Jegulus - I'll be good

Part Thirty-Five

Hey my lovely readers! I'm still alive and I'm sorry that the update took so long again. Life has been quite busy and motivation unfortunately low, but I finally got around to write a new part. I'm sorry if some sentences sound choppy, I'm out of practise.
Thank you for sticking by!
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James sighed when he read Regulus' reply. Sooo, no meeting today. That was a pity, but he knew the Slytherin was quite wrapped up in duties, some of them made him feel really bitter, but as long as he was in school, Reg had to do what kept him the safest. He just sometimes wished it was easier and definitely safer per se.
"Did you know that French fries aren't necessarily French? There's no clear documentary about who created them", Sirius chimed into the room and dropped next to the Potter. James quickly crumpled up the paper in his hand and shook his head: "No, that's new to me. How did you come to the idea of researching this?"
"It was a bit more interesting than what Moony wanted me to learn. History of magic is so damn boring", Padfoot answered and popped a jellybean into his mouth, before pulling a grimace because it was one of the disgusting ones.
"So the usual. Now I want some fries", James said with a smirk, that would be really nice. A new date idea popped up. Regulus surely had never seen a funfair before and he was convinced that Lily would love to go to one again too. And it was a muggle event, so it was quite safe to visit.
"It's fullmoon soon again... I can't believe there's still no solution for the little problem. How many more years do you think Remus has to go through this? Can't we work on a cure?", Sirius changed the topic in a quiet voice. They all hated seeing their friend going through the change as it was incredibly painful. Keeping him company just helped with one aspect of it.
"I know. I wish so too. Lily says she is trying to work something out every once in a while. You know she's more talented with potions than we are. But so far she had no success and she says Professor Slughorn thinks it's too advanced, even for him." Which the Potter clearly understood. Not even potion masters and healers had managed to find a solution so far. But one could wish and hope for the best, right?
"I thought that maybe we can at least make the shack a bit more comfortable. I know we are out of school soon, but he will still need a place to go to afterwards and this one is quite safe", Sirius pointed out staring at the fire in the chimney, before looking back at James, "and I still think we all should move together. The four of us and Lily. Imagine how cool that must be. The amazing five, never separated again, standing in first line to fight in the war. Saving the world."
James bit his tongue to not say something dumb related to Regulus, at this point he was still sure that Sirius wouldn't be too happy about them dating and as much as he hated lying to his best friend, he wasn't ready for that discussion yet.
"Well yeah. It does sound like a great plan, I'm just not sure if Lily wants to live with four chaotic guys in one house", Prongs pointed out amused, the imagination was funny tho.
"Remus isn't chaotic tho. They would sit in the kitchen and drink tea, talking about the weather while everything goes down in flames around them", Sirius painted a very realistic image, and James had to laugh in agreement. That sounded very accurate.
The painting swung open and Remus climbed into the common room: "There you are! I've been looking for you...you said you're just catching some air and it's been an hour."
Sirius let out a long sigh and looked at Remus a little bit guilty: "I'm sorry, moon of my life, but I couldn't get myself to go back to studying the most boring stuff in the world. I could literally feel life being sucked out of my body and getting older with every second."
Again, James had to laugh. Their exchange sometimes really was amusing and Sirius dramatic side never failed to make people laugh.
"If you would put the same energy in studying you're putting into striving against it, you could reach your whole potential. You're so smart, but you don't use it", Moony scolded his partner softly and nudged his shoulder, before sitting down next to him and stretching out his legs.
"You're not my mom, Moony, stop talking like one", Sirius complained and bit into his shoulder gently. Moony pulled a face: "Thanks to Merlin I'm not your mother. In that relation I prefer being myself, thank you very much."
"Good on you for finally learning to accept yourself, old man", James chimed in with a grin. If that wasn't a good way to go. Remus really needed more self-esteem anyway. But his comment was met with a grimace as usual.
"I will let you two have your dramatic peace now. I just realised that I forgot my essay for DADA", James jumped up from his chair, collecting his belongings. Over his mind being somewhere else he didn't even start writing it and he needed it tomorrow. He bolted off the room and made his way to the library.

A few hours had passed and it was almost midnight when James packed up his things and sorted the books back into the shelves. He had managed to finish his essay, definitely not one of his best works, but it would do the job. With a yawn he left the library and started to walk towards the stairs to the Gryffindor tower. Usually people weren't in the hallways that late anymore, but being headboy would save him if he got caught. His steps were echoing from the walls, which made it extra obvious how late it was. Not even ghosts were around. He was completely alone. Or so he thought until he reached the staircase. Regulus was sitting on the stairs and James' heart made a little jump. Did he wait for him?
"We need to stop meeting each other like this, all these coincidences", he said jokingly, but immediately became more serious when he saw the Slytherin's face, "what's wrong? Did something happen? Are you hurt?" Knowing that he had been at a family thing, that could be the case, even if Reg was the supposedly goldchild. He sat down next to him, patiently waiting for an answer, now seeing that Reg's face looked a bit damaged. Like someone punched him and tried using a weak healing spell. He reached out and grabbed his chin softly, turning his face into his direction: "Who did this? Your mother?" The sharpness in his own voice surprised him, but with an open bill with them for how they had treated Sirius, this was just another drop into the barrel that was already overly full.
"No, it's just...I collided with Mulciber earlier today, it's fine", he said and didn't bridle against James' grip, "you know that he's an idiot. I was at this dinner my parents gave today and apparently it was just meant to make sure that I have zero control over my future." The bitterness in his tone was almost tastable in the air and he also looked like he wanted to stomp on the floor like a child starting to throw a temper tantrum. Only his pride kept him back.
"What do you mean by that?", the Potter wanted to know, recognising how Regulus avoided to look into his face. And it made his stomach feel just a little bit too upside down.
Regulus freed his face from James hand now and looked at the floor: "They've decided that I should get married to the daughter of a family's mutual or something like that. Not that it's surprising that they've planned something like that, but...yeah."
The silence that followed was quite loud and James' thoughts started to run in circles. He thought they would have some time to figure things out before facing this sort of problem. He took off his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose: "With all necessary respect, but what the fuck. Why are these people so far behind in life. Marrying someone off just for good connections. I'm so sorry, Reg, but I don't understand how you and Sirius turned out so well, when the rest of your family sucks. What did you say?"
Regardless of the situation Regulus had to laugh shortly: "Well, I would say luck. Or braincells. I said that I won't...can't do that, which sparked a heated debate. Unfortunately I don't think I get out of that just by saying that I don't want it. I mean, it isn't definite before she's legal of age, so there are still three years to find a way out."
"This might sound blunt, but what if the way it is to come out?", Prongs asked with a factual voice and already saw that this wasn't what he wanted to hear. Pure horror spread over the younger's face and he shook his head: "No, not yet. There's so much going on right now, I can't risk that and I'd like to live until my graduation."
James shortly smiled and wrapped an arm around his shoulders: "Okay, okay. It was just an idea, don't worry. As you have said, there's still three years to figure that out. A lot can happen in that much time. It could solve itself."
"I hope so. I'm sorry for coming up with a new issue all the time", Regulus spoke out glumly and squeezed James' hand shortly. Poor Gryffindor, always had to put up with all this stuff he didn't sign up for to begin with.
"Don't worry...I knew what I got myself into once I realised what I got myself into. Regardless what you might be thinking, I did sign up for this", James said seriously and ruffled his hair, "want me to bring you to your common room?"
Reggie shortly pulled a face: "I'm not a kid, I can go there on my own."
The Potter just waited for a moment, because he knew an addition would follow.
"But yes please."
He grinned triumphant and jumped up from the stair, pulling Regulus up on his arm: "Don't think too much about it. It's not ideal, but we will find a solution." As confident and convinced he sounded, he didn't feel like it a hundred percent, but he also didn't want to let Regulus see a hint of doubt. And until now, they found solutions for almost everything, so why not for this too?
They walked in silence, Regulus absentmindedly playing with James hand, which the older one enjoyed. Sometimes the Black could be so incredibly cute. Way too fast they ended up at the entrance to the Slytherin common room, for his taste they could've spent another hour just walking next to each other.
"Thank you, James. For everything, I mean, you always find the right words", Regulus said with a small smile and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.
"That comes with being a genius", James said jokingly, "no, but I try. Sleep well, kitten."
Regulus turned almost crimson red and snapped against James' arm: "Don't call me that. Good night." A little bit embarrassed the Slytherin quickly climbed inside, James waited until the opening was closed before finally heading to his bedroom too. This whole topic definitely would keep him busy in his mind for the next time. And he wished he could talk to Sirius about it.