hi im lilly and i took two years of (i think) mandarin lessons (it might've also been cantonese, my teacher never told me and when i signed up it only said chinese)
@lastpigeonparty @mixed-match-archive @ro-zden @pierogi-z-czeresniami @andysaas @sleepyyakayumi @thatoneartist-inthecorner @deedeethedevil @idkrn12345678910 and anyone who wants to join (pls tell me if you dont wanna be tagged i feel bad for bugging you if youre not interested in these kinda things)
Hiii! I'm Ash, and I really really dislike the feeling of being submerged in water, it's just uncomfortable in a sensory way (shower is fine, bath is not)
Summary: After years of silence and resentment, Sirius and Regulus finally confront the past. Old wounds resurface, sharp words are exchanged, and for a moment, it feels like nothing has changed. But sometimes, the only way to heal is to tear everything open first.
Pairing: Poly!Marauders (James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin) x Slytherin!Fem!Reader
Everything was going so well, yeah things between Sirius and regulus still weren’t the best but still. It started the way most things between them did with biting words and a barely concealed storm of emotions.
Regulus had been avoiding Sirius ever since the disastrous first meeting between the Marauders and your Slytherin friends. At first, Sirius had pretended not to care. But you saw the way it gnawed at him, the way he’d glance over at Regulus in the Great Hall and quickly look away, as if expecting his brother to do the same.
But Regulus never did.
Until now.
You weren’t sure what had finally pushed Sirius over the edge, but you found out when he stormed out of the common room, jaw clenched, eyes dark. You barely had time to ask where he was going before James threw you a look and muttered, “He’s finally doing it.”
Doing what, exactly?
You got your answer when you saw Sirius drag Regulus into an empty classroom, shoving the door shut behind them.
No audience. No distractions. Just the two of them.
Regulus leaned against the desk, arms crossed, the picture of composed indifference. “This is unnecessary,” he said.
Sirius scoffed. “Yeah? You’ve been acting like I don’t exist for years, but sure, I’m the one being unnecessary.”
Regulus didn’t rise to the bait. He simply tilted his head, studying his brother like he was some puzzle he hadn’t quite solved yet. “What do you want, Sirius?”
Sirius faltered for half a second. Then his expression hardened. “I want to know why,” he said. “Why you just stood there and let her let them turn you into this.”
Regulus’ jaw tensed. “You think I had a choice?”
“Yes,” Sirius snapped. “Yes, I do! You could’ve left-”
“Like you did?” Regulus shot back.
Sirius opened his mouth, then closed it. He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. “I- Reg, I had to leave.”
“Of course you did.” Regulus let out a humourless laugh. “And you think I should have followed you? You, who left me there alone to deal with mother dearest?”
And there it was. The thing neither of them ever said out loud.
Sirius’ stomach twisted. “Reg…”
“You think I wanted to stay?” Regulus’ voice was quieter now, but no less sharp. “You think I liked playing the perfect son while she tore into me for every little thing? While she screamed about you and made me pay for it?”
Sirius’ breath caught. “I didn’t know.”
“No, you didn’t,” Regulus said, voice bitter. “Because you left. And you never looked back.”
Sirius took a shaky breath. “I thought I was protecting you,” he admitted. “I thought if I wasn’t there, she wouldn’t-”
“Well, you thought wrong,” Regulus interrupted.
Silence stretched between them.
Sirius leaned against the wall, exhaling sharply. “Reg… if I could go back, if I could-” He stopped. Ran a hand over his face.
Regulus looked down at his hands. He was gripping the desk so tightly his knuckles were white.
“I hated you,” he finally whispered.
Sirius swallowed hard.
Regulus looked up, meeting his eyes. “I hated you for leaving me behind. For being free while I was still trapped in that house. For…” He hesitated, but then his shoulders sagged. “For not coming back for me.”
Sirius’ heart twisted painfully.
“You don’t have to hate me anymore,” he said, voice rough. “I’m here now. I know it’s not enough, I know it doesn’t fix anything, but…” He hesitated. “I never stopped being your brother, Reg. Even when we weren’t talking. Even when we were on opposite sides of everything.”
Regulus was silent.
Sirius let out a shaky laugh. “You don’t have to forgive me. But I needed you to know that.”
Regulus studied him for a long moment. Then, to Sirius’ utter shock, his younger brother let out a quiet, exhausted sigh.
“I don’t think I hate you anymore,” Regulus admitted.
Sirius blinked. “…That’s a start.”
Regulus huffed a small, reluctant laugh. “Yeah.”
A beat of silence.
Then, hesitantly, Sirius reached out. Not quite a hug, but an offer. A chance.
Regulus stared at his outstretched hand.
For a moment, it seemed like he might refuse.
Then, slowly hesitantly he took it.
It wasn’t much.
But for them, it was everything.
Soo guys I decided to go back at it it has been so long and I apologise I am going to try to update regularly if I can but there's just a lot going on right now I love y'all and hope you enjoy some black brother angst.
Fuck this shit I'm not very far into crimson rivers and I just got up to where Evan dies and I hate everything I'm fucking shaking and sobbing bro like go away
Hey guys so I have not been on Tumblr for literally ages a lot has been going on and I'm so sorry especially if you were reading serpents and stars. I might get back to it I'm not exactly sure but if I do it might take me a while.
if this post reaches 13k notes (including at least 700 reblogs) before june 6, i’ll come out to all of my closest friends as nonbinary
if this post reaches 30k notes (including at least 12k reblogs) before june 6, i’ll tell all of my closest friends that my my preferred name is jaimiee
setting the goal so high only because i’m scared
yes, it’s safe for me to come out to my friends, it won’t put me in a dangerous situation. yes, i kind of want to, so reaching my goal won’t pressure me into doing something i rlly don’t want to do. yes, i might delete this post if i chicken out or i might just not do it even tho ive reached the note goal, i dont think neither of those will happen tho
edit: spam reblogs are allowed, be aware of the post limit thooo
Summary: You’ve somehow found yourself in the middle of a Gryffindor-Slytherin girls’ night. There’s lingering tension, playful rivalry, and a surprising amount of laughter. Maybe this whole “friendship” thing isn’t so bad after all.
Pairing: Poly!Marauders (James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin) x Slytherin!Fem!Reader
You weren’t entirely sure how this had happened but then again now days you weren’t sure about most things.
One moment, you were in the library with the Gryffindor Girls, and the next, you were being dragged into the Gryffindor common room for what Mary Macdonald had called a “proper girls’ night.”
“Not that I don’t love being kidnapped,” you deadpanned, crossing your arms, “but why am I here?”
Marlene McKinnon grinned, slinging an arm around your shoulders like you weren’t still debating whether to hex her or not. “Because, love, we’ve decided you’re fun when you’re not being a terrifying Slytherin menace.”
Pandora laughed. “That’s actually a compliment coming from her.”
You narrowed your eyes. “I don’t know if I should be offended or flattered.”
Dorcas smirked. “Both, probably.”
The Gryffindor common room felt wrong. It was too warm, too golden, too full of roaring laughter. The red-and-gold decor clashed horribly with your green-and-silver uniform, making you feel like you stuck out even more than usual. But then Mary shoved a mug of butterbeer into your hands, and Marlene flopped onto the couch beside you, and Lily of all people tossed a blanket in your direction, and suddenly, it didn’t feel as suffocating.
It felt… comfortable.
Unfortunately, comfortable did not mean peaceful.
“Alright, let’s get one thing straight,” Marlene declared, pointing at you with a mischievous grin. “If you’re gonna be part of our group, we need to discuss the most important topic of all.”
You raised an eyebrow. “Which is?”
“How you’re so bloody pretty,” Mary said bluntly, tilting her head.
You blinked. “What.”
“No, seriously,” Lily added, narrowing her eyes as if she were studying you. “It’s actually unfair.”
Dorcas, smirked. “Told you.”
You stared at them, unsure whether to feel flattered or deeply uncomfortable. “Are we really just sitting here and-”
Pandora cut you off with a dramatic sigh. “It’s true, though. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were part Veela.”
You groaned, sinking further into the couch. “This is ridiculous.”
“It’s facts,” Mary countered.
“Complete facts,” Marlene agreed.
Lily just shrugged. “Honestly, I can see why the Marauders are obsessed with you.”
That caught your attention. You stiffened, your grip tightening on your mug. “They’re not obsessed with me.”
Mary wiggled her eyebrows. “Oh, love, they so are.”
“They adore you,” Pandora added, nudging you playfully.
You huffed. “I hate all of you.”
“No, you don’t,” Dorcas said smugly.
You threw a pillow at her.
That was the beginning of the chaos.
“Alright,” Marlene said, rubbing her hands together. “Let’s settle something important. Who throws better parties Gryffindor or Slytherin?”
“Are you joking?” You scoffed. “Slytherin. Obviously.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “Please. Gryffindor parties are legendary.”
“Legendary for being loud and completely disorganized,” Dorcas shot back.
Mary gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest. “You wound me.”
Pandora smirked. “She’s not wrong, though.”
Marlene huffed. “Alright, fine. What about Quidditch?”
You tilted your head, smirking. “Gryffindor has James Potter.”
“And?”
“And that’s your whole argument.”
Lily snorted into her butterbeer. “She’s got a point.”
Mary waved her hands. “No, no, no. Gryffindors are braver than Slytherins. That’s not even a debate.”
“Oh?” You leaned forward, eyes glinting with challenge. “Braver? Or stupider?”
Marlene grinned. “Both, probably.”
Dorcas smirked. “Both, definitely.”
Lily groaned. “This was a terrible idea.”
“I told you inviting Slytherins in here was going to be a mistake,” Mary said dramatically.
“Oh, come on,” Pandora said, nudging her. “You love us.”
Mary sighed. “Unfortunately, yes.”
The conversation drifted from rivalry to gossip to ridiculous hypotheticals. At one point, Marlene and Dorcas got into a heated debate about the best way to sneak out of detention, while Pandora and Lily tried to convince Mary that no, sneaking into the Forbidden Forest for fun was not a good idea.
Somewhere in the middle of it all, you realized you weren’t just tolerating their presence.
You liked it.
Maybe, against all odds, this ridiculous mix of Gryffindors and Slytherins could actually work.
And then it was the next week and you were still hanging out with them it started with a friendly game of Wizard’s Chess.
Which quickly turned unfriendly.
“You’re cheating,” Marlene accused, narrowing her eyes at Pandora.
Pandora blinked, all innocent smiles. “Cheating? Me? Never.”
Dorcas snorted. “Oh, she’s definitely cheating.”
You smirked, watching the game unfold from the couch. “And yet, you lot insisted Gryffindors were better at games.”
Mary grinned. “Marlene’s just a sore loser.”
“I am not,” Marlene huffed, crossing her arms. “I just strongly dislike losing.”
“You always lose at chess,” Dorcas pointed out.
“Not the point.”
Pandora hummed, casually moving her knight. “Checkmate.”
Marlene groaned. “I hate you.”
Dorcas blew her a kiss, while Pandora said, “No, you don’t.”
You watched the whole exchange with an amused smirk. There was something strangely comforting about it all like you weren’t a Slytherin sitting in the Gryffindor common room, but just… a girl surrounded by friends.
That thought was only slightly terrifying.
Unfortunately, the peace didn’t last long because, of course, the Marauders had to show up.
The entrance to the common room burst open with a dramatic BANG, and James Potter strolled in like he owned the place. “Ladies! You are all looking particularly radiant tonight.”
Sirius followed, grinning as he leaned against the doorway. “What he means is, we were bored, and Lily wasn’t answering her summons.”
Lily sighed. “Because I was ignoring your summons.”
Remus, looking much more apologetic, stepped in behind them. “I did warn them not to intrude.”
You raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. “And yet, here they are.”
James flopped onto the couch beside you with zero shame. “We missed you.”
Sirius waggled his eyebrows. “And we were curious about what exactly you lot have been doing.”
Dorcas smirked. “Plotting against you.”
Sirius gasped, hand over his heart. “You wound me, Meadows.”
You shook your head. “No, that’s coming later.”
Sirius grinned. “Merlin, I love when you talk like that.”
Mary gagged. “Get a room.”
Remus sighed, rubbing his temple. “What are we actually doing?”
Pandora perked up. “Drinking game?”
Lily groaned. “Absolutely not.”
Marlene grinned. “Truth or dare?”
Sirius’ eyes gleamed. “Now that I can get behind.”
You smirked, tilting your head. “Are you sure, Black? I play ruthlessly.”
James grinned. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”
The game started innocently enough.
Remus was dared to charm his hair bright pink (which, to be fair, suited him). Marlene had to serenade a very unimpressed Lily. Pandora admitted to accidentally setting off fireworks in the Slytherin common room last year.
But then, of course, it escalated.
Dorcas smirked; eyes locked onto you. “Alright, y/n. Truth or dare?”
You met her gaze evenly. “Dare.”
Her smirk widened. “I dare you… to sit on Sirius’ lap for the next two rounds.”
Sirius, ever the dramatic one, grinned like Christmas had come early. “Oh, please say yes.”
James cackled. “Oh, this is excellent.”
You rolled your eyes, but the challenge was already set. So, with the most bored expression you could muster, you stood, walked over to Sirius, and gracefully dropped onto his lap.
He let out a very dramatic sigh. “This is the best day of my life.”
Mary gagged again. “You’re all disgusting.”
Remus just pinched the bridge of his nose. “This is chaos.”
And it was.
But it was your chaos.
Authors Note: lord have mercy on me but I am obssesed with the girls.
Summary: After the tense conversation between Regulus and Sirius, things are still far from fixed. But progress isn’t always loud—it’s in the quiet moments, the tentative steps forward. And maybe, just maybe, this is the start of something new.
Pairing: Poly!Marauders (James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin) x Slytherin!Fem!Reader
The fire in the Slytherin common room crackled, filling the silence between you all. No one had moved much since the last words were spoken, as if breaking the moment would shatter whatever fragile understanding had just been reached.
Regulus sat stiffly in his chair, arms crossed, his sharp gaze flicking toward Sirius every few seconds, as if bracing for another fight. Sirius, on the other hand, was trying to look relaxed, but you could see the way his fingers tapped against his knee, his restlessness betraying him.
James and Remus had settled in, but you could tell they were just as uncertain about the situation. James, ever the optimist, looked like he wanted to make a joke to break the tension, but even he seemed to know better.
You took a deep breath, forcing yourself to speak. “So… that went well.”
Regulus shot you a dry look. “Did it?”
Sirius huffed a laugh, shaking his head. “Well, we didn’t hex each other, so I’d call that progress.”
Regulus didn’t dignify that with a response.
Dorcas, who had been quiet through most of this, finally spoke up. “If we’re going to keep doing this, you lot should probably learn how to be in the same room without all of us holding our breath.”
Barty snickered. “I don’t know, I think the tension is rather entertaining.” He leaned back against the couch, clearly enjoying the drama.
Pandora shot him a look before turning to you. “But she’s right. If you really want them to get along, they need to learn how to exist without wanting to strangle each other.”
You sighed, running a hand through your hair. “I don’t expect them to suddenly be best mates, but…” You hesitated, glancing between the two brothers. “I just don’t want to keep choosing sides.”
Sirius frowned at that, his expression softening. “You’re not choosing sides.”
Regulus scoffed. “That’s rich, coming from you.”
Sirius tensed again, but this time, instead of snapping back, he took a deep breath. He ran a hand through his dark hair, exhaling slowly. “Look, Reg, I know I’m the last person you want to hear this from, but I don’t hate you.”
Regulus blinked, clearly not expecting that. “I never said you did.”
Sirius tilted his head, studying his younger brother. “You didn’t have to.”
The silence that followed was almost unbearable.
Remus, ever the voice of reason, finally leaned forward, his tone gentle. “You don’t have to forgive each other overnight. No one’s expecting that. But maybe… just consider that this doesn’t have to be a fight, both of you at least do it for y/n.”
Regulus looked down then to you, his fingers tightening into fists before he relaxed them. He didn’t speak right away, but when he did, his voice was quieter. “I’ll think about it.”
That was the best you could ask for, for now.
James clapped his hands together, shattering the tension. “Well, that’s progress. At this rate, we’ll be singing campfire songs by the end of the year.”
Regulus shot him an unimpressed look, but there was no real venom behind it.
It had been a couple days and things weren’t amazing, but they weren’t bad either the marauders had more officially been introduced to your friends.
Which is why you weren’t sure how this had happened.
One minute, you were in the library, enjoying the blissful silence of an empty corner. The next, Lily Evans had appeared like some righteous, freckled menace, flanked by Mary Macdonald and Marlene McKinnon.
You stared at them. They stared back.
You resisted the urge to glance over your shoulder. Surely, this was a mistake.
“What do you want?” you asked, voice sharp.
Lily, to her credit, didn’t flinch. “We want to talk.”
You raised an eyebrow. “Talk?”
Mary smiled. “Yeah, you know. A conversation. You’re dating three of our boys, so we figured we should at least get to know you.”
Your lips curled. “Dating is a strong word.”
Marlene snorted. “Right. Because James looks at you like you hung the bloody stars for him purely as a hobby.”
You rolled your eyes, shifting in your seat. “And if I don’t want to talk?”
Lily crossed her arms. “Then we’ll sit here in silence and make you uncomfortable until you do.”
You blinked. “That’s blackmail.”
“That’s friendship,” Mary corrected with a grin.
You narrowed your eyes at them. They weren’t leaving. And worse they weren’t being hostile. You were prepared for anger, judgment, insults about your house. You weren’t prepared for kindness.
You sighed, tapping your nails against the table. “Fine. Say whatever it is you came to say.”
Mary rested her chin in her hand. “So, tell us. What’s so special about you that the three most obliviously love-struck idiots in Hogwarts are obsessed?”
You scoffed. “You tell me.”
Lily hummed. “You’re sarcastic.”
Marlene smirked. “You’re confident.”
Mary grinned. “And you look like you could kill a man and not blink about it.”
You shrugged. “All very true statements.”
Lily tilted her head. “But you’re also guarded.”
You froze for half a second before forcing a smirk. “Maybe I just don’t trust easily.”
Mary gave you a knowing look. “You don’t.”
Marlene and Mary exchanged a look before Marlene leaned forward, propping her chin on her hand.
“You’re really pretty.”
You blinked. “What?”
Mary grinned. “Yeah, you are. It’s kind of unfair, actually.”
Lily nodded, tilting her head. “The green tie and the whole ‘mysterious and brooding’ thing definitely work in your favour.”
You opened your mouth, then closed it. Out of all the things they could have said this was not what you expected.
“You lot cornered me in the library to tell me I’m pretty?”
“Among other things,” Mary said cheerfully.
You stared at them, then scoffed. “You Gryffindors are ridiculous.”
Marlene grinned. “And you’re dodging the compliment.”
Your fingers tightened around your book. You didn’t know how to handle this. You knew how to handle insults, how to fight back. But being called pretty? You could feel heat creeping up your neck.
“Alright,” you said, standing abruptly. “This has been weird. I’m leaving.”
Mary grabbed your wrist before you could bolt. “Oh, come on. We’re just messing with you.”
“Are you?” you asked dryly.
Lily smiled. “Partially. But we do mean it.”
You hesitated. There was something disarming about them. They weren’t pushing, but they weren’t letting you run, either. It was almost… Marauder-like.
A voice interrupted your thoughts.
“Evans, are you stealing my girlfriend?”
You turned to see James, Sirius, and Remus approaching, all wearing varying degrees of amusement.
“Girlfriend?” you echoed, raising an eyebrow.
James shrugged, dropping into the seat beside you and throwing an arm over your shoulders. “They’re calling you pretty, love. Feels like competition.”
Mary smirked. “Maybe we are competition.”
Sirius snorted, plopping down across from you. “Sorry, Macdonald, but we’ve already claimed her.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “Claimed her? She’s not a Quidditch broom, Black.”
James grinned. “No, but she is ours.”
You tensed. The words sent something sharp and unfamiliar through your chest. You weren’t used to being someone’s.
Remus, ever perceptive, nudged your foot under the table. When you glanced at him, his expression was soft.
You let out a breath. They’re not trapping you. They’re holding you.
Lily watched the exchange, then turned back to you. “Well, whatever they are to you, just know we’re not the enemy.”
You eyed her. “I’ll believe that when you stop glaring at Sirius every time, he breathes near you.”
Sirius put a hand over his heart. “Tragic. I suffer every day.”
Lily rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it.
You exhaled, running a hand through your hair. “Fine. I’ll… tolerate you lot.”
Mary beamed. “That’s the spirit.”
Marlene grinned. “And if you ever need a break from these three, you can always sit with us.”
James pouted. “Betrayal.”
You smirked. “Careful, Potter. I just might take them up on that.”
James narrowed his eyes, then tackled you against his chest in protest, pressing a dramatic kiss to your temple.
You shoved him away, but you were smiling.
Maybe the Gryffindor girls weren’t so bad after all.
Authors Note: sorry that its been a while guys i've been super busy I actually adore the gryffindor girls in this so i hope yall do too. Also please interact if you want to stay tagged. xx
If Jegulus and Wolfstar got a house/apartment together, they'd put one of those "beware of the dog" signs, except it'd say "beware of the cat. The dog, wolf and stag are pretty chill."
hehe saw my friend do this on twitter and I wanted to do it because I thought it was cute so thought I might try and do a little tag game thing. Don’t expect this to really go anywhere but join in if u want.
Chose prince because I assume it’s the same thing and I would never in gods green earth wear a dress. Glad my fix characterization pushes through again lol
Summary: The Marauders meet your Slytherin friends, and things quickly become awkward. Especially when Sirius and Regulus come face to face. Tensions are high, and old wounds threaten to reopen, but maybe it’s time for all the pieces to finally fall into place.
Pairing: Poly!Marauders (James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin) x Slytherin!Fem!Reader
Authors Note: This one was hard to write I actually struggled so I hope its okay.
You had hoped that maybe, just maybe, your two worlds could mesh together. But the moment the Marauders stepped into the Slytherin common room, it felt like everything froze.
James looked around, trying to seem casual, but you could see the way his shoulders stiffened. Sirius was doing his usual confident smirk, but even that felt a little forced. Remus, ever the peacemaker, offered a small smile and greeted Pandora and Dorcas. But it was obvious to anyone with eyes that the air was thick with tension.
And then, of course, there was Regulus.
You had known this moment was coming. But that didn’t make it any easier. Regulus and Sirius hadn’t spoken in months something had happened between them, something no one talked about. All you knew was that it was bad.
And now, you were about to throw them into the same room.
Regulus didn’t move when you approached. His expression was cool, unreadable. Barty was grinning as usual, watching with an amused gleam in his eyes. Evan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his gaze flicking between you and the Marauders.
Pandora and Dorcas exchanged a look, clearly sensing the brewing storm.
You could feel the weight of their eyes on you. All of them waiting for what was about to unfold.
“Alright, let’s get this over with,” you said, forcing your voice to stay steady.
Sirius shot you a wink and moved toward Barty, flashing that signature smirk. But Regulus didn’t even acknowledge his brother. His gaze stayed fixed on you, like he was waiting for something. Or maybe like he was studying you, trying to figure out how far you were willing to go with this.
“I didn’t know you ran with Gryffindors,” Barty said, breaking the silence. He looked at you with a teasing grin. “Interesting choice, treasure.”
You rolled your eyes. “It’s not like that.”
James shifted on his feet. “Yeah, we’re just... getting to know each other.”
“Yeah, well, the night is young,” Barty replied. “Let’s see how long that lasts.”
Sirius chuckled, but it was clear it wasn’t his usual carefree laugh. He shot a glance at Regulus, but the other boy didn’t even flinch.
You stepped between them. “Can we please just-”
Before you could finish, Regulus spoke up. “I don’t know if I’m ready for this.” His voice was quiet, but there was something about it that made the room feel smaller.
Sirius immediately tensed. “Ready for what?” His voice was laced with something sharp.
Regulus tilted his head, eyes dark. “This… circus.” He gestured toward the Marauders. “You think you can just walk into our world and think it’s all going to be fine?”
Sirius stepped forward. “Reg, not everything’s a damn joke, alright? I-”
“Enough,” you snapped, stepping between them before anything could escalate. You hated the way Regulus’ presence had that effect on Sirius, how it pulled out something in him that was so far from the easy-going boy you knew.
Regulus raised an eyebrow. “What? You’re going to play the peacemaker now?”
“I’m not playing anything reg,” you said, voice cold. “You’re my friends. But don’t you dare think that just because we’re Slytherins, we’re all going to agree on everything. I’m asking for a chance here, from all of you.”
Sirius looked at you, his expression a mix of frustration and something else. He opened his mouth to respond but stopped himself.
James, sensing the tension, decided to step in. “Maybe we should just sit down, yeah? Get to know each other better.”
Pandora and Dorcas exchanged a quick glance, silently agreeing. “It’s fine,” Pandora said, giving you a reassuring smile. “We’ll all survive this.”
Evan nodded, but his eyes stayed on Regulus, waiting for his reaction.
There was a long, unbearable silence before Regulus sighed. “Fine.” He looked straight at Sirius, his voice low. “But this doesn’t mean I’m suddenly going to forgive you.”
Sirius didn’t flinch. “I’m not asking for forgiveness.” His voice was quieter now, less hostile. “I’m just asking for a chance.”
The room seemed to hold its breath. And for a long moment, no one spoke.
Barty, the ever-present wildcard, leaned forward. “This should be interesting.” He winked at you, but it was hard to tell if he was joking or not.
You looked between all of them the Marauders, your friends. There was still so much to work through. So many broken things. So much tension.
But for the first time, you thought that maybe, just maybe, this could work. If you all tried.
It was supposed to be an evening to break the ice, but somehow, the tension lingered in the air long after the Marauders left the Slytherin common room. Everyone had tried to pretend that things were fine, but deep down, you could feel the walls still firmly in place.
James had been the most upbeat, always trying to lighten the mood with that same smile that made your heart flutter, but even his usual charm couldn’t mask the unease that sat heavily between the two groups. Remus had tried to mediate his soft words and gentle gestures but even he couldn’t ignore the fact that Sirius and Regulus were standing on opposite sides of an invisible battlefield.
You had hoped that maybe, after that awkward encounter, things would smooth over. Maybe with time, they’d learn to coexist. But as the night wore on, you couldn’t help but feel the weight of the unresolved conflict between your two worlds.
You found yourself in the common room, staring at the crackling fire as the warmth failed to reach you. It was late, and most of the Slytherins had retreated to their dorms, leaving you alone with your thoughts.
And then, as if on cue, footsteps came down the stairs. It was Regulus.
“Reg?” you asked, your voice softer than you intended.
His eyes flickered toward the fire before meeting yours. For a moment, there was nothing but silence.
“You look like you’re thinking,” he said quietly, his gaze never leaving yours.
You let out a small breath. “I don’t know what I’m doing anymore, Reg. Everything feels like it’s falling apart, and I don’t know how to fix it.”
He tilted his head, his dark eyes softening just a fraction. “You’re not the only one struggling with this,” he said, his voice steady but not without a trace of something that almost sounded like regret.
You raised an eyebrow, the last vestiges of your frustration slipping through your voice. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Regulus took a step closer, and the tension in the room thickened once again. “I know you think I’m cold, that I don’t care,” he began. “But you’re wrong. This…” He gestured vaguely, his voice suddenly tight. “This isn’t easy for me either. You think I’m okay with the way things have been? With the way Sirius and I-” He stopped himself, pressing his lips together, as if the words were too much to say aloud. You could feel the weight of his silence, the weight of what he was withholding.
“You don’t have to say it, Reg,” you said quietly, your heart suddenly heavy. “I know. I know about the way you and Sirius are with each other. I see it. But you can’t expect everything to be fixed overnight. We can’t just push it all away.”
Regulus looked away, his jaw tight. “I don’t know how to fix it. I don’t even know where to start.”
You bit your lip, unsure of what to say. “Maybe… maybe it’s not about fixing it all at once. Maybe it’s about taking small steps. Giving it time.”
“I’m tired of waiting,” Regulus muttered, more to himself than to you. “I’m tired of pretending it’s fine when it’s not. When it’s never been.”
Before you could respond, the sound of footsteps interrupted the moment. You both turned to see Sirius, standing in the doorway, his gaze fixed on Regulus.
“Is this a private conversation?” Sirius asked, his voice edged with uncertainty, as though he wasn’t sure if he should be there.
For a moment, the room was still.
Regulus didn’t move. His eyes were cold, but there was something flickering in them something that almost looked like fear.
You swallowed hard, stepping between the two of them. “Let’s just talk. All of us. Please.” You gestured for Sirius to come in, but Regulus stayed rooted to the spot. “This can’t keep going on. We need to fix this.”
Sirius’s eyes flickered from you to his brother. “Yeah. I guess we do.”
Regulus didn’t say anything for a long moment. He was thinking, and you could almost hear the wheels turning in his mind. Finally, he sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly as he stepped closer. “Fine,” he muttered, his voice softer than before. “But don’t expect me to just forget everything.”
You nodded, relieved, but before anything else could be said, the door to the common room opened again, and this time, it was James and Remus.
“Did we interrupt something?” James asked, his voice light but his eyes sharp.
You shook your head, trying to keep the situation calm. “No, just... trying to figure things out.”
James smiled, stepping into the room with Remus. “Well, if anyone’s good at that, it’s us.” His tone was playful, but it didn’t quite hide the undercurrent of seriousness.
Regulus shot him a look, his voice colder than before. “I doubt you’ve had to figure anything out like this.”
James didn’t flinch. “Maybe not. But I’ve got a lot of patience when it comes to things that matter.”
