you see right through me
Regulus hasn’t thought about her for ages. Now, they are ‘partners in suffering’, as many students like to call it – hardly anyone is happy with the person they ended up with.
In his opinion, the new class and partner system is completely useless. It certainly doesn't matter to gits like Mulciber; he would likely harass the student he is paired with if they are muggleborn. Regulus thinks that the professors must be either dense or careless.
He is on his way to Potions. Transfiguration in his first period went fine – they didn’t do anything practical yet. McGonagall lectured them on the use of non-verbal spells and assigned an essay about the topics she discussed.
When he walks into the classroom, Bell is hovering next to his usual desk. Clearly, she's waiting for him because she sits down once she spots him. Regulus makes his way to the desk.
After a few moments, Professor Slughorn seems satisfied with the number of students present and starts talking.
“This year we will deal with more advanced potions. Today, we will brew a Dreamless Sleep Potion. This one is rather easy compared to Polyjuice or Amortentia – still, it’s very useful.”
That it is – Regulus agrees. Sometimes, he uses the potion when he knows that his mother’s punishments will cause nightmares.
Lost in thought, he missed the moment Bell got up to collect their ingredients. She returns to their table, Wormwood and Lavender in hand. She puts it down next to the cauldron and thumbs through the textbook to find the instructions.
They don't talk to each other at all.
She appears to be a little nervous around him. He can’t blame her.
They are working in silence as Slughorn comes by to check on their potion which is now a bright lilac colour. He's pleased. “Ah, very good. It should look just like this,” he nods. Bell smiles at the praise.
☆
After class, Evan catches him in the hallway.
“So,” he dramatically stretches the word and wiggles his eyebrows, “how do you like the new partners?”
“Stop that,” Regulus protests, the look on his face stern. He knew what Evan is talking about, of course. The bastard will never let it go.
“That was ages ago. You know I wouldn’t – “ he shakes his head – date someone like her.
“Right. Obligations and all that.”
Exactly, Regulus thinks but doesn't bother responding. Ever since his brother ran off to live with Potter, he feels an extreme amount of pressure on himself. His parents are stricter, harsher than ever, expecting nothing but perfection from their ‘only son’.
Sirius used to protect him from many punishments by taking the blame or distracting their mother with his own misbehaviour. Now, Regulus is left alone to deal with it all. He wonders whether Sirius didn’t consider the consequences for his brother – being reckless as always – or if he simply didn’t care about Regulus anymore. It hurts to think about.
★
Jane is lounging in the Hufflepuff common room with her friends. She sits on one of the large couches with Emmeline’s feet spread out on her lap. She put her Transfiguration textbook and her half-finished essay on top of her friends’ legs. Hestia made herself comfortable in an armchair. She's complaining about Lockhart’s brainlessness.
“I told him to stir counterclockwise! Twice! And guess what he did – “
“He stirred clockwise,” Emmeline interrupts.
“Yes! And he didn’t even open his textbook – he acted as if he knew everything already and our potion ended up all wrong,” she groans and pulls her hair. “I’ll fail! Merlin Jane, I’m so jealous. At least Regulus is good at Potions.”
Jane looks up from her parchment and shrugs. “Yeah, I guess. At least I won’t fail.”
Emmeline suddenly sits up and moves her legs to sit cross-legged. “Janie, why haven’t you told us how Potions went for you?” she pushes her friend playfully and leans closer, pretending to tell her a secret. “I’m getting sick of listening to her rant about Lockhart.”
“Oi!”
Jane sighs, “He didn’t say a word to me"
“Nothing at all?” Emmeline raises her eyebrows.
“No”
“And you didn’t say anything either?”
“No,” she admits slightly embarrassed. Obviously, she didn't expected him to have any profound conversations with her – maybe some friendly pleasantries like ‘Can you pass me the wood?’ or ‘I’ll chop up the lavender now’. She's not sure why she didn’t talk to him either. It’s just that she usually sits with her friends, no one else – perhaps she should work on her social skills.
Emmeline takes Jane’s hands into hers, and her expression grows more serious.
“If he ever tries to hurt you, if he insults you or if he’s simply being a rude git, you can tell us. We’ll hex him.”
“Or we’ll convince McGonagall to give you a different partner,” Hestia corrects. Emmeline rolls her eyes at the reasonable suggestion.
“Alright, I will. Thank you,” Jane smiles at her two best friends, feeling grateful. She doesn’t deserve them.
☆
That night, she writes another letter home. She tries to write as often as possible, even if her letters are just a few sentences long. Every day, the owls bring copies of the Daily Prophet and Jane skims the newspaper, worried that her family was the victim of a Death Eater attack.
Her mother, being a muggle, is a target and thus her father, as a blood traitor, is as well. At least she's able to watch out for her younger brother who is in the same castle as her. In case something happens, she can reach his common room in about 20 minutes, less if she runs – why did the Sorting Hat have to put him in Ravenclaw? Their tower is horrid to get to.
Jane picks up her quill and addresses her mother.
Hi mum,
How are you? How is Dad? I hope you’re both feeling fine.
I asked Noah if he sent you a letter yet and he said that he was too busy, and it’s apparently my responsibility as the older sister to send you letters. I told him that’s not true at all, but you know how he is. He wanted that I tell you what he said: ‘Hello mum, I’m enjoying third year so far. Don’t worry about us, we’re both fine and Hogwarts is totally safe.’
Also, I sent you a pastry. I nicked it from dinner and I think you’ll like it.
Love, Jane (and Noah)
She decides to get a good night’s sleep and bring her letter to the owlery in the morning.