Little Evans
December 12,1972
“Seriously guys where’s my potions book?” Grace was digging through her trunk while flinging everything inside across her bed.
“For the last time I don’t know Grace, now get your bra off my bed”groaned Ari pointing at her bra hanging off one of the posters of her bed.
“Sorry, its just it should be here unless someone took it.” She grabbed her bra and tossed it back into her trunk.
“Oh, Posie has it” chimed in Dora who was standing in the doorway.
“Why does Posie have my potions book”said Grace through gritted teeth.
“I dunno, maybe she was missing hers. I saw her go down to breakfast with it .” Dora laid down on her bed immediately tucking herself in.
“Whatcha doin Dora?”asked Ari
“Sundays are for naps” she yawned hugging her pillow.
“It’s 10:30 am” said Ari looking at Grace
“Mhm, I’ve already been awake for too long.”whispered Dora falling asleep.
“Come on, I’ve gotta get my potions book.”said Grace grabbing Ari by the arm and dragging her down the stairs when they bumped into Regulus.
“Where are you off to in such a rush?”he said knocking into the wall.
“Posie Parkinson has my potions book.”said Grace rolling her eyes, Regulus’s eyes widened, “That was your book?”he swallowed looking at her.
“What the hell did she do!”she pushed past Regulus who followed her anyway and ran into the great hall.
“Posie!,Oh bloody hell.”
Posie was watching the book that was levitating as she pulled out paper by paper reading out the annotations.
“Remus is cute!” “I don’t see it” “He is, Look longer next time.” “Fine fine, i see you like older men.” “Shut up he’s a year older”
She was reading out the notes she had written to Ari.
“Posie, Stop!” Tears started welling up in her eyes and her eyes darted over to the gryffindor table were Remus was looking at her face paled, and Lily whose face was bright red.
“Posie, she said stop.” Regulus aimed his wand at her and she lowered the book. “What the hell’s your problem Parkinson, for a girl with a nose so small you sure can’t keep it out of other peoples business can you?”
Posie shut up and looked down at the table refusing to make eye contact with anyone. “Give me that.”He spat at her taking the book from her hands. Grace immediately grabbed it from Regulus and ran out of the hall.
“Grace!” Regulus ran after her
“Stop Regulus!” She screamed at him stopping in the middle of a corridor.
“What? Why are you mad at me?” He stepped back from her confused.
“I could’ve handled it myself!”
“I was just trying to help Grace.”
“I didn’t need your help you don’t have to rescue me! Posie’s a bitch and she’s my dorm mate she does things like this all the time, I could have handled it I don’t need you to save me in front of everyone like that!” She said growing bright red.
“You’re mad because Remus saw me defend you.”
“ I am not.”
“You are too! At least someone stepped in because he sure as hell didn’t.”
“I didn’t need either of you too!”She yelled again running into the common room and straight to her room.
“Oye, where’s Grace?” Remus’s voice came from behind him ad he quickly turned around to see him and Sirius.
“Why.”
“ I feel like I have to apologize.”
“For what? Not saying anything as soon as that book was opened? Staring at her gaping like a bloody fish out of water? What are you sorry for ay Remus?”snapped Regulus
“Mate calm down”said Sirius glaring at Regulus.
“No! You let Posie embarrass her, and you didn’t say anything you just sat there!”
“So did you.”
“I didn’t know it was hers, the notes were talking about you, you bloody prick, you’d just let a girl embarrass herself like that?”
“Where is she?”
“You don’t deserve to know” he said storming off.
Girls Dormitory
“Can you believe him, acting all proud he defended me, all he did was embarrass me more!” Grace was yelling and pacing around her dorm while Dora and Ari watched.
“I think it’s kinda sweet.”said Ari, “he was just trying to help you.”
“But that’s exactly the point i can help myself, especially against Posie Parkinson!”
“Are you upset Regulus defended you or are you upset that Remus didn’t?” Asked Dora stretching her arms from her bed.
“What?”Grace immediately turned to Dora
“I said- ”
“I know what you said Dora, why would i be upset about that?”
“Well, the notes were about him, and he kinda just sat there.”
“Ugh i cannot believe you’re taking his side.”
“She’s not taking sides, were just offering a different point of view.”
“Whatever,I’ll see you guys later.”she said rolling her eyes and leaving the dorm.
Hogwarts Field
She sat down under the tree hoping just this once Regulus would leave her alone and wouldnt find her here.
“Hey”
“Look Regulus I seriously don’t want to talk to you right now, ok?”she turned around to shoo him off but instead she was met with a boy who looked like him, but taller and his grey eyes had hints of blue poking out from them, they shared an equally sharp jawline and the same silky black hair.
“Sirius?”she asked confused as to why he was talking to her, they had only met once before and the conversation had been short and about Regulus.
“May i sit?”he asked gesturing to the space by her side.
“Um, sure.”She said as she watched him awkwardly as he sat down next to her. They sat in an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes until he turned to face her, his blue grey eyes searing into her brain.
“You fancy Remus?”he asked casually
“What?”she immediately blushed and looked away
“After today’s event at breakfast I’m not sure you can deny that.”he said
“I know”she groaned, bringing her knees to her chest and placing her head into her arms.
“He would have said something if he knew it was your journal, he’s just weird around girls, he’s weird around people to be honest.”he laughed, his laugh wasn’t loud but it was deep,he laughed with his chest. She smiled at him feeling slightly reassured.
“Regulus was trying to do the right thing, he’s always trying to do the right thing even if it is evidently the worse choice he could make, as long as he thinks it’ll make someone he cares about happy, he’ll do it.”said Sirius moving his long black hair out of his face exposing his face. “You two are good friends right?”
“Yea” she replied, cringing at how she had yelled at her best friend.
“Then don’t be mad at him, he’s always had trouble finding good friends, and if you're anything like Lily you’re a good friend to have.”
“I’m nothing like Lily” she sighed
“Why is that?”
“First off I’m in Slytherin, and well, actually i think that says enough.”
“You’re right it might, but I know you, and i think you’re a good friend to have.”
“Thanks Sirius.”
“No problem, now go find Regulus, Remus will find you later.” He smiled standing up and offering her his hand to get up.
“Fine.” She happily took it, gave him one last smile and went to go find her best friend.
December 20,1972
Remus had found her and given her a brief apology, neither of them knew what to say so they decided it would be best to ignore what had happened. She had apologized to Regulus again and again until he couldn’t possibly be upset with her any longer. Lily had teased her mercilessly about her small crush on Remus but she was particularly upset at Posie, she had never seen her sister hate someone but she hated Posie. Posie had been shunned by the dorm even though Dora would break it by sneaking into her bed at night to whisper about her day.
The last quidditch game before break was scheduled for that afternoon and like every match day every house was wearing their colors with pride and picking sides for tonight’s match, Slytherin VS Ravenclaw.
“Sirius, are you any good at defense against the dark arts?”murmured Regulus slumped over his textbook leaning against the tree, around him sat Grace, Lily, Sirius and Remus.
“Yea, here look, page 62, check the footnotes, they have the information you need.” Sirius yawned, pointing out a small paragraph of text in the corner of the page.
“Thanks” he said, writing down the answer his brother had pointed out.
“Hey guys!” James Potter flopped down on the ground resting his head on Lily’s lap who quickly shoved him off.
“Hello little Evans, we haven’t been formally introduced, James Potter, your future brother in law.” He smirked, earning a punch from Lily.
“Bold, nice to meet you.''smiled Grace, James’s brown curly hair sat disheveled on his head and his glasses tugged at his nose.
“This is Peter, he’s one of our mates, shares a dorm with Remus, Sirius and I.”said James gesturing towards a shorter stubbier boy with blonde hair.
“Hi!”softly smiled Peter,his two front teeth slightly peaking through his smile.
“Hi.”she said, she had seen Lily’s friends before but had never really noticed Peter, he was always kind of trailing behind James.
“I need to get a new potions book during the break?”groaned Grace flipping through her torn book. Remus looked up at her and stared.
“Um, yes Remus?”she said giggling at his thoughtful expression.
“Oh, sorry, just thinking.”he smiled back and turned back to his book. She shrugged and tapped Regulus on the shoulder.
“Mhm”he said not looking up from his paper.
“Save me a seat at the game today? I gotta go find Ari.”she asked as she stood up and grabbed her bag.
“Yea of course, see you then.”He looked up and smiled before returning back to his paper.
“Bye boys and Lily.”she grinned as she waved to them and left.
“Bye little Evans!”screamed James as she walked away and she could hear Lily shove him again.
Hogwarts quidditch pitch
Regulus sat in the slytherin stands with an open seat next to him waiting for Grace, he watched the stairs for her light brown hair.
“Regulus Black” His head whipped around to see Lucius Malfoy standing next to him.
“Lucius, hello, where’s Cissa.”he said, clearing his throat.
“Narcissa doesn’t attend quidditch games, it’s unladylike.”he spat at Regulus
“That seems a bit outdated, Lucius.”laughed Regulus
“It’s tradition, you should know that.”sneered Lucius
“Reg?” Grace was standing behind Regulus looking at Lucius.
“Densaugeo”whispered Lucius pointing his wand at Grace, “Mudbloods do not interrupt conversation.”
Grace held her hands to her mouth feeling her two front teeth start growing rapidly in her mouth. Tears started to well up in her eyes and she was unable to speak due to the rapid growth of her teeth.
“Oye Lucius what the hell, Grace are you ok?”he turned to Grace holding her shoulders.
“Grace? Say something!”he shook her shoulders again, “What did you do Lucius?”he yelled.
“Send her to Pomfrey and she’ll be fine, tame your mudblood Black.”he spat leaving the stands.
“Fucking hell come on” he grabbed Grace’s hand and took her to Madam Pomfreys wing. At this point Grace had let herself start crying as Madam Pomfrey fixed her teeth, she knew Regulus was right behind the thin curtain separating them but without seeing his face she allowed herself to finally break down.
“Madam Pomfrey?”her voice wavered as she looked up teary eyed to the older woman.
“Yes dear?”she sweetly replied finishing off the last of the healing spell.
“What does mudblood mean?”she asked provoking a gasp from Madam Pomfrey and causing Regulus to hold his breath waiting to hear what she would reply.
“It’s a very foul word, some pure blood wizards still believe that their blood is the only one that should exist in this world, and that any other blood is tainted such as half bloods, but what they believe the most is that muggle born wizards are mistakes, they’re blood is considered dirty in comparison to their pure blood, hence the mud, have people been calling you that Grace?”asked Madam Pomfrey
Grace swallowed her tears and replied “no.”
“Then why the question?”asked madam Pomfrey.
“Curiosity, it gets the best of me” she half heartedly smiled, “am i ok to go back to my dorm?”
“Yes, if it starts to hurt just come back here and i can help you out with that.”smiled Madam Pomfrey pulling back the curtain, Regulus’s eyes were red and glossy and his face was still pale. “She’s alright Regulus,isn’t that right Grace?”she said wiping a tear from his cheek.
“Yea, I’m ok, ready to go?”she asked Regulus
“Yea,yea lets go.”he sighed
“Get some sleep ok?”smiled Regulus to Grace as they entered the common room, “I’m sorry.”
“Why”she asked
“Lucius,he was talking to me, its my fault.”he whispered his voice breaking, “you got hurt and it was my fault.”
“Regulus”she said sitting down next to him
“You can’t blame yourself for other people's behavior, you are a good person, Lucius is just not.”she sighed
“Ok, go to bed”
“I will, goodnight Regulus.”
“Goodnight Grace”
Hogwarts express
Grace moved her way into a compartment with Lily and Severus. She looked out for Regulus who went to go sit with Sirius who she so badly wanted to join. Lily sat down next to Severus and started complaining all about Sirius and James and what they had done that year.
“Lily I’m gonna go sit with Regulus.”she said glaring at Severus.
“What, why? Sit with us.” Lily looked offended at Grace wanting to sit elsewhere.
“No offense ill see you both plenty over break, i wont see Reg, so bye”she smiled slipping out of the compartment.
“Hey, mind if i sit here!”smiled Grace as she found the compartment the boys were in.
“Little Evans! Of course you can sit with us” James smiled at Grace moving to the side of the compartment leaving a space next to him and Remus where Grace gladly took a seat.
“Will your sister be joining us?”he asked his eyes lighting up
“No she’s sitting with Snape, hate to disappoint”
“You could never disappoint, and her name is Grace”smiled Sirius unwrapping a case of Bertie bott every flavor beans and tossing them into Petes mouth.
Regulus sat squeezed in between them happily taking in the laughter from everyone.They spent the trip joking and laughing at Peter and Sirius when they got horrid tasting beans.As the trip neared it’s end James was asleep drooling on the window, Peter was asleep on Regulus’s shoulder and Sirius was splayed out across they’re legs and Regulus was silently sleeping with his head against the back of the compartment, the only people awake were Grace and Remus.
Grace found her eyes slightly closing but unable to find a place to sleep with leaning on Remus. Her head bobbed up and down as she fell in and out of sleep.
“You can use my shoulder.”whispered Remus nudging Grace with his shoulder, she nodded and slumped onto him cozying her head onto his shoulder. “I have something for you, a Christmas gift”he whispered to her, she got off his shoulder and looked at him.
“You didn’t have to get me anything Remus.”she urged
“It’s ok, its small.”he smiled pulling a book from his bag.
“Potions Year 1”she smiled as she was handed the book “Thank you Remus.”
“It’s my old one from last year so there’s some notes in it.”he shrugged
“It’s perfect”she smiled, giving him a hug.
“It’s the least i could do,now go to sleep, I’m tired too.”he said relaxing his shoulders.
“Night Remus”she whispered leaning back onto his shoulder
“Night little Evans.”