Prompt 15 - Bath
@jegulus-microfic October 15, Word count 537
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Regulus found a note folded neatly in the pocket of his robe. He was to meet James at the top of the stairs that led down to the dungeons. He rushed back to his dormitory and sunk into a scalding hot bath as he got ready for his date.
He settled on a soft black wool jumper with his usual black trousers. He refused to dress like his slob of a brother in jeans. He shuddered at the thought. He adjusted the neck of his jumper and, taking a deep breath, went to meet James.
“Hey, Reg,” James waved, grinning madly when he saw him coming up the stairs. Regulus had to bite his tongue to stop him from saying something scathing.
“Hi,” He said, letting a small smile twitch the corner of his lips. James’s face lit up at the sight. James held out his arm and, to Regulus’s surprise, he took it.
James led him across the grounds and into the forbidden forest. Regulus should have been afraid, walking in the dark forest at night, but he wasn’t. He felt oddly safe with James.
They walked further than Regulus expected them to, but finally, they got to a small area where the trees had thinned, and the ground was covered in thick moss. Regulus looked closer and saw the odd colour change in the moss—fairy rings.
James whistled softly, and a strange humming noise broke the silence. Out of the trees fluttered dozens of fairies. They floated down in rings, and upon seeing James, began to titter excitedly.
“Hi,” James murmured quietly to who Regulus assumed was the queen of the fairies. “Do you think you could impress my date?” The tiny being moved so she could see Regulus, giggled and nodded at James before rising back to where the other fairies hovered.
Regulus could hear music as the fairies spun and twirled. He had no idea where the sound was coming from, it was as though the earth was transmitting it straight into his head. The fairies began to glow brighter as their dancing intensified and Regulus watched in awe.
They reached a crescendo, bathing the area in their soft lights, and then slowly drifted higher, getting lost amongst the stars of the night sky. Regulus was unable to speak or move for a few minutes until James took his hand and stroked his thumb across the back of it, snapping Regulus out of the trance the fairies had put him in.
“I don’t know how you’re going to top this for our next date,” Regulus told him, his eyes locked on James’s thumb as it caressed his hand.
“I get a second date?” James asked, his voice hopeful. Regulus rolled his eyes.
“Yes,” James beamed at him, brighter than the fairy lights and led him on a romantic walk back to the castle, taking him all the way back to the secret entrance to the Slytherin Common Room. James bowed and pressed a kiss on the back of Regulus’s hand before leaving him with a stuttering heart against the blank expanse of stone wall, wondering how deep he was willing to fall for this absurd man and how far he’d already gone.
