Mary didn’t plan on going out today. She had a fight with her mum which resulted in her whole mood turning grumpy.
Mary never really fought with her mum, and so when she did it felt horrible.
She really had planned to bail. She and her roommates, Lily and Marlene, had bought a stash of candy and were going to make brownies.
But then, of course, Sirius Black and James Potter wouldn’t have it. As soon as they discovered their plans, they went to their exact dorm and demanded they’d come.
And so, that was how Mary found herself in a room with far more people than she wanted to see on a day like this, sitting beside Lily on a worn out couch.
Lily had a red plastic cup in her hand, trying and succeeding in ignoring James Potter’s watchful gaze.
“You know,” Mary began, staring down at the liquor in her own cup. Some sort of stuff Sirius had shoved in her hand the moment she arrived.
“He really likes you.” She said and watched as Lily’s cheeks painted a pink shade.
“Not again,” she groaned in embarrassment, tugging on one of her red hair strands.
“Lils, he’s dancing right over there, and is still very firm on keeping his eyes on you. Don’t you, I don’t know, you should go and talk to him?”
“I'm not ready to tell him how I feel. You know that.” She breathed out, her emerald eyes hesitant. “And also, I can’t leave you alone.”
“I’m a big girl, and Marls is also here, somewhere anyway.” Mary knocked her shoulder against Lily’s.
“Go over. You don’t have to confess anything. Just talk, or dance, or do whatever.”
“Are you absolutely certain?” Lily asked, and Mary grinned to show her she’ll be okay, even if she didn’t feel that way. Lily deserved to have fun and not sulk around like Mary.
“Okay, fine.” She said, standing up and patting down her dress for any wrinkles.
With a final look towards Mary, Lily descended into the crowd on her way to a beaming James.
Mary rested her red plastic cup near the couch on the floor, before standing up. She needed some air, and it seemed that the balcony would be quite empty. Everyone she knew was in, either drinking or doing some questionable things.
The moment she’d exited to the balcony the cold air hit her, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around herself.
Her dress was long and black, quite casual, with spaghetti straps. The wind blew around, dancing around her curls.
She took a deep breath of the cold air, and as she was about to exhale her gaze met another’s, and she immediately began coughing.
God, this was getting embarrassing.
“Are you alright?” The voice of none other than Regulus Black asked, and Mary nodded awkwardly.
She wasn’t surprised to see him at Sirius’ party, honestly. Sirius has been confined to her a few weeks ago; he was going to try over with his brother; to mend what their parents had so forcibly broken.
He honestly looked much different then the last time she saw him. His hair was slightly more grown out, he was much taller, and oh it’d be a lie to say he wasn’t absolutely hot.
He held a cigarette lazily in one hand, the other tucked in his jeans pocket.
She’s never seen Regulus in jeans, his and Sirius’ mum was always so big on designer clothing.
“What’re you doing out here? The party’s in full swing,” Mary questioned, taking a few steps closer to maintain a somewhat friendly distance, not wanting to stand so far away like a dork.
Regulus shrugged. “Didn’t quite feel like being in. I’m not really a party’s person.”
He said and Mary nodded understandably.
“Why are you out here, though? You’ve always been keen on parties.” He said, and that was the moment Mary realized something.
He’s always been around, she just never truly noticed. It seemed during their school days he just kind of faded into the background, as he was younger and a quiet kid.
Well, Regulus had grown, and now seems much more self assured. The fact he noticed her back then made a warm feeling settle in her belly.
“I was,” she agreed. “Still am, really, today’s just kind of a shitty day.”
Regulus hummed, his voice deep and the only sound, except for the faint music in the background.
His eyes scanned Mary, for perhaps the first time that night, and when his gaze reached hers she’d held his eyes.
This felt charged, different. She’s had a few boyfriends before, sure, but none looked at her in that curious way Regulus just did.
Mary was no stranger to this feeling, this tension; there was, what she’d call, some sort of attraction between them.
“You know, I used to like you.” Regulus didn’t avert his gaze as he spoke.
Mary blinked. Once. Twice.
“You what?” She asked, worried she’s misunderstood.
“Used to like you.” He repeated helpfully.
“I.. when?!”
“.. no.”
“What do you mean, no?”
“It's humiliating.”
Mary reached and swatted at his arm playfully, “Reggieee—“
“Don’t call me that—“
“Tell me and I’ll stop, Reggie.”
“Fine! God, you’re just like Sirius. Well, it began in my tenth year.” He confessed, and Mary’s eyes widened.
“Holy shit, dude,” with her mouth slightly agape, she stared at him.
His cheeks darkened to a light pink, visible in the dark due to his pale skin, and he sighed.
“Don't act so surprised, would you?” He asked and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I am, though! We’ve, no offense, ever really interacted.” Mary said and chuckled lightly, just to show there were no hard feelings.
“Still. You always seemed so.. confident and assured of yourself, and I admired those qualities.”
“You can admire someone’s personality and not like them. There must be another reason.”
Regulus took a drag from his cigarette, as if preparing himself.
“You’ve always seemed to kind of.. be there for people. Reliable. I’ve taken to watching you from a distance. Not in a stalking sort of way, I can already hear your teasing, but just keeping an eye on how you were keeping stuff up.”
“You seemed like someone fierce. Strong spirited.” He shook his head, as if he was trying to stop himself from talking.
“And, well, you probably already know this but you’re stupidly attractive.” He said, and Mary’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline.
At Mary’s expression, he rolled his eyes. “What? You asked what made me like you.”
“I— you, you said I’m attractive. As in, you still think that way, not something of the past.”
His lips parted slightly agape. “O-Oh.”
Mary took a step closer. He did too.
Before she could even blink, they were standing right in front of each other, their breaths mingling.
“I think you’re attractive too.”
“Do you, now,”
She nodded. He lowered his head slightly more towards her, and Mary, ever so impatient, pulled him right into a kiss.
She didn’t know what this would turn out to be, but at that moment she just knew she wanted to kiss him.