Chapter five
“What in Godric’s name are you doing?” Holly asked, thoroughly confused. When he had said ‘fine’ she had assumed he was relenting, however that did not seem to be the case.
“I’m sitting.”
“Well I can see that, I mean why are you sitting? Why are you sitting here?”
Regulus shot her a look like she was stupid.
“You refused to move. I wanted to sit here. I am sitting.”
Ah, so this was his plan. Annoy her out of her seat. Touche Slytherin, but two can play at this game. Holly shifted over to allow Black more room, and then gave him a slightly sarcastic smile.
"I’m so glad we could reach a compromise,” she said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. Regulus Black just stared at her for another moment before turning to look out the window. He was stubborn, but Holly knew she was worse. They both sat in silence for sometime, before she took her book out of her bag, wanting to prove she was truly unbothered. She was bothered, of course, but Black certainly didn’t need to know that.
As she read, she could feel his gaze on her, though she refused to look up and meet it. She tried to bury herself in the words on the page, but she wasn’t retaining any of what she read. Her mind was firmly stuck on the boy next to her. Regulus Black was her age, a fifth year. As she snuck looks at him, she was startled by his resemblance to his brother. They had the same face shape, all sharp angles and pale skin. Their hair was also the same in color. A dark black that seemed to absorb the light around it. Sirius Black’s eyes were darker, she thought, brown instead of this strange pale grey. And Sirius had long hair, reaching closer to his shoulders. Regulus had shorter hair, curling just at his ears. He was also a bit taller than Sirius it seemed, though she’d need to see them together to be sure. Holly was confident they would never be mistaken as strangers. The boys really did look the same.
Regulus had taken to staring out the window, allowing her to observe him freely now, as she assumed he had been doing to her moments ago. She wondered idly if he recognized her, knew who she was. They had shared classes for nearly 5 years now, and she surely knew him.
“You know,” Black drawled, startling Holly so badly she almost dropped her book, “staring is a nasty habit.”
Holly scoffed, trying to hide her surprise. She hadn't been subtle with her looks she knew, but she hadn't expected him to mention it. That was another thing the Black brothers had in common it seemed, speaking freely. “So is inviting yourself to sit somewhere, but here we are Black.” The boy raised an eyebrow at her harsh tone but smirked regardless.
“You know, I expected you to scurry off by now.”
“You’ll have to keep waiting, I'm afraid. Us Hufflepuffs are quite stubborn.”
He snorted at this, finally adjusting his perfect posture to relax, if only a minuscule amount.
“Yes I suppose you are. What are you doing here past curfew anyways? Hufflepuffs aren’t known rule breakers.”
“That’s just because we don’t get caught. I was feeling claustrophobic in my room I suppose. Why are you down here?”
Black pursed his lips thinking for a moment. He didn’t seem as awful as the rumors had made him out to be. He was sitting here, carrying out casual conversation after all.
“I suppose you could say I also felt confined in my room.”
Holly stared at him, but didn’t pry. She had always considered herself good at reading people. In fact, her friends often commented that they’d never play any bluffing games with her. She had always had a habit of just knowing things. Regulus Black was different though. His face was a mask of emotion he chose to let others see. Not completely closed off, but not open either. Dishonest, deceiving, strategic. She was impossibly curious as she continued to study him. She stared for another moment before returning to her book, actually able to read this time. She was more relaxed then she ever thought she could be with someone like Black, though she certainly wasn’t letting her guard down.
They sat in a slightly awkward, but mostly comfortable silence, for a while. Holly was unsure how long, but she was able to read almost two chapters of her book. Finally Regulus Black stood. He picked up his bag and began to walk away before pausing, his back still facing her.
“Get back to your dorm. The Prefects patrol here soon,” then after a moment he added, “Have a good night Elwood.” Before walking away and out of the library.
Huh. So he did know her name.