i really loved him

chapter 40

January/February – They met every day if they could help it.

Between each of their team training sessions, James spending enough time causing mischief with his friends so as not to rouse suspicion and the subsequent detentions he received for it, there wasn't always time for a couple of pleasurable hours spent in the library or on the pitch. Instead, they settled for slotting in as many brief assignations as their schedules would allow.

The disused classroom on the fourth floor, the secluded patch of grass round the back of the changing rooms, a few stairwell shortcuts concealed by tapestries, the secret passages behind statues of the One-eyed Witch and Gregory the Smarmy. Thanks to the Map, they had their pick of secret meeting places from the abundance the Marauders had discovered and scrawled down.

And on top of that, James had almost every corridor in the school memorised by this point. Right down to the broom cupboards that lined them.

Wednesday, 2nd February, 18:57 – Having showered and changed after a particularly lengthy practice with the team, Regulus only just reached the top of the dungeon steps before James ambushed him.

"Alright, Reggie?"

His head poked out from under the cloak, which would have startled Regulus if he hadn't heard the invisible footsteps approaching. Glancing around, he quickly came forwards and dipped beneath it himself.

"Hi," he whispered, a little surprised.

They hadn't planned to meet now, but Regulus wasn't complaining; he generally handled their more carefully organised rendezvous, while James preferred a simpler approach that involved turning up at random intervals with a big smile and kisses. Once again, he wasn't complaining.

Beaming, James pecked him on the cheek, then grabbed his hand and they walked away from the dungeons. Breath came easier with every step; Regulus didn't say it aloud, but being anywhere near the other Slytherins with James terrified him. Even with the cloak, even with the Map, even with their remaining mostly in silence as they walked just in case anyone was around the next corner, he was convinced that one of them would find out. He unconsciously gripped James' hand a little harder.

At first, Regulus thought they might just be heading to dinner together. He soon realised that was very much not the idea. James strode right past the great hall, leading him to a short corridor below the spiral staircase and graciously holding the broom cupboard door open for him.

Only once they were inside, with the door locked and the Silencing Charm cast upon it, did Regulus feel the tension leave him. They would be safe here.

James wrapped both hands around his waist and lowered his head slightly, so that their noses were just touching.

"Dinner is about to start," Regulus reminded him.

"I don't care."

"What about your friends?"

"They know I'll be late. Said I was getting a book from the library first."

"They believed that?" Regulus teased, holding James' arms just beneath the elbows.

"Oi!" James said grumpily. "I read sometimes."

He rolled his eyes. "Of course you do."

"And what about your lot?" James asked, more seriously. "We can leave, if they'll notice you're gone."

"Practice ran on longer than usual," Regulus explained. "The whole team will be late, and I was the first back inside. We have some time."

"Good," James murmured with a smile. "How was practice, then?"