Rough Waters

Regulus was tying up his trainer as he heard the other boys stir.

“Regulus. What time is it?” Evan said, letting out a groan as he pulled the duvet over his head.

“It's time to wake up.” Regulus simply said. “First day of classes meaning we’re going to get our schedules.”

“Do you think the professors will be nice?” Barty asked as he reluctantly got out of bed.

“Probably.” Regulus said, as he began tying the tie around his neck.

“You lot are so loud. Quiet down will you?” Evan asked.

“Evan. You’ve got to get up.” Regulus said, throwing a spare tie at the boy.

“Fine.” Evan groaned sitting up. Regulus looked over in amusement as he noticed the bed head he was currently sporting. Regulus began tying his trainers and let out a sigh as he brought both of his legs up to his chest.

“What happens if there's nae room for all three of us? In class I mean.” Barty asked.

“I- I dunno.” Regulus said, frowning.

“We can just try and split up. Like in one class I sit with Regulus and in another Barty sits with you, then me and Barty sit together in another.” Evan suggested. “I call on Regulus to be my potions partner!”

“What! Nae fair.” Barty exclaimed.

“That's totally fair.” Evan said.

“It's not fair for me. Y’know I think that's the class in which I’ll choose to sit with a stranger.” Regulus said, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Who even knows if I’ll be able to even brew a potion. I get that we won’t start brewing right now but who knows. I could mess up my bloody notes.”

“I doubt that. I mean what with all the books you read.” Barty said. Regulus just shrugged his shoulders as he rested his head on the top of his knees. After a few minutes of silence Regulus looked over at the two boys who were both having trouble trying to tie their ties.

“I get why Barty doesn’t know how to tie a tie but why don’t you, Evan?” Regulus asked as he made his way towards Barty, whacking him over the head lightly as to signal him to stop. Barty let out a little yelp but stopped trying to tie the tie.

“My elf always did it for me.” Evan grumbled. After a few seconds Barty’s tie was tied. It was a very familiar sequence of events for Regulus. “I don’t get why this is so difficult.”

“Merlin, Evan you’re going to suffocate yourself. It's not that hard.” Regulus said as he moved Evan’s hands away from the tie that had somehow turned into a knot.

“Yeah Evan. It's nae that hard.” Barty said, snickering.

“Oh shut it Barty. You couldn’t do it either.” Evan said as Regulus began untying the knot.

“Both of you would be absolutely lost without me.” Regulus said, smirking as he finally undid the knot and began tying the tie. After a few seconds Regulus backed away from Evan. Both the boys made their way to the bathroom, the sound of water running making Regulus let out a sigh.

After another couple minutes passed the boys left the bathroom though Regulus frowned.

“Bloody hell. Comb your hair both of you. They look like rat nests.” Regulus scolded, throwing a hair comb at them.

“Yes mum.” Evan teased, the two boys letting out snickers as they walked back into the bathroom.

Regulus scooped some porridge into his mouth, his eyes moving over to the Gryffindor table and landing on Sirius. Sirius who was laughing with his friends, Sirius who looked like he was on top of the world. He was surrounded by a blonde cherubic boy and a boy with glasses and jet black hair. Regulus recognized them from the train and just as he was about to look away the boy with the glasses met his gaze. He had hazel eyes. Regulus looked away and scooped some more porridge into his mouth.

Sirius didn’t talk to him. They ran into each other on the way to the Great Hall and he didn’t say anything. That could be because Remus was talking to Barty and Evan but Regulus didn’t know. He just felt bad. Sirius was his brother he promised that no matter what house he got sorted into they would always be brothers. Now it seemed like that statement only applied to any other house apart from Slytherin.

Letting out a sigh he looked at his schedule. Charms was first, that one was with the Gryffindors, then there was a break and then it was Defense against the Dark Arts that was also with the Gryffindors-

“You’re kidding me. We have Herbology right after breakfast?” Evan said, groaning as he looked at the schedule for Tuesdays and Thursdays. “It's going to be bloody freezing out there.”

“They probably have charms on the greenhouses to keep it warm, hopefully..” Regulus said, the green houses would be warm to some extent but not very warm since there's plants growing. “But on the bright side when we get into the summer months at least we won’t be sweating buckets.”

“I guess that's something.” Barty grumbled.

Regulus looked back at his schedule. After Defense against the dark arts was lunch and then after lunch was potions with the Ravenclaws. Mondays and Wednesdays had Herbology for two hours and Tuesdays and Thursdays had potions for two hours as well.

“History of magic as our last class? That's awful.” Regulus said, rubbing his face with a hand. “Y’know Sirius used to tell me that practically half the class fell asleep in History of magic.”

“That sounds wonderful.” Barty said dryly. Regulus looked at the schedule for Tuesday and Thursday and let out a groan. “If you would like you two can sit with each other during charms, and then I sit with Regulus for Defense against the dark arts and then me and Evan sit with each other for potions.”

“Sure, that's fine with me. What about you Regulus?” Evan asked.

“Huh? Yeah. It's fine with me.” Regulus said, taking a drink out of his water. “Do you all have all your books?”

“Yep.” Evan said, nodding his head as he scooped some beans into his mouth. Regulus scrunched his nose at that. He never did develop a liking towards beans.

“Uh.. Aye.” Barty said as he looked at his book bag.

“We should probably get going. Everyone else is leaving.” Regulus said as he took a bite out of his piece of toast. “Do you think we should ask Remus where to go?”

“I wouldn’t really fancy getting lost so we probably should.” Evan said.

“As much as I would like to be independent, we'd get lost.” Barty said.

With that said Regulus walked up to the boy.

“Er. Remus?” Regulus asked, scratching the back of his neck.

“Oh hi Regulus. What is it?” Remus asked, a warm smile on his face.

“Me, Evan and Barty don’t know where our classes are so we were wondering if you could help. You don’t have to if you don’t want to but it would be greatly appreciated.” Regulus babbled as he fidgeted with the strap of his book bag.

“Sure! What's your first class?” Remus asked as the other two boys walked up to Regulus and Remus.

“Charms.” Barty piped.

“Ok, just follow me.” Remus said. The three boys followed Remus down the corridors, it was fairly easy to keep up with him because he towered over most people which Regulus found terrifying saying that Remus was only a second year.

The three younger boys followed Remus answering the occasional questions that the older boy asked.

“So here's the charms classroom. I’ll meet you here so that after the break I can show you the defense against the dark arts classroom.” Remus said.

The three boys nodded and said their goodbyes and thank you’s as they entered the classroom. They entered the classroom and saw a very short man. He was levitating a piece of chalk and wrote on the big slate. After a few seconds you could see what he wrote. Professor Flitwick. Was written on the slate in very neat penmanship.

Evan and Regulus sat at one table and Barty sat in front of them. More and more students started trickling in and the room got louder and louder. Frowning, Regulus pulled out a quill, parchment, and a bottle of ink watching as everyone else also pulled those three things out.

“Now that everyone is settled in I wanted to welcome you all to the first day of classes. With that I’m going to start roll call.” Professor Flitwick called out.

The short man called a couple names out until Regulus heard his name.

“Regulus Black!” Professor Flitwick called out. Regulus raised his hand in acknowledgement as he heard the murmurs spread throughout the students. He was used to it but just because he was used to doesn’t mean it didn’t bother him. Regulus rested his chin on the palm of his hand as he continued roll call. He could practically feel the eyes of the people behind him on his back.

Roll call was done and they were delving into a lesson. Regulus dipped his quill into ink, writing down notes in his neat handwriting. They needed some lengthy notes that were to be turned in at the end of the class. Regulus looked up at Evan and a small grin graced his face as he saw Evan bothering Barty. Barty in question was glaring at Evan as he tried to focus on his notes. Letting out a sigh the grin disappeared from his face as he looked back at his notes.

Soon enough class ended and Regulus looked at his notes, a satisfied feeling stirring in the pit of his stomach. Turning it in he walked out of the classroom, Barty and Evan trailing behind him. He had practically forgotten about Remus so when he ran into the boy he nearly suffered from a heart attack.

“Sorry.” Regulus squeaked as he grabbed onto the strap of his book bag.

“S’ fine. Are you three ready to go?” Remus asked, looking at all three of the boys.

“Yeah.” Evan said.

“Uh huh.” Barty hummed. Regulus just nodded his head and followed the boy, his own head swarming with dozens of thoughts.

“So we just have to go up a floor but there’s a staircase that’ll get you there faster.” Remus said. “I’ll show you that another day.”

“Why nae right now?” Barty asked, a slight frown on his face. “I mean we have time.”

“Well I don’t think any of us would like to spend the break walking the corridors.” Remus said, shrugging his shoulders.

“Yeah, I don’t really want to do that.” Regulus said.

“See. Now up this staircase.” Remus said.

The three younger boys followed Remus as he showed them around until they reached the end of their tour. Which admittedly didn’t take long.

“There’s not much of the break left so you guys can go on your way if you’d like.” Remus said.

“Where are you going?” Regulus asked as he scuffed his trainer on the floor.

“Out to the courtyard, You three can join me if you would like to.” Remus said.

“Why nae. Let’s go.” Barty said, tugging on Regulus’ sleeve.

“Let’s.” Remus said.

That was how they found themselves in the courtyard.

“What is that?” Regulus said, a spark of curiosity in his eyes.

“This is a book.” Remus said dryly, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

“I know it's a book but what’s it about?” Regulus asked.

“Well it's a muggle book.” Remus said. Regulus frowned at the end. Muggle book. “It’s about these kids a lot older than us and I believe they live in the states and there’s like gangs. It’s very interesting.”

“Ah.” Regulus said, nodding.

“Yeah. It’s from the point of view of a boy. And he's confused as to where he’s supposed to fit in. It’s hard to summarize.” Remus said, folding the corner of the page he was on. Regulus scrunched up his. “Do you want to read the back?”

“Erm.. Sure.” Regulus said, accepting the book that was handed to him. Regulus held the book in his hands as his eyes read the words on the back. After a minute or two Remus spoke up.

“Do you want to read it? I’ve already read it a couple times over.” Remus said, the corners of his lips upturning slightly.

“I…” Regulus thought it over. He shouldn’t be reading books written by muggles, but he really wanted to. “If you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind at all.” Remus said.

“Thank you.” Regulus said. He cracked open the book and began reading.