A new friend
Chapter 2
Friday 8th September
“Favourite colour?”
“Green”
"Basic” Regulus scoffed
Barty and Regulus were in the library, working on an assignment they got. It was more Barty copying everything Regulus wrote, whilst also distracting him. Though he didn't really mind, as he didn't feel like working anyways.
“What’s yours then?” Barty narrowed his eyes.
“Castleton green. Obviously.”
“You had two options, and you went for the stupid one.” Barty sighed
“Oh yeah? Wat was the other option? “
“Black. “
It took five full minutes for them to recover from laughing too hard.
Evan came halfway through, and when neither Regulus nor Barty seemed to be able to tell him the reason of their hysterical state that it took him a total of twenty-six seconds to match their mood.
When they calmed down, they started to walk back to their dorm together.
Evan looked thoughtful for a second before his eyes widened slightly as though he remembered something, “I almost forgot! I came to look for you two. Mulciber told me there's a 'we survived the first week' party in the Slytherin common room on tomorrow night.”
Barty's eyes lit up “Oh my god. our first party!”
“Your reaction makes me want to not-go" Regulus mumbled.
“Aww Reggie you'll have a great time, I promise”
“What do I get if I don't”
“No. We're not doing this; you'd make yourself miserable just not to lose a bet.”
“True...”
“This party is going to decide what position we have in this school. Up until the moment we leave.”
“Wow. No pressure at al”
Regulus tried to convince Barty and Evan that he shouldn't be going to the party the entire day, but he was unsuccessful.
“You'll love it.”
“You know I won't.”
“Whatever, you're coming anyways.”
“There really seems to be no way around it.” There was, but to his disgust he noticed his own curiosity towards the party. he'd only ever been to parties his parents hosted or attended.
This was really something else. When they entered the common room Regulus froze. People were dancing and singing, or just talking. Some of the fifth- and sixth years had snuck alcohol in.
He barely recognised the room. It usually had cold tones, with a calm atmosphere. The light made the room warmer, and it reflected off the numerous silver details; making it look as though the room was made of light. Regulus also noticed a temperature change, because of all the people there.
He felt a lot of mixed emotions, so he decided to get some snacks. snacks never hurt anyone. The table was located on the side of the room, a perfect place to observe.
Regulus stood there for twenty minutes, just looking at people interacting, happy enough he didn't have to.
“Hello?” A soft voice asked. Regulus turned to look at who was talking to him.
“Hi, uhm, could you maybe pass me the carrots?” Regulus was met with a blonde girl, probably a first year as well.
He passed the carrots to her as he noticed her Ravenclaw tie. “Here for the snacks?” he asked. “Huh? No not really. Why?” the girl asked, she had a soft voice, it sounded ethereal.
“Well, I'm assuming you're not here to support your house.” He gestured at her tie.
“Oh, my friend Dorcas over there invited me. Says I must interact more.” He nodded, “Same here.”
“Well, we've interacted now. I'm Pandora by the way” She said taking a carrot. “Regulus.” he replied, observing the girl.
She had long dirty blonde hair in a loose braid, flyaway strands like they were deliberately misplaced. She was quite short, a bit smaller than Regulus. She was wearing a blue silk knee-length dress with a floral print. She looked adorable.
Regulus was surprised by ow easy they got along. Usually, he would feel the urge to get out of the situation as quickly as possible. He felt the same comfort with Evan and Barty, but that took a few days for him. The atmosphere changed when Pandora walked up to him, calmer than Barty, more joyful than Evan.
They had stood there talking for a while, talking about various subjects. She really was endearing. They were talking when someone came to interrupt them.
“Hey Panda” the girl talked loudly; her voice barely audible because of the music.
“Oh, hey Dorcas!” pandora beamed, “look, I made a friend. You owe me a galleon! Dorcas, this is Regulus. Regulus, Dorcas.” She introduced.
Dorcas was tall, not the lanky way but more the elegant way. He had immediately noticed her unbelievably amazing style. The bright colours contrasting with her dark skin. She had her long hair braided in small sections. She looked like a goddess.
“Hello Regulus, how is your day? Has Pandora not been too much of a burden? Are you tired of her yet?” She threw the questions at him, without any time to reply.
Regulus let out a small laugh “better than I thought, not at all, not in the least.”
“I forgot what questions I asked, to be honest I just hoped you wouldn’t know what to do.” Dorcas Informed him.
People started leaving not long after that, so Regulus decided to go to his dorm as well, saying goodbye to Pandora and Dorcas.
He hadn't expected to have this much fun. Evan and Barty returned not long after that. “Regulus! Where were you?” Barty started, talking way too loudly. Regulus quickly interrupted him for the sake of the dorms close by. “I was talking to some new friends. Thought it'd be fun to replace you two”
Barty murmured something that sounded like “traitor.”
Regulus fell asleep before he could even react.
Friday 15th September
A week had passed since the party, regulus felt a pang of guilt for not reaching out to Pandora.
He waved the thought away. Today was the first flying lesson. It was supposed to be Tuesday, but it got postponed because of the weather. Regulus had looked forward to this day, though he didn't expect to learn anything new. They would be going over the basics, which he -obviously- knew.
When they arrived at the grounds, madam Hooch was already waiting. The brooms lay on the ground. Ready to go. They looked like bad quality, which he thought would be the safest choice for beginners. But he had hoped for something a bit more comfortable.
Everyone lined up next to a broom, and successfully summoned it, only Regulus and two other kids getting it first try.
Hooch explained the basic rules, consisting of taking off, not falling and landing. Easy enough.
They mounted their brooms.
“Now,” madam Hooch spoke “don't get off the ground until I tell you. I will be checking each and everyone's grip and position on the broom. We don't want anyone falling off now.”
“Actually, I think that would be hilarious.” Barty whispered.
“You would think it's hilarious as long as you're not the one falling” Regulus corrected him.
Barty looked over at him “Come on Black, have a little faith in me.”
“Never.”
“Okay, I've checked everyone and gave some help where needed. It is time to slowly take off. I’m going to count down, and you set off from the ground at go. Does everyone understand?”
“Yes, madam Hooch.”
“Three, two, one, go!”
Everyone took off. Regulus being the first one, hovered in the air to see most people struggling, not nearly as steady as him. One student fell off the first second, and as mentioned, Barty was laughing wholeheartedly.
When the students were all safe in the air, Hooch made them do a few steering exercises.
Which was a spectacle to watch, it included a lot of shrieking. But Regulus found it all a bit boring. So, when Hooch told them to start landing, Regulus figured he would have the time to do few quick laps, and land he same time as the rest.
He loved the feeling of the wind through his hair, back at home it was one of his only escapes.
When he landed Madam Hooch was closing the lesson, telling everyone where to put away the brooms.
“You, Mr. Black are coming with me. There's something I need to talk to you about.”
Regulus expected that it was about him 'showing off’ or something. It definitely wasn't what she actually said.
“Regulus, I was very impressed by your performance today. I know this isn't how the rules usually work, but I'd like to give you a spot on the quidditch team. Of course, I'll have to discuss this with miss Vanity, who currently is the captain, and Professor Slughorn; But I think you have nothing to fear, the team is in desperate need of a seeker as the last one graduated last year and as I've seen you fly like some of my fifth years still can't. The only other option would be your cousin, Narcissa Black, but some she won't have much time for training as it is her last year at this school. But I suspect you know that. Nothing is certain yet, but I thought I'd ask you first. In case you wouldn't be open to it.”
Regulus blinked at her. The information slowly sinking in. “No. Yes. I mean I'd love to play on the team. If the team captain and professor Slughorn both agree.”
“I will discuss the matter with them, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Now go get lunch before the food gets taken away.”
“Thank you so much.” Regulus said while turning to go to his friends.
When he walked to the doors of the great hall, he could see a howler setting itself on fire right in front of Sirius, who looked awfully pale. “Just your parents ranting about his detentions” Evan filled in seeing regulus's questioning look as he sat down beside them.
“What happened? Did you get your first detention?” Barty asked, “be careful, before you're the one getting howlers.”
“Oh no, it was nothing like that at all.” Regulus smirked, “Ithink I might have gotten me a place on the quidditch team a year early.”