unspeakable | jegulus

sweet talking

chapter title: queen bitch by david bowie (lucius malfoy's entrance music, as far as i'm concerned)

"They should have more comfortable places to sit outside of the common rooms," James complained. He was stretched out on a wooden bench in the great hall, flat on his back. The imitation winter sky in the rafters was dotted with perfect white clouds, slow moving in the lack of wind. Pale sunlight turned all of him gold, he held a hand up to shield his eyes. "I mean, aren't they trying to promote inter-house unity?" Regulus sighed.

"As much as Dumbledore says that, I sincerely doubt that's his true intention for the school." What the hell did that mean? James studied him curiously.

"What an interesting opinion." He adjusted again, irritated, hand under his head, and Regulus rolled his eyes. "Clarify for me exactly what you mean."

"You're so stupid." He grabbed him and roughly manoeuvred his head into his lap, manhandling him in a way James told himself he shouldn't like. Then he started playing with his hair, and James was no longer in the mood to complain about much of anything. He sighed happily. Regulus' voice and face were both full of an uncharacteristic, warm affection. "There you are, mon cher."

"I think we should stay at the school for break and do this the entire time." James gestured to his hair and closed his eyes, another pleasant sigh. "It seems like a much more valuable use of our time."

"James Potter." A cool, clipped voice he didn't recognize. "Regulus Black." His eyes flew open.

"Lucius Malfoy." Regulus had a petulant set to his mouth and disdain in his voice. He seemed like he was saying his full name just to mock him for saying theirs. "Did they rescind your diploma? I thought you graduated already."

"I had business with Professor Slughorn," Malfoy said cooly. James didn't move his head out of Regulus' lap until he lifted his knee a little. "That has already been completed. I indulged myself for a while. Lingering can be a sincere pleasure. I was feeling a little... sentimental, I suppose. Nostalgic for my childhood."

James messed with his hair, that nervous habit that made him seem so at ease, and evaluated Malfoy with an easy, fabricated smile on his face. He was young, probably only in his early twenties, with pale eyes and pale blond hair. He reminded him of bleached bones. White, white, white. Corpse-like. Malfoy was assessing him more openly, a disdainful curl to his thin upper lip.

"Lucius Malfoy." James mimicked Regulus, with warmth instead of mockery. Sunshine incarnate. He said his name like they were already friends. Malfoy's expression subtly shifted. Disdain to curiosity. Everyone likes him, really, when he wants them to. "I don't think we've met." James narrowed his eyes, glancing at his shining black shoes, then his cold eyes again. "I would have remembered you."

"If rumours are to be believed, Mr. Potter..."Malfoy smiled thinly. He would have been handsome if he didn't perpetually look like he was smelling sour milk. "We'll be relatives soon. I recently married Regulus' cousin, Narcissa."

"You've heard rumours about me?" James subtly twisted one of his silver rings. Be Slytherin, this is what a Slytherin would do, right? Confirm, without confessing anything. It worked, Malfoy's grey eyes lingered on his hands. Both ring fingers occupied. Unmistakable. "People can be so nosy, don't you think? Especially when they think someone is misbehaving."

"Is that what you presume everyone is saying about you?" Lucius softened at the small admission he'd wordlessly given him. Secrets are currency. "Curious, that's what they're saying about Regulus. I heard you turned over a new leaf. You're finally drawing your family name out of the mud and back into respectability."