Word Count: ~ 8400 (this part: 1600. Divided into 4 chapters)
Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended
Notes: Thanks so much to betas arenee1999 (Livejournal) and et-tu-lj.

A/N: This story will be posted in 4 chapters over the course of 2 weeks or so. It's already written, so it won't take time away from writing "Heart Full of Black" :)

Chapter1

James Potter was finally at his wit's end. Three years of hard work and he hadn't made any sort of progress. Three years of courting, flirting, charming, showing off, bragging, and even begging had gotten him absolutely nowhere with his heart's desire. Not even a date. Not one measly little date.

A more realistic and less conceited person would have accepted his defeat by now and realised that the girl was simply not interested, but James was no such person. He was convinced that Lily and he were meant to be. The only problem was that the gorgeous redhead - stubborn as she was - refused to see it.

It was this desperation that drove him to do it. When he stumbled upon the instructions in an ancient potions book the temptation was simply too strong. The potion was supposed to create a soul bond between two people and it was just what James needed.

Deep down he knew that it was wrong. Very, very wrong. Which was also why he did not involve any of his friends in his plan - not even Sirius, with whom he normally shared everything. However, it was not as if he was imposing an artificial bond between the two of them, he rationalised. It was already there, it just needed magnifying so that Lily could see it. How strong could the effects be, anyway?

o0o0o

James was in a state close to panic. His plan had gone wrong - terribly wrong. It was all McGonagall's fault, he thought bitterly. He had been in charge of the yearly Prefect Christmas get-together, and what a perfect occasion that had been. James had had it all figured out. He had spiked two of the welcome drinks, and he planned to take one and hand the other to Lily as the Head Boy and Girl welcomed the others.

He had just arranged all the glasses on the tray when McGonagall had insisted that he step out of the room with her for a quick word. James had protested strongly and asked if it couldn't wait until they had opened the party. It couldn't. And when he, just two minutes later, had returned, the obnoxious guests had already helped themselves to drinks.

The first horrifying thought that entered his mind was that Lily might have taken one of the spiked drinks and would be bound to someone other than him. He had grabbed and all but shaken her, demanding to know from what part of the tray she had picked her glass. To his great relief he found that she had not taken one of the glasses in question. This, however, did not mean that all was well and good. Two of the prefects had ingested the potion, and he had no idea which ones.

Well, he thought sullenly, he would find out soon enough, wouldn't he?

o0o0o

Regulus Arcturus Black woke up in his dorm feeling a bit odd. Maybe he was getting ill. Great, he thought bitterly. Just what he needed on the day of the annual Quidditch game against Gryffindor. Fever and flying didn't fare well together, he knew that from experience.

At breakfast he sat stabbing at his food, not really hungry. He had a funny feeling in his stomach.

"Nervous about the game?" asked Severus, who sat opposite him.

Regulus shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe a little."

"Don't worry. We'll put them straight. Just look out for Potter..."

Regulus looked up from his plate. "Why? He's not seeker."

"No, but his head is so darn big, it takes up half the field! We wouldn't want you to collide with it..."

Regulus laughed. "Oh, don't worry. My eyesight is fine."

"Unlike his," Severus added, eliciting another snigger from Regulus.

Regulus' eyes moved to the neighbouring table where his idiot brother sat, making a show of himself as usual, flinging his arms around and talking loudly. His three equally idiotic cronies were laughing as if he was the funniest bloke in the world. Rodent Face, Four Eyes, and... well, maybe Lupin wasn't as bad as the others. In fact, he was quite nice, come to think of it. He also had a nice smile. How come he'd never noticed before? He had really kind, pretty eyes and - wait - pretty? I didn't just think that!

"What are you staring at?" asked Severus.

"Nothing," he said hurriedly and tore his eyes away from Lupin, feeling heat rise in his cheeks.

Severus looked over his shoulder in the direction where Regulus had been looking. When he spotted the four Marauders his face turned ugly.

"Forget about him, Reg. He isn't worth your attention."

"Oh, I wasn't -"

"You should be happy your family got rid of him."

"I am." That wasn't completely true, but Severus didn't need to know that.

When Snape turned his attention back to his breakfast, Regulus couldn't help looking back at Lupin, and his stomach did a flip when he found the other boy looking straight back at him. Their eyes locked, and Regulus wasn't able to look away again. His heart started hammering like crazy - what the fuck was wrong with him?

"Black. BLACK!"

"What?" he snapped at the person shaking his shoulder.

"Time to go! The game, Black."

"Oh... right."

o0o0o

The game was a disaster. They had lost, and it had been his fault. Twice the snitch had flown right by his head without him even noticing it. He could still hear his team mates' angry yells ringing in his ears.

No, wait - it wasn't his fault at all. It was Lupin's! How was Regulus supposed to concentrate when he had felt the Gryffindor's eyes glued to him constantly? He probably did it on purpose, too - some dirty trick to help his team win.

o0o0o

Regulus woke with a start, gasping for air. He was soaked in sweat, the sheets clinging to his skin, and his boxers sticky. He had just had the most disturbing wet dream ever. Images of tawny hair and amber eyes were still fresh in his mind. Lush lips, flat chest, firm buttocks, and - Oh, God. He brought a shaky hand up to his forehead. What the hell is wrong with me?

After having listened carefully to his roommates' breathing, making sure they were still asleep, he snuck into the bathroom. Standing in the shower, letting the hot water cleanse his body, his thoughts were whirling in his head. What was happening to him? Maybe he should go see Madam Pomfrey. But what was he going to say to her? Please help me, I think I've caught gay? No, that was completely out of the question.

Was that how it normally worked? Did people just wake up one day and realised they were gay? And what if he really was? Why the obsession with Lupin? He tried picturing himself with different handsome boys, but no - none of them did it for him. Only the quiet Gryffindor.

Back in bed he was tossing and turning. He was afraid to fall asleep because what if he had another dream? On the other hand, it could hardly get any worse. He couldn't stop thinking about Lupin. He imagined him lying in his bed in the Gryffindor Tower, equally restless and thinking about Regulus. The thought made him warm inside and his heart beat a little faster. Oh, how he wished he could see him now. Be close to him. Touch him. It hurt thinking about how far away from each other they were.

Suddenly Regulus felt sure that he was going to die if he didn't get to see his fellow prefect right now. He got up from his bed and dressed quickly. Then he tiptoed out of the dorm and crossed the common room. He had no idea what he was doing, it just felt like the thing to do. He left the Dungeon and continued through the corridors, steered by a mysterious force. He climbed a few stairs and rounded a few corners. Then he stopped.

There was someone approaching him. The person's lit wand was not enough to reveal their identity, but it didn't matter. Regulus already knew who it was. They came to a stop just a few yards from each other.

"Re- Black..."

"Lupin." Regulus could hardly get the word out.

"Call me Remus," said Lupin, sounding just as nervous as Regulus.

"Remus," he said slowly, tasting the word. Then, after a few seconds, "What are you doing here?"

"I just... somehow I knew you'd be here." He stepped closer so they were standing right in front of each other.

The Gryffindor looked so lovely that Regulus just had to reach out and touch him. Remus sucked in a breath when the hand cupped his cheek.

"I can't stop thinking about you," Regulus whispered, his voice shaky. "I had a dream..."

He didn't get to say anymore, because the next second Remus was kissing him.

Regulus' mind imploded. Remus was kissing him and he had never felt this amazing. He had never felt so right, so complete. It was like his whole life had been leading up to this very moment. Their lips were moving against each other, their tongues were twirling, and Regulus slipped his free arm around the other boy's waist and pulled him in so their bodies were flush against each other. He craved his closeness, wanted desperately to merge with him so they could become one. He knew that he would never, ever let go.