Back at Hogwarts.
Regulus spent the morning sleeping before waking with memories of screaming, crying and pain. In the late evening he finally leaves his room for tea. He got scolded by his parents before retreating to his room with more books from the Black library. Taking a shower to prepare for the full night of studying he has planned because sleeping seems to awaken everything that Regulus wishes to forget.
That's how he spent his night, reading and writing until he couldn't. So then he would go down into the basement to make himself a coffee, working around the small kitchen effortlessly as he yawned. Sitting at the small table as he waited for the kettle to boil and remembering memories he would much rather forget. As the kettle started to boil he sighed as he stood from the table, walking away from the room with a mug of coffee. He walked up the stairs and down the hallway uninterrupted until he got into his room.
Deciding to take a longer break he started to pack his trunk for Hogwarts. There wasn't much to pack considering he had left a trunk on the train full of clothing, so he kept it minimal. Clothing he would actually wear and taking jewellery that he would wear. Then the books he had already read and wanted to take and any new ones, he hadn't brought any of the books that he hadn't finished in Hogwarts. They had all been muggle books. As he placed the fifth book he eyed his wardrobe once more, staring it down for seconds before deciding to do it. He walked up and opened it, kneeling and taking out the box that was tucked at the back.
When he opens it nothing has changed, there is still the homemade blanket folded at the bottom with the jumper and the photos on top of it. He takes them out slowly, with careful hands as he unpacks them and then places them into the trunk. Taking out some of the clothing to hide them at the bottom. Once done and everything is back where it should be he goes back to his desk with his now cold coffee. He drinks it anyway.
As the sun rises and beams of gold make its way across the books and writing on his desk he looks up and out the window. The sky is clear and the sun rise looks peaceful, light pinks and yellows blending together as it hovers above the city below. He looks around the city, seeing lights turn on and curtains opening from people waking. He looks down to see the magical forest that is hidden from view, he can't help but stare at the space. Knowing what's in there, who's in there.
He's brought out of his daze by an alarm from his wand. It shocks him because it means the bus will be here in ten minutes and he still has to pack and get ready. He quickly downs the near frozen coffee and puts all the books away from his desk. Putting them in his trunk or into the desk. He cleans the ink and puts away the quill as well as packing his writing book. Once everything is now packed he closes the trunk with a tap from his wand and goes to shower and get dressed. Using magic to dry his hair and quickly putting on his clothes he races down stairs.
No one greets him, not as he opens the door to see the bus and not as he steps outside to leave. He looks back into the house, expecting something. Anything. No one says anything and nothing happens. "Goodbye," Regulus says but it's not to any of the living inhabitants inside the house.
He walks down the small steps and makes his way onto the bus, the bus driver letting him in and waving him away. He sits at the front with his trunk at his feet and waits. Regulus thinks that this is the first time no one has come with him to see him off. This is the first time Kreacher isn't with him. Regulus can't help but wring his head as he sits there alone, feeling the most alone he has all his life.
When the bus finally stopped, it was outside a muggle train station. This wasn't surprising since this is where everyone else got into the platform but Regulus was used to going through a magical alley that led them into the platform so he didn't have to go through the train station. Probably by his parents' insistence or maybe just tradition. He got his trunk, carrying it instead of floating and stepped off the bus, "Thank you." He whispered to the driver, exchanging a nod of goodbye before the bus left once more. The engine sputtered and it swung sideways as he disappeared.
Regulus is his last two nights of research and planning, reading and writing. He had come up with a three step plan, this plan was:
1: To find out a way to destroy the horcrux he has, which can then be used to destroy the others.
2: To find the other horcrux at Hogwarts/ break into Dumbledore's office and steal it.
3: To not go back home for winter solstice and to go to find the other horcruxes and destroy them.
'What an easy plan,' Regulus grumbled as he shook his head, starting his walk through the train station. The point was though, that he had no plans to return to Grimmauld Place coming next winter solstice. He had a small sketch of a plan for the summer solstice but apart from that there was no other time he was planning to go back. He stopped walking in the middle of the station at the realisation, at the declaration of it because it was official. Not that he wasn't going back but that he didn't want to and was actively trying not to.
His mind drifts to Sirius, if he should talk to him about that and he probably should. Sirius would know what to do, he had done it before. He had experience in leaving that house.
He felt light, like someone had stepped off his chest and he could breath for the first time. He smiled at the feeling and thought about all the things he could do now, without having to think about his parents looking over him, waiting for permission or for praise from them.
He could focus more on charms than on potions.
He could spend time with Pandora in the forest without having to hide.
He could go to parties with Barty and Evan.
He could spend time with Cruul rounds with Dorcas.
He could do so many things if he just let go and he wanted to, he really did. All of these things he loved in secret because to love openly is unsafe. It can be taken, ruined and used against you. Regulus started to wonder what it would have been like to not have to pretend to not care, to be able to talk about his poetry books and not have them turned on him as a distraction.
He was pulled out of his thoughts by someone bumping into him, making him stumble forwards. He turned to see a man that had fallen over, scrambling to collect all of his books that had fallen out of his book bag. "Fuck," Regulus breathed as he crouched down to help the man. Once they had collected all his things he handed them over.
"Sorry about that." The man said, giving Regulus an odd look before leaving quickly. It made Regulus realise he should be going too and so he quickly made his way down to the tracks, onto the platform and through the brick wall onto platform 9&3/4. Most people had already boarded the train by now, Regulus was much later than he usually was but he hopped onto the train and started walking to the compartment that he usually sat in.
He moved between people and huffed in annoyance when some didn't move. Then he got to a group of girls who didn't move as he tried to get past, he had asked politely once. "Excuse me." He muttered as he tried to get past, the girl in front of him just laughed at a joke her friend made.
Any good mood was gone as he waited longer for the group to move, to shut up or to jump out of the train. He wished they did. The girl flicked her hair across her shoulder and it hit Regulus in the face and hand where he was holding his trunk, 'how does it feel so greasy?' Regulus thought.
"Excuse me." He said more forcefully as he pushed past them, the girl fell to the side and grunted. "Hey!" She shouted but Regulus just kept walking.
"Come on man! You can't push my girlfriend." Regulus turned to give the guy a bored stare and of course it was Mulciber. Just looking at him made Regulus annoyed. "Finally found someone who can tolerate you? That's surprising, I didn't think that anyone like that could exist." Regulus snarked back with a bored expression.
"You should apologise, Black." And Regulus thinks that was supposed to be a threat but Mulciber was the opposite of a threat all together.
He turned to the girl who looked all too smug about this situation when she's the one dating 'Mulciber, of all people.' Regulus thought before speaking. "I'm sorry," he started with a sigh and before the girl could thank him he carried on. "I'm sorry that your big head takes up the entire fucking hallway." She scoffed at him. "And I'm sorry that you don't seem to be able to buy shampoo and I'm so sorry that you have to spend your time with that-" He pointed in the direction of Mulciber. "Truly, so sorry." He looked at the girl with mock sympathy before he walked away from the group that had surrounded them, the people that were listening from other carriages and began to try and find his own. He ignored all the calls Mulciber sent after him, too annoyed.
Five minutes later he managed to find it and his friends that had already arrived. He seemed to be the last but he could relax slightly as he sat with them.
"Hi, Reg." Pandora smiled beautifully at him, looking up from doing Evan's hair. Dorcas sat next to her, "Welcome finally." She said to him with a laugh.
"Nice of you to grace us with your presence." Barty joked as he went to sit next to him, opposite to the other three. Regulus just rolled his eyes and sat down with a huff.
"Has something already happened? It's been like half an hour, Reggie." Evan poked at his knee with a hand. "Ow!" He pulled back. "Stay still." Pandora chastised him as she continued to do his hair, Evan just rolled his eyes. "Yes, Princess." He muttered sarcastically. Barty and Dorcas laughed at the two.
"Did something happen?" Dorcas asked as she helped Pandora move her hands to do the braids.
"Just Mulciber being Mulciber." Regulus shook his head as he brought out his book from his shoulder bag. "Ah." Barty sighed sympathetically. "Well, wanna hear about how Evan lost a load of money at a dinner party?" Barty smirked.
"Hey!" Evan shouted as he tried to turn to Barty but his head was turned back by Pandora once more. "It wasn't that much and plus Regulus was there!" He squawked as Pandora pulled his hair accidently, she whispered a soft apology before continuing.
"I was there, I personally saw him losing a lot of money." Regulus looked at Barty and laughed at the kick he received. They continued to laugh at their friend, who tried to shake his head but got scolded again by Pandora. It just made them laugh more, Regulus didn't forget to mention that he no longer owed that money. It just didn't happen to come up again.
"Enough about Evan's awful betting skills!" Evan shouted at the insult. "Time for my turn!" Dorcas said and they all paid attention to her talk about her winter solstice. About her family and the activities they did, they all ended up sharing stories from over the holidays. Regulus didn't speak about his time, just commenting on the other's. Barty didn't talk about his much either, preferring to talk about everyone else's also.
Nobody mentioned it, Dorcas felt alright to continue to talk about her adventures and her family. Pandora and Evan felt comfortable to talk about the time they spent together, it seemed as though they had gotten closer over this holiday. The other three shared small smiles at the news, happy for the siblings.
"We visited my father's grave." Pandora admits softly with a sad smile.
"How was that?" Regulus asks, looking up from his book.
"It was good, nice. It was- it was a good surprise from Andy." She told them.
"Andy?" Regulus asks with a smile. "I don't want to call him dad or anything like that now, Andre feels too formal considering I've lived with him for over a year now." Regulus nods at the explanation, he turns to find Barty and Dorcas looking uncomfortably between the two step-siblings.
They pick up on it quickly, "We've talked about it, all of us together." Evan said, leaning closer in Pandora.
"Yea, it was the main reason we went to my dad's grave. Me and Andy had a talk about how he wasn't trying to replace my dad but he would like to be a part of my life. Like a guardian I suppose." They told them all, the uncomfortableness lifting.
"So you two finally admitting you're siblings now? Or..." Barty asks, considering this time last year they barely spoke it was a reasonable question.
They both laugh at the question. "I wouldn't ask for a better step-sister." Evan said, Pandora leans forwards and kisses the top of his head. This wasn't unusual as she is a very affectionate person to all her friends.
"Nor I a better brother... but Regulus is still my favourite." She replies, with a laugh at the fake hurt Evan showed. "What? But why my lovely Pandora?" He questions with a whine as he wipes fake tears from his face.
"We are just soulmates, right?" Pandora held her hand out, Regulus took it into his own and kissed the top of it. "Right as always, darling." He said before dropping her hand, Pandora smiled at the gesture and continued to do Evans' hair once more.
"Are you sure you aren't dating?" Barty asked, for the millionth time that they have known him. Regulus just rolls his eyes and Pandora giggle's. Dorcas and Barty shared a confused look, they didn't know their soulmates yet. Both in different ways.
They spend the rest of the ride either talking or in comfortable silence. Dorcas and Barty got their comic books out at one point and they didn't stop talking about them until the train pulled up to Hogwarts. "Right! Enough of that!" Evan stood quickly, shutting them both up as they laughed instead. It was truly impressive how long they could talk about their comics.
It was a Friday today, meaning that the plan was for the years to get settled in their dorms and then for the feast in the great hall that will probably consist of multiple speeches from the teachers. No one was looking forward to them, no one ever did. Apart from maybe the first years but they were all first years so it didn't count.
They all rode together on the carriages up to Hogwarts castle.
They stepped out of the train with the higher years, the first years continuing for a short while until they got to the docks. It was part of the magical Hogwarts first year experience to ride along the lake, Regulus loved it. With everyone having their trunks in the two trolleys they walked ahead. Pandora introduced her new pet, a-
"AH!" Dorcas yelped as she jumped away from Pandora, everyone stopped and looked at her worriedly. "Oh my-" She rushed as she pointed to Pandora. "You have a thing- a thing on you-" A shiver broke through her as she backed away, Pandora just tilted her head to the side, with concealed amusement. Barty, who was standing between the two, looked at Pandora. He saw it and moved to hide behind Dorcas, "Oh Merlin!" He exclaimed. "Pandora. Do not move."
Evan didn't even look at Pandora as he started to laugh, Regulus walked closer to her. "What is it?" He looked around, Pandora just stood still with a small smile. As Regulus looked at her neck a small creature poked its head out from her back, Regulus just looked at the creature as it blinked up at him. "She is my pet." She told them all with a small laugh.
"That thing is your pet?" Barty asked breathlessly from behind Dorcas.
"She. Yes, she is." Pandora lifted a hand and the small lizard walked onto it, Regulus blinked openly at it for a while before she nudged it closer and he tentatively held out his own hand.
"She, Dorcas. She." Barty mimicked as he shook Dorcas, she just nodded her head as she stared at the creature. Both of them gasped dramatically as it walked onto Regulus's hand.
"What is she?" Regulus asked as he held it to his eye level. "She's a bearded dragon, a baby right now." Pandora sighed as she stroked its head gently, he followed her movements gently.
"THAT'S A DRAGON?!" Barty yelled in a slightly hushed tone, looking around to make sure no one was near them. "Why the hell do you have a dragon?" Dorcas asked with a shocked expression, Evan was wiping tears from his face at this point.
Pandora just rolled her eyes, "She's not a dragon.. she's a bearded dragon." She corrected. She continued to talk about her new pet to the others, letting them look and hold her. Neither of them did but Dorcas did stroke her side, then almost ran away. Regulus and Evan laughed at the two of them.
Regulus turned to get a carriage to ride up to the castle and startled back when he came face to face with a.. horse? It was midnight black all over its body, the mane waved magically into the air. It looked almost like a black flame as it tickled around its neck. Regulus walked backwards from it, none of the others noticed as they started to get into the carriage. "It's a Thestral." Pandora spoke up next to him and he didn't turn to look at her, too focused on the Thestral.
"A Thestral?" He questioned, he hadn't known of those creatures or their use in Hogwarts.
"Yea, beautiful.. aren't they?" She asked, her voice just above a whisper and Regulus felt himself nodding as he stared into its eyes. Neither looked away as Regulus brought up a hand to rest on its neck. Despite its cold exterior and dark aura, it was soft. There was a simple warmth to the creature that put a small smile on his face and the Thestral huffed into his face, making his hair fly up. Pandora laughed softly, "That means he likes you." He didn't question how she could possibly know that, he didn't want to. So he just smiled instead and just as he was about to ask her why the others and himself before couldn't see them, he was interrupted.
The others cried from the carriage that they wanted to leave already so Pandora and him made their way up. He didn't ask on the way to the castle and the question soon got forgotten in conversation.
Once they got to the castle and they were walking through the halls they talked and laughed until they separated.
Barty and Pandora went to Ravenclaw tower but they all promised to sit together at the feast, even if it wasn't common to find people from different houses sitting together at the feasts.
Evan, Regulus and Dorcas went to the Slytherin dungeons. The only reason it was called that was because the Slytherin common room was in the dungeons but the dormitories were in a tower just like every other house. They had to walk higher this year to get to their dorms, it would change after a week. Magic allowing them to only walk up one flight of stairs until they got to their floor, even if they were on the 5th floor.
Evan and Regulus separated from Dorcas as they reach their floor, going into their separate rooms. Evan and Regulus always shared a dorm, it was probably because they were somewhat related.
They stepped into the room and looked around, it wasn't that different from last year. On the opposite side of the room was a wall that was technically a bookcase, there were shelves in the wall and multiple boxes. The wall paper was darker, with a floral pattern. Still the same shades of green as always but Regulus made a B-line straight for the bookcase. Claiming the bed closest to it, not caring that the other bed was the closest to the bathroom. Each bed had a small desk next to it and a bedside table on the other side. There were only the two of them in the dorm this year, it was something that you had to request. Like you can request a room with specific people for the next year etc.
Evan rolled his eyes as Regulus started to unpack and put his books on the book shelf already. As he continued to watch Regulus he became more concerned, he cleared his throat before speaking. "Reg?"
Regulus didn't respond, only turning to look at his friend with a curious look. "What happened... at the dinner party?" He asked slowly, watching his friend as he swallowed and looked away.
"Crucio!" He shouted, screaming followed. Everyone just watched, you just watched.
"Please I didn't-I didn't want to-" She sobbed.
"Avada-"
"Regulus!" Evan shouted, closer now than he was before. Standing in front of him worried, "You alright?" He asked, leaning forwards with his hand and placed it onto his shoulder. Regulus stepped back from the touch, the uncomfortableness and the pain surging through him. "Sorry," Evan whispered. Staying steps away but not leaving.
"I can't." Regulus told Evan, going back to his trunk.
"Are you sure?" He asks once more, not wanting to leave the topic alone.
Regulus thought about it but he didn't need to think for long. "I'm sure." He nodded, closing and shoving his trunk under his bed before standing once more. "I'm going to get some fresh air before the feast-"
"Regulus-" Evan called out but he had already left the room. He stood in the room confused as he watched the door before moving to unpack his trunk with a thoughtful expression.
Regulus leaves the dorms and starts to make his way through the castle, wanting and trying to forget everything he had remembered. The pain, the screaming, the crying.
He turns a corner and stops at the sight of his brother.
'Step 2,' Regulus thinks as he watches his brother. He's pacing in the hallway and is frantically looking around, it was probably the worst time for Regulus to find him. He was pulling his hair and he huffed with impatience as he continued to look around and Regulus didn't care.
He just needed to- "Sirius?" He called out, his brother turning hopefully to the voice before sighing at the sight of Regulus. He should have walked away then and there but he stayed. They were facing each other, Regulus in his dress robes with his school shirt tucked in and his tie done. Sirius with an untucked shirt that was slightly unbuttoned and a loose tie around his neck.
He did try to be polite, "What's up?" He asked but anyone could tell from the strained smile to the way he still looked around that it wasn't a question he wanted an answer to. Anyone but Regulus, it seems because he walked closer to his brother, relaxing finally.
"I need your help with something, or advice maybe- I'm not sure- I just don't really know.. what to do..? There's just a lot and I don't-" Regulus rambled on, looking down at his jumper sleeve as he tried to find the words. If he was looking up he would have seen the irritation written on Sirius's face, the impatience.
"Just- spit it out." He groaned at his brother, "Ugh- Where is he?" He questioned annoyedly, looking around once more to find no one and turned to his brother expectantly.
"I just- something happened over the winter solstice- with mom and-"
"Look," Sirius interrupted. "I- I can't help you with them." He told Regulus, "Alright?"
"What do you mean?" Regulus asks quietly, furrowing his eyebrows as he looked at his brother. His hands shook beside him before he scratched at his arm again.
"I'm not a Black anymore." Sirius sighed, saying it like it was the most obvious statement in the world. His eye bags look more prominent now and Regulus can't help but ask if this is his brother? Because he doesn't look anything like he remembered. Have they become that distanced?
"What do you mean?" Regulus asks, confused. Not understanding why his brother was so annoyed, it made him want to stop that conversation and run away but he stayed. He stayed because this was the plan.
"I'm not-" Sirius pauses, they look at each other for what seems like a lifetime. For Sirius it is, he relives it all. All that he went through in that house, all that he wants to forget. Suddenly there's an ache in his joints and everything is itchy as he twitches in place. "Orion and Walburga, they don't want me anymore. I'm not a black- they practically disowned me, so I'm not a part of that family." He says finally, trying to get Regulus to understand because he has somewhere he needs to be.
Regulus can't begin to pick apart the lies, wondering when our family became that one. Wondering... "So what does that make us then?" More confused than before.
"You're my brother. You'll always be my brother but... but I don't think I can be your friend- not with Black family things- We just aren't close like that- you know?" Sirius tumbles through, talking faster and faster.
It's obvious by now to Regulus, how much Sirius doesn't want to be talking to him. He wonder's how they can be brothers if they aren't friends and-
“Oh.”
‘Oh.’
Sirius doesn't notice the dread showing on his face. He looks around and sees someone that makes his posture relax, he turns back to his brother once more. "Glad you get it," He says and Regulus wants to laugh. To cry, maybe scream but he won't do either in front of him. He stands there and just stares at where his brother was. He doesn't turn to watch him walk down the hallway or watch him follow a Hufflepuff into the bathroom.
He doesn't look for him because, honestly, he feels embarrassed. Humiliated from the rejection because 'What did I expect?' He asks himself in disbelief, Sirius had said it himself. They weren't close anymore and Regulus can't help the loneliness he feels when it repeats in his mind, he feels the loneliness like a snake coiling around his body. Replacing his breath with pain as his throat tightens. He stands there for what seems like hours but then the grand bell is ringing. Signalling that noon is close, it spurs Regulus to move.
He moves and ends up sitting in a small alcove outside the castle, it's probably an hour until the feast now. He takes out the small black book, he taps it with his wand and writing starts to adorn the pages like it was just being written now. This was one of the first charms Regulus had learnt, the one he had become obsessed with because it was so fluid. So flexible. He flicks through the pages until he finds the one he wants and with his wand he crosses out;
'Step 2 : Talk to Sirius.' Now he was upset, annoyed and upset because well he thought his brother would be there. Hate and shame that mixed together to form a nauseating, toxic pool.
So blinking wildly he started writing.
Step 2 : Find out how to destroy horcruxes. (Slughorn? Restricted section?)
He starts to think before writing next, adding to the plans he already wrote.
Step 3 : Cause a disturbance to get into Dumbledore's office.
Step 4 : Take Notebook from office.(Bookcase to the left/third shelf/second column)
He leaned back against the stone wall and thought some more about how he would get into Dumbledore's office. With his brother still fresh on his mind it goes straight to pranks. Regulus thinks about all the times they got caught and decides he should watch them to see how. 'It can't be that hard to get caught,' Regulus thinks, 'they get caught all the time.'
He turns to the back of the little book and writes a small list on the hard back, a list of things he usually wouldn't do. Either because of his family, mother, brother or even because of anxiety. He was writing a list and he was going to complete it by the end of the year. Writing every thought that came to mind and some out of spite too. Purely because one of the most prominent thoughts were, 'Fuck everyone.'
After he was done he started pocketing his things and stalking off to the great hall. Trying to ignore the thoughts of , 'We just aren't close like that.' That repeats in his heads, 'I'm not apart of that family.' Regulus finds himself less angry than before, no less sad.
He walks towards the great hall, he can hear it before even reaching the right hallway. Dorcas, Evan, Barty and Pandora are all waiting outside the room and the site makes Regulus smile as he joins them.
"So that's why it's called the Norwegian Ridgeback, even though they are mostly known for nesting in warm climates-" Evan starts before being interrupted.
"Like in the Sahara!" Pandora leans in, shouting in excitement at knowing the answer. "The dragon?" Dorcas questions as she took off her large pointy hat. They continue to talk about dragons and about other creatures. Regulus joins them wordlessly as they walk in together and sit at the end of the Slytherin table. Of course, someone does notice them.
"You aren't supposed to be sat here." Snape tells them from further along the table as he crosses his arms and holds his head high.
They all ignore him and continue to sit down, "You get a new haircut, scales? Looks awful." Barty tells him with a fake smile as he sits down across from the two siblings and Regulus. They all ignore each other after that, Snape not bothering to reply and just glares at them.
The others continue to talk about dragons and Regulus listens in. Barty is uninterested in the conversation and decides to look around the room rather than listening in, someone across the hall meets his eye. Amelia Bones, sitting at the Hufflepuff table smiles slyly at Barty and he winks back at her.
"Oi!" Dorcas hit's Barty over the head with her hat, "Stop flirting, it's about to begin." She rolled her eyes as she did, Barty just smirked back. "It's not my fault that all the ladies want me." He sighed dramatically as he fixed his hat.
Dorcas laughed before replying, "Right and tell me. How many girlfriends have you had?"
"Girlfriends? That has nothing to do with anything." Barty says, challenging Dorcas and Evan laughs at the reply.
"It has to do with everything! Like yea, you hook-up, ok, but none of them stay, do they?" She looked at him with raised eyebrows and a teasing smile.
"Maybe I don't want them to stay, thought about that?" Barty told her defensively, at the same time Professor McGonagall had started to lightly hit a glass with a silver knife. The sound travelled throughout the room and the voices died down until it was silent.
"Welcome back from your winter solstice or Christmas's." She smiled at the entire room, her eyes raking across each table and student.
Dorcas leaned over to Barty as she whispered into his ear, "That's because you have raging daddy issues." Evan snorted from his place across from them and multiple people turned to look at him. He faked a cough but his smile still gave him away, Pandora just shook her head as she tried to listen to what McGonagall was saying. Something about the lesson plans, the new Professor sat beside them. He had a small smirk on his face, the same as Dorcas and when they looked at each other they had to look away quickly before they burst out laughing. In their defence, they really were trying to be respectful. They were just failing incredibly.
They managed to calm down in the duration of Dumbledore's impractical speech that was a near copy of McGonagall's. Regulus kept an eye on the man as he talked, his humour running out first as memories reminded him.
He looked away from the man, trying to distract himself. It worked, he found the Gryffindor table and then he found his brother. From the person who Regulus was talking to before, this seemed like a completely different person. He was smiling wide and had an arm around one of his friends as well as someone's around himself. He just looked so happy, no glint of the miserable person Regulus spoke to before and it was confusing. It pissed him off as well, 'Good for him.' Regulus thought as he rubbed his shoulder. The movement catching one of his friends' attention.
"I wish you all a good year and remember," Dumbledore spoke, interrupting his thinking, "help will always be given to those who ask." His voice vibrates throughout the room, everyone is captivated by it. By him. Food starts to appear on the table's and children are cheering while the teacher's watch happily. Dumbledore in the middle of it as he sits down slowly, watching everyone.
Regulus wonder's how Dumbledore helped young Voldemort and if he still is. There's no answer to the questions yet, so Regulus just watches from afar.
As soon as people started to leave so did the five Eagle-Snake's. Evan taking an apple as they walked out the hall and towards the grassy fields outside, it was a bright day but with the sun about to set early as it was still winter the air became cold. Dorcas and Barty continued to argue as they walked, Evan stood between them to mediate but he was more just watching the drama. Laughing every now and again at the small jabs they sent each other.
"Go piss off into your crows nest," Dorcas will say. An insult that he was more like a crow than an Eagle, Barty didn't care for the house so it was shrugged off.
"Go back to your mole hole," Barty replies. Evan laughing in between them, "Mole hole?" He was ignored by both of them.
"Ha ha- very funny, says the porcupine." She gestured to his hair, it got a gasp from Barty. "How dare you! My hair is wonderful, it's one of my most desired features!" He says as if it were a fact, Evan and Regulus share a smirk. "You have no desired features, don't lie to me." Dorcas flicks her hair and begins to walk faster as they get to the field. "Hey! It is very much true, just ask that hot Hufflepuff."
Dorcas shares a knowing look with Evan as they walk further, "You don't even know her name, do you?" She stops and looks at him, the question is definitely an accusation.
"I do know her name." Barty scoffs and starts to walk away again just to be followed by a laughing Evan. "No, you don't." He tells Barty.
"I could!" He defends.
"But do you?" Dorcas raises her eyebrow at him and they both wait for an answer.
Behind them Pandora slides her arm to inter-lock it with Regulus', he brings up his other hand to hold her arm. "Are you going?" She asks him softly, always softly as if she was constantly sighing.
"Going where?" He asked back as he turned to her.
"To the light," She replied vaguely as they caught up with the other three that were now sat on the grass and lightly talking as the sun set in the distance. Pandora let her arm fall as she walked forwards, joining their hands instead and Regulus was happy. As he looked at all of them, being led to them he walked forwards. "I think I'm going to, yea." He told her, letting all the ideas and the knowledge he knows now cement that he really and truly is going to try with plan DOV. To try and be happy, no more can't.
"Going to what?" Barty asks, peeking up at the possible gossip.
"Kick your ass for stealing my last Yorkshire pudding." Regulus replied as he turned to face him, Pandora smiling at him and Evan cheering him on through his surprise.
"I'll help you," Dorcas began to stand and Barty began to crawl backwards trying to stand up. "Come on guys, you don't- AH!" He yelled as Dorcas started to run at him, he ran away frantically but he didn't see Regulus had set off too until he was cut off with a tackle. They both sat on him until he apologised and then they tousled his gelled hair and they all laughed together.
Evan and Pandora watched as they shook their heads. Regulus was pushed off Barty from the laughing, he could see all of them as they smiled and laughed. He didn’t really understand why he hadn’t just accepted it before, allowing himself to be happy. Instead of feeling bad he laughs, he can hardly contain himself really and misses the shocked faces from his friends for a moment before they too join him.