Advent Calendar: James/Regulus

Seasonal - Days of the Month - October 6th - "We're all mad here!"

Seasonal - Autumn - (word) goosebumps

Seasonal - Colour - Moss Green

Seasonal - Birthstone - "My mother says I shouldn't entertain stupidity."

Seasonal - Flowers - Goldenrod - (phrase) Golden Boy

Seasonal - Elemental - (word) tempest

Seasonal - Dessert - (Theme) pining

Seasonal - Characters / Traits - Other: Head boy badge

Writing Club - Character Appreciation - 27. Half blood

Writing Club - Disney - Songs 3 - Something There - Enemies to Lovers

Writing Club - Crafty Corner 5 - Write about a pairing sneaking around in secret

Writing Club - Book Club - 2. Silas - (character) Sirius, (word) responsibility, (word) mystery

Writing Club - Showtime - 1. "Are you ready?"

Writing Club - Buttons - Word 5: Present

Writing Club - Sophie's Shelf - Pairing 1 - James/Regulus

Writing Club - Em's Emporium - 2 (word) chaos

Writing Club - Angel's Arcade - 11 - Jyunichi - (word) devotion / (pairing) James/Regulus / (setting) Astronomy Tower

Writing Club - Film Festival - (action) fist bump

Eastern Funfair -Paper Snowflakes - 62: Enemies to Lovers

Southern Funfair - Christmas Raffle - (character) Regulus/ Word: Peaceful / Activity: Spin the eggnog/bottle *BONUS 1 ticket*

Northern Funfair - Building a Snowman - Stick: Enemies to Lovers

His Turn

James/Regulus

Sirius/Remus

Sirius clutched the empty bottle of eggnog tightly as he looked around the circle. He had spent long hours preparing for this moment. Armed with a quill and parchment, he marked the spot that the bottle landed on the most when he spun it. 87% of the time, it ended two spaces to his left. So he made sure to have James sit in between him and Remus.

This was his year. He would make sure that bottle landed on Remus and he'd kiss Remus in a way that would make Remus come back for more.

And more and more and more and then even more than that.

Sirius was confident in his plan. He sat on the floor and waited for the last guests to arrive. There was no way he'd start until Remus was present.

"Sorry I'm late," Remus said, approaching the group. "I didn't want to leave the common room until I finished my hot chocolate."

"It's cool. We weren't waiting around just for you," Sirius said casually.

"Oh." Remus hesitated. "Can I sit here?"

Sirius shook his head. Trying to stretch out in his space. "You need to sit the other side of James," he ordered.

Remus' smile faded. "Okay." He gave Sirius an uncertain look before moving over to James' other side. Sirius opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again when he saw someone else sit down.

"Go back to the dungeons, adults are busy here," he said, glancing at his brother.

"I saw Lupin coming up here and was curious," Regulus said, not moving from his spot in between Lily and Alice. "I had to sneak past McGonagall. If I go back down, there's a high chance she'll see me and demand to know what I was doing…" the threat hung in the air for a long moment. "I'm sure she'd be pleased to see the Head Boy participating." His gaze moved to the shiny badge sitting on James' red jumper.

"What's the worst that could happen?" James asked softly. "He'll get bored without his friends and go back to his common room."

"Fine," Sirius muttered. "Alice, do you want to take the first spin?"

Alice smiled. "Why not?" she asked, reaching for the bottle. Sirius glared at his brother who was wearing a new, moss green jumper no doubt from their parents. The golden boy always had the best clothes, not that Sirius cared. He didn't care at all about stupid Regulus.

...oOo…

Sirius didn't enjoy the kiss with Frank. Mostly because Frank wasn't Remus. Regulus was still there which was spoiling the game for him and he glared at his brother before spinning the bottle.

He was confident where it would land, but as it slowed, he realised that he had let his anger get the best of him. The bottle passed Remus, stopping on James.

Gross. He squeezed his eyes shut and cringed at the brush of James' lips against his own. When he opened them again, James looked just as disgusted by the kiss.

Thankful the moment was over (though upset that he hadn't spun Remus), Sirius gestured for James to continue. His friend reached for the bottle, spinning it fast. "Not Sirius," he whispered. "Not Sirius."

Sirius gave him a hard nudge. The last thing he wanted was for Remus to think he was a bad kisser. The nudge managed to shut James up and Sirius was relieved as it slowed once it had passed him. James wasn't going to be kissing him or Remus.

When it came to a stop, Sirius realised that he would much rather it had landed on him. As Regulus' lips curved into a smirk, Sirius was holding his tongue. He didn't want his friend defiling his younger brother.

"James, don't," he hissed.

"Rules are rules," Regulus said, crawling across the circle. "Potter, you're not chickening out, are you?"

James watched Regulus for a long moment. "I thought that the worst thing would be to kiss Sirius. But I take that thought back," he said. "Kissing you would be the worst thing to happen to me this year." Still he got to his knees. Sirius took a deep breath. It'd just be a brush of lips like James had done to him. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than the way Alice had kissed Marlene.

Their lips met for a moment and suddenly Regulus' hand was winding its way around the back of James' neck, pulling him closer. Sirius stared for a long moment, shocked that his friend would betray him like this.

"James!" he snapped, suddenly finding his voice. James pulled away from Regulus, looking somewhat dazed.

"What?"

"That's my brother," Sirius added angrily. "You… you can't… you're not allowed… stop staring at him!"

"I'm not," James muttered. "He spun and… it's Remus."

Sirius glanced at Regulus who was shuffling across the circle to Remus. "Game over!" he snapped loudly, grabbing the bottle and getting to his feet. He pulled his brother up. "You, get back to your common room now!"

He stormed off, leaving the astronomy tower quietly and heading towards a nearby tapestry that hid a small alcove. The night had been the worst. He had kissed James. James had kissed Regulus. Regulus had tried to kiss the love of Sirius' life. It was complete chaos. He was supposed to have kissed Remus. Regulus was supposed to be kissing no one.

He resisted throwing the bottle against the wall. That would alert a prefect and he'd be in a lot of trouble.

"Sirius?" The curtain moved and Sirius glanced up to where Remus stood. He looked between Sirius and the bottle on the floor. "Can I join you?"

Sirius shrugged and Remus pushed the curtain back to cover them. "Look, I know I've somehow upset you today. You've been off with me and I don't know why, but… but I just want to assure you I had no intention of kissing your brother. I planned for the tiniest brush of lips. I don't… I wouldn't kiss him, so… so please don't be mad at me."

"James kissed him," Sirius muttered. "Why would he?"

"Look in the mirror," Remus said, chuckling softly. "Your family could have veela blood, you entice everyone that crosses your path. Most people were there in hopes of getting a kiss from you. You inspire this feeling of… of devotion."

"I'm not mad at you. I know you… you wouldn't betray me like that. I just…" Sirius hesitated. "Were you there in hopes of getting a kiss from me?"

"That depends. Would you screw up your face if the bottle had landed on me?" Remus checked.

Sirius shook his head. "Of course not," he insisted.

"Well, perhaps I had a reason to be there then," Remus admitted, his cheeks reddening.

Sirius bit his lip. "And… perhaps I didn't want Regulus to be the Black you kissed," he offered, wanting to finally admit to Remus the truth, and offer something embarassing of his own, to ease Remus' embarrassment. The moment of silence that followed was peaceful but there was an anticipation lingering in the air and Sirius wondered what was going to happen next. "Do I inspire a feeling of devotion from you, because it's possible I may be devoted to you."

"Entirely devoted," Remus whispered shyly as he reached for the discarded bottle that lay on the floor between them and spun it. He laughed softly when the neck of the bottle pointed back at him. "Your turn."

Sirius reached for the bottle, giving it a big spin, his heart racing as he waited for it to stop. This spin was more fruitful than the last, as the bottle pointed towards his long-term crush. He was certain that goosebumps were popping up over his arms. "Are you ready?" he whispered.

Remus nodded his head quickly. "Very."

He shuffled closer and leaned in. The kiss was barely more than a brush of lips, but he found himself lingering and more importantly, Remus also lingered.

As they moved away, Sirius felt dazed by the kiss. Remus' lips were as soft as he had always imagined and he wanted to kiss Remus again. But did he ask Remus for a kiss? Did he need to say something? He felt at a loss on how to proceed.

Remus spun the bottle again. "It's on you," he said, his amber eyes fixed intently on Sirius. "I guess this means we kiss again?"

Sirius smiled softly. "We can't break the rules of the game," he said, leaning in for a second kiss. Another brush of lips, but it was clear they were both nervous, yet reluctant to pull apart. "My spin."

This time however, Sirius' lips pressed eagerly against Remus' and it only took a second for Remus to return the kiss. Bottle forgotten, nerves fading from their minds, fingers twisting into hair and Sirius found himself in Remus' lap, desperately kissing his roommate.

"Fuck, that feels good," came another voice. The tapestry moved and two figures almost fell into the space. The mystery of who the pair were was quickly solved. "Get on your knees, Potter."

Sirius pulled away from Remus like a shot and scrambled to his feet. "Regulus?" he said, recognising the voice. He tried to control himself in front of Remus and tried to calm the tempest look in his eyes.

The pair spun around, their gazes on Sirius and Remus. James looked extremely guilty. "Shit." He glanced at Regulus. "Look, I gotta... Sirius, are you mad at me?"

"Owl me. I'll let you know when and where we'll continue this," Regulus said, taking a few deep breaths. "Sirius, you're such a cock-block."

"I'm telling your mother," Sirius threatened angrily. "Stay away from my friend!"

"My mother says I shouldn't entertain stupidity," Regulus drawled, looking quite put out at the idea of staying away from James.

"As for you Potter, Mad - we're all mad here!"

"Are you really that mad? I mean, you were in Remus' lap so it's a good day for you," James tried, holding out his hand. "Bring it in."

Sirius glared at his friend but reluctantly fist-bumped him. He was snogging Remus after all, and that was fist-bump worthy. "I'm very mad," he hissed.

James stepped back at the tone. "Well, this is my cue to leave," he replied, disappearing under the tapestry.

"Sleep with your eyes open tonight," Sirius called after him.

Regulus rolled his eyes and disappeared. Sirius glanced around, disappointed to see Remus standing up. Outside of the space, he didn't know where they stood.

"We can continue this upstairs if you'd like. If you still feel nervous about kissing me, bring the bottle. But I don't think we need it anymore. You know where my bed is when you're ready."

He leaned in and kissed Sirius softly. Sirius almost melted into the kiss, but before he could, Remus had slipped out and was already heading back to the dorm.

Sirius looked at the bottle before picking it up. Perhaps they didn't need it anymore, but he wanted to keep it. It would be a reminder of their first kiss. It would sit proudly on their fireplace and he'd tell their grandchildren stories about it.

He headed back to the dorm room, eager to continue what they had started. Tomorrow he'd get revenge on James. Whether he got on with Regulus or not, his younger brother was his responsibility and he'd make sure James knew that Regulus deserved better than a quick shag in a dark part of the school.

But… perhaps if he played this right, James would be the very thing to draw Regulus back to the right side and away from the friends he had surrounded himself with.

Whatever happened, he was going to have a serious talk with his best friend. But not before joining Remus.

1981 words