#Regulus on James's shoulder

[lulublack90]

Prompt 25 - Gold

@jegulus-microfic November 24, Word count 310

Previous part First part

Regulus couldn’t believe how easily they’d managed to sneak in. Not a single person had questioned why they were walking around with hundreds of pieces of yellow paper, not one, and now they were standing in the middle of Snape's tiny dorm room. 

“Well, chaps, let’s get to work,” Sirius said with a mischievous glint in his eye. They worked mostly quietly, pinning the pictures all over the walls, desk, wardrobe, bed, window, door and carpet. 

“We still have a lot left,” Remus mused as his head tilted upwards. 

“I like how you think, sweetheart,” Sirius beamed, and that’s how Regulus found himself balancing on James’s shoulders while he attached a layer of the copies to the ceiling. They stood back for a moment and observed their handy work. 

“It’s perfect,” James said, twirling on the spot with Regulus still on his shoulders, he didn’t seem to want to put Regulus down. “But we should probably get out of here before we get caught,” They silently agreed and after Remus poked his head out of the door to check the coast was clear, they hurried away from the scene of the crime. 

“Oh. My. God!” Sirius gasped from the backseat of James’s car before they’d even got back to the flats. “This is comedy gold! I need to save this! Remus, save this for me!” 

“What is it?” James asked. Regulus could see how badly he wanted to take his eyes off the road. 

“Oh, Prongs, just you wait,”

“Oh my god! Oh my god! This is excellent!” Remus guffawed as he watched whatever video Sirius had shown him. 

James pulled into the car park and spun around in his seat the second the engine was off. 

“What?!” Sirius handed over his phone, and James and Regulus squashed together so they could both see the video play. “Oh. My. God!!!!”

Next part

[risetherivermoon]

james potter saw small and miserable, wet cat looking ass regulus black and asked "anyone gonna take this?" and didn't wait for an answer

[lexithwrites]

Thinking about t4t jegulus going to pride together for the first time and I’m emotional

[bloodbruise]

James has two brain cells:

Regulus

Regulus in lingerie

bro the dopamine output from those two brain cells is probably off the fucking charts.

but yeah real i think regulus is not above using lingerie to get things he wants out of james... with a red set, a few bats of his eyelashes, and a well timed question he’s got james agreeing to, “yeah, yeah anything love. whatever- fuck. whatever you want i’ll do”

[chasingthestarss]

I’m really enjoying drawing. I was gonna draw jegulus but only felt like drawing one person so just Reggie

I didn’t do the bkg just a random image I found on Pinterest

[vinylfoxbooks]

Lilene | wc: 563 Romantic Lily and Marlene go to prom together with their friends.

Both of their parents believe that they're going as friends since tickets are cheaper when you're with a 'date' and all of their friends don't have actual dates either (lie, James and Regulus are very much so together, so are Remus and Sirius but Marlene's parents know that, Lily's don't. Mary and Pete, who are also going as 'dates' because it's cheaper even though they're just friends are the only ones that don't actually have dates).

The group knows that they're dating, but Marlene hasn't told her family because she believes that it's none of their businesses and Lily hasn't told her's because they're homophobic and assume that she's straight.

At prom itself, Lily looks beautiful, wearing a pink dress that flatters her skin tone and has one shoulder revealed while Marlene is wearing a suit coat over a black dress with dark lipstick. During the slow dance, all their friends are dancing around them and the two of them are able to hide in the corner and dance together without being seen by anyone who doesn't already know about their relationship. Marlene has her face pressed to Lily's shoulder and they're leaning against each other, just existing in the same spaces, their chests pressing against each other and pulling away with their gentle breathes.

When the song stops and something more upbeat takes over it, the girls pull away and Lily pulls Marlene into a fierce kiss, which the shorter girl is more than happy to return.

They break apart when James breaks from where they were making out with James, "Were you two just kissing? Ew, PDA, keep that shit to yourself." To which Marlene flips them off, making Lily laugh. And the night continues on, until James saunters up to them and takes their hands to dance while Regulus sits down for a little bit.

The three are laughing and dancing around until James furrows their brows at Lily's shoulder, "You guys might want to take care of that." They point to the girl's shoulder where a dark lipstick mark is sitting on Lily's pale skin. Marlene furrows her brows before flicking her eyes up to Lily's lips, then back down to her shoulder.

"Shit."

"What's wrong?" Lily asks, "What's on my shoulder."

Marlene sighs, "I got fucking lipstick on your skin, which we need to get off ASAP. Otherwise, your family will assume that you've either been dancing intimately with a girl or with a guy wearing lipstick, and I doubt they'll take either well."

Lily's eyes widen, "Fuck." Marlene nods.

James interjects, "Sirius usually carries makeup wipes in their bag. Reg might have some as well, or his friends will, let me ask them. Let's just hope that it's not been enough time for it to fully stain." And with that, they're taking off to where the brothers and Remus are standing.

They come back moments later with a makeup wipe and the girls and Mary make their way into the bathroom to scrub at Lily's shoulder, trying to get the black and burgundy lipstick mark from the taller girl's shoulder. They're from the most part successful, though there's a faint mark on her shoulder only if you look close.

After that, the night continues on and it eventually ends on a high note, the lipstick mark on Lily's shoulder almost invisible. Their relationship was saved another day.

[overdueforarevival]

Whumptober Day 20 - My Calamitous Love And Insurmountable Grief

Emotional Angst | Shoulder To Cry On | Giving Permission To Die | 'It's Not Your Fault'

Summary: It's the morning after James and Lily Potter's wedding and Regulus Black is dead. There's nobody for James to tell, not his loving wife or grieving best friend, only the his dead ex-boyfriend who appears to him in a dream.

Also posted to AO3

James Potter is supposed to be happy. Thrilled, even. Last night was the best night of his life, he was able to tell the world how much he loves Lily Evans and promised to love her until the day he dies. They danced through the night, Sirius got absolutely plastered and embarrassed himself to an extent that even he may never recover from, but they love him anyway. Lily smiled all night even though her sister refused to come and James told her over and over how much he loves her.

But while he proclaimed his love for the whole world to see, Regulus Black drowned alone in a lake with nobody to watch but a House Elf. One that, if Sirius’ stories are true, was a bit of a wanker as well. James was having the best night of his life while Regulus had his last. Regulus Black, his Reggie, is dead. No doubt something to do with Voldemort, something James could have stopped if he’d been better.

Regulus Black is dead. Dead, dead, dead. James’ wife is waking up next to him while James tries not to cry in their bed over what should be a random name in the Daily Prophet. She’s smiling up at him and James forces himself to lean down and kiss her forehead, larger than Regulus’ was but soft and sweet all the same.

When was the last time James kissed Regulus on the forehead? James loved to kiss Regulus on the forehead, he did it all the time. He used to, at least.

‘How are you, my love?’ Lily whispers, careful not to break the tranquillity that sits between them. James sighs and sets aside the paper, brought to them by an early owl, and lies back down next to her.

‘Never been better,’ he lies, wrapping an arm around her and kissing her on the lips. Lily has thick, full lips that James loves to kiss, he loves her, but Regulus… Regulus had gentle, thin lips and James has never been able to figure out how he could love people who were so different and yet mean the world to him.

Lily can never know what happened between him and Regulus. It would ruin them, he’s sure of it.

‘I think we should just stay here all day,’ Lily grins, breaking the kiss as one hand snakes down between their bodies. It takes James a moment to realise what her intention is and he stiffens as soon as the penny drops, doing his best not to recoil away from his wife but feeling every muscle tense. He couldn’t think of a worse idea if he tried.

‘Ah… later, darling, I should really… check on Sirius,’ James says slowly, his gut twisting as the words fall from his mouth. That’s right, his own grief must pale in comparison to what Sirius will be feeling. James never had a brother until he met Sirius, he can’t imagine the pain of losing someone you grew up with, somebody who has been with you for nearly every day of your life. Merlin, he needs to find Sirius.

‘Oh, sweet Jesus, James!’ Lily laughs, ‘Are you sure it’s me you wanted to marry and not Black?’

James blanches at that, face running hot and it’s a bloody miracle he manages to not throw up all over his wife. Of course, she means Sirius Black, not the other Black. Not the Black James was thinking of. Not that James would want to marry Regulus either, at least not anymore. He married Lily. He loves Lily, truly he does, with everything in his soul, it’s just… Regulus was there for him at a time when nobody else was.

With a shake of his head, James realises that Lily is looking at him expectantly, clearly close to a fit of giggles and James should be saying something funny but he can’t think of a single funny thing to say right now, he just needs to find Sirius. James needs Sirius. He can’t be here, can’t lie next to his gorgeous, adoring wife for whom he would give his life when a man he loved just as hard is… is dead.

‘You saw how much he drank last night, really, I… you know what he’s like I should…’

‘Oh, you won’t shut up about it until you’ve seen him, have you?’ Lily asks. She doesn’t know just how true that is. ‘Go on, then, go see your boyfriend, your wife will be waiting right here when you return,’

Lily sighs dramatically, one hand falling against her forehead like a Victorian lady swooning while the other dives back beneath the covers. James knows its destination and it should really turn him on, any other day and he’d be diving right back into bed, but not today. Today, James needs to find Sirius.

So he throws on some clothes, nice clothes that he’d brought to the hotel room with him for the morning, and Apparates away, leaving Lily to her own devices. He goes straight to Sirius’ flat which he shares with Remus, appearing right on their doorstep, much to the shock of some poor lady locking her front door. He ignores her, though, in favour of banging on the door, perhaps a little too loud.

Sirius answers almost immediately, looking strangely alert for a man who has got to be nursing the king of all hangovers. His face splits into a wide grin when he sees James and he surges forward, wrapping him in a hug as James frowns over his shoulder. He was expecting tears, screaming perhaps, or even some wailing. Something other than what seems to be… joy?

‘Prongsie! How was the wedding night? Now if I hear you haven’t treated that missus of yours right, I’ll hang your balls over my fireplace,’ Sirius warns, pulling away. James' frown only deepens at the strange words coming from his best friend’s mouth. Now, Sirius has always been one for comments right out of left field, but this is… this is something else.

‘Uh… right… I’ll keep that in mind. Are you alright?’ James asks cautiously, begging him to say ‘no’, begging for Sirius to fall apart so James can do the same. If Sirius isn’t crying, James can’t cry and James can’t cry with Lily either or any of their friends, but if Sirius cries… Oh, Merlin, please can Sirius start crying.

‘James, you know me better than that! No hangover on earth will ever conquer me,’ Sirius grins, pulling James by the shoulder into his home and angling his head towards the end of the hall where James can hear the shower running in the bathroom. ‘Remus! Stop fussing over your hair, James is here!’

There’s a strange carefree air to Sirius that James doesn’t recognise. He’s always been easy-going and relaxed, but this feels forced, like he’s reading off of a script written in the wrong language. Sirius heads through to the kitchen, so James follows like a lost puppy, not quite sure what he’s just walked into but thinking he’d have been better off staying with Lily.

‘Fancy some tea, mate?’ Sirius asks, not waiting for an answer as he pulls three mugs down from the top cupboard, slamming each one on the counter in turn. There it is. James can see it now, the tension in his shoulders, the grit to his teeth as he speaks. There’s no joy there, only anger, sloppily covered up with a fake smile and unnecessary jabs at his friends.

Remus appears at James’ side a few moments later, hair wet from the shower and wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist. Years ago, Remus would never have dreamed of being seen in such a state in front of everyone, but after so long living together, the man has finally given in to revealing a bit of skin.

‘You shouldn’t have come,’ he says quietly. James whirls around to face Remus, frowning, who immediately looks appalled at his own words. ‘Not like that! I only meant you should be with your wife, I’ll handle him,’

‘He’s my brother, I wasn’t going to leave him like this,’ James insists.

‘I know, but I’ll take care of him, you don’t really want to be here right now, you know you don’t,’ Remus tells him and if the words were coming from anybody else’s mouth, James would have swung for them, but there’s something on his best friend’s face that tells James there’s something more to it.

Remus rolls his eyes.

‘Sirius and Peter might be morbidly oblivious to everything that happened in that dormitory but you should give me more credit. I’m fully aware that there were five of us sleeping in that room most nights that year and I know that in our last year, when you stopped bringing him over, nobody ever saw him in short sleeves again,’

Tears sting in James’ eyes as he silently curses Remus for being so horribly observant.

‘You can’t tell anyone,’ he whispers thickly, watching as Sirius starts about making three teas, none of them the way any of them like, though they won’t say a word.

‘When would I ever do that to you, James? I’d never hurt you like that. But, still, I don’t think that it’s good for you to be here,’ Remus reiterates and James opens his mouth to argue. ‘No, I’m saying it because I love you, James, this isn’t the place for you right now, it’s only going to hurt. Go to your wife, cry about how happy you are to be with her, and have some mind-blowing sex or whatever it is married couples do. Just get through today and maybe it’ll get easier,’

James has no response to that, no answer to this awful situation that has been thrust upon them all. Desperately, he wants to be with Sirius, to spend all day talking about Regulus and pretend it’s not for his own benefit. But Remus has a point. Being here will only hurt them both and he should be with his wife, the wife he left on the morning of their wedding because his ex-boyfriend is dead.

Merlin, Regulus is dead. It just doesn’t seem possible that such a kind and often endearingly rude man could be dead. It’s simply not right. And yet this is the world they live in.

So James slinks out of his best friends’ apartment and Apparates back to his hotel room where his incredible wife is waiting for him, dressed and smiling at his return. She’s long since given up being angry with the attention James will always reserve for Sirius, she understands what the boys have been through and why they’ve become almost inseparable. In fact, Lily even wrote Sirius into her vows, promising to always have a place for him at their dinner table, though she may draw the line at their bed.

‘I take it Sirius is one piece?’ Lily asks sweetly.

‘Just about,’ James responds, walking over and wrapping his arms around her tightly. He squeezes her hard, so hard that Lily swats him on the shoulder until he backs off slightly and he apologises. A few tears escape his eyes then, dampening Lily’s shoulder into which he bows his head.

‘What’s wrong, my love?’ Lily asks, standing on her tiptoes and rubbing his back.

‘Nothing… M’just really happy to be married to you,’ he tells her, hoping that Remus’ words sound convincing in his mouth. It’s not a lie, James has been looking forward to this moment for years and yet he can’t help but wonder what would have happened if he’d forced Regulus to come to his house that summer. If he’d refused to let Regulus go home. Would it be Regulus in his arms now? Or were they doomed to fail from the beginning?

James goes to sleep in his own bed that night, having left the hotel room to move into the flat they rent together, with Lily in his arms where she belongs. He bows his head down onto hers, inhaling the strawberry scent of her hair and when he blinks his eyes open, Regulus is there.

They’re alone together in a dark cavern, James is standing on a shoreline while Regulus sits on the water some twenty feet away, legs crossed underneath him and smiling. His eyes are bloodshot and swollen, water trickles down his chin unendingly and his skin is deathly pale. Never before has James seen a living man look so dead.

‘What are you doing here, James?’ Regulus calls to him. ‘You aren’t meant to be here,’

‘You’re here, Reggie. Where else would I be?’ James says softly as though Regulus’ question were the most daft thing to ever be asked. ‘This is where I belong,’

‘No, baby, you don’t belong here, not here—’

‘But you’re here!’

‘Not here, James. You belong with Lily, your wife. And you’ll live a long, happy life with lots of happy children, okay?’ Regulus tells him firmly. ‘You don’t belong here,’

‘I want to be here,’

‘I don’t want you here. I want you with Lily and your children. You’ll be happy there, all of you will, and— no, hear me out, please baby,’ Regulus cuts James off when he opens his mouth to speak again. He snaps his jaw shut. ‘You’ll have a big house with a massive garden with swings and- and a slide and you’ll be such a good dad, I know you will. That’s what I was thinking of when I died, I knew it was your wedding, I knew that you’d be okay. You don’t need me anymore,’

‘I’ll always need you, Reggie,’ James insists, stubbornly. ‘I’ll always need you, I love you,’

Regulus sighs and shakes his head in that annoying upper-class way he always does when he thinks James is being stupid.

‘I love you, too, but that’s not the point. You have to let me go, James,’ Regulus tells him firmly, getting to his feet and beginning to walk across the water. Little waves ripple around his feet, but he doesn’t skin. ‘You have to let me die, go and live your life with Lily and be happy for me. I never did figure out how to do it myself,’

There’s an awful, wry smile on Regulus' face and James can’t find the humour anywhere in his words. He looks down at Regulus, the man is right in front of him now, taller than when they last met, but still as gorgeous even with his bloodshot eyes.

‘This isn’t fair,’ James whines, reaching forward to grasp Regulus’ face, only for his hand to be caught by the other man’s own and held tightly.

‘It never was with us,’ Regulus says quietly, leaning forward on his tiptoes until their foreheads touch. ‘It never was,’

‘I love you, Reggie,’ James sobs, the tears on his face mingling with the water that Regulus spits out as he speaks.

‘You’ve already said that, baby. Now you need to let me go… it’s time to let me go,’ Regulus pleads, lowering himself down to stand flat on his feet. ‘Let me die, please,’

‘I love you,’ James says again, voice broken and heart shattered on the floor. He pulls his hand away from Regulus, this time managing to hook it around the man’s neck without being stopped. Slowly, so he can remember every second of this moment, he presses his lips against Regulus’ forehead and kisses him firmly.

‘Let me die,’ Regulus repeats.

‘I love you,’ James cries, finally allowing his hand to fall away from the back of Regulus’ neck as he drifts back towards the lake.

There’s nothing James can do as Regulus’ feet slowly slip below the waterline, followed by his ankles and his knees and all the way up until only his shoulders and head remain above the water.

‘James,’ he calls across the cavern, voice echoing hauntingly. ‘This isn’t your fault,’

And with that, Regulus’ head is swallowed up by the lake, leaving only the gentle ripples from where he had once been on the surface of the water. James stares for a while, eyes not leaving the lake until all of the ripples have floated away and the water is still once more.

Lily is still in James’ arms when he wakes up, her warm body pressed against his and he smiles down at her, watching her sleep peacefully as the dawn chorus rings out around them. Regulus Black is dead and it feels like the world is falling apart around him, but he still has Lily. And for now, that will be enough to wake him up every day.

[siriuslygay1981]

"Grieving, grieving, constantly grieving

I mourn what could've been,

What will not be,

What I can't save."

- Regulus

[elilelibeli]

The first time Regulus kissed James they were rudely interrupted, by an annoying beeping sound.

Regulus did try to ignore the sound but he had to stop when James suddenly took his hands from Regulus’s waist and hid them behind his back.

“James what’s happening” Regulus looked behind James’s broad shoulders.

“Nothing” James answered shaking his head accompanied with the same annoying beeping sound.

Regulus raised his eyebrow and with one swift motion grabbed James’s arm. James looked at him defeated and quickly put his hand in front.

“It’s my watch, okay?” he answered looking a little embarrassed, “the sound is to let me know when my heart rate is too elevated when I work out” he continued red creeping up his cheeks.

“The heart rate..” Regulus mumbled while examining the watch on James’s wrist, playful smirk appearing in the place of his pursed lips full of confusion.

He quickly pecked James’s lips, slowly moved from his lips to his jaw, while glancing at the watch on his wrist start with the sound of beeping again.

Look of embarrassment, torture and excessive blushing were covering James’s face when Regulus looked at him and giggled. His giggle turned into a full blown, head thrown, beautiful laugh as the sound of the beeping from the watch became so loud and so quick it could surely be heard from down the hall.

James, his watch and his heartbeat were in serious trouble surrounded by the most beautiful sounds of Reggie’s laugh.

this is based on a twitter post screenshot (which I can find anymore) i saw like months ago but can’t stop thinking about cause it’s just so so cute

[iloveartinallitsforms]

regulus wakes up on a sunday morning and james is softly kissing his shoulder and he’s still half asleep and he calls james baby and they get up and make breakfast together and feed their cats and go on a walk but regulus makes james carry him on his back halfway through and they go home and lay on the couch and eat ice cream and doze for hours and they live happily ever after amen

[lulublack90]

Prompt 20 - Athlete

@wolfstarmicrofic August 20, word count 427

Previous part First Jegulus part

Effie insisted that they stay for dinner. She’d already got a leg of lamb for the occasion and had begun prepping. None of them dared argue with her. 

They ended up in the garden. Sirius and James kicked about the old football towards the goals that were still set up from James’s childhood, while Regulus and Remus discussed books that they’d both read. 

Sirius stood no chance against the athlete that was James Potter. That man ran for pleasure, a total nutcase in Sirius’s opinion. But he tried anyway and managed to score two goals to James’s ten before he collapsed on the grass, laying his head in Remus’s lap. His boyfriend reached down automatically and stroked Sirius’s hair. 

“So how about it then Reg?” Remus asked, carrying on with the conversation they were having before Sirius came over. Sirius opened his eyes and looked up at the pair. 

“How about what?” He asked Remus. He was beginning to learn that Regulus and Remus had a strange connection, and it usually ended up with him as the butt of their little joke, so he was, of course, wary of what they were plotting.  

“I wanted to know if Regulus wanted to help out in the café a couple of times a week while he gets himself settled and figures out what he wants to do.” 

“It was just an idea,” Regulus said quietly, twisting his fingers anxiously. Sirius reached over and grabbed his hand, stilling him. 

“I’d love that,” He said earnestly, just as a sweaty James came up to them and planted a sloppy kiss on his brother’s face. 

“Eww, Potter, we were having a moment!” Sirius kicked out at him. 

“So were we,” James grinned at Sirius, releasing his hold on Regulus’s face, only to grab him up in his arms and sling him over his shoulder. “Come on, love, let me show you my childhood bedroom,” Regulus just let him do it to Sirius’s surprise. He just shrugged and reached down to swat at James’s arse as he was carried into the house. 

“I really hate that,” Sirius groaned, curling closer to Remus. 

No, you don’t,” Remus replied, patting his head and opening the book that had appeared out of thin air. Remus was right. In fact, he was happy that James and Regulus had found each other and that he had a brother again. He sighed, relaxing into Remus’s lap as his fingers continued to card through his curls and the summer sun warmed his skin. He wished he could stay there forever.

Final Wolfstar part

[unconventional-lawnchair]

Jealousy, Jealousy

Where the boys get jealous... (Feat. Barty, Regulus, Sirius, Remus, and James)

WC: ~3.5k

CW: Fem!Reader, a few cusses, obsessive and possessive boys, Remus and Moony are written as different characters.

Barty gets asked if you're single…

Barty leaned against the stone wall of the corridor, arms crossed and a lazy smirk playing on his lips as the boy in front of him tried to find his footing in the conversation. It was late enough in the evening that most of the students had cleared out, leaving the space quiet except for the faint echo of distant footsteps. The boy- what was his name? Probably irrelevant- was shifting his weight nervously, though he tried to mask it with a forced bravado.

“So,” The boy began again, licking his lips as though trying to sound casual. “You’re close with her, right? I mean, you two are always together.”

Barty raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening just a touch as he tilted his head- pulling the smoke from between his lips. “We’re friends,” Barty replied easily, though the word friends came out slow and deliberate, almost like a challenge.

The boy took a deep breath, seemingly bolstered by Barty’s nonchalant tone. “Right, yeah. I figured.” He hesitated, then plunged forward, clearly emboldened by the silence. “I was just wondering, you know… do you think she’d go for someone like me?”

Barty blinked. For the briefest moment, his expression was unreadable- like he hadn’t quite heard the question correctly. Then, like a switch being flipped, he grinned widely, his whole face lighting up as though the very idea had amused him to no end.

“You?” He repeated, laughter edging his voice as he uncrossed his arms and pushed off the wall. He took a deep breath of his smoke and let the ash slip onto the boy's shoe, who quickly shook it off. Barty gestured at the boy vaguely, as though considering his entire existence. “You’re asking if you would have a shot?”

The boy’s bravado faltered slightly at Barty’s tone, but he straightened his shoulders, forcing a confident nod. “Yeah. I mean, she’s nice to everyone, right? So I thought- ”

“Oh, that’s precious,” Barty interrupted smoothly, his voice warm but condescending. He stepped closer, his free hand sliding into his pocket, his green eyes glinting as he looked the boy over. “She is nice to everyone, isn’t she? That’s what makes her so…” He paused, pretending to search for the right word. “Enchanting, I suppose.”

The boy relaxed just a fraction at Barty’s seemingly complimentary tone, but Barty’s smile sharpened as he took another step forward.

“Here’s the thing,” Barty continued, his voice softening into something dangerously close to friendly. “You’re not a bad bloke, are you?” He flicked his robes, letting the smoke from his cigarette fill the boys senses. “Clean enough robes, decent enough grades- probably someone your mum’s very proud of. Real cookie cutter, yeah?”

The boy blinked, caught off guard. “Uh… I guess?”

Barty grinned wider. “See? Nothing wrong with you at all. And yet…” He trailed off, taking another hit before he blatantly blew the smoke into his face. Even then he still found himself leaning in slightly, his voice dropping lower. “She’s not for you.”

The boy coughed, shooing away the smoke, confused. “What do you mean? She’s not- ”

“Let me save you some time, mate,” Barty cut in smoothly, stepping around him as though they were taking a casual stroll together. “Do you know what she wants to be after she graduates? How she wrinkles her nose when she laughs too hard- how much she hates when someone brings it up? Or how she’ll hum to herself when she thinks no one’s listening? How to make her smile on her worst days?” He glanced back over his shoulder, his smile full of sharp teeth. “You don’t, do you?”

The boy shifted uncomfortably under the weight of Barty’s words. “No, but- ”

Barty whirled back to face him, the sudden movement causing the boy to flinch. “That’s the problem though, innit?” He said softly, his voice dripping with false sympathy. “You don’t know her. Not really. And she deserves someone who does.”

The boy looked frustrated now, his confidence cracking under Barty’s pointed gaze. “You’re just saying that because you think you’re better for her!”

Barty’s smirk vanished. The shift was subtle but immediate, the playfulness draining from his face as his eyes turned icy, pinning the boy where he stood. “Better for her?” Barty echoed softly, his tone devoid of its earlier amusement. “I’d destroy myself for her. I’d burn the whole bloody world down if it so much as thought about hurting her. I've spent years of my life making sure she'd never know fear when I'm around.”

The boy opened his mouth to respond, but no words came. Barty stepped closer, forcing him to back up until his shoulders hit the cold stone wall. Flicking out his cig and tossing it at his chest.

“You don’t understand devotion, mate,” Barty continued, his voice low, almost a whisper. “Not the kind that keeps you awake at night, wondering if she’s happy. Not the kind that has you ready to rip apart anyone who so much as looks at her the wrong way. That kind of love… it’s not for people like you.”

The boy swallowed hard, his eyes darting away as though trying to escape Barty’s unrelenting stare.

Barty tilted his head, the hint of a smile returning to his lips, though it held none of its earlier warmth. “But don’t worry,” he said lightly, taking a small step back. “I’m not angry. You’re harmless, really. Like a moth buzzing too close to something far too bright for you to touch. Happens to everyone who meets her.”

The boy shifted uneasily, his face pale as he tried to muster some shred of dignity. “You’re crazy,” He muttered under his breath.

Barty grinned at that, his eyes glinting with something almost feral. “Probably,” He admitted cheerfully, shrugging. “Just trust me mate. You wouldn't survive the competition.”

~~~

Regulus sees a guy trying to ask you out…

You were standing just outside the courtyard, the stone archways sheltering you and a nervous-looking Gryffindor boy from the cool autumn breeze. He’d stopped you after class, clearly trying to build up the courage to ask something. You were being polite, as always, listening with a soft smile while he stumbled over his words.

Regulus hadn’t been far, of course. He never was, though you hadn’t noticed him watching you from across the courtyard, his keen gray eyes narrowing slightly at the boy’s sudden presence.

“So, um,” the Gryffindor started, shifting on his feet and running a hand through his hair. “I was wondering if- uh- well, maybe you’d like to go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend? Just us?”

You blinked, surprised by the question. “Oh- ”

Before you could finish, Regulus moved in like a shadow, silent and swift. Without a word, he appeared at your side and leaned down, resting his chin casually on your shoulder. The gesture startled you, your breath hitching as his weight settled comfortably there, familiar but intrusive all the same.

“Are you busy, ma moitié?” Regulus asked smoothly, his tone soft, casual, and laced with just a hint of amusement. He ignored the Gryffindor completely, acting as if he didn’t exist.

Your face turned slightly to the side, startled by his sudden proximity. “Regulus? What are you- ”

“We have that thing to do, remember?” Regulus murmured, his voice low but perfectly clear. He tilted his head, the movement brushing his hair softly against your cheek.

The Gryffindor frowned, his nerves quickly shifting to irritation. “What thing? I was just asking her something- ”

Regulus finally glanced at him, his gaze lazy and unbothered but chilling nonetheless. “How generous of you to interrupt,” he said coolly, his chin still perched on your shoulder as though he hadn’t a care in the world.

The boy bristled. “I didn’t interrupt- ”

Regulus cut him off with a small, sardonic smile, as though he were correcting a child. “You didn’t mean to, I’m sure,” he drawled. “But, you see, we have plans. So unless you’re particularly fond of wasting her time…”

You frowned slightly, your hand moving to nudge Regulus’s shoulder as if to make him move. “Reg, that’s not- ”

“Isn’t it?” Regulus replied smoothly, tilting his head ever so slightly, the hint of a smirk playing on his lips.

The Gryffindor’s face flushed, clearly caught off guard by Regulus’s presence and tone. He looked at you, frustration in his voice. “Look, I just wanted to- ”

“I think you should go,” Regulus said, his voice as light and polite as ever, though there was no mistaking the ice beneath it.

The Gryffindor hesitated, but Regulus’s unwavering stare pinned him in place. It wasn’t a glare- Regulus didn’t need to glare to be intimidating. His calm, unwavering confidence was sharp enough. After another awkward pause, the boy muttered, “Maybe another time.”

He turned and walked off, shoulders tense and ears red.

Regulus finally lifted his chin from your shoulder, straightening up with a look of faint satisfaction. You turned on him immediately, pouting a bit with your bottom lip jotted out- eyebrows furrowing and your arms crossed. “That wasn't very nice, Black.”

Regulus shrugged and wrapped his arm around your waist as he turned you away from the courtyard. “He’ll live.”

~~~

Sirius seeing someone flirt with you…

It was a lovely spring afternoon by the Black Lake. The sunlight filtered through the branches of the nearby trees, dancing over the rippling water. A cool breeze swept through the air, ruffling your hair as you sat cross-legged on a blanket, deep in conversation with a Slytherin boy.

The boy- someone vaguely familiar, you thought his name was Marcus- had approached you earlier in the day, something about needing help with Potions. He was pleasant enough, a bit shy, though you couldn’t help but notice how often he looked away or scratched the back of his neck when you smiled.

“…and, you know, it’s just the stirring,” Marcus was saying, his voice faltering slightly as his eyes darted to yours. “I keep- well, messing it up. Slughorn says I’m overthinking it.”

You offered a gentle smile, always patient. “It’s probably just nerves,” you reassured him kindly. “You’re better at it than you think, I’m sure. Do you want me to walk you through it?”

Marcus blinked, visibly perking up. “Oh- yeah, that’d be great, I mean- ”

“Ah, there you are,” Sirius Black’s unmistakable drawl cut through the serene afternoon like a thunderclap.

Both of you turned toward the voice, and there he was. Sirius stood at the edge of the blanket with his hands shoved lazily in the pockets of his trousers, the sunlight making his dark hair shine like ink. There was an unmistakable mischief in his gray eyes as he looked from you to Marcus and back again.

“Sirius,” You said with a mix of surprise and mild annoyance, straightening where you sat. “What are you doing here?”

“What, can’t a man visit his favorite girl?” He replied with a grin, though his gaze sharpened ever so slightly as it flicked toward Marcus. “You know, it’s dangerous out here by the lake. Giant squids, rouge bludgers, snakes- all that. Best you’re not left alone with someone… inexperienced.”

Marcus’s face flushed, clearly thrown off. “I think she’s doing fine, thanks,” he muttered, trying to sound confident but failing miserably.

Sirius smirked, as though that was the response he’d been hoping for. Without any preamble, he dropped onto the blanket beside you- practically on top of you- his long legs stretching out as he sprawled back against the grass like he owned the entire lakeshore.

“Merlin’s beard, it’s exhausting being me,” he said dramatically, folding his arms behind his head. “You don’t mind, do you, sweetheart? Just needed to rest my bones for a bit.”

You rolled your eyes. “Sirius, I’m kind of busy- ”

“Oh, don’t let me interrupt,” he said innocently, though the smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth was anything but. “Go on, Marcus. You were talking about… stirring, was it?”

Marcus shot Sirius a pointed glare. “We were in the middle of something.”

“Were you?” Sirius replied, eyes gleaming with barely contained amusement. “Could’ve fooled me.”

You frowned, nudging him with your elbow. “Sirius, stop being difficult.”

“I’m not being difficult.” He purred smoothly, shifting just enough to rest his head against your shoulder, his hair brushing your neck as though it was the most natural thing in the world. “Just keeping an eye on you. Someone has to.”

Your face burned at the unexpected affection, though you tried your best to seem unbothered. Marcus, however, looked positively livid, his fists clenching and unclenching by his sides.

“You’re doing this on purpose,” Marcus accused, glaring at Sirius.

Sirius blinked up at him, all mock innocence. “Me? What on earth would I be doing on purpose?”

“You know what- ”

“Marcus,” you interrupted, sighing as you tried to salvage the conversation. “Maybe we can pick this up later. It’s… getting a bit distracting.”

Marcus glanced at you, frustrated but resigned, his gaze lingering a moment longer before he nodded stiffly. “Sure. Later.”

He stalked off without another word, leaving you alone with Sirius, who was grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

“You’re an ass.” You huffed, finally shoving him off your shoulder.

Sirius sat up with a dramatic groan, smirking as he stretched out his arms. “Merlin, that was exhausting.”

You glared at him, exasperated. “What was that?”

“That, my dear,” Sirius said, grinning cheekily, “was me doing you a favor. You don’t honestly want to spend your afternoon discussing stirring, do you?”

“That’s not the point!” You argued, narrowing your eyes. “He was just being nice, and you scared him off!”

“Good,” Sirius replied smugly, lying back down with his hands behind his head. “Couldn’t risk losing you to someone boring.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“I could be practical- real practical. We can talk about stirring.”

You huffed, trying to hide the small smile tugging at your lips.

Sirius turned his head to look at you, his grin softening ever so slightly as his stormy eyes held yours. “Besides,” he added, voice quieter now, “it’s much better when it’s just us, don’t you think?”

~~~

Remus finds you asleep on someone he doesn't know…

The Gryffindor common room was dimly lit, the fire burning low, its golden light casting lazy shadows across the walls. Most students had gone to bed, and silence blanketed the space, save for the occasional pop of burning wood.

Remus hadn’t been able to sleep. He’d lain awake for what felt like hours, restlessness gnawing at him as Moony clawed at the edges of his mind, pacing.

She’s not where she's supposed to be, Moony murmured, insistent and low, like a growl rumbling through his chest. Go to her. Find her.

It was nonsense, of course. You were probably curled up in your dormitory, safe and warm, and yet Moony’s unease bled into Remus, like an itch he couldn’t scratch. He sighed, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed and padding barefoot to the staircase. Just to be sure. Just to calm Moony.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs, the fire caught his eye first. Then he saw you.

You were curled up in a worn armchair by the fire, your head tilted to rest softly against the shoulder of a fifth-year boy Remus barely recognized. The boy sat stiffly, afraid to move, his expression somewhere between frozen panic and misplaced pride.

Moony stilled.

And then he snarled.

Get her up. She’s vulnerable.

Remus stopped in place, his breath catching as an instinct he couldn’t quite name surged through him. Moony’s anger wasn’t a loud roar this time- it was quiet, simmering like an ember. What’s he doing there? She’s asleep. He shouldn’t be near her. She's vulnerable.

Remus swallowed hard, his fingers twitching as he tried to steady himself. He didn’t want to startle you, and he didn’t want to scare the boy. He wasn’t angry- not really. But Moony… Moony didn’t understand manners.

Before he fully realized what he was doing, Remus moved forward. Quiet as a shadow, he stopped in front of the chair, his amber-tinged eyes fixed on the boy.

The younger Gryffindor glanced up nervously. “Oh. Uh- Lupin- she fell asleep. I didn’t want to wake her.”

Remus didn’t say anything at first, his gaze shifting to you. Your breathing was soft and steady, one arm curled loosely under your head. Moony quieted just a little at the sight, though the wolf’s presence still pressed against Remus’s ribs, heavy and protective.

“She’ll be more comfortable in her own bed,” Remus said finally, his voice low and calm. “I’ll take her.”

The boy blinked, confused. “I- what?”

Remus lifted his chin slightly, his tone firm despite the gentleness in it. “You can go. I’ll make sure she gets to her dorm.”

The boy hesitated, but something in Remus’s steady gaze seemed to settle the matter. “Right. Yeah. Sure,” he mumbled awkwardly, carefully shifting out from under you. He moved to stand, glancing one last time at you before hurrying up the stairs, his footsteps fading into the quiet.

Remus let out a slow breath, crouching down next to you. Moony settled just a little further, content now that the boy was gone, but still restless, still protective.

She’s too exposed, Moony murmured. Wake her. Take her where she’s safe.

Remus hesitated, watching the way your lashes fluttered faintly against your cheeks as you stirred, your lips parting slightly as though searching for the warmth that had left. His heart tugged in his chest, guilt biting at him.

“Dovie,” He called softly, his voice barely above a whisper. He reached out, his hand hovering over your arm for just a moment before gently brushing against your shoulder. “Up you get, lovely girl.”

You shifted with a quiet murmur, blinking blearily as your eyes fluttered open. “Mmm… Remus?”

“Hey.” He cooed, his lips curving into a small, careful smile. “You fell asleep down here.”

“Oh.” You blinked again, sitting up slowly and rubbing at your eyes. You looked around in confusion before your gaze landed back on him. “What time is it?”

“Late,” He chuckled, standing to his full height as he offered you a hand. “Come on. I’ll walk you to your dorm.”

You frowned sleepily, tilting your head. “You don’t have to do that.”

Remus’s jaw tightened faintly, and for a moment, he swore he could feel Moony’s growl rumbling deep inside him. She needs protecting. Don’t leave her here.

“I insist,” He said gently, his voice soft but brooking no argument. “You’ll sleep better in your own bed.”

You yawned, smiling at him as you took his hand. “If you say so.”

~~~

James steals the show from your newest admirer…

The Gryffindor common room was alive with its usual evening bustle- cards flying in midair from a game of Exploding Snap, the fire crackling merrily, and the low hum of chatter filling every corner. You were perched on the arm of one of the chairs, laughing softly as a chaser- Finn regaled you with a story from practice, his easy-going charm and dramatic hand gestures keeping you engaged.

Finn’s voice was lively, something about a Bludger mishap and the newest Beater, and you couldn’t help the bright smile it pulled from you.

James, sitting across the room with Sirius and Remus, had been halfway through a halfhearted game of Wizard’s Chess when he noticed.

“Prongs,” Sirius said, nudging him when his knight didn’t move. “Your move, mate.”

James didn’t hear him. His hazel eyes were fixed on the sight of you leaning just a little closer to Finn, laughing at something he’d said.

James sat up straighter, his jaw tightening.

“Earth to Prongs?” Sirius waved a hand in front of James’s face, earning himself a scowl.

“Do you lot know,” James said suddenly, his voice pitched loud enough to carry across the room, “about the time I stole Filch’s keys and locked him in his own office? Poor guy thought Peeves was after him.”

All at once, a ripple of laughter swept through the room. Students turned toward James with wide smiles and bright eyes, a chorus of, “No way!” and “You’ve got to tell us!” filling the air.

Finn faltered mid-sentence, glancing toward the growing crowd around James.

You shot Finn an apologetic smile, clearly torn between listening to the end of his story and the infectious energy that always followed your best friend. James’s grin was wide and charming as ever, his eyes twinkling mischievously- but when his gaze flicked to yours, something sharper lingered beneath the warmth.

He hadn’t stopped looking at Finn once.

“What happened?” One of the younger students urged eagerly, completely captivated by James’s easy charisma.

“Ah, you wouldn’t believe it,” James replied, leaning back in his seat as though he had all the time in the world. His voice was smooth, his confidence magnetic. “I’d hidden behind that big grandfather clock, you know the one? Filch swore up and down he’d heard a ghost- but he couldn’t figure out how the door locked from the outside. Poor bloke works at Hogwarts and still doesn't grasp magic!”

More laughter erupted, and James winked at you as if to say, See? Isn’t this better?

Finn glanced at you, clearly realizing he’d lost your attention entirely. “I, um… I guess I’ll finish the story later,” He muttered sheepishly.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” You said, genuinely apologetic, but Finn was already waving you off.

“It’s fine. James has a habit of stealing the spotlight anyway,” he joked, though his tone wasn’t without a hint of frustration. He wandered off toward his dorm room, leaving you to turn toward James and his growing group of admirers.

Later, Sirius confronted James about his little stunt. Calling him jealous, James scoffs dramatically. “Jealous? Me? Please. I’m just looking out for her.”

Sirius raises an eyebrow. “Looking out for her, or making sure no one else looks at her?”

James shrugs, a smug little grin tugging at his lips. “Same thing, really.”

[my-castles-crumbling]

difference - Jegulus Microfic - @into-the-jeggyverse - word count: 202

"I'm breaking up with you."

Regulus froze, staring into James's eyes as the other man uttered those five devastating words while a whole tableful of people looked on.

"I just...I can't believe you just said that," James continued, looking completely shell-shocked."

"James, I-" Regulus tried to explain, frowning, but James didn't seem to want to hear it.

"No! How dare you?" he yelled instead, eyes flashing. "Of all of the things?"

"I- I just-" But he couldn't apologize. He'd said what he said.

They stared at each other across the table, Sirius, Effie, and Fleamont all looking between the two of them.

"You really can't takes the difference between my cooking and Mum's?" James asked again, this time looking a bit desperate.

Regulus looked to his fiancé and then to his future Mother-in-Law, who was holding back a laugh. "I...no," he sighed, smirking and accepting defeat.

"Blasphemy! Absolute betrayal!" James began hollering, standing up from the table and stomping away dramatically, though Regulus could tell that he wasn't actually mad.

The others all only waited a few seconds before shrugging and going back to eating. "I can't either," Monty murmured under his breath, earning a joking hit to the shoulder from Effie.

[ultravioletbrit]

“Italy” - Jegulus microfic - @into-the-jeggyverse - 333 words

 

Regulus has his suitcase packed and he’s almost out the door when Sirius stops him.

“Where are you going?” Sirius asks him.

“Italy.” Regulus almost growls.

“Why are you going to Italy?” Sirius asks ignoring Regulus’ tone.

“He asked me to marry him, Sirius!” Regulus says through gritted teeth.

“Yes. I know.” Sirius tells him.

“YOU KNOW?” Regulus is yelling now.

“Yes, of course I know. That still doesn’t explain why you’re going to Italy.” Sirius questions again.

“HE ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM, SIRIUS!?” Still yelling and getting louder.

“Reggie, I still don’t see the connection here.” Sirius says, but before Regulus can answer, James walks out of their bedroom.

“James, Reg is going---” Sirius starts.

“To Italy. I heard… He’ll be back.” James says casually.

“No, I will not!” Regulus says firmly at the same time Sirius asks “What?!” as he looks at James confused.

“He just needs a bit of time to process.” James shrugs, still very calm about the entire situation.

“Why are you not freaking out?” Sirius asks a bit frantically.

“I freaked out when he went to France when I asked him to be my boyfriend, but then he came back a week later and said yes. So, I didn’t freak out when he went to Greece when I told him I loved him. And then he went to… Spain?” He questions and looks at Regulus.

“Yes.” Regulus grits out.

“Spain, when I asked him to move in with me. Italy sounds like it will be nice. Have a good time.” James tells Regulus and gives him a kiss.

“I am not coming back this time, James.” Regulus says very definitively.

“Okay, love. I’ll see you in a week.” James says as he starts to walk towards the kitchen. He pauses and looks over his shoulder, “You have the ring, right?” He asks Regulus.

“Yes.” Regulus says as he walks out and slams the door. 

---------

Regulus is back in a week with the ring on his finger.

[aithusarosekiller]

Jegulus soulmates au where you get your soulmark at 18 so James ends up getting his pretty soon after the breakup and it completely shatters him knowing that the one person he's destined to love is the one he can't have

But he forces himself to move on and covers the very clear leo constellation and RAB on his shoulder as much as he can.

They don't talk again so regulus doesn't see his until his 18th birthday, while he's in the cave, seconds from dying, and an antler with James' initials on his right arm, perfectly paralleling the dark mark

The last thing he ever sees is proof that it was all real and it was all worth it because just for a while they'd been able to have each other, and in another life they would again

[crescenthistory]

Where Padfoot Lays His Head

Summary: Inspired by @thewriterghost's reblog of my last animagus!reader fic, this is just a sweet drabble of Whiskers comforting Padfoot:,)

Words: 1.7k

Warnings: not proofread, fem!reader, your marauders/animagus name is whiskers, walburga black, black family dynamics and trauma, vaguely implied abuse, sirius spiraling into self-loathing, platonic physical affection, romantic!regulus x reader but platonic!sirius x reader is the main focus, background platonic!moonwater

Note: this is based on the same reader from Feline Touches, Sweet Like Honey and Padfoot vs. Whiskers, sirius' beloved almost-sister-in-law that he has frequent (loving) sibling squabbles with

Sirius pretended he didn’t feel the humiliation burning through his veins from his friends’ worrying looks.

Stop looking at me, stop caring so sodding much.

His internal begging was all for naught; this was apparently what he signed up for when he strolled into the train compartment that housed the largest smile Hogwarts had ever seen and his pack of make-shift slightly-fucked-up-but-lovable friends.

Most days, Sirius was grateful to the bone for the family he had been able to assemble at Hogwarts, stretching from his boyfriend to his boyfriend’s childhood best friend to his biological brother and the boys that became his brothers. However, on days that Walburga Black, the hag to end all hags, sends him a Howler berating him for leaving home over the summer, few sentiments besides anger, self-loathing and isolation remained in the young boy’s body.

When he eventually stops reeling and wallowing, all this attention would make him feel warm once more, especially when he sees they didn’t stop showering him in it even as he retreated perhaps a bit rudely from it. Right now, though, it just kept the wound open and Sirius was sure the infection would kill him this time around.

He was sure of that every time.

It became evident quickly that he would not be able to get away from his friends. James was practically glued to his side from the moment he left the Great Hall after Walburga ruined everyone’s lunch. His brown eyes were so wide beneath his glasses and Sirius was sure he could almost see tears in them as he swung his arm around Sirius’ shoulders and kept telling jokes like his life depended on it. Remus was not much better. He had learned by now not to soften his touches when Sirius was in these moods – on the contrary, harsh, direct touches helped ground him – but his hands rarely left his being, as if he would fall apart without him. Even Lily tuned down her playful banter with him, swapping it for concerned questions and checking in on him throughout the day. Sirius loved them all, but he hated it.

Even Regulus showed him more compassion than normal, though he didn’t say much. His entire being seemed to radiate I get you, I understand more than anyone, because frankly he did. Even as hearing Walburga’s voice must have rattled Regulus too, he didn’t show it, instead holding space for Sirius, carrying what was supposed to be his burden.

Humiliating. 

All of which to say, Sirius did what Sirius does best; he ran from them all, in the one form none of them would be able to hold a conversation with him in.

Padfoot had turned out to be a blessing that way. Sirius picked up on it from you, who only ever was in your animagus form when you felt particularly well or horrifically poorly. Difficult to ask how a dog is feeling, yeah? 

He laid in front of the common room fireplace, stretched out in a position that showed he was ready to pounce should anyone try to pet him. Around him, his friends were cuddled up on the sofas and armchairs, chattering lowly amongst themselves and playing the occasional game of wizarding chess. Padfoot had his head placed on his front paws as his gaze flickered all over the room, unable to settle. His nerves always seemed to transform with him, manifesting as the most anxious dog Gryffindor had seen.

Perhaps the only one, but the sentiment remained.

Their stares were still on him, penetrating and with downturned frowns over their faces. Stop it, stop it, stop it. He couldn’t string too long sentences together in his dog brain – part of its fantastic appeal right now – but that sentiment remained steadfast.

You were sat in Regulus’ lap opposite the fireplace, murmuring something in his ear as you both intermittently looked at Padfoot. Your hands were playing with his hair, lips almost grazing his skin as you talked, even pressing the occasional kiss to his cheek, his jaw, his ear. Love. Padfoot loved love and he loved his little brother getting to experience it so wholly, even as he laid here, destroying the moment with the same misery that haunted any children raised by the Black family. He felt as if he was sucking the joy out of the room with his wallowing, yet he couldn’t stop himself.

Padfoot couldn’t help the low whine that escaped him at the darkness swirling around inside him. Upon fearing having to meet the gazes of anyone who caught the noise and see the goddamn sympathy and pity in them, he brought his paws up to cover his eyes, pathetically hiding within himself.

Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad.

In his internal chanting, he didn’t notice when the chatter died down a bit, nor did he see the glances exchanged. He felt the footsteps reverberating through the floorboards, suggesting somebody was walking away, but he didn’t register its true implications. Leave, was all he could think. Good, leave. Go.

What he did notice to its fullest extent was when a few moments later, soft fur collided with his own as something was rubbing against him.

A bit too quickly, almost too violently, Padfoot’s head snapped up from beneath his paws to see what this intrusion was – only to come face to face with a white-and-grey cat, blinking slowly at him. His mouth fell slightly open, and he thought a complaining bark may be on its way out, but then you – Whiskers – butted your head against the side of his neck, caressing him with your feline body.

The adventures of Whiskers and Padfoot were a running joke, especially one Remus and Regulus loved to team up to tell. Whether it was chasing each other around, hunting rats – preferably Wormtail, but any would do – and mice or playing with the house elves, you two loved to conduct mischief together in the one form you could never be properly caught in. There had been the occasion where you cuddle or pet one another, but it was rare and usually unspoken, attachment growing deeper and softer without either properly addressing it. 

So, this was not necessarily out of left field, but it surprised him nonetheless. He couldn’t say it wasn’t quite welcome, though.

You had started purring as you walked up and down his body where he was laid in front of the fire, soaking up the warmth he was bathed in and oddly calming the vibrating nerves within his own body. Whenever you reached his head, you bumped your snout against his, rubbing the space between your ears all over his face.

Cats are weird, Padfoot thought. Like it.

Mere minutes ago Sirius had been surveying his friends and his effect on them intently, digging himself deeper into his self-inflicted hole. Now, his attention was captured by the much smaller animal beside him, and he didn’t see how most conversation had stopped to witness the interaction. Lily and James looked at them in almost shocked awe, both having been snapped at and ran away from when they attempted to pet Padfoot themselves. Regulus and Remus, however, sat there with soft, knowing smiles – seeing the girl they loved most go for it with no fear and comforting their favourite dog. Remus would deny it to anyone who asked, but there were tears in his eyes.

The next time Whiskers came up beside his face, you stayed there, leaning yours against his. You laid your body down over the paws Padfoot had previously rested his own head on and made yourself comfortable in a position no one but a cat could possibly conjure up. From there, you began cleaning his fur like you were his personally-assigned cat mother, licking the strands in their correct direction. When his face was too far away, you lightly brought your paw up to his snout to bring him further towards you.

Despite being placed in front of a fire, warmth didn’t truly spread through Sirius before now. When he brought his head down, he laid it on top of you and let it rest there across your midsection, careful not to hurt you, as your upper body curled around his head. You continued cleaning up his fur as you purred loudly, easing the tension from Padfoot’s poor body.

A cuddle only animals could come up with, an embrace Sirius would deny anyone today, yet like this, it just worked.

When his eyes became heavy, Sirius let them fall. You continued your ministrations without hesitation, carefully and slowly tending to Sirius face, only stopping occasionally to nuzzle your forehead further into his fur and purr even louder. 

He didn’t quite fall asleep, he rarely did as Padfoot, too alert and awake in this form, but he let himself fall into a place of tranquillity. Walburga’s harsh words seemed almost funny in their anger now, and Sirius’ own spiral was becoming a thing of the past. 

Would he still be red-cheeked tomorrow and avoid his friends’ eyes for the first half of the day? Perhaps, but they would reel him into their arms and hearts regardless. Would he sputter and fall back into his evil cycle of thoughts if anyone brought this specific moment up? Without a doubt, but that’s why they would not, at least not before he settled. 

Padfoot was suddenly safe in the Gryffindor common room. He was safe with this warm weight over his paws and beneath his head, he was safe with love being quite literally carded into every strand of fur on his body. He was safe with the hearth behind him and his pack in front of him, quiet voices further lolling him further into a state of peace.

Padfoot was safe – maybe even loved.

Across the room, Remus and Regulus had gravitated further towards one another, as theirs were the only eyes who never left the scene of cat-dog-solidarity displayed before them. 

Regulus bumped into Remus’ arm with his elbow and whispered, “He doesn’t like cats, he says?” with a knowing smirk.

The other boy huffed a laugh at that, lips remaining softly upturned. “I believe he has an exception or two to that rule.”