under the mistletoe || jegulus

five

"So, are you two together?" Regulus asked Barty in a whisper, nodding towards Evan, who had his head bowed over his notes.

"He's too mad at me to talk to me," Barty answered, glaring at the back of Evan's head. Regulus just nodded in reply and continued to jot down his notes.

Regulus didn't know what to think; yeah, he kind of had the conversation with James, but he still didn't know how two guys could like each other. He'd only ever seen a girl and a boy together, after all.

"Since your OWL's are coming up very soon, tonight's homework is to read over your notes and practice them. You're dismissed," Professor McGonagall instructed. Regulus and Barty grabbed their bags and left the classroom, talking quietly.

"Move," Regulus said to a passing second year, who hurried out of the way with a frightened look on his face; a sixth year came by and glared at them, as though silently telling him he had been rude.

"I didn't even do anything!" Regulus exclaimed, but the sixth year had already gone. He crossed his arms over his chest as they turned to a new corridor, which was less crowded. Barty raised an eyebrow at him.

"You could've been more polite to that kid, or whatever," Barty responded, pushing a random child out of the way and continuing on with Regulus, who gave him a weird look.

"You just pushed that girl away, I think you'd better listen to your own advice," he said, slightly amused. Barty shoved his shoulder playfully and they both laughed. They continued on in silence until Barty stopped suddenly, automatically making Regulus stop as well.

"Lupin, Pettigrew and Sirius are coming by. C'mon, hurry," Barty started to walk again, but in a quicker pace, and Regulus followed him, the duo trying to blend into the crowd but failing horribly.

"Oi, where's the rest of your gang? Going around and calling innocent kids mudbloods?" Sirius called out towards them both, making Regulus turn to him, raise his middle finger, and then continue on with Barty, who had his head low and both his hands raised with the middle fingers stuck up.

"The hell," Regulus muttered as they turned to another corridor. They weren't going exactly anywhere, they were just trying to escape Sirius, who, Regulus bet, was definitely smirking.

"That wasn't even funny, even Lupin wasn't laughing! I mean, Pettigrew only does it to fit in, so he doesn't count," Barty whispered to Regulus, who nodded in return. That was true, and no one could deny it.

"Where are we going?" Regulus asked in a normal voice, looking around the corridor; they were on the third floor, in one of the corridors that people rarely walked in. It was rumored that someone died there, but no one confirmed nor denied it.

"No clue, wanna head down to the courtyard?" Barty suggested, not liking the atmosphere of the corridor. Even if the rumor wasn't true, it still seemed like it was haunted.

"I'll meet you there," Regulus replied, not waiting for a response and turning around and walking off, heading in the direction of the hospital wing.

He swung open the hospital wing doors and looked around; it seemed like nearly all the beds were empty except two of them, one occupied by James and one with the curtains closed. Regulus could hear whimpers of pain behind them, though.

He tip toed towards James' bed and poked him in the ribs harshly, making the boy jump awake and crane his neck around, looking for who intruded his sleep, only to turn to his left and see Regulus.

"God, you scared me, Black," James placed a hand to his heart and squinted up at Regulus, who grabbed his glasses and shoved them onto the boys' face.

"Sirius just verbally harassed me in the hallway! Can't you tell him to apologize, Potter?" Regulus asked, frowning down at James, who raised an eyebrow.