Chapter Text
Regulus is trying to read his book.
He’d originally come to the library to find a nice quiet place where he could read without being disturbed. And really, he hadn’t thought it was too much to ask, to find some quiet in a library. Apparently, he was wrong.
Regulus has only gotten about two pages into his book when Barty comes and plonks himself down with apparently no other purpose than to bother him. Regulus had known Barty would be in this mood today because Evan is currently off studying with his potions partner, who clearly has a crush on him. This specific hour every week there’s always a slightly manic quality to Barty, a gleam in his eye that Regulus frankly wants absolutely nothing to do with right now - hence the hiding in the library.
Barty is currently resting his head on Regulus’ shoulder, accioing a quill and throwing it at passing students.
“Would you stop that?” Regulus doesn’t even look up from the book he’s now only pretending to read.
Barty throws it again, unfazed. “You should be thankful I’m not transfiguring it into a dagger.” He pauses, suddenly sitting blot upright. “Oh! Or an arrow. A poison arrow.”
Regulus opens his mouth but then quickly snaps it shut, frowning. “That— you can’t transfigure poison. Can you? Surely not.” Barty just shrugs, aiming the thing at a bunch of first years who all squawk and scatter. But Regulus is still thinking about the poison arrows, and he’s annoyed, because he doesn’t know, and that’s gonna bug him now. Trust Barty to think of something so dumb that it might actually be useful.
Sighing, Regulus closes the book in front of him and stands, heading over to the transfiguration section.
Barty, of course, follows him, trailing along on his heels like a damn dog. “Are you gonna learn how to make poison for me? Oh Regulus, did I ever tell you how much I love you? Because I do. I fucking adore you.”
“I’m not letting you poison anyone you maniac,” Regulus says, but he can feel his annoyance beginning to crack- there’s a good chance he’s even starting to smile.
Barty pouts. “You’re no fun any more. You used to be fun. Your brother and his Gryffindors have gotten to you. Soon you’ll be lost to us forever.” He drapes the back of his hand dramatically over his forehead. Regulus laughs, mostly because he’s almost certain Barty is joking - about the poison, at least. He might have a point about the Gryffindors.
Since he left home, he and Sirius had been making an effort with each other. Which means he's been spending an unfortunate amount of time with his brother’s idiot friends. The worst part is, he finds himself almost enjoying their company, and as much as Barty complains, Regulus knows he and Evan have, against their better judgement, started to feel the same.
Still, Regulus rolls his eyes as Barty continues to bounce along beside him.“I know!” Barty bursts out suddenly, “we could dip it in amortentia! We could shoot it at people, like cupid; that’d be amazing!”
Regulus shakes his head, suddenly seeing Barty as Puck from a Midsummer Night’s Dream, blinding everyone with love.
“Barty, that would not be as fun as you think it would. I actually think you should go back to the poison idea because amortentia is fucking—” but he’s interrupted by a noise form the bookshelves next to them as his brother and Lupin come crashing around the corner. They’re laughing and whispering, faces close. They don’t even seem to notice Barty and Regulus until they’re right in front of them, apparently too caught up in their own little world to see anything outside the two of them and too in their own heads to notice the feeling between them is mutual. They’re starting to drive Regulus mad.
Every time Regulus sees them, especially in a position like this - with Sirius practically backed into the bookshelves, cheeks flushed and leaning unconsciously towards Remus - it makes him want to bash his head repeatedly against the nearest wall. He clears his throat loudly and the two spring apart as if he’s thrown a bucket of water over them. Sirius turns to him, looking flustered and mildly guilty.
“Hi—Reg…” He straightens his already straight shirt and pats down his tie. “What… um, hi.”
Regulus doesn’t say anything, inwardly cursing at every instinct that had sent him to the library instead of somewhere more secluded. He grabs the nearest book off of the transfiguration shelf - not even caring if it’s the right one, just wanting to get away from this… whatever it is. At this point he’d much rather the two of them just hook up and get it over with rather than dragging the rest of them into their flirting.
“Wait, wait, hey!” Sirius lurches after him and grabs hold of his sleeve. Apparently, Regulus isn’t getting away that easily. “We’re having a thing tomorrow. Do you think you’d— do you want to come?”
Regulus shifts on his feet. Sirius looks unsure, and it doesn’t suit him, isn’t something Regulus is used to seeing. Regulus wishes he’d just put that cocky grin back on his face and make a stupid joke or something. Sirius always tackles every uncomfortable situation with a charming smile and obnoxious humour. Everything, apparently, except this.
Regulus raises an eyebrow. “A thing?” he repeats, cringing inwardly at how sharp the words are, how sarcastic. He’s bad at this, he gets spiky and mean when he feels uncomfortable. It should fall to Sirius to do better. He needs Sirius to be able to do better.
Regulus takes a deep breath. “You’re having a party?” he tries again, but it only sounds slightly softer this time.
Barty pops up from behind Regulus then, resting both hands on his shoulders. “Yes. The answer is yes. We’re in,” he says, and honestly Regulus is sort of glad he’s there. Sirius grins back and it dissolves some of the tension.
“Not really a party, we just wanted to get together to celebrate the end of year. Just our group. And you and yours, if you want.” He says the last part in a rush and suddenly Regulus understands his hesitancy. This is obviously a private thing, something just for his closest friends - which Regulus is now apparently included in.
Regulus tries not to smile too hard. “Yeah,” he says. “Yeah that sounds fun.”
“Hell yeah it does!” Barty’s hands slap down hard on Regulus’s shoulders and he tries not to flinch.
“C’mon.” Regulus grabs Barty’s arm - maybe a little too hard - and starts dragging him back towards their table before anyone says something stupid. He can already hear Sirius and Remus start up again with their insufferable back and forth. Regulus is apparently not the only one who notices.
“Merlin,” Barty says, looking over at them. “If anyone ever needed the love potion arrows, it’s those two.”
“Mhm,” Regulus hums noncommittally, opening the book to no page in particular. It’s not that he doesn’t agree with Barty, but he can’t help but think Barty’s being a bit of a hypocrite. He and Evan need a wake up call as much as his brother and Lupin. In short - Regulus is surrounded by insufferable idiots that are making his life unbearable.
Barty doesn’t let up, instead he begins to poke Regulus’ arm incessantly, making it impossible to concentrate.
“But it would though. Seriously. We wouldn’t even have to make it last long, just long enough to get them to kiss for like, one second, then they can confess their feelings for each other and we can all live in peace. Actually, I don’t think we’d need the transfiguration spell at all. I’ve seen you in potions - Slughorn looked like he wanted to physically climb up your asshole when we made amortentia.”
Regulus can’t help it. He laughs, shaking his head. There’s something about the way Barty says things - blunt and crude - that makes him impossible to ignore. The concerning thing is, when Regulus looks into Barty’s grinning face, he isn’t entirely sure that he is joking. He has been, up until this point, but now there is a certain gleam in his eye that tells Regulus this might just get out of hand.
“That’s fucked, you do realise that? What about when they come round and realise that they didn’t do it of their own free will? Everything will be a hundred times worse.”
“Naaaaah just look at them,” Barty closes one eye and aims his quill over at Sirius and Remus, who are now, impossibly even closer together. “They probably won’t even notice the difference.”
Huh. Regulus stops for a second, thinking. He doesn’t actually know what the potion does when you’re already in love with the person. Merlin, why is their education so inadequate? With a sigh, he turns to his notebook and scratches ‘amortentia, already in love?’ to look up later.
For now, he has other problems. “That’s not the point.” He hisses, swatting Barty’s hand away as he tries to reach for his notebook. “They’d be so angry that they probably wouldn’t go near each other again.”
“That’d still be a win,” Barty mutters, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms, looking petulant.
Regulus does his best to glare. “I’m not poisoning my brother, no matter how much,” he waves his hand vaguely over at the two of them, “of that I have to endure.”
“Fine, fine.” Barty is now rocking back in his chair and Regulus has to repress the urge to kick it back into place. Sometimes, Barty reminds Regulus eerily of his brother. “There’s gotta be a way though.”
“There’s—” Regulus stops dead, fully having intended to tell Barty there absolutely is not a way, and that he should just drop the idea entirely. Except… something just occurred to him - an idea, unwelcome and quickly growing, taking root in his mind. He tries to smother it, to smooth out his features, but it’s too late - Barty’s already noticed.
He leans forward, light of curiosity growing behind his eyes. “You’ve thought of something.”
Regulus sighs, knowing it would be pointless to deny it, Barty knows him too well. Besides, the more the idea takes shape, Regulus finds himself growing fond of it. Turning it over. Once. Twice. Looking at it from this way and that. Tweaking and adjusting. This might actually have a chance at working, and if it does, it might just solve all his problems in one go.
He presses his lips together, giving himself one last chance to change his mind, even though he knows he won’t. He has to see this through now. “You don’t have to drink amortentia for it to have an effect,” he says, still hedging slightly. Barty frowns.
“Pretty sure you do, unless you want to start injecting it, or shooting it at people with an arr—”
Regulus gives him a flat look. “We aren’t shooting anyone, I already told you. I mean the smell.”
Barty stares back uncomprehendingly. “What’s the smell going to do? That won’t make them fuck each other.”
“Urgh,” Regulus makes a face, forcibly pushing that thought away. “Don’t say that. That’s my brother.”
Infuriatingly, Barty just grins. “Alright I give up. Explain yourself, genius boy.”
Regulus cringes but lets the nickname slide. “I just think if they don’t know how much they like each other, smelling the potion might give them a bit of a clue.”
Barty tilts his head, eyes focused on some faraway point. “Don’t see how that would do anything though. They must’ve already smelled it. Also who the fuck can pinpoint smells? Maybe they wouldn’t even know.”
That might be true, Regulus thinks. Though he knows for a fact that it’s not true for Barty. Regulus had seen firsthand how he’d reacted when they’d made it in potions, how he avoided meeting Evan’s eye for the rest of the day. He also isn’t entirely sure if the feelings between his brother and Lupin are repressed or if they are both just being idiots about telling each other. Luckily, he has a plan for that as well.
“What if we made it public? Turned it into a game. Sort of like a drinking game, we could get some firewhisky and some veritaserum, get everyone to smell it. The truth is bound to come out.”
Regulus can practically see the cogs turning in Barty’s mind. After a moment he begins to nod vaguely. “Okay,” he says, a slow smile beginning to grow on his face. “Okay. That might work. Might get a little messy though, you think they’ll go for it?”
Regulus shrugs. “I’ve never known Sirius to turn down a game, no matter how much of a bad idea it is. I bet I can talk him into it. We could do it tomorrow, at their little party, that way there aren’t too many people, I can convince him it’ll be fun.”
Barty is grinning properly now, showing teeth. “You know you’re gonna make a mess? Especially with the rest of the Gryffindors there.” He adds a sort of significance to those last words and gives Regulus an odd look, somewhere between smug and concern. Regulus doesn’t even attempt to decipher it. It obviously hasn’t even occurred to Barty that this could go the same way for him and Evan as Remus and Sirius. In fact, Regulus is counting on exactly that.
Regulus feels his lips turn up in a small smile as he begins to pack his books away. “I think it’ll be fun to watch. I want to be there when everyone has to clean up their own damn mess.”
Barty shakes his head, looking mildly stunned as Regulus heads over to his brother and Remus. “And you call me a maniac Reg? I love you, you little psychopath.”
* * *
Convincing Sirius is easy. Easier than even Regulus expects. He explains the game pretty much honestly, some shots, some veritaserum, some amortentia. Just a bit of lighthearted fun. Sort of an extreme truth or dare. Find out who has a crush on who, that sort of thing. Sirius jumps at the idea. He says it’s a great way of livening things up when they all get sad about leaving for summer. Apparently they’ve played something similar in their younger years.
With that settled, all Regulus has to do now is make the potions, which is the easy part. The next day, he finds himself spending all day down in the potions lab. He’s been working away at the amortentia for hours now, determined not to mess it up.
As he stirs, he leans forward to smell the smoke, which is now emanating from the cauldron in great clouds. He’s always hated this stuff. Yes, it smells nice, obviously, but Regulus finds it obnoxious - the sheer amount of smoke it produces. Even if it is your favourite smell, too much of it will make you feel sick. Thinking about it, that’s similar to how Regulus feels about love.
Nevertheless, he forces himself to inhale, closing his eyes and concentrating. He isn’t an idiot, he knows how easily this plan could backfire if he isn’t prepared. He doesn’t want to smell something, or someone he isn’t prepared for and have to announce it in front of everyone. So he’s taking precautions.
He focuses on the smell, thinking. Whatever it is feels cosy, homely, like a crackling fire when it’s cold outside. Safe. Warm. And an undercurrent of… something else, something familiar that he can’t quite place… When after a few seconds the answer doesn’t come, he pushes the question out of his mind. It’s for the best that doesn’t dwell on it. Veritaserum can’t force you to tell things you genuinely don’t know. If this mystery smell is in fact something deeply embarrassing, at least he’ll be safe in his ignorance. With that potential problem avoided, he finds that he’s actually looking forward to this - If it works out the way he hopes, he might actually get some peace. Either way, it’s sure to be entertaining.
In the end, it all takes a little longer than he expects, so by the time he makes it back to his dorm to get changed and then all the way over to the Gryffindor common room, he’s running late and everyone else is already there. He looks around, taking stock of who’s there. Sirius is, as usual, stood in a corner with Remus - Peter and James a few feet away. Regulus has never really seen anything like the four of them, how they seem to unconsciously orbit around each other. Regulus is close with his friends, sure, but he can’t help feeling like this is something entirely different, some sixth sense the four of them have that Regulus can’t even begin to understand.
The Slytherins are their own little group not too far away. Barty and Dorcas are standing very close, eyes intent on each other and half half empty cups in hands. They’re obviously playing some sort of private drinking game, which Regulus takes as an early warning. Sitting just behind him are Evan and Pandora - him on the armchair and her on the floor just in front, her eyes closed as he plays with her hair. On the other end of the common room, Lily sits with Mary and Marlene. Regulus does the calculations, that makes twelve people altogether, which means he’d gotten the measurements for the potions spot on, plus a little extra, just in case.
Sirius is the first to notice him, face lighting up as he waves him over. Sirius already asked his friends, who are, of course, all up for the game. Bloody Gryffindors. They won’t start until a little later, give everyone a chance to get settled first.
“Regulus!” Sirius is grinning, arms held out wide in welcome. He’s holding a drink in one hand that is spilling over the sides with each wild gesture. “We’ve been waiting for you, did you make everything alright?”
Regulus nods, relieved that Sirius seems well on his way to being a little tipsy, which seems to have taken any of the awkwardness out of him.
“Great!” Sirius is practically yelling. “I’m excited. I mostly explained it to everyone but you might have to do it again before we start. We’ve all played veritaserum truth or dare before anyway, but it’s been years since we’ve all sat down and done it properly.”
Not for the first time, Regulus takes a moment to marvel at how different the houses really are. Of course brave idiotic Gryffindors would play veritaserum truth or dare as a casual childhood game. Regulus cannot imagine anything worse. But then, that is sort of what he’s doing to himself right now, even if it is serving a greater purpose.
Remus steps around from behind Sirius. “Regulus,” he nods in greeting and Regulus inclines his head in return. “This is a terrible idea, I hope you know that.” Remus’ words would be a reprimand, but Regulus can see the sparkle in his eyes.
Regulus feels a slow smile spread over his face that reminds him a little uncomfortably of Barty. “Oh, I know,” he says, “I’m sort of counting on it.”
Remus shrugs. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”
Regulus finds that he believes him. Remus is holding himself in an easy way that doesn’t look at all forced. For the first time, Regulus feels the slightest flicker of worry. There’s a chance Remus doesn’t even know, but surely some part of him must suspect. Surely nobody could be that stupid. Maybe he just doesn’t care, or maybe he doesn’t mind if Sirius finds out, but that also seems unlikely.
Regulus doesn’t have any more time to think about it though, because James comes over then. He’s dressed casually in black jeans and a navy shirt that would be clashing on anyone else, except that James manages to make it work.
“What do you think James?” Sirius asks, throwing a casual arm around him. James smiles in that easy way of his, but there's a tightness to it that isn’t usually there. Regulus wonders what he’s worried about. He doesn’t want anyone doing something they don’t really want to do, especially this. So it makes sense that he’d want to know. It makes perfect sense.
“I think I need another drink mate,” is James’ flippant response, but his face still doesn’t completely relax. Sirius claps him on the back, half pushing him over to the drinks table.
“Get me one while you’re over there?” It’s not really a question, but James nods anyway before turning to Regulus.
“You want one?”
He isn’t sure if that was actually an invitation, but Regulus takes it as one anyway, following James across the room. He figures James will need help carrying all the drinks.
When they make it to the table, James doesn’t seem at all surprised that Regulus has followed him. In fact, he starts talking as if this was the idea all along.
“So, this is really your doing then? A part of me thought Sirius was lying to cover for leaving me out of the planning.”
James is smiling again, small and secretive and just for Regulus. There is a gleam of mischief in his eye. Regulus looks away.
“Yeah. Or— well, it was also kind of Barty’s idea. I ironed it out a bit. Thought it’d be fun.”
“Fun.” James deadpans, eyebrows raising even higher. “Right. But I suppose that explains it a little more.
“Explains what?”
“Barty being involved. I didn’t really think this would be your idea of fun.”
Regulus finds himself feeling a little offended, and he can’t quite keep the indignation out of his voice. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Either James doesn’t catch his tone or doesn’t care. He looks up at the ceiling briefly, running a hand through his hair. “Oh, don’t get me wrong, it’s a great idea. It’s just, I didn’t think you’d want to risk everyone knowing your deepest darkest secrets.” His eyes sparkle. “And I didn’t think you’d care enough to want to know anyone else’s.”
The thing is, James is almost right. Regulus’ motivations have nothing to do with finding out everyone’s secrets. James is also right about him not wanting to tell his own, but Regulus has already accounted for that - he has nothing to tell.
Armed with this information, Regulus feels newly confident. He positions himself with his back to the table, hands resting on it behind it so he is facing James head-on. He meets James’ eye, quirks and eyebrow and smirks. “Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do.”
James seems to consider that for a moment, returning the smirk. “Maybe,” he says eventually, “but still, this idea screams of Sirius a lot more than it does you.”
Regulus scoffs, rolling his eyes. “Please. Sirius would never put in this much effort. This is a smart plan, and it took organisation.”
“Actually you’d be surprised what Sirius can organise when he—” but James cuts himself off and raises an eyebrow, eyes lighting with realisation. “Plan? Got something planned then, Reg?”
Shit. Regulus forcibly relaxes his face, letting his smirk grow and trying to look unconcerned as James’ eyes search his face.
“Why Potter, are you nervous?”
“No,” James says, but it comes out much too quickly, like a reflex. Regulus raises his eyebrow, letting the silence speak for itself, knowing James won’t be able to leave it for long.
When James does speak, his voice is soft and earnest, all traces of teasing gone. “I’m not sure I…” he trails off, looking thoughtful. “I’m not sure I even know what I’m going to smell.” His eyes dart about the room, settling on Lily for half a second before flitting away. Regulus is surprised by the anger that inspires. For Merlin’s sake, had James not gotten over that yet? They’d only been together for a few months, and they’d broken up six months ago now, there’s no reason for him to still be worried. It’s just pathetic, he’s embarrassed for him.
“Well,” he says, “this might be a good way to find out. Think of it as part of the game. Telling the truth to yourself as well as everyone else.”
James nods thoughtfully. “Yeah, yeah I like that actually.” He smiles and Regulus suddenly feels very accomplished, something warm stirring inside him. He puts it down to getting another person on board with the game. It really is an achievement and it will make the whole thing go a lot more smoothly. Well, until it doesn’t.
“Well, either way, I need a strong drink,” James laughs. “You said you wanted one?” Regulus can only nod, something about James’s laugh making him uncomfortable. His insides feel like they might try to jump out. As a general rule he tries to avoid being left alone with James - it makes him jumpy. There’s something in James’ easy manner and intense stare that make Regulus feel exposed, and it makes him careless, clumsy.
James leans over him get to the firewhisky. He’s close, closer than he usually gets, and it makes Regulus’ breath hitch in surprise. Instinctively, he leans forward, smelling something nice. Actually, now he thinks about it, it smells familiar… he could swear he’s smelled it—
Fuck.
Regulus pulls away sharply, lurching back so he hits the table behind him, hard. All the bottles shake, clinking together in a way that Regulus is only distantly aware of over the sudden ringing in his own ears.
No.
No no no.
Because he would have known. There is no way that he wouldn’t have known.
“Merlin, careful.” James reaches behind him again, hand darting out to steady the table. It takes a moment for the glass to settle and so James stays there, leaning down towards Regulus and looking up into his face, grinning. Regulus freezes, and all the air leaves his lungs.
Shit.
This can’t be happening.
But there really is no avoiding it now. The truth has hit him and there is absolutely no hiding from it, as much as he might want to. A thousand moments are suddenly thrown into a new light- stripped of all their pretence. Feelings he mistook for discomfort or dislike now have a new meaning entirely.
Stupid stupid stupid.
And now - oh why did it have to be now? James’ hair is falling into his big eyes and when he licks his lips, just slightly, Regulus can’t remember how to breathe. He’s so close. And he isn’t moving. Why isn’t he moving? It’s like now Regulus is faced with it, his body has gone into overdrive - or shock. He can barely keep track of all the feelings coming to the surface. He tries to breathe, but all the air seems to have left the room.
James frowns slightly and pulls back, eyes running over the other boy’s face.
No, whines the most desperate part of Regulus’ brain. The part telling him to surge forward and kiss him right here in front of everyone. Come back, he thinks pathetically. Stay here.
“Hey, you alright Reg?” James’ eyes are full of concern now, hand hovering over Regulus’s shoulder as if wanting to steady him like he’d done with the table.
Yes yes. Touch me. Just once, just for a second. Regulus thinks, but he doesn’t say it. Instead, he jerks his shoulder even further away, stepping out of James’ space entirely.
“Don’t call me that,” he says automatically, and then almost groans. Because of course, now he realises that he likes when James calls him that. Likes it in a way that makes his stomach squirm and swirl - a feeling he had mistaken for discomfort.
He has no idea what his face is doing right now but James’ concern deepens. He cocks his head to the side adorabl— no. Stupidly. He looks stupid.
“Yeah,” Regulus manages, but it sounds choked, strained. “Yeah I’m fine. Just—” his eyes dart around wildly, looking for an excuse for his sudden panic. He finds none. Instead he snatches the drink James had poured for him and turns quickly on his heel.
Regulus finds a quiet spot in the corner of the room, almost hidden away behind the obnoxiously large sofas. He just needs a minute. Then he’ll be okay. He will. He just needs to compose himself. He leans his head against the wall and tries to breathe. And tries not to look at James. He really does try. It’s just that now he’s noticed it… well, that makes everything a little more difficult. Regulus is now acutely aware of how his eyes stray to James at every available moment, of just how much space he takes up in Regulus’ field of vision. It’s impossible to see past him. The only solution is to close his eyes, which he does, head tipped back against the wall as he takes a few deep breaths.
“You okay there, Reg?” Barty’s voice jolts him out of his thoughts, eyes snapping open and heart lurching. Barty leans back against the sofa and takes a swig of beer, his eyes flashing. “Don’t know if you’ve noticed, but if you ask me, Potter is smelling particularly lovely this evening, don’t you think?”
“Fuck you,” Regulus snaps. He figures there’s no point trying to deny it now - he doesn’t know what his face looks like, but it must be pretty pathetic. Barty is still staring at him, wearing a particularly self-satisfied expression, and Regulus thinks back to the wary almost-pity in his eyes yesterday. Then it finally hits him: “You knew?” It comes out more venomous than it maybe should, but Regulus can’t help it, he feels betrayed.
Barty has the audacity to laugh, the bastard. It’s loud and sharp and Regulus wants to shush him. “You didn’t?” He asks, eyes searching. “Fuck. I just thought you were a really good liar. I did wonder what all this was about,” he gestures around them. “I thought maybe some elaborate plan to win him over? Though it did feel a little risky.”
“I didn’t… how could I— fuck.” Regulus is properly panicking now, and he must look a mess, because Barty’s expression actually softens.
“Hey, hey,” he says. “It’s fine. Your boy probably wouldn’t even notice if you confessed your love right in—”
“He is not my boy.” Regulus grits out, teeth clenched so hard his jaw aches. “And it’s not— I don’t… It’s just what attracts you, that’s all. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Something flashes across Barty’s face - that confusion-pity again, but it’s gone in an instant.
There's a pause and Barty looks thoughtful. “I know!” he’s suddenly all bounce and manic energy. “What if I kiss you and—”
“No.”
“No no wait let me finish, and—”
“No.”
“Right, but if it’s what attracts you. I bet it would be good enough that I’d be the only thing you’d think about for weeks. That would solve everyone’s problems.”
Regulus shoots him a flat look. “Great. Very helpful, thank you.”
“I mean it. I’d blow your mind. You wouldn’t even remember James Potter’s name.” He leans forward, making dramatic kissing noises right in Regulus’s face. Regulus laughs, in spite of himself. Fucking Barty.
He swats at the other boy. “You’re an asshole, you know that?”
Barty shrugs, leaning back and looking much too smug. “Yeah, I know. You love me.”
Evan and Dorcas appear then, probably to see what all the shouting is about. As Regulus looks up to greet them he is met with hazel eyes colliding with his. He’d unconsciously looked over at James again, and this time James is looking back, gaze steady and intense. Regulus needs to look away, to run, anything to escape the burning feeling James apparently ignites in him, but Regulus is on fire. It starts in his stomach and extends outwards as he struggles to tear his eyes from James. It’s not until the burning reaches his face that he decides that enough is enough. He turns sharply, trying to will the colour out of his cheeks. It’s not helping that he can practically feel Barty’s stupid gaze on the back of his head and Regulus doesn’t know if it’s concerned or smug. He doesn’t know which would be worse.
He feels too hot and too raw and too exposed. And the game hasn’t even started yet.
Desperate to get away, his shaky legs carry him over to the bag he’d be brought with him, tucked way beside one of the armchairs.
As he walks away he hears Dorcas smack Barty: “What the fuck did you say to him, he looks terrified,” she hisses. Great. Fantastic. Regulus presses his clammy palms against his thighs in an attempt to stop them shaking. head angled down so his hair obscures some of the red in his face. At least he won’t accidentally meet anyone’s eye.
Sirius must’ve seen where he's heading, because he starts ordering people around, pushing back furniture arranging everyone in a large circle. Regulus pulls everything out of his bag, grateful for something to do with his hands. He moves into the middle of the group and begins arranging twelve shot glasses in a circle around him. Veritaserum is poured in one half, Firewhisky in the other. With a flick of his wand, the liquid in the glasses all becomes the same colour, indistinguishable from each other except for the effect it will have on the drinker.
“Alright everyone, shut the fuck up.” Sirius has magically amplified his voice and it booms around them. One or two people mumble complaints about their eardrums, and Regulus thinks he hears Lily call him a prat, but it does have the desired effect in the end. When everyone falls silent, Sirius speaks again, this time in his own voice. “We’re gonna play a game, as you all know. It’ll be fun, liven everyone up a bit. I obviously did an excellent job at explaining, because I am incredible,” James whoops in response, raising his glass theatrically, and Sirius shoots him a grin. “But, my little control freak of a brother here wanted to make sure everyone understood in his words.”
Regulus rolls his eyes, glad of something else to focus on. Everyone’s eyes are on him, he intentionally does not look at James. “I trust that this will be new information for most of you, if Sirius is the one that explained it. But here’s how it’s going to work. You’ll each take the shot that’s placed in front of you. Half have alcohol, half veritaserum. Only you will know what you’ve taken. The potion is enough for one question. Then we go again. I also have a jug of amortentia, everyone’s going to smell it before they answer the first question. We each get one question for the whole group, twelve in total. You can ask anything you want. If you can’t be bothered or can’t think of something, that’s fine, I have some ready to go.” He pauses, letting that settle around them before he asks: “Is that clear?” Nods and smiles. Sirius cheers.
Regulus lifts his wand and points it at the shot glasses at his feet, making them levitate over his head. With another flick of the wand, the glasses start to spin, so fast that they blur. Regulus had had a vague idea of trying to keep his eye on one but it turns out to be completely impossible.
His only saving grace is that he has a slight tolerance to veriaserum - he has his mother to thank for that. Both he and Sirius have tricks for getting round it, if you keep calm and choose your words carefully. It’s something at least, he can try.
Deep breath. He can do this. Everything’s going to be fine.
“Okay,” he says, looking at each of them in turn. “Who wants to go first?”