it still wasn't enough for them. Clearly she had got this idea from somewhere.

"Reg, any wizard would love to have a witch like you...so beautiful, sweet, and loyal..."

Remus and Sirius' voices stilled as they stared at the pair cuddled on the chair. They wondered if their list was made in vain. The look of utter captivation on James' face was wholly new to them. He looked at Regina like she was a masterpiece, a revelation from heaven.

James took her hand in his and ran his thumb over her knuckles, "I would be honored to bond you with Regina. I know the circumstances aren't ideal, but I promise I will treasure you, and spend every day making you fall in love with me."

Regina blushed crimson and mumbled something into James' chest, where she had hidden her face again.

"What's that?" James chuckled as he attempted to peel her off his chest so he could hear her.

When he finally extricated her she was bright red with a beaming smile on her face. She snuck a look over at where Remus and Sirius were sitting together giddily. Regina pushed herself up so she could whisper in his ear, "I already love you, James."

James felt his heart take off in a sprint at her words. A thrill went up his spine at the sensation of her lips brushing his ear.

Sirius was bouncing up and down and laughing heartily, while Remus patted him on the back, and tried to restrain him from rushing the new couple in his joy.

"This is amazing! We're gonna be brothers!" Sirius declared as James and Regina hugged.

James knew he wouldn't be able to delay the bonding. He could feel his magic swelling in his chest, pushing him to claim his bride. Once they were bonded, she would be safe. She would be protected by the Potter magic. She would even be allowed to move into his head boy quarters.

He knew without a doubt that he wouldn't be able to let her go now that he had secured her affections.

"Sirius, I recommend you and Remus head back to the Gryffindor common room for the night. Lady Potter and I will see you in the morning."

Sirius' eyes grew wide but chuckled at James as he climbed to his feet.

"Are you okay with this Reggie? Is it too fast? He can wait if you need some time!" Remus emphasized- ever the voice of reason.

Regina blushed as she stood, but straightened her back and with poise.

"It's okay, Remus. I want this."

Remus smiled down at her before grabbing Sirius by the hand and dragging him out of the portrait hole as Sirius yelled, "Make me a nephew!" back at James. Regina and James laughed at Sirius' horrible sense of humor as he was dragged out by his boyfriend.

Left alone, James turned to Regina. She looked up at him and grabbed one of his hands before smiling wickedly at him.

"Lord Potter," she whispered as she took a step towards him. "Lady Potter," he responded softly before he pulled her into a searing kiss, and pushed a strand of his magic softly into her magical core. Regina did the same and he tried not to gasp at the intensity of her magic.

Her occlumency shields had done a marvelous job of covering her emotions. James could now feel the depth of her loyalty and love for him. He had made the right choice.

Regina relished in the unconditional love and protectiveness she could feel in the strand of magic now entwining itself into her magical core. James loved her in a way that she knew promised happiness, and as much safety as he could offer.

As the binding magic began to settle, the Lady Potter ring appeared on Regina's hand. James brought it to his mouth and kissed it before leading her towards his bedroom.

As they climbed the stairs to his bedroom, Regina found herself thanking Merlin and all The Founders that James Potter was the one that found her outside the Gryffindor Common Room that night.