Day 2
Regulus was late.
Despite the note he clutched in his hand excusing him from the first ten or so minutes of class he'd missed, Regulus walked quickly towards Slughorn's classroom, ignoring the strange looks some of the students shot him as he passed. It wasn't a particularly exciting lesson he was missing, as far as he knew. But he hated being late. That much attention directed at him for walking in at the wrong time was almost too much to bear.
He inhaled sharply when he reached the open door, Slughorn's voice carrying out into the hall. Regulus could see the professor pacing at the front of the room while the other students sat and stared blankly forward.
Great, a lecture. Regulus' entrance would be the perfect interruption.
Slughorn continued on as Regulus set foot in the room, trying his best to remain unseen as he walked along the perimeter of the classroom. A few heads looked up and followed him as he approached the professor and outstretched his hand with the note. He'd been stopped by McGonagall, who'd apparently found that moment to be the perfect time to ask about his family and summer holiday. Regulus knew and subsequently ignored the real reason the headmistress was inquiring about his family and informed her of his tardiness to class, at which she immediately wrote him a note and sent him on his way.
The potions professor paused his speech for a moment, taking the note from Regulus and giving him a small nod, before continuing. Regulus hiked his bag up on his shoulder as he made his way to his desk. Where Potter sat staring at him.
He sat down, throwing his now open bag by his chair and taking out a quill and parchment. He continued to ignore Potter's gaze on him as he tried to catch up on the lecture. Thankfully, he'd completed the homework Slughorn had assigned and was easily able to identify the ingredients he was listing as Wolfsbane elements. He made a quick note of the potion's inventory just as he felt a familiar scratch on his arm. Potter had slid a brand-new piece of parchment towards him. It was blank, save for one sentence:
I was beginning to think you wouldn't show.
Regulus read it quickly and, hearing Slughorn repeat information he already knew from the reading, allowed himself to respond:
Careful, Potter. Your codependence is showing.
He moved the parchment over and Potter's snort was loud enough to make the two 7th years in front of them turn around. Regulus glared back at them, and they quickly looked away. He heard the slide of the paper and glanced down.
Where were you? Everything alright?
Regulus felt his chest tighten as he read the words. Slughorn was picking up small vials now, identifying them and going into detail about their properties as he displayed them. Regulus' hand tensed around his quill as he snatched the parchment from Potter, scribbling quickly.
Day 2: Run a sharp dagger through your chest.
After he wrote the words and discarded the parchment towards the older boy, he began copying down the facts Slughorn was reciting, ignoring the sharp intake of breath he heard from Potter.
"Alright, now it's important to remember that the creator of this very potion, Damocles Belby, was a Hogwarts student himself. Yes, and we do have records of his first creations here. If I could find the book...". The professor began searching the small bookshelf by his desk and Regulus let his eyes wander to his left. Potter was staring at the parchment, twirling his quill between his fingers and resting his chin on his hand. Regulus felt his breath catch in his throat as he watched the boy next to him, his cheeks a pale pink, his hair a mess atop his head.
Regulus tore his eyes away and sighed. Maybe what he wrote was a bit too violent, even if Potter's thoughtful words made his chest compress and shoulders tense. With anger, obviously.
He didn't give the older boy a chance to write a response before he stole the paper back, writing furiously.
Ignore that. I can do better.
Regulus swallowed as he handed it back over, not daring to watch Potter's expression when he read it. For a while, Slughorn's lecturing was the only sound in the room, and Regulus kept his attention fixated on the old man as he spoke. I shouldn't have said anything. This is all so stupid-
Potter slid the parchment over. Regulus tried not to peek too eagerly at the paper that now read:
I know you can. You're smarter than that. It's why I like you so much.
Unfortunately, that response just made Regulus' chest tighten, his breath shorten, and his body tense all over again.
Slughorn took the entire class time up with his lecturing, and when the clock chimed the students practically ran away, bored out of their minds.
Regulus couldn’t blame them. He figured not every advanced potions class would be incredibly engaging. And he preferred a boring class to one that made him anxious. Unfortunately, Potter’s writing on that scrap piece of parchment had his heart racing the rest of the period. He hadn’t responded, and just left the words there to exist on their own. After Potter had written them, he’d faced forward, uncharacteristically uninterested in Regulus’ reaction.
He was grabbing his bag and standing to leave, anxious to return to the quiet familiarity of the common room, when a voice stopped him.
“Reg, wait.”
Regulus closed his eyes for a moment, jealous of the rest of the class exiting the room as he turned back to face Potter.
“What did I say about calling me-“
“Sorry…Regulus,” Potter corrected with an apologetic smile. The younger boy stared blankly back at him, waiting.
It was silent between the two, the class now fully empty save for two students asking Professor Slughorn a question at the front of the room. Regulus crossed his arms and shot Potter an expectant look.
“Well? If you’ve got nothing to say, I have places to be.”
“Where are you going?”
Regulus furrowed his brow. “None of your business.”
Potter nodded slowly, putting his hands in his pockets and breaking eye contact for a moment. Regulus released a breath he didn’t know he was holding when he did.
“I just…you seem upset. Distracted, or something.”
The only other students in the room brushed past Regulus as Potter spoke. “I’m fine,” Regulus retorted.
Potter narrowed his eyes slightly. “You sure?”
“Yes.” Regulus didn’t try to mask his annoyance. “I really should be going.”
“You can talk to me,” Potter continued despite the fact that Regulus had turned away from him, his lips pursing.
“And why would I do that?” He looked back at the older boy, making eye contact again.
Potter paused a moment, his mouth opened slightly like he knew exactly what he wanted to say but couldn’t. Eventually, he shook his head and an all too familiar smile plastered his face.
“Forget it. You’re right, you’re fine.”
Regulus clenched his jaw and kept his eyes fixated on the boy across from him. “Right.”
At that, Potter lazily ran a hand through his hair and started towards the door, passing right beside Regulus as he did.
“I suppose if you ever need me, you’ll just write it down,” The older boy practically whispered in Regulus’ ear as he brushed past him. Regulus straightened, his mind racing as Potter continued for the door and exited.
He stood in the empty classroom for a minute, willing his heartbeat to slow as Potter’s words echoed through his head. What the bloody hell was that about?
Regulus cleared his throat, more eager now than ever to get out of this place when he noticed the parchment still sitting on his desk. It had been folded into a small square and was on Regulus’ side of the table, almost waiting for him.
The boy reached for the parchment and opened it, his confusion only mounting as he read what was written:
The password to the Gryffindor common room is “stellas et solem”.
Regulus reread the parchment twice, the Latin words translating naturally in his head.
Stars and sun. Why would he leave this here?
Regulus heard footsteps from outside and he manicly crumpled the parchment up, trying to calm his thoughts as he headed for the door and rubbish bin. He passed the bin, glancing down at the little ball he’d made in his hands at sighed to himself.
He shoved the parchment into his robe pocket and left the room.