i really loved him

chapter 45

Regulus POV

Sunday, 27th March, 21:00 – More nervous than he would ever admit, Regulus walked into Gryffindor Tower. Though, on second thoughts, it was much more accurate to state that Gryffindor Tower walked into him.

Blasts of noise and colour washed over him in a great wave as he stepped through the portrait hole. The common room was inundated with red and gold. Vibrant bunting hung overhead, drawing zig-zagging lines across the ceiling, from which sparkling glitter floated down in sporadic bursts over the throngs of people below. Every surface was practically invisible beneath the bottles stacked on top of them – filled with what Regulus could only assume to be Firewhisky. The fireplace was lit, not with an orange flame but with a blazing golden one, and in the corner of the room was a large, Muggle record player that currently sat silent on top of its desk; but there were enough people stood around talking loudly over one other to clog the room with an excitable buzz.

Regulus scarcely had time to take it all in before James sidled through the crowd, then bounded over to him with a flushed and glowing smile on his face. Close behind him was Remus, who had a firm hold on Sirius' wrist, and Pettigrew, who gave Regulus a nervous little nod before becoming wildly interested in the floor.

"Reggie!" James yelped, looking for a moment as though he was going to hug him, then thought better of it. "You came!"

"I did."

"Glad you made it," Remus smiled. He gave Sirius a gentle prod.

"...Alright, Reg?" Sirius said, going for a grin before taking a long swig from the bottle in his hand. Then, "Um, gladyou'rehere."

After regarding him a moment, Regulus gave a quick nod.

"So am I," he said quietly.

There was an uncomfortably long pause. Then James tapped his shoulder, and a warm jolt shot unhelpfully through his chest.

"Want a drink?" he asked brightly, having swiped up a bottle from the nearest coffee table.

Sirius gave a loud snort, and they turned to him. "Good luck getting Reg pissed," he scoffed. "Pretty sure he's never even touched a Butterbeer! Do we have some milk, or something...?"

Regulus raised his eyebrows. In fact, he had been about to turn the drink down. But if his older brother was going to be irritating, the only conceivable response was to rise to it. Firmly locking eyes with Sirius, he took the Firewhisky, unsealed the top with a flick of his wand and downed the contents in one. The name was very accurate, he decided. It tasted like fire.

However, the desire to aggravate his brother easily overruled the fierce sensation currently tearing at his throat. Still without moving his gaze, Regulus slipped the bottle into his pocket and shrugged.

"It's decent," he said calmly.

From his periphery, he became painfully aware that James was staring at him, lips parted in a perfect 'O' of shock. And something else. At first, Sirius looked almost affronted. Then his face broke into a wide grin. A real one.

"That's my little brother!" he declared, strutting forwards to clap him hard on the back. "OI, someone get him another – this's gonna be fucking brilliant!"

"I'll do it!" James said, too eagerly. "C'mon, Reggie. I'll show you my birthday present, too!"

Presently, Regulus was led over to the corner of the room belonging to the record player; the other three Marauders wandered after them. Its wood gleamed in the golden firelight, spotless and clearly brand-new.

"This lot all pitched in," James said happily. "And the girls, as well."

He raised a hand and waved at them, standing in a group by the fire: Dorcas, Mary, Marlene and Lily. Regulus recognised them all from the few times he and James had studied here; of course, he also knew Lily from their prefect duties, and for reasons not worth thinking about right now. All four of them waved first at James, then at Regulus. Surprised, he nodded politely in response before turning back to the player.