REGULUS TENTATIVELY WATCHED AS HIS OLDER FRIEND RAMBLED ABOUT HOW HE MANAGED to make a friend and was seemingly proud of himself. A small grin had formed its way onto the lips of the youngest Black, he had never enjoyed others company much. He liked Pandora, Barty and Evan, at times Dorcas even. But it felt as if Jaehyun had formed a hole in his heart and he was the only one who could fill it. His rambles had become a daily session to fill his ears and he could never get quite enough of it.

Jaehyun was probably the closest thing to a best friend he could ever get. Regulus admired Jaehyun for his admirable strength and passionate personality. He knew he could never be as strong as Jaehyun was, he followed his parents when they wanted him to because he was a coward. He was scared. Jaehyun let people be, he did not care if they were not pleased by his behaviour and let it pass as if acceptance did not matter in his world. Regulus wondered what went on in his head and how it would be possible to think as beautifully as he did.

"Jae, I'm happy for you." Regulus commented out of the blue when Jaehyun was merely midway through his story. The Korean boy paused, he was not used to have people compliment him. He had a million different comebacks for insults about every inch of his features, and yet when someone gave a meek compliment he could not figure out the words to reply or say a thank you. Jaehyun stopped rambling, he turned to Regulus who had been staring at him the whole time.

"Regulus, are you alright?" Jaehyun asked clearly worried. Regulus laughed and nodded, shaking his head so that his healthy hair could feel the breeze of the wind brushing past it. Jaehyun smiled back uneasily, "Are you certain? You've never spoken of such before.. it's.. kind of worrying." He explained, Regulus shook his head and let the smile find his way back again.

"No, I'm glad that you're finally making friends except for me." Regulus explained. "Though, if Potter does eventually wrong you he will probably be bald by the next morning." He stated, though it sounded as if it were a joke but Jaehyun knew he was being honest and would most definitely shave someone's head for him.

Jaehyun smiled, his dimples forming into his skin automatically. "Okay, you'll have my permission." He replied as he let his back fall on to the astronomy tower. "Have you made.. any progress? Regarding.. well you know."

Regulus smiled gently, "Nott is catching suspicions, Malfoy dismissed him saying that it was impossible for one like me to stoop down that low because of my title." He explained, Jaehyun nodded. He had never understood the hierarchy of purebloods and the way the world he lived in was shaped. "Mhm.. So what do we do further on? We cannot have you go back home over winter break. Merlin knows what could happen and this entire plan would have been pointless!"

Regulus sighed and nodded, understanding where he was coming from because he indeed was right. After Sirius had ran away the pressure had been higher than ever, the expectations he was supposed to exceed. Kreacher had came into his room to inform him that his parents were discussing a possible way to get the mark earlier than needed. He was their heir, he could not possibly be missed. This plan was risky, this could have him killed in seconds. Regulus was a coward, he was scared of his parents and their potential to hurt them.

Pandora had discussed it with him, she also wanted to live life as a normal witch. Her love for Xenophilius Lovegood had caused frownings upon her path as she was in fact a Rosier. Evan had become more distant ever since summer had ended, it was clear that he had went through silent traumas as his light had somehow disappeared. He was still the same yet so different, there was something oddly off about both of their siblings behaviours. Pandora had stopped entering their dorms unannounced and Regulus assumed that the pureblood hierarchy had caused a fall out between the siblings.

As they all grew closer to becoming of age stakes were put higher and evaluations at home were becoming terrors. They were all expected to the very best of their parents liking, Regulus was scared. He was sure that only Dorcas and Barty weren't completely lost in this mess yet.

"I figured something, but if they figured I am not telling the truth it could end miserably." Regulus explained, faintly sighing as he thought about the wicked idea he had formed once again. Jaehyun his brows raised, telling his friend to go on.

"I was thinking, I'd send my parents a letter." He started off slowly. "And, I would tell them I was in fact with you but not for the sole purpose of their liking. In fact, I would be so infatuated with you and we would have been so desperately in love.. That we supposedly made an unbreakable vow to be wedded to one another." Regulus resolved, he was unsure of how he would ever walk the Hogwarts grounds again knowing that all the weight put on his name would turn into despise. He wasn't sure if Evan and Barty would dare look at his direction ever again.

Jaehyun nodded, he wasn't sure what an unbreakable vow was but if it were to help Regulus that would be fine for him. He didn't know much about the world Regulus lived in, he only knew that he would do whatever it cost to help his younger friend out of the hell he was supposed to call home. He was careless and reckless to agree with stuff that ended up with him playing with fire and his life but he did not care.

The boy smiled at Regulus, who looked at him with unsureness and desperation in his eyes. He could never understand how one could be such a load of sunshine in the times he needed it most, he was sure that without Jaehyun he would have died from himself. The times he sought for help and ended up with Jaehyun around him had been countless.

"Sure let's do that." Jaehyun spoke without much care in the world for how this choice could impact his and his family's life.

Regulus stared at him baffled, Jaehyun was true to his word. He had been that way since they first met, he could always admire his best friend. There was no way that he would have ever put his life on the line so quickly for anyone the way Jaehyun did for him. He smiled gently and shook his head, "It was a mere idea, it could be possibly dangerous for you Jaehyun." He warned.

Jaehyun smiled sympathetically, "What is that supposed to make me back off?" He asked his brows raising as if offended. Regulus chuckled and let his head fall lower and shook his head. "You're playing with your life, and those of your parents. It's risky."

"So is talking to me but you made that work for the last five years."

After breakfast the following morning Regulus had ventured off towards his classes leaving Jaehyun alone. He had wanted to go to the kitchens but he genuinely did not have the stomach for more digestions at the moment so he opted for the library instead. He could recharge his social battery as he sketched some character designs of his books which genuinely made him cheerful.

His pen scraped over the thick paper as he formed the nose of his male lead. His brows were furrowed as he tried to focus on the sketch in front of him without him leading to be distracted.

Remus had had a long night, the full moon had ended yesterday. It was not a horrible one but it definitely was not a pleasant one, though they had never been pleasant. He had excused himself from his friends after somehow convincing Madam Pomfrey to let him rest alone for the rest of the day. His head was still indeed throbbing and he could barely think without his thoughts starting to attack his head.

He entered the library to find Jaehyun in his usual spot, if it had been anyone else he would likely used his prefect privileges and send them away whilst threatening detention. But he did not mind Jaehyun, knowing that the boy would either leave himself and stay seated and leave Remus be. He had never longed for the warmth of the library and the smell of books as much as he did after the full moons. He longed for quietness to try and dampen the sound in his mind.

Jaehyun stared up at Remus, locking eyes with the boy who looked dreadful as ever. He frowned concerned yet his anxiety forced a knot down his throat, preventing him from showing his concern and kept quiet instead. He did not make a comment when Remus sat next to him even if his heart was racing faster than the latest broom could ever.

There had been a mutual pact made to keep the enjoyable silence. Jaehyun after a couple of minutes had let go of his stress and anxiety to instead just focus on his work. He could feel Remus watch over his shoulder and his heart would skip a beat every time he felt Remus his breath wave past his neck just too softly. He was scared that he was judging him but he knew better than to start having a full blown panic attack in the library.

He was glad that Remus was not as forward as James had been the first couple of times. Remus had a mutual understanding of the anxiety that Jaehyun went through and did not want to push the boy over the edge. However, he admired his sketches.

"They're quite good."

Jaehyun jumped in surprise as Remus whispered next to his ear. He had almost dropped his quick, could have ruined his entire paper. He turned sideways to make eye contact with Remus who was already staring. "Oh- oh! Er- thank you." Jaehyun quietly responded as he felt his cheeks blaze furiously.

Doubling up the courage he had gotten from the past few days whilst talking to James he spoke again. "Umh.. If you don't mind me asking.. Why aren't you with James and the others..?" He asked in a quiet tone, he was surprised with himself that he was not stuttering anymore like he had when he first spoke to James.

Remus pulled back and shrugged, "Got annoyed at the lot. I don't know, do you ever just feel like being anti-social?" He tried explaining his feeling. Jaehyun felt a smile brace his lips when he heard those words, those words that explained his entire personality. The reason why he was what he was.

"Yeah, all the time actually."

A graceful smile erupted onto the lips of the once foreigner in his eyes. Jaehyun had a feeling he wouldn't mind his company.

AUTHORS NOTE
My babysss !!!