Detention

"I should get going now. Professor Rider just left." Regulus explained and Evan nodded in agreement. "That's better." he said and Barty snorted. "The old woman has something against you." Barty grumbled, annoyed. Regulus sighed tiredly and stood up from the dinner table. He was just tired. The day had been long and tiring, with lots of practical lessons and Quidditch training, and he just wanted to get this involuntary meeting over with.

He mumbled a tired farewell and left the Great Hall.

Professor Slughorn had been easy enough to convince to be discreet in front of his parents. He knew that Regulus was a reliable student. Besides, he was a favourite of the old professor.

Stifling a yawn, the Slytherin climbed the stairs and it seemed like an eternity before he arrived in front of the DADA professor's old office door. He fixed his hair and posture and tried to look as composed as possible before knocking three times. It only took a brief moment before Rider invited him in.

The door creaked as Regulus pushed it open and entered the room. A few candles lit up the spacious office, the dim light illuminated the rum only sparsely and there was an unfamiliar odour in the office. Regulus could see many artefacts on the shelves along the walls, some of which were under glass domes or housed in cages. One of these artefacts caught his eye. It was an inconspicuous grey stone sphere standing on top of one of the shelves. It showed irregular abrasions and offered something captivating.

"Mr Black?" Professor Rider asked quietly, snapping him out of his thoughts. He realised with shame that he had simply stopped in the room to look at the unknown sphere. "You must be lost in thought again, Mr Black," the professor stated calmly and Regulus felt the blood rush to his face at the embarrassment. "Well...I...it...." he stammered and he immediately bit his tongue. A Black did not stammer.

"Sit down, Mr Black," his counterpart, who was already sitting behind her desk, asked calmly. He hurriedly turned to the door to close it, only to find that it was already closed. Had he already closed it? But when-

"...Mr Black? You wanted to sit down." Professor Rider's voice reminded him calmly. Regulus wheeled round to face her and nodded hurriedly, still not trusting his voice. He stepped over to the desk and sat down in the chair opposite the teacher. The strange odour was even stronger here, but....es was a pleasant smell. Regulus decided he liked him and took a deep breath. Rider smiled mildly at him and waited patiently for her to catch his gaze. "You look tired, Mr Black," she said quietly, with a gentleness Regulus didn't recognise from her. He forced himself to nod again and hummed slightly. "A cup of tea will help you," the professor explained calmly and stood up. Her movement caused Regulus to tear his gaze away from the candle flame in front of him. Confused, he blinked. When had he started watching the light of the candle? Professor Rider began to hum softly and, with a tap of her wand, heated water against a kettle. Steam rose into the air and billowed in beautiful shapes towards the ceiling. Regulus had to smile as he watched the steam. Only slowly did he realise that the professor had stopped humming and was talking to him instead while she prepared the tea.

"....You seem to have a slight attention deficit....." Her words flowed past him like water and as much as he wanted to hear what she was going to say, he found it hard to follow what she was saying. Did it even matter? He found it hard to let go of his carefree attitude. Not when the flickering shadows seemed to dance on the walls.

Rider sat down opposite him and pushed a cup of tea towards him. "Were you listening to me, Mr Black?" she asked quietly and Regulus smiled sheepishly. "Sorry.....I was distracted." he said meekly and the professor nodded with a sigh. "That's what I thought. Drink it," she asked him gently and Regulus nodded. He took the cup and drank a sip. It was an indefinable flavour that he had never tasted before. But just like the smell, which had become stronger and stronger, Regulus liked it. So he drank a few more sips.

"Mr Black?" Professor Rider asked calmly and there was something lulling about her tone. Confused, he looked at her. "You need to concentrate now..... concentrate on my voice...." she said calmly, holding Regulus' gaze with her own. Regulus swallowed and stared into the blue eyes of his counterpart. The warmth of the tea, seemed to settle into his stomach and radiate into his limbs. Nothing mattered anymore. There was only....it was all....

"That's right...you can relax...concentrate on just my voice......." the voice whispered and Regulus felt good about obeying it. It seemed from now on that the swivelling light swung back and forth in front of his eyes. With tired eyes, Regulus followed the beautiful light.

"You're doing very well....I'm proud of you...." whispered the voice, right next to his ear.

He smiled. Proud of him....that was nice.....

"You trust Variana Rider....she can help you....." the voice whispered and Regulus nodded barely visibly. Yes....he trusted Variana Rider....

He felt, somewhere far away from him, someone stroking his back in praise.

"You often lose attention.....other things often seem so much more interesting....you lose yourself in your thoughts." the voice explained and Regulus nodded understandingly. Yes....again....yes....

"You took a test with me...to test yourself....you thought the test was good....you were satisfied..." the voice whispered. Regulus remembered clearly....the voice described everything and....yes....the bright office....Professor Rider's explanations....the test.....he had had to memorise images and procedures.....he had been lost in thought from time to time....but he had been satisfied with the result.....

A snap sounded in front of him and Regulus startled, dazed. Professor Rider pushed the teacup towards him. "Drink up, Mr Black. Your tea will get cold," the professor repeated and Regulus nodded dazedly. The bright light of the office made him squeeze his tired eyes shut and he straightened up slightly in his chair. He picked up his cup and looked again at the test in front of him. Not a bad activity for a detention in itself. Professor Rider had even made them tea to round off the evening. Regulus sipped his cup with behaviour. Definitely elderberry tea. Not one of Regulus' favourites, but-

"Mr Black? You're holding your cup askew." the professor smiled and he hurriedly looked down. Indeed. The red tea almost spilled out of the cup. He put the cup and saucer back down. "Excuse me, Professor....I seem to be overtired," he explained apologetically and she nodded in understanding. "Of course. You may go now."

———————

As Regulus descended to the dungeon, he felt different. But he couldn't say how......