When The Stars Fall

An Astute Observation

Authors Note: I changed Zabini's name because Kieran is so much more fitting than Florean. 

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"Slughorn's going to be late. The professors had a meeting during lunch and it's not done yet." Remus said as they walked into the classroom.

Sirius grinned, "Why look at you, Mr. Prefect, knowing all these little secrets." He teased as he sat down.

James rolled his eyes, "It's on the chalkboard, lover-boy. Honestly, could you be any more enamoured?"

"Wow, that's an eight-letter word, Prongs. You sure you know what it means?" Peter asked, raising an unimpressed eyebrow.

"Obviously he doesn't." Sirius answered with a scoff, "What did you just call me exactly?"

James gulped, Regulus' words from the other night running through his head, '"Right and the soft buzzing and "Remus" coming from the room next to mine is the house settling".'

He looked over at Sirius clearing his throat, "Sorry. Bad joke. I... didn't get much sleep last night." He explained quite pathetically.

"I'm going to go grab the ingredients." He mumbled not waiting for an answer as he walked to the supply room, flipping through his book to find the ingredients.

"Okay, the Pompion Potion uses Flitterby Moth, Bouncing Bulb, and..." He snapped the book shut shaking his head.

'No. No no no no no.'

"Foxglove." The answer came and he turned around eyes wide.

'Don't say it don't say it don't say it-'

"Excuse me?"

'And I said it. Of course, I said it.'

A small, breathy laugh left Regulus' mouth, "You just seemed confused so if you can't understand English, the word in the book? It was Foxglove."

"Oh. Uh, thank- thanks." He said with a small smile, eyes glancing down at his tie remembering just a few nights ago how he was pulling at it. 

'Yeah, definitely not Sirius.' He thought to himself with a small gasp.

Regulus slowly nodded, "Right then... if you'll excuse me, the ingredients I need? They're behind you."

James shook his head trying to snap out of it, "Right! Merlin I- I am so sorry." He laughed quickly grabbing the Foxglove, moving around him.

Their shoulders bumped and they turned to face each other.

James smiled softly as he breathed in the smell of his cologne.

"Has anyone ever told you you smell like Quidditch?" Regulus murmured looking up to meet his eyes.

He gulped, shaking his head with a small laugh to cover up his nerves, "Is that an insult? Quidditch usually smells like sweat."

"Or sex. The adrenaline pumping, the want and need to reach that high." He smirked, "No, it's not an insult. More of an..."

"Astute observation?" James finished for him trying to ignore the sex comment, his heartbeat in his ears as his blood ran hot.

He nodded, "Yeah. I like it."

"Told you we were friends." He mumbled, "You seem to like me around."

Regulus scoffed looking away, "We are not friends."

"How about acquaintances?" He smiled, raising an eyebrow.