—author's note: I adored writing this. Like a lot. So what happens when you meet Regulus, your friend years after hogwarts? Happy reading ;)

—warning(s): mentions of food and drink. gender neutral!reader (pronouns aren't used). reader is James's sibling but it's hardly there.

—word count: 1,546

It was raining heavily. You had been out for about an hour, getting groceries for the week. Whispering a spell, making sure no one was viewing in your direction, you watched your wand transform into an umbrella and hurried away from the shop. Stalking towards your house, you tried to make sure not to let your bags get wet. You didn't notice the man standing in your way.

"Ah, shit—" you began, not looking up far too busy to check whether or not something fell. "I'm so sorry sir, I didn't notice where I was going—"

"Potter?"

You gazed up meeting someone you hadn't seen in a long time.

"Regulus."

For a minute you two just stared at each other. He had changed. The thin, gaunt boy you saw as a child was replaced by a handsome man with the same striking eyes you used to know so well. You shook yourself.

"What— what are you doing here?" you said gesturing towards the damped hair and drenched clothes. Extending your umbrella over his head you continued, "You'll get sick."

"Worried about me, are you Potter?" he said, raising his eyebrows. "Why don't you think the soaked-to-the-bone look works for me?"

You chuckled.

"You didn't answer my question,"

"Ah, I was here on ministry business but I guess I won't be able to get it done now," he said slowly looking around. "Was trying to find a place I could apparate safely. Too many muggles around."

You furrowed your eyebrows noticing your surroundings again.

"Come with me," you suggested. "My apartment is nearby and you could dry off before leaving."

Regulus looked like he wanted to refuse but you cut him off.

"You'll only ruin your health here, come with me— also it's been a long while since we talked," you pointed out and Regulus looked at you curiously. His mouth quirked upwards and he nodded. The two of you moved to the quaint three-story building, climbing up the stairs before reaching your door. You muttered in some spells before hearing a click.

"Don't trust muggle locks?" Regulus said smugly as you rolled your eyes.

Waving your wand, you started up the fire; the warmth tickling your skin. Regulus took to drying himself off— murmuring incantations. You took to keeping the bags in the kitchen, putting up a kettle for some tea. Taking off your scarf, you sighed and sneaked a glance at Regulus who was now standing awkwardly looking around the house.

"You know you can sit, right?" you asked him. Shaking his head a little, he went to sit down in front of the fireplace. You took out some cups and an assortment of tea bags placing them in a tray along with some cookies you had bought the same day. Regulus smiled as you came in.

"Which one will you have?" you inquired as he gently took the cup from your hand. "Ah, still can't have tea made by anyone else?"

Regulus threw you a grin.

"It's a disastrous habit."

The two of you sat in silence for a while, the tea pleasantly hot against your throat. Rain thrummed at the roof, the noise filling up the place.

"So—"

"How—"

You laughed. Indicating at him to continue, you raised the cup to your lips again.

"So what have you been up to?"

"I've been managing dad's business. Since James joined a quidditch team, there was no one to help so I stood up. I quite like it, it gives me enough room to be creative;" you said softly. "How about you? Tell me something other than your ministry job."

"Well I tried my hand at painting," Regulus said after thinking for a while. "Remember how you used to tell me to try it?"

"You had the most gorgeous handwriting and the diagrams you made were always so perfect. Could you blame me?"

Regulus rolled his eyes, smiling as dimples formed on his cheeks. He looked beautiful like that. Curls of hair falling over his forehead, relaxed and carefree. You missed it.

"What?" he asked his cheeks a rosy color. You shrugged.

"Nothing, it's good to see you after all this time," you said, ignoring how your stomach tickled. "Remember how we promised to stay in touch?"

"Oh yes," Regulus said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Right after your brother glared at me and threatened to hex me if I don't stop talking to you."

You snickered.

"You know he is quite the idiot," you countered. "And "

Regulus raised an eyebrow.

"Brought me home, huh?" he said as you bit your tongue, looking away. "Did you fancy me, love?"

You narrowed your eyes at him, trying and failing to keep a straight face. It was something about the way he called you love that made you feel like a teenager with a crush again.

"The point is," you pressed. "The point is that it never mattered what James did or said. He couldn't do anything to keep us from being friends."

"Yeah, friends." Regulus breathed. You almost missed it.

The room fell silent again and you could hear the pitter-patter of the rain. Regulus picked up a cookie before speaking again.

"Do you still like doing puzzles?" he said as your eyes lit up.

"Yes, I do," you said, reminding yourself of all the times the two of you spent together. "I never quite got over it after all the hours we spent together. Sirius used to mutter 'mental' whenever he saw us working over one. Especially since we always took up the one which seemed impossible to do."

Regulus grinned, nodding.

"I don't think he ever had the patience for it."

"You know;" you said pondering. "I have bought a puzzle recently. Would you like to do it with me? For old time's sake."

"And here I thought it's because you enjoy my company," he said with a smug expression. Your heartbeat erratically and you found yourself hating how he still affected you.

"So that's a yes?" you said, overlooking his jab. Regulus clicked his tongue accepting.

You got up slowly taking out the box you had bought a few days earlier. It was a fiery phoenix, looking at you intently. Regulus rubbed his hands and sat down on the floor beside you. He gasped a little when you put the box down.

"You know, I bought the exact same one about a week ago," he said, helping you open the pack. "It's missing a piece."

You furrowed your eyebrows and Regulus shrugged.

"Should I bring another one? I have—"

"No no let's do this one, it was fun."

Folding your legs, you sat down beside him, your arms touching. Starting from the corner the two of you put together pieces. A sense of calm eloped you. The house and everything with it seemed to blur away. Just you, him, and the puzzle remained. It was different from your memories though, neither of you were children anymore. The adoration you had for him somehow hit harder now. Your hand touched his several times and you beamed at him as the puzzle came together.

"Aha!" you exclaimed putting the last piece in its place. It looked pretty. You looked over at Regulus, who was holding a stray piece in his hand, oblivious to what you said.

"Reg? Earth to Reg?" you called out as he finally looked over at you.

"," he said as you felt your ears heat up.

"What—"

"This," he said, indicating the odd puzzle piece. "This is the exact piece my set was missing."

You snorted trying to deflect how your chest was filled with butterflies.

"Oh? And that makes us soulmates?" you asked, amusedly. "Since when did you believe in soulmates even?"

Regulus had the decency to blush.

"Well didn't you always say our lives were a big puzzle?" he started. "Right now, you have a portion of mine."

You didn't know whether to laugh at the cheesiness or pull him close at the very same moment.

"You're a dork!" you said poking his head with your finger. The boy smiled but it was strained. His demeanor changed. You could practically see his walls building up. Did you say something wrong?

"Reg," you said urgently. He hummed in response. "Was that soulmate thing a joke or you meant it? Even if a little?"

Regulus avoided your eyes.

"Does it matter?"

"Yes, yes it does."

"Yeah well then I like you," he said, looking down. "Always have. But I know you don't and..."

You put a finger to his lips, stopping him.

"I do," you said as his stormy grey eyes landed on your own. He cradled your cheek, leaning in tentatively, glancing at your lips. You heaved a sigh as his mouth finally met yours. Grabbing his collar, you kissed him softly. When you pulled back, you had a smile on your face.

"Now that wasn't how I was expecting the day to go at all," you commented, delighted. Regulus held your hand kissing the knuckles.

"We're going to have more of these puzzle dates, aren't we, love?" he said as you rested your head against his shoulder, interlinking your fingers with his.

"We are."

—did you like it? Thoughts?? Let me know what you think!! Your comments literally make my day ;)