lily and regulus refused to study together. ever. they were much too competitive, even though they weren't in the same year. they were both sharp and quick-witted intellectuals and they couldn't study together to save their lives.
So I just made a post with Regulus and Lily friendship hcs and it gave me ideas for a regulily arc.
I don't usually ship Reg x Lily, even in Jegulily I usually don't see them dating, just sharing James. HOWEVER!
Bookworms turned friends. They start talking about James and how unhinged he is. Laughing about his confessions towards the red head. But Lily is pretty sure that Reg has a crush on her suitor. And she has a feeling that James hasn't been looking at just her... Perhaps Potter's heart beats for two people.
So here are some options.
Having gotten close very fast, and feeling quite at ease with each other, Regulus and Lily become the couple no one was expecting. James didn't know what to make of it. Was it heartbreaking or somewhat intriguing and perhaps hot? They eventually invite James to their relationship, upon realising they all have feelings involved - Regulily to Jegulily arc
Lily tells her friend Reg about her suspicions towards James developing a crush on him and they decide to prank Potter by pretending to date and see his reaction - fake dating to jegulus arc
People (James included) think they're dating, from the time they spend together and how Regulus treats her like a princess. However, he's actually just acting the way he was taught, polite and like a gentleman with his female friend. Dorcas is much too indelicate to be offered such manners (they enjoy bickering) and Pandora is more like a sister. So he really only acts like that towards Lily - probably Jegulus (James makes a move once he finds out they're not dating) to mutual confused feelings towards Lily to Jegulily
I just realized how Jegulus could work and still be canon compliant.
— as we know, james and lily didn’t start dating until 7th year. Regulus’ 6th, but that’s not important. there’s not real canon information to prove that james pined over lils, so who’s to say he didn’t date anyone between him asking her out (when harassing snape, fifth year) and when they actually started dating/got married?
— we learned that regulus was actually on the side of good in HP Deathly Hallows. He did what he did to destroy the horcrux and bring back his morality, thus helping Harry/Dumbledore (and for the sake of this, James and Sirius in turn) at this point, we can assume that James’ parents had already died because of the first war.
— we can also assume that regulus probably wasn’t proud of getting the dark mark, maybe even hid it (which he would’ve done had he been with james). which is where my theory comes in.
— they could’ve dated any time between james’ 5-6th years, as well as at least half of 7th. WHAT IF they did date, and then when James found out Reg got the dark mark, they broke up? and in turn, he moved on and started dating Lils?
— (this idea is from choices by MesserMoon, chapter 19) He would’ve done it to protect james (and sirius). Because if he hadn’t done it, he’d have to leave Grimmuald place. In which case, Walburga would be willing to kill anyone who got in her way of getting Regulus back. and the only way he could really “protect” james during the war would’ve been getting the mark. by being on the inside.
— and then Regulus would’ve died. and James probably wouldn’t have ever known. I imagine Regulus may have tried to tell James that it was to protect him, but James would be more focussed on the fact of the matter.
I think that they wouldn't really come across each other and become friends unless Regulus got closer to the Marauders (preferably in a jegulus or jegulily narrative)
That being said, I feel like they started spending time together sort of by accident or by extention of being with a mutual friend. Like Remus.
Since I see all three as studious and academics, it makes the most sense to me that their friendship started as studying meetings. Regulus first befriended Lupin and joined him in the library for quiet reading. Sometimes Lily sat with them as well.
Maybe one day Reg was reading a book for leisure that Evans had already read and she commented on it. They talked a little about the book over tea after he finished it and that's how they started talking to each other.
Enter James, who is an idiot and thus has a lot of stupid moments. And of course, Lily and Regulus being the witty and sometimes sarcastic little shits they are, have to comment and joke about the dumb shit he does. So their conversations branched from literature to Potter and eventually daily casualties.
Regulus never thought he'd like Lily. She seemed stuck-up in a way. Somewhat unapproachable. And of course, a muggleborn Gryffindor. But he realised she's very clever and sweet. One of the smartest people of her age. Just went to show how wrong blood supremacy was.
Evans never had an opinion in regards to the youngest Black. She gave everyone a chance (obviously, she used to be friends with Snape after all) and never had a negative encounter to base her opinions on. She was still surprised of just how well the two got along. Books and tea came a long way.
She feels like a wind. He feels like an ocean. He loves them both. He was their sunshine. But it was a long way to happiness together. Because he was a calmness and they were like a fire and a storm.
God save the Hozier! This man inspired me to make this playlist