Chapter four
After her mildly traumatizing conversation with the Marauders, Holly had gotten up and excused herself. The boys had only let her go after she promised they’d all talk again, perhaps somewhere more private. She really didn’t know what to do with herself. She was no longer safe in her room, the questions and harassments from her dorm mates unavoidable. Her wonderful evening of diner and a good book had been thoroughly tarnished. She racked her brain as she wandered the hall and finally decided to set course for the library. Technically it was ‘closed’ now, but the doors were never locked and she figured it was better than continuing her stroll through the halls past curfew.
Pushing open the heavy wooden doors, she breathed a sigh of relief when they didn’t creak. Thank Merlin for magic. She walked back towards a corner of the huge room. A small alcove sat tucked between bookshelves, a cushion pushed into the shelf created by a large window sill. This was one of her favorite places in the castle, though she rarely came here at this late. She never particularly had a reason to be out of her room after curfew, until tonight of course. The stained glass window had small holes that allowed her to see outside despite the coloring and she settled herself into the seat with a sigh. The moon shone through one of these holes, bright and very nearly full. She looked at it for quite a while, just collecting her thoughts. Could she really be angry with Remus- Lupin, she corrected- for telling his friends about their arrangement? He had kept the secret for nearly 5 years after all. She sighed again. Five years was a very long time, and those boys were closer than anyone she had ever met. They were practically attached.
No, she wasn’t mad. She couldn’t really be, she liked Remus too much for that. They were only a year apart, but something about him reminded her of her brother. She’d have to talk to him and apologize for how she reacted, maybe this would make planning pranks easier anyways.
Holly sat with her chin on her knees as she continued to think, staring at the moon. She didn’t notice the door opening silently. In fact, she didn’t notice anything amiss until a throat cleared next to her.
“Jesus Christ!” She yelped, nearly falling out of her seat. She had not been expecting company. Looking up she took in the boy who had scared the shit out of her. He was tall, lean, and had sharp, pale features. His eyes looked impossibly light in the candles, though they seemed colorless. Black hair fell over his forehead and a perfect eyebrow was arched as he stared at her. A green tie poked out of his sweater collar.
“You’re in my spot.”
His voice was soft, but not kind. Condescending. Aloof. She knew exactly who this was (she had been sitting across from his counterpart not long ago) and she felt her blood chill in her veins. Regulus Black.
“I uh- your spot?” She squeaked out, her voice coming across much higher than she would have liked. His eyes narrowed at her.
“Yes. My spot. I sit there. You need to move.”
His tone did not sit well with Holly and she scowled. Her mother had always told her she had no self preservation skills, and the bit of fear she had felt was quickly fading into something more dangerous.
“Well I don’t see your name on it.”
Black looked about like he wanted to strangle her and she bit down a shiver and an apology. Hufflepuffs were nothing if not stubborn.
“If you don’t move….” He threatened and she scoffed now thoroughly irate. Who did he think he was? Well other than pureblood royalty that is. He didn't seem to like her scoffing at him and his grip on his bag tightened. “Move.” He bit out.
“No.”
He seemed surprised, he really did. Holly guessed people didn’t tell the boy ‘no’ often. Or enough. She wasn’t going to back down though, the seat being the best in the library by far. Besides, he didn’t get to just claim anything he wanted.
“I’m a prefect,” He tried, scowling. “I’ll give you detention.” Holly laughed, which seemed to irk Black further, as his face began to flush a bit.
“No you won’t. If you could you would have led with that. I’m willing to bet you’re not supposed to be out about now either. I wonder how the head boy would feel about your abuse of power…” She trailed off. She knew full well that James Potter would only care because Black was a Slytherin. Besides, he kind of owed her at the moment. Holly watched Black’s face carefully. His fists were balled at his side, his lip curled, and his eyes glowing. He was the perfect picture of rage. Something in her felt a little guilty, not wanting to make him so upset over something so trivial, but she reminded herself what an arsehole he had been only a moment ago and her guilt faded. Finally the boy evened his expression and leveled her with a cold look.
“Fine then,” He said, his tone as even as ever. And then he sat next to her.