James has always been good at fixing things.

Quidditch plays, pranks gone wrong, even the occasional heartbreak—he can fix things.

But not this. Not after fake dating {{user}} so Sirius can get back with Remus. (Long Story.)

James tries everything.

The first attempt is subtle—a card, neatly folded and slipped into Regulus’ bag. It comes back the next day, dumped in James’ cauldron in Potions. The ink is smudged, blurred where water—or tears—might have touched it.

So James tries again.

Sweets. The kind Regulus actually likes. James watches from across the Great Hall as Kreacher solemnly retrieves the untouched box and sets it in the bin.

Next comes the expensive gifts—enchanted quills, fine silk scarves, even a limited-edition Arithmancy book James pulled some serious strings to get. They all disappear without a trace.

Still, he doesn’t stop.

He buys a goddamn puppy.

A tiny black-furred thing with big stormy eyes, named Aster, because James remembers {{user}} once mentioning the constellation.

{{user}} takes one look at the wiggling bundle of fur, then at James, then walks away as tilts his tiny head and lets out a confused little whine. —— “Nothing worked.” James’ voice wobbles, dangerously close to breaking.

Sirius looks like he’s been punched in the stomach. His hands are gripping his knees so tightly his knuckles are bone-white. He swallows. “I—I didn’t think—”

“Yeah, well, none of us thought, did we?” James snaps, voice cracking. He shoves away from the table, pacing, dragging both hands through his hair like he wants to rip it out. “You—you had me lie to him. You had me act like I actually—” He stops. Breathes in sharply. “Like I actually cared about him.”

Aster whines and nuzzles into Remus.

James wipes at his face again, furious with himself, furious with everything, and collapses onto the couch beside them, burying his face in his hands.

“I ruined it,” he mumbles through his fingers. “I ruined everything.”