Reg doesn't care
“He said that!?” Pandora squealed, absolutely beaming at Regulus. She was sitting cross legged across from him in a hidden corner of the library on a misty Saturday morning. Classes were off, Regulus had finished all his schoolwork, and the library was pleasantly warm compared to the chilly air outside.
“I know.” Regulus said, who had given up trying to maintain his cool composure about an hour ago. “and he grabbed my arm and walked with me into the dining hall. I can't believe you didn't notice, half the school seemed to be watching us.”
Pandora grinned slyly. “I might have heard a couple rumors flying around school…but it was nothing, honestly.” she said hurriedly at the look on Regulus’s face. “He seems like an absolute gentleman, Reg!”
“I guess so…” said Regulus, staring absently at the other end of the library where a few third years were clustered over homework. He could stop replaying Friday morning in his head. Especially the expression on Sirus’s face when he strode into the dining hall arm and arm with James.
“I mean.” Regulus said, facing Pandora again. “I practically ran away the moment we walked in. I didn't want anyone really thinking I’m…” he trailed off, not knowing quite what to say.
“You're what, Regulus?” Pandora asked softly.
“I don't know.” he said, looking down at his hands. Pandora again showed her uncanny ability to know exactly what Regulus was thinking, and decided to drop the matter.
“I'm absolutely knackered.” she said with a sigh, sprawling back in her chair and propping her feet up near Regulus’s head. “I know it's only been a week, but I swear it feels like I’ve lived here my whole life.”
Regulus knew exactly what she meant.
“I'm really glad you're here.” he said quietly after a pause. She turned to look at him, her pale eyes a lively shade of blue in the golden light. Rays of sun streaming in from the window above them reflected off her horned rimmed glasses, reminding Regulus of another pair of glasses and the boy behind him. He shook his head slightly, as if trying to shake the thought out of it.
“Me too.” Pandora said, peering at him seriously. “Have you made any friends so far?” her voice was nonchalant and her expression serene, as if it couldn't matter to her less whether Regulus had any friends besides her.
Regulus thought of Barty and Evan.
“Sort of?” he replied. The two boys had seemed a little shocked on Friday morning when he had walked in as if he was best friends with the star of Gryffindor house, but they had been relatively welcoming to him so far, despite being rather dumb. “At least, I can tolerate the company of a few of them.”
Pandora nodded with a knowing look in her eye.
“What about you?” Regulus asked, peering up at her. He remembered what she said on the train; I've never had any friends before. Since the sorting hat had placed him in Slytherin, he hadn't had time to find her or see how she was. A small prick of guilt still plagued him everytime he thought of the disappointment on her face that night.
“Yes, actually.” Pandora said mildly. “A few. Li Chang is a second year and is rather nice.”
“I think I've heard of him.” Regulus squinted. “He's supposed to be an excellent seeker on Ravenclaw’s team, I think.”
“Yes, he’s one of the only second year seekers in Hogwarts ever, really. He bumped off a fourth year and I've heard she's quite mad about it.”
“That's nice.” Regulus said half-heartedly, staring at the third years distantly. Pandora’s words had brought up a memory of James telling him he would make the team as a second year, and the bright look in his eyes as he looked at Regulus. Regulus forced it down, shoving the thought out of his head and deep down to his feet, where it would sit indignantly.
Pandora gave a sniff and brought a dusty looking book out of her bag, perching her glasses on the tip of her nose to read. The two of them sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, savoring the pure pleasure of each other's company. A small fire was crackling merrily a few feet away, chasing away the chill from the autumn air. A creak turned Regulus’s head, and the library door swung open as a laughing James Potter stumbled in, followed by Sirius grinning widely, Remus Lupin, and a short, blond, rather chubby boy Regulus had never seen before. The noise around Regulus seemed to fade away into the background as he watched James look back at his brother with a carefree smile and saunter over to an open sofa. His hair was positively standing on its end and pointing in every direction, yet he ran his fingers through it again, enhancing its resemblance to a hedgehog. James and Sirius strode ahead, collapsing onto the sofa and falling immediately into lively conversation. Remus, who still had the strange scars Regulus remembered from his first day, followed them slightly cautiously, sitting down across from them on the edge of the chair, as if he was half convinced they were going to get up and leave. The chubby boy sat next to James nervously, sneaking glances at him every few seconds and seemingly trying, and failing, to replicate his relaxed pose. The four of them seemed to dominate the room, Regulus caught the group of third years whispering and giggling with pointed looks into their directions. Even the librarian, Madam Pince, was drawn to them, sneaking suspicious glances at James and Sirius especially as they joked.
“You're staring quite obviously.”
Pandora’s voice almost made him jump out of his skin.
“No, I was er-looking for Madam Pince.” Regulus hissed at her, cheeks growing warm. Pandora raised an eyebrow.
“It's normal, you know.” she said lightly. Regulus felt himself freeze. “What?” a pair of hazel eyes jumped involuntarily to the front of his mind.
“I mean, he is your brother, after all.” she continued, looking at Regulus questioningly. Relief surged through him, although he wasn't quite sure why.
“Oh, yeah. No, I don't care what Sirius does, it's not my business anyway.” he said shortly, feeling a wall slowly creeping up around him, his back straightening and expression evening. He didn't like how fast his mind had jumped to James, and he especially didn't like Pandora acting like he was an ignorant child. He turned away from her, pretending to read a book about Famous Transfigures and ignoring the loud sound of James’s voice bantering with Sirius.
Hours slipped by, and after what felt like no time at all a bell rang throughout the school to signal for lunch. Regulus groaned, standing up out of his curled position on his seat and stretching. Beside him, Pandora was fast asleep, mouth slightly open and head dangling off the chair.
“Lunch.” he whispered, shaking her awake. On cue, his stomach let out a loud growl. She blinked her eyes, looking more than ever like a bewildered owl.
“Already?”
“I know.” Regulus said. “If only History of Magic would go by this quickly.”
Pandora chuckled, pulling herself to her feet. “C'mon.” she said with a yawn. “I was talking to one of the house elves, I heard there's treacle tart today.”
Regulus decided not to question why she had been talking to the house elves, who in his experience were rather odd creatures obsessed with beheading and undying service.
“Excellent.” he said, leaning down to get his bag. He was almost out the door when he heard a familiar voice behind him and turned to see James Potter laughing obnoxiously loudly at something Remus had said. The other boy turned, and caught Regulus’s eye just for a moment.
Shut down. Shut down. Regulus told himself firmly. James didn't grin at him, just gave a thoughtless nod and turned back to Lupin, who was almost in tears at something Sirius had just said.
Oh.
“Let's go.” he said to Pandora, striding out the door.
“What's wrong with you?” Pandora huffed as she jogged to catch up with him. Regulus thought about turning his face into a porcelain mask, just skin and bones to do with as he wished, to make absolutely void of any stinging he may feel. “Nothing.” he snapped. “Just hungry. Let's go get lunch.”
“That's where we’re going, Reg.” Pandora said sharply. “Even if you're mad about something, there's no reason to be an arse to me. Now stop your stupid pouting and either tell me what's wrong or forget about it.”
That, Regulus thought, was something no one had ever said to him before.
“It's nothing.” he said in a much kinder tone, taking a deep breath and forcing the hurt deep, deep down. “Really.” Pandora didn't look like she believed him, but didn't seem keen on pressing the matter.
“Nothing some treacle tart can't solve.” she said airly, but Regulus caught the glance she gave him, and when she put her hand on his arm gently he thought she might understand more than he thought. More than Regulus might understand, actually.