Watch your back
"Just a delivery, personally, I have no business with you."
Severus handed over a book. Glossy yet worn-looking, it was all black leather bound with golden thread. Green gems bore on the spine trailing down to the very bottom. Dark arts. Regulus didn't need to be a genius to figure that out.
He pretended to flip the book around for a title, looking it over as if he'd never seen such a book before. "from whom, may I ask?"
Severus paused, mulling over the apparent stupid question. "you know who."
Regulus nodded, looking back down at the book. "so be it then, thank you"
Fuck, fuck, fuck, already? really? It was so soon...because Sirius was gone. Was it him? or...him? Maybe it was just his mother, trying to make sure he was well-studied, or maybe it was...the Dark lord himself taking an unprompted interest, all the same, he stared at the book with a mix of hatred and resolve.
Severus waded around in the common room for a moment more, perhaps he wanted to say more, maybe he felt guilty, but regardless he walked away having said nothing else.
Regulus was left alone with the book, stuck staring at it. Did he open it now? Later? If he opened it now would he look too eager but if he waited would he be seen as a coward? What would his father say? What would Sirius think? Why did he care, Sirius was the reason he was stuck in this mess at all-he shouldn't call it that, he wanted to be a death eater, it was a high honor, a duty he had as the heir to the black family, he was...he was...he had to, no matter what, no matter the feelings he had, he needed to. Evan would be a death eater, as would Barty and Mongrove, and everyone else he knew...he just had to be the best of them all.
At some point he fell asleep there on the floor, clutching the book to his chest, quilt long since forgotten at his knees.
He awoke to the sound of chatter around the common room, a few familiar voices above him. "Reg? Are you good? Have a bit of fun yourself last night? You look like hell mate"
Regulus groggily waved him off, shaking the sleep from his head as he sat up, the book still in hand. "No. im fine, I need to change..." The sticky feeling of cold sweat under his uniform made him want to squirm. "and shower" he looked like he had joined Evan last night. He wished he had.
Evan shouted something after him about breakfast but he wasn't hungry. He ignored any hello's and good mornings he got until he felt a presence looming over him from behind, he'd just gotten to the door of his room, about to open it. "I see you had a late night. Good, a hard worker. Don't push yourself too much, though, I'd like you wide awake when I send for you"
Regulus whipped around to see the blonde already walking away. Lucius Malfoy...he sent the book? Of course...he ran all the aerans for the dark lord right now, hed gotten his mark a few weeks before Severus and Amile...so this was official? He was in this, no more waiting around, no more wondering...no more second thoughts. He doesn't reply, he doesn't need to.
The shower was cold and it did nothing for his already clammy skin, but he wasn't showering for comfort, he just needed to get it done, he just needed to clean off. The scent of his shampoo didn't please him as usual.
He picked out a new shirt, a vest, pants, and a tie from his trunk. The chest was decked out in Slytherin patterns of green and white, with silver details. For some reason, he didn't feel any joy seeing it, it'd been a gift from his mother over the winter break. Everything she'd ever gifted him was practical, never frivolous, but always pretty and well crafted. It could last him a lifetime, but he'd probably only use it for a year, he'd get a new one the coming Christmas with the new style she liked best. She always had an opinion on what he wore, how he wore it, and how it made the family look. He'd get a thousand new things throughout his life, but he had a few objects he kept, secret and special he tucked away from her prying eyes and opinions.
By the time he got his clothes together, he was already running late. He grabbed his bag, brown leather with gold-coated silver straps, and a few books he remembered needing before rushing out of the dormitory. He walked briskly but never ran, it looked too rushed, too hasty, and a Black never walked with haste, he walked with purpose. The only purpose he could think of right now was not being late.
-
A Black must never be late, never too early either. Just right on time. The words of his father echoed in his mind as he just made the 8 am bells, sliding into History of magic. He took his seat next to Evan, eyeing the bit of parchment he was doodling on.
Regulus nudged him, urging him to pay attention, they didn't need to lose any house points this late into the year. Evan gave him an exasperated look but conceded for the time being.
"You're almost late"
"Shut up"
"Why? afraid to lose house points? You're such a suck-up sometimes sometimes Reg..."
"Evan"
A wand slamming on their desk made them both look up. "Something so important must be shared with the class don't you think? Tell me boys, what is so important you must speak over my lesson?"
Evan opened his mouth but Regulus spoke quicker, folding his hands on his lap with his nerves. "nothing Professor, we're sorry for interrupting."
Evan looked like he was gagging at the thought. Professor Binns floated back to his desk, continuing to drone on as he had been before. "sorry, quick thinking is all, you know how he is, he's about the only person dead or alive who likes this class" Regulus muttered, Eavn shrugging glancing over. "Traitor. Im not sorry at all" he laughed, enjoying the blank annoyed look on Regulus' face. Regulus rolled his eyes, dipping his quill to take some half-decent notes. It's not that Histroy of magic was boring exactly, it was just being taught by a dead man that brought the mood down.
-
The dismissal of class felt like a heaven Regulus wasn't sure he believed in, but when it finally came, he thanked Merlin he was still alive to see it. Half the class was spent taking notes and the older half was an exam. Binns always knew how to make a student wish they were dead but remind them that wasn't an excuse for tardiness all at the same time.
"I swear I felt like that was never going to end! I should have never scheduled this for the morning, I was practically falling asleep!" Evan walked up from behind him, joining Regulus to his next class.
"Well you usually do, so your staying awake at all is an improvement if you ask...me"
A voice cut through the halls ringing in Regulus' ears as if itd been much louder than it really was. "Prongs! Don't lie to me like that! you know I rock this look!" Sirius Orion Black, in the flesh, hair long past his shoulders, waving in a manner he could only achieve by brushing out his lovely curls. He had his Gryffindor tie wrapped around his head as he hung on James Potter like he was drunk. "Pads, you know id never lie to you love-but that is not the look for you!" that laugh, it made Regulus want to throw up. It was so bright, so intruding like it drew him in and almost made him think he was a part of the joke too, as if.
Evan took notice and grasped Regulus' arm, tugging him along. "ignore him, he looks like an idiot" and yet he couldn't rip his eyes away, he must have looked some brand of kicked puppy because when his eyes met Sirius' they went from annoyed, to confused to that disgusting concerned look. "Reg?" Sirius detached from James maneuvering through the crow
d of passing students to come right up to them. "Reggie? What...Are you alright?" Evans' hand tugged harder snapping him out of whatever look he was giving. "im fine. What do you and your brother want?" James had joined Sirius a moment before, sharing his overzealous concern.
"what? Are you kidding me? That's what I get? We don't talk for months and all you have to say is-" James did the first smart thing all morning and pulled Sirius back, dragging him back a few feet. "let's just go Pads, he's fine, clearly" Sirius scoffed, turning on his heels to join the rest of his gaggle at the end of the hall, Regulus followed suit and met his own friends at the bottom of the staircase.
Barty looked the two of them up and down before commenting. "So im assuming this has something to do with the Potter brothers?" Evan glared but subsided into a nod. "leave it be Barty" Regulus shrugged off his hand walking past his friends to go up the staircase. "im fine, we're gonna be late" Regulus led the group up the stairs ignoring all comments or concerns from the group.
When the Charms classroom came into view, Barty and Mongrove broke off, waving as they continued on to their own class, Evan and Caius followed Regulus inside.
"Don't let him bother you Reg, he's a waste of time. You know that. Besides, I heard from Monny that you got a new book, good on you, im hoping for something by the summer, but of course, the pride and joy of our house was the first pick" Caius thought he was encouraging, reminding Regulus of the good things they were all sure of...but he'd only opened a new door of anxiety for the youngest Black.
"people know? who knows?"
Evan nudged Caius to sit down to the left of him as he took the seat next to Regulus. "Nobody who wouldn't already and We will not be spreading it around. Promise"
Regulus nodded, looking over at Caius. "it's an honor...im just not sure im ready...I wanna be my best when I meet him. im not sure hed be pleased with me if he met me now"
Caius scoffed, looking at Regulus like he'd grown a second head. "are you kidding? Mate, you outdo us all in every subject, he's gonna love you!"
Regulus fought the urge to recoil from the statement, it was a high compliment, so why didn't he feel like it was?
When Charms started, he was grateful for a good distraction, that was until Lucius Malfoy walked into the room.