Chapter 3
"How can someone be that self-centered!" Regulus slammed his head on the table, exasperated.
From the other end of the line, Pandora made a knowing sound. It was a good thing his parents were out, and he had managed to sneak his phone back.
"So what I'm hearing is you like him—"
"WHAT? THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS!" Regulus interrupted, his face flushing.
"Reg, you've been talking about him for two hours and described him as cute, endearing—"
Beep.
Regulus ended the call and fell back onto his bed, feeling a mix of frustration and confusion.
Pandora
07:2
I spoke the truth
Regulus tried to close his eyes, but all he saw was that dopey, infuriating grin. Goddamnit.
The next day, Regulus found himself doodling in the middle of class. On the upper side of his calculus notes, he started scribbling. At first, it was a circle, then he added a few triangles on top. Ah, shit.
In the end, it looked like an eye. He started gnawing on the end of his pen, something he only did when he was deep in thought. Why was he thinking so hard?
Evan tapped him on the shoulder. "What's the answer to number 3?" he whispered.
"Figure it out yourself."
Evan rolled his eyes in annoyance, eventually glancing at what Regulus was so preoccupied with. "Whose eye is that?" Evan stared at the doodle.
"No one important. Keep doing your seatwork."
"Really? No one important?"
"I will stab this pencil into your throat if you don't shut up."
Evan backed away. "You are getting creative with these death threats."
Regulus scoffed. "What did you need help with?"
Evan smiled, showing him the paper.
Regulus quickly scanned Evan's paper, his mind momentarily distracted from his doodles. "Alright, look," he said, pointing to the problem. "You need to apply the derivative here. See this function? Just follow the chain rule."
Evan nodded, scribbling down notes as Regulus explained. "You really do love me."
Regulus waved him off, but as Evan turned back to his work, Regulus's thoughts drifted once again to the sketch on his paper. The eye he'd drawn seemed to stare back at him, and without thinking, he picked up his pen and began shading it in with meticulous detail. The more he worked on it, the more it resembled a familiar shade of blue.
The bell rang, snapping Regulus out of his trance. He gathered his books and notes, shoving them into his bag as he made his way to his next class. His mind was still preoccupied with the image of the eye lingering in his thoughts.
Regulus unknowingly tuned out Remus's chatter as he watched the Year 13s specifically the boy who was ahead of everybody with brown hair and an annoyingly cute pair of glasses do track and field.
His head snapped back to Remus when he heard the older boy snicker.
"Don't even think about it," Regulus warned.
"I didn't even say anything," Remus replied, feigning innocence.
"I know what you're thinking," Regulus insisted, narrowing his eyes.
Remus shrugged and continued eating the rest of his lunch.
This was getting annoying. He had a test and needed to focus. So why couldn't he focus? Too many things were going on in his mind—
Taking a deep breath, Regulus tried to push all those thoughts aside. He had to get through this day, through this test. But as he glanced back at his doodle, he couldn't help but wonder why everything kept circling back to James.
And why that dopey grin wouldn’t leave his mind.
He needed a distraction.
Remus
02: 43
you said you needed more brushes right?
—
"Hey, thanks for coming with me," Remus's voice reminded him, pulling him back to reality. They were in an art store to buy Remus some new paintbrushes.
"Yeah, no, it's fine. I was going to buy some colored pencils anyway," Regulus replied.
They separated for a bit, Remus going to the paintbrushes while Regulus went to the colored pencils. He scanned the multiple colors.
The deep gray that had been his favorite since he was a child suddenly wasn't as appealing.
Especially next to the blues.
Regulus scanned the colors once more, but his eyes kept returning to the blues. He sighed loudly, succumbing to his thoughts and approaching the color section.
Why was he smiling? Regulus pushed the thought out of his head as he took a very light shade of blue that reminded him of something he couldn't quite pinpoint.
"Is that all for today?" the man at the cashier asked. Remus nodded for Regulus, who was still trying to figure out what the blue reminded him of.
"The weather's nice today, isn't it?" the man said, speaking directly to Regulus.
Regulus nodded slightly, crossing his arms.
"And your hair is nice," the man added, a flirtatious smile playing on his lips.
Regulus scowled at the comment not giving it any mind as Remus looked shocked at how blatantly the man was flirting.
As they left the art supply store, Regulus was fuming over Remus’s insistence that the cashier had been flirting with him. The idea seemed ridiculous, but Remus had been so certain.
"He was flirting with you!" Remus said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Regulus rolled his eyes in disbelief. "No, he wasn't."
"Reg, trust me, I know flirting when I see it," Remus insisted, leaning in as if to emphasize his point.
Regulus scoffed. "Oh really, Lupin?"
Remus feigned an accusatory expression, crossing his arms dramatically. "I ignore it by choice. You, on the other hand, are blissfully unaware when people are flirting with you."
"Sure," Regulus muttered, clearly not buying it.
Their banter continued, well until someone commits attempted murder on them
"What the hell!" he exclaimed.
Oh blue.
James was pushing the cart, an apologetic smile on his face. "Sorry about that! Didn’t mean to almost flatten you."
Sirius, sat inside the cart along with a mountain of plastic cups, called out with mock indignation.
"Geez, Reg, I know you miss me, but you don’t need to follow me everywhere."
Remus looked at the strange setup—carts, cups, a hose, and several buckets—he raised an eyebrow. "I don't even want to ask."
Regulus’s initial annoyance faded into curiosity as he inspected the peculiar contents of the cart. He caught James’s eye, which was twinkling with mischief. "What are you two up to now?" he asked, crossing his arms and trying to sound uninterested.
"Just gathering supplies for a little project," James said, his tone playful and slightly evasive.
"A project?" Regulus’s curiosity was piqued despite himself. He couldn’t help but let his gaze linger on James, trying to decipher the mystery behind those twinkling blue eyes.
Sirius grinned from inside the cart, his voice muffled by the cups. "A very important one. But you know, we could always use an extra pair of hands."
Regulus rolled his eyes but couldn’t help a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I think I'll pass. I don’t want to become an accomplice in whatever dumb thing you’re doing."
James chuckled, his gaze never leaving Regulus’s. "Your loss," he said with a wink. "But if you change your mind, you know where to find us."
As James and Sirius wheeled their cart away, Remus nudged Regulus with a knowing smile. "See? Flirting."
Regulus’s face felt like it was on fire. "Shut up, Lupin."
“Well i've gotta get going” Remus smiled as he skipped along to somewhere that was definitely not his house, but who was Regulus to speculate
Later that night, Regulus found himself using the blue pencil fairly quickly
It was his new favourite colour after all
—
It had been a while since regulus went to the library he had been holed up in the musical building for the past week in order to prepare for the musical recital that was months away.
Entering the library, Regulus spotted something no, someone unnatural
Sirius lounging in his seat with an unmistakable smug expression. Sirius’s eyes lit up when he saw Regulus approaching.
"Regulus," Sirius called out, waving his brother over with an easygoing charm. "Sit with me."
Regulus hesitated, then took a seat next to Sirius, a sigh escaping his lips. "What do you want?"
"Just to talk," Sirius said, leaning back in his chair. His tone was unusually serious. "You've been a bit skittish lately."
"Was I?" Regulus’s heart thumped. He hadn't realized his anxiety was that apparent.
"Yeah," Sirius continued, his gaze steady. "Dorcas mentioned you didn’t even respond when the teacher called on you the other day."
Regulus’s cheeks flushed. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Sure you don’t. But just so you know, if you ever need to talk about anything, I’m here."
Regulus looked away, his throat tightening. He had always admired Sirius, even when his brother left home to make his own way. Sirius’s sudden concern was touching but also overwhelming. "Why do you care?" Regulus asked quietly.
"Because you’re my brother," Sirius replied simply. "And I care about you."
Regulus felt a lump form in his throat, struggling to keep his emotions in check. "I’m fine."
Sirius’s frown deepened. "Just know that I’m here for you, Reg. I’m not going anywhere."
Regulus’s feelings were a tangled mess. He had always looked up to Sirius, but this display of concern was catching him off guard. "I know," he mumbled, his voice barely audible. "It’s just... complicated."
"Complicated how?" Sirius asked, his expression softening with genuine curiosity. "Is it something going on at school? Or with Mum and Dad?"
Regulus shook his head. "No, it’s not them. It’s just... everything. And this one guy—"
"A guy?" Sirius’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Tell me more."
Regulus’s face flushed. "It’s not like that. He’s just... annoying. He keeps popping up in my thoughts, and I can’t shake him." And he's also your best friend Regulus thought of saying this but he decided It would be better left unsaid.
Sirius’s eyes gleamed with understanding. "Ah, I see. Well, if you ever want to talk about it—or anything else—I’m here."
Sirius gave Regulus a supportive pat on the shoulder.
Regulus rolled his eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips. "That was disgusting."
"Oh, come on," Sirius said with a mock pout. "I’m trying to be a good brother here."
"Go away," Regulus said with a playful shove. "I can’t be seen with you. I have a reputation to maintain."
Sirius grinned. "That reputation would be greatly enhanced if people saw you with your cool brother."
"Sure, ‘cool’," Regulus replied, smirking despite himself.
Sirius winked at him. "Exactly. And remember, I’m here for you, whether you want me to be or not."
—
Regulus slipped off his shoes and tossed them aside, then collapsed onto his bed, the weight of the week finally crashing down on him. He lay there, staring up at the ceiling, trying to block out the worries and the chaos of the past few days.
"Regulus."
The sound of his mother's voice jolted him upright. He turned to see her standing in the doorway, her presence as commanding as it was unsettling.
"Yes, Mother?" he replied hurriedly, his voice trembling slightly.
"Up," she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. It was a command, not a request.
Regulus scrambled to his feet, trying to steady himself as he stood before her. "What is it?" he asked, feeling a sense of dread settle in his chest.
"The principal called about your extracurriculars, or the lack there off." she said, her eyes sharp and unyielding. They pierced through him with a coldness that made him shiver.
Regulus swallowed hard.
—
"There aren't any open positions here, sorry," the club coordinator said, not even looking up from her paperwork.
How was he even supposed to find a new extracurricular in a week? He felt a wave of frustration and panic wash over him. Leave it to the Black family to put up such unrealistic expectations.
Regulus wandered the corridors of the school, his mind racing. He needed to find something quickly, or face his mother's wrath.
He passed the chest club, the science lab, and the art studio, but none of them had openings. Every time he asked, he was met with the same response: no available positions. His heart sank further with each rejection.
—
Regulus slumped onto a bench in the courtyard, feeling defeated. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the cobblestones, and students bustled around, laughing and chatting. It all felt so distant, like he was trapped in a different world altogether.
He thought back to a conversation he had a few days ago with James Potter. James, always full of ideas and suggestions, had mentioned the Production Crew for the school play. Regulus hadn’t given it much thought at the time, but now it seemed like his last hope.
He was going to regret this.
—
Regulus approached the drama department, the faint sounds of bustling activity growing louder as he got closer. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
A tall, bespectacled girl opened it, looking at him curiously. "Can I help you?"
"Hi, I was wondering if you had any openings on the Production Crew? I heard you might need help with scripts and planning," Regulus said, trying to sound confident.
The girl smiled. "We need a writer, especially with the upcoming production. Come on in, I’m Alice, Professor Trelawney's assistant."
Regulus stepped inside, feeling the weight on his shoulders lighten. He was greeted by a room full of masks, paper, and props, the papers scattered around.
"We’re kind of low on writers, as you can see," Alice laughed. "You’ve come at the right time, Regulus."
She ushered him into a chair behind a desk.
"Production starts on Wednesday."
"Do you not need my credentials or—"
He was cut off by Alice’s laugh. "We’re desperate," she said in a more serious tone.
"What even is the production?" Regulus asked.
Alice laughed but then looked at Regulus’s face, realizing he wasn’t joking. "Oh, wait, you’re not kidding? You really don’t know?"
The girl in front of him stared. "I didn’t think Regulus Black would be the type to get involved in things blindly. I thought that was your brother's thing."
He shrugged. "I was desperate."
"Wait, I didn’t even tell you my name," Regulus said, noticing his confusion.
Alice smiled at him. "You’re not very incognito, Regulus."
He sighed. "But seriously, what did I just sign up for?"
She sat down across from him, her grin widening. "Glad you asked."
—
Barty huffed out a laugh, barely able to breathe. "You—Regulus Arcturus Black—joined a drama/film club production?" he gasped, clearly enjoying the irony of the situation.
Regulus glared at him, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. The last thing he wanted was for this to become a subject of mockery.
"I’m telling everyone," Barty declared with a smirk, clearly relishing the moment.
"You wouldn’t dare," Regulus warned, his voice low and intense.
Barty scoffed. "Oh, but I would. This is too good to keep to myself."
Regulus sighed deeply, rubbing his temples in frustration. "Fine, but if you value our friendship, you’ll at least help me figure out what I’m actually supposed to be doing."
Barty’s grin softened slightly. "Aww, Reg, you consider me a friend."
Regulus rolled his eyes. "Never mind, I'll ask Evan."
"NO!" Barty said, grabbing Regulus’s arm. "This is great. I’m actually intrigued. Let me help."
Regulus looked at him warily. "Are you serious?"
"Absolutely," Barty said, his tone shifting to one of genuine interest.
Regulus hesitated but then nodded. "Alright, if you’re really up for it."
Barty’s eyes sparkled with mischief and excitement. "Trust me, I am very willing it’s not every day I get to see the great Regulus Black struggling with something this out of his comfort zone."
As they walked back into the auditorium, Regulus showed Barty around, pointing out the various masks and props that had been curated for the upcoming production. The room was a creative chaos, with bits and pieces of sets and costumes scattered about, giving it an oddly inviting atmosphere. The clutter was a stark contrast to the controlled environment of Regulus's usual life, but it felt strangely liberating.
Alice, who had been observing from a distance, approached them with a friendly smile. "Hi, you must be Barty."
"Right, and you must be Alice?" Barty replied, giving her a nod.
She smiled warmly. "Yes, that's me."
"Well, have fun with the saddest story ever—"
Before Barty could finish his sentence, Regulus threw a notebook at his face. "Ignore him, please."
Barty caught the notebook with a stunned expression, then looked at Regulus with a mix of amusement and surprise. Regulus took the stack of papers from Alice, giving her a nod of appreciation. "Thanks, Alice. I’ll get on it."
Alice waved as she left. "No problem. I’ll see you Wednesday!"
As Alice departed, Regulus and Barty began sifting through the scripts, brainstorming ideas.
The creative process was engaging, but after a few hours, Barty grew bored and decided to leave. "I’m heading out, Reg. See you around."
Regulus nodded, his focus already back on the scripts.
—
Later that evening, Regulus was at home when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and saw a new message from an unfamiliar number:
Unknown number
Hi, is this Regulus?
It's Alice. Barty gave me your number.
We have a meeting on Wednesday! You'll meet Professor Trelawney and the others it's in the ouditorium
Regulus read the message, blinking a few times in disbelief. He pinched himself, half-expecting to wake up from what felt like an elaborate dream. But no, it was real. He was going to be part of a student film project, and soon he would meet Professor Trelawney and the rest of the team.
He stared at the message, his thoughts swirling. Why was this his life?
He was used to being in control of every detail in his life, but this new project was an entirely different realm. He had never done anything like this before.
As he tried to fall asleep, thoughts of scripts, characters, and the upcoming meeting with Professor Trelawney and the other students buzzed in his mind. And God the teasing that would come from this, especially from his brother.
But when he managed to finally calm down his mind and close his eyes
A calm baby blue was all he saw