It was only the second week of Regulus' second term of university. It was only the second week of his new science class. It was only a half-year choice elective.
And yet, Regulus failed his first assessment of the class, his first failing grade. He didn't even know how it happened. He studied the same as he always did, barely. He spent the same time taking the test he always did, under fifteen minutes. He went in without any more anxiety than some sweaty palms from the tightness of the grip around his pencil.
It was fine. Or supposed to be.
But the large failing mark in bright red pen practically cast a light across the dark classroom and all Regulus could think about was what was going to happen once his parents saw it. Would they pull him out of the class? Of univeristy? Would they put him in a higher class just to see him struggle further? Would they make him do nothing but study for the very class every minute until his next exam?
"Just don't tell them," Barty said lazily, propping his feet up on the coffee table in front of the common room sofa. His bookbag was collapsed over in the middle of the floor with papers falling out of it and decorating the floor. Regulus did everything he could to ignore the forensics test sheet with an almost perfect score being the top of the stack of papers.
"You know I can't do that," He sighed and sat uncomfortably beside Barty. "They have all my schedules and everything so they know I had the exam today and they always ask for pictures of the paper... God, they're going to kill me."
Evan placed a supportive hand on his shoulder from over the couch while Regulus leaned forward with his head in his hands. “Mate, it’s just one test. It’s not the end of the world. You’ll bounce back.”
Regulus shook his head. “You don’t understand. They expect perfection. They didn’t even want me coming here unless I could prove I was worth it. This is- this is proof I’m not.”
Barty, who never took to being the practical one, spoke up when he realized how important it was to him. Coming from similar homes does that to people. “You’re blowing this out of proportion, Reg. It’s one test. You’ll figure it out. We’ve all had bad days.”
The door opened and closed loudly. “You know what? You should go talk to Professor Ludden." Pandora called out, joining into the conversation as she walked through the door, arms full of books and papers. "I went to see him the day before the test because I knew I was gonna bomb it otherwise, and he was actually super helpful. He went over everything with me and gave me tips for the next one.”
Regulus looked skeptical. “I don’t know. What if he thinks I’m not cut out for this class?”
Pandora simply waved off his fear and smiled casually. “He won’t. Seriously, he’s nice. I was terrified to go, but he actually cares if we do well. Just give it a shot.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” Dorcas spoke up from a spot on the floor. She had been chatting with Marlene while doing their homework and no one knew she had been listening. After realizing that she had gathered all her friends' attention, she hesistated before contining. “I took his class last term and went to his office once... and I don’t know. He just gave me this weird vibe. Like, he was too nice. It was kind of creepy, honestly.”
“What do you mean by weirdvibe?” Pandora frowned. However, she was less concerned about if he had been creepy towards her during her session without noticing and instead was more worried that her friend had been referring to him the same way that everyone had described her to have a weird vibe growing up.
Dorcas shrugged, her tone uneasy. “I can’t explain it. He was... I don’t know, just off. Like he was being overly friendly in a way that didn’t feel professional.”
“Great. So now I can’t go because my teacher is nice because that's the worst thing in the world for a teacher to be.” Regulus groaned and tilted his head back against the neck of the couch, rubbing his temples at the situation.
Marlene crossed her arms and sat up more at the seriousness of the situation. “Look, I get it, 'Cas, but I really think you’re overthinking it. Professor Ludden was fine when I went last term. He helped me pull my grade up. Reggie, you should go.” Dorcas shook her head but didn’t press the issue.
Regulus' phone ringing broke the silence of him deciding. After an unneeded glance at the caller ID, he stood up abruptly, clutching the test paper. “I don’t have a choice. I’ll go tomorrow. I have to fix this.”
After all, nothing could be as scary as facing his parents.
-
The following class had ended, and the sound of shuffling papers and murmured conversations filled the room as students began to file out. Regulus stayed in his seat, clutching his notebook tightly. He watched as Professor Ludden organized his papers at the desk, humming softly to himself.
Regulus took a deep breath and stood, his legs feeling like they might give out under him. He doesn't ask for help. “Professor Ludden?” he called hesitantly.
The older man looked up, his face breaking into a warm smile that penetrated through his brown mustache. “Ah, Mr. Black, isn’t it? How can I help you?”
Regulus shifted awkwardly, glancing at the door as the last of the students left, including his friends who tossed him a supportive grin. “I- uh- I wanted to talk to you about the test. I didn’t do so well, and I’m just... struggling to figure out how to improve.”
“I’m really glad you came to talk to me. Most students don’t take the initiative, but that’s the kind of thing that shows real determination.” Professor Ludden’s smile widened, and he gestured to the seat at the front row. Regulus felt a small flicker of relief and shuffled to the front, sitting down as the professor leaned against the desk. “Let me see your test,”
Regulus passed it to him, feeling a lump form in his throat as the red marks came into view again. He felt weirdly vulnerable showing his terrible grade to a professional in the subject as if he hadn't been the one to grade it less than two days ago.
The professor scanned the paper, his expression thoughtful. “Okay, let’s break this down. First off, I can see you understand the basics, but there are a few key concepts you’re missing. That’s fixable. You’re not hopeless, Regulus. Far from it.”
Something in the way he said it, so firm and certain, made Regulus feel lighter. Ludden seemed to just know exactly what he needed to hear, his parents had called him hopeless more times than he could count on his hands. Even just getting the time of day was more than they do. Except for when they're making sure that he's doing everything up to their standards. “Thanks,” he murmured.
Over the next half hour, Professor Ludden walked Regulus through the test, pointing out things he had done well and not so well and offering strategies for improvement. He used a mix of encouragement and constructive criticism, always ending with something positive.
“You’ve got a good head on your shoulders,” Ludden said at one point. “You just need to trust yourself more. And remember, I’m here to help you. I want you to succeed.”
Regulus looked up, meeting his teacher's eyes. He was startled by how much he believed him for once. His parents had never said anything like that, not like this, at least. Ludden seemed genuinely invested in him, and it was... strange. Not in a bad way, though. It felt like he was important, like someone finally saw potential in him beyond just expectations.
When the session ended, the professor leaned back and smiled. “How are you feeling now?”
“Better,” Regulus admitted. “I mean, I definitely need to be putting a lot more work into this, but... yeah. Thanks, Professor.”
“You’re welcome,” Ludden said warmly. “And Regulus? Don’t hesitate to come back if you need anything, anything at all. My door is always open.”
Regulus nodded, gripping his notebook tightly. As he left the corridor, his heart felt a little lighter.
He wandered past his dormitory with his desire to learn still at its peak. The library still had a few more hours before closing down for the night, so Regulus entered. It was unusually quiet, barely anyone in the vast open space but he still took his regular seat in the back and checked out a handful of books on forensics.
The library remained nearly silent for the rest of the night, save for the faint hum of the overhead lights and the scratch of Regulus’ pen against his notebook. He had been there for hours, pouring over textbooks and notes, determined to make sense of everything Professor Ludden had explained earlier. The world outside had faded away, replaced by laws, theories, and a growing pile of reference books.
He didn’t realize how deeply he’d sunk into his study haze until the sound of the library door slamming open startled him. Regulus looked up, blinking at the sudden noise in the otherwise empty space. A figure stumbled in, clutching at the back of a chair a few rows away to steady himself. It took Regulus a moment to register who it was.
James.
Probably the only person Regulus hated more than his older brother. He wanted to call out for him to get lost or at least put his head down and leave before being noticed, but something about him caught his eye first.
James was breathing hard, his shoulders rising and falling with each labored gasp. His usually cocky, too-cool-for-this demeanor was gone, replaced by a pale, panicked expression that Regulus had never seen before. He had also never seen him alone until know, practically always being followed by his friends or his girl of the week.
For a moment, Regulus considered ignoring him. It wasn’t like James deserved his help. But as James' breathing grew faster and more uneven, Regulus sighed, closing his book with a quiet thud and standing up.
“Hey,” he said, keeping his voice calm as he approached. “Are you... okay?”
James didn’t answer, his eyes darting around the room like he was searching for an exit that wasn’t there. Regulus recognized the signs; shaking hands, shallow breathing, the wild, frantic look in his eyes. He was having a panic attack. Regulus put aside the utter shock that filled him and decided he had to do something.
He sighed again, this time softer, and stepped closer. “James, you’re fine. You’re safe. Just sit down, okay?” Regulus gently guided him into a chair, kneeling in front of the boy to meet his eye level.
“Listen to me,” Regulus said, his tone steady the way he had been taught to lead. “Take a deep breath. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Like this.”
He demonstrated, inhaling slowly and exhaling just as slowly.
James tried to mimic him but faltered, his breath catching in his throat. Regulus reached out, resting a hand on the table near him, not making any actual contact, but close enough to ground him. “It’s okay. You’re okay. Just keep trying.”
After a few minutes of coaxing, James' breathing started to even out. His hands stopped shaking, though he still looked dazed and uneasy.
“There you go,” Regulus said quietly. “You’re fine now. Just take it slow.”
James swallowed hard, leaning back in the chair and closing his eyes. For a moment, they sat in silence, the tension in the room easing slightly. The time gave Regulus the oppertunity to think back to his his experience with this. He had only ever had one, a handful of years ago that he could only remember the fact he had one. That was long after he'd learned how to help with it, though. That had been for his brother. He had only been six or seven when Sirius sat down beside him after a terrible screaming match between their parents and he was wheezing and shaking in a way Regulus had never seen before. It was only a day later that Sirius had entered his room and done countless trials on what Regulus should do when that happens. And from then on, he was there after every fight to help him.
Regulus waited before asking, “What happened? Why were you-”
“Nothing, I don’t want to talk about it,” James said quickly, as if he'd been waiting the entire time for when he would get asked. His voice was hoarse but firm despite the tears that pooled in his eyes.
Regulus frowned but didn’t push. “Okay. Fine. Just... next time, maybe find someone before you spiral this bad, yeah?”
James opened his eyes and looked at Regulus for the first time. Likely ever. “Why’d you even help me?”
“Believe me, I’m asking myself the same question.” Regulus snorted. James' lips twitched like he wanted to smile but couldn’t quite manage it. He mumbled something incoherent but Regulus assumed it to be some sort of gratitude. Regulus flashed him a quick smile before standing up and returning to his table. He settled into his seat, opening his notebook again, but his mind was no longer on his studies. He couldn’t help but wonder what had pushed James into that state, and why helping him hadn’t felt as satisfying as it should have.
-
Every day after class for the next week, Regulus stayed behind to attend Professor Ludden’s extra help sessions. At first, it was just him and the professor going over material, reviewing concepts, working through potential problems, and preparing for the upcoming test. Each session seemed to flow a little more easily than the last.
Ludden always greeted him warmly, his enthusiasm a constant presence. “Mr. Black! You’re here again. That’s the kind of dedication I like to see,” he’d say, his tone as encouraging as ever. Regulus couldn’t deny it, he was making progress. He could feel his confidence growing with every solved problem, every clarified concept. But there was something else, too. Something harder to define. The way Professor Ludden spoke to him felt... different.
“You’re doing great,” Ludden would say, his voice softer than necessary. “You know, Reggie, I don’t say this often, but you’re one of the students I really believe in. You’re special.”
The words filled a space Regulus didn’t even know was empty. His parents had never been the type to praise him, always looking for something to get him in trouble for. And hearing it now, hearing it so often, felt like fuzzy warmth spreading over his heart. It was nice, even if it occasionally felt a little over-the-top.
"Bye Mr. Ludden, thank you!" Regulus called out as he started for the door at the end of their session. This one had ran over his usual office hours, they had switched from the half an hour after Regulus' class and before his next to after his last class of the day for more time.
"Wait, you can call me Garrett. No need for formality between us,” Ludden said with a smile. “We’re practically friends now, don’t you think?”
Regulus hesitated but nodded. “Sure... Garrett.”
The familiarity was strange but harmless, at least, that’s what Regulus told himself.
He was on his way back to his common room late that night and wasn't paying any attention to where he was headed. He'd assumed no one else would be walking around this late, especially in the dark. So it took a little longer for him to realize that there were voices coming from in front of him. He couldn't see anyone coming through the darkness until he was around the corner and someone had collided directly into him.
Once they were inches apart Regulus could finally make out who he was looking at. They had the same eyes, same messy curls, but the ones in front of him were longer. Sirius.
"What are you doing walking around so late?" he interrogated.
"I'm just studiyng, what are you doing?" Regulus replied.
"None of your business," Sirius spat with a scoff.
"Oh, so I owe you an explaination but me even wondering where you might be is completely unthinkable of me. I am an adult, you know." Regulus countered quickly. He didn't even actually care why his brother was out this late, he just wanted to get back to his dorm before Dorcas berated him for coming back this late again for getting tutored.
Regulus could feel his brother's eye roll at his defensive remark but he still didn't turn around once he stepped past him. "Some things are actually important and not something I'll just tell whoever asks." Sirius said bitterly.
Whoever asks. Regulus was just a whoever to his own brother. But he figured it was best to not even entertain Sirius' fight so he just kept walking until he was back in his common room.
Evan was still awake, lying across the couch with his feet in Pandora's lap. She had dozed off lightly against the opposite end of the couch. But woke back up at the closing of the door. "How'd it go?" She asked as he tossed his books onto the table.
"Good, the usual." Regulus said briefly. He wasn't sure why, but he didn't really want to talk about his time with Professor Ludden. They were just studying, but it almost felt like he was sneaking out of his dorm to get help and sneaking back in when they studied for so long they lost track of time. But they were just studying, right? They hadn't done anything but learn and for some weird reason, it almost made him uncomfortable. But being with Ludden didn't do that, that was normal teacher-student learning. Right? Right.
The day before the test, Regulus arrived at the session feeling more prepared than ever. But as he worked through practice problems with Ludden, a nagging anxiety began to creep in. “I’m just worried I’ll mess up again,” Regulus admitted, tapping his pen nervously against his notebook.
Ludden smiled, his expression full of reassurance. “You won’t. You’ve put in the work, Reg. You’ve got this.”
Regulus nodded, though his stomach still churned now with the potential of not only letting his parents down but now his own teacher. He hunched over the desk, scribbling in his notebook as Garrett moved behind him.
“You need to relax,” the professor said suddenly, his voice low and soothing. His voice turned gravelly and he spoke slowly, dragging out his statement. Before Regulus could process the words or their delivery, he felt hands on his shoulders.
Regulus froze.
Ludden’s hands kneaded gently, his thumbs pressing into the tense muscles concealed by his jumper. “See? You’re all knotted up. You’re working too hard.”
Regulus’ breath hitched, and a cold wave of unease washed over him. His mind raced as he tried to rationalize what was happening. Maybe this was normal? Maybe he was overthinking it? He was an adult and a man. But no matter how much he tried to convince himself, he couldn’t shake the feeling crawling under his skin.
“I- uh- I think I should go,” Regulus stammered, pulling away and standing up abruptly.
Ludden looked greatly surprised, his hands falling to his sides. “Oh, of course,” he said, his tone light but his smile unreadable. “Don’t worry, Mr. Black. You’re ready for the test. I have no doubt you’ll do great.”
Regulus nodded quickly, gathering his things and heading for the door. As he stepped out into the hallway, the cool air hit his face, and he realized he was shaking. He tried to brush it off, but the discomfort lingered, a gnawing sensation that refused to let go. He wasn't sure if Professor Ludden had done it on purpose, to switch from his first name and a handful of nicknames and back to his last name with that distant feeling, like he barely even knew who he was talking to.
He had been made uncomfortable... why did he feel like he needed to get close to him again? Just to prove himself. To earn his spot back. Why was it so important to happen with Garrett?
-
Regulus stared at the red marks littered across the every page of his test paper. The low mark stared back at him once again, barely better than his first exam. His hands tightened around the edges, crumpling it slightly, as his stomach twisted. The weeks of late-night studying, the tutoring sessions, and the endless self-doubt, it had all only led to this. He felt hollow.
He barely registered the shuffle of students leaving the classroom, their muffled conversations blending into a meaningless hum.
“Regulus,” The professor’s voice cut through the haze that the test was surrounding him in, gentle but firm. Regulus looked up to see him standing by his desk, gesturing for him to come over to him and stay behind. Reluctantly, Regulus made his way to the front of the room, the test paper still clutched in his hand. Professor Ludden studied him for a moment, his brow furrowing. “Rough day?”
Regulus let out a humorless laugh. “Something like that.”
“I know that you have been putting in the work, you're doing well in our preparations.” Ludden said, leaning back against the desk. “I can tell. But sometimes... well, sometimes it’s not about how hard you try.”
Regulus bristled at the words, his frustration boiling over. “Then what’s it about? Luck? Magic?”
The professor raised his hands in a placating gesture. “Calm down, Reggie. I’m just saying, sometimes our minds are too full to focus. Maybe you’ve got other things on your plate, things distracting you.”
Regulus frowned. “I don’t have time for distractions. I need to pass.”
The professor nodded slowly, a knowing look in his eyes. “I’ve been there. Back when I was your age, I thought I could juggle everything too. Thought I had to.” He chuckled lightly, though there was a hint of something heavier behind it. “Turns out, I wasn’t as invincible as I thought.”
Regulus hesitated, catching the faint vulnerability in the professor’s voice. For a brief moment, he wondered what the slightly older man had gone through, what failures or regrets had etched that expression into his face. But he shook the thought away. He didn’t have time to unpack someone else’s baggage. “Look, I appreciate the pep talk or whatever this is Professor Ludden,” he said, tone sharp. “But I need to figure this out. I’ll study harder next time.”
"You know," Ludden flashed another one of his usual quick smiles. "I like to get to know my students more personally if you're open to somewhere else... I'm happy to swing by your dorm. And I think I told you to call me Garrett."
Regulus paused at the suggestion, thinking of what was the better option before shaking his head quickly. "I need to study alone for now, somewhere else."
Ludden tilted his head, as if weighing his next words, but Regulus didn’t give him the chance. The door banged with a handful of urgent knocks and he turned and walked out of the classroom, leaving the professor behind before he could even think about blinking back his tears and trying to see who was coming in next.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Regulus felt the weight of the fail grow heavier. But he shoved it to the back of his mind. There was no time to dwell, only to move forward. He walked with a one-track mind to his dorm, tossed the work from his other classes onto the floor and headed right back out and over to the library, the test paper still folded in his pocket. His thoughts buzzed with frustration and determination, blocking out everything else. He needed to study harder, smarter, faster, anything to pass next time. To impress his parents and Garrett.
As he walked past the rows of bookshelves, he spotted James standing hunched over at a table, textbooks spread out chaotically around him. James' hands tugged at his hair as he muttered to himself, his face pale and panicked.
"Hey," Regulus said, approaching cautiously as the memory of a week or two ago ran through his mind. James barely glanced up before shaking his head with a failed attempt at speaking. Regulus sighed, recognizing the same spiral James had fallen into a few weeks ago. "Take a breath," he said, pulling out a chair for James to properly sit down. "What's going on this time?"
James hesitated with panicked eyes boring into Regulus' but eventually shifted in his uncomfortable restless position and blurted out, "Everything. I- I promised I wouldn't go back, and- and I did, I promised, I- I-"
"Okay, stop," Regulus interrupted, putting a hand up. "One thing at a time. Let's talk about it after." James blinked at him, eyes magnified by his glasses, unfocused, scared, shining faintly as he held himself back from being completely transparent. He slumped back in the chair, his knees drawn up to his chest, arms wrapped around them like he might unravel if he let go. His breathing was no longer ragged, but each inhale still sounded slightly uneven, like his lungs hadn’t quite caught up with the rest of him. “I...” he began, his voice barely above a whisper. His throat tightened immediately, and the word dissolved into nothing. He pressed his lips together, jaw clenching, and tried again. “It was... It’s-” He broke off again, exhaling sharply. A tear slipped down his cheek, but he didn’t bother wiping it away.
Regulus took a seat across from him leaned forward slightly, voice gentle. “Take your time. It’s okay.” That made it worse somehow. The unexpected kindness, the patience. “I can’t...” he croaked, his voice breaking. His shoulders sagged as if the weight of trying to explain was too much to bear. For a moment, he just sat there, his chest rising and falling in shallow, uneven breaths. His hands unfurled slowly, and he buried his face in them, his fingers pressing into his temples. “I don’t know how to...” he whispered, so quiet it was almost inaudible. The silence returned, thick and suffocating. The boy sniffed, his hands lowering just enough to reveal his face, flushed, blotchy, and streaked with tears. His lips parted once more, but no words came. Just a shaky exhale, and then a quiet, desperate, “I’m sorry.”
He wasn’t even sure what he was apologizing for. The attack, his inability to explain, wasting someone’s time, but it was all he could manage. His light brown eyes finally met theirs, a flicker of fear and exhaustion pooling in their depths. Regulus didn’t press him for more. Instead, they just stayed, their presence calm and steady, grounding him in a moment that still felt impossibly fragile.
When the library closed, Regulus walked James back to his dorm as his legs trembled and nearly gave out from the long-lasting shakiness of his prior situation. Sirius was waiting by the door, arms crossed and clearly annoyed.
"Where the hell have you been?" Sirius snapped the moment they arrived. James shrank back, mumbling something about studying before going inside to stand close to Sirius, almost behind him. Sirius turned his glare on Regulus. "And you? Do you even care what he’s going through? Do you have any idea how hard this is for him?"
Regulus frowned. "I’m literally walking him back here to help him. What are you even talking about?"
"You just don’t get it," Sirius growled. "You jump in last second and think that makes you a hero without knowing anything. Maybe try being less self-centered for once."
Regulus opened his mouth to argue but stopped when he saw James' downcast face and wondered if Sirius knew about what had happened the last couple times they'd found each other in the library. "Whatever," he muttered, stepping back. "I’m done here."
-
Regulus slept in late the next morning, the sting of Sirius' words lingering like a freshly ripped bandaid as he tried to pretend it didn't bother him. His friends left around the middle of the day for lunch to which Regulus declined, saying he had some more studying to do. He was only a handful of minutes into his studying when there was a knock on his door. He figured it must be Pandora or Dorcas so he opened the door still shirtless with plaid pyjama bottoms sitting below his waist, he froze. Professor Ludden was there, clutching a stack of books, flipping through the textbook on top.
"Sorry Professor, I, um, wasn't expecting visitors." Regulus flushed, tired and confused.
Ludden looked up with a faint smile. "You said you needed to study. Thought I’d save you the trouble of tracking me down. And, it's Garrett. To you, it's always Garrett."
Regulus sat on the edge of his bed, his textbooks spread haphazardly across the comforter. Ludden, seated on the footboard bench, flipped through Regulus’ notes with a thoughtful expression. “You’re bright, James,” the professor said, his voice smooth, reassuring. “It’s not about ability, you have plenty of that. It’s about... unlocking potential. You just need the right environment, the right guidance.”
Regulus nodded, though the words felt hollow against the weight of his failed test. “I’ll do anything,” he muttered, his light gray eyes fixed on the pages in front of him. “I have to get my grades up. I can’t afford to fail again.”
The professor smiled, leaning back slightly. “Anything, you say?”
Regulus pulled a jumper on over his head, pausing halfway through with uncertainty. “Yeah,” he said hesitantly.
“Keep your jumper off."
The usual light and calm tone Ludden always used had disappeared, words firm and direct. Regulus froze at the bold statement, staring at his professor as if it was a joke. "We're friends, keep it casual."
Regulus hesitated. “We're... friends?”
“You don't think so?” the professor said, his voice going back to casualty though he put on fake hurt as he asked. “Think of it like... hanging out. But with a purpose while we study.” He smiled, his eyes lingering a bit too long. "Say my name, my real name. For me."
"Garrett..." Regulus’ stomach tightened as he spoke. Something about the suggestion felt off, but he couldn’t place it. He looked down at his notes, pretending to consider it. The professor stood and walked over, perching on the edge of the bed next to Regulus. He reached out, placing a hand lightly on the boy’s shoulder. The touch wasn’t overtly inappropriate, but it lingered, hovering on the edge of familiarity.
“You’ve got so much potential, Reggie,” Ludden said softly. “The way you think, the way you approach problems... you’re one of the best students I’ve ever worked with. You’re going to do great things, I can feel it. Your parents must be so proud. Are they proud of you, Reg?”
Regulus shifted uncomfortably, the weight of the professor’s words mixing with the warmth of the hand still on his shoulder. He opened his mouth to say something, to try and make some joke about his parents not caring or to ask him to back off, but the praise settled heavily in his chest, filling a void he hadn’t realized was there.
“... I don’t know, not really.” Regulus said quietly, his voice uncertain.
“You don’t have to decide right now,” the professor said, his hand moving slightly, brushing against Regulus’ upper back as though in reassurance. “Think about it. You’re worth the effort, Regulus. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
The door swung open suddenly, and Regulus’ friends burst in, laughing and talking loudly.
The professor jerked back, standing abruptly. His easy smile returned, though it was tighter now. “Well,” he said, clearing his throat, “looks like you’ve got company. We’ll pick this up later.” Regulus watched as the professor gathered his things, his movements brisk, almost hurried. “Think about what I said,”Ludden added as he reached the door. “And don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything.”
The door closed behind him, leaving Regulus sitting on the bed, his friends’ voices fading into the background. He stared at the space where the professor had been, unsure of what he was feeling. "Mate, why was he in here?" Evan asked, nose crinkling at what he'd walked in on.
"Garrett was just helping me-"
"Garrett?!" Barty exclaimed, making Regulus' face go crimson. "Who the hell is Garrett? You mean Professor Ludden? You and our propfessor are on first name terms? Why was he in here? On your bed?"
Regulus knew how weird it sounded, how weird it was, but for some reason, he just had to defend him. Maybe it was the fact that Ludden knew exactly what Regulus needed to hear, or that being friends with someone smart and older, someone that knew life better than he did. Regulus paused and tried to find the right words for his situation. "I tanked another of his tests. My parents... they keep saying I need to do whatever it takes to get my grade up. That I have to spend every waking moment studying for this stupid elective and I think Ludden knows that and has been trying to help me make that happen, for my parents sake."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Reggie." Dorcas said simpathetically, she placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and he did everything in his power to not flinch away from her touch. The nickname his professor had used mixed with the physical contact, felt strangely unsettling. But all he could really think about was that he needed to see Garrett again. No one really understood him the way that he did.
-
After class, Regulus lingered, hesitant but eager to make things right with his professor and then get out of his much-too-close friendship with him. When the room emptied, his professor turned to him with a smile that felt strangely warm but carried an undercurrent Regulus couldn't place.
"I'm willing to let you retake the exam," the professor said, his tone oddly light. "Honestly, if you'd spent more time asking me questions instead of rushing off to hang with your friends, I might have given you the benefit of the doubt in the first place."
Regulus felt a mix of guilt and relief as he remembered everything his parents had been saying throughout the last few weeks and all of the threats to leave school. "Thank you. I’ll do better this time. I appreciate the chance."
Ludden nodded and handed over a fresh test paper. "You can start now." Regulus worked diligently, focused on every question. About halfway through, he noticed the professor moving closer, rolling his chair right up to his desk. First, he was a few feet away, then beside him, elbows on his desk. Too close. "You're doing well," the professor murmured, his hand brushing Regulus' shoulder.
The gesture felt off, too personal, too deliberate.
Regulus stiffened but stayed silent, trying to focus on the test. Then, the professor's hand lingered longer, moving in a way that made Regilus' skin crawl.
"I could make this easier for you," the professor said softly, his voice now carrying an edge. "If we... connect on a more personal level, there’s no need for you to finish the test."
Regulus froze, his mind racing. "I- I'm not sure what you mean."
"You know exactly what I mean." Garrett leaned in, his hand now tracing Regulus' arm. "You're smart, Reggie. You need this grade. Your parents, do they even know how much you’re struggling? Imagine how disappointed they'd be if you failed. I heard that your Sirius' brother and I never would have known from how hard you work and how much you care, you must be the favorite child, yeah?"
Regulus' heart pounded, and his throat tightened. He wanted to say no, to push away, but the weight of the professor’s words bore down on him. The thought of his parents’ disapproval, his precarious standing in school, it all blurred together. "I... I don’t know," he stammered, his voice barely audible.
"You don’t have to decide now," the professor said, pulling back slightly but still hovering. "Think about what matters most. I'll be here."
Regulus nodded weakly, his stomach churning as he forced himself to keep working on the test. But his mind was elsewhere, grappling with the unfairness of the situation and the sinking realization that this wasn’t just about a grade, it was about power, and how easily it could be abused.
-
Regulus couldn’t bring himself to face the professor again after what had happened. Days turned into a week, and he avoided the office entirely, choosing to focus on his other classes, slipping into the back of the class and then back out. It was a fragile peace until he received his latest assignment back, marked with a glaring fail in red ink. His heart sank as he flipped through the pages. Every answer was correct, he knew it was. But there, in the margin, the professor had written a single note, "Effort matters more than answers."
Regulus' hands shook as he reread the note. He knew what it meant and it had nothing to do with the test at all. He’d left the professor’s advances unanswered, and now he was paying the price. Anger and fear churned in his stomach as he forced himself to return to the professor’s office. He didn’t want to, but he couldn’t let this slide. He needed this class to graduate.
When he entered the room, Ludden looked up, a smug smile spreading across his face. "Ah, Regulus. I was wondering if you’d show up."
"You failed me on purpose," Regulus said, holding up the assignment.
Professor Ludden leaned back in his chair, unbothered. "You ghosted me, Reggie. That’s not how relationships work. It’s rude. Disrespectful. Don’t you think failing is a fair consequence?"
"This isn’t a relationship!" Regulus snapped, his voice cracking. "And I didn’t do anything wrong."
"Perhaps it's what you didn't do." The professor stood, closing the space between them. "You walked away without explanation, and now you come back demanding fairness? That’s not how life works. You know about unfair lives and I do, too. Is it so bad if we even out the score a little by doing this?"
Regulus backed up, his chest tightening as the professor reached for his arm. He yanked himself free, panic setting in. "Don’t touch me!"
The professor’s expression darkened. "You’re making this harder than it needs to be, Regulus. I’m giving you a chance here, don’t waste it."
Regulus bolted out of the room, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps. His vision blurred as he stumbled across campus, barely aware of where he was going until he nearly collided with James outside the library.
"Regulus? Hey, are you okay?" James asked, steadying him. Regulus shook his head, trying to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. His chest felt like it was caving in, and his hands trembled uncontrollably.
"Okay, okay, breathe," James said gently, guiding him to a bench. "In through your nose, out through your mouth. I’m right here." It took several minutes, and Regulus' breathing still would not slow, even through all of the excercises he had used. Tears streamed down his face as he managed to choke out, "He... he failed me on purpose. He tried to- he wouldn’t stop-"
James' jaw tightened as understanding dawned on him that Regulus didn't know how he'd deciphered and couldn't bring himself to ask. "Regulus, we’re not letting this slide. You don’t have to deal with this alone. Just please, take a deep breath."
Before Regulus could protest, James pulled out his phone and called Sirius. Less than ten minutes later, Sirius arrived, his presence commanding and calm though there was fear behind his eyes. He crouched in front of Regulus, his voice steady and he placed a hand on his knee. "Tell me everything, Reggie. We’re going to handle this. You’re safe now." But the physical contact did the same thing it had before, but magnified with his current state. He flinched back and a fresh round of tears settled in. Sirius instantly retracted his hand. "Please, give me something."
"... I tried. I can't- I can't fail. Mother said I have to do whatever it takes, I did. I did and I really, really wish I hadn't. I can't get out of this, I can't. He knows what to say to make me not leave. I- I don't even know how."
"Who, Reg?"
"... Professor Ludden," As Regulus painfully recounted his experience to Sirius, James grew visibly restless, pacing back and forth. His hands clenched into fists, and his breathing grew uneven.
“James, what’s going on?” Sirius asked, his tone gentle but firm as he tore his eyes off of his little brother for the first time since he'd arrived.
James stopped, looking at Regulus with haunted eyes. “It wasn’t just you,” he said, his voice trembling. “He did it to me too. Last term. I thought- I thought it was my fault, that I led him on or something by being too much of a people pleaser.”
Regulus stared at him in shock. “Was that why I found you in the library like that?”
James nodded his head, tears brimming. “I couldn’t say anything. I was scared, and... ashamed. I didn’t think anyone would believe me.”
"I think Dorcas said something about finding him weird, Pandora too."
Sirius' jaw tightened, anger flashing in his eyes. “That man has been doing this for too long. He thinks he can get away with it.” He stood abruptly, his presence commanding. “Stay here. Both of you. I’ll be back.”
The door slammed open, and the professor looked up, startled. “Can I help you?”
Sirius strode in, his fists clenched at his sides, arriving in a matter of minutes. “You’ve been preying on students, using your position to manipulate them. I know what you did to Regulus. And James. Pandora. Dorcas.”
The professor’s face paled, but he quickly recovered, putting on a smug expression. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You have no proof.”
Sirius' voice was low and deadly. “Proof or not, this ends now.”
Professor Ludden smirked even colder, clearly underestimating Sirius' resolve. He stood up over his desk and glared straight into the boy's angry gray eyes.“You are a student with no evidence. What are you going to do? You think you can intimidate me?”
Sirius didn’t respond. Instead, he took a step back and then stepped even closer and, with a single, powerful punch, sent the professor sprawling to the floor. Ludden groaned, clutching his jaw. “You’ll regret that,” he spat, but the fear in his eyes betrayed his bravado.
Sirius loomed over him with his protective instincts taking over naturally. “You should be grateful I didn’t do worse. Now, you’re going to face real consequences. I’ve already called the dean and campus security.” As if on cue, footsteps echoed in the hallway. Campus security arrived, followed closely by the dean.
He turned around to see Regulus and James standing in the doorway with utter shock at the situation. Sirius put each arm around the two boys and walked them back to his dorm. They were all dealing with something, but none of them were doing it alone anymore.