(Just a forewarning that I know nothing abt skating or figure skating!)

Of course, it was just Regulus’s luck to get stuck in this situation. The London figure skating championships were coming up soon and his skating partner had just bailed on him with no explanation.

On top of that his private rink was shut for repairs so he was using the one that his brother, Sirius, had hockey practice at. This meant that his hours for practicing changed to be early in the morning and late at night.

Regulus was so damn sure that he'd have to pull out of the championships that somehow he'd gotten to ranting at Sirius frustratedly. This made the wonderfully stupid idea form in Sirius's mind. Why not get James?

The same James that had taken Sirius and Regulus in from their awful life with their even worse family. The same James that had been planning to enter the competition but didn't have a reliable partner. Aka, one that wouldn't take it as a love proposal.

Regulus vehemently refused at first of course because he and James had never shared a proper conversation before. James had tried, sure, but Regulus shut him down with a sharp comment soon enough each time.

But Sirius was nothing if not stubborn and somehow it had ended up with Regulus and James on the ice together one evening after it was supposed to be shut. Sometimes it helped that your brother was shagging the rink manager, Remus.

Of course Sirius couldn't leave Regulus normally and had very loudly yelled that they could absolutely not, never ever, become one of those cliché ice skating pairs that fell in love with eachother on the ice.

Regulus hardly needed to worry about that and immediately told Sirius to piss off. Now he skated around the opposing side of the cool rink to the boy a year older than him, feeling the air on his skin and through his hair.

They had both agreed to use tonight to warm up to eachother, getting to know eachother's techniques as that was important in figure skating pairs. Regulus moved over to James. "Ready, Potter?"