invisible string
Regulus first noticed her during a particularly boring History of Magic lesson in third year. Professor Binns lectured them on medieval witch burnings which Regulus already knew everything about – he had done their required reading. What was the point of reading it if Binns essentially recited the textbook pages? Usually, Evan Rosier kept him occupied by rambling on about the latest gossip, but the blonde fell asleep just minutes into the lesson.
Regulus rested his head on his fist and looked around the classroom. Almost half of the students were asleep. He silently cursed whoever was responsible for their timetable – History on Monday mornings is probably the worst way to start a week. His gaze stopped at the girl seated in front of him: Jane Bell.
She whispered to her friend while gesturing wildly. The two Hufflepuff girls laughed and were radiating with energy despite the early morning; it captured his attention. It was somehow impressive.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her for the rest of the lesson. Her brown curls were gathered in a ponytail, and she wore a bracelet on her right wrist. There was a notebook on the desk in front of her. When she turned to look at her friend, he caught sight of her smile.
Regulus surprised himself with the sudden interest he developed in the girl. He knew nothing about her, except her name and her house. For some reason, he wanted to know more.
When Binns dismissed the class, she quickly packed her belongings and disappeared into the hallway. Some students still slept on their desks, including Evan. Regulus shook him by the shoulders to wake him up and he blinked open his eyes, followed by a confused look around the room.
“You slept through the class, mate,” Regulus informed him.
“Ah, well, I didn’t miss anything, did I?” Evan replied while stretching his arms. They chuckled and left the classroom as well.
☆
Regulus was sitting under a tree near the Black Lake with a book in his lap. The gloomy weather had finally passed and the sun fought its way through the clouds. A group of students appeared next to him with a man he recognised as the Divination professor.
“Hey Reg, I didn’t see you there!” Evan greeted him with a wide grin as the class slowly dissolved.
Regulus returned the smile and glanced behind his friend to see Bell walking towards the castle. Evan already started telling him about what they were doing outside – something about fire omens and burning sage. Regulus didn’t take Divination; his mother said it was a foolish subject.
When Evan noticed that Regulus wasn’t paying attention to him, he followed his friend’s gaze.
“What, you fancy Bell?”
“Huh?”
“Do you fancy Bell?”
“What? No, I was just looking.”
“You’ve been doing that quite a lot lately.”
This conclusion took Regulus by surprise. It wasn’t said with any malicious intentions, just a simple observation. He thought about it – maybe he did fancy her. Sort of. He’s never even talked to her.
☆
In the following weeks, Bell seemed to appear wherever Regulus went. Since when was she in so many of his classes? He noticed her in History of Magic, Transfiguration, Herbology, the Great Hall, and every damn corridor.
He watched her during dinner, ignoring the food on his plate. He wasn’t exactly staring – at least not in a creepy way. Still, she must have felt his gaze on her because she turned her head and looked at him. He tried to hide the embarrassment of being caught by sipping on his tea.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t the only one to spot where his attention was just a moment ago. Amycus Carrow raised his eyebrows at Regulus. He seemed almost amused and only slightly disgusted by the situation he had just witnessed.
“You know she’s a half-blood, right?” Amycus pointed out.
Regulus scoffed, putting on a façade of indifference.
“What are you talking about?” he growled, eager to end the conversation.
“You know, Reggie,” Amycus said with false sympathy in his voice. Regulus grimaced at the awful nickname. “If you’re involved with her, I’m not scared to tell your mommy.”
“It’s nothing. You think I would date a mudblood?”
He felt a little guilty for insulting her like that, but he had to defend himself. He couldn’t allow his stupid housemates to start some ridiculous rumours about him going out with a half-blood. His parents would riot.
Luckily, his response seemed to satisfy Amycus who turned back to his dinner.
Regulus decided to let it go. It was silly anyway, a fleeting fancy. He is destined to marry a pureblood woman who his parents will approve of. The marriage will probably be arranged for him.
He supposed that romance just wasn’t for him.
★
The first time Jane really notices him is when they are seated next to each other in Transfiguration in sixth year. She knows him, of course, everyone does. She knows of his reputation, his family, and their beliefs. She knows that this year will be excruciating, sitting next to Regulus Black.
She was in a good mood when she walked into the classroom and sat at her usual desk next to Emmeline Vance. The first day of classes had been good so far; she doesn't regret any of her choices for advanced classes yet.
Then McGonagall starts talking about improving inter-house relations because unity is apparently so important during a raging war. As if seating blood-purists with muggleborns will magically fix the problem.
Emmeline shoots her a panicked look. Jane sighs as McGonagall recites the new partners.
“Hestia Jones and Gilderoy Lockhart”
Hestia looks at her two roommates in desperation. Jane shrugs and Emmeline mouths ‘not bad’ with an accusing expression on her face.
“Pandora Lovegood and Emmeline Vance”
Emmeline’s face brightens and she looks around to smile at the Ravenclaw.
“Jane Bell and Regulus Black”
Of course, luck is not on her side. Her day is ruined. Actually, her whole year is ruined. She can feel how her friends are pitying her.
“That’s shite,” Emmeline whispers. Jane nods.
McGonagall finishes and everyone moves to sit with their assigned partners. Regulus’ expression is unreadable when she settles down at his desk, but she guesses that he isn’t too thrilled about this either. They sit in silence as they listen to the contents the class will cover the following year – casting nonverbal spells and transfiguring various objects.
The lesson ends early, and Jane follows Hestia towards the dungeons. They have Potions next (without Emmeline, who dropped the class claiming that Slughorn kept sabotaging her potions since he clearly had favourite students – according to her, she wasn’t one of them).
“Since when do we have Potions with all houses?” Hestia asks as they reach the classroom and spot a mixed group of students like earlier, “We were always with the Ravenclaws!”
“Did you not listen to Dumbledore during the welcoming feast?” Jane answers.
“No. Since when do you?”
“Since always”
“Aha,” Hestia chooses a seat at the back of the class.
“Well, he talked about solidarity and all that. He wants all classes to be mixed from now on,” Jane sat in the chair next to her friend.
Hestia groans, “How is that even supposed to help? It’s such bullshit.”
Professor Slughorn finally stops pacing in front of his desk and tries to get his students’ attention.
“Welcome back everyone! I’m sure it didn’t escape your notice that our classes are divided differently this year.” Slughorn goes on about his plans for this year’s Potions class and gets lost in talking when he reaches the topic of his beloved Slug Club. “Yes, anyway, I should mention that Professor McGonagall and I agreed that the pairings she assigned will stay the same for my class as well.”
She noticed that Regulus Black’s gaze lands on her. How will she survive this?