A snake and his little bird
Regulus Black x fem! sunshine! reader (gn! version)
Summary: Y/n has been keeping her relationship with a certain Black brother secret, but when James starts investigating why she's always stealing the map she's in hot water
Warnings: swearing, some angst, hurt comfort established relationships (reader x regulus, wolfstar), kissing, mentions of food, eating, sex, toxic family and abuse
A/n: 4.1k words, reader is in regulus' year but is a marauder and like them a Gryffindor x thank you for the request! Enjoy 💛
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You doodled in the margin of your parchment, mostly little drawings representing you and your friends animagus forms. A stag for James, a dog sitting in a crescent moon for Sirius and Remus and a rat laying a top of a cheese block for Peter
You were just adding detail to the wings of your own form when a little bit of paper landed in front of you. Looking up at the professor you saw he was still droning on about some kind of charm, merlin did you hope Flitwick would be back soon because this guy sucked
Although one silver lining was with him not paying attention you could unfold the paper, smiling as you instantly recognised the impeccable handwriting
You look pretty today
Glancing to your right you see Regulus sitting with Barty at the other end of the classroom, Barty seems to be busy trying to do what seems like origami while Regulus is already subtly looking at you
You scrawl on the paper holding it up, you say that every day, you bite your lip
His lips tug gently, an act most would miss but not you. He writes on his own parchment, because it’s true, and in my defence I said cute yesterday, he holds it up briefly, long enough for only you to read and not even Barty notices, although the boy wouldn’t really mind anyway, just give your boyfriend a good teasing for it
He revels in your reaction, that smile that you always wore just that little bit brighter when he was around, he gives you a little nod before returning to watch Barty and you go back to your drawings
Around 10 minutes pass and you were just beginning to sketch the constellation Regulus lies in when a little flower lands on your desk
Picking it up you unfold the little flap that says, open me, doing as it says you smile at the words, still on for our date little bird?
You look over, noticing Barty’s flowers are terrible compared to this one and you nod ‘Just need to grab the map first’ you mouth to him and he nods
Soon enough class was over and as you walked out Regulus gently brushed his hands with yours, whispering a soft ‘see you at your spot’. You watched him walk off with Barty, Evan and Pandora with the biggest smile, your relationship wasn’t exactly secret, his friends knew, and Lily knew being the one to cover for you in your dorm, but really you kept your relationship on the down low so your fellow marauders wouldn’t find out
You were two years younger than the boys but being Remus’ childhood friend, you were pretty much welcomed in the moment you got on the train in first year. In their fifth and your third they became animagus with you doing the same the following year…and yes it took entire year of you, James, Sirius and Peter begging for Remus to finally cave and let you do it too. Earning the nickname ‘chirp’ when you succeeded, not only from your form but because you were always upbeat and happy
Of course, they hated Slytherins, well, James and Sirius did with a passion while Peter and Remus were just wary of them. You didn’t mind them, sure there were Slytherins you wanted to punch and in fact had done as such back in second year, but most were actually pretty nice when the Lastrange’s of the world weren’t watching
“Prongs!” you call out as you see him passing, waving to him from afar
His head scoots up at the call, looking around until he spots you. A grin grows on his face, turning back to say goodbye to Marlene before jogging up to you
“Hey haven’t seen you all day” he throws his arm around you, pulling you roughly into him and making you giggle
“Nice to see you too”
“So, what did you just escape from?” he asks, his arm more relaxed as you both walk aimlessly down the corridor
“Charms” you inform, leaning your head into him
You were closest with Remus but after he and Sirius began dating, you and James bonded more whilst they were being all couple-y. Peter was there too but he usually changed into a rat and went a nap in order to escape their pda. Which was something James couldn’t inconspicuously do, although, you and he did manage to convinced everyone you were his pet bird for a month last year…and may have helped him cheat just a bit on some tests and steal a bunch of stuff from the class storerooms
“Godric with the substitute?” you nod “How did you survive?” he wonders rather dramatically “No but really, how? Teach me your ways dear birdy” he uncouples himself and bows before you
“You’re silly”
“I know” he takes it like a compliment as he should, returning to his previous position
“I just doodled and listened pans as she explained her latest experiment”
He nods “Fair enough, although…” you keep your smile but you know that although “…just watch out with Pandora, she’s a little weird and that’s fine but she’s friendly with Slytherins alright?” he says it softly, like he’s trying to protect you
You give him a little nod “Sure thing Prongs” you say, not wishing to ruin the moment nor your chances of why you sought him out “Say” you stop walking “You mind if I borrow the map for a couple hours?” you ask sweetly
He nods right away, moving to get it out of his satchel “Hear ya go” he hands it over with a smile
“Thanks Prongs” you slip it into your own bag “I need to go but I’ll see you later in the common room?”
“Yeah see you then” he gives you a wink and smile, waiting until you walk off before it drops and he digs into his bag again to retrieve a certain cloak
James felt guilty following you, so much he almost turned back as well. Almost. He just had a funny feeling you were keeping something from him and the others, he didn’t think that something was necessarily a bad something, more he was just curious as to why you needed the map so often.
Along the way he saw you stop at a window, checking your hair and putting on some lip balm. That’s when he smirked, you were seeing someone
He and the boys were protective, they’d defend you till the say they died but they weren’t so protective they would stop any person from seeing you. Still he knew why you might keep it a secret, Remus and Sirius kept theirs quiet for quite a while as did Alice and Frank, even if everyone and their grandmother could see it coming
“Back of the library, classy” he chuckles as he follows little ways back, this area was known for secret liaisons, yet he as he followed he ended up in an area he’d never been before, which wasn’t uncommon for him since you and Remus did the schematics for it
He watched you place your books on the table, satchel hanging over the back of the chair along with your robe, looking like it was any other study session until…
“Saucy” he notes, watching as someone wraps their arms around you from behind, kissing your neck
He was about to retreat and give you some privacy but then he registers the green tie as you turned around. Pushing his glasses up he grimaced at the scene, watching you get pressed against the bookshelves by a snake of all people…and not just any snake
“Pads is gonna flip…fuck” he curses, shaking his head and quickly walking out of the library, debating all the way back of what to do with this new-found information
It was a shame he left so early, completely misinterpreting the scene as a hook-up rather than what it truly was, two people who were more than a little in love with one another meeting for their bi-weekly study date
“Sorry lovely” Regulus apologies, his thumb trailing over your now plump lips
You shake your head lightly, not wanting to disrupt his movements “You never have to be sorry for kissing me” you can’t stop the smile from spreading on your face, not when he’s shining down at you like this
He pecks your smile “Still” his arms gently peel you off the bookshelf, one slithering around to rub the impact mark “Didn’t mean to give you a possible bruise…in more than one area” he nudges his nose into your neck
You sigh at the small circles on your back “It’s okay, doesn’t hurt so don’t worry your pretty little head” his cheeks raise, a dusting of pink coating them at you calling him pretty
This was the Regulus few got to see, the mushy one who was a complete softy for you, his Gryffindor birdy. The one that could make him flustered beyond compare with a single word, touch or glance
“You okay there gorgeous?” you tease him just a little and he licks his lips
“Stop” he says holding back the biggest smile
He encourages you over to sit at the table, trying to compose himself but it’s hard when your around
“Or what beautiful?” you smirk
You watch as he quickly shrugs off his robes and cardigan, dragging the chair around so he can sit beside you before he pulls you down into the adjacent seat, his movements soft while his voice is firm
“Or I’ll do more than press you against the bookshelf” he warns, hand squeezing your upper thigh before sliding down towards the knee and resting it there
You let out a little gasp at his actions, remaining quiet as you open one of the books before whispering a soft “Handsome”
He chuckles, that small bit of firmness he held fading “You swallow a thesaurus?” he wonders kissing your cheek
“No” you shy away with a pouty smile playing on your lips
“How many more do you have because you better get them out now or we’ll never get through Slughorn's essay” his hand wraps further into your inner thigh, thumbs gently sweeping across the thin fabric of your tights
“Cute, stunning, charming…” you say quickly,
“Done?” he asks sweetly, the tint in on his face darkening
“Exquisite” you kiss his cheek “Magnificent” then one to his nose causing it to scrunch oh so cutely “Wonderful” you finish with a peck to the lips “Now I’m done” you grin turning back to the books and leaving him positively flustered
“Maybe over the course of two hours would have been better” he admits and when you glance back his cheeks are crimson “Merlin you make me soft” he lets out a little laugh
“How soft?” you ask, positively beaming at him and his state
“Like the blankets we take the astronomy tower had a baby with a cloud and…I mean…okay I really don’t know where I was going with that but you get the idea” he covers his face as you both start giggling, leaning into you as you laugh together
“You’re adorable” you add and he pretends like he got a dagger to the heart
“You can’t surprise attack me with that you cruel women…I’m a puddle now”
You really were a ray of sunshine when you returned to the common room, that was until you were greeted with no one but your friends sitting around the couches, looking like they were plotting for war
“Who pissed us off this time?” you giggle, dropping your bag off your shoulder and letting it drag as you reach the couches
They didn’t laugh. Remus and Peter looked nervous, the former rubbing Sirius’ back in a soothing motion, something he only had to do when his boyfriend was beyond upset. Your eyes flicked to James, he didn’t look as angry as Sirius but more disappointed, and somehow that was worst
A pit started forming in your stomach
“Where were you?” Sirius asks, voice cold
“The library” you try to keep your smile, hoping maybe they’ve just had a bad day
“With?” he says shorty, pressing his lips together to spot himself saying more
“Why does this feel like an interrogation?” you swallow hard, heart thumping in your chest hoping to merlin this wasn’t happening, that maybe you fell asleep during study or this was some weird prank
Sirius sits forward “Maybe it wouldn’t if you weren’t off fucking my little brother?” he comes right out with it
You froze, feeling like all life left your body as they stare you down, the judgement in his voice, the disappointment, the rage
“I…I wasn’t” you try to speak, to explain, but James just huffs a laugh
“I saw you, y/n” that was the moment you knew they may never forgive you, he used your real name “That why you’ve been asking the map multiple times a week since we started back? Off to your little corner in the library to get pressed up against it” he accuses
You felt your face warm at the knowledge he had seen you and then the guilt spread across your face
“Are you going to keep lying to us?”
Sirius stares you down to the point Remus sits back, an unreadable expression on his face as he knows he can’t prevent whatever his boyfriend will say
“I’m not lying” you insist “If you had just waited…” James cuts you off
“Waited to see you fuck a snake? Ugh no thank you” he almost sings the last bit with a look of disgust
“My brother of all people” Sirius cuts in, his voice demanding “Why…just why?”
“I love him” you answer honestly as lies wouldn’t save you, besides you were done pretending
Their expressions freeze
Peter and Remus looking taken aback and in thought, clearly processing, James just skips everything and goes straight to an almost sympathetic disgust, and Sirius just goes straight to angry, standing up and pointing
“No” he shakes his head “You don’t” he tells you “You don’t” he repeats harder
You felt tears prick your eyes but you hold it, trying to stay strong. You were the happy one, no one had ever seen you really cry and if they did it was usually due to pain
“But I do” you say weakly but there’s a firmness to it which makes Sirius look at you with pity
His hands grip your shoulders “I grew up with him so you listen to me when I say he is incapable of love. He’s a miserable sod, a grumpy bitter guy that cannot and does not love you” he slows down so the last words sink in
You shake your head “You’re wrong…you’re…you’re wrong” you manage to get out, voice breaking and it makes the boys wince
“I’m not, I wish I was but I’m not. You can’t see him anymore, he’s just using you to get to me. He doesn’t love you y/n, you mean nothing to…”
“Stop it!” you shout, pushing him away
They flinch at your tone “Y/n” Sirius tries to reach out but you step backwards
“No!” you let the tears fall not caring anymore “I love him and he loves me. You are all just too caught up in your own ideals and hate of Slytherins to notice how good a person he is”
“He’s a purist!” James exclaims “He called Lily a mudblood in his first year”
“Yeah James in first year! When he was 11 and scared, scared because guess who was also in that corridor? Malfoy, a 6ft platinum giant with a cane up his arse that won’t quit. Merlin of course he did because what was the alternative?”
“Not doing that! I didn’t stoop that low at his age” Sirius crosses his arms
“Yeah because you gotta come back here…” you gesture to the common room “...and be praised for it. Bet it be fucking different if you had to go down the dungeons like him, sleep a mere few rooms down from someone 6 years older that would have no remorse in beating you up for it”
“You’re being silly” Sirius says, clearly not wanting to listen because if he did then he would be the bad guy here, he knew the guilt that would come from it “You’re trying to justify it because you know he’s no good”
You scrunch up your face, so disappointed in your friends “Maybe you’re no good” is all you say taking the map out of your bag and shoving it into Sirius’ chest before walking quickly up to your dorm, ignoring all of their calls
The next morning the boys headed down for breakfast, with James and Sirius facing the Slytherin table, eyes fixed on Regulus as he chatted with Barty and Evan. He hadn’t noticed the stares, nor did he know you were currently in a little ball in bed crying and would be for most of the coming days.
James was half watching while Sirius gaze was fixated on his brother, trying to figure out what his endgame was with you. His eyes only tore away when Lily and Alice entered the great hall without you
Regulus noticed too, his normal little glance to see his girlfriend’s smile was now a sad stare at the girls, a stare Sirius noticed but choice to pass off as confusion instead of clear mild concern
You had managed to drag yourself into the shower today, now wearing the charmed jumper Regulus gifted you that smelt like him, already sniffling and ready to read the saddest, most depressing book in your collection
That was until there was a noise from your window, followed by its opening and your boyfriend tumbling in, hitting the floor with a thump
“Are you okay?” you crawl to the end of the bed
“Yeah yeah I’m fine” he says groaning and definitely not okay by his wincing as he clampers over to the bed, kneeling on the ground in front of you “Are you okay?” he asks a little breathless “I’m sorry for barging quite literally in but it’s been days”
Your heart flutters and breaks all at once, how could the people you love not see this adorable puppy dog of a man in front of you that literally almost broke all his bones flying up and into your window to check you were okay
“They know” you start to tear up again “They know Reggie”
His eyebrows knit before the realisation hits, his face morphing to fear briefly before he stands and moves to sit on the bed next to you, engulfing you in his arms
“We’ll be fine” he assures you both “No matter what”
Your hands clutch to his robes, not caring that he is freezing from the cold morning air “I know” you nod into his chest
He gently pulls your face back, cupping it as he wipes the tears “And you know I love you right?” his own eyes are glassy, both of you knowing that things were gonna be a little bit harder from now on but you wouldn’t let them win
“I love you too” you return it softly
He gives you a small smile before leaning in to kiss you, lips salty from your tears but neither of you care. Unfortunately, the moment is cut short when your door opens, banging against the wall as it does and making you jump apart
Regulus’ face hardens, turning off the emotions switch he had developed in order to survive
“Hands off her” Sirius points at his brother
“Love” Remus tries to pull him back, the only one seeing the scene for what it was
Sirius shrugs out of his grip “No” he stares you and Regulus down “You are going to leave and never see her again, I’m not going to let you use one of my best friends to get back at me”
“Like hell I am” Regulus wraps his arm around you, feeling you nuzzle your head into his chest, fresh tears soaking through his shirt
“Regulus”
“Sirius” he returns his brother's angered tone threefold “I am not leaving when she’s upset. If anyone should leave it’s you, you made her cry”
Remus, James and Peters expressions soften at that but Sirius doesn’t let up
“I’m not leaving until you leave”
“Fine then I guess you better get comfy” his other arm comes around, cupping the back of your head in a soothing motion before he whispers reassurances to you
“I’m…” Sirius stops himself as he watches his brothers’ actions “…Why?” is all he can say
Regulus holds you close, peering up at his brother “Why what?” he knew what he was asking, he just didn’t know how to answer it just yet
“Why her? Of all people Regulus why one of my best friends”
“You can’t control who you fall in love with” he says, looking down at you
You raise your head, letting him plant a kiss you’re your forehead before you burying yourself back into his embrace
“You can’t love” Sirius shakes his head, tears forming “You can’t because you never loved me…you never showed any emotion after I left for Hogwarts”
Everyone’s heart broke, the cracks in his voice, Remus having to take James’ hand to stop himself from hugging his partner while Peter rubs his back
“I do love you” Regulus’ hard expression finally breaks “I never stopped”
“Why didn’t you come with me then? When I cried, poured my heart out while I was still bleeding…you closed the door in my face”
Regulus winces at that, you don’t have to see him to know. You kiss his chest, hugging him tighter as you knew how much he hated himself for that, how much he wanted to go back…how he had also packed a bag but by that time Sirius had already left and it was too late
“I wanted to, I was just scared” he confesses “When you got sorted into Gryffindor mum and dad were so mad they spent every waking moment conditioning me to…” he makes little bunny ears with his fingers “…not make the same mistake you did”
Sirius moves to sit at the end of your bed, signalling the other boys can stay when they attempt to back out
“They hurt me too when I asked why it was a bad thing, eventually after talking with Evan he told me that the best thing to do is to pretend. Have a switch you can turn off and just feel nothing…and for a while I did that, to the point I was just existing”
He caresses your hair before looking back at his brother
“Then one day I was in the library and y/n came along, sitting next to me like it was nothing” he lets out a small chuckle “Talking my ear off about some kind of plant and how it was so cool…”
“It was cool” you mutter earning small chuckles from the room, James and Peter moving to sit on the bed next to yours while Remus sits behind Sirius, placing a kiss to his shoulder
“Sorry what I meant was she was telling me about this super awesome…ouch love” he groans as you pinch him “Anyway” he turns back to his brother who is watching him curiously, a lips tugging upwards as he observed yours and his interactions “After a few weeks I finally spoke back, realising she wasn’t a…ploy from you” he winces “She helped me. That switch that had been stuck off was finally on again when she’s nearby”
You shift away from his chest, still leaning on his shoulder but you could see your friends again
He looks down at you “She helped my live again, smile again” he says, doing just that “I love her and I love you. I never meant to hurt you Siri” he turns back to his brother, seeing the surprise yet comfort the old nickname from their youth brought as it slips out
“I never wanted to hurt you either” he nods, blinking the tears from his eyes “I love you too Reg”
“Fucks sake hug!” James says sniffling with Peter tissues in their hands “Please you're killing us” he waves for them to embrace, this tissue causing him to resemble one of those mothers from period books
You and Remus giggle, moving away from your significant others to the middle of the bed. You intertwined your hand with his while he wrapped his other around you, both watching as the brothers hug for the first time in 7 years
“We always joked about being siblings but in a few years that might actually be true” Remus whispers to you
“We always were overachievers” you whisper back, giggling together while James seems to cry harder…and they call Remus the mum of the group
Thank you for reading 💛
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