Allies to Friends

Just Boys In Love

James

I laid in bed and thought. There was no denying that both black brothers were very attractive, despite the large amount of incest. I once heard that muggles who did that had problems, I wondered if magic solved those problems, like it did with so many others.

Both of them were hot, yes, I was pretty sure that even straight guys could agree. But the difference was that there was no way I would ever date sirius. I loved him so much, but not in a romantic sense. He was my best friend. His brother.. Sirius was right, I did have a crush on regulus. I fantasized about the future with both brothers. My imagination always pictured Sirius as the brother I never had. I didn't think much about how Regulus would play into it until I started liking him.

If I told him and he didn't like me back, and if pads wanted to live with me, reg would too, it would be awkward. If I told him and he did like me and we dated and broke up, that would be worse.

I remembered lily telling me about some situation that some muggle made up. Probability or something. Where you and a friend committed a crime. If you confessed and the other didn't you would get in prison for 2 years, if both of you blamed each other, both would get 4 years, if both of you confessed, you both would get one. But if you blamed the other person and the other person confessed you would go free.

The situation reminded me of that. Best case, he likes me back and we stay together forever. Worst case, we break up, I lose Reg, and Siri choses him.

***

Regulus

I subtly took a deep breath, attempting to calm myself like Barty's brother told me how. Bella and Cissy were attempting to lecture me about something or the other. Severus was complaining about the marauders for the thousandth time. And i? I was just trying to survive another day in slytherin.

Sure, I wanted to be in Slytherin, any other house wasn't acceptable to my family, but it was also extremely stressful to be under the constant gaze of generally prejudiced people and specifically my family.

But after all that, I had friends. Barty.. Avery was sort of my friend.. James. Okay, perhaps I didn't have many friends. It was hard being friends with james. I still wrote to him sometimes, though I stopped with the whole fake girlfriend thing. We thought we were so smart, huh.

So, yes, I was jealous of Sirius sometimes, but never of the harsh treatment he got when he was home. I just.. Wanted the freedom he got, to act like how he wanted, to feel safe, to not constantly be on guard, to be close to james..

At least i wasn't gay.

***

James

I excitedly untied a letter from the leg of my owl and shoved it in my pocket for later.

"Reg again?" lily teased, though i didn' know what she was implying.

"Yeah, I wish he could owl more without it being suspicious."

"Why is it suspicious, by the way."

"Because he has to maintain a reputation for his safety. There's only so many times you owl your parents."

"Right. So? Read it! It's for your brother isn't it?"

"No.." I avoided her eyes.

"Oh?" she smiled like she was trying not to. "So he owls you more than his own brother.. I wonder what that means."

"I don't know. We're friends."

"Juuust friends?"

"Yeah?" How did she know about my crush?? "Why?"

"No reason." She got up and left to go to class.

"That was weird."

Sirius narrowed his eyes, having watched the conversation. "Yeah.. but she's onto something."

I scratched my head nervously. "What?"

"Why doesn't reggie owl me more??" he whined

I let out a breath. "Owl him more."

"Jamesss you're supposed to be on my sideee! Plus he's annoying."

"And you're annoying, let's go to class."

***

Sirius

"Moonyyyy" i laid across his lap, trying not to think about what i was doing

He lifted his book but otherwise ignored me.

"What would you do if you think that either your best friend likes your brother or your brother hates you??"

"I don't have a brother."

"I know that! But what do I do??"

"Your brother doesn't hate you., he goes through all this trouble to owl you."

"Yeah, yeah I know but that's better than my best friend being in love with him!"

"I'm not in love with your brother." he smiled and i knew that he knew what i meant

"I think Reggie likes him back!! What do i dooo."

"Whatever you do, do it quietly."

"Tell me rem! You are the smart one!"

"I think you have a brain, i know it's hard to believe since it's so hollow in there." he knocked on my head.

"Ow! Come on moons!"

"Just leave them alone, they'll find out sooner or later."

"I know and jams as my brother in law is great and all but my brother with my best friend?? That's so gross."

"So sad." Remus said with no sympathy.

I turned over and sighed dramatically, partly muffled. With my face pressed into his legs, I didn't see Remus blush. "Woe is me!"

"Uh-uh huh."

I turned my head so I could lay a little more comfortably and breathe properly. A few seconds later I see a book fly over my head and thump softly on the table, Remus having tossed it. Fingers thread in my hair and all I hear is soft breathing and the little swish swish of my hair.

And yet, I woke up in my bed.