Chapter 13
It was tense, and that was saying something considering the type of tense atmospheres that Severus was used to. Neither one of them knew how to really go about talking to the other. Regulus was shut up more often than he was not, and he rarely spoke to anyone that he was not forced to, and Severus rarely spoke at all. This definitely did not make for one happy conversation filled evening. Severus was just fine with that fact, if it were not for the lingering tension that bid at both their heels. The truth was, Regulus was correct. Sirius was a major problem, and as his brother, Regulus was one of the few that would be able to keep the moron at bay. Sirius hated Regulus, for no good reason really, and as a result tried to stay away from him more often than not. If Severus was around Regulus, the four gryffindor morons would keep their distance. It was one thing to bully a half blood nobody knew the magical family of. It was quite another to interfere with the machinations of a Black.
Everyone knew better than to argue or start an argument with one of the two blacks, especially Regulus. While Sirius was far more violent and obvious in his retaliation, usually going for it immediately, Regulus was the calmer of the two, and therefore infinitely more deadly. He would not get his vengence immediately, but rest assured he would get it. The only time Regulus would fight fire with fire was when Sirius would provoke him. Severus had seen this personally. Sirius always seemed to get under Regulus' skin. It was a rare moment that Regulus would lose his self control, but it seemed that Sirius was a good way to get that to happen. With anyone and everyone else Regulus was the picture of calm and arrogant, but with Sirius? All that control was out of the window. Sometimes it surprised Severus how quickly the switch could happen, but the Black family was not exactly known for their emotional control.
"Your potion additions seemed interesting," Regulus stated gently, after a couple of hours. Severus rolled his eyes, idly turning another page, scrawling on it mindlessly. He was definitely not about to allow yet another person use him for his potions ability. Yes, he was the best potions student, but that was because potions just came naturally to him. There was not really anything wrong with that, but he had allowed one person to use him for his knowledge once, and he was not about to make the same mistake again. "That is, what I saw of course. Fixing the common potions in order to create a more efficent brew is something I can admire. I do it for the healing potions, but unfortunately I have not really had the time or effort available to fix anything else." Severus paused in his reading, in spite of himself.
He had not heard of anyone else making alternative suggestions for their potions. Severus was the only one that he could recall that had bothered to look for better alternatives as opposed to using the common instructions. He could not help but be curious. Regulus had managed to alternate ingredients for Healing potions? Severus licked his lips anxiously, flicking through his potions book in search of the healing potions...
He had not even gotten there yet. Leting his finger slide down the page he glanced towards Regulus, who was staring at the floor bashfully. Healing potions? The Black Heir had only handled healing potions in order to increase their effectiveness? It was something almost scandalous, and Severus recongized it for the olive branch that it was. "I have not got there yet..." Severus admitted. "There are another few chapters before I even come across it. Healing Potions are quite strict though, I am surprise that you managed to do it so..."
"I know...It is stupid." Regulus laughed somewhat cruelly. Severus flinched at the laugh. It reminded him a bit of Sirius, but he supposed the two had the same parents, and it was only natural that they would take after them in some ways. That laugh was definitely a Walburga laugh. It was dark with some malicious hatred in it. "Blacks shouldn't be focusing on such things," Severus disagreed. Everyone should focus on something like that. Not only was it incredibly useful, but they could be quite effective in helping someone on the brink of death. Still...Regulus did have a point. What was a Black doing focusing on healing potions? He doubted that his parents would take kindly to it.
"What do your suggestion..."
"Ah, Regulus, thank you for helping me," Lucius cut in, the door opening rather suddnely. Seveurs inhaled sharply, shocked and somewhat unnerved at how suddenly Lucius could appear without him noticing. That was definitely a reckless move of him. He should have been paying attention, and he could not help but be angry with himself that he had not. "You may go now, I will handle things from here." Regulus stood up immediately, glancing towards Severus before rushing out of the room as quickly as he could. Severus stared at him with slightly narrowed eyes. Something was weird about this, and he was not entirely sure what it was.
"What...exactly is wrong with him?" Severus questioned, eyes still on the door. Lucius' own eyes darkened in jealousy. He growled lowly, stalking fowards trying to regain the attention of the halfblood. A part of him was not sure why it was that he even cared, but he wanted Severus' entire attnetion on him, not on some random pureblood. It angered him that the attention was not entirely on him. That anger would lead him to do rash things, and that was why he tried his best to control it, but sometimes it really just made him loose it.
"What makes you want to know?" He growled out. Severus glanced towards narrowed icy eyes and looked away nervously. He was not sure that was a good idea on continuing this conversation.
"What did you figure out?" Severus changed the conversation for something more favourable to himself.