Only the Brave

Chapter 23: Only for the Brave

The Gryffindor Quidditch team plus Dorcas and Peter barge into the common room like a bunch of nifflers that spotted a jewellery box. Ravenclaw vs Hufflepuff was an excellent match. Hufflepuff absolutely dominated the entire game, which has put James on high alert, but it was beautiful to watch. James loves Quidditch. It's his one true calling. And it stings a little, that he won't be able to go pro when they finish school in the summer, but he refuses to think about it because what sort of person would he be if he did? When people are in danger, and the conflict--the war--is getting worse instead of better... well. He cannot even spare a thought for the Quidditch career he's not going to have.

James Potter will do what's right. And he won't allow himself to feel anything other than staunch determination.

Sirius and Marlene commandeer a bunch of sofas, shooing some poor second year students away. Everyone else piles on, finding seating in a semi-circle to one side of the room. James ends up next to Dorcas, and he won't complain about it. He's never asked her about Regulus, but James knows they're friends—best friends, according to Marlene who let it slip casually and didn't notice the way James' heart jumped at the mention of his, wait for it, his boyfriend.

Honestly, James has walked around Hogwarts like he bought the place for the past couple of weeks. He has a boyfriend. And not just any boyfriend. His boyfriend (yes, he will fit the word in as many times as humanly possible, no he does not care if you find it annoying or repetitive) is Regulus 'Perfection' Black.

And maybe it's because they've been together for just under a couple months, but James feels like this is the best relationship he's ever had. Don't get him wrong, there are some wrinkles to iron out. Regulus is a bit fussy about certain things, and gets a little irritated at James if he tries to dig a bit deeper than he's ready to allow. If James so much as broaches Sirius as a topic of conversation Regulus shoots him down immediately or threatens to leave altogether. The ongoing conflict is also another no-go area. After that day behind the mirror when Regulus told him he's not a blood purist that he hasn't made up his mind about what he's going to do yet, Regulus hasn't allowed any more discussion about the war, or sides, or choices.

This is fine with James. He's got time. He's going to shower Regulus with so much attention and happiness, so much warmth and joy, that Regulus won't hesitate to do the right thing. To join their side. To join James.

On the sofa, on James' other side sits Sirius. In line with his inability to properly judge personal boundaries, Sirius is sitting so close to him he could be on James' lap.

"Oi, Moony!" Sirius yells across the common room when Remus descends the stairs.

Sirius has been withdrawn since the incident with Regulus. He's been thoughtful, which is unusual for him, and disappears on his own every now and then. James keeps an eye on him on the map just in case. Mostly, Sirius has been sneaking off to the Astronomy Tower by himself. James has asked, but Sirius insists he's okay, just needs time to think about some things. Once, he even used the words 'self-discovery' which James wasn't sure weren't a joke. But James trusts him, and hasn't pushed him on it. If Sirius needs him, he'll let James know.

Curiously, whatever he's been working on has led to Sirius asking the girls to gift him an eyeliner permanently, because now he wears it almost every day. It suits him, and James can tell other people have noticed. Mostly girls. But also Remus. He's been pushing the boundaries of the school uniform rules to walk around with oversized jumpers more often than not. James feels his pain. Regulus hasn't worn make up again, but the memory of it is enough to make James want to faint.

In one of those oversized, cosy jumpers, Remus comes join them, sitting next to Lily who was sharing a sofa with Peter and Olive—Olive sits on Pete's lap so there's space. As the new arrival, Remus nods his hellos to everyone because he did not come watch the match. He stayed behind doing homework. Honestly. Boring.