When The Stars Fall

On the Eighth Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me...

★ Regulus Black ★

Barty was howling with laughter, having fallen out of the frame of the fireplace. 

"Will you stop?!" Regulus snapped. 

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's just so stupid." Barty sighed, moving back into the frame, "Explain it to me again." 

Regulus sighed, "If I could get through it without you bursting into tears-" 

"I won't laugh. I promise." 

"Okay, so, James and I were in his dorm after you left and we were..." 

"Fucking?" Barty offered. 

"Snogging." Regulus corrected, "And I had a box in my pocket and he felt it and I made up an excuse about being hard and he said we should stop because fucking Dumbledore told him to leave me and we started arguing and I was going to leave-" 

"You have to stop doing that, Reg, you're never going to solve your issues if you keep leaving." 

"He yanked me back to him and the box poked him and he just reached in my pocket and took it out!" 

Barty nodded, "Why did you have a ring box in your pocket though?" 

"It was going to be a gift!" 

"So you were going to propose." 

"No." Regulus scoffed, "He was upset and thought I wasn't serious about us so I was going to give him my family ring as proof that I do care and am serious. I only have one of those, you know? Do you have any idea how dead I'd be if I lost it? I mean I guess I did-" 

Barty shook his head, "It was a stupid idea, Regulus. I mean, if Remus gave me a ring I'd assume it's just a regular ring. If Evan gave me a ring though? His family ring? I don't care if we're fighting I'd think I'm getting proposed to." 

"Why?" 

"Because it's just how purebloods are! Narcissa is wearing Lucius' family ring as her engagement ring." He said as if Regulus should've known. 

"He's not one of us though! I mean, I get he's a pureblood but not in the same way we are." Regulus argued. 

"He knows you are though!" 

Regulus frowned, "Oh." He whispered. 

Barty nodded, "Exactly. So he saw the ring and?" 

"And he said yes and I was confused and asked him what he meant and he said he'd marry me. I-" He sighed, "I didn't think it through. I just wanted to show him that I'm serious about us."

"Props for the sentiment, but the execution could use some work." Barty grinned, "And you didn't even get to explain it to him?"

"I was in shock and when I tried he just started babbling about how he'll marry me but he wants to wait until after graduation and- he's crazy!"

Barty burst into laughter again, "You've got to be kidding me!"

Regulus crossed his arms, a slight blush tinting his cheeks, "It wasn't funny, alright? It was a mess."

"Reg, this is gold! I mean, it's like a romantic comedy plot."

"I don't appreciate being the main character in a romantic comedy, Barty. I'd rather be the main character in some dark and twisty story. You know, like the one I've been living up until now." 

"But think about it, it's the kind of thing people would pay to watch. Misunderstandings, a box in the pocket, an accidental proposal—classic comedy material. Can I sell the story?"