stormy grey eyes
Hogwarts, circa September 1996
It's frequently said that eyes are windows to the soul, and Regulus can't help but agree as he looks across the starlit hall and his view collides with an all too familiar pair of fierce emerald eyes. The eyes that, eighteen years ago, would've filled him with raging jealousy, now fill him with an ache of longing that he just can't seem to smother, no matter how much time has passed..
When Dumbledore came to him about the position of potions master, he was reluctant. Dumbledore was always planning something and Regulus was not going to let himself become a piece in his sick game. But the reminder that Luna, Harry and Draco are at Hogwarts was enough for him to accept the job.
He's so wrapped in his own thoughts that he only realises that Dumbledore had introduced him when Severus, the newly appointed DADA teacher, sends a piercing glare in his direction, and, rolling his eyes, he shows a motion of greeting towards the mass of students, quickly losing interest again as the elderly headmaster continued rambling.
As Regulus looked back at Harry, hoping to see the familiar face that he used to know so well, he was met with the side of Harry's head. The young boy was busy staring across the hall at a certain blonde member of the black family. History repeating itself, Regulus thinks, shaking his head, silently wishing that this time it actually works out.
He's back at Hogwarts, he reminds himself, the whole experience feeling surreal. He never thought he'd willingly come back here, the memories of his past seeming too strong. The fact that he's back here proves that he's stronger than anyone expected, including himself.
𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
“Oh my god the new potions professor is so fit. '' Lavender giggled, bumping shoulders with Parvati, their faces going pink and their mouths turned up at the corners in giddy smiles.
“Oh i know” the other girl exclaimed “he's got that tortured soul thing going for him”
“I think potions might be my new favourite lesson” Lavender decided in a shrill voice before winking at parvati.
Harry thinks it should be a crime to be so annoying. And wasn't lavender dating ron? He doesn't even want to know. As irritating as the girls are, they aren’t his biggest worry right now
He still hasn't managed to soothe the uneasy feeling in his stomach from earlier. It was like butterflies but less pleasant. Moths, he decided, is what he felt.
He just can't shake the feeling that Professor Black has a secret. He was staring at Harry like he knew him or something. All Harry knows about him is that he's Luna's godfather, Draco's cousin and Sirius’ younger brother.
Sirius.
Of course, that's why he was looking at him weirdly. Harry had been the reason his older brother had died. Everyone kept telling him not to blame himself but he couldn't help it.
If he hadn't been so blatantly idiotic he would've got a teacher instead of taking matters into his own hands. Sirius would still be here.
From what Harry knew, Sirius and his brother hadn't been that close. The younger of the two had become a death eater, but for some unknown reason he’d switched. Betrayed voldemort. He hadn’t been willing to work with the order, but according to Sirius, Regulus and two of his friends had taken part in a huge battle against the death eaters. Apparently they've even found a spell to get rid of the dark mark. But even after all that, Sirius refused to spend any long periods of time with him.
He supposes he could ask luna. She’s a little weird, but she's been a good friend to him. He’s just going to wait until his first potions lesson and see how Professor Black acts around him then, Harry decides. It's what Hermione would do, and that tends to be the right option.
He didn’t even think he’d be able to make the newts class for potions. It was a shock to him that he even managed to scrape an exceeds; potions had never been a strong subject of his. At least now he’ll be able to make it to auror training, all he needs to do is pass his newts. That should be challenge enough, he just hopes that Professor Black is a competent teacher.
The common room had started emptying and Ron and Hermione were due back from their prefect rounds, they’d been gone over an hour and Harry isn't sure whether they are actually late from doing rounds or got distracted on their way back and stopped to make out in a broom closet. As much as he’d love it if they suddenly stopped being so oblivious and finally realised their feelings, it was most likely the first option.
Huffing, he rose from the plush, red armchair next to the fire and ascended the stairs to the boys dormitory. He pushed open the door and eyed the bed closest to the wall, deans bed, where he could hear some less than PG noises.
Honestly, Seamus and Dean need to start using silencing charms, this is a public place. Or they could at least wait until everyones out of the room, poor neville’s covering his ears and rocking back and forth. Harry shoots Neville a pitiful look as he walks towards his bed and opens his trunk, searching for the Marauders Map.
As he's looking, his hand brushes over a shard of mirror. The mirror that Sirius gave him. Harry had forgotten about that completely. He takes it out and holds it up, staring at his bright green eyes, willing to see sirius’ face again. And for a second he thinks he does. For one fleeting moment he saw a flash of stormy grey eyes. Unrecognisably Sirius's.
He supposes the grey eyes are a family trait; he had noticed Malfoy, who was Sirius’ cousin, has the exact same eyes. Not that he was looking into Malfoy's eyes or anything. He’d just noticed, he affirms to himself. Not a big deal. He also expects his new potions master to have the same eyes, it doesn't mean that Harry is staring into Professor Black's eyes either. Whatever's going on with Draco is completely innocent. He's his rival. That's all it is, right?
Shaking all thoughts of a certain slytherin from his head, he returns the mirror to the trunk and digs through an odd assortment of books, loose quills and spare pots of ink until he pulls out a plain piece of parchment, taps his wand to the front and whispers the phrase to opening it, careful to make sure Neville doesn't overhear.
Harry's eyes scan the map until they finally settle on the names of his two best friends in the dungeons.The dungeons??? He looks across the page until he notices a name standing on the opposite side of the room Ron and Hermione happen to be in.
Regulus black.