I Will Follow You Into The Dark || Jegulus

67. Strawberry Wine

The feast was amazing as always. Dumbledore announced the winner of the Quidditch Cup, which of course was Gryffindor, and then finally was the announcement for the House Cup. The large dining room was filled with the anticipation of hundreds of students as Dumbledore passed out his last-minute points. In the end, he announced that Gryffindor won that as well. Everyone jumped up, cheering as red and gold banners filled up the hall. Sirius was screaming and even taunted his brother from across the room. Eventually, Dumbledore calmed the crowd and they feasted. James filled himself with pumpkin juice and chicken legs. When the marauders felt like they couldn't eat another bite, they headed back to their dorm room for the night.

"Moony why did you let me eat so much? I have no energy to pack my things." Sirius whined, laying face down on his bed. 

"I told you to pack your things before the feast, better get to it." Remus said, his face buried in another book, all this things already packed since the night before. Sirius frowned and got up to begin packing his things.

Once everyone was in bed, James looked at the marauders map, likely for the last time. He had no need for it after this. He grabbed the invisibility cloak and snuck out of the common room for the last time. This whole day was filled with last times, but there was one person he hoped there wouldn't ever be a last, at least until the day he died.

James walked up the astronomy tower and met Regulus outside, just like they used to.

Regulus was sitting on the ledge, looking up at the sky. James sat down next to him and wrapped his arm around Regulus's waist.

"Who's up there tonight love?" James asked.

"Well up there is Cygnus" Regulus pointed, "It kind of looks like a cross. It's a swan." He explained, then moved to point farther right, "that one's Draco, the dragon. My cousin Narcissa was thinking of naming her first son Draco. Last time I talked to her, she and Lucius were trying, but it wasn't working out for them." Regulus then pointed farther up and to the right, "That one's Andromeda, the princess. My cousin - the one who has been disowned was named after her." James leaned back and tried to find the individual constellations. The night air was warm, summer crept up on them way too fast. 

"Sirius talks to Andromeda sometimes, but it's been a while. I think she has a daughter." James said.

Regulus nodded, "I hope her and Ted are happy. I haven't heard from her since she left." He sighed, then reached over and grabbed a wine bottle that he had sitting on his left.

"I brought wine, not sure if that's something you like" He offered.

"I've never tried wine before." James grinned and took a swig from the bottle, immediately recoiling from the unexpected bitterness. "Wow that's uh... something." James handed the bottle back.

"That's most people's first reaction. That's why people say it's an acquired taste. It's not to sound pretentious, wine is just something you have to get used to and then you start to like it." Regulus explained then took a drink, savoring the flavor.

James buried his face in Regulus's shoulder, pulling him close, "I'm scared we won't be able to spend much time together over the summer. Tomorrow, there's an Order meeting and from the sounds of it, I might be super busy, then once term starts I won't see you until winter." James sighed.

"Yeah but once I graduate, we can move in together, and we'll have all the time in the world, mon cher." Regulus ran a hand through James's hair, then took another drink of his wine.

"I think we'll just have to make the best of every moment," James said, "Starting now." He leaned in and kissed Regulus, tasting the wine on his lips. He guessed he would have to get used to the flavor at some point, why not start now? James loved every part of Regulus, every little thing he did, every song he listened to, every thing about him, good or bad, and James thought Regulus had made him soft, but nothing defines a man like love that makes him soft. Love isn't the people, or the dates, or the kissing even. Love was in the small things. Love is consoling Regulus while he is sobbing in the snow about his relatives, love is reuniting siblings, love is fast asleep on a dirt road with a head on his shoulder.