Chapter Text
Regulus-
Regulus would have never thought that so much could come from him being nice to a stranger for once in his life. Of course, the one time he does it, it changes his life forever.
It all started on an August Wednesday, the first day of classes for his sophomore year at Hogwarts, a university in Chicago. He sat down in his morning lecture that day, thankfully only at 10 am and not 7:30 like last semester, after a luxuriously slow morning full of books, coffee, and plenty of time to do his hair exactly the way he liked. Not that he was vain, he left that up to his brother, Sirius. The first day back felt exactly how it was supposed to, warm with the nostalgia that being back on campus brought to his bones, and joyful with a sort of hope that only new beginnings can really bring. He had moved in only yesterday and spent the night before with Barty, Evan, Pandora, and Dorcas in their apartment for the year. He loved his friends dearly and wasn’t keen on adding anymore to his list of them, which is why his uncharacteristic friendliness to his new classmate was so very surprising.
He sat down for his morning lecture, a class on the poets of the 19th century, a class he was sure to love. Assuming that the class would not fill up, as non-basic English classes tend to be avoided to those who don’t have to take them, he left plenty of space between himself and the others already sitting. It surprised him greatly to hear a clearing of a throat beside him while he was unpacking his bag.
“Mr. Black, good to see you back.” Said his literature professor, with whom he had a friendly and almost mentor-like relationship.
Regulus went to respond when Dr. McGonagall continued, “We have a new student joining us this semester whom I am very pleased to be welcoming into our cohort. I was hoping that you might show him around the department after class and perhaps help him settle in.”
Regulus looked at her with a furrowed brow. “Me?” He let slip before he’d really had the time to put any thought into his response at all.
She smiled at him with the warmth and kindness that only she seemed to carry for him. “You” was her simple response. And she walked away.
During class, the students went around and introduced themselves. Most of them knew each other from last year, as the English department was not all that large and they had mostly been in cohort together last semester or had lived in residence halls together, or just knew each other from around campus. It wasn’t a large school. There was one new student, however, who Regulus did not know at all. He would remember seeing that face around campus before. Not only because of the kindness present in the very set of his eyes and jaw, but because his face was scarred, along with his hands, in a manner unlike any Regulus had seen before.
Remus Lupin he introduced himself. Oh Regulus thought at the sound of the man’s voice. He would have remembered that voice as well. A Canadian accent and a honeyed tone made quite an impression on Regulus.
After class, Remus came up to Regulus at his desk. He stuck his hand out and said “Hi, I’m Remus. Dr. McGonagall told me you were the man to meet in the English department.” He chuckled at the surprised look that passed over Regulus’ face before he could school his appearance back into his usual unaffected display.
“Regulus Black.” He responded while shaking Lupin’s offered hand. “Yes, it seems her opinion of me has landed me in an unexpected position.”
“Feel free to tell me to fuck off if you’d rather not be the spokesman of the department. I promise not to hold it against you.” Lupin said with more of that damn warmth, this time with a small smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.
Regulus had always craved warmth wherever he could get it. Like the sun, his mind supplied. But he quickly shut that train of thought down.
“Its fine by me as long as you don’t mind a little criticism of this place. If you want a picture perfect view, I’m not your man.” Regulus told him. He had no intention of talking up the school as if he were an admissions counselor trying to sell a potential student on a ‘perfect fit’ for them.
“Sounds like just what I’m looking for.” Lupin said, his smirk growing into a genuine smile.
And Regulus spent the rest of his morning showing him around the Liberal Arts building where the English and Literature department was housed. He showed him the hall of offices devoted to the professors and conference rooms for advising appointments and coffee meetings with cohort groups when things got particularly stressful in the semester. The passed the time in great spirits, honestly the best Regulus could remember having with a stranger in quite some time, perhaps ever. He was kinder to this stranger than he was to his own brother on a daily basis. His brother was a massive dick, but still.
The following day, when Regulus walked into his two o’clock class, Creative Writing in the Digital Age, Remus was already seated there. Okay, Regulus thought to himself two classes together, not bad. Remus saw him walk in and smiled up at him, giving a small nod of his head to the white board at the front of the room. It read, in very large letters, PLEASE SIT WITH A PARTNER. YOU WILL BE EDITING PARTNERS FOR THE SEMESTER. Regulus looked back at Remus, and Remus raised his eyebrows in a silent question. Apparently they would be editing partners for creative writing.
They only got along more and more swimmingly from there. They ate lunch together the following day and even began texting some. Mostly about how pretentious Alecto Carrow had sounded in class, spouting off about how some publications were just plain embarrassing to consider submitting your work to. On Monday, they were in the library doing homework together when Remus surprised him with a question.
“Do you know anywhere that’s hiring students right now? I have to get a job ASAP.” Remus said.
Regulus hesitated far less than he should have before answering, “Actually, the coffee shop I work at his hiring right now. It’s just off campus.”
“Really? Would you be okay if I applied?” Remus asked, a bit sheepish about the situation.
“I’d love it actually. I think we’d have fun.” Regulus responded with a smile on his face. This man was really bringing out all sorts of uncharacteristic behavior from him.
Remus applied later that day, received a call about an interview a few days later, and by the following Saturday, a week and a half after the start of classes, was starting his first shift at The Leaky Cauldron.