Chapter 1
It started with what felt like an itch in his throat, although Regulus had assumed it was from all the pollen. The cypress trees were releasing so much pollen Regulus knew his allergies would act up. He curses his entire bloodline for making him so susceptible through generations of inbreeding. All he would love to do is laze around under the trees with Pandora, reading.
Unfortunately, he was forced by the latter to stop by Pomfreys’ office to get a Pepper-Up potion. They usually work. On this random Thursday in early April, they did not have any effect on Regulus.
Regulus woke up on Friday morning the itch in his throat persistent. This angered him as he does not get sick and refuses to miss any classes. It is just a sore throat yes, but the feeling of it almost chokes him to the point it feels impossible to talk. Nonetheless he goes about his morning routine, gargling with salt water in hopes to rid himself of his sore throat. It’s the one tip Walburga had given him when he was younger, as “Blacks are not so weak that we become afflicted by such muggle diseases.”
What a load of bullshit. Every interaction with Walburga has Regulus being pushed closer and closer to following in his brother’s footsteps.
Regulus is finally ready, the itch reduced slightly. Feeling slightly better he goes over to wake up Barty and Evan, how they are still asleep Regulus does not understand. He is up at the same time every day. His body won’t let him sleep past a certain time. Jealousy courses through him for a second but dissipates quickly as he decides it’s stupid to be jealous about.
Regulus feels satisfied with how he wakes them every morning. They moved their beds together and always end up in the middle, right where the two beds meet. Regulus smirks then quickly performs the Locomotor charm pulling Barty’s bed from Evans. They both fall to the floor with a loud thump.
Regulus smirks.
“What the fuck was that for! Fuck off Regulus.”
His smirk drops. The ungrateful little cunt. Every morning Regulus wakes them up and every morning this is what he gets. Or a version of this.
“Get your asses up, it’s time to leave, Merlin knows how you two get ready in 15 minutes.” Regulus rolls his eyes.
“We save water and time by showering together.” Barty says while raising his eyebrows and smirking.
“Yes, it's very efficient.” Evan says directly after, while laughing.
Merlin. These two are always finishing each other's sentences, it makes Regulus want to use a certain spell.
“Whatever I’m leaving without you today, I want to get breakfast before I have to deal with anymore of your guys’ lust.” He shivers just thinking about it. Just to be dramatic of course. It is his specialty.
Barty gasps just as dramatically. “It is not lust, how dare you! We are madly in love.” He smooches up to Evan to prove his point, but is easily shoved away.
Regulus leaves very soon after, speed walking to the Great Hall, letting out a small cough. He makes a bee-line for the Slytherin table sitting down next to Dorcas, grabbing himself a plateful of breakfast.
“Good morning to you too Regulus.”
Regulus just raises his hand to her in a greeting before continuing to scarf down his food. Dorcas rolls her eyes used to his quiet moods, she turns around intending to beckon Pandora over to eat with them, but spots Marlene Mckinnon already looking at her. Dorcas is caught off guard for a second but stares back just as unabashedly. Neither can tell who looks away first as they seem to do it simultaneously.
In both Dorcas and Marlene’s mind they believe themselves to be the winner of their tense staring contest.
“Just shag her and get it over with.”
Dorcas chokes on her cranberry juice.
“Oh, now you want to talk to me, you little shit?”
Regulus shrugs, going back to eating his food. Dorcas sighs heavily, and starts staring into the side of his head. She does that so often, because she knows it unnerves him and gets him talking.
After 3 minutes and 20 seconds of silence, because yes Dorcas counts every time, intending to achieve a shorter time. And everytime it gets shorter and shorter, much to Regulus’s dismay.
“I have a sore throat, okay?”
“Not in the mood to talk much today.”
Dorcas laughs loudly. “Awww poor baby Regulus, his throat hurts.”
“Shut up, this is why I don’t tell you guys anything.” Regulus says irately.
“Yeah I’m sure us making fun of you is the reason you have trust issues and not your broken family.” Dorcas flatly states.
Regulus rolls his eyes and looks around the Great Hall for Pandora, needing sympathy from someone who can give it to him. Instead of spotting her though, his eyes are dragged to the Gryffindor table. His brother and his gaggle of friends are there, all laughing entirely too loud for him to stand on this wonderful morning. Regulus scowls while scanning the friend group, subconsciously looking for a certain tan skinned, brown haired boy.
Once he spots the infamous James Potter his scowl lightens up a fraction, hardly noticeable to anyone else but those who know him best. A small cough followed.
“Stop ogling James Potter, Reggie.” comes a familiar, annoying voice from his left. Regulus snaps his head over.
Barty.
“Shut up Bartemius.” A loud gasp is heard throughout the Great Hall, silence follows for a moment while people stare at them. It resumes shortly after though, as it usually does when people hear loud noises in spaces where they aren't usual.
Barty slams himself down next to Regulus, Evan following, sitting next to Barty. He punches Regulus in the arm.
“Ow! What the fuck was that for you shithead?”
“That was for using my whole Ministry of Magic issued name in public, I thought we had agreed it was never to be brought up.”
“Yes and I thought you were able to keep your mouth shut but I guess we were both wrong…”
“And I was not ogling Potter.” Regulus says defiantly.
“Sure you weren’t, if that’s the lie you must tell to get some sleep at night, I guess we can believe it.” Evan chimes in.
“I hate you all.” Regulus says as he stands and heads out of the Great Hall. Back at their designated spots, Barty, Dorcas, and Evan all agree that he loves them.