"This is it, James," Sirius says as they look at their reflections in the Gryffindor boys dormitory, "we're going to lose our virginities tonight."
"Yeah," James replies, tugging at the uncomfortable bowtie around his throat, but he isn't sure. "I guess."
Sirius turns to face James and puts his hands on his shoulders sternly. "We made a pact," he reminds James. "We'd both lose it by the leaver's ball. We're eighteen and we still haven't gone all the way. It's tragic," he lowers his voice. "I'm pretty sure even Peter has done it. I've seen him holding hands with Mary McDonald when they think no one's looking."
James snorts and shakes his head. "Don't be daft, mate. He'd have told us before he lost his hard-on."
"Good point," Sirius agrees. "Look, let's make a bet—just for fun."
James groans as Sirius reaches for the bottle of red wine that they've been swigging while getting ready. He fills two small goblets and hands one to James, then holds his aloft. "Go on then," James sighs, defeatedly.
"Tonight we do it," Sirius pledges dramatically. "Or so help me Merlin, our dicks will fall off." He clinks his goblet against James's, and takes a gulp. "I bet I lose it before you do." He grins wickedly.
James glugs down his wine. It's probably true. After years of him chasing her, Lily has finally agreed to go to a party with him, but it's a bittersweet result. When she agreed, James didn't feel as euphoric as he expected. It felt more like he'd finally conquered a tricky Quidditch move than scoring a date with the girl he'd fancied for years.
Despite accepting his invitation, she still didn't seem that interested in him, but James wagered that if she wanted to throw him a pity-shag as a final hurrah, he wasn't exactly going to say no.
It was highly unlikely that Sirius was going to run into any issues. He'd been on a handful of dates with their friend, Remus, and it was quite clear to anyone with a functional pair of eyeballs that Remus was just as infatuated with Sirius as Sirius was with him. They would probably have already gone all the way with each other by now if it wasn't for Remus's attempt to try and prolong their honeymoon phase—but James had noticed that Remus had started to preen himself a bit more on the run up to the leaver's party. His hair was glossy and shiny, he'd spent money on fancy new dress robes, and James was quite sure he'd been experimenting with spells or potions on his skin, as his scars were looking much more faded than normal.
There was no reason for it, really. Sirius adores Remus wholeheartedly, scars and all. James knows that Remus is well aware of this, so there is really only one reason that Remus would go through so much effort—he's trying to improve his appearance for his own self confidence.
James grins as he thinks about Remus preening himself in the mirror. Yep. He's definitely planning on going all the way tonight.
"You'll probably win," James replies, putting his goblet down on a nightstand. "Just put your tie on the door handle if you're in here with Remus, yeah? No one needs to see your scrawny bare arse if they walk in on you."
…
James stands at the edge of the party, feeling miserable.
He came down to the party with Lily after meeting her in the Common Room, as planned. But as soon as they got to the Great Hall, which had been decked out for the party, Lily had squealed when she saw her friends and ran over to them.
She hasn't spoken to James since. James watches her from a distance, as she dances with Marlene McKinnon, her jade-green skirts swishing around her. Marlene is wearing rose-pink frills that look lovely on her dark skin. They look happy together, and James doesn't blame Lily for wanting to go and spend time with her friend. He just wishes that she hadn't agreed to go to the dance together if she didn't actually want to be here with him.
He realises he feels pretty lonely, even a room full of people. He sees Sirius and Remus swaying together, laughing at some intimate joke. Even Peter is holding hands and dancing—albeit slightly awkwardly—with Mary McDonald. Almost everyone else is paired off, either dancing in the middle of the hall or holed up around the edges, giggling and chatting. The only exception is a few of the Slytherins, who are hanging around by the makeshift bar in groups.
James sits on a bench and huffs. He decides he'll give the party another hour before leaving. As he's contemplating wandering over to the bar for some punch, he sees Sirius and Remus sloping off out of the hall. Sirius glances in James's direction as they reach the doors and gives him a wink.
There goes James's plan to go back to the dormitory to throw out an angry wank.
He's just about to get up and leave when the bench creaks beside him with the weight of another person. He glances up from his brooding, into the familiar eyes of Sirius's younger brother, Regulus. He's looking at James with a sharp eyebrow raised, and the hint of a smirk playing on his lips.
"Regulus," James says by way of greeting. He knows Regulus fairly well—through Sirius, and also from the Quidditch pitch. Regulus was an enthusiastic Seeker for Slytherin, and they've clashed a few times before now. He realises idly that Regulus looks quite handsome in his smart black dress robes, and his wavy hair pushed to the side.
"James." It's normally 'Potter' on the Quidditch pitch, so James is mildly surprised by his change of tune. "You look like you could use a drink." He holds up an uncorked bottle of champagne.
James snorts. "Where did you pull that out of?"
Regulus's eyes glimmer darkly. "Wouldn't you like to know?" He takes a swig directly from the bottle, and James raises his eyebrows.
"Merlin, Reg. I thought you Slytherins had a bit more decorum." He glances around the hall, looking out for Professors who might be watching. "I don't think Slughorn would be too happy about you—"
"Oh, please," Regulus scoffs. "There isn't enough alcohol in this stuff to get anyone drunk." He passes the bottle to James, who takes a drink with a laugh, forcing down the bubbles. He isn't all that keen on champagne, but he doesn't want to look stupid in front of Regulus.
He isn't quite sure why he suddenly cares so much about that.
They sit in silence for a few moments, passing the bottle between them, until Regulus finally clears his throat. "So, I know about your bet."
James almost spits champagne all over him. "Wh-what?" he splutters, feeling his face redden.
"Sirius told me at the bar," Regulus continues. "Said you made a bet to sleep with someone tonight. Something about dicks falling off."
James is mortified. "I can't believe he told you. He's such an idiot."
Regulus shrugs. "He said you were going to be trying it on with Evans," he glances over at Lily, who is red in the face from exertion of dancing, "but you know she has a thing for McKinnon, right?"
Suddenly, James seems to notice the way Lily's hands are resting on Marlene's hips, and how Marlene's fingers curl a little too delicately at the nape of Lily's neck, combing through her long auburn hair. How had he never noticed? "Y-yeah," he says quickly.
Regulus snorts. "Convincing," he says dryly. "Look, I've got a proposition for you. This party is boring. You have a problem that needs solving. I'd really like to see my brother irritated that you actually managed to succeed at your bet—"
"What?" James asks. Is Regulus really suggesting what he thinks he's suggesting?
"Just come with me." Regulus stands, his hands his pockets.
James remains on the bench for a few moments, staring at Regulus with his mouth hanging open. Regulus glances back at him just once.
"Come, or don't," he says softly. "Makes no difference to me." He turns around and starts walking out of the hall, not looking back to see if James is following.
Which, obviously, he is.
…
Regulus is leaning against a broom closet in the hallway. There's moonlight shining through a window and it dapples his pale skin beautifully, making it look like milk. He smiles as James approaches.
"I've had a crush on you since fourth year, you know," Regulus says quietly, looking down at his feet, "I always liked watching you in Quidditch."
James is slightly stunned. "I had no idea," he says. "Why didn't you say anything?"
A pink tinge spreads across Regulus's face as he looks up at James. "It was a secret. Also, you were obsessed with Evans, so what would've been the point?"
James bites his lip, wondering if he'd have felt any different about Lily if he'd known that someone else was crushing on him. "What are we doing here, Reg?"
Regulus opens the broom cupboard door and steps inside, reaching out to pull James in with him. The door clicks shut softly, and they are lapsed into darkness. James considers casting a Lumos charm, but decides he feels more confident in the dark.
"You're going to win a bet, of course," Regulus murmurs, and suddenly James feels Regulus pressing his body against him, pushing him back into the door. Regulus reaches up and winds his arms around James's neck, and James's hands find Regulus's hips. He feels Regulus's hot breath ghosting across the skin of his jaw, and James shudders.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Reg?" he asks. "I don't know how Sirius will feel about this."
"He doesn't have to know," Regulus breathes excitedly. "We can do it one time. Just a quick fling. Between friends."
James doesn't need much convincing after that. Regulus's mouth finds the corner of his, and he turns his head to kiss him.
…
The next morning, James wakes up on a couch in the Gryffindor Common Room, feeling quite satisfied with himself. Peter is flaked out on the fluffy rug in front of the fire, his arms behind his head. He nods in greeting at James, and they both sit up just as Sirius comes down the stairs, wearing nothing but his checkered boxers, Remus following him.
"Morning," Sirius says jovially, throwing himself in an armchair. Remus goes to sit on the arm of the chair, but Sirius pulls him into his lap.
"You two are looking especially friendly this morning," says James, grinning.
A blush covers Remus's face, and Sirius laughs. "Well, someone had to fulfil our bet. I noticed that you weren't getting anywhere with Lily."
Sirius looks so smug that James wants to tell him right there and then that actually, he did fulfil the bet. But he remembers Regulus's heady voice from the night before, saying all the right things and pushing all of James's buttons. Sirius can't know.
But that doesn't mean James can't tell him he slept with someone, right?
"Actually, I did it," James says quickly. "When you left the party, I got off with one of the Hufflepuff graduates. She was all over me. Has fancied me since her fourth year, apparently."
Sirius raises his eyebrow and Remus doesn't look convinced. Peter frowns at James. "When did that happen, then?" he asks, looking puzzled. "Because the last I remember, you were talking with Regulus Black, and then you two sloped off togeth—oh."
James stares at Peter, shell-shocked. Remus puts a hand over his mouth, and James realises that he's shaking with laughter. Sirius—
Sirius looks furious. James feels the blood leave his body as he watches the realisation dawn on his best friend.
Well, at least they both fulfilled their bets.
Written For:
- Assignment #12/Cybersecurity Task #4: Write about someone learning a secret about another person.
- Winter Funfair/Naughty Elf on the Shelf: 13. (dialogue) "We can do it one time. Just a quick fling between friends."
- Winter Funfair/Snowman Dressing: Hats 10. Friendship
- Writing Club/Gotta Catch Them All: 22. (word) crush
- Writing Club/Written in the Stars: 10. (action) throwing a party
- Writing Club/Artist Appreciation: 15. (setting) party
- Writing Club/TV Spree: 10. (object) Bottle of champagne
- Moony's Neon Cafe/Food: 11. (setting) Moonlight
Word Count: 1,996
