The library

I groan as the alarm clock wakes me up at seven am, I can admit that I’m not a morning person. I make myself some tea after I brush my teeth and start my walk to the library.

I need to buy some groceries but I don't have much money. I only have tea and a couple of eggs in my fridge.

It’s chilly outside, I have a cardigan on so I’m not freezing luckily. When I get to the library Lily greets me in the entrance. “Hey regulus good morning” she smiles at me.

“Hey, how are you?” I ask with a small smile.

“I’m okay, it’s pretty cold today” she replies and I nod in agreement.

“Okay let’s show you around” she takes my hand and I flinch a little. “I’m sorry” I apologize it’s not her fault my parents made me wary about touching.

“No no I’m sorry, no touching I get it” and with what she starts to show me around the library. After the small tour she tells me what to do while she is with the customers.

After three hours she offered me to come with her to drink something on our first break of the day. I have my tea and she has her coffee while we are sitting in the kitchen area.

“So regulus, why did you move here?”

I was a bit hesitant to answer but I guess there is not point in lying. “ I umm.. my parents died last year and I was in our house all by myself. The house doesn’t hold great memories and I wanted to find a new place that could be mine.”

“Oh I’m.. I’m sorry regulus” she smiles in apology.

“No it’s okay don’t worry about it”

“Hey if you want, this weekend my friends and I are having a party… you should come”

“Yeah maybe” I’m not sure, I’m not a party person and I’ve never had to interact with more than one person at the time. First it was only Sirius, then it was James and his little visits,now it’s only Lily.
I prefer watching Netflix with my future cat that I’m getting today instead of being at a party. We’ll see.

“Do you know where I can find an adoption center? I want to get a cat today” I asked her after a couple of comfortable silence. Growing up I never could get myself a cat, my parents saw pets as weakness, some “pathetic creatures” that hold us back. They are truly pathetic people.

“Oh of course, we can go after work. I will show you the way”

“Great thank you Lily”

“You're welcome!” She smiles big at me. “Can I bring my girlfriend with us? Her name is Pandora and she loves cats”

“Yeah sure” it’s nice to have her so open about it. While growing up I remember dad cursing at the TV if there were some couples from the same gender. I was young at the time but I remember that I did try to ask him about it, and that he was mad.

....

“Dad, don’t you think that it’s beautiful to see love like that? They love each other and that’s what’s important”

“Regulus” my dad said sternly. “What did you just say?” He grabbed my chin so I was looking at him.

“That..that they love each other and '' I was cut off by my dad’s fist. “That’s not love, it’s filthy and wrong. I don’t want to listen for what you have to say”

That night Sirius hugged me in my bed while I cried, I didn’t understand why I couldn’t love what I love, was I… wrong?

.....

“Regulus, are you excited? When I got my first cat I was so happy, "Pandora asked me excitedly. Lily wasn’t lying when she said Pandora loves cats.

Pandora seems like a lovely girl, I can see why Lily and her are together. They look at eachother like they are in their own world.

“Yeah I am” I replied quietly. I still don’t know how to act around new people that well, another thing my parents helped with. Sirius made friends at school, and I was homeschooled without the opportunity to make some friends for myself. I used to have James but…. it's over anyways.

“Hello, welcome, what would you like to adopt today?” the boy at the reception asks with a smile. His tag name says “Barty”, a funny name. I can't judge names though, Regulus is not a completely normal name after all.

“A cat” me Lily and Pandora said at the same time, I chuckle.

“A cat then, come with me” he leads us to the cats’ room.

I’m overwhelmed by the amount of cats that are here, I’ve never seen something cuter in my life. Already I can see that the girls are playing with a couple of cats each. When I look around the room I can see a small black cat at the side, not really playing with the rest.

“Hey there buddy, why are you so alone here?” I crouch down beside him and start to pet him. He purrs and lets his head fall into my arm. I smiled at him, I think I just found my cat.

....

I was watching Gilmore Girls with cat when my phone buzzed.

I decided to call my cat “cat”. After being given a name not so normal I decided not to take risks with my cat.

Lily(8:00 pm): Reggggg

Lily(8:01 pm): want to come shopping with me for my nephew tomorrow? He celebrates his birthday next week and I don’t know what to buy help me

Me( 8:03 pm): Hey Lily, I don’t know much about kids but I can help you if you want, text me when and where tomorrow?

Lily(8:04): great I will send you the details!!

Me(8:04): oh and don’t call me reg

Lily(8:05) good night regggg

....

“I still want you to come, you know?”

“Come to where?” Me and Lily were at the mall, I still don’t know why she wants to hang out with me but I’m grateful. Maybe we can even become friends, who knows.

“To my party this weekend, it’s not a lot of people, only me, Pandora and a couple of our friends, it’s going to be fun. I will be with you the whole night don’t worry”

“You know what, okay I will come” I give up. Lily is a nice girl, I don't think she hangs out with bad people. What’s the worst thing that could happen?

“Yessss” she smiles and jumps around.

I hope it will be fine, we’ll see in a couple of days.

“cmon lets buy my nephew the best gift he could ever dream of” she laughs and smiles big at me.

“okay Lils”
“ Did you just call me Lils reg?”
...... “ I don't know what you're talking about”....