Regulus is an author and James is an artist. This one-shot is in Regulus' POV since he's the writer...
James Potter and I aren't in a relationship, but we aren't necessarily friends either. Our relationship is more built on a foundation of understanding and his underlying desire to make my life ten times harder than it needs to be for his own amusement.
If someone asked me "do you find James attractive?" I'd simply walk away, not only am I someone who doesn't share their feelings anyway but first and foremost it's simply a stupid question. James Potter by far is the most beautiful person I have ever had the privilege to meet, I'd never let him know that of course, which is why it surprised me when on the morning of my 17th birthday I found a package on my bedside table in his handwriting.
I looked around at the empty beds, apparently everyone else had gotten ready and left for breakfast without me. Not that I minded if it meant I opened the small wrapped gift in private. It started with a small letter,
"Happy birthday Reggie, been working on this for a while so I hope you like it! Come see me later when you're not busy keeping your stone heart appearance up xo
James"
Asshole. I open the wrapping paper up gently and fight the smile on my face when I see what he's painted for me.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." – Edgar Degas (and I see you)
The fucker even picked a French artist. The picture is still on its original canvas, no framing or cut out and honestly that's just how I want it. I look at the technique and it pisses me off that I'm still smiling, he's grown a lot as an artist and usually doesn't do this style so I have to give it to him, I'm impressed.
I put the painting in my bedside drawer and get dressed, it's a weekend thank the lords, so I wear something casual and comfortable, I wasn't planning on going anywhere today. I walk downstairs to see if anyone's come back and to my "utter delight" everyone is in the common room and they've all got birthday presents.
Sirius runs up to me first, arms wide as he squeezes the living daylights out of me and I have to hold on to the wall for support. He hands me a small box and tells me to put it in my pocket for later, so I do.
I smile at everyone and try not to look absolutely embarrassed as they start singing happy birthday and Barty throws confetti all over the common room, mind you with no intention of cleaning it up later.
"Happy birthday Reg!" Everyone shouts, bringing me over to the couch so they can give me my presents and talk through what they had planned for the day. Honestly I never expected anyone to care about my birthday, I mean I spent the last one alone at home, with Kreature being the only one to remember it.
"This is from Pete and I, happy birthday mate"
Remus smiles and I open the box to find new quills and ink pots from Remus and then edible sugar quills and chocolate frogs from Peter.
