Bejeweled

It didn’t take until Thursday for Remus to see Bellatrix again. It wasn’t even a full 24 hours. As when Remus ducked into Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop at Hogsmead that Saturday, he saw her in the back corner looking through the small stack of records the shop stocked. All magical bands of course. 

Bellatrix flipped through the stack with a familiarity that made him think this was a typical happening, but she seemed to grow more and more frustrated. 

Remus bit his lower lip as he glanced around, no other Hogwarts students were there. Not that he was embarrassed to be seen talking to her, but he wasn’t sure she shared the sentiment. Doing rounds with him was one thing, casually chatting in Hogsmead was another. But no one was there, and he was curious as to what was vexing her, so Remus took a deep breath and sauntered over, trying to be casual. 

“Looking for something in particular?” he asked. 

Bellatrix glanced up at him. “New Ministry of Magic album,” she answered, going back to the search that was close to ending as she neared the bottom of the stack. 

“The Ministry puts out records?” 

She gave a small eye roll. “It’s a band. A rather good one whose new album I’ve been looking forward to, but they don’t seem to have it,” she huffed as she reached the final record, unsatisfied. 

“Oh. Are you into music?” he asked. After the previous afternoon, Remus found within himself a new curiosity about her. Who was this girl with the terrible reputation, horrible views, who had apologized for upsetting him after he’d been the one to get physically violent with her? 

“Yeah,” she shrugged. “I always have to use a shrinking charm on my record player and collection to take it back and forth to school each year, but I don’t think I could live without it.” 

“Even just for the summer?” 

“Even just for the summer.” 

There was an awkward pause. If they’d been walking the corridors alone at night there wouldn’t be this awkwardness permitting the air. They’d be able to chat about music and records and whatever else easily, like they’d done before. But out here in Hogsmead, in the light of day, the strangeness of them having any conversation was obvious. She was a Slytherin, planning on joining He Who Must Not Be Named’s army as soon as she graduated. A pureblood princess. He was a Gryffindor, planning on joining the fight to stop You Know Who as soon as he could. Wearing ratty old robes because he couldn’t afford anything better. 

“Do you?” she asked. 

“Hm?” he was pulled out of his thoughts. 

“Like music?” she clarified. 

“Oh, yeah. Love it,” he answered, though he couldn’t remember the last time he’d bothered to listen to any. But in that moment it felt true. 

“Miss Black!” the shopkeeper called, finally finished with the only other customer in the store who had been taking all his time and attention. “It’s so good you came by. I have the new Ministry of Magic record. I set aside the last copy, just for you.” 

Her face absolutely lit up, and Remus realized he didn’t think he’d ever seen her truly happy until that moment. 

“Oh, thank you! I was wondering where the hell it was. Give me just a second.” She held up a finger towards him, then turned her attention back to Remus. 

“Well, that worked out then,” he said. 

“Yeah, thank Salazar,” she grinned. 

“I’ll have to listen to them sometime, since they come so highly recommended.” 

“You should,” Bellatrix nodded. “We can talk about it on Thursday.” 

“Sounds great,” he agreed. 

She said she’d see him then, and went to pay for her purchase excitedly before leaving the shop with a small wave in his direction. 

Remus wondered how he was going to listen to this new album before Thursday. Surely someone in the common room would have it if it was a popular band, but he wasn’t super current on music so he wasn’t sure if that was the case. Sirius sometimes ordered records through Owl Post, maybe he’d be picking it up. If not, James sometimes bought him random things he expressed interest in as ‘just because’ presents, perks of having a rich friend. He could always simply mention it casually. Though he felt bad doing things like that because honestly James was already such a good friend, he didn’t need to buy gifts too. 

He was almost to The Three Broomsticks before he even questioned why he cared so much.