Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The night Regulus Black disappeared many couldn’t deny they didn’t see it coming. Walburga was never the nicest mother but everyone just assumed she was strict so when her youngest ran away everyone played it off as a young teenager acting out would eventually come back.

Well that didn't happen and Regulus dissapeared leaving behind his parents and most importantly his older brother 

Their parents died a year after his disappearance and Sitrius was left as the new hesd jf the fmaily, everyone told him to move on from his brother but a part of him always hoped he'd pop up af their estate home. The only people who were able to keep him in check were his boyfriend Remus and the Potters, they were more fmaily to Sirius then his parents ever were so when James said he wanted to start a restaurant when they were kids Sifius was the firs to offer to buy it for him.

James refused his offer saying he wnated to esrn it on his own, everyone around the stubborn man shook their heads knowing they wouldn't be getting through that thick head of his and so they all went to James' many part time shifts at a diner to help at least pay for his dream

Sunlight peeked through the old blinds of James' bedroom causing the man to groan and roll over onto his side. It had only been four hours since his last shift and bow he was due to another eight then the cycle would repeat again but James never complained knowing it would all be worth it in the end

Slowly getting out of bed he looked af his disheveled shelf in the small mirror 

"Another day another time spnt with the dukes...and Sirius" he smiled grabbing his apron from his chair as he pulled out last nights tips from the front pocket

"Well last night wasn't the best but.." pulling open his desk dwar he placed the money in a small bucket, pushing it so it joined the others behind it "every pound counts"

Fixing himself up James walked out into the kitchen where his parents prepared breakfast 

"Morning prongs how'd you sleep"asked his mother as she kissed his head 

"Fine fine i have to go soon or else I'll be late for my shift" James brushed her off gently placing a kiss to her cheek as he grabbed a bagel and apple from the table 

"James we have tlaked about this, we know how important this is to you but your working yourself to the bone" Fleamont stated from his chair at the table as James hummed softly and kised his head 

"It will be fine dad you'll see soon everything will work out"james said as he quickly left the house and jumped into his car driving off 

The two elders sighed softly as Euphemia sat by her husband, a cup of tea meant for James still in her hands

"Oh Monty when will our boy ever learn" she shook her head as the man smiled softly 

"He will I'm sure he will James has always had a one track mind with this restaurant of his since he was a little boy"

"I just hope he finally settles down soon, work isn't all life has in store for him"

"Hopefully his answer will come soon who knows maybe it will bulldoze right infront of him" Fleamont checked softly 

Fleamont picked up an old newspaper clipping, the picture was of a dojng room in a high end restaurant, James' name for it written at the top in red marker 

The two had no idea soon that would be exactly what would happen

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Quickly getting out of his car, James tied his apron around his hips and fixed up his hair. His glasses were pushed up his face as he gave himself one last look over in his car side window 

Walking into the building James quickly got to work. His clients watched him from their tables waving him Hello andngreeyjng him with soft smiles

James nodded to Sirius who sat at his favorite booth with Remus by his side who was thankfully a lot more calmer then Sirius was

Walking to the kitchen to grab some menus James smiled seeing the old manager of the restaurant 

“hello Minierva how are things going today”asked the male 

“Busy as always we have a catering sign up for this weekend” she responded going through the fridge to pull out more meats 

“oh for who”

”The Blacks are hosting us it is Sirius’ birthday remember” she stared over at him, her eyebrow raising as she crossed her arms daring him to respond to her

They both knew James had been so focused on his work he forgot his own best friend's birthday among other things

James chuckled softly as he rubbed his head gently

”I’ve been otherwise occupied it isn’t like Sirius isn’t here everyday anyway”

The other woman shook her head and sighed”your lucky I like your parents so much or else you’d be drubbing the bins until you turn old now go on”

She all but shoved him out of the kitchen even though he was set to cook later on that afternoon but for now he was on waiter duty. Walking to his first table which was Sirius’ James rolled his eyes a bit as he placed the menus down 

“Good morning and welcome to Hogwarts our specials today include a fruit tart and for lunch we are introducing a new fish platter with veggies” James smiled charmingly but he knew no matter what he did the Black Lord would never leave him alone

”oh I hope you have new desert to I hear the James special is a rare treat” Sirius fluttered his lashes at the other as both Remus and James rolled their eyes at their flirtatious freind 

"Not likely I'm afriad, besides i have lots of work to do i do not have tine to have any sort of distractions" James brushed off as he placed silverwesr on the table 

"Bow would you like French toast or eggs"

"Oh come in Prongs you have to at least come to my birthday party this weekend and not just as the caterer and French toast will be good thanks" Sirius responded as Remus sighed and shook his head

"I'll take the eggs James thanks"

"You know I will be working the whole event"

"Nope I'll drag you away at some point I'm sure Mini wont mind if anything she will send you away herself"

"We will see now I'll be back with your order"he said as he walked off to the next table 

Sirius and Remus looked at eachother then sighed softly" hes going to work himself to exhaustion"

The weekend came and as promised Hogwarts was at the Blsck estate and James was dragged to Sirius' bedroom and forced to change into a nice suit half way through the party 

Sirius all but scooped up the protesting James and plopped him into his bedroom shoving a suit into his arms and told him to change. Sirius and Remus wiated outside as James cursed and padded in the bedroom

"Bet he doesn't even know how to put on a tie" Sirius chuckled 

The door slowly opened and the two men looked over and gasped softly 

James was in a deep red two peice suit, his hair a somewhat less messy mess and his glasses perched on his nose. His black tie hung around his neck as he smiled slightly the red complimenting his darker skin nicely 

"Wow so you do dress up nicely look at you Prongs oh just wait until effa sees you" Remus all but gushed teasing the other as James rolled his eyes pulling at his tie

"Oh shut it Moony save it for when you wnat Pads in ypur bed now come on there better be cake at this party" 

The three chuckled softly heading down to the ballroom where everyone talked and mingled around 

James did end up having a nice tine that was until Sirius brought out the strong alcohol and dared him to drink as much as he could and James, never wanting to loose to fhe likes of Sirius Black took the first swing 

Minerva sighed and shook her head as she sent pictures of James chugging down his seventh shot to his parents knowing well he could not handle his alcohol but a part of her was happy he was finally letting go and actually acting like someone so young so she wouldn't run him away

At least not yet, he hasn't annoyed her enough.

James laid back on the geusts bed as he took a drink from his third cup of water from the last half hour. The party was long over and Sirius was fast aslep while James was here nursing the worst headache of his life

He knew he drank far to much when his vision got all blurry and he started to sing about his Hope's and dreams

Happened every time actually 

Sitting up from the bed the Male walked over to his window and looked out into the night sky, his headache pounding 

"Alright James that's the last time you let Sirius get the best of you...who am I kidding he's going to try to donit again tomarrow"

James chuckled to himself as he rubbed his eyes 

A soft meow caught his attention and he looked oer to his side. A small black cat stared back at him, its eyes a silver color as it had a Logan body 

James squealed as he scooped up the feline to hungover to really think this through but he always loved cats and he couldnt help himself 

"Awe look at you, your so cute and softly and tiny" he said as he nuzzled the cat who tried to get away from him 

It hissed and swatted at his chest as James smiled and rubbed noses with it

"Wouldn't it be amaizng being a cat, you get to sleep all day, roam around to who knows where and be free from life in general, and I'm just stuck here trying to reach a dream"

"It's not easy being a cat especially with idiots like you who keep trying to snuggle me"

The cat stared at him as James wasn't sure if at that moment he was very much still drunk or completly mad but the cat...

"Did you just speak"

The cat blinked and him 

"My what a genius is the sky blue" 

James stared down at it, his brain not able to process what he had just hesrd

"Holy hell I've gone insane' he whispered as he dropped th cat and the feline just sat on the window seat licking his paws

Chapter Text

James placed around the room pulling at his hair, his tie undone and hanging aorund his next all the while the black cat sat perched on the table watching him. 

"Quit your pacing I need help and only you can do it" said the cat as James looked over at him snd blinked

"Me...and what am I supposed to do"

"Give me a kiss of course"

Tires screeched in James' head. A kiss 

The weird cat thing wanted a kiss

"Now I know I've gone completly mad" James groaned plopping down onto the couch as the cat came and smacked his face, his claws leaving slight scratches on the mans darker skin

"Oh just listen to me for a second, I was once a human before but I got turned into a cat and I've been looking for somone to change me back since then, now I assume I can offer you some sort of repayment for doing this for me I am rather wealthy"

"I don't need your charity work I can do whatever I want on my own"

"Don't think of it as that then all I need is one kiss and I'll be able to see my brother again"

"Your brother"

The cat nodded and sighed"i used to be close to my older brother as our parents were not nice people, especially our mother I geuss she's the reason why I left and when I regretted it and tried to come back the man I had side alonged with didn't like that and well..he turned me intonation a cat"

James groaned softly at the cats words, he was such a soft person he always knew he was and he also knew he might regret his choice

But what harm could it bring, either the cat stayed a cat or it changed back into a person

"Fine I'll kiss you but don't make this weird then it already has to be" James stated as he scooped the cat into his arms as said cat scowled at him

"Hey you won't hear me complaining now pucker up buttercup" he smirked as he looked at the man

James grumbled hoping this was just some weird dream but he leaned down anyway and kissed the cat 

What followed was not what either of them had expected

Green light surrounded them and for a moment both thought the spell had been broken but instead of the cat turning into a human, James turned into a cat

Looking up from his long coat James was confused and disoriented as the black cat sat on a nearby table

" how did you get all the way up..." James turned his body seeing himself on the full length mirror leaning up against the wall

A bigger black cat then the other but he was a lot more fluffy with deep brown eyes and a small chest patch of white in the shape of antlers on s stag 

Loud hissing and meowing was heard as James leaped into the air landing directly on the culprit of his newfound furry situation 

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME YOU FLEABAG" James screamed as he clawed and bit at the other who backed away and hissed back at him

"HEY ITS NOT MY FAULT YOU CLEALRY DID SOMEHTING WORNG" He countered immedielty offending the fluffy beast 

"I did somehting, your the one who was a cat first" James shot back swatting at the other again

"See this is why I left the rich life behind you nobles only ever think about yourselves" 

James blinked at him as his fat esrs shot back and his tial got even more fluffy then it already was

"EXCUSE ME I am not a noble"

The other just stared at him as he prosecuted what he had just hestd 

"Wait what....but your wearing expensive clothe and are in this huge hotel"

"I'm here for my best friends birthday party he's the rich one I am a cook and server at a restaurant"

The short haired cat just stared at him his world completly mixed up and his life choices now at trail 

"What's your name" he asked barely even realizing they never introduced themselves to eachother 

"My name is James Potter"

"....James Potter" The cat said it like he was trying to remeber something and at the moment he really was 

"Yes it's my best mates Sirius Blacks birthday today that's why I'm here what's your name" James asked 

The cat was quiet for a second, his tail swaying behind him 

"You know who I am James, we met before when I was still human"

James blinked and stared at him tilting his head to the side 

"I've met many people because of my work and friends you'll need to be more specific"

"Ite me James...Regulus"

James' whole world crashed and shattered as he stared at the cat..no at Regulus Black 

"....holly shit..." 

Chapter Text

James stared down at the smaller cat trying to process what he had just hesrd

Regulus 

As in Regulus Black the missing Regulus Black

James gawked at the cat getting up as he lifted a paw towards him lifting up the others head and arms as if he could find any disinguisning marks proving the cat really was Regulus 

Regulus meanwhile didnt appreciate being manhandled like some over loved pet and so he smacked the fluffy cat on the head and hissed at him

James jumped back his ears pinned to his head 

"Yeah that's defenetly yoh Reggie" 

"Nah I thought I was the Queen now come on fleabag let's go find somone who's actually useful" Regulus pushed past James leaping onto the floor and walking off not even waiting to check if the other followed him

James stared back at him and landed behind him falling and landing on his belly as he didnt know how to use his new four legs 

"Wait..wait for me Reggie" Scurring behind him James finally caught up as Regulus was looking down at the party bellow them still in full swing and knowing the host, half was already drunk 

James bumped right behind Regulus causing the smaller cat to fall from the openings on the safty rails of the stairs and fall head first into the giant cake on the table below them, a loud meow was all that was heard before cake splattered everywhere 

Screams echoed through the vineyard as geusts moved away from the scene and the black cat glared up at his attacker as James crouched down trying to hide from the others wrath 

Regulus was always the scarier one put of the two brothers 

"What's going on here" Sirius and Remus came out from the crowd and blinked down at the now cake covored cat who was hissing up a storm and meowing up into the heavens above or cursing James into the next generation one never knows with Regulus 

"What's a cat doing here" Remus picked up the hissing feline by the scruff as it tried to claw at him 

"Who knows wash it up and put it outside and where is James he is missing out on thendrjnks...to bad there wont be any cake anymore" Sirius sighed as he poked at the destroyed cake 

James squeaked as je was picked up himself again by the scruff of his neck then brought downstairs along with a mostly cleaned up Regulus 

"Seems we have a tag team here" Peter said as he looked downnat James noy realizing he was an human 

"Hey guys it's us" James waved a paw around trying to get his freinds attention but none of them paid him no mind 

"This one has vocals on him and cute meowed can we keep him Siri" Remus looked over at his boyfriend asnhenstill held cat Regilus who was now stuck air drying 

"No Moony we cmat keep him your more of a dog person anyway let's get these two out of here and find James before he falls asleep in a pot again"

Remus chuckled softly as he and Peter followed behind the birthday boy as the two cats tried to speak with them but all that came out were meowed and hisses 

"Why can't they understand us we talked to eachother just fine" Regulus paced around the street once they were let down as James watched from a nearby planter 

"I dont know but we have to chnage back my parents will worry sick if I don't come home and you need to tell Sirius and the others your alive everyone thinks your dead" James stated as Reugulus looked back at him

"They do"

"Well yeah I mean you dissapeared ome day and never came back Sirius was devastated and he still mourns for you everyday especially on your birthday what even happened to you anyway'

"I made some bad choices that's all you have to know"Regulus looked away from the other his esrs perking up as a group of stray cats came out from the shadows surrounding them

James got closer to Regulus as the biggest cat stepped forward eyeing them 

"Oh you really did it now James" Regulus spat 

Said cat gaped at him tail fluffing up 

"I didn't even do anything this time"

The cats looked at them and then at eachother watching the two fight and swat at the other 

"Are you two married" Asked the smallest cat as the two boys stared slack jawed the rest of them laughing 

This was the weirdest day of their lives that's for sure 

Chapter Text

The two cats were backed up against a wall as the group of strays surrounded them l. Regulus hissed at them as James tried to seat them away.

“Any idea’s genius” Asked Regulus watched as the other tripped over a rock falling on his face.

Yeah they were doomed.

Then as if their prayers of survival were answered a small cat came trotting in through the crowd of strays.

She was a small red tabby, her eyes stared at them as her ears twitched. 

“What are you two doing in my alley” She hissed as Regulus smirked at her.

”Oh hello Lily pad how are you”

The cat, now known as Lily scowled and groaned.

“Regulus didn’t I chase you out of here last week”

”Nooo I left of my own free will”

James looked between them “You two know each other”

”Unfortunately” Regulus mumbled. 

“Your new how’d you get stuck with prince negative over here”

”Would you believe me if I said we were once human and turned into cats”James smiled at the girl and she just flicked an ear at him.

“Once human huh well you sure pissed off the wrong person to be turned into cats” She chuckled at them.

Regulus scowled and hissed "Look, can you help us or not? We need to get changed back."

Lily hummed softly as she groomed herself.

“I know someone or well heard of someone who might be able to help you boys”

James’ ears perked up as he stood up.

”Really, who is it”

”He’s this old guy who lives down by the mountains, calls himself Dumbledore. Many animals go to him for help but if anyone can fix your mess it’s him”

The alley cats hissed again, but Lily raised her tail and they quieted instantly. She turned back to the two boys.

”I’ll take you to him but be warned, the journey there is full of traps and a lot of dangers some animals don’t make it back”

James gulped and looked over at Regulus.

”Well let’s get going then, the sooner we turn back the sooner I can leave James” Regulus followed behind Lily and James quickly ran after them.

”Hey wait for me I’m not used to four legs yet”

Chapter Text

The three cats padded along a narrow sidewalk that wound through the glowing buildings and lights of the city. The two boys followed behind lily who stopped at every corner to sniff a flower then smirked over when she knew it irritates Regulus for the fourth time.

The three walked in a somewhat even line with James bringing up the rear always tripping on his own paws.

James had been quiet for almost five full minutes, an impressive personal record but the question kept clawing at him.

Finally, he blurted,

“Regulus… why did you leave?”

While lily ignored them up front Regilus remained silent as his tail swayed in annoyance.

“Sirius misses you..he has never stopped looking for you and after your mother…” James was cut off by the other cat.

Regulus stopped dead.

He turned with his fur bristling and eyes sharp as glass shards.

“Do not,” he hissed, “bring Sirius into this.”

James froze and stared at him while Lily paused a few steps ahead, watching them with a wary look but not interfering.

Regulus went on his voice tight and trembling in a way he clearly hated.

“You think you know anything about why I left? You think it was easy? You think I wanted to…?”

“I didn’t say it was easy I said he misses you.”

“Misses me? Sirius hates everything I stood for. Everything our family stands for. He made that perfectly clear when he abandoned me with our parents and chose you.”

James looked at him for a second then lowered his head.

”Sirius didn’t choose me.”

”Oh what a lie that is…James this and James that do you know how hard it was to live there…to live with them.”

James was quiet for a second “He worried about you and he still does. He… he looks for you in crowds, you know. Like maybe you’ll be there when everyone thinks your dead Sirius still looks for you.”

Regulus flinched just the smallest flick of an ear, but it was enough.

James continued.

“When you disappeared, he tried to act like it didn’t matter. But I saw him. I’ve never seen him that scared, he only took the mantle of Lord Black so he had more power to look for you.”

Regulus looked at the other cat for a second then sighed as he sat on a ledge looking over the city.

“I didn’t leave to hurt him,” Regulus said finally, voice cracking like thin ice. “I left because staying would have destroyed me.”

The two were silent for a long moment as the only sounds they could hear were the honks of cars and people talking.

”How did you get turned into a cat anyway.” James asked softly.

Regulus looked at him for a second then opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by lily who had come back to them.

“One of you is having a melodramatic breakdown and the other is too dense to notice we’re on a time limit,” she said dryly. “Come on. If you two want to cry about your feelings later do it after your not cursed anymore.”

James coughed into his paw.” Right sorry.”

Regulus hissed at James as he swatted at him to get out of his way and said cat jumped away from the angry cat following behind the two again.

He didn’t say another word about Sirius, but Regulus kept glancing at him as if he wasn’t sure what to do with the ache James had pulled out into the open.