What Is This Feeling?
Sirius sighed, pushing open the balcony doors of his suite. He could no longer call it ‘private’ as it has been overtaken by an overgrown and speaking tree-human. But he didn’t need to fret. He made sure to tuck that sight into the back corner of his room, hiding him behind his racks of gorgeous shoes and clothes. “I cannot believe this” he grumbled, kicking a pathway through his many boxes of things. Suddenly the bedroom door opened, making him jump in fright. Regulus appeared in the doorway, looking at Sirius in disgusted confusion. “Oh! It’s just you!” Sirius huffed, dropping his arms to his sides. “Yep! It’s me, the other person who lives here!” Regulus snapped back, slamming the door shut with both hands. “Well, you weren’t supposed to be!” Sirius reminded him. Regulus laughed, taking off his satchel to hang by the door.
“You volunteered!”
“I did no such thing-!”
“Then why’d you interrupt?!”
“I was trying to get the place with the Madam that you took from me!”.
Regulus laughed even louder, turning back to look at Sirius in shock. “I took from you?! Are you kidding?!” he scoffed in disbelief. “Yes! If it wasn’t for your stupid little flying girl stunt, I would have proven myself the better pick for the Madam’s pupil!” Sirius sneered, stepping closer to the other boy. “That would’ve been hard for you then huh?! What talents do you have?! An annoying habit of complaining and looking like a rotting grapefruit?!” Regulus insulted. Sirius gasped, tossing his hands to his chest in humiliation. “Oh, you wicked thing!” Sirius barked back. “Oh, I’m shaking!” Regulus replied, moving past Sirius as he made his way towards the balcony.
Sirius then gasped again, racing to beat Regulus to it. He blocked the pathway, refusing Regulus to touch the doors. “What?!” Regulus groaned, rolling his eyes. “Don’t close them!” Sirius huffed. “And why not?!” Regulus remarked, crossing his arms. “Because! I-I like the…the uhm-the air! I like the air!” Sirius lied, stepping backward onto the balcony. He then braced his hands on both door handles and leaned his head out onto the balcony. He shook his head back and forth, allowing his long black locks to flow in the afternoon wind. Regulus could only roll his eyes again as he turned to his side of the room.
“Oh, you're welcome by the way! I saved you a place!” Sirius called, racing behind the younger boy yet again. Sirius pulled back the rack of dresses blocking Regulus’s side of the room from Sirius’s. Behind the rack was a small bed, with one pillow and one blanket. “Oh, you're ever so kind” Regulus replied sarcastically. “Oh! Thank you I know-!” Sirius began. Regulus whipped around, getting face-to-face with Sirius. Sirius took a cautious and disgusted step back. “Do you really think this is fair?!” Regulus spat at him. Sirius laughed, placing his hands on his hips. “Well, no I do not! I was promised a private suite! But thank you for asking!” Sirius answered, smiling unapologetically at Regulus. Regulus physically had no more energy left to argue with this pink idiot in front of him. All he could do was collapse backward onto his tiny bed.
That night, Sirius pulled his stationary set out of his drawers and turned on his light. He tried to ignore the opposing light coming from across the room as he began to write to his parents. “Dearest, Darlingest Mumsy and Popsicle…” Sirius addressed his letter. Regulus began writing as well. “My dear father…” he sighed.
“There’s been some confusion over rooming here at Shiz…” they both began.
“But I’ll of course keep caring for Narcissa!” Regulus reminded. “But of course, I’ll rise above it! For I know that’s how you’d want me to respond…” Sirius continued. Regulus huffed in annoyance. “There indeed has been some confusion because you see…my roommate is-!” Regulus continued. “Unusual, Peculiar, and altogether quite impossible to describe!” Sirius whined dramatically. Regulus simply scowled, hearing the prisms across the room loud and clear. Instead of snapping back, he simply smirked as he wrote down her description. “Pink…” he sneered.
Sirius let out a loud, dramatic gasp at the shunning of his favorite color. “Ugh! Fine-since you insist on distracting me, I’ll go back to sleep and finish writing in the morning!” Sirius huffed, putting away his letter and slamming his body back onto his bed. “At least I won’t be distracted by your obnoxious voice!” Regulus snapped back. “Nor I by your hideous face and clothing!” Sirius replied, staring angrily up at his ceiling. Regulus grunted in frustration, tossing himself back down onto the bed as well. Both teenagers swarming with anger for the other.
“Everything about you makes my flesh start to crawl!” Regulus hit back suddenly, making Sirius jolt upright in bed. “Well, the sight of you and your hideous haircut makes me want to vomit all over the floor! And these are very nice floors my daddy paid for me to have! You’re ruining them!” Sirius whined dramatically, climbing out of his bed quickly. Regulus followed suit, both boys rushing for their night robes to cover their pajamas with. The two boys then met in the center of the room, arms crossed, glaring at each other.
“Your hatred of me came on rather fast, didn’t it?” Regulus remarked. “Me?! I was being nice to you, and you pushed me!” Sirius gasped, placing his hands on his hips. “You told me you wanted to change my skin tone for me! You thought that made me feel good about myself?!” Regulus scoffed. Sirius went quiet for a moment, flipping his hair smugly as he shrugged. “I thought it did” he answered, making Regulus roll his eyes. “I cannot be with you!” Regulus huffed, pushing past Sirius towards their balcony. But Sirius blocked him from it yet again, not wanting to leave an argument not victorious.
“And I cannot be with you-but you still decided to be my roommate and stay at a school that didn’t invite you! Why don’t you hop on your broom and fly back to where you came from?!” Sirius smirked proudly, crossing his arms elegantly. Regulus simply scowled at him but admitted defeat and returned to bed. “Nice talk!” Sirius cheered, before twirling happily back to his bed.
A few Weeks Later, 8 am
Sirius sat in the last row at the top of their history class, surrounded by his friends and fans. They hung to every word he said with such ease and interest. “He was barking at me the whole night! Ha! Couldn’t get a wink of sleep-and my beauty sleep is quite valuable to me!” Sirius exclaimed dramatically. The students around him clamored in agreement, all nodding their heads and sympathizing with him. Sirius noticed Regulus enter the room next and all the eyes drew away from him and onto the bright green boy.
“He’s vile-you’re too good for him Sirius!” one boy called out loudly. Making Regulus freeze as he heard it said. “Oh, hush now! These challenges in life are only sent to try us! Dealing with an overgrown green bean will help me grow as a person!” Sirius remarked, making the others laugh. Regulus scoffed as he passed the group by, sitting at a desk across from them with a full view of his snobby roommate. “That’s funny you say that Sirius because…doesn’t your daddy…do everything for you?” Regulus called suddenly. Sirius’s mouth dropped open in disgust as the other students turned to glare at Regulus. “Hard to grow as a person when you can’t even share a bedroom with somebody without whining about it…” Regulus added, smirking proudly to himself.
“Oh dear…it seems the overgrown frog hasn't caught any flies! So, he’s taking it out on us!” Sirius teased, earning laughs and mocking sounds from his fellow students. “Good one, prissy!” Regulus replied coolly. “You call me that ONE MORE TIME!” Sirius shouted, standing from his seat angrily. “Students! Students! Settle down please!” the professor called, entering his classroom. Sirius quickly sat back down as the professor entered. Any expectations Regulus held in his mind quickly went out the window as the man entered. Man…wasn’t even the right word. For this man was…a goat. A talking goat. The sight of him made Regulus smile peacefully.
“Mr. Black if you could refrain from your outbursts from here on, they’d be mostly appreciated…” he directed, bowing his head in Sirius’s direction. “Mh, yes, my apologies Professor Slughorn…” Sirius replied, glaring over at Regulus in annoyance. “Thank you, Mr. Sirios…” Professor added, entering the center of the room. “Oh, oh wait it's actually Siri-US! With a U-S!” Sirius called out, correcting the professor. Regulus could only roll his eyes, at this point, they might as well fall right out the back of his head. “My apologies Mr. Siri-” Slughorn began but was cut off by a loud bleat. The students around the room began to laugh and whisper in amusement, making Regulus frown.
“Yeah uh…that’s not it either…every other professor seemed to get it-!” Sirius shrugged, giggling slightly as well. “Maybe the pronunciation of your precious name isn’t the sole purpose of Professor Slughorn’s life! Maybe he's not like every other professor-maybe some of us are different?!” Regulus shouted out, silencing the classroom. Sirius hummed in reply, placing a saddened hand on his heart. “Oh dear…it seems the artichoke is steamed!” he answered, making the class erupt in laughter yet again.
“Class! Class! That is more than enough!” Slughorn directed again, stomping his hoof to call everyone’s attention. When the students had finally settled, Slughorn took a good look at all of them. Examining every face in the room. “As you know, I am the sole Animal on the faculty. The token Goat, as it were…but…it wasn't always this way…” Slughorn began, pacing about the room. Regulus leaned against his desk in intrigue, listening to Professor Slughorn intently. “Oh students, how I wish you could’ve seen how it was before…when you could walk down the halls and see an antelope explaining a sonnet, a snow leopard solving an equation, a wildebeest waxing philosophic!” Slughorn reminisced. Some of the students around Sirius started to mock the idea teasingly, laughing and joking with each other. But Sirius frowned to himself, also hanging on Slughorn’s words.
“Don't you see, dear students, how our dear Oz is becoming less and less…” Slughorn continued. But his gaze drifted to Regulus for a moment, and he frowned at the young boy. “Colorful…now! Who can tell me what sent these events into motion?” Slughorn called out. Regulus instantly raised his hand and Slughorn nodded at him to explain. “From my understanding, it started from the great drought?” Regulus assumed. Sirius’s eyebrows furrowed in shock, listening to Regulus have such knowledge. That drought happened years ago, why would he still remember or care about it now?
“Yes, precisely, well done Mr. Black” Slughorn remarked. Regulus nodded happily, resting his hands back in his lap. “Food grew scarce, people grew hungrier and angrier…and the question became "Whom can we blame?" Can anyone tell me what is meant by the term "Scapegoat"?” Slughorn asked. Regulus raised his hand again…but so did Sirius. Slughorn called on him next. “Sorry sir…not to pry but…I don't see why you can't just teach us history instead of always harping on the past?” Sirius asked genuinely. Some students agreed smugly, bored with the current topic. But Slughorn could see that Sirius was genuinely curious about his question and did not mean it in a harmful way.
“That’s a good question Mr. Sirius” Slughorn agreed, turning and walking over to his chalkboard. “Oh! He got it right!’ Sirius cheered, clasping his hands together. Regulus simply ignored him, unable to roll his eyes for the 100th time in 24 hours. “Well, perhaps these questions will enlighten you to-” Slughorn began, flipping around his chalkboard. Only for a large message in bright red marker to be graffitied on the back.
“ANIMALS SHOULD BE SEEN AND NOT HEARD”
The class was filled with shocked and scared gasps. Many people’s eyes darted about the room for the culprit. Sirius pressed a hand to his heart, staring at the message in total shock. Regulus felt his chest tighten slightly as he stared at the stunned Professor Slughorn. “Who is responsible for this?” the professor asked softly. Nobody answered. Sirius looked about the room anxiously, trying to find the delinquent himself. But his sights only landed on his roommate, and he watched as Regulus struggled to keep his composure in front of the class. Sirius slunk back in his chair sadly. “I said who is responsible for this?!” Slughorn shouted, earning more terrified silence from the class.
He then sighed, hanging his head in shame. “Very well…class is dismissed! You may all go!” he directed, nodding his head at the doorway. Many students were quick to gather their belongings and bolt for the door, but Sirius lingered back for a moment. Watching sadly as Regulus approached their professor. “Come on Sirius, let’s go grab some food or something” Mary sighed, taking her best friend’s hand. Sirius nodded back at her as she began to pull him from the class. But his gaze didn’t pull away from Regulus until the door had shut him out of view.
“I’m…so sorry Professor this is just…awful I-!” Regulus began, staring up at the hateful message with total dismay. Slughorn sighed sadly, standing beside the short boy. “Oh, Mr. Regulus, don't worry about me, go along and enjoy your friends” Slughorn instructed. “Oh, that’s alright…I have no friends…” Regulus shrugged, sitting down at the nearest desk. Professor Slughorn trotted up beside him. “Would you like to share my lunch?” Regulus asked him, holding out a single candy bar. “Oh, thank you, dear boy, how kind of you” Slughorn nodded. Regulus unwrapped the candy and Slughorn took the paper, biting into it slowly. Regulus thought didn’t feel very hungry.
Slughorn noticed Regulus’s nervous glance back at the board and promptly lowered the candy wrapper. “I seem to have lost my appetite…” he sighed. “You shouldn’t let statements like that bother you. I mean, I always do, but you shouldn't!” Regulus encouraged. “Oh, Mr. Regulus…if it were only a matter of words on a chalkboard. But the things one hears these days... dreadful things!” Slughorn winced. Regulus turned to face his professor fully, intrigued by what else had been happening.
“I’ve heard of an ox, a fellow professor from Quox who’s no longer permitted to teach! He’s lost all his ability to speak!” Slughorn began. Regulus gasped, his eyes slightly widening in shock. “And another…an owl in Munchkin Rock…forbidden to preach-can only screech!” Slughorn hissed nervously. “These…these have to be rumors surely! How could the Wizard let all this happen?” Regulus worried. Slughorn simply hummed, hanging his head once more. “There’s something bad, Mr. Regulus…happening in Oz…” he remarked, turning away from his student. Returning to his desk and the graffitied chalkboard.
Regulus frowned sadly as he gathered his belongings. “Something bad…happening in Oz…” he repeated quietly. Before slinking silently out of the classroom.
When lunch had finally commenced, Sirius found himself sitting in the courtyard eating with his friends. Mary, Frank, and two new girls he befriended in potions. Marlene and Lily. As he ate, he couldn’t help but think of Regulus. And his reaction to that awful note in Professor Slughorn’s class. It had been plaguing Sirius’s mind all day and even though he couldn’t stand the boy…he felt the need to comfort him. Like it was his job, as his roommate. “Have any of you seen Regulus out here yet?” Sirius asked, glancing around the courtyard for his roommate. “No! Why?! You want to sit with him or something?!” Mary scoffed, before tossing a grape into her mouth. “Well, no but-I-I feel bad about what happened this morning with Professor Slughorn, and I want to check up on him!” Sirius exclaimed.
“Relax, Sirius! I bet Professor Slughorn is dealing with him” Marlene remarked coolly. Lily placed a sweet hand on his shoulder, making Sirius smile back at her. “I just feel bad…” Sirius sighed, setting his food down sadly. Frank and Mary shared concerned glances with each other. “You’re always so kind, you know that?” Frank told Sirius softly. “Oh, stop it you say that to flatter me-!” Sirius giggled shyly. “There he is!” Lily called out, pointing across the courtyard. Sirius looked up and saw Regulus sit down on a bench by the magic building entrance. “Oh good! I’ll be right back!” Sirius cheered, quickly climbing to his feet. He ran over to his roommate, only slowing down when he appeared in front of him.
“Uhm, hey, Regulus!” Sirius called, waving awkwardly at the other boy. Regulus sighed in frustration before looking up at his roommate. “Yes, what is it?” he replied boredly. Sirius frowned, taking a quick seat beside Regulus. Regulus eyed Sirius weirdly as he sat, not shuffling away or twisting his body in the opposite direction. “I saw how upset you were after class today…and I wanted to check in and make sure you were okay” Sirius admitted. Regulus stared at the other boy for a quick moment before bursting out laughing. Sirius frowned sadly at Regulus; hurt to know he truly thinks so little of him.
Maybe Sirius was being too harsh on him. “I know it sounds absurd based on how we’ve been getting on but…truly I was worried…and I’m sorry about how I’ve been treating you!” Sirius explained. Regulus calmed down once more, returning to his confused stare at his roommate. “Maybe we could try getting along? I’ll reorganize the room tonight and we can share it properly!” Sirius offered, smiling brightly at Regulus. Regulus hummed, nodding his head stiffly. “Yes, sure…whatever you’d like!” he replied. “Oh goody!” Sirius squealed, jumping to his feet once more. He grabbed Regulus’s hands next, pulling him up as well. “Alright-guess we're standing now!” Regulus huffed, stumbling at the sudden force Sirius had used on him.
Just as Sirius went to speak again, the gates to the courtyard swung open. Two new students entered both men. Very handsome, tall, athletically built men. “Oh…my…Oz…” Sirius muttered; his words completely lost in his throat. Regulus could only side-eye Sirius as he practically drooled for the new boys. Their belongings were being carried in by their assistant behind them, but the two boys couldn’t be more focused on that. They simply held an arm around each other as they marveled at their new school. All the students around them marveled right back.
“I want the tall one” Sirius told Regulus. “They’re both tall-!” Regulus replied weirdly. “Okay, I want the really tall one…those scars, mhm! Yep, that’s a fine man indeed!” Sirius giggled, straightening his posture proudly. “I really don’t care” Regulus groaned, rolling his eyes boredly. Sirius then broke away from his roommate, strutting over to the two new students. He passed by them once to get himself noticed before leaning up against a pillar and flipping his hair dramatically. Popping his leg out girlishly to show himself off. The two boys took instant notice, the taller, scarred one smiling at Sirius. The other laughed happily at his best mate.
Sirius suddenly glanced back at the two boys, placing his hand on his chest dramatically. “Oh! I’m sorry, were you looking for something? Or someone?” Sirius asked them, before flipping his hair once again. “Indeed!” the tall one agreed. “The history building!” The second one chimed in, cutting his friend’s flirting short. Sirius gasped happily, stepping up to the two boys, swaying his hips just so as to grab the handsome one's attention. Across the courtyard Regulus watched Sirius humorously, laughing to himself as he watched his new ‘friend’ sway stupidly.
“Oh well, lucky you! Those classes just ended!” Sirius giggled, clasping his hands together. “Oh, we're right on time then!” the taller one remarked, making his friend laugh again. The taller boy and Sirius stepped closer to each other, smiling fondly at the other. “What’s your name?” the taller man asked. “Sirius Black, of the Upper Uplands!” Sirius told him proudly, twirling his hair around his finger. “Remus Lupin, pleasure is mine Sirius!” the taller boy replied, taking Sirius’s free hand. He raised it and placed a soft kiss on him, making Sirius’s flirtatious attitude falter. Oh, he was so done for with this one.
“Oh! Uh-no no the pleasure-pleasure is mine! Actually, I’m obligated to take any new students on a tour of the campus! Would you two like to join me?” Sirius asked. “Oh yes, that would be splendid!” The other boy agreed. As they began walking the other boy introduced himself as James, shaking Sirius’s hand sweetly. Sirius instantly took a liking to him as well, a feeling of friendship coming over him as they shook hands. While they passed by the magic building, James caught a glimpse of Regulus sitting by himself.
Regulus looked up at Sirius precisely at the same moment, resulting in the two boys locking eyes. James simply smiled and waved, didn’t scowl or flinch or shout. Regulus eyed him weirdly as he passed, confused as to how someone could react to him that way. And after his first impressions too. That’s never happened before in Regulus’s life.