Like Real People Do // Jegulus

CW- Character Death, description of war injuries, NSFW scene(marked with *). There is also polish spoken in this chapter (translation in parentheses).

*If you're new to any of my writing, I would prefer minors to not comment on any sexually explicit scenes in a chapter. I cannot tell you what to read, but I, myself, am an adult. Please be mindful of what you do on the internet and do not make me uncomfortable. Happy reading :)

"That. Was-"

"Blimey."

And James began to hyperventilate.

"Why in Merlin's name was Regulus's voice coming from your patronus?" Sirius demanded, brows furrowed.

He wasn't mad. In fact, he was nothing but confused. "Does this have something to do with Dumbledore putting you two together?"

"Must be," James was able to struggle out, almost choking on air.

"But Reg isn't here, anymore," Peter cut in. "How can he still be bonded to you from Dumble-"

"The Headmaster added extra magic so that we wouldn't have to always be together," the lie rolled of James's tongue as smooth as butter, and his heart did nothing but continue to speed up. "Must be a side effect of it."

After a short pause, Peter shrugged a shoulder, "If you say so. I always hated learning about bonding magic," and snapped open the fortune cookie that he held in his hands.

Sirius, though, continued to stare blankly at James, who was fidgeting now in the bed. The deep scar on his arm ached in agony as continued to move, but he simply couldn't sit still.

There was absolutely no way he was going to tell Sirius, and in extension, Peter, what had happened. He believed he would rather die.

"Alright, Prongs?" Sirius asked. "You look flushed?"

"My arm is aching, Pads. Would you fetch a pain potion from Mum?"

And it wasn't a straight lie, his arm did hurt. But he didn't think he could stomach another second with Padfoot looking at him the way he was.

When Sirius had left the room, Peter turned to him. "I know why you're all upset, Prongs."

"Y-y-you do?" James forced out, his chest growing tight again.

"'Course! Regulus's patronus matches Lily's now. You're afraid that he might have feelings for her since you dumped her. Completely understand," he nodded. "I'd be a bit worried, too."

"You would?"

"Mate, look at him! I mean, you're no troll yourself, but he's Regulus Black. He's fit."

"He is."

Peter continued on, not noticing that James had agreed instead of questioning. "But I'm sure it's all fine. There's no way that Regulus would like Lily. I mean, aside from the whole muggleborn thing, they're quite mean to one another. Unless he has that thing that you have."

"What thing?" James asked, confused.

"That thing with falling in love with people that hate you."

"What?"

Peter shrugged again, "Lily was completely against the idea of two of you, and yet you still said you loved her. Maybe that's what Regulus likes, too."

"Here you go, Prongs! Mum said it might put you back to sleep," Sirius bustled back into the room, dangling a potion in his hand.