Not made for love

Regulus doesn't really know why he's been made Prefect. He's not a bad student by any means. His grades are exceptional, like expected of the Black heir, almost always O's except in Transfiguration where he has an E, much to his mothers disappointment.

But well, he knows what some of his housemates do and say to other students, especially Mulciber and Avery and he has never tried to actively stop them. He doesn't join when they call muggleborns slurs or hex them, but he does sometimes stand by them just to appease his mother a little. His housemates have the habit of sometimes snitching to her, so he's just always been careful with what he does and say.

And even though Dumbledores never said anything to them Regulus is quite sure that he knows of everything going on in the castle, which means also of Regulus' bystandings.

Regulus assumes his father had pulled a few strings. There are advantages in being a member of the Black family after all. 

But as he walks through the train Regulus is not thankful for it. Being a Prefect just meant more stress and sleepless nights for him and possibly an annoying partner, which is very likely as there are only five people in this world who don't. Barty, Evan, Pandora, Dorcas and his favorite cousin Narcissa.

He doesn't look around when he enters the compartment, just heads straight for a empty spot as far away from the other people as possible. The people here don't matter to him, he won't talk with any of them unless he has to. That's his plan and as he looks around he realizes that won't be a problem at all. No one here really wants to talk to him as far as he knows. Remus Lupin, Lily Evans, Percival Parkinson and of course Head boy and girl Frank Longbottom and Alice Fortescue. He didn't bother remembering the names of the others.

"Alright, now that we're all here," Fortescue says with a shrap look at him which he completely ignores. They should be glad he came at all. He blends out the endless talk of how to be a good Prefect, until-

"Frank and I thought it'd be nice to mix up the houses a little, Dumbledore wholeheartly supports that suggestion"

Regulus closes his eyes defeated. Great, just great. Of course the old bastard would like that. Knowing his luck he'll have to control corridors once a week with a Gryffindor. Why does the universe hate him? He could have worked fine with Parkinson. Percival may be a bit of an idiot, but he knows how to keep his mouth shut and also how much Regulus despises when people talk to him. So yes, he would have accepted that match just fine.

"Also we thought the it would be better if we paired older Prefects with the younger ones, so you can all have some sort of mentor," Longbottom adds.

He opens his eyes again silently cursing his father for getting him this place.

Fortescue waves her wand and their names appear on a wall. "Now we will shuffle this and it will show you your partner."

Regulus has to give it to her that's a nice piece of magic.

With a wave of her wand the names start to fly around wildly until they settle in pairs of two. Regulus searches for his name.

Well fuck.

Totally proves his theory of the universe hating him.

Of course it had to be him.

Remus fucking Lupin.

Why couldn't it have been anyone else? He'd even take Evans. But no, it had to be one of his brothers idiot friends. He doesn't know Lupin -except from Sirius endless storys about him-, he'd even go as far as saying he respects Lupins wits and cleverness. The only problem, every word he'll ever utter, everything he'll do will most likely be reported right back to Sirius and Salazar knows Sirius knows enough about him as it is.

He supresses the urge to just walk away, he knows he'll have to talk to Lupin a some point. Why not get it over with now?

He takes a second to control his facial expression, to stuff away his emotions. A practical thing he's perfected over the years. Then he walks over to Lupin, who looks surprised when he sees Regulus coming. Regulus supposes even Lupin knows he doesn't usually talk to people a lot.

"Lupin."

"Regulus," Lupins face is constrained. Regulus couldn't help but feel satisfied with the reaction. If Lupin doesn't like him, then he most likely won't talk to him. He couldn't care less if there is an awkward atmosphere between them, as long as he gets his peace and quiet.

Making sure his face is still impassive he says, "I can't patrol on Saturdays. Ever. The rest I don't care about, choose the time you like."

Lupins jaw clenches but he nods. "We'll take Wednesdays. I'll talk to Alice and Frank."

Regulus gives him a purposeful scornful look. "Sure, we're done here then."

He turns around not waiting for an answer, he talked enough to Lupin for this week.

Tired and annoyed he finds his way back to his friends. Dorcas and Barty still seem to be arguing while Pandora and Evan talk quietly. He sits down next to Dorcas and basically collapses onto her shoulder. She responds immediatley, stroking through his hair, massaging his nape. He only lets her do that and she's so, so great and calming him down.

"That bad huh?" 

"I have to patrol with Lupin, Something about inter house connections being made." He closes his eyes. "Morons"

"I know you don't like any of your brothers friends, but Lupin's alright. He reminds me of you sometimes when he reads or talks. i think you'd actually get along just fine."

Barty frowns. "Don't infect him with your new found Gryffindorness. Listen Reggie, if you want him to have an accident that prevents him from doing Prefect rounds just say the word."

" Shut up Junior, I'm not infecting anyone!"

Barty looks serious and Regulus knows that he would not hesitate to actually do it for him. Or for his own interests.

"I suppose that won't be necessary. I've found out Lupin doesn't like me either, we can just dislike each other mutually."

At least that's what he desperately wishes, because if not those will be verry long nights, He doesn't really want to be on Lupins bad side, he's seen what he can do with those fists and he's not keen on testing it anytime soon.

"Even if the Wolf and the Dog are closer, sometimes a cat can be one of their close companions," Dora suddenly speaks up.

Regulus frowns. He's known about Lupins little problem since his 2nd Year and if he assumes correctley he's the cat. It's his Patronus after all. But who's the Dog? And what does she mean 'close companions'? 

 "Put that overly active brain of yours to use later. We're almost at Hogwarts, another year. Yay." Evan deadpans.

"Come on Rosie! This will be our year, I can feel it," says Barty. Evan blushes at the nickname like he always does.

"You say that very year, Junior" 

"Yeah well this time I'm right!"

Pandora starts laughing suddenly. "I love you guys! I'm so glad I met you."

And just like that everyone was smiling.

Regulus doesn't know what the future holds for him, but he will enjoys his last semster of freedom to the fullest, with his family. Not Lupin, his brother or the dark shadow looming over the Christmas break can take this from him.

"Hey Dora, you still have some of those great mushrooms from last year. You know the night we all don't remember?" Barty asks with a troublesome smile on his face.

Pandora just grins and pulls out a bag from under her robes.

Dorcas laughs, "Oh hell yeah! Let's start this fucking school year!"