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Chapter Text

agreeing to marry James potter meant sacrificing every single second of silence he would have had in the rest of his life. Regulus couldn't read a book without a curly head in his lap interrupting once every three paragraphs. he couldn't wash his hair without a ruckus of dishes and laughter disturbing the serenity of running water. he couldn't put Harry to sleep with out a bustling James crashing into the room with a crazy proposition. Regulus almost broke his neck turning around at the sudden spike in volume, Harry quickly bursting into tears in his arms.

"James!" He whispered harshly, shushing Harry and gently rocking the now bawling baby back to sleep "What is so important you had to disrupt all my progress!" James flashed him the apologetic look of a guilty puppy, the kind that wasn't really all that sorry.

"I've got a question." James spoke, because no person alive to this day had ever heard James Potter whisper. Regulus rolled his eyes, easing Harry into his cot and pulling the blankets over his chubby little arms, turning around and walking James out of the baby's room into their hallway, which was noticeably... covered in fairy lights and rose petals. almost like a wedding aisle decorated by a particularly tasteful four year old. Regulus could feel his suspicions building.

"Go ahead." He said cautiously quiet as he shut the door, standing in line with the crimson petals that trailed through his house. He watched with an amount of presumption in his mind as James inhaled a sharp breath. He assumed a kneeling position, withdrawing a sleek purple box from his back pocket and flipping it open to reveal a silver wedding band with engraved snake-like details. it matched Regulus perfectly.

"Regulus Acturus Black..." James began, a smile forming on his lips and a hopeful glitter in his hazel eyes. Regulus began to panic. "would you do the honour of marrying me?"

His mouth dried, his heart stopped. If you told little 16 year old Regulus that his stupid schoolboy crush would be knelt before him bearing a ring in just a few years, he would have laughed. Good joke, he would have said bitterly.

"James.." Tears prickled his eyes, he wasn't sure whether to scream or to put on that ring first. he was internally kicking his feet and curling his toes and screaming, crying, throwing up "...Yes"

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Oh, Gilderoy was having fun with this.

It was almost a month now since Pettigrew had first posed the question. 'What cologne do you use?'. In all honesty, Gilderoy thought he deserved a medal for his genius, mentally rubbing his hands together like a cartoon antagonist. 'I forget.' had been his simple response. and now, the rat was hooked. they found each other in hallways, in empty classrooms, in the greenhouses, and every time Gilderoy was sure to use those three magical spritzes of the prized parfum. it was growing funnier by the spray.

"Please mate," Pete begged, entranced by the luxurious scent. the cologne wasn't even that special, it was your usual leathery scented men's cologne, maybe hints of rosemary or sage, but to Peter it felt oddly familiar. He needed that cologne. and Gilderoy was gatekeeping the absolute hell out of it. the growth in Peter's want only piqued Gilderoy's need to keep his mouth shut. "You don't even remember the colour of the bottle?"

"...No, i don't seem to recall." Came the tantalizing hum of Gilderoy's voice. His smirk could be told merely by the tone. Peter was growing livid, he needed that cologne. some days Peter could spend up to half hours just asking relentlessly.

Deep in thought, Peter waited in the empty transfiguration classroom, holding his 'bare bit of parchment' that would alarm him Gilderoy Lockhart was approaching with haste. His name danced right past the door as peter stepped out of it.

"Wait!"

Chapter Text

Days like these were prized among the friend group, when the grounds were blanketed in white snow and none of them were all that busy. Christmas break was rapidly approaching, yet another checkpoint towards the end of their final year at Hogwarts. Emma Vanity had been missing her friends, having been stowed away in the Slytherin common room studying for exams or busied with quidditch matches, she hadn't seen much of them, it was a relief to finally put on her winter robes and walk with her group down that familiar path to the village.

Zahara and Dorcas, the only girls in Slytherin who tolerated Emma's antics, and her best friends since first year were walking with her side by side, clad in woolly scarves and boots. They were going to meet the others at some rusty old inn Benji liked, because he had sworn off the three broomsticks ever since they started using house elves. It was a bit of a pain to walk all the way to the end of town in the snow, but somehow after all these years, she had made friends who were worth it. though she wouldn't be caught dead telling them that.

The group brushed off their snowy boots on the doormat as they entered the pub, entering the chattery atmosphere. It was a comfortable and patient kind of busy, like there was no harm in the world. a long time ago, Emma would not have believed herself, so comfortable and content, so happy. For what felt like the first time in her life, she really trusted people. Even these people who annoyed her sometimes with their big stupid smiles, or squabbled with her over quidditch teams. She loved them.

Benji waved them over to his table, crowded with all her friends. Hestia with her giant fluffy earmuffs and those signature pigtails, Amelia looking up at her and giggling hysterically, froth from her butterbeer on the tip of her nose, Caradoc watching Benji with such adoration on his face it was cheesy. god she was turning into a sop, but as she sat down she had to thank the universe for bringing her such an amazing group of people.