Chapter Six
Lyla POV
I arrived fifteen minutes early to Charms arm in arm with Amanda and Bryant, just as I always did. To anyone who would ask, we liked to say that the extra time was used to focus in on the class we were about to begin, but really we just liked the feel of having the room all to themselves to discuss whatever the latest Ravenclaw news was.
Today however, a Slytherin from the class before had stayed behind to ask Flitwick to clarify a few concepts they had learned. I waved to Regulus, feeling much more comfortable with him since our talk, but he didn’t see because his back was to me.
“And then Maya asked to join their study group just so she could hang out with Kota. I personally think she could do better. That particular friend group is a little toxic,” Amanda finished.
I was about to answer when my stomach churned. I hadn’t felt that great this morning, but my policy was that unless she was on death’s door, I went to class.
“No way,” Bryant was saying. “I thought Kota was dating Greta.”
“I think they broke up. Poor Greta,” I said. My stomach violently heaved in agreement and, alarmed, I got up to ask permission to use the Lou. I hurried up next to Regulus who was jotting down a few tips in his notebook.
“And don’t forget a nice, clean wand stroke, Black, precise movements are essential,” Flitwick squeaked.
“Professor-“ I interjected, urgently.
“One minute Miss Zemen. As long as you use the correct pronunciation and form you should have success.”
I opened my mouth to insist upon leaving, but instead of words, what seemed like gallons of suspiciously neon puke erupted out all over Regulus’s robes. The trio stood in shock for a moment before Amanda and Bryant came rushing over.
“Lyla! Are you all right?” Bryant asked, breathlessly.
“I don’t feel good.”
“You think?” Amanda exclaimed, and sidestepped out of the way just as another burst of vomit showered onto the wooden floors.
I staggered this time, the force of it causing me to stumble forward. Regulus caught my elbow, propping me up.
“She needs to go to the Hospital Wing. I’ll take her, Professor,” Regulus said, valiantly trying to veil his repulsion.
“Oh we can take her,” Amanda offered, looking concerned.
“Nonsense,” Flitwick interjected. “You two will remain in class. Mr Black will take her. And quickly,” he said, glancing towards the door where students had begun filing in.
Regulus supported me as we staggered out of the room, leaving a trail of vomit behind us. Everytime I heaved, his robes became more and more soaked through, but he barely flinched the whole way there. My ego was thankful for that.
“Sorry,” I moaned sadly, when I could get in a breath.
“Don’t worry,” he answered gently. I wondered if perhaps his mind strayed to another young lady who shared my eyes and height. Oooooo, I thought and promptly threw up again.
The pair of us were so consumed by the wrenching, that when we burst into the Hospital Wing, we didn’t notice a second group huddled around a bed across the aisle that housed a boy with a significantly larger than average head. Only once Regulus had carefully lowered me onto the bed, did I get a view of the four Gryffindors who watched in amazement as Regulus called for Madam Pomfrey. She rushed over and didn’t seem remotely phased by the projectile vomiting, producing a wooden bucket and glass of water in seconds.
Regulus waited for my puking to slow, but the glowing, green goop seemed never ending. Seemingly unsure what to do, he patted my back and held my hair out of my face.
“Don’t you have a cure?” he asked Pomfrey, who was standing there looking me over.
“I don’t,” she said, her gaze slicing across the room to land significantly on the Gryffindors.
Regulus only then noticed the pack and I watched through my sickly haze as his posture immediately stiffened. Now this quartet was no ordinary gang of students. They were known throughout Hogwarts as the ‘Marauders’, famous for their pranks, popularity, good looks, and ride or die friendship.
Peter Pettigrew, rather known as the runt of the group, had somehow managed to blow up his head so that it looked like an over inflated balloon and was lying in the bed looking meekly at Madam Pomfrey with bulging eyes. Remus Lupin and James Potter sat beside him, the former looking slightly guilty as he watched me and the latter grinning charismatically while saying, “Well, I suppose that’s our cue, boys.”
Regulus however, only watched the fourth boy. The one with the same hair, same parents, and same name as him. They stared at each other, both of their faces unreadable besides the initial shock. I shifted in my bed uncomfortably.
“You will give me the antidote or you will serve detention scrubbing the chamber pots with me every night until Christmas,” Madam Pomfrey said, sharply. James seemed unconcerned by her tone.
“You got it, Ma'am," he said, winking.
This whole situation was entraitining and all, but I feared this could go on for hours if I didn’t intervene. I interrupted loudly, "Alright Mr. Reputation, could you get Iris?”
“Of course,” he answered, tearing his gaze from his brother, and swiftly leaving the room, not even bothering to protest the nickname.
Sirius stared at the door he had exited, shocked by the familiar nickname his brother had been called by a known mudblood. And a mudblood girl from Ravenclaw, no less! Everything about their interaction had been jarring. Regulus's actions had been so… brotherly. Sirius was at a loss for what could have caused this change.
James, under the searing glare of Madam Pomfrey, meandered towards the door, dragging Sirius along with him.
“We'll be back before you can say, 'projectile neon vomit'!” James called, cheerfully. Madam Pomfrey bustled into her office and the remaining students were left alone in silence.
Peter, exhausted with the events of the day and the amount of effort it took to hold his head up, fell sound asleep and Remus was left to guiltily watch me cover myself in my own half digested breakfast. I looked down at it intently, studying it. Remus raised a brow, noticing the look.
Then I said, “Two vials of lithium acetate per batch.”
He blinked at me.
“That’s what would have caused the uncontrollable heaving. And I assume the color was created by adding a dash of beetle shell powder.”
I watched as a look of amazement dawned on his face and knew I was right. His face split into an unexpected grin and I tried not to notice how it lit up his face. I then went on to list (in between heaves) exactly what ingredients and what measurements the marauders had used to create the mixture, simply by the symptoms I showed. I wasn’t showing off, I was just distracting myself from the nausea. “And then hid them in the caramels that were passed around the Great Hall this morning. Did I miss anything?” I finished.
“No,” Remus answered, looking impressed.
“I’m Lyla Zemen, by the way,” I babbled. I was becoming less and less coherent by the minute.
“Remus Lupin. It’s a pleasure.”
“You know what I take pleasure in?” I asked, feeling delirious. “Books. Particularly novels. Have you ever read The Chronicles of Narnia? You should,” I said vehemently, bobbing her head up and down enthusiastically.
I went on that way for quite a while, though I wasn’t sure how easy it was to follow. I had the feeling all he was gathering from the one sided conversation was that their were four siblings who are locked in a freezing closet or something. He looked simultaneously amused and guilty.
He murmured something under his breath that sounded a lot like, “What is taking Padfoot and Prongs so long?” But that couldn’t be right. She probably had misheard over the ringing in her ears. Then he muttered, “I hope they don’t run into Lily. They can flirt with her for hours.” That she probably did hear right. It was a well known fact even among Ravenclaws that James Potter was head over heals for Lily Evans.
The door opened, but instead of James and Sirius, Iris rushed in looking worried. She immediately started rubbing my back and asking how I was.
“Where’s Regulus?” I asked, looking around to find her alone.
“Oh, he went to tell Ms Sandra that I’m missing work until further notice.” Remus looked stricken.
Finally, James and Sirius returned with what I noticed was only one serving size of the antidote. They were probably holding out the rest for some nefarious purpose of their own. After it had been administered, I downed three bottles of water and then settled in under the covers.
As I laid there, I eavesdropped in the Gryffindor. James and Sirius left shortly after for Quidditch practice after Remus had assured them he didn't mind waiting with Peter, whose head was ever so slowly deflating.
The room wasn't quiet for long though. As soon as the last class of the day got out, Mel arrived armed with multiple jars of soup and baked goods, as well as the twins. The group quickly set up quite the camp. Taking over the empty beds on each side of mine, they spread out books, food, homework, various plants, blankets, and pillows. As soon as Amanda and Bryant had entered, I had demanded to be told every single thing I had missed that day. I was already feeling anxious about it. Luckily, the twins had been prepared and brought their own handwritten notes, explaining the lectures almost word for word and helping me catch up on all of the homework in only a few hours.
“Neurotic much?” Mel had muttered, and I had caught Remus smirking but I could kiss Amanda and Bryant for their forethought.
Then I insisted on sorting the random plant samples that were crumbling and decaying all over the beds. I couldn’t fall behind on my work just because I was sick. Madam Pomfrey, who was normally strict about the visitor limit, didn't seem bothered a bit at the happy mess we were making. I even saw her smile once or twice before clearing her throat and continuing on with her tasks.
After the homework and plant situation was sorted (Mel was to deliver the plants the next morning), Iris cracked open a muggle book titled Anne of Green Gables and my friends passed it around, taking turns reading and doing the voices.
I spotted Remus watching somewhat longingly and motioned for him to come over. Looking uncomfortable, he perched on the edge of a bed and tentatively read a few pages. But after a couple of minutes in the welcoming atmosphere, I could see him relax. Soon, he was laughing and happily chatting as if he had been our friend for years. I settled into the covers. Maybe neon vomit wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to a person.
Regulus POV
It was a bad idea to get close to Iris Zemen. Logically, I knew this. Once you got to know someone it was an extreme bother to go back to hating them. And I knew that in theory I should be hating her. It’s what my parents would expect. It’s what I would expect of myself. But I wondered if it would really be so bad to make an exception. Was it really true that every single muggleborn was less than. Surely there would be exceptions and was it so crazy to think that I had found one? Fate seemed determined to throw us together and who was I to deny fate, not that I had ever believed in it before?
As I hopped on my broom, the familiarity of it automatically calmed me and I decided to fly a few laps around the stadium before working on drills. As I rose into the air, fate spoke again.
There she was, basking in the late afternoon sunlight, music wafting through the air from a record player next to her. Why she brought I record player into the Quidditch stands, I had no idea. I could fly away, she hadn’t seen me yet and I had plenty of homework to get done at the castle. I could, but I didn’t. After all, it was such a beautiful night for flying, it would be a shame to waste it. At least, that’s what I told myself as I went over to join her.
Iris POV
I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feel of golden sunlight pleasantly warming my face. With my back pressed against the wooden backing of the quidditch bleachers, my legs stretched out in front of me, and a light breeze catching up my hair, I listened to the musical notes that issued from the record player charmed to play any song on demand that Lyla gave me for my birthday.
Someone interrupted my ponderings by asking, “Needed to get away from the castle?”
I smiled slightly upon recognizing that someone’s voice and opened my eyes. Regulus was hovering on his broom, as confident and collected as ever.
“Yes. I wanted a bit of peace. This is where I go to be alone,” I said, looking around contentedly.
“Well if that isn’t a hint I don’t know what is,” he said, raising his eyebrow and starting to turn his broom around.
“It’s not a hint,” I said earnestly. “Honestly.”
He seemed doubtful but looked around as well and said, “This is where I come to be alone too.”
It really was peaceful out here with the birds chirping and the wind rustling the trees and stands.
The conversation came to a slightly awkward pause and it looked as if he was going to turn away but before he could, I asked bluntly, “Do you want to be lab partners in potions?” Regulus looked surprised.
“Aren’t you working with that Hufflepuff?”
“Liam ditched me for some pretty Ravenclaw girl.” I rolled my eyes. “So much for loyalty.”
He narrowed his and cut straight to the point. “Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?” I asked.
“Befriending me.” Oh, that.
“I’m doing it because…” Because I always saw him walking the corridors alone? Because I’d never seen him smile before in my life, not even when he caught the snitch? Because it was the Hufflepuff way?
“Because you seem like you could use someone in your corner.”
In one fluid motion Regulus gracefully swung off his broom, landed on the bench before me, and started pacing with a frown.
“I don’t need anyone.” I gave a derisive laugh.
“If you believe that then you’re a lot stupider than I thought.”
Instead of bursting into a rage like I expected him to, he actually grinned. It was the first time I had ever seen him smile and it was not at all like I expected. Instead of cruel and sarcastic it was boyish and infectious and softened all his harsh features, bringing out dimples I didn’t even know he had.
“That’s the meanest thing I’ve ever heard you say,” he said, sounding immensely amused.
“Don’t sound so pleased!” I scolded.
“Well. We can agree to disagree. I have a whole foolproof argument to back up my belief, and I suppose you have some thoughts too,” he added as I opened my mouth to protest, “but it’s too nice of a day to enjoy a fight.”
“Alright,” I said reluctantly.
At that moment a spiky haired figure came flying out of nowhere and comes to a swift halt in front of the two of us.
“Enjoying a little chat are we?” Madam Hooch asked, her eyes piercing into us. Before either of us could answer she said, “As you both know the quidditch stands are not open to the public and an appointment must be made before use.”
Now, I had sat on these bleachers many a time without so much as a murmur from her or anyone else, so I had to assume that Regulus was the problem, most likely because it was a well known fact that the Slytherins liked to play dirty and Hooch took this as a personal slight.
“Yes, Madam Hooch we do know,” I answered in as reasonable a tone as I could muster. “But the thing is Reg here uses quidditch as a way to cope with the day's trials,” I said, good naturedly slapping his back and ignoring the many different faces he was throwing my way. “It’s sort of therapeutic for him, you know how it is. Burning off steam in a healthy, even beneficial way. Mel does it all the time.”
At the mention of one of her favorite students in the history of Hogwarts (and my relation to them) Hooch softened just the tiniest of bits.
“I suppose there are worse ways to exert your energy. Merlin knows Potter’s way is much more destructive. Well, get on your brooms then and don’t be out past dark or I’ll deliver you both to Filch myself,” she finished gruffly and departed.
As soon as she is gone Regulus confronts me. “Reg?” He looked at me like I'm a madwoman.
“Yeah. Reg,” I said defensively. “Everyone needs a nickname.”
“Not you too,” he muttered exasperatedly.
“Who else gave you a nickname?” I asked, intrigued.
“You sister,” he bit out, glaring daggers at me. I beamed.
“How is she, by the way?” and sounded as if he was actually curious about the answer.
“Perfectly fine. She was discharged yesterday,” I told him.
“Good,” he said awkwardly. Then, as if he couldn’t help himself, reverted back to the original conversation. “If everyone needs a nickname, what’s your nickname then?” he pushed.
“Rissy,” I answered.
“People call you that?” he asked dubiously.
“Mel and Lyla do.”
“Do I have to call you that?” He sounded repulsed by the very thought of it.
“No, but you have to let me call you Reg,” I said, compromising. At this he sighed rather dramatically in my opinion, and grumbled, “Fine,” but I could see the shadow of a smile that he tried to hide.
I grinned and patted the spot on the ground next to me. He hesitated before carefully sitting down with his legs crossed.
“Reg, huh?” he said, testing it out.
“Great right?” I asked.
“Hmph,” was all he said, but the corner of his mouth twitched up just the same.
One song slid effortlessly into the next song and still we sat there listening until twilight faded to dusk and dusk to dark. Regulus didn’t get any practicing in but he didn’t seem to mind as we hiked back up to the castle together.