Alice Fortescue
Saturday October 21, 1972
Things had improved from Regulus' point of view, he didn't spend long hours with his brother, but at least now they stopped to talk in the corridors or saw each other in the garden from time to time, or Sirius winked at Regulus after his pranks with that complicity smile that made him laugh so much. It wasn't ideal, but it was something. A small void had been filled in him again.
It was Saturday and Regulus had gone out into the garden with his friends. The four of them were sitting in the shade of a huge tree, the sky was overcast, and all the clouds were that silvery colour Regulus loved. It smelled damp, it was cold. A light breeze of wind blew, and Regulus felt the chill seeping down his sleeves. From his backpack, he took a navy-blue wool sweater that he had picked up just in case.
— Reg, are you okay? You are wearing two sweaters and a scarf. — Dorcas laughed as his head poked out of the hole in his blue sweater. —
— Yes, I'm just a bit cold, nothing I'm not used to, don't worry. — He answered looking at the laughter in Evan's facial expression — what's wrong?
— Nothing! — Regulus raised an eyebrow and Barty laughed too — Nothing, nothing! It's just that I thought you liked the cold.
— And I like it — he said taking out a thermos with hot tea from his bag —
— How can you like something that makes you feel bad? — Evan answered —
— I like the feeling of cold, I like being able to put on a sweater and feel that cold attached to my arms and see how it disappears — he sipped his tea. Barty, astonished, pointed at him —
— Do you have a bloody thermos with hot tea in your bag? — Barty said pointing at it. —
— But you're always cold, there's no point in liking it, it must be very tiring to always wear a spare sweater in case you get cold — Evan continued, ignoring Barty —
— Well, it's a matter of getting used to it.— Regulus sipped again, also ignoring Barty. —
— Wasn't your favourite season winter, Regulus? — Dorcas joined. —
— Hello? Does nobody see it? — Barty was ignored once again —
— Aha — Regulus nodded — I also like autumn, but yes, you could say that winter is my favourite.
— Sorry?! — Evan sat up slightly — what kind of psychopath do I have for a friend? how can your favourite season be the season of dead plants, freezing rain and cold?
— Winter is great. Precisely because of what you said, it's great, it's cold, it rains a lot, there are no plants so there are no allergies, you sleep with a blanket and socks, you make hot tea, you read by the fire, nothing fails. — he took another sip —
— I'm going to ignore the fact that you just said you sleep in socks because I'm not in the mood to kill an-
— CAN SOMEONE LISTEN TO ME?! REGULUS WHY DO YOU HAVE A THERMOS WITH TEA IN YOUR BLOODY BAG? — Barty yelled interrupting Evan —
— why not?
Regulus answered Barty with all the calm in the world, which made his friend even more desperate.
— why not?! Because it's weird?!
— Bartemius Crouch Junior do not interrupt, we are having a conversation of extreme importance. — Barty hated being called by his full name and Evan used it to make fun of him. Barty turned bright red and shut up. — Well, Reggie, where were we? Ah yes! I was telling you that you are a FUCKING PSYCOPATH. How can you prefer the coldness and loneliness of winter over the joy and life of summer?
— Summer is overrated. — Dorcas said to Evan's great offense. —
— HOW DARE YOU?
— It's true. People only like summer because there are holidays, but the season itself is probably the worst. It's hot, you can't sleep, people scream in summer, even the colour palette is bad.
— Poor me! I live among crazy people! — Evan lay down on the grass — Is your favourite also winter Dorcas?
— Autumn — she said. —
— Hm, I guess so, I've surrounded myself with mob, I'm a wretch.
— Autumn is fine, don't be dramatic. — Regulus added. —
— Better colours, better clothes, better food, better weather, simply the best season.
— Barty? Friend, give me the reason, don't let me down too — Evan pointed to Barty waiting for his answer —
— Are you seriously not shocked that your friend carries a thermos of hot tea in the middle of October, but you are horrified that no one chooses summer as their favourite season? — Barty looked at him judgingly—
— Forget about the thermos Bartemius! Our friendship hangs by a thread! What is your favourite season?
— Spring
They all looked at him in astonishment. No one was expecting the favourite season of the one they had as the rebel of their group being the season of flowers and love.
— Wait. Really? — Dorcas was the only one who dared to ask, immediately she began to laugh —
— Yes, what’s up?
— What a plot twist — Evan looked at him confused —
— what's wrong with spring? It is undoubtedly the best season, the weather is good, the fields are filled with flowers, many animals reappear after months, classes are ending...
— Yes, no, I partially agree, spring is the best season, after summer.
— Bullshit, spring's better, assume it mate!
— Autumn.
Regulus left the scene for a moment and took stock of the situation. His friends arguing to see what their favourite seasons are, each one has a different opinion, none willing to change it, he laughed to himself and returned to the scene, leaving himself a mental note to write something in his diary as soon as he was alone.
(10/21/1972)
The four Seasons.
Barty: Spring. Heat, light, life, dust, energy, noise, change.
Evan: summer. Sun, yellow, wet grass, freedom, naivety, detachment, subtlety.
Dorcas: autumn. Afternoon, loneliness, cinnamon, fallen leaves, home, comfort.
Me: winter. Cold, isolation, socks, cup in hand, blue, snow, wool.
Regulus was walking back from the library having just returned a couple of books he had taken for a potion’s assignment. His friends had already gone to the common room where they had arranged to meet him when he finished returning the books. There were still a few hours left before dinner and Barty and Regulus wanted to take the opportunity to fly with the broomsticks for a while.
Regulus was smiling, he really wanted to fly, he hadn't done it in weeks, and he missed the feeling of cold air hitting his face as he accelerated until he couldn't anymore.
His step was fast, the sooner he arrived, the more time they would have to fly.
— Regulus
The boy stopped short at the sound of his name. For a second his blood ran cold. Narcissa's voice was too similar to her aunt's when she was serious.
— Narcissa
Regulus turned to see her approaching. Over the summer, Regulus had had a good time with her and Lucius, but at school, her cousin had recaptured that haughty air and perfection that Regulus was terrified of. He looked her up and down, her shirt didn't have a single wrinkle, her dyed blonde hair fell straight to her shoulders, partially collected by a bun tied with a blue bow at the back of her head, she was wearing a dark blue plaid skirt and a knitted cardigan of the same colour, if Regulus hadn't known what the Hogwarts uniform looked like he would have sworn she was wearing it at the time. On her wrist there was a yellow bracelet that hadn't been there that summer, it was handmade.
Narcissa knew Regulus and noticed how her cousin looked at the new bracelet she was wearing. It did not surprise her, a yellow bracelet, made by hand, was not a usual accessory of the Blacks.
— My friend Alice made it for me, it's a friendship bracelet. Normally I don't believe in such nonsense, but she is excited that I wear it so I tolerate it. — Narcissa told him, raising her wrist so that Regulus could see it better —
— The Hufflepuff? — Regulus remembered the summer conversation in which his cousin had mentioned a hufflepuff Alice —
— Aha,— she agreed. —
— They let you wear it?
— What do you mean they let me? who? the school? — Narcissa asked seriously pulling her wrist away as if she suddenly had to protect the bracelet at all costs. —
— No… erm… your parents.
— Regulus, we are not home.
Narcissa's eyes darkened, and she looked at the helpless little Regulus. Narcissa empathized with him and suddenly she was little first-year Cissy once again, the sister of Bellatrix and Andromeda, the scared and helpless Cissy who just wanted to feel safe. She knew practically no one. A girl with short brown hair approached her.
— It's scary, isn't it? — Narcissa didn't answer. — Yeah, I know. Which house do you think you will go to?
— S-Slytherin. — Narcissa's bright eyes went up and met the huge brown eyes of the small, round-faced girl. —
— Great! Slytherins are cool!
— Y-you think so?
— Definitely! Also, green suits you, I'm sure the uniform with the snake will look great on you — they both laughed —
— You? which one do you think you're going to?
— Hmm... my parents say I might go to Gryffindor, but I think I'll end up in Hufflepuff. Yellow highlights my personality more. — Narcissa smiled — Alice Fortescue — the girl extended her hand —
— Narcissa Black
Narcissa came to and looked at her bracelet again.
— We can wear friendship bracelets here if we want, Reggie, it's okay.
Regulus didn't know what to say, so he didn't say anything.
— I see that you're still just as quiet, it's okay, you'll get into less trouble that way. Well, I wanted to talk to you about something specific.
— What is it?
— Sirius. His birthday is coming up soon and our family has a tradition of having tea together on birthdays at Hogwarts. This year Bellatrix is not here so it will be just the three of us. Has Walburga's letter reached you yet?
— No
— Well, it will come to you. Both of you will receive a letter.
— Alright.
— Well, that's it, cousin. See you on your brother's birthday.
Narcissa turned and walked away as she waved goodbye. Regulus had forgotten about the idea of flying. His mind was going over what Narcissa had said. "Regulus, we're not home." Did his cousin fear the Black house as much as he did?
As she walked away from her cousin, Narcissa's mind was riveted on Alice's bracelet.
Narcissa wished with all her heart that Regulus had found his Alice Fortescue. I couldn't have done it without her, she thought, feeling a piece of the thread with her fingers.
Before she knew it, she found herself running down the hall. There was no one around. Narcissa knew where to find Alice at that moment and that was where she was headed.
It was raining so she ended up getting soaked on the way. When she entered the greenhouse, she saw her. A small stroke of light illuminated her shoulder-length brown hair. She was smiling, she always was. Alice had a natural talent for acting at the right times in the right way. In that instant she turned to see Narcissa standing in the doorway of the greenhouse, completely drenched, her wrinkled shirt sticking to her skin and her socks pulled down one higher than the other. Alice put down the watering can and ran over to Narcissa.
— Cissy! You're drenched! Merlin, you're going to get sick! Come in.
Alice took Narcissa's hand and led her inside. She sat her down next to a pot she was growing and gave her a robe that she herself had embroidered with sunflowers.
— Tea? — She offered her a thermos and Narcissa took it — what happened? letter? — Narcissa nodded, but then corrected herself. —
— Yes and no
— Yes and no? That's new. Tell me, friend.
— I don't want to disturb you while you work.
— I'm done watering Narcissa.
— Did you name your plant after me? — she smiled —
— Indeed. You look a lot alike. You both have that melancholic and elegant air.
— It's a gerbera.
— Yeah
— I like her.
— Me too — Narcissa blushed and looked down — but I think that now Narcissa the plant needs less help than my Cissy. Tell me what happened.
— I was talking to my cousin.
— Sirius?
— No, the little one, Regulus.
— Oh yeah, the quiet one. — Narcissa nodded. —
— He asked me about the bracelet.— She raised her arm and left Alice's bracelet in plain sight. —
— What's wrong with the bracelet?
— He asked me if I could wear that, and I told him that we were not at home and suddenly...
— You were there again...
— Aha, I was there.
Alice hugged Narcissa.
— But you're not there, remember? You are here with me and Narcissa the gerbera.
— It's not me I'm worried about. Not this time.
— Oh. Regulus?
— Regulus. His eyes… there was pure terror in them. What if he hasn't been as lucky as I was?
— What are you talking about?
— What if he doesn't have his Alice Fortescue? — Alice couldn't help but laugh — I'm serious! Narcissa protested.
— I know, I know. Hey Cissy, your cousin is strong like you. He will find his Alice —she laughed again—
— Do you really believe so?
— I'm sure of it. — Narcissa rested her head on Alice's shoulder and Alice stroked her wet hair. —
— Thank you, Alice.
— That's what I'm for, Cissy, that's what I'm for.
Alice didn't stay calm until she saw Narcissa's eyes clear and return to that pastel blue she loved so much. She looked at her wrist. The blue bracelet that Narcissa had given her was there. Then she looked at her friend's yellow bracelet. Everything was fine.