The Unruly

"Sometimes being offered tenderness feels like the very proof that you've been ruined." 

Ocean Vuong, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

Sunlight assaulted Arabella's eyes as she woke up in a room that was so dreary it could have rivaled Grimmauld Place.

As her surroundings settled in, she launched herself out of bed and grasped the door handle before pausing. 

Arabella's pulse quickened as she stood frozen before the door, uncertainty gnawing at her insides. Her mind raced with questions, each one more urgent than the last. Where was she? How had she ended up here? And most importantly, what awaited her beyond that door?

She slowly opened the door, wincing as it creaked, and peered her head out. 

She saw a short, narrow hallway leading to a living room without any signs of someone living there.

Summoning all her resolve, Arabella stepped out into the hallway, her footsteps echoing in the silence. With each step she took, her surroundings seemed to grow darker, the shadows pressing in around her like a living thing.

Arabella's body tensed as she entered the living room, instinctively seeking refuge against the nearest wall. The room felt suffocatingly silent, broken only by the sound of her own racing heartbeat.

"You're awake," a chilling voice pierced the quiet, causing her to startle and accidentally tip over a small table in her panic.

Turning, she found herself face to face with a tall, slender young man, his dark hair brushing his shoulders. But it was his eyes that held her captive—a piercing gaze that seemed to delve into the depths of her soul.

Arabella's breath caught in her throat as she stumbled backward, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum. She tried to speak, to form words that would break the oppressive silence, but her voice failed her.

The young man regarded her with a cool detachment, his dark eyes boring into her with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. There was something unnerving about him, something that set her on edge and made her skin prickle with unease.

"Who are you?" Arabella managed to choke out, her voice barely above a whisper, "Where is Regulus?"

He slowly walked towards her, picking up the small table, "You've been asleep for two and a half days."

"Where is Regulus?" Arabella's voice quivered with a mix of fear and urgency a faint French accent leaking through as she repeated her question, her eyes searching the young man's face for answers.

He regarded her with a measured gaze, his expression unreadable. "Regulus is... not here," he replied cryptically, his tone sending a chill down Arabella's spine, "He hasn't been here since he arrived with you." 

Arabella's heart sank at the news, a wave of despair washing over her. "Why did he leave? Where did he go?" she pressed, her voice tinged with desperation.

But the young man merely shook his head, his expression inscrutable. "I'm afraid I cannot answer that," he replied, his tone remorseful. "All I can tell you is that you are safe here, for now."

Arabella stared at the ground, hoping her tears would not fall.

"He told me your name is Arabella," the man continued in his cold tone, "My name is Severus."

Arabella's heart felt heavy as she listened to the man's words, the weight of her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She dared not look up, afraid that her tears would betray her, but she nodded slightly to acknowledge his words.

Severus... The name echoed in her mind, sending a shiver down her spine. It held a weight, a significance that she couldn't quite grasp. She had heard stories of a Severus. 

Arabella's head shot up, her eyes widening with realization as she pieced together where she had heard Severus's name before. "You're Regulus's friend," she exclaimed, a mixture of surprise and relief flooding her.

Severus regarded her with a faint hint of surprise, his expression softening slightly at her recognition. "Yes," he confirmed with a small nod. "We were... acquaintances at school."

Arabella couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope at the thought of a familiar face amidst the uncertainty that surrounded her. "Regulus spoke of you often," she admitted, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Severus's gaze softened at her words, a flicker of something akin to warmth in his eyes. "He... he is a loyal friend," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia.

"Is Regulus dead?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, though the question felt like a scream echoing in the silence of the room.

Severus hesitated, his expression tightening with a mixture of regret and sorrow. "It is highly likely, yes," he replied, his tone somber.

Arabella's heart sank at Severus's grim confirmation, the weight of his words settling heavily upon her.

Tears welled in Arabella's eyes as she struggled to process the devastating news. Regulus, her beloved brother, was gone—lost to a fate she could scarcely comprehend. It felt as though the ground had been ripped out from beneath her, leaving her adrift in a sea of grief and despair.

Memories of Regulus flooded her mind—the laughter they shared, the secrets they whispered in the dead of night, the bond that had once seemed unbreakable. And now he was gone, leaving behind only a void that seemed impossible to fill.

A sob escaped Arabella's lips as she sank to her knees, the weight of her grief pressing down upon her like a leaden blanket. Severus awkwardly shuffled to her side, a silent gesture of comfort in the face of her overwhelming sorrow.

Severus extended a hand towards Arabella, a gesture of silent understanding and support. "Come now," he said gently, his voice softened by the weight of their shared grief. "There is much more we need to discuss."

Arabella nodded, tears still flowing down her cheeks; she knew she had to remain strong. Regulus risked everything bringing her here, and she wouldn't allow it to be in vain. With a shaky breath, she reached out and took his hand, allowing him to help her to her feet.

Together, they moved towards the center of the room, where a pair of worn armchairs sat facing each other. Severus guided Arabella to one of the chairs; his callused hand left hers as they sat. 

And as they began to talk, their voices were low and filled with emotion.

He explained everything starting at the night she and Regulus abruptly showed up at his door.

Severus hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Regulus believed that I was the only one who could keep you safe," he explained, his tone grave. "He feared for your life, and he knew that I had the means to protect you from those who would seek to harm you."

Arabella's heart clenched at the thought of Regulus's selflessness, his unwavering devotion to her well-being. "And what happened to him?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Severus's expression darkened, the weight of his sorrow evident in his eyes. "I'm afraid I don't have all the answers," he admitted, his voice tinged with regret. "But it is likely that he faced great danger in his efforts to keep you safe. And for that, I am truly sorry."

Arabella's gaze lingered on the sunny horizon outside, her thoughts swirling with uncertainty and apprehension. She turned to Severus, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "How long will I be staying with you?" she asked, her voice soft with uncertainty.

Severus regarded her for a moment, his gaze steady and unreadable. "The war will be over soon," he replied, his tone somber. "And when it is, I will make another arrangement for you."

"I'm sorry," she stated, staring down at her hands now," Regulus and I have put you in danger, and now I'm invading your home."

Severus exhaled heavily, feeling the weight of Arabella's words like a physical burden on his shoulders. Her apology hung in the air, heavy with remorse and self-blame, and Severus couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt gnawing at his conscience.

"It won't be forever," he reassured her, his voice soft but firm with conviction.

Arabella nodded silently, her gaze fixed on her hands as if grappling with the weight of their situation.

Severus stood, a sense of urgency stirring within him. "Are you hungry?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

She shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'd like to go back to sleep."

"Of course," Severus replied, his tone gentle. "You'll be sleeping in the room you woke up in."

As Arabella retreated to her room, Severus watched her go, a knot of worry tightening in his chest. He couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air—the sense that they were teetering on the edge of a precipice, one wrong move away from disaster.

Alone in the quiet of his home, Severus buried his face in his hands, his mind consumed with worry and uncertainty. "Regulus," he whispered, his voice heavy with emotion. "What am I meant to do?"

There was no answer.