━━author's note: I really had fun writing this one. Sirius and you have always been good friends. Regulus and you, maybe something more. What happens when the one you love fails to realize just that?

━━warning(s): swearing

━━word count: 1,679

You ran towards the charms class. You were late, very late. You've had a splitting migraine last night, and Madam Promfey had provided you a sleep potion. It had been the reason you slept through your alarm and none of your dorm mates had even tried to wake you up. As you saw the classroom getting closer, you thought what you would tell your professor. Surely, he would understand, him being the one who sent you to the matron? You opened the door and felt all eyes fall on you.

"I'm very sorry, Professor. The sleep portion Madam Promfey gave me made me oversleep. May I come in?" You said huffing for breath.

"It's okay, dear. Come in."

You looked around for a seat, finding your friends already paired.

"Miss Malfoy, if you could please join Mr. Black, I've just made him sit away from his friend for causing nuisance."

You gulped, hating the thought, but nodding anyway. You looked at Sirius who was already smirking in your direction and winced. He would definitely flirt with you. That's just how he was. He flirted with anyone and everyone. Ever since you were kids. You didn't mind it that much, but you really needed to concentrate on the class if you wanted a respectful job. Especially since you were planning to leave the Malfoy household forever.

You slowly moved towards his table setting down your bag and taking out your books.

"What are we studying today?" you whispered to Sirius.

"Well, I am studying you" he smirked, eyeing you. You rolled your eyes.

"Sirius, what is professor flitwick teaching?" you asked sternly.

"Bubble head charms." He stated glumly.

The rest of the class, you spent skimming over your textbook for what was covered and simultaneously taking notes on what was going on. When the professor called out for practice, you quickly revised everything before getting ready to perform the spell.

"et spirare!" you said making circle with your wand, spluttering as felt your nose constrict. You heard Sirius snort beside you and you glared at him trying again and again. You took a deep breath. You could do this. You imagined drowning and needing air immediately.

"et spirare!" you tried again, as a funny feeling eloped your mouth and nose.

"Ahhhh Miss Malfoy! Amazing! Everyone, look at the perfect bubble head charm by her. 10 points to Ravenclaw."

You smiled, at least you did one thing right today.

***

Sirius groaned walking to his next class.

"Mate, she never notices me! Like I am sitting beside her thinking how perfect she is. She missed like a quarter of the class and yet was the first one performing a NEWT level charm! How does she do that?" Sirius ranted.

"Sirius, she studies like, a lot. I've seen her in the library, she studies hard." Remus said, patting Sirius's shoulder.

"I mean, yeah. She's always been like that. When Reg and I used to have fun in our language classes, she used to be the one actually learning. I just wish she noticed me. Others do, why can't she?"

***

"Reg." you poked Regulus on his shoulder. Regulus kept his head down on the table.

"Reg." you whined.

"What." Regulus grunted making you chuckle.

"Come on, you're my best friend, let's get out of this library for a while."

"What happened to studying hard?" he said turning his head towards yours.

"We do that all the time. I'm tired, you're tired. We NEED to get out."

"Fine." Regulus said getting up.

The two of you went towards the black lake and sat near the edge silently. That's how it was between the two of you. You both did talk a lot, but there were so many times you just sat together; not talking; just letting the calm elope you. You never had to say things for Regulus to understand. He knew you like the back of his hand. Even though, Sirius and you were of same age, you felt more connected with Regulus. On first glance, people would think you were together with Sirius because you both laughed and joked around. It was indeed good to be with Sirius, he made you feel lighter. But that's all it was. Friendly flirty fun. Regulus however, made you feel complete. You had fallen in love with him. Not that you dared to say it out loud.

You loved his cute face, his cute smile. It could just bright up your day. You held pride in the fact Regulus opened up around you. He was hella sarcastic and could make you roll out in laughter when he ranted about a thing or a certain person. It was tough to feel bad for him then because he go on and on with his dry sense of humor that brought actual tears to your eyes. And he wouldn't even notice it, deep in his reverie.

"What!" Regulus snapped seeing you holding your stomach cackling.

"Mannn you just said, 'Yes, sir. That's wonderful not at all blatantly thick. Want me to lick your shoes?' And you expect me to not laugh?" You said wiping tears in your eyes, making Regulus blush.

How could someone not adore him?

As you lay on the grass beside him, you wondered what it would be like to be with him. To hold his hand, to kiss him. You shook yourself.

"Regulus would you remain friends with me after hogwarts?" you said looking at the bright blue sky.

"What?" he said looking at you.

"I mean you know I am going to run away. Would you still talk to me after?" you asked.

"(Y/n), I would always be your friend, until you allow me to. I would never let you go." Regulus said making you look at him. His answer both constricted and warmed your heart.

"Friend, yeah." You mummered.

"What?" Regulus asked furrowing his brows.

"Nothing. Isn't it a beautiful day?"

***

Regulus groaned in frustration on reaching his room. I would always be your friend. Bloody friend. That was the last thing he wanted. It didn't help that he loved you so damn much that his heart fluttered on seeing you. You were so damn beautiful, not to mention intelligent and funny too. He wondered what it would be like to caress your face, to kiss those soft lips, have you pull his hair he left kisses on your neck. You were the only person he allowed to see truly. Yet, it wasn't enough to tell you that he liked you much more than a friend. Besides, no matter how much you denied it, it always felt like you liked Sirius. And that hurt as hell.

***

You were sitting in the library, studying. Why wasn't Regulus here till now? He said he would meet you in the library at your spot.

"(Y/n)!" came a voice and you turned to see Sirius giving you his signature smirks.

"Hey Sirius," you said giving him a small smile.

"I need help with the bubble head charm. Help me, please?" he said making you giggle.

"Okay." You said gesturing to the seat near you.

You slowly explained Sirius the charm. He made petty jokes on the subject making you laugh. As he finally accomplished it he let out a sigh of relief thanking you.

"I couldn't have done it without you, my love." Sirius said, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. You blinked. Sirius never called anyone, 'my love'. And the gesture seemed just too intimate. Was he... was this more than just innocent flirting?

"Sirius," you said softly treading how to tell him lightly. "Sirius, I hope you know that I see you as a friend. I... I always thought this was friendly flirting. I am in love with someone else"

Sirius face fell.

"Oh." He said before stirring himself. He should be happy for you. He had seen you grow up with him, and knew admitting that you liked, even more so loved someone was a hard thing for you to do. He gently smiled at you.

"I hope he or she knows how lucky they are." He said packing his books and leaving.

If only he knew just how much you loved him. You looked at the clock. Regulus still wasn't here. He never did this. Never bailed out on you before telling you. You stood up, deciding to visit him.

***

"Reg?" you said after knocking his door and hearing a faint 'come in'.

Regulus sat on the edge of his bed looking out of the window.

"We had a study session today." You said sitting beside him. He just nodded.

"Can you at least tell me why you weren't there?" you asked.

"I thought you and Sirius were enjoying yourselves." He said looking straight ahead. You frowned.

"He just asked me to teach him the bubble head charm. And you know I would have had more fun with you." You said looking at him. He stared at the ground.

"Reg, What's wrong?" you asked. You hated that he was shutting down on you. He never did that.

"Reg, please at least tell me what's going on your mind?" You said sitting down in front of him.

Regulus gulped. He wanted to scream, 'the thing is I am in love with you.' Was it not obvious?

"You're in love with me?" you croaked. Regulus's eyes widened.

"Did I... did I say that out loud?" he whispered.

"Yes, yes you did." You said making his mind reel. Shit. What if she doesn't love me back? He was so damn open around you that he just uttered what he thought. Did he ruin your friendsh-

He stopped thinking as he felt your lips on his. He froze. As he realized, you were in fact kissing him, he cupped your face moving his lips along your plush ones making them red. You tugged at his hair and he released a moan. As you both pulled away flustered and breathless from the kiss, you cupped his face.

"I love you too, Regulus."

━━P.S. What do you think?