fourth
Arabella runs towards Winter who wraps her in a tight hug. Both girls giggle as Winter kisses Arabella on the cheek.
“Holy!” Winter gapes, “you got hot Ara!”
Arabella laughs, “why is that the first thing you say to me?”
“Because it’s true!”
Arabella giggles and rolls her eyes, “I mean you look pretty good too I guess.” Winter laughs and shoves Arabella. It’s true though, both girls have had a bit of a glow up of the summer. Their faces have lost some baby fat and their hips are wider, both girls' hair falls past their shoulders and Arabella’s has gained highlights over the summer. The girls fall back easily into excited chatter and talk about plans for the year. This will be the first year that they’ll be allowed at the Halloween ball and Winter is already excitedly making plans.
The duo enters their usual compartment where Lucy and Penelope are already sitting. They exchange hugs and Winter and Arabella sit across from the other girls who have dived into conversation about who they want to attend the ball with.
Arabella turns as Regulus enters with Otto and Alastair. Regulus smiles cheekily as bitch Arabella and Winter wrap him in a hug, Arabella gives the other two boys brief hugs and she can’t help but notice Alastair blushing profusely.
“So how was everyone’s summers?” Otto asks. After catching up, Arabella moves to the floor where she and Lucy start a game of Wizards Chess. Eventually Barty comes in and starts talking with Penelope. After Arabella beats Lucy, Regulus takes her spot.
“Check,” Arabella huffs after almost twenty minutes of playing.
“Dang it,” Regulus hisses, “no fair.”
Arabella laughs, “no fair? I beat you fair and square, Reg.” He growls something inaudible causing the others to laugh. The familiarity of playing chess and talking with her friends is comforting to Arabella and as the train finally pulls into Hogwarts she is ecstatic for the year to come.
That night the girls lay on Lucy’s bed discussing the coming year.
“I hope Barty asks me to the ball,” Lucy whispers, blushing.
“Barty,” Penelope giggles, “I guess he did get fairly attractive over the summer.” Lucy turns a bright crimson and the other girls laugh.
“What about you then, Penny?” Lucy asks.
Now it's Penelope’s turn to blush, “well, Rodrick Fawley may or may not have already asked me…”
“The sixth year?” Winter gapes at the same time Lucy gasps, “when?”
Penelope giggles, “ya… he asked me early today, on the train.”
“No way,” Lucy says, “you didn’t tell me!”
“Sorry!” Penelope laughs, “anyways, it's your turn Arabella, who do you want to go to the ball with?”
Arabella blushes, “oh I don’t know… I mean Otto is very nice-”
“Hot too!” Lucy interjects.
Arabella giggles, “yes that too, or maybe Regulus as friends? I’m not sure.” The truth is Arabella has had a bit of a crush on Otto since the end of last year but she’s simply too shy to even try and flirt or say something. She’s never kissed a boy, she’s never even had a boyfriend before.
“Fair enough,” Penelope states, “Winter?”
Winter turns a stark crimson against the pale white of her skin, “Alastair probably.” Lucy and Penelope make swooning noises and Arabella giggles, it has been very clear for a while now that Winter has a massive crush on Alastair.
***
Summer had not been kind to Regulus. Sirius left after only a week, he said he was sick of it. Usually he stays longer, usually Regulus could make him stay just a bit longer because without Sirius there his mother would take her anger out on him. She was mad when he left. Regulus had heard her screaming at him the night he left.
The first day in July, it had started when Sirius had mentioned Lily Evans. It was at dinner, it almost seemed as if Sirius had been trying to start a fight. Sirius was angry he had to come home at all, Walburga was even angrier he even tried to stay at the Potter’s. You see, Sirius never asks but Walburga found out he wasn’t planning on coming home just like she always does. A howler had been sent to Sirius and in turn, to Regulus.
When Sirius told Walburga and Orion how the muggleborn Lily Evans was top of their class it was the last straw.
Walburga had stood up, “don’t you dare become associated with such filth, Sirius! It is a disgrace on our family name. You are a disgrace!”
“You're wrong, mother,” Sirius growled, “you all are too narrow-sighted to see your prejudiced ways and bullshit thinking!”
“DON'T YOU DARE SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT!” Walburga had hissed, “you are living under our roof. You have our name. You have no right to come in here and speak about such mudbloods filth like you have been all summer!”
“It’s been a week!” Sirius shouted, “and she’s not filth! She’s probably smarter than you!” Regulus and Orion had stopped chewing, Walburga and Sirius fought almost nightly and they learned to tune it out but you could always tell if Walburga was going to snap.
“Sirius, do not talk to your mother like that,” Orion said.
“Regulus,” Walburga growled, “go to your room.”
“Can’t we just all eat dinner-“ Regulus started.
Walburga spun around to face him, “go. To. Your. Room.”
“Mum,” Regulus pleaded.
“NOW!” Walburga hissed. Regulus could see her wand quiver in her hand so with one last fleeting glance at his brother Regulus ran up to his room feeling sick. He was so fucking weak. He couldn’t even stay and stand up for his brother like Sirius had done for him so many times before. He was weak. Pathetic. What would his friends think? What would Arabella think when she finally learned that he was just as bad as his parent’s, as his mother.
A loud bang follows a loud scream and a strangled sob. Regulus pulled his knees up to his chin and pulled the blankets over his head like the pitiful child he is.
The next morning Sirius was gone and Walburga had no one else to yell at other than Regulus.
Monday of the next week Walburga could be heard whispering with Bellatrix. Walburga wanted Bellatrix to teach Regulus the Unforgivables.
Regulus felt sick. He couldn’t- he wouldn’t. How was he supposed to practice them? He wouldn’t be able to hurt anybody, he couldn’t live with himself after that because then he would be just like his mother.
They wanted him to practice on chickens.
At first he refused.
“I will not-“ he whispered to his mother, “please mum, please don’t make me.” Walburga didn’t look at him, instead she ignored him and walked back into the house.
Behind her he heard Bellatrix cackle from where she was standing beside Lucius, “poor Reggie, mummy wants you to learn… and I’m the best to learn from!” Regulus tightened his lips into a thin line feeling suddenly even more nauseous.
Regulus casts the Crucio curse first, Bellatrix insisted. When he cast it the chicken didn’t so much as twitch and Regulus was secretly very glad. Bellatrix was not so thrilled.
“Your fucking useless, Regulus!” She hissed, “you have to mean it!”
The thing is that Regulus doesn’t want to mean it, he doesn’t want to hurt the chicken.
“Try. Again.”
Regulus swallowed and held his wand out, his hand was shaking. “Crucio.” The chicken twitched then went back to pecking at the seeds on the ground.
Bellatrix grunted her disapproval, “Regulus. Mean it.”
“I am,” Regulus growled in return.
“I hope you are because it’s either you or the chicken.” Regulus goes quiet, he doesn’t think Bellatrix is lying.
He tries to mean it, he really does, but the chicken doesn’t so much as twitch this time.
Bellatrix doesn’t waste any time, “crucio!”
Regulus drops to the ground as a searing pain jolts through his body, it feels like he’s on fire. He wonders if he screams loud enough his mother would stop Bellatrix, he doubts it. She would probably agree with Bellatrix. So instead he tries not to scream, he tries not to give Bellatrix the satisfaction.
Tears prick at his eyes and he feels his brain go fuzzy with pain. As suddenly as it started the pain stops and leaves only a stinging sensation behind.
“Try again,” Bellatrix sneers.
This time the chicken drops to the ground squawking loudly. Regulus has to turn around, he can’t watch it. He doesn’t turn back around until the noises stop.
The next day Bellatrix resumes training with him except this time Lucius Malfoy is present as well. The two of them are even worse. That night Regulus goes to bed with bruises and a disturbing memory of the way the cruciatus curse flew through his body.
Walburga and Bellatrix would talk in hushed voices through the day, Walburga was furious about Sirius and Bellatrix was thrilled at getting to ‘train’ Regulus.
The remainder of Regulus’ summer was spent with Bellatrix in the garden behind the Black Manor in France, attending torturous dinners, and getting yelled at by Walburga for every little thing.
So when Arabella hugs him and grins asking how his summer went he tells her it was very good, relaxing in fact. She was delighted to hear that so in turn he was happy. Regulus has never met anybody like Arabella before, she isn't afraid to speak her mind, she hates everything to do with blood purity stuff, and she is the smartest person he knows. The other boys always make fun of him for becoming so close with Arabella and Winter but being with them always feels like a breath of fresh air, especially after being stuck at home all summer.
The first night back at Hogwarts Regulus falls asleep easily. The haunting thoughts that surrounded him all summer have faded after a night of talking with his friends and a delicious dinner.
When Regulus wakes up the next morning he has decided to put the summer behind him.
Arabella
The first quidditch practice of the year is invigorating for Arabella. This will be her third year on the team and she’s delighted with the progress throughout the years, she wouldn’t say it out loud but she’s become one of the best on the team.
“Listen up,” Mulciber drones, “this year is serious. We are going to win the Quidditch cup, tryouts are tomorrow and I expect you all to be there, nobody’s spot is guaranteed.” This causes nervous chatter to break out around the team but both Regulus and Arabella stand tall, confident in their spots. This year there are two open chaser spots that people will be trying out for but as Muliber has so clearly stated they will all be fighting for their own spots.
Mulciber clears his throat and continues, “practice will be everyday in the mornings, if you don’t show then I’ll consider replacing you. Try not to get detentions…” his gaze wanders over to the Carrow siblings who are known for fighting, “that interfere with practices or games. I expect you all to do your best at practices. And on that note let’s start the first unofficial practice of the year with five laps around the pitch!”
With some muffled groans the team mounts their brooms and takes off. Arabella is simply excited to be in the air and she takes off a bit competitively in an attempt to get towards the front of the group. She presses closer to her broom to gain some speed until she feels a shoulder bump harshly into her. She turns with a narrowed gaze to see Raldwyn Belber smirking at her.
“Watch where you're going, darling,” he says, putting emphasis on the word darling.
Arabella huffs in annoyance, what a jerk. “I’d say the same thing for you Belby. And don’t call me darling.” The pair are flying fast at the front of the group but Arabella notices him falling behind and with a hint of satisfaction she speeds up.
“What? You don’t like pet names?” He asks a bit breathlessly with the energy exerted keeping up with her.
“Not from you,” she hisses, “I’d better watch it if I were you.” Arabella has never particularly liked the older boy, his shameless flirting and mean demeanor has never been attractive and especially isn’t when he’s panting trying to keep up with her.
“Or what,” he mocks. Arabella ignores him, instead she pushes into his broom sending him slightly out of control and spinning towards the back of the group. She isn’t usually a very violent person but she finds great satisfaction at seeing Belby’s shocked expression when somebody actually stands up to him.
Regulus flies up to her and looks behind his shoulder with a slight smirk, “was Belby bothering you?”
Arabella giggles quietly, “I think he’s more bothered with getting his broom upright now.” Regulus laughs and they speed up to finish their last few laps.
At tryouts the next day Otto surprises Arabella by telling her that both he and Alastair are trying out for the two new chaser spots.
“Really?” Arabella grins, “that's great! If you two make it we’d have such a fun team.”
Otto smiles back, “hopefully we will. I was thinking of trying out last year two but never got around to it.”
Otto and Alastair are both solid flyers. They blend well together and their execution is certainly there, both boys are both extremely fit and strong. By the end of tryouts Arabella is so certain that they’ll get the spots so she isn’t surprised at all when Mulciber lists off their names.
After tryouts the three boys walk with Arabella back to the common room, it’s dark at this point as tryouts took place after dinner and the Slytherin team walk as a group back inside the castle. The tryouts were very successful leaving Arabella hopeful and excited for the coming season. She’s secretly thrilled that Otto is on the team; she's found that her little crush on him has maybe become a bit more. He is insanely attractive after all, he’s extremely fit with sandy blonde hair and he’s tall.
Yeah, this year will be a good year.