Chapter Sixteen
On nothing more than instinct, Holly flipped to a blank page in her book before looking up at the person who had attempted to get her attention. Polished shoes led to pressed pants and a crisp cloak rimmed with green. Her eyes met familiar grey, and she blinked in surprise. After his cruelty earlier she couldn’t understand why he’d be trying to get her attention now. After a moment of eye contact and strange silence, she spoke.
“Can I help you with something Black?” She was almost a little proud of the emotionless quality of her voice, glad the hurt she had buried was staying that way.
Regulus’ face was much more open, more friendly, than it had been before. It reflected more of how he looked the few times they had been together in the library more than how he seemed in potions.
“I don’t know anyone in this lesson.” He offered. Without waiting for any kind of response from Holly, he sat next to her. Far enough that they could be strangers, but close enough to possibly be friends. Something in the back of Holly’s mind flickered.
“You don’t know me,” She shot back, but didn’t move to get away from him. He shrugged the faintest smirk on his face as he held out a hand.
“Regulus Arcturus Black. Heir to the House of Black, it’s a pleasure.”
Holly stared at his outstretched hand. His fingers were long and pale, and she couldn’t help but notice what appeared to be pale, thin, scars along his fingertips. After a moment’s hesitation she put her hand in his, almost pulling away at the shockingly cold state of him.
“Holly Elwood. Pleasure.”
Regulus’ smirk seemed to grow just barley. “There. Now we know one another.” Holly raised an eyebrow.
“That’s not how knowing people works, Black,” She said, rolling her eyes. If she saw his nose wrinkle at the use of his last name, surely she was imagining it. “Knowing people means knowing things about them. All you know is my name.”
“That isn’t true,” He scoffed, “I know plenty.”
She waited for him to continue. Regulus’ face went from nearly white to just having a tinge of pink along his cheeks.
“Well, you’re a Hufflepuff for starters.” He gestured to her tie. “And you get to classes early.”
“That’s barely anything! My robes gave me away and you’re just guessing on the class thing because I got here before you.” She couldn’t help the laugh that punctuated her sentence, but stopped when she saw Regulus frowning.
“Then tell me something.”
Holly paused. The light-hearted feeling of the conversation had changed into something- different. Something serious, something deeper. He wanted to know her. But why? Why would someone like him, who had bullied her mere hours ago, want anything to do with her now? Regardless of knowing her judgment was poor she leaned forwards and rested her head against her palm.
“My favorite color is green.”
Regulus’ eyes met her and the ghost of a smirk was back, but this time something about it was more genuine. More of a smile.
“Orange.”