Chapter Text
Regulus watched the group of Gryffindors leave the Great Hall. He’d looked up at just the wrong time as James had looked over at him as his eyes lifted. He ground his teeth at his own stupidity. When had his willpower been so weak?
He stood from his table; he’d had enough anyway, and headed back to the sanctuary of his dorm room. Or so he thought.
“What is that?” He grimaced at the plant pot on Evan’s bedside table.
“That is my new houseplant. It’s my friend. He brings me joy,” Evan gushed, stroking one of the wide, waxy-looking leaves.
“Oh, so it’s a he now?” Regulus rolled his eyes and flopped onto his bed, pulling a chocolate frog from his pocket that he’d procured from Honeydukes on his way back to the castle earlier.
“Yes,” Evan answered, using the tip of his wand to water his plant. “His name is Gerald,” Regulus didn’t acknowledge Evan’s words and drew the curtains around his bed. He cast a silencing charm around himself and closed his eyes. James Potter’s face flashed behind his eyes with the big goofy grin he so often wore, smiling at him. Regulus groaned and tried to think of anything else but that dumb, handsome face.