Stupid
It was getting late and Regulus had already been assigned five pages of transfiguration homework, but he was stuck patrolling the halls as part of his prefect duties.
Regulus would never have agreed to be a prefect, but his friend Dorcas had begged him to take her place, without even giving him a plausible excuse.
His prefect partner was a Slytherin girl he’d seen on occasion, but never talked to, named Penelope Jean, though she insisted he call her Penny.
Penny was almost always on edge, most likely because of Regulus’s reputation as a Black, and everytime he spoke she would reply with nervous giggling.
Dorcas would owe him for the rest of the year.
It’d been a couple nights, and they hadn’t seen a single student, but of course it was inevitable he’d come across one of his brother’s idiotic friends, or worse, his brother himself.
Luckily it wasn’t his brother the two were met with, but instead the second worse option, James Potter.
Instead of finding James sneaking around as expected, Regulus was met with him wearing his school robes, and a shiny prefect badge pinned on his chest.
Remus was the male Gryfindor prefect though?
Regulus couldn’t help but snarl at this development, he would rather jump into the great lake than see James every night.
And Regulus couldn’t swim.
James also seemed quite shocked at seeing Regulus, which meant at least he hadn’t done this to annoy Regulus specifically.
It was still just as infuriating though.
The hallway was silent as Regulus and James stared into each other’s eyes for what felt like hours.
His stupid, gorgeous, hazel eyes.
James was forever blinded by stupidity.
So so so stu-
“ Remus is sick “ James slightly coughed, and had the audacity to look away from Regulus.
Not that he cared.
“ Good, I was hoping this wasn’t going to be permanent “ Regulus spat.
James chuckled.
He fucking chuckled.
“ You don’t want to see my beautiful face every night? James joked, meeting Regulus’s eyes again.
Regulus felt himself freeze, but he pushed through the sensation quickly,
“ Exactly “ it was Regulus’s turn now to awkwardly cough.
James’s eyes lit up suddenly.
What had he done now?
“ You didn’t say it wasn’t beautiful, “ James pointed out, smiling in victory.
“ What? “ Regulus sighed, unaware of his fatal mistake.
“ My face, you didn’t say it wasn’t beautiful “ James repeated, still smiling widely.
“ Well I think that was implied “ Regulus sputtered.
“ Mmmm, yeah it definitely wasn’t “ James turnt to his Gryfindor partner, “ Reggie thinks I’m beautiful “.
Regulus scoffed and grabbed his own partner’s arm, “ I do not, and we are leaving “.
He dragged his partner up the hallway and around the corner, James’s laughter bouncing off every wall and painting.
His stupid laugh.
“ What was that? “ Penny asked, now out of breath from being dragged around the school.
“ That was James Potter, a special species of monkey that has made it his life’s duty to terrorise me, it seems “ Regulus responded, voice full of spite.
Penny laughed a bit, and smiled “ you’re not too bad, Reggie “.
“ Don’t call me Reggie “ He immediately scowled.
“ Oh, I’m so sorry! It’s just that James called you that before “, she cited.
Yeah, well, that’s because…
Actually, it didn’t mean anything, he decided.
The two finished up their duties not long after that, and Regulus made his way down to the dungeons and to the Slytherin common room.
As soon as he entered the common room , he was met with Dorcas immediately running up to him.
“ Thank you so, so much, Reg, “ Dorcas smiled.
“ You are not welcome, I ran into James, and I think I’m forever scarred “ Regulus sighed, taking off his robe, and sitting on the emerald green couch that surrounded the fireplace.
Dorcas raised an eyebrow, “ don’t you live with him? “
Okay, she did have a point, but that was different.
Having to see someone daily as they’ve graciously welcomed you into their home, is very different from seeing them at school, where they’re drooled over and worshipped.
Regulus quickly explained that to Dorcas, who of course understood, seeing as she would practically snatch any reason to dislike someone.
In fact, Regulus and Dorcas had become friends due to their shared hatred of Snape, a fellow slytherin who had too much ego for his body to contain.
Also, he desperately needed to wash his hair.
“ So, what did you do tonight whilst I was out doing your dirty work? “ Regulus questioned, as he laid his head back against the couch.
When he was met with silence, Regulus tilted his head over to look at his friend, who was suddenly bright red, which was completely out of character for her.
“ Cas, “ Regulus said warningly, now sitting.
“ It’s none of your business “ Dorcas insisted, though she was now sitting across from Regulus, practically bursting at the seams to tell him.
“ Marlene? “
“ Marlene “ Dorcas blurted without hesitation.
“ What about her? “ Regulus asked, mentally preparing for a long rant.
“ She was practising quidditch “ She sighed in defeat, falling back into her chair.
Regulus couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, feeling internally grateful for not being so pathetically in love.
“ Don’t laugh at me or I swear to god- “
“ I wasn’t laughing at you“ Regulus smirked at Dorcas, who’s harsh expression softened slightly.
“ Okay, start from the top “.
Regulus was glad he’d prepared himself, because Dorcas then went on for an hour straight, to explain that she’d simply stumbled across Marlene practising quidditch, and had fallen ever more in love.
Keep in mind they’d only actually talked twice.
The first time was when the two had been assigned partners in potions, where they had been seen huddled together whispering indistinctly, and the second was when Marlene had been hit with a bludger and Dorcas had visited her unexpectedly.
Regulus didn’t know much about what happened either times, but he could only presume they’d gotten on rather well.
Dorcas was still yet to explain why she hadn’t just asked Marlene out yet, seeing as they were both clearly into each other.
After a little while longer of two going back and forth about Dorcas’s dilemma, Regulus finally headed to bed, seeing as he would have to get up only five hours later.
Though he was dreadfully tired, Regulus still laid awake, listening to his roommates move around in their sleep.
He pondered on his night, replaying all the things James said, all the things James did, for a reason unknown.
Regulus found himself fiddling with his ring, it was a practically ancient ring, its gold exterior dented and rusting away, but still he held it close to him.
His brother had given it to him.
In fact, it was the last thing his brother had given him, before they started drifting.
Though he would be mortified if anyone found out about it, Regulus protected this ring with his life, acting as though it was a precious jewel.
Even though Sirius had literally found it at the bottom of a random pond when they visited France, and had given it to Regulus once he realised it wasn’t worth a single dollar.
It was worth something to Regulus though.
It was worth everything.
…
Present Regulus really hated past Regulus, as it was now six am, and he was running on four hours of sleep.
It was Friday, meaning it was finally the weekend soon, and Regulus knew he’d spend the whole day staring at a clock.
“ So, what was bothering you “ Regulus’s long time friend, Pandora Lovegood, sighed as soon as she saw his state. Pandora was a Ravenclaw, but she rarely ever sat at their table, or visited their common room aside from sleeping.
Regulus rolled his eyes as he sat down the great hall, grabbing one of the muffins that sat in front of him.
“ Nothing that concerns you, “ he muttered.
“ So it was something to do with your brother? “ Pandora responded, slightly amused that Regulus thought he’d get out of this conversation.
“ All the more reason for you to drop it “ he sighed, and began eating food in an attempt to ignore her stare.
“ Have you guys talked since the train? “ She pushed.
Regulus knew if he told Pandora he’d basically told Sirius to not talk to him, she’d drag him over to the Gryffindor table and apologise.
So he didn’t.
“ No, I’ve been busy “ Regulus said simply, knowing he was lying through his teeth.
Pandora chuckled, “ with what? James? “
Regulus snapped his head over to look at his friend, her face was full of mischief, “ what? “
“ Please. Cas told me you apparently have a new unbridled hatred for Potter “.
Regulus scoffed, “ it’s not new, I’ve hated him for years. “
“ Not like this “ Pandora hummed, “ oh hey, Evan! “
Regulus nodded to his friend, Evan Rosier, who had finally decided to wake up and join them for breakfast.
Soon the whole table was full with fellow Slytherins, and chatter filled the once empty room, but Regulus was stuck on what Pandora had said.
No one ever really knew what she meant by things, but being Pandora’s friend for so long, Regulus had come to understand the basics of her unique language.
But this time he chose not to.
Because she was wrong.
Truly, utterly, disturbingly wrong.
The idea itself was ridiculously stupid.
Stupider than his eyes.
Or his hair.
Or his glasses.
Or his slightly sunburnt cheeks.
Regulus looked over to the Gryffindor table to look at James, who was animatedly talking to someone as usual.
His tie was done terribly, how Regulus wanted to fix it.
Then again, he would probably leave it, because it was just so James.
Regulus looked over to who James was talking to, and he immediately knew by her burning red hair.
Lily Evans.
James’s unrequited love.
Lily had held James’s heart in her hands since the first day of their first year.
And she never paid it any mind.
In fact, she’d gone out of her way to reject it.
Of course that never deterred James.
Regulus hated that.
Regulus hated James.
Dorcas was right.
He had unbridled hatred for him.
A hatred that felt so all encompassing that he couldn’t breathe.
Regulus felt like he was drowning in anger every time he met James’s stupid eyes.
“ Regulus “
Dorcas smiled, drawing Regulus out of his thoughts.
“ Yeah? “ he mumbled.
“ I can’t believe this, “ Dorcas laughed, exchanging looks with Pandora.
“ Can’t believe what? “ Regulus sighed, already fed up with the two.
“ We’ll tell you when you’re older “ Pandora smirked.