Hogsmeade visits
February 16th, 1980
today was the first day in months **that Regulus had went to Hogsmeade. today was also a special day, because of his date with Emilia, and him seeing Pandora again, for the first time in ages.
it was a typical winter’s day: fog, and rain. also known as Regulus’s favorite weather. it was perfect in his opinion, he was sitting at the Slytherin table happier than ever before at eleven in the morning.
“someone’s cheery this morning,” Evan grinned, sitting down across from him. “Emilia?”
“yes,” Regulus admitted. “and also no. i’m also seeing Pandora again, remember? i told you on valentine’s! but you and Barty had to ‘suddenly finish an assignment’—” Regulus interrupted himself with a gasp. staring at Evan with his mouth agape, like suddenly realizing something. “you did not—”
“oh shut it up, will you?” Evan’s cheeks were heating up insanely fast, as Regulus dropped his spoon into his cereal. “so you’re admitting to it now?” Regulus stared at him with raised brows.
“fuck off, Black.” Evan murmured, putting a generous amount of confiture on his toast. Regulus let out a laugh.
“no need to get rude now, you bartyFucker.” Regulus cringed at his own statement, but he stared at him from under his eyelashes, seeing Evan’s cheeks heat up once again.
“i’ll hex you.” he poured himself some tea, going in to pour Regulus some as well, then pulled back. “yeah? try me.” Regulus snickered, grabbing the teapot from Evan, pouring some into his own cup now.
“speaking of Barty, where’s he at, anyways?” Regulus asked, sipping his tea. “detention, with Flitwick.” Evan answered, shaking his head. “dumbass got himself into trouble again.”
“isn’t he always?” Regulus snickered at his own statement, Evan shrugged, chuckling under his breath as well.
the Hogsmeade day was scheduled from one till five thirty; this gave Regulus more than enough time to hang with both Emilia and Pandora. he had made a rendezvous with Pandora at one thirty, and one with Emilia around four.
the walk towards the small town seemed to take literal ages; Evan had stayed behind, even though he really wanted to see Pandora as well, but he also wanted to stay with Barty; Regulus gagged internally at their, possibly not so, newly found romance.
when he entered the three broomsticks, Pandora was already waiting for him at a small table, a bit in the back. he waved at her excitingly and made his way towards her.
“Regulus! it is so wonderful to see you!” Pandora jumped up, wrapping him in a tight hug. “it’s been so long, wow.” Regulus smiled and sat down on the seat across from her.
“how have you been?” Pandora asked him immediately, holding her hand up, mouthing something to the bartender.
“i’ve been pretty alright,” he answered, to all honesty. “just with the whole war thing; it sucks.” Regulus sighed, seeing her look up at him in confusion. “nothing to worry about.”
“are you picking sides?” Pandora murmured a quick muffliato under her breath, leaning in closer to him, even though it wasn’t necessary; the charm would keep their conversation safe.
“it’s complicated.” the bartender set down their Butterbeers in front of them, and Regulus eagerly took a sip. “i uhm, i’ve been in between things, at the moment.”
he wasn’t even lying. yet he was; he was a part of the order, and his only job was to spy on the death eaters, to find out Voldemort’s plans before they could actually happen. Regulus knew that, but the longer he was theoretically part of the group, or the cult, as it more felt like; the more he felt like he was an actual part of it.
the tattoo on his arm only strengthened that idea.
“what do you mean? ‘in between things’? Godric, please tell me you're doing a safe thing…” Pandora had always had this sort of motherly instinct, she was always the one taking care of them, making sure they weren’t about to die, or get expelled, or something.
“i,” Regulus sighed. “i can’t promise, or say anything. it’s too dangerous.” Pandora held a hand over her mouth, she was shaking her head slowly.
“Merlin, Regulus… please don’t tell me you—”
“it’s too dangerous to explain, it’s dangerous for you and me if i tell you what i am actually up to, right now.” he interrupted. “I'm already trying so hard not to die myself, if i tell you what i’m actually doing; it would mean i need to protect you from dying, too.”
“its that bad, then?” Regulus slowly nodded, she clicked her tongue and rubbed his arm. “you don’t deserve this, Reg. i thought you were finally out of those groups of people the moment your parents died; i thought that would give you an opportunity!”
“it was way before that.” he looked at her. “they forced me into that before i could even choose my own thing, and seeing what they did to—”
Regulus sighed again, taking a sip of his butterbeer in the meantime. “i’ll tell you, but only if you promise not to even think of it again after i said it.” Pandora leaned back into her seat, staring at her lap, eventually nodding slowly.
“they forced me into the, you know,” he nodded his head to the side, Pandora nodded, taking another sip of her drink. “them. i couldn’t leave. once you’re in there, with them; you can't leave. they'll fucking kill you.” Regulus sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“i knew the only thing i was able to do was to use my position, for- for something good!” he stammered out, having to set his cup down on the table again, because he was shaking. “i, i went to apologize to Sirius. they used Veritaserum on me, to know i was being genuine—”
“being genuine about what?” Pandora interrupted him. “sorry. go on…” Regulus sighed, folding his hands.
“being genuine about wanting to join the order.”
Pandora let out a small gasp, it almost sounded like a hiccup. she leaned in closer to him again, resting her head on her fist as if it were extremely heavy.
“i was. i joined that same night.” he rolled his sleeves up, still shaking. “we made plans the next morning, deciding on the fact that i would be a spy from that moment on; having to let them know every single little thing.”
“at some point, i had… i had found out about something. something no one was supposed to know.” Regulus debated telling her, but he was already this far in; it was impossible to leave this out. “Peter Pettigrew.”
apparently Pandora immediately got what he was referring to. she clamped her hand over her mouth, silencing the gasp. shaking her head in the meantime, while staring at the table.
“no… there must be a mistake! there has to be.” she murmured. “Peter was always so nice! always helping where he could, always so kind… he was their friend. there’s no way he would have.”
“do you think i’m lying?” Regulus asked her, shrugging. “of course not! i just can’t believe it…” she answered, without a single doubt.
they talked for a bit longer, their conversations basically consisting out of Pandora asking questions and Regulus answering; he didn't mind.
a bit later, Regulus had to remind himself that he had a date with Emilia soon. he had pretty much forgotten about it until he looked at his watch.
Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop was a bit further away from the three broomsticks as Regulus had anticipated it would be: seeing he had never been there before. Emilia had insisted on meeting him there, and Regulus didn’t care to argue.
he arrived five minutes late, cursing under his breath as he saw Emilia wasn't waiting inside, nor outside. but maybe she was late too? his mind dazzled to Barty telling him that Emilia was setting him up. he brushed that thought off quickly.
“hi! God i am so sorry i’m late,” Emilia’s voice sounded as she came up running towards him from behind. “you haven’t been waiting too long, have you?”
“to be honest,” he chuckled. “i was late as well. it’s fine.” Emilia let out a quick giggle and took off her gloves, stuffing them in her purse. for some weird reason she reminded him of a way younger Euphemia Potter. he didn’t know weather that was concerning, or comforting.
they made their way inside, sitting down at a table a bit in the back, more like a booth, actually. a waitress came up to their table immediately, kind smile on her face. she took their orders and made her way back to the kitchen’s.
“she was totally flirting with you!” Emilia shoved him, laughing. Regulus awkwardly giggled as well, not really knowing what to say.
“she wasn't! she was being nice.” Regulus felt his cheeks burn up at the thought only. the girl was quite pretty after all. especially her hair, yes; her hair was stunning.
Emilia looked at him and started laughing, he laughed as well, sipping the tea another waitress had just put down in front of him. Emilia had ordered a strawberry tea, which, much to his own despise, Regulus found to be smelling great. it somehow smelled like James’s sham—
did everything just remind him of the Potters, or was he actually turning crazy?
Regulus brushed the thought of James’s hair off rather quickly, turning to Emilia, starting a conversation about some upcoming potions test.
Emilia was pretty as well, he hadn’t really noticed that before. her black hair was up in a messy ponytail, she was wearing a white crewneck jumper, with red office pants under it. Regulus found himself stupid for not having noticed her beauty before.
“come on Regulus! are you serious? the test is in a week!” Regulus had to resist making one of Sirius’s famous jokes, but it would be very out of place. “you need help studying?”
“i,” Regulus stammered, not really knowing what to say to that. “i think i’ll manage, but thank you.”
Emilia nodded, smile on her face. she didn’t seem insulted by the comment. they went on to talk about whatever came to mind, just laughing along. even though this was one of Regulus’s first dates, he thought it was going well. it wasn’t uncomfortable— screw that, it was actually really comfortable.
they finished their tea, thanking madam Puddifoot. they slowly made their way back to the castle again, still laughing like they had been best friends for their entire life’s.
in that moment, there wasn’t a single worry in Regulus Black’s life.