Dorcas Meadowes
Regulus’ POV
Regulus strutted into the great hall for lunch, scanning the heads at the Slytherin table. He glanced quickly at the Gryffindors, feeling some sort of hope that Potter would be there. Obviously he would be. It’s lunch. But still. Eugh. He had to stop with that.
Unlucky for Regulus, a pair of hazel eyes met his, and he took a slow step before resuming his pace. Potter glanced away when the boy didn’t break eye contact, covering his now pink face, and Regulus fought back a smile.
If they were face to face, and most importantly, alone, he would have told him he loved to see him squirm. There was no way Regulus would walk over in the middle of lunch and say that, though. He also shouldn’t be thinking it.
Regulus continued his walk to his respective table and spotted the group he was searching for. He nodded to Barty and Evan as he walked up.
“Dorcas,” Regulus greeted as he sat next to the girl.
“Regulus,” she smiled, pushing her Bria’s behind her shoulder.
“How’ve you been?” He asked.
“I’m not a fan of small talk, Black,” she glanced at him, breaking her gaze at the Gryffindor table, and chuckled lightly.
“Neither am I,” he breathed. “I actually was wondering if you were free after class.”
Dorcas looked away in thought. “Suppose I am, why? Going to ask me out?” She asked jokingly.
“No,” Regulus stated. “I've got something to talk to you about.”
Dorcas shrugged. “Slytherin commons?”
“Mm, not there, it needs to be someone more private.” Dorcas raised a suggestive brow, a smirk tugging on her lips. “Shut up. I was thinking Slughorn's room.”
“You are his favorite, doubt he’ll be angry with us loitering in his room.”
Regulus rolled his eyes. “That’s what they say,” he responded dryly.
Dorcas rolled her eyes and went back to her plate. Regulus looked across the table at Barty and Evan, both looking at him curiously.
“No,” Regulus said to Barty.
“What? I didn’t even say anything!” He threw his hands up in defense.
“You said it with your eyes.”
“Damn Reggie, you might just be as crazy as Lupin. Eyes don’t speak,” Barty joked. Although it was all meant in good humor, sort of, Regulus felt a hurt in his chest. Not for himself, but for Remus.
People made fun of him all the time, and he was genuinely such a nice person. Regulus wished he could tell Barty to shut up, but it would be bad for both him and Remus if Sirius found out that they were friends. He hated Regulus, after all. And he loved Remus.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-
His legs swung back and forth above the stone floor. Regulus was sitting on one of the many tables in Slughorn's room as he waited for Dorcas to arrive. Classes had ended just ten minutes ago, so he expected her soon.
Regulus stood and walked over to Slughorn's desk, sifting through some of the loose papers. Test, test, research paper, test. Most of it was ungraded, but there was a neat pile, stark in the mess of parchment and ink, that included graded work. Regulus flipped through the pile, one paper after another.
After flipping past some first years work, he found Snapes' test. In the top right corner was a red twenty, full marks. Regulus smiled slightly, something that must’ve looked creepy had anyone else been there, and pulled out his wand.
With a quick charm that he’d learned back in first year, the boy switched the twenty to a three. Then, to ensure Slughorn couldn’t read it over and fix it, he switched up Snape’s answers. Have fun being best in potions, while it lasts. Regulus thought to himself.
Suddenly the door swung open and Regulus scrambled to hide the paper in the pile. He turned, hiding the desk with his back, to find Dorcas staring at him with a goofy grin.
“Suspicious,” she said as she slowly walked to his side of the room.
“I was just looking around, thought you were a teacher,” Regulus shrugged and moved to the spot he was at before.
“Fair,” Dorcas said and perched next to the boy on the table. “So, what is it you wanted to talk about?” She held up a finger before he could speak, “Ah! No, you better not be asking me out again.”
“What? I never-“
“I know, I know, I’m just so attractive and badass and am super damn hot. But my heart belongs to another,” she nodded at him with a mock frown.
“Dorcas,” he tried again.
“Don’t worry, it’s ok, I understand how hard rejection is,” Dorcas patted him on the back.
“Stop,” he said as a smile broke out on his face.
“Thank Merlín,” Dorcas laughed. “I was scared I'd be talking with the spooky stoic side of you.”
“You would’ve been,” Regulus said.
“Good thing I’m funny.”
“Full of yourself,” he said between fake coughs. Dorcas gasped and slapped him on the back of the head.
“Don’t even,” she rolled her eyes.
Regulus snorted, covering his smile by resting his head in his hand. “Seriously, though,” he said. “We really need to talk.”
“Ok, shoot.” Dorcas waited patiently as he struggled to find the right words.
“There’s this person,” he started.
“A girl? Regulus has a crush?” He opened his mouth to correct her and say ‘guy’ but held back. Not yet. Not until he was sure she’d be accepting.
“Yes,” he said tightly. “I have been meeting them—not purposely!—past curfew,” he spoke slowly, picking out each word as he went. “Yesterday, me, Barty, Evan, and Pandora all met up, and once two of them,” he gave her a pointed look, “left to shag and Pandora was gone, they showed up.
“And they tried to hug me. And I freaked out, and they tried to apologize for something that happened, and I went ahead and made a really stupid joke.” He pressed his lips together in a tight line and looked at Dorcas.
“What was the joke?” She asked when he didn’t continue, the expectation for him to say it evident in her tone.
“I said ‘you’re fine’,” he started. “Then, they looked at me all freaked out, like I called them the most atrocious nickname ever. So I decided, why not? And then I told them ‘take it both ways, you're hot’.”
Dorcas gaped at him, somehow smiling at the same time.
“What?” Regulus asked, worry in his voice. If he was any younger he’d have had a voice crack by now.
“What’d he say?” Dorcas asked him, eyes wide.
“Nothing, I left,” Regulus’ brows knitted slightly.
“Arty!” She exclaimed, raising her hands just to drop them to the table.
“What? I didn’t have anything else to say, and I thought it,” he paused, the conversation catching up to him. “Did you ask me what he said?”
Dorcas clamped her mouth shut. “Yes,” she responded slowly.
Shit. Regulus held the practiced front, but felt everything inside him whirl into an unrecognizable feeling. No, no. She can’t know. He trusted Dorcas, but that didn’t mean he trusted her beliefs. It was more likely she’d be homophobic than accepting. Hell, it took him a while to even accept himself.
“Dorcas,” he looked her in the eyes, a fearful sternness to his voice. “Please don’t tell anyone.”
“Oh,” she frowned, reaching out to hug the boy. “I won’t, Regulus. I promise I won’t.”
Regulus let her hug him for a few seconds more before shoving her arms from him gently. He scooted away. They were too close. What if she lashed out?
“Do you mind saying who it is?” Dorcas tilted her head as she rested her hands in her lap.
“Guess,” Regulus said, ruder than intended.
“Snape,” Dorcas raises a brow, goofy grin returning.
“Ew, Merlin no,” Regulus shook. “No one could ever like that greasy git.”
The dark skinned girl laughed loudly, and he could feel the slightest sense of relief. “Hmm, if not Snape…” Regulus slapped Dorcas playfully on the arm, shaking his head. “James,” she said with a grin.
Regulus nodded, inhaling sharply, preparing for violence. It should’ve already come but maybe her last straw would be him liking the boy in love with one of her best friends.
“I knew it!” She exclaimed, standing on the table as if she was about to break out into song.
“You knew?” he looked up at her, scooting further away.
“Duh, you should see James,” she groaned as she paced along the wood.
“Trust me, I’ve seen him,” Regulus muttered. Although he didn’t intend for it, Dorcas heard and shot him a suggestive smile. “Stop,” he ordered.
“I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of him,” she teased, sitting next to him.
“Dorcas,” he glared.
“Oh but how much James wishes to see more of you!” She giggled when he shoved her from the table, catching herself.
“You’re not funny,” Regulus said, although the upturn on the corners of his lips stated otherwise.
“You keep telling yourself that, Little Black,” Dorcas said as she headed for the door.
“You’ve gotta stop calling me that!” He called after her. “We’re not done, either! Dolphin!” He shouted the nickname through the door as she’d shut it on his face. Regulus groaned and pushed the door open, chasing after her as she ran down the dungeon's corridors.
Regulus could hear Dorcas’ laughter from ahead as it bounced off of the stone and he found himself laughing with her. It was dry, and a little throaty, but it was nice laughter. He wished he’d only been able to laugh like this more often.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-
Outside of the castle, after the sun had set and the world was covered with a gray blue light, Dorcas offered for Regulus to go to the Gryffindors “kick off” party as she called it. It marked the first quidditch game of the season, which had been yesterday, and was being held that weekend. Of course, other Gryffindors wouldn’t want him there and Slytherins would be disappointed in their seeker attending a party for the opposing team, but he had an excuse.
Not the actual reason, which was trying to get close to Potter and spending more time with Dorcas, but the excuse that he was going to cause a ruckus. And he was. He was unsure of what yet, but Regulus knew he’d have to line up a few pranks for the Gryffindors to get away with attending but also because he found it funny.
Eventually they entered the castle, hurrying to dinner. They had spent the whole afternoon talking about Potter. Now they had run out of words and were walking in a comfortable silence. Dorcas did glance at him every other minute, but he didn’t bother to acknowledge it.
Once in the great hall they split up with a short wave, Dorcas going to the Gryffindors (per usual) and Regulus going to find Barty and Evan among the Slytherins. As he sat down, someone else stood.
Potter? He watched the boy stride angrily from his seat at the Slytherin table to the other Potter across the room.
“Fuck’s Potter doing?” Barty asked with a scowl.
“Which one?” Evan chuckled.
Barty did a double take, eyes widening when he saw there were multiple James Potters. “Oh damn, who’s the fake?” He asked excitedly.
“The one who’s not sitting down,” Regulus rolled his eyes.
“No, dumbass, I mean who used poly juice?” he restated, hitting Regulus on the arm.
Regulus glanced at him briefly, quickly going back to the confrontation happening across the hall. He strained to hear their voices at first, only able to see both growing slowly angrier. Red glowed on their faces the more they argued, a red that only belonged to Potter's face.
“You keep fucking with me, Potter,” the fake yelled out, finally loud enough for Regulus.
“I didn’t do this!” Potter waved his hands at the person. The rest of the great hall was awash with whispers, even the teachers quieted down, as everyone watched on. “Although, I must say, you do look rather attractive right about now.”
The person glared down at the boy, whispered something in his ear, and stalked to the large doors. Avery and Mulciber scrambled from their seats. Oh.
“Buh-bye, Snivellus!” Potter called, his friends gaping at him. There was venom in his voice, despite the grin plastered on his face.
Professor McGonagall stood, and Regulus knew the boy was in for it. “James Potter!” She shouted in her shrill voice. “My office, this instant!”
Potter gaped at her, but followed obediently.
At first Regulus had thought it was Potter who used the poly juice potion on Snape, and it probably seemed that way to everyone else, but he always took the punishments for his pranks with pride. If not that, he’d leave before he could be called out. So why was he upset?
PSomeone else must’ve given Snape the potion, and Regulus couldn’t help but wonder who. They were probably trying to rile him and Potter, since everyone knew they hated each other, and it had been a good week or so since anything happened between them.
Maybe it was a Slytherin, but then again, the majority wouldn’t go out of their way to bother Snape just to get at Potter. Reguls’ friends aside, since they would have said something.
The mystery plagued the boy's mind the rest of the night, refusing to let him do homework or hold conversation. He simply wanted to know who tried to frame Potter and why involve Snape?