Friends?
Regulus wasn't particularly surprised. Of course, he was destined to end up in Slytherin, even though it wasn’t his first choice. He had hoped to be sorted into the house known for its ambition and drive, longing to make his family proud. However, he also thought that if he were placed in the same house as his brother, it might bring them closer together and strengthen their bond.
Regulus never had friends, except for Sirius, of course. But even then, they weren’t truly friends. Regulus didn't like Sirius all that much, even though their parents adored him. It annoyed Regulus how Sirius could continually embarrass their family and yet still be the favorite. While Sirius seemed to effortlessly draw their parents' approval, Regulus felt he had to work tirelessly to gain even a tiny bit of their pride. He tried his best to meet their expectations and uphold the family’s honor, but it never seemed enough. Sirius, on the other hand, didn't seem to care at all about their parents' approval and yet received it without any effort.
He had found someone cool though, Evan Rosier. He had met him before, their parents were friends but Regulus had never spoken to him. He didn’t really like to talk, but Evan had started a conversation when they found out they were roommates. He was okay, but he talked quite a lot. Not as much as Sirius, but Regulus didn’t like that. He preferred looking at people while they talked, not listen, but look, stare. He tried to read their lips, for some reason he always found that interesting.
Evan had gradually become a friend to Regulus. At least, that’s what Evan claimed, though Regulus never really thought about making friends. He liked being alone, but there was something comforting about having someone nearby while he studied. The sound of Evan’s voice was soothing as he talked about different things. For some reason, Regulus felt safer listening to Evan talk about how sad he was because his sister got sorted into Ravenclaw.
He had met someone else, Bartemius. He was the minister's son. Regulus thought he should stay away from him, especially since his parents had told him not to be friendly with anyone from another house. But Ravenclaws weren’t bad; they weren’t so different. He liked Bartemius, or Barty as he preferred to be called. Regulus thought the nickname was unnecessary, but he didn’t mind it. Barty was quite loud, but he was funny. Regulus enjoyed spending time with him.
At the end of the school year, when both he and Sirius were heading back home, Regulus felt a sense of dread. He didn’t want to go back and face the way their parents always treated Sirius like a god. No matter how hard Regulus tried, he was always told he should be better, should try harder. Regulus hated it; he hated them for it. He liked his cousin Narcissa, but she was a teenager and didn’t have time for him.
There was a certain peace in solitude, a calm that he couldn't find around others. Yet, Barty’s presence was different. It didn’t disrupt his peace; it added a layer of warmth to it. Regulus found himself looking forward to the moments they spent together, even if he didn’t fully understand why. Barty’s loudness and humor were a stark contrast to the quiet Regulus usually sought, but somehow, it worked. It made the long hours of study and the pressures of living up to his family’s expectations a little easier to bear.
He liked being alone, not lonely, but alone.