The rain thundered upon the windows of the Gryffindor common room, casting a bleak light upon its residents. The dying embers of a once strong fire dimmed in the fireplace, casting a sombre atmosphere upon the common room. In the midst of the gloom, a lone figure descended the stairs, his tan skin contrasting sharply against the dark stone walls. As he stepped down the stairs, he waved his wand, a brilliant light appearing within the tip of his wand. The light illuminated a piece of paper, a detailed map showcasing the various pathways and rooms throughout the school.
On the map, a multitude of names and footprints were present, which appeared to be tracked by the wand. The figure, Regulus Black, traced the path on the map with his finger to a specific name and pair of footprints, his eyes lighting up upon discovering their location.
His lips curled into a smile as he recognized a familiar name, his heart filling with joy. He approached the large portrait hung upon the wall, his eyes widening as he peered through the opening.
Behind the portrait was a familiar boy, with pale skin and grey eyes. Regulus could clearly identify him as James Potter, the object of his affection. Regulus's heart was filled with warmth at the sight of his beloved, and he hastened to cross the distance between them.
Regulus embraced James close as the two boys finally reunited after being apart for a prolonged period. Although the two boys had met during the summer, the separation had been painful for both of them. James welcomed Regulus into his warmth, his grey eyes sparkling with affection.
The two boys walked over to one of the old, soft couches in the commonroom, cuddling up together.
Regulus and James sat upon the couch, their bodies intertwined as they sought out the comfort of each other's' presence. As they remained snuggled together, James could feel the younger boy's body trembling slightly, an indication of how deeply Regulus was impacted by the recent mistreatment he had suffered. James traced his fingers down Regulus's back, offering him physical validation and assurance that he would not allow such abuse to occur again.
"I missed you so much, Reggie." Said James in a soft, caring tone while playing with the younger boys hair.
Regulus melted into the comfort of James's embrace, his body resting against the older boy as he soaked in the warmth of his voice and touch. James's gentle voice was a source of solace for the boy, who had felt so lost and alone during the period of separation between the two. Regilus's heart was overflowing with joy and affection, and he squeezed his lover tightly as he snuggled deeper into his embrace.
"I missed you too, my love." Regulus replied, allowing himself to relax for the first time in weeks since the summer break.
"I'm so glad I'm out of that house..." Regulus sighed into the crook of James's neck.
Regulus's body shivered as he thought about the harsh treatment he had endured at the hands of his parents, allowing himself to finally exhale in the safety of James's embrace. James offered a sympathetic expression as he caressed Regulus's hair, providing a warm, comforting presence. James understood the deep-seated bitterness that Regulus harbored towards his family, feeling a deep sorrow for the younger boy.
"I'm sorry about your parents..." James murmured, squeezing Regulus tighter.
"It's ok... I just wish Sirius had stayed with me..." Regulus said bitterly. His brother had left the summer of '75, moving in with James and his parents, leaving Regulus alone with his mum and dad.
"I know..." James muttered, caressing Regulus's cheek. He was well aware of the immense love and attachment the younger boy had towards his older brother. "If only he had stayed..." James added sympathetically. The loss of his brother was a deep pain for Regulus, and James was sensitive to how much his partner yearned for his family's reunion.