Chapters 5
~Regina~
By the time they arrived at the train station Regina’s nerves had increased tenfold, not that she would admit that, if you ask; she will deny it without hesitation. Though she had a strong feeling her brother saw right through her, which only managed to piss her off. It wasn’t fair that he knew her so well. Was he a bloody mind-reader or something?
Sirius picked up his bags and began to walk in the direction of the train. Regina meant to follow, but a firm hand was placed on her shoulder successfully stopping her. The girl glanced over her shoulder, met the sharp gaze of her mother and swallowed.
“I would like to make one thing clear Regina,” Walburga began in the coldest voice imaginable, which caused Regina’s spine to stiffen. It was an immediate reaction to her mother’s stern voice and glaring eyes. “I will not tolerate you turning into a miniature version of your brother. You, as a member of the Black family will be expected to be sorted into Slytherin. Do not think that because Sirius disobeyed that and was able to walk the next day you will too.” Fear flooded through every inch of her body.
“If you disappoint me like him,” Regina felt herself shrinking underneath her mother’s intense glare. “The consequences will be severe. For you, and for the person who corrupted you.” Her mothers gaze slowly moved itself behind her to where her brother was waiting for her. She swallowed; their mother was well aware of the relationship between the siblings. Walburga knew that if she threatened one the other would obey.
“Yes mother.” It was a monumental effort to get any sound out of her throat. Her mother removed the hand from her shoulder, Regina immediately picked up her bags and moved in a quick pace to her brother, who was still waiting for her.
The pale girl fought to keep her breathing under control fighting the panic attack she would surely have given into if being alone. Her heart was pounding in her chest, so hard, she believed everybody could hear it.
When she made it to her brother, she could see the barely concealed worry in his eyes. No doubted he could feel the fear radiating off of her. Noticeable by the pale skin, tight shoulders, accelerated breathing and the slightly wider frightful eyes. Most people wouldn’t have noticed but Sirius and Regina could read each other’s tells in an instant.
“What’d she say?” Sirius asked, voice tight.
Regina shrugged. “The usual.” She lied and they both knew it. He stared at her for a moment and then inclined his chin, an unconvincing nod of acceptance.
“Let’s go” The boy said, trying to leave their mother at the train station. Instead of taking her with them on the train, hunting in their thoughts.
Sirius walked through the train, checking every compartment trying to find his friends. Regina walked quietly behind him, fidgeting with her hands. The self-doubt and insecurities from before returning in full force. She was convinced Sirius’ friends would hate her, or think she’s awkward, impolite, cold hearted, or something within these terms.
She had absolutely no idea how to be social, her only friend was her brother. And she’d only gotten him because they happened to be stuck together since Regina’s birth, so that truly doesn’t count.
Sirius stopped abruptly, Regina was so lost in thought she nearly crashed in to him while trying to keep up with his quick pace. Apparently, he had found his friends sitting in a compartment together, happily chatting. Regina fought the nerves, and tried with all her might to act casual, unaffected. Better they thought of her as cold and icy than a nervous wreck.
Sirius opened the door, excitement radiating off of him. With a large grin on his face, he announced his arrival. “Hello lads.”
One of the tree boy’s, tanned skin, curly dark brown hair, hazel eyes and glasses, jumped up and embraced Sirius tightly. “Sirius! You’re here!” the boy exclaimed.
“No shit he’s here, what’d you expect.” Another voice stated dryly. Looking over Regina took in the other boy. He was seated next to the exited boy, a book in his hands. Brown hair and eyes, pale skin and brutal scars over his face. Curiosity about how he’d gotten them was to be expected, though she wouldn’t ask. It was rude to ask such things, though the real reason why she wouldn’t ask, was purely because that required more courage than she possessed.
On the other side of the compartment another voice giggled at the comment of the sarcastic boy. When Regina focused her attention to the last person in the tiny space, she was met with a slightly heavier boy. Blond hear, freckles all over his face, blue eyes and a shy smile on his face.
While Regina was assessing each boy, she hadn’t listened to the conversation they were having. Her head snaped back to the conversation when she felt the attention snag on her. The blond boy was bluntly staring at her and the pale boy sneaking glances at her behind his book, not openly staring, but undoubtedly curious.
Regina’ posture and expression hadn’t changed. Her body still stiff and her gaze still cold neutrality, assessing the room. When Sirius noticed the shifted attention, he turned toward his little sister.
“Oh, right. Everyone, meet my little sister, Reggie, meet everyone!” Regina scowled slightly at the use of her nickname by an introduction. Sirius noted the look and had the nerve to smirk.
The excited boy stepped forward, giving her a friendly smile. “Hello Reggie, I’m James Potter.” He said, reaching out for her to shake.
Regina stared at it for a moment before tentatively razing her hand to grasp the hand of Potter. “Regina Black.” She said, her voice not revealing any emotion.
“Huh?” Potter said, face scrunching in confusion.
Regina sight slightly. “My name is Regina, not Reggie.” She said shooting a pointed glare at Sirius who only grinned in response. “Only Sirius calls me Reggie.” She added, bringing her gaze back to Potter.
“Alright, I didn’t realize it was a thing between the two of you.” The boy in front of her said simply, not the least bit affected by Regina’s cold tone.
“Aww, Reggie. Are you protective of you’re nickname.” Sirius mock-cooed, placing a hand on his chest to emphasize his act. Regina scowled, giving Sirius the reaction he hoped for. ‘Cause they were siblings, thereby came a hidden contract to tease and taunt each other at any given moment.
“No, definitely not. Just because I can’t stop you from using it, doesn’t mean I want everyone calling me that ridiculous nickname.” Regina stated dryly, face changing back into neutrality again.
The pale boy snorted at that. “I’m Remus BTW, Remus Lupin.” The boy, Lupin said.
“Peter Pettigrew.” The last boy said, Regina nodded at them but didn’t say anything else. Potter took his seat next to the window, next to Lupin and opposite to Pettigrew. Sirius took a spot next to Pettigrew and Regina took a place next to him closest to the compartment door, opposite to Lupin.
Like Lupin, Regina decided to also take out a book and started reading, drowning out the sounds of the three boys happily chatting. Creating her own bubble while reading her favorite romance novel.
A sharp nudge in Regina’s right side brought her back to the compartment. She looked to her right and saw Sirius look at her expectantly.
“What?” she snapped, annoyed at the rude interruption.
Sirius rolled his eyes at her attitude. “James was trying to start a conversation with you, but your nerdiness got in the way.”
Lupin raised an eyebrow, looking up from his own book. “‘nerdiness?’ Just because you’ve never opened a book of your own free will, doesn’t make everyone who does a nerd.” He stated, amusement evident in his tone.
Sirius decided to ignore his comment. Instead looking expectedly at his little sister. Regina looked him dead in the eye for a couple of moments, not making any indication to even look at Potter. Before she was shoved again, this time by Sirius' knee. She grumbled under her breath and shifted her gaze to the exited boy.
“What is it?” Regina said coldly, colder than she’d meant them.
“Manners Reggie, I thought you were so good at them.” Sirius said in a teasing voice. To which she rolled her eyes, but other than that gave no reaction to.
If Potter was bothered by her rudeness, he didn’t show it. “I was just wondering if you were exited for your first year at Hogwarts?” He said in an annoyingly friendly tone. It wasn’t as if she was being friendly towards him, so why bother?
“I’m curious to the lessons.” Regina said in response. Potter was silent for a moment and she realized he was waiting for her to elaborate. ~Because surely that couldn’t be the only thing, she was curious about. *Eyeroll*~ “…And the library” She added hesitantly, almost sounding like a question. Sirius barked a laugh beside her.
“Well then you’ll like Remus over here,” Potter said, nudging Lupin by the shoulder. “It’s impossible to get him out of the library. Always with his nose in a book.” He sing-songed.
Silence fell again, Potter clearly didn’t like it. He was fidgeting the entire time and eventually turned pleading eyes to Sirius, who shrugged. Regina just stared in front of her, wondering what was the normal amount of time it had to be quiet before she could turn back to her book.
“So, erhm, you like books?” Potter started again. ~Great now I had to wait another awkward silence before I can turn back to my book.~
“No, I actually hate reading. That’s why I do it, I like doing things I hate.” Regina said sarcastically and gave him a dry look.
She didn’t know how she’d expected him to react, but Potter bursting out laughter was definitely not one of them. This was the first time that day her mask had unwillingly slipped, as shock and surprise entered her features, though she was quick to pull it back up again. Besides Potter, was Pettigrew giggling, Lupin casting an amused glance at her and was her brother laughing alongside Potter, not as hard but still laughing.
Eventually Potter pulled himself together enough to say, “You're funny” only to lose it again over the returned shock on the girl’s face.
Some how, Potter was entirely unaffected by Regina's cold, sarcastic attitude. Which only confused her. She was used to people snarking back at her, or berating her for being rude not laugh at it like it was the funniest joke they've ever heard. At this point Regina knew only one thing for certain, James Potter was one-of-a-kind and she did not understand him at all. Though what she wasn’t sure of, was whether that was a good or a bad thing.