Chapter Text
Ten years ago
Regulus clenches and unclenches his fists, heat flaming his cheeks as the cacophonous laughter permeates the quad of Hogwarts. Gathering his courage, Regulus continues walking toward the locker room, aware of the hole that’s now cut out of the front of his pants. Regulus wishes he had Barty’s swagger, or Evan’s composure, but instead, fury roils just beneath the surface of his skin as he shoves the locker room doors open.
Enough.
He has had enough.
He grins his teeth and crack his neck as he walks to his row, unlocking his gym locker and grabbing a pair of P.E. shorts. Stepping out of his pants, Regulus kicks them away with too much force, and his foot slams into the metal of the locker.
“Fuck!” he shouts, punching the locker a few times until his knuckles are bloody. “Fuck him,” Regulus mutters, kicking the locker again until it dents. “Fuck James Potter.” Regulus wipes his nose and take a few steadying breaths before pulling his P.E. shorts on and sitting on the bench. Putting his face in his hands, Regulus groans. How does he always find a way to humiliate me? Putting his face in his hands, Regulus groans. How does he always find a way to humiliate me? How is it that he hasn’t moved on to someone else? Why me? Why us?
Regulus feels their presence before he hears them.
“People are already talking about the game later,” Evan says, sitting down next to him. “By tomorrow, everyone will have forgotten.”
Regulus looks up and watch as Barty paces in front of him. “You already know my thoughts on the subject,” Barty growls, frustration contorting his features. “Revenge is the only answer. He may be more popular than us, but there are three of us and only one of him.”
Regulus sighs and rubs his face, standing and grabbing his trousers from their place on the concrete floor.
“He’s not worth it,” Regulus says morosely. “He thinks he can continue messing with me—that one day he’ll break me, but he’s wrong. He’s just a stupid cunt who will go on to lead a miserable life.”
“Exactly,” Evan adds, handing Regulus his backpack.
“Well, we could—”
„I said no,” Regulus answers, turning to Barty. Regulus looks between them, willing his features to remain neutral. “It was just a stupid fucking prank. We have one more month until we graduate. One month. And then we can get the fuck out of here.”
And Regulus never has to see James Potter again.
Regulus balls up his now ruined pants and toss them into the garbage, his fury returning when he thinks about the fact that everyone inadvertently saw his dick and nuts, thanks to the loose flap in his boxers. A faux pas on a normal day, but more so because James fucking potter and his minions thought it would be funny to cut a hole in his pants during P.E. class. Even funnier for James, Regulus doesn’t notice until a few minutes after.
At least it wasn’t freezing out, so there was no shrinkage happening. Not that anyone would care either way.
The three of them walk out of the locker room, and Regulus ignores the snickers of passing students who haven’t already forgotten what just happened. Barty and Evan head to their classes, and Regulus walks alone to his last class of the day. One more class, and then they can head to Evan’s house and chill with some beer and chips. And he can forget that today ever happened.
Regulus tamps down the anger when he sees Potter sitting at the front of the room, his spine straight, his almost black hair perfectly messy. Regulus looks down at himself, at the gym shorts paired with the polo shirt. A few people raise their eyebrows as I
he sits down, and he swallows the insecurities that begin to rise to the surface.
His skinny legs.
His lack of muscle no matter how many hours he spends at the gym.
His just messy hair.
Regulus disregards the feeling of embarrassment at that last thought. Getting a haircut just isn’t a priority, not with all the things he is currently struggling with. He is his own parental figure since his are missing in action, away at some religious conference or something. Grinding his jaw, Regulus leans back and checks his phone quickly. Between making his and his little brother’s breakfast, packing their lunches, grocery shopping, cooking dinner, cleaning the house… He barely has time for homework, let alone a haircut.
His eyes bores into the back of Potter’s head.
James has no idea what Regulus’s life is like, yet James uses his free time to torment him. James Potter has a perfect house, a perfect life, an acceptance letter to an elite College. Regulus tries to tamp down the jealousy. He doesn’t want to go to an elite college. College is out of the question for him anyway. He has to take care of Sirius and make sure he doesn’t turn into a religious freak like their parents. But James is an only child. He has everything and everyone at his beck and call. Not only do his parents own half of real estate around here, but everyone at Hogwarts worships the ground he walks on, which is obvious since he was crowned prom king last month.
Their teacher walks in and begins lecturing, and just as Regulus is about to look away from that glossy hair, James turns around, giving Regulus a nasty little smile. James’s lips quirk upwards, and his deep, brown eyes pin Regulus with a defiant stare. James’s eyes flick to his shorts and then back to his face, narrowing James’s eyes before snapping his head forward again, dismissing Regulus by turing his head with a smirk on his lips.
Evil.
He is evil incarnate.
A brat, and a bully.
And for some unknown reason, James has chosen Regulus as his prey.
Regulus clenches his jaw and ignores him. Just as he pulls out a notebook to take notes, James raises his hand. Mr. Binns nods his head once, a look of unrelenting exhaustion on his face. Regulus is not the only person James torments. James abuses everyone in his path, including poor, old Mr. Binns.
“Yes, Mister Potter?”
James straightens as he clasps his hands together on her desk—prim and proper.
“I just wanted to note that Mr. Black is not adhering to the dress code,” James says sweetly. “He’s wearing his P.E. shorts, which is against the rules,” he adds, and everyone in the class begins to laugh. “If girls have to ensure their skirts aren’t too short, surely the boys should be held to the same standard.”
James cranes his neck to look back at him, a look of disgust on James’s face. Regulus fighst the heat that creeps up his neck, and the way his hands begin to shake.
One month.
One month.
One month.
Regulus stands up and grab his things as renewed rage flames through him. He has had enough of James’s shit, and surviving until graduation is going to need to be priority. He doesn’t want any part of James’s sick games. He doesn’t want to be James’ punching bag anymore.
“I’m leaving,” Regulus says to James as he walks down the aisle to the front of the classroom. He passes right by him before falling flat on his face, and the class erupts with a boom of laughter as Regulus pulls himself up, realizing the foot James stuck out to trip him.
“Oops,” James taunts, cocking his head and smiling. “My bad.”
Regulus’s eyes don’t leave James’s, and Regulus swears he sees an inkling of fear in them as he let all of his hatred for James shows on his face. Giving Mr. Binns a tight nod, Regulus opens the door forcefully and stalks down the hallway.
Like he said, evil incarnate.
One day, I will get my revenge.
One day, I will push James Potter past his breaking point.