Dance like it’s all real
Reader has a crush on James Potter, but when he hurts her she turns to none other than Regulus Black.
Fake dating trope: Reader x Regulus Black.
Lovely peoples of Tumblr, this is my contribution for the second week of Hogmarch! I’m not confident about this fic, but I enjoyed writing for three hours straight. I loved it. It was so fun! So thank you for that. Obviously, I hope you like it!
So happy readings to my darling readers!
“You know the only reason Tim hangs out with you so much is because he likes-”
Look, this is the moment where James Potter should have said. ‘you’. He should have said ‘the only reason he hangs out with you so much is because Tim likes you’ and then I could have accused him of being jealous and he would blush and I would finally know that he likes me too. But no… this is what he said instead:
“You know the only reason Tim hangs out with you so much is because he likes Lily. He doesn’t dare approach Lily because she’s way out of his league so he hangs with you in hopes of getting a chance to hang with her.” Your frown as you process James’ words. “Why can’t he hang out with me just because… you know… because of me? Because he likes me?”
James laughs and slings a lazy arm around you as you both continue walking. “Come on, (y/n). You’re one of the boys. Of course, he likes you. Everyone likes you. Just not in the way everyone likes Lily.”
You can see Remus make a painful face, obviously expressing what you’re feeling. Leave it to James to accidentally stomp on your heart, stab it and throw it away without ever realising it. There’s a silence because you’re simply left speechless and too pained to start sobbing right there.
The silence doesn’t last long enough for James to notice or Remus to speak up, because Sirius and Peter who had spent the past hour in detention appeared at the end of the hallway much to James’ joy. “Padfoooooot!” Sirius jumps up and down happily. “Prongggss!” Normally you would giggle at the ridiculous overjoyment of your friends, but something had snapped in you and you felt like you would never feel light again.
“Would it help if I told you that he didn’t mean it like that?” Remus offered now that it was just the two of you. “No. I’m done with him.” Your voice was so cold that it took Remus by surprise. You had said those words to yourself a million times, but never out loud which meant that this time you had to stick by them.
You rolled your eyes. There was nothing cute about these imbeciles anymore.
“Oi!” You yelled, surprising yourself. Your heartbeat immediately elevates while your cheeks flush, but at least you had their attention. “Not all of Hogwarts is interested in the fact that you two have been reunited after being an hour apart!”
James’ eyes widened and Sirius’ excitement disappeared. “Don’t be so dramatic.” James shrugs with a nonchalant snort. “I’m dramatic?-” You were about to give James a piece of your mind, but you swallow your words when a group of Slytherins enter the hallway. Even though no words were said, they clearly sensed the tension. Either that or they overheard some of the yelling.
You were too angry at James to notice Regulus’ amused smirk at your fury. When Regulus passed James, he simply couldn't resist. “Trouble in paradise, Potter?” Confusion and then annoyance filled James’ eyes, but you were more focused on Regulus' satisfied smirk as he eyed you before turning around the corner.
You scoff and decide to just turn on your heels, reminding yourself that you were done with James Potter.
Regulus was a master of noticing details but this was clear to everyone with eyesight and it pleased him so much. You avoided James like the plague. Often leaving your friends and abruptly ending conversations to get away from him as soon as he approached.
In Regelus’ book James was the most obnoxious person to ever live and he couldn’t wrap his head around why people liked him so much, but it was the fact that Sirius considered James a real brother that really stung. Yet it wasn’t until he saw your hurt that Regulus decided to really spite James.
So one sunny afternoon in the courtyard when Regulus sees you get up from your seat next to Marlene to probably go hide in the library, he excuses himself from his friends to catch up with you.
The castle was near-empty since everyone was outside and you took a deep sigh, pitying your loneliness. “If you’re only gonna hang out with people that James doesn’t hang out with you’ll be thin on friends really soon.” You spun around to see a smug Regulus approaching. Hanging out with the marauders had meant that you had barely spoken to the slytherin now in front of you and you felt a bit hostile. “I’ve got plenty of friends, thank you.”
Regulus nods slowly. “So you’ll be going to the Spring Drink witthh?” He tilted his head tauntingly waiting for an answer that he already knew.
“It’s gonna suck this year anyway.” You blurted, not fooling anyone with your fake indifference.
Regulus needs to force his lips into a line to hide his smile, but returns to his smug composure in seconds. “I promise you it will not.” Your eyes watch him carefully as you try to figure out where he’s getting at. “I’ll pick you up around two.”
Baffled, you watched him casually turn around and go back to the courtyard.
“Regulus?” Remus questioned. You nodded. “Regulus Black?” James squeaked. “Regulus Black, my brother?” Sirius clarified the question unnecessarily. You nodded again. “Why?” Peter asked like he was solving a mystery beyond human comprehension. “Because he’s cute.” Lily answered, making you panic a little. “No, it’s not like that.” Marlene turns away from her book to look at you questioningly. “Then what’s it like?” You felt like it would be embarrassing to just explain how he never really asked and you just went along with it, so you just stood there silently as your cheeks started to heat up. “My brother’s cute?” It suddenly hits Sirius as he turns away from you to focus on Lily, making Lily and Marlene laugh.
“Hey (y/n), your date’s at the door.” Someone announced and your eyes widened at the word date, but instead of dealing with the looks of your friends you just hurried to the door.
You’re welcomed by a smirking slytherin and you honestly can’t name the feeling it gives you. “You look… like you’ve seen a ghost?” Regulus’ words of observation are gentle, but still make you frown in annoyance. However, you couldn’t deny that your friends had very much confused you about this whole afternoon. You stop on your walk out to just ask what it’s all about. “Are we on a date?”
Regulus shoves his hands in his pockets as he considers your question. “Do you want it to be a date?” You open your mouth, but close it again to then eventually protest his response. “What kind of question is that?” Regulus chuckles and it sounds so soft that you immediately feel at ease.
“How about you figure out what you want it to be and tell me at the end of the… day, or date? You choose.” This time his smile isn’t smug, it’s sweet and playful.
Seeing Regulus hung in different circles than you and your friends did, he introduced you to a lot of new people. You were surprised how much he was like his brother when chit-chatting to people, only a little more reserved but with a shrewdness in every word. You were getting more and more absorbed by Regulus by the minute and you didn’t even mind. It was a lovely spring day, it was sunny and you got to spend it with someone that made you feel like you were more than just one of the boys.
“Drink?” Regulus turns to you and your smile widens, your glass had only been empty for a moment but he had noticed immediately. You never caught him but you knew his eyes were on you almost all the time. You nod and a gentle hand brushes the small of your back to signal which direction to go. On your way to one of the tents, spread around the castle grounds and functioning as small bars, you caught James staring and looking anything but pleased. Of course this didn’t go unnoticed by Regulus either.
“I know curiosity killed the cat, but what’s the story?” Regulus asks, leaning closer to you in a way that makes you feel safe. You feel a strong desire to tell him everything, but the curiosity in his eyes betrays him. “Is that why you asked me out? My argument with James?” Regulus’ eyes focus on yours as he figures out his approach to you now that he’s been caught. “Isn’t that the reason you want it to be a date?”
Now you feel a little caught and you stop walking, making it clear to Regulus you felt bad about the whole situation. “I didn’t ask you to spend the day with me because of James. I wanted to spend the day with you because he has a tendency to take the people around him for granted. You don’t deserve to be taken for granted, (y/n).”
You carefully consider his words and he gives you a soft smile. “Spend the day with me. Spend the week with. Teach him a lesson.” At those last words you notice his signature smugness return. “What’s in it for you?” You ask not hiding your interest in his offer, but also being careful not to thrust a slytherin to be selfless.
Regulus’ tongue roams his mouth with amusement and confidence, before he gently pulls you against his chest. His lips slowly move to your ear as his eyes steal a glance of the audience to confirm his suspicion. “The look on your friends’ faces.” His whisper sends shivers down your spine as you slightly turn your head to see a shocked Sirius and a very unamused James. However, the feeling of seeing James like that didn’t compare to the feeling Regulus gave you holding you so close.
As Regulus allowed a little space between you two, you pushed any suspicious feelings away. “So this is a date then?” Your question verbally signed the deal. A satisfied smile tugged on Regulus’ lips. “One of many I believe. Now let’s go for a fly, just the two of us.”
Needless to say, you holding Regulus Black tightly as you flew off for some alone time was the topic of Hogwarts gossip that week.
As soon as your foot landed on the green grass of the quidditch field you knew all eyes were on you, but it didn’t matter because only one set of eyes counted.
Were you aware of the feelings building up over the weeks that passed? Yes.
Were you in too deep to get out? Also yes.
Quidditch training was fun, but the tradition of spending the evening with you was even better. “Quit it with heart-eyes, Reg!” Barty yelled as he flew just above Regulus’ head, making Regulus roll his eyes and fly down to you.
Should he have never let it last for weeks? Yes.
Did he know that spending hours and hours with you would become addictive? Not until it was too late.
It was bitter sweet how with each kiss it pained you more that it wasn’t real and yet you kissed him more eagerly every time. “How was training?” You ask, placing an arm around his neck before locking lips. “Every time.” You could hear James mope in the background as the gryffindor team arrived from training. “So disturbing.” Sirius sighed. “I think they're cute.” Peter added, earning him a little shove.
“Jealous Potter?” Marlene laughed, you couldn’t care less but Regulus’ eyes flung open mid kiss. His biggest nightmare was James actually being jealous and doing something about it. As confident as he was, Regulus was not ready to compete with James over you. He had already lost a brother to the loud gryffindor, he couldn't bear the thought of losing you as well… even though, in truth he didn’t really have you. It was all fake. It felt more and more like the lesson Regulus wanted to teach James was turning into a lesson in humility for himself.
“Everything alright?” Your worried eyes scan Regulus' face, while you play with the strands of hair in his neck. “Yes, fine love, I just need a quick shower.” With a quick peck on the lips he leaves you standing like a fool in love.
“You’ve got it bad.” Lily sings as she joins you on the field. You shake your head, but don’t bother hiding your smile. “So weird.” Lily blurs, while still smiling sincerely happy for you. “What do you mean weird?” You lock arms with her and walk to the stands, studying her face for answers. “I mean Regulus? You guys are soooo cute together, but I would’ve never guessed. I always thought you would end up with James.”
James’ name rang in your head as you watched him fly and when he caught you watching he winked. Is he still the same fool that takes me for granted? That doesn’t notice me? Do I still like James? Do I love Regulus?
“Hi, dreamy.” Soft lips kiss your cheek and you turn to kiss Regulus’ lips. “Let’s go.” You get up and wave goodbye to Lily.
The castle looked even more enchanting then it was now that the sun was setting. “You’re silent?” You questioned Regulus, bumping into him softly and squeezing his hand to get him out of his thoughts. “Dance with me?” It wasn’t a whisper, but his voice was delicately light. “Wha-?”
“Come on.” With a quick move he lifted your hand up and spun you around. You let it happen. You loved it. You fell into his arms and smiled like a girl in love and damn he loved that sight.
You took a few steps, dancing without music, he spun you around again and it all felt real.
Dance like it’s all real.
