Chapter 2
It had been a week since Regulus's encounter with the strange, pretty, blonde girl Pandora. Regulus had been thinking about her all week and he had no idea why. She was quite pretty but that wasn't it. It couldn't be because he'd never been interested in girls; ever. He'd never even thought about a girl in that way before. It was a whole different, confusing story with boys, one he wanted to ignore forever. So no, he didn't have any feelings for her it was something else.
Regulus hadn't seen her since and that made him sad for some reason. No, not sad. He knew that feeling all too well, it wasn't sadness. It was more like curiosity. Though he couldn't tell why he was so curious about her. But something was different about this girl that was for sure.
Regulus was an over thinker. So naturally he was overthinking this. And he needed to talk to her again. He had no idea when he would see her again but if he needed to, he'd find her. He could always find people if he needed to. Like right now. He needed to find Evan and Barty because they had borrowed his history of magic homework last night to copy and he needed it back before tomorrow.
Regulus was heading back from breakfast with two pieces of toast wrapped in napkins. It was still early according to Evan and Barty and they weren't at breakfast so he assumed they were still asleep as they were when Regulus's left their dorm earlier this morning.
He made his way to the common room, mumbled the password and stepped inside. There were a couple of students scattered around the room. Some were just talking and others were studying. Regulus was about to run up the stairs when a cold hand gripped his back.
"Regulus." Narcissa whispered, her sweet voice cold on his shoulders even though he had a shirt on.
"What do you want?" Regulus spat, he didn't have time to deal with her.
Narcissa wasn't the worst. Besides Andromeda she was probably the sanest in his family. But still he didn't really want to talk to her. She pissed him off even when she was talking to him nicely. She was irritating and so far up herself it was embarrassing.
"Can't I just say hello to my little cousin?" She smiled playfully and turned her head to the side, her hair falling to one shoulder.
Her hair used to be the same dark black shade as his own but she dyed it blonde at the front. It looked ridiculous. She was quite pretty he couldn't deny it but that didn't change how annoying she was.
"Yeah you've said it, now fuck off." Regulus rolled his eyes and pulled himself away from her.
She glared at him angrily and grabbed his arm again, "I wouldn't, that temper will get you in trouble Reg, my advise is to watch it."
"I never asked for you opinion so just piss off and let me be on my way Cissy." Regulus spat.
"Fine." She pushed him away and walked off to her friends across the room.
Regulus rolled his eyes. What even was that? He headed up the stairs, the toast in his hands starting to go cold. Oh well Barty and Evan could have cold toast if they couldn't even get their asses out of bed early enough.
To no surprise at all the two boys were fast asleep. Regulus sighed and went over to Barty's bed first.
"Wake up! I've got toast!" He shouted.
Barty jumped up from his bed and fell with a thump on the floor right next to Regulus's feet. Evan mumbled something, sat up and rubbed his eyes sticking his head out to see what was going on.
"What the fuck dude?" Barty groaned, rolling onto his stomach dramatically.
"Get up, it's halfway through the day." Regulus kicked him playfully and rolled his eyes.
Barty stood up and took the cold toast out of Regulus's hands, taking a big bite, rolling his eyes backwards and tipping his head back, like it was the first thing he'd eaten in years. Evan grabbed the remaining piece and ate it less dramatically, complaining about it being cold.
"You could've had your toast warm you idiot, if you got your ass out of bed!" Regulus said angrily through his teeth.
"It's Saturday give me a break." Evan flopped back onto his bed.
Regulus went over to his bed, grabbed his pillow and smacked it on Barty's head. Barty who had attempted to go back to sleep groaned.
"Come on, we're going for a walk." Regulus said walking towards the door.
They both groaned but got changed and followed Regulus out the door anyway. The three of them made their way through the corridors. They were going to head down to the lake as it was Saturday and why shouldn't they be able to go for a pointless walk? Well, in Barty and Evan's opinions it seemed pointless but Regulus had a plan. He always had a plan.
He was hoping to find Pandora again. He searched the groups of students for her blond hair and blue robes. But instead he found his brother and his friends instead. Well he heard them rather than saw them.
"Your a wanker you know that?" Sirius's voice shouted and he pushed Remus Lupin to the side.
"Your a twat!" Remus pushed him back, Sirius stepping to the side and right into a puddle.
Regulus couldn't help but snort. He stopped walking and Evan and Barty stopped too, looking to see what was happening.
Regulus knew all about the tension between his brother and Remus Lupin. You'd be blind not to see it. But the idiots just bickered and pushed each other around instead of realising they have feelings for each other and just kissing already. But it was none of Regulus's business and he didn't give a shit anyway.
Sirius finally noticed Regulus standing there and gave him a funny look. Regulus shot the look back and went to walk past him, Remus, James and Peter.
Regulus locked eyes with Potter and immediately looked away. His heart jumped a bit but he ignored it.
"What do you want?" Sirius asked, eyeing him with a suspicious look.
Regulus rolled his eyes, "I don't want anything, I didn't plan on bumping into you and don't particularly want to talk to you."
Sirius frowned as if the thought of this was preposterous. Regulus fought the urge to shout at him that not everything revolves around him, even if everyone treated him like it did.
"Well what are you doing?" Sirius asked.
Regulus would not be telling Sirius about Pandora, besides there wasn't even anything to tell. He owed Sirius nothing. If anyone owed Regulus anything it would be Sirius himself. Besides it wasn't a big deal, Regulus had his own life, he had no idea why he was still talking to Sirius at all. Regulus turned around to tell Barty and Evan that they were leaving only to find that they weren't there anymore. Fucking traitors. He'd had enough of them as well.
"I'm busy and it's none of your business anyway." Regulus shoved past Sirius.
Regulus didn't look back over his shoulder as he stomped down the grassy hill. But he knew Sirius was probably ranting about him and how annoying he was.
Regulus didn't know why he always got so angry but he did and it was so easy to explode at small things. He was pissed off at Barty and Evan and mad at Sirius for so many things.
Sirius got out of that house. He made a better life for himself. He had amazing friends and was loved by everyone. While Regulus was still stuck in that house, he had shit friends and received cold stares as he walked around the halls.
He was just Sirius Black's evil little brother. Regulus hated himself, he hated Sirius and he hated his parents because they were the reason this all happened.
There was a time when Regulus and Sirius were just Regulus and Sirius. Little and big brother. But that was all over. It would never be the same and it wasn't worth reminiscing about the past when the future was so different.
There was nothing Regulus could-
Regulus ran into someone and his thoughts broke off, scattering into the wind. He swore under his breath and looked up to see who it was. When Regulus saw who it was he shook his head and started smirking.
"What are you grinning at for?" Pandora smiled, looking happy to see him.
"Nothing." Regulus shook his head, staring at the ground.
"Well this is the second time we've ran into each other." Pandora smiled and hugged her books to her chest.
"Literally." Regulus snorted and looked up at her.
"Maybe it's fate?" She shrugged, her blonde hair falling off her shoulders.
Maybe it was. Regulus didn't know if he even believed in fate but he knew there was something special about this girl.
"Do you believe in all that stuff? You know, fate, true love, soulmates?" Regulus asks, almost immediately regretting saying it.
Usually Regulus has a pretty strict filter. He never says anything out of his comfort zone. He goes over and over his words in his head before even thinking about speaking. But this time he'd just let his words tumble out.
"Yeah, well I mean magic exists so at this point I believe anything is possible." Pandora replied, turning her head on a slight angle to look at him.
"Yeah?" Regulus smiled again, not particularly liking the way his mouth kept folding upwards.
"Yeah." She said simply, nodding her head forward and starting to walk.
Regulus assumed that meant she wanted him to follow her. So he did. They didn't talk while they walked. Regulus just followed her, slightly confused.
They started walking up the grounds into the building. Regulus still had no idea where she was going and if she even wanted him to follow her.
"You seem anxious." Pandora whipped her head around and looked at him.
Regulus didn't know why he'd never noticed this before but she was taller than him. Just slightly but enough that she could look down at him.
"Why would you say that?" Regulus asked, although he knew the answer to that question.
If anxiety was a person it would be him. He tried to carry himself in a chilled way but no matter how much he tried to hide how anxious he was it always seemed to show.
"You just seem uneasy, I'm not leading you into danger you know." Pandora reassured him.
"Well then where exactly are you leading me?" Regulus asked, putting his hands into his hoodie pockets.
"Reg- Hang on can I call you Reg?" Pandora walked backwards a bit so that she was walking next to him not in front anymore.
No. Regulus thought to himself. Please don't it reminds me too much of Sirius and Mother.
"Sure." He said instead, trying to keep himself together.
"Okay! Reg, I know this is like super random but do you think you could help me with my potions homework?" Pandora asked, with a worried smile.
"Uh yeah sure, but aren't you like really smart? Why do you need my help?" Regulus frowned, last year their classes had a joined potions class together and although he didn't know much about her back then, he could see how smart she was.
"Um, well, the thing is...." Pandora wrung her hands awkwardly.
Regulus was a little worried now. What was going on? He gathered it was either really bad or really stupid based on the look on Pandoras face.
"I've done something really stupid." Pandora put a hand to her forehead and giving him a funny look.
Regulus fought the urge to slap his own hand to his head. But surely it couldn't be that bad?
"Regulus please help me!" She groaned.
Regulus could ignore her and just walk away but he didn't. Instead he sighed and rolled his eyes just slightly.
"Okay come on, I'll try help with whatever it is you need help with, but I can't guarantee that I'll be able to fix it." Regulus said.
"Okay, thank you Reg! Thank you."
And with that she took off down the hall, leaving Regulus no choice but to run after her.