February 24 - Bag - @moonwater-microfic - wc: 780
Regulus seemed to have a bag that had no limit, at least, that's what James thought. James noticed that Regulus was somehow able to always have two books he was reading, his textbooks, his school work for all his classes, supplies for all his classes, and sometimes even food in one small bag. Even with this seemingly endless space, James had never seen Regulus carry anything for someone else, not even his friends. He watched Regulus laugh when Barty dropped all his textbooks and did not offer to put anything in his bag.
That's why James was so shocked when Regulus immediately offered to take Remus' book for him, so he didn't drop it. James was even more shocked when he saw similar things happen four more times. Once is a fluke, but five times is a pattern. James was sure Regulus was messing with Remus. James wouldn't let anyone mess with one of his best friends, so he started to watch Regulus more closely to see if there was a pattern to when or why he would help out Remus and if he helped other people, and James just never noticed before.
James found out that Regulus helped Remus and Remus only, but also something even more strange. Remus spends a lot of time with Regulus. Almost as much time as he spends with James and the rest of the Marauders.
This got James even more intrigued by the situation. He started watching the map whenever Remus said he was going to study, and sure enough, every time, without fail, he went to Regulus on the Astronomy Tower. After watching the map for a few days, James got curious about what they did together. Did they actually study? Did they sit in silence? Did they talk? What did they talk about?
It was driving James insane, so one time James took the invisibility cloak and followed Remus. Regulus was already there when they arrived leaning against the railing and looking out at the stars.
"The stars are beautiful tonight, aren't they?", Remus asked even though he hadn't even looked at the stars yet, only Regulus. Remus walked over and leaned next to Regulus. "Yeah.", Regulus smiled, blushing softly, and rested his head on Remus' shoulder.
James was so confused, he had never seen Regulus like this before. Regulus was always cold and distant, not soft and cuddly. And Remus rarely let James or Sirius even give him a hug let alone rest a head on his shoulder. The last time Sirius had drifted off in History of Magic and rested his head on Remus' shoulder, Sirius ended up with a bump on his head from hitting the table so hard. He claimed he had a concussion all week, not that anyone believed him.
The scene before James was so sweet that he thought he must be dreaming. It didn't match either boy's personality at all. James was so shocked he wasn't listening to the conversation being had, and barely taking in what the boys were doing until he saw them kiss. James let out the loudest gasp, and both boys jumped away from each other, looking for who caught them.
They looked around for a bit and then it seemed to click in Remus' head. "James, take the cloak off.", he said annoyed. James sheepishly took the invisibility cloak off. Regulus jumped looking startled at the boy appearing out of nowhere.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... I didn't know...", James tried to explain why he was there, but then there was a wand to his throat and he was pushed up against the wall staring into the now cold eyes of Regulus. "I swear to Merlin, Potter, If you tell anyone, especially Sirius, you are dead." "I won't tell anyone.", James said quickly not wanting to get hexed.
Remus snickered a little and then took Regulus' hand and gently pulled him away from James. "It's all right, love. James won't tell anyone." Regulus looked up at Remus then nodded seeming to calm down slightly. He leaned into Remus but still glared at James.
James turned to leave planning to break his word and tell Sirius, because James had never kept anything from Sirius before and didn't want to lie. But then James remembered how happy Remus and Regulus looked together and decided to let them have time to tell people how they wished. It wasn't technically lying if he just didn't say anything about Remus and Regulus, and he didn't want to ruin anything, especially since Regulus and Sirius were finally on speaking terms again, and he had never seen Remus as happy as he was with Regulus.
