May- 1974
Growing up with all female cousins and a mother and aunt who were very No Nonsense, Regulus was taught to treat women with respect. He had learned very quickly in life that the most powerful force in existence was a woman who set her mind to something.
That being said, he did not like Pandora Lovegood.
Something about her just managed to work its way under his skin. It wouldn't have been nearly as bad if he only had to deal with her once in a while, but apparently the event of both of them earning spots on the quidditch team had spurred her on in becoming a resolute thorn in his side. Almost every day now she would follow him through the halls or worm her way into his conversations with Barty.
Their encounters so far had consisted mainly of him threatening to curse her and her very confidently stating that he's full of shit. And she was right, of course— both the rage of his mother and Bellatrix and the kind advice of Andromeda and Narcissa had instilled in him a mix of chivalry and fear. It was simple, really: treat every girl he met like a lady or suffer the consequences.
So he never actually fired any spells her way. But Merlin, did he think about it.
Evidently, not all the boys attending Hogwarts had been raised in the same manner as Regulus. This became increasingly more obvious as time went on. He started to become aware of the comments shouted across the Great Hall or the crude hand gestures made in the corridors. Even Barty had begun showing similar behaviors, much to Regulus's disappointment.
"Vanity looks pretty fit, you think?," he asked one evening, completely unprompted.
Regulus frowned, not looking up from Theodore lounging in his lap. "I don't know."
"Bet the other captains pass her around like a quaffle," he smirked.
Regulus had smacked him upside the head, delivering the speech Narcissa had given him about speculating a girls sanctity almost word for word. He kept a close eye on Barty after that, never afraid to set him straight if he stepped out of line. Barty soon got skittish any time a girl so much as walked past them.
Emma Vanity became a topic of interest for Barty, so much so that Regulus started to think he was sitting in on their quidditch practices for her more than him. He also started staring at her wistfully from across the common room, though he denied it fervently when questioned. Regulus didn't understand why his friend was acting more a fool than usual, and any time Barty tried to explain it he was left baffled and just a tad annoyed.
"She's pretty, I guess, but why do you have to throw yourself at her feet all the time."
"I do not," Barty barked. He stewed silently for a minute before fighting back. "You're one to talk, Baby Black. Where's your shadow?"
Regulus growled. "I told you, she's not my girlfriend."
Barty covered his ears with his hands, taunting him in a sing-song voice. "Pandora and Regulus, sitting in a tree!"
Needless to say, Regulus was not entertained. He only hoped whatever had come over Barty would fade soon enough.
———————
Monday, 13th May, 1974
Regulus sits across from Barty at breakfast as usual. He could see Barty was talking to him but he only paid attention to about half of what was being said— he had a lot on his mind and needed to get things sorted. Picking at his toast, he didn't notice who was sitting next to him until a pair of over-accessorized hands grabs hold of his arm.
"Game day tomorrow!," Pandora squeals, tugging him hard. Her robes and vest are missing and her tie lies limp over her shoulders. "Are you excited?"
Regulus steadies himself, pulling his arm back. "I'd like to stay in one piece until then, thank you."
Pandora scrunches her nose at him before helping herself to some bacon off his plate. "You need to lighten up, Regulus Arcturus Black."
"I'm very sorry, but if I'm not sunny enough for you, feel free to find someone who is," he retorts, rolling his eyes.
Barty props his head up on his hands, batting his eyes at them. "Aren't you two just adorable?"
Regulus scowls. There's a thump underneath the table and Barty winces. Regulus glances over at Pandora, who for once doesn't seem to be interested in him at all.
He goes back to ignoring them, loosing himself in thought. Things are far too busy at the moment and he curses himself for letting it get to this point. He's been putting off sending another letter home for almost a week now and Walburga won't be happy about that. Plus he has a History of Magic assignment that's due by Wednesday and he hasn't even started—
"Ow!"
Regulus looks up, startled. Pandora has a hand up by her forehead, rubbing a spot just under her hairline. Her eyes scan the length of the Slytherin table, anger twisting her eyebrows together.
"What is it?," Regulus mumbles.
Barty reaches across the table towards her. He picks up a mangled piece of metal and turns it over in his hand. Both boys look back at her in shock.
"Did someone just hit you with that?"
She keeps looking out at her classmates. When she doesn't find anything she sighs, shaking her head. "Nasty gits."
Barty's eyes go wide. "Dora, you're bleeding."
"Am I?" She wipes her fingers across her head, pulling back to reveal a wet redness.
Regulus fills with rage. He jumps to his feet, staring down each and every Slytherin student in front of him. No one is looking over at them, no one is laughing. There's no sign that anyone did anything at all— the weapon may as well have fallen out of thin air.
Pandora grabs his robes, forcing him to look at her. "Leave it."
Regulus is shocked. "Are you joking? You don't throw things at a lady."
Pandora's mouth quirks up a bit. "Why thank you, Regulus Arcturus Black, but that's unnecessary. I'm perfectly capable of defending myself."
She swings her legs back over the bench, gathering her things.
"Sorry to cut breakfast short, but I'm needed elsewhere. I'll see you boys later, yes?" She walks off towards the entrance of the hall. Regulus watches her leave with her head held high.
He tries to forget about the incident as the day presses on. He sits in class and learns nothing, hardly focuses at all. Pandora is her usual bubbly self, and aside from the bright purple plaster on her forehead she shows no signs of being shaken in the slightest.
She waits for him in the common room to walk to practice together, and for once he doesn't make any excuses for her to leave him alone. She accounts for about ninety percent of the conversation as they walk out to the pitch.
"Have you chosen your classes for next year yet?" She keeps her eyes on him as he shakes his head silently. "I've had mine decided since before we were even first years. Obviously, Divination is at the top of the list, and then—"
Regulus cuts her off with a breathy laugh. She smacks his arm lightly.
"Don't laugh at divination. I'll have you know I come from a long line of Seers, Regulus Arcturus Black."
"What's your middle name?"
Pandora's steps stutter and she gives him a quizzical look before they continue on. "What?"
"You always call me by my full name. Do you have a middle name?"
She's quiet for the first time all day. "Athena."
Regulus halts. Pandora goes a few more steps before turning back, confused. Regulus raises a brow.
"Your parents named you Pandora Athena?"
Pandora beams, incredibly proud of herself. "A force to be reckoned with."
"Something like that." He looks her up and down, amused, then rolls his eyes and sighs heavily as he keeps walking.
They've almost reached the quidditch pitch when someone ambushes them from behind. Pandora lets out a small cry and suddenly she's tipping forward onto the ground. Regulus blinks, shocked, and quickly reaches down to pull her back up to her feet.
A boy in Ravenclaw's colors runs past, laughing hysterically.
"Watch your step, Lovegood!"
Both Regulus and Pandora turn red. She goes for her wand but Regulus beats her to it, already aiming right at the boys back.
"Incarcerous!"
Thick ropes shoot out of the end of his wand, wrapping themselves around the boy. He trips himself up, falling face first into the grass. Pandora rushes over and Regulus quickly follows.
She points her wand right in his face, every last bit of joy replaced by absolute fury.
"Apologize."
The boy wiggles on the floor, trying to free himself from his binding to no avail. When he refuses to answer, Pandora winds up and kicks him as hard as she can in the stomach. He groans, eyes squeezing shut.
"Apologize! Now!"
The boy gasps for breath, forcing himself to look up at her. Through bared teeth, he grits out a pathetic, "Sorry."
Pandora kneels down next to him, wand never straying from its target. When she speaks her voice is almost unrecognizable.
"Put your hands on me again, I'll cut them off."
She stands again and steps over him as if he were nothing more than a piece of rubbish. She huffs a little, but when she sees Regulus staring at her, mouth hanging open, she gives him a sweet smile—back to the usual Pandora.
"Come on, then. Don't want to be late." She hums as she skips away, blonde pigtails swaying behind her.
Regulus stands frozen in shock. He looks back at the boy he trapped, replaying what just happened over and over again to make sure he got it right. After about thirty seconds he scoffs and shakes his head.
"Absolutely mental."