Second Year
The Sorting Hat barely took a moment before announcing:
"SLYTHERIN!"
The Slytherin table erupted into applause as Regulus slid off the stool, his expression unreadable. Hyacinth watched as he made his way toward her, his steps careful, deliberate.
When he reached the table, she grabbed his wrist, squeezing it lightly before whispering, "I knew you’d end up here."
Regulus gave a small, tentative nod, but he couldn’t help the way his eyes flickered toward the Gryffindor table. Toward Sirius.
Sirius, who sat frozen, his grin from earlier wiped clean from his face.
James elbowed him. "Come on, mate. You knew that was coming."
Sirius forced a chuckle. Did I?
He kept his expression easy, but inside, something twisted uncomfortably. Maybe, somewhere deep down, he’d still hoped that Regulus wouldn’t follow the family path. Hoped he wouldn’t be the only one standing against them.
But now, there Regulus was, surrounded by green and silver, looking at home already.
Hyacinth’s gaze locked onto his from across the hall. He couldn’t quite place the emotion behind her expression, but they gave each other a slight nod. Hyacinth would take care of Regulus in ways that Sirius couldn’t.
Sirius tore his eyes away, shoving the ugly feeling of fear down as deep as it would go.
-
The first time Sirius ran into Regulus after the Sorting, it was awkward. They met in the corridor outside the Charms classroom. Sirius ruffled his hair like he always did, forcing a grin. "Guess you’re one of them now, huh?"
Regulus hesitated. "...I suppose."
Hyacinth, standing just behind him, narrowed her eyes. "You say that like it’s a bad thing."
Sirius scoffed, stepping back. "I’m just saying—thought maybe he’d be different."
Regulus shifted uncomfortably. He was different. He knew that. But different didn’t mean wrong. Hyacinth straightened, her voice cutting. "You’re acting like we’re strangers, Sirius."
Sirius shrugged, flashing a grin that didn’t reach his eyes. "Aren’t we?"
Then he walked away. Regulus exhaled slowly. Hyacinth didn’t say anything, but she looped her arm through his and squeezed.
"I don’t care what he thinks," Regulus muttered.
But they both knew that was a lie.
-
Andromeda had been different lately. She avoided certain conversations, brushed off discussions about the future, and spent more time in the library than anywhere else.
One night, they were in the Slytherin common room together, Narcissa was sitting by the fire reading a book. Hyacinth was on the armchair curled up, just thinking about ways to cheer Regulus up. Their elder sister was sitting across from them, using the coffee table as a writing desk. Her quill moved rapidly across the parchment. Hyacinth caught Andromeda writing a letter
She didn’t see the name on the parchment, but she saw the way Andromeda hid it too quickly.
Hyacinth tilted her head. "Who was that for?"
Andromeda forced a smile. "No one important."
But Hyacinth wasn’t stupid. Andromeda’s hands were trembling slightly.
"One day, Hyacinth," Andromeda said softly, "you’re going to have to make a choice. And it won’t be easy."
Hyacinth didn’t understand what she meant. Not yet.
-
It started as a joke.
Just a bit of fun. James, Peter, and Sirius had transfigured part of the dungeons into a swamp, making it impossible for students to pass through without sinking ankle-deep in murky water.
It was hilarious until Hyacinth stormed into the corridor, her robes dripping, her wand clenched tight in her fist. Her face icy with contempt.
The laughter died immediately.
"Sirius." Her voice was sharp and pointed.
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "You’re gonna have to be more specific. What exactly are you mad about?"
Hyacinth took a step forward. "Regulus was in there."
James scoffed. "Come off it, no one actually got hurt—"
Hyacinth’s eyes land on James, and she shoots him a sneer.
"He nearly fell." Her eyes flicked to Sirius, anger burning. "Do you even care?"
Sirius huffed, crossing his arms. "Regulus will be fine. What, you think a little swamp is going to kill him?"
Hyacinth’s grip on her wand tightened. "That’s not the point."
"Then what is?"
"You’re reckless," she spat. "You don’t think. You don’t care about anyone but yourself."
Something in Sirius snapped.
"Oh, I’m sorry—am I not living up to your Black family standards?" His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Should I be bowing and strategically planning my friendships, like a good little snake?"
Hyacinth’s face twisted. "You act like you hate us, Sirius, but you’re still a Black."
"Yeah?" Sirius took a step closer, voice low. "Well, maybe I don’t want to be."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The corridor was silent except for the distant echoes of students wading through the swamp.
Then Hyacinth turned on her heel and walked away. Sirius quickly turned away, and claps James on the back, “C’mon lets go Jamsie”
-
That night, in the Gryffindor common room, James, Peter, and Remus gathered around Sirius.
"She was bit of an ice queen," James said, tossing a chocolate frog in the air.
Remus hesitated. "I mean... she wasn’t wrong."
Sirius shot him a glare.
Remus sighed, leaning forward. "Look, I’m not saying we shouldn’t pull pranks. But maybe don’t put your little brother in danger."
"He wasn’t in danger," Sirius muttered.
"Hyacinth seems to think he was."
"Hyacinth thinks she knows everything." Sirius exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face. He was so tired of it. The way she clung to tradition, the way she acted like she was above it all while still playing into it.
Peter nodded, biting off a piece of pumpkin pasty. "She’s probably just mad because you embarrassed Slytherin."
Sirius didn’t respond. He knows Peter is wrong, Hyacinth doesn’t care about silly house rivalry. But later that night, as he lay in bed, he reached for his locket without thinking, tracing the words etched into the metal.
-
Hyacinth did not want to cry.
But as she found Narcissa in the Slytherin common room, her vision blurred, her chest tightened, and before she knew it, she was sobbing into her sister’s robes.
"I don’t understand," she choked out. "I don’t understand why he’s acting like this."
Narcissa sighed softly, running fingers through Hyacinth’s hair. "Sirius has always been like this. Stubborn. Reckless."
Hyacinth pulled back, eyes searching. "But he used to care."
"He still does," Narcissa murmured. "He just doesn’t know how to show it."
Hyacinth sniffled. "Then why does it feel like I’m losing him, he’s like a brother to me, Cissy."
Narcissa hesitated. Then, quietly: "Because you are."
Hyacinth’s heart clenched.
Narcissa held her close, whispering, "I know it hurts, Cinthie, but Sirius is making his own choice. You can’t control him, you can only control how you react"
Hyacinth shut her eyes, swallowing the lump in her throat.
But she didn’t feel any better.