Chapter 2
It was almost 6pm when their meal was over, Pandora and Regulus were back at Hogsmeade, sitting in an intimate area surrounded by trees that were protecting them from curious people. Her mouth was covered with crumbs and she was still beaming at her delicious dish, and he must admit he was quite happy too. They had both been raised in pureblood families, but eating sandwiches and fruits was a simple and heartwarming thing that didn't fail in making them utterly happy. As he had guessed, the sandwich Harry had made for his friend was perfect, and his heart fluttered at how thoughtful he was, to him, but also to the people he loved.
It felt good, no… Good was an euphemism. And understatement. It was quite difficult to describe, it's more like he felt… Respected. Actually taken care of. Not through him directly, but through the people he loved, and the realization hit him while he was drinking in big gulps, Harry respected him and his relationships. He wasn't pushing everybody around him aside like he had seen James do a billion times with Lily. He wasn't trying to isolate him and he was quite happy by that, because seeing the depth of his devotion toward the older boy, he didn't trust himself completely on that matter, he would probably let Harry kidnap and tie him up to his bed all day if he wanted to.
After all he had made that mistake with James, driven by his love and hormones he had let him have his way with him, then disrespect and mock him for it. Sometimes he still trembles at the memory, because before this event he had always thought that the students who were complaining about him (especially Snape) were just bitter and overreacting out of jealousy.
But when he had been in the quidditch changing room. On his knees, mouth wide open and throat sore because of the brutal rub on his sharf in his mouth. He had accepted to be used, because he thought that the only way to get the slightest bit of love and care was by executing orders, obeying. Caving in.
James' hands had gripped his hair, fucked brutally and mercylessly his mouth, came down his throat when he had asked him not to. And when he had got what he wanted, he had quickly pulled himself together, telling him not to tell anybody. That he had done this because he knew the disgusting snake he was was obsessed with him, and he wanted to have peace. That he must never. Ever tell anybody, and that if he wanted he could make his life a living hell, just like he did with Snape's.
He felt sick to his stomach at the memory, and Pandora sensed it, she could sense anything. The was a powerful legiliment and unlike him she was unable to hold it in, so the was constantly surrounded by everybody's emotions. He felt bad about it. And just as he was about to apologize she turned and held him. Arms wrapped around his shoulders and his face buried in her chest. And he closed his eyes, letting himself appreciate the physical contact. It felt safe in her arms.
Sometimes he wondered if he was giving as much as she gave him. He loved her to bits. He could. And he would kill for her.
"Wanna see what I got you cub ?" He heard her voice, clear and steady, but still soft. He nodded, and before he could move out, Pandora had accioed the book to her hand, she then quickly slid behind him so he was between her legs and she folded them. She then wrapped her arms around him and he closed his own legs so it could support the book he was holding.
The cover looked quite pretty, sky blue and white with written on it in a gracious calligraphy "Wixen Courting made for you". Around the cover he could see little shadows of creatures and unknown spells moving. And there was a glow, an aura around the book that immediately made him realize that it was full of powerful magic. And tentatively, he tried to brush his fingers on it, before yielding when he got hit by a lighting of magic. Bloody hell it had attacked him !!
"Oh sorry Reg, this one is mine, yours is here. And putting the book back in her bag she rummaged in it for a long minute, her bags were always a mess and the extension charm didn't help. But soon enough. She took out of it another book. This time black and dark. With nothing written of it, but most importantly, wrapped around dozens of protective charms.
"You might want to be up when you put your hands on it." And he did, standing up he extended a hand and Pandora gave him the book. He was still a bit confused on why his looked like that, but he trusted her, and instead undid the spells. It took him a good ten minutes before finally, there was only one layer left. And when it lifted, he felt his body tremble.
Realizing what was happening he shot a glance to Pandora who simply nodded, and he lifted his mental barriers. Letting the magic in the book study him, look around his mind and his feelings. It was quite similar to what he had felt when he had put on the sorting hat, except that this time he could feel the magic mix with his instead of simply studying his mind. He closed his eyes, his hands still around the book burning and tingling before he saw through his eyelids a dark blue flash.
He waited for a little while, and when he opened his eyes, his gaze met the book, now stained in dark blue colors and little stars.
"Should I…" He half-asked, his grip tightening around the book whose title was the same as Pandora's. And when she nodded he did so. Opening to the first black page. And watched as white letters started to appear progressively on it.
____________
Regulus Arcturus Black.
I am pleased that you placed your trust in your friend, and hope that my guidance will bring honor and happiness upon your legacy.
This book can be seen as a manual, however, you are free to follow or not my texts. These are advice, not instructions.
It cannot be read by anybody, except for the people bonded to it.
This bond won't affect your everyday life and my book can be thrown in a lake or burned to ashes, it won't backfire on you or your beloved.
My work is centered around romantic relationship goals, its content is affected by your and your beloved's personal values and personalities, which means the courtship will fit you both.
However, I cannot do miracles nor force people. If you or your beloved do not consent to this process of courtship, it will not work.
For more informations, turns to page 2
____________
His brows furrowed as he was reading, the creator was speaking at a first-person narrative, quite similar to Felix felicis, the author has magically put his mind in the book, a magic that also reminded him of the one in the sorting hat. However there was no name on it. Perhaps a need to stay anonymous. He was pretty sure that sort of thing was expensive and highly rare. How had Pandora-
"I found them."
"...What?" He raised an eyebrow at her.
"The books, I found them crushed under hundreds of books, and when I bought them to miss Villanelle she didn't say anything. It didn't cost a lot, one silver sickle each. It stayed black when she touched them though. But when I grabbed mine it turned into this." She gestured toward her own book. "So I immediately put yours in my bag without touching it."
He nods, thanking her and giving her 1 galleon despite her reticence before shoving it in her pocket and putting his interest back on the book. Which words had faded, so he turned to the next page.
___________
My work has been studied and approved by the Wixen Courting and Bonding Organization, therefore after all steps of the courtship has been fulfilled you will be able to make a magical contract depending on how fast you and your beloved are intending to be married, by giving this book to the WCBO.
Not a lot of people have used my work for their courtship let alone for their bonding contract, due to my flexibility and the obligation for all the people involved to consent.
That's why, like all other bonding contracts, the members of the WCBO won't be able to know what was done during the courtship, all they will be able to do is see my results. And whether or not you are a compatible pairing.
Furthermore, following all the futilities and foolishness of twisted interpretations of what courtship used to or should be wouldn't greatly help you anyway, am I right Regulus Black?
These are all that needed to be said.
To start the courting process turn to the next page.
To read more about the guidelines turn to the penultimate page.
___________
…
Well, that was interesting to read. Regulus was still a bit confused on what some things meant, but he assumed that as long as it had been "approved", it was… Fine? He still needed to dig and do some research to make sure this book was clear of any strange magic, but other than that, nothing stopped him from starting the process now.
"I think it can be trusted, Reg." Pandora said, and he turned his attention back to her.
"You used your legilimency on it?" He asked, closing the book and pressing it against his torso almost protectively.
“On mine yes, it seems like the author quite literally put their mind into it, that’s why it’s so specific and they talk to us. And may I remind you I cannot control my legilimency ?” She looked at him, hurt flashing across her eyes. “I didn’t mean to violate their privacy, I just felt their values and feelings when our magic connected…” After saying that, she glanced back at her own book, now on her thighs.
Regulus apologized for what he had implied without realizing it, and they spoke some more, Pandora explained to him that his lover boy would have to touch the book to bond, but that he needed to consent, and when he turned to the next page, the author was explaining that. With a little smile, he raised an eyebrow at her.
“So, Lovegood consented?” His smile got wider at the sight of his best friend’s cheeks blushing when he mentioned Xenophilius, a boy who was in the same year and house as her and whom, he knew, had had a crush on the girl for over 3 years. The first time he had heard of him was during a family reunion, thankfully, Lovegood wasn't there (given his family history and tendency to date each other it’s rather special), but Lucius had mentioned him, quite obnoxiously if you asked him, but he had learnt to put up with his family’s flaws, for the sake of its harmony, and also because Narcissa was bonded to him since she was 14, and if he wanted to keep contact with her he had to avoid any conflict with her husband.
But the look Pandora, his little sister, and Abraxas, his father, had given him had soon stopped him from continuing on his rant against half-mere wizards.
And anyway, it’s not like he cared about the tosser, that git could rot in Azkaban for all he cared, he had never liked him, to Regulus, there was a difference between being attached to their tradition and culture, and straight-up hating on mud- Muggleborns, when half of them are better at casting spells than Lucius will ever be. The cunt was only good at obeying and hexing things.
Maybe it has something to do with Narcissa’ love for her sister Andromeda, who had run away in 1969 to marry a muggle, when she was supposed to bond with him. But well, who knew ? He had been like that even at Hogwart, trying to bring people into some kind of cult he had joined, especially young and unstable slytherins like Snape, thankfully Evans had stopped him, but given how things were now, he knew that if Lucius got a hand on Snape again, this time his Muggleborn best friend wouldn’t be there to stop him.
He got dragged out of his own thoughts by his friend, who was now standing up in front of him, snapping her fingers and creating little colorful fireworks without realizing it.
“Dora’, be careful with your wandless magic, last time it turned bad I had to drag you to the hospital wings and you ended up with this scar, remember ?” He pointed at the scar dragged all over the left side of her face all along her neck and her arm. This girl had no self-preservation instinct, she reminded him of Harry.
She smiled at him, trancing the scar that looked like these scars muggles get when they are struck by lighting, or so they thought, he knew that most of the time it was the consequence of an anti-mudblood gang of wizards, though it was always well-hidden and brushed under the rug by the ministry of magic. Her finger stocked it lightly, until it reached her collar.
“My Love likes it, says it makes me look like a pretty thunderbird who got mistaken for an angel and attacked by one of his kind.” She smiled and gazed absentmindedly behind him.
“It’s… Oddly specific.” He rolled his eyes and smiled.
“He is so good to me Reg…” She whispered, her eyes fluttering as she turned her gaze at the sky. “I think I’ll ignore mother and take his last name anyway. Lovegood…”
His chest warmed and he felt despite his self-control, himself beaming. “Pandora Lovegood…” He said out loud, and she shivered.
“Pandora Lovegood and Regulus Potter.” This time he also blushed and she burst out giggling, as he looked at her, absolutely embarrassed but also lovesick at the mention of his name combined with Harry’s last name. It was utterly strange but also… Sweet, to hear that from someone else, it reminded him of how Harry had also called him Regulus Potter in the potion classroom, minutes before they were able to get to the room of requirement and-
He shook his head, embarrassed, and the blond-haired girl calmed her laughter, little white freckles that almost looked like snowflakes popping on her face around her nose and her cheeks. And he felt his own magic split out of him as well, just like he did when he was holding his gryffindor earlier this day.
When they were finally calm, Pandora shoved her book in her bag, her rings glistening with the reflection of the winter sun on it. And since it was now empty, he took the jut bag and put his own in it, figuring that shrinking a magical artifact wouldn’t be wise of him, since it could damage the spells put on it. After that was done, he and Pandora both walked toward the castle, sharing simple conversations and words that would stay between the two of them, and the mysterious author of their new books.