Chapter 1
“Mary, may I ask you a question?” Remus inquired as he casually read through his book.
Mary and Remus sat at the library, studying for their History of Magic quiz that was bound to take place in just a few days.
It was rare when they went to the library by themselves without Lily and Marlene, but it was a Sunday and a hogsmeade trip. Both girls had gone on dates with their partners, leaving Remus and Mary alone.
She’s tried asking why won’t Remus go out with Sirius, as she’s known they’ve been seeing one another for quite some time after catching them kissing by the greenhouses (she’s never seen Remus so red before), but he only shrugged.
Now, she knew she’ll discover why he hasn’t chosen to go out.
“Yes,” she said with an equally innocent tone, not bothering to glance up at him from her piece of parchment, her hand moving rapidly with the quill.
“You’ve been spending quite some time with Regulus, haven’t you?” He questioned, and Mary’s hand froze almost immediately.
She took an extra second to peek up at him.
“Well,” she croaked out, before clearing her throat. “He is my potions tutor, of course I am. You know my grades in potions are shite.”
“Bollocks,” Remus dismissed Mary’s very valid reasoning.
Regulus truly did start torturing her just two months before. She’s been struggling in Potions, and after Slughorn has given her hell of a conversation about how she mustn’t fail the upcoming NEWTs, he recommended a potions tutor for her.
As fate would have it, she’s had absolutely no clue she’ll be getting tutored from someone a year younger, and that younger student being Sirius’ brother!
Before Mary could begin her much obvious daydreaming, Remus spoke again. “I’ve seen you two chatting in the corridors a few times, and he's never been much irritated. He actually tolerates you, unlike some others.”
“Okay, but—“ she tried slinging a word in, but he wasn’t finished.
“You always look out for him during meals when you think no one’s noticing. And, let’s be real, he does the exact same. Dorcas told me.”
Mary sighed heavily, a light blush dusting her cheeks. She resisted the urge to sink in her chair, and tried to think of every possible excuse.
The silence between them stretched. Mary, fidgeting with her fingers and urging her brain to come up with something believable that won’t expose her growing feelings to the Black Heir, and Remus, watching her like a hawk.
“What are you trying to say?” She muttered, her voice small.
Remus’ hand reached over and rested comfortingly on her shoulder. “Do you perhaps happen to have feelings for him?”
Mary nodded bravely. Fuck it, she thought, he noticed anyway. There’s no reason to hide it.
Remus’ eyes widened ever so slightly. “You.. you must know Regulus and Sirius’ relationship is quite complicated, right?”
Regulus had only told her small bits and pieces, during one of his many prefect patrols she’s joined.
She doesn’t really know how she started joining him for his patrols.
One time he asked for her to come, as he wanted to explain something to her to do with Potions and they didn’t have enough time during their tutoring session, and from then on she’s just found herself joining him and seeking his company.
Lily, of course, being head girl, would always notice, but never comment on it. It made Mary immensely grateful she got to keep that special thing between them just theirs for longer.
It was still too delicate, too early to actually tell Regulus how she feels, and oh does Mary feel. She feels stuff fast and intensely, and yet with Regulus it feels as though she has all the time in the world.
“Yes,” Mary said, and Remus squeezed her shoulder.
Sirius was one of Mary’s best friends, she would never hurt him willingly. But truly, she has no control over how he may react.
“Does Sirius suspect this too?” Mary mumbled.
Remus bit his bottom lip, hesitating ever so slightly before nodding. “Only a bit.”
“Will you.. will you tell him?”
“No. That’s for you to tell. Does Regulus himself know you feel that way?”
Mary shook her head. “Merlin,” she mumbled, her fingers still holding onto one another.
“Will you ever tell him..?”
“Not now, but yes. I do want to tell him. Even if he doesn’t feel the same way.” Mary’s hands finally set apart, her hand moving to twirl around one of her curls.
“You should tell Sirius, too, if something happens with you two. He’d be upset to know you kept this type of thing from him.” Remus advised, and Mary flinched.
“He’d be mad, won’t he?” She asked miserably.
“I don’t know, Mary,” his hand left her shoulder.
Mary nodded.
What are the chances Regulus will feel the same way, anyway?