Part 11
The Ravenclaw common rooms was far better than the Slytherin common room. It wasn't as empty and didn't look like it belonged in an abandoned manor. Shelves lined each wall with books, charts and plants filling every gap. Chairs sat in circles around tables or in corners. Blankets were stacked by the door and pillows were everywhere but the where they were supposed to with only a minority of them on the chairs and couches. Paintings hung on the walls, varying in subject. They were all beautiful and looked to be made with care. Half of the ceiling was covered in a star chart and the other half a map of the world with muggle landmarks pinned with yellow circles.
Regulus sat opposite of Pandora, listening to her ramble about crystals and their history and purposes. He was sort of paying attention to her talking but he was mainly focused on a mythology book he had found on one of the shelves. He loved listening to her talk about her interests. She always sounded so happy when she did. Regulus felt like he needed to protect her at all costs even though she was very capable of defending herself. Her bubbly personality said otherwise, though.
"The reason that emeralds are so rare is because of their unique formations and the rarest emerald is the Trapiche Emerald. There isn't really much information about them though but they are great for balancing emotions, enhancing intuition and promoting good mental health. I think we could all use that last bit."
"Very true Pandora. Do you have any more information about them? I know there isn't much but what else do you know?"
"Well, the green colour of the Trapiche stone is often associated with nature and the earth. It's said to have the power to connect the wearer to the natural world and to bring balance and harmony." She paused and opened a book that sat beside her, hidden by the blanket covering her lap. "They are one of my favourites, I love their colours and the way that they reflect the sunlight. They come in many different colours as well not just green. This is very common among emeralds in general. Not all of them are only in green. Some of them can even be clear."
She flipped over to a page labelled emeralds and showed Regulus a page filled with sketches of the different cuts, prices and colours of emeralds. Regulus wondered how she kept finding these books but something caught his eye. He had recognised the emerald that Pandora had named but he didn't know where from. It rang a distant bell.
"Hey can you pass me the book a second? I think I spotted something of interest."
"Sure! What caught your eye?"
Regulus held up his finger, signalling for her to wait a second as he flipped through the chapter on the gem. He held up the page on the Trapiche Emerald. The very same emerald that Pandora had named. He watched as she took the book back and read the page and seeing her eyes lighting up.
"The Trapiche Emerald has black impurities that are in the form of a six rayed star." She grinned at him. "Something tells me that you knew what they were before I even mentioned them."
Regulus shrugged. "They are one of the 'Family Jewels' that are practically everywhere in the manor. You can't even enter a room without seeing it. The only place you can escape it is the bedrooms and kitchens."
"Ironic that they are known for supposedly improving mental health, isn't it?"
"You could say that." a smile now on his face. "I wonder, Pandora, what is your 'Family Jewel'?"
"Oh I can't remember. You might have to ask Evan as I am not really allowed see it, with me being a girl and all that." She set her book down and looked Regulus in the eyes. They both enjoyed the comfort of the common room at night. Nobody else around them.
"Oh. I see." Regulus pushed away the feeling that he had made her uncomfortable. He was going to have to face that later but now was not the time.
"Are you ready for the meeting in a few weeks?" Pandora asked, now looking up at the stars on the ceiling. "I'm not. I mean it's bad enough that it's a pureblood meeting but the fact we aren't allowed magic makes it worse."
Regulus tensed up at the mention of the meeting. He had forgotten about it completely. It wasn't really something he wanted to think about anyways. "I am not really sure if I'm ready to be honest. I'm not sure how Mother will treat this one. She was never really a fan of Crouch Manor. Not her taste apparently."
Regulus had shifted the weight off of him and put it onto something else. He wasn't exactly proud of it but it put the attention onto something else.
"I wonder why." Pandora laughed. It was a running joke in their friend group that Barty was the only disappointment that wasn't disowned yet. He was awfully close though. It also didn't help that Crouch Manor was quite small compared to the average pureblood manor. People often wondered why some meetings even took place there as there was barely any space to fit them all. "Oh and another letter came, I'm sure you got it too. Another family will be coming too. They are apparently against the other's view but it was insisted that they come."
"I don't believe I got a letter. Then again Mother only sends one letter a week so I might get one next week and was the name mentioned? I wonder why they would be invited if they disagreed with the majority of views. I'm guessing it's about their views on blood status but then again I could be wrong."
"No you are right, it is about blood status." she sighed. "And no the name was not mentioned just their views."
Regulus sighed and wondered who the family would be. It was far too intriguing to not try and figure out. He wondered if it was going to be one that he knew, not that it mattered. Recognition was not typically allowed between the children. Only the adults were allowed to make friendly interactions. They were to act friendly only. Even if they knew each other from school, they could only look at each other and hoe nobody knew. It was a risky game that they all played. Oh the joys of their gatherings. Under a watchful eye at all times.
"Oh and do you know if Sirius is allowed to this one?" Pandora asked, taking her eyes off of the ceiling and now focused n Regulus. "It would be quite entertaining seeing you two interact."
"Unfortunately Sirius is invited this time, though I haven't told him yet. I'm hoping he got a letter but he burns all letters from home."
"Oh this is going to be fun, isn't it Reg? Watching your brother ruin yet another gathering."
They both laughed at the thought of Sirius sitting uncomfortably beside Mother trying to behave in the expected way. He would never manage. He would mess up somehow like he always did. It would be entertaining to see the look on Mother's face as well. Regulus doubted that she would let him go without at least hitting him a few times after the meeting for not being presentable.
That's how it always went anyways.