Year Three
Regulus hated Potter. The two boys rarely spoke but he always saw he and Sirius laughing together. The way brothers were meant to. So, Regulus came to hate him. He watched them laugh, like the found family they were. It did not help that Regulus was overly aware of whenever Potter was in the same room as him. Regulus' eyes would always find their way to the Gryffindor table, it was even odds who would steal his attentions, and he understood why Sirius might prefer them over him.
Regulus felt dejected. Sirius had been quiet all summer. The lashings from their mother tended to have that effect, but this was different. All he had done was read muggle magazines and write letters to his stupid friends. Regulus had stupid friends too, but it did not bother Sirius half as much when Regulus wrote to them. It's not as though he sent the letters. He did not know if she would want to hear from him anyways.
Regulus had been alone. He looked between Anthony and Barty who were talking about something stupid, but he still felt so alone. It was overwhelming. He stood up and left the great hall without a word of warning and left the great hall, trying to keep his breathing steady.
He was just another aspect of pure blood life that his brother hated wasn't he. It wasn't his fault that Sirius wanted to shove his rebellion in their parents' faces,
He pressed his back against a stone wall, unaware of when he'd started running, shutting his eyes and catching his breath,
Then he heard footsteps, running footsteps, "Why do people let me nap?" He heard a familiar Scottish accent exclaim, as she continued to tell herself off for almost missing dinner,
Then he heard her stop, and he realized it was because she could see part of his back.
"Alright there, Black?" She asked, and he heard her walk to the corner, and peek at him before looking away, leaning on the wall adjacent to his,
"I'm fine," said Regulus, sitting with his back against the wall,
"Right." She said, mimicking his actions, "If you don't tell me what it is that's bothering you I'm just going to sit here forever,"
That wouldn't be so bad. Thought Regulus, looking out the window at the Black lake,
"Or maybe I'll just list all the good things about you until you feel better," said Annabelle. Regulus frowned. That wouldn't be a very long list. Or any list at all. They would sit here in awkward silence and then she would never talk to him again. What a horrifying world that would be- "Alright, so number one. You have excellent hair."
"What?"
"Oh, yes, straight out of a commercial," said Annabelle, "Number two, gorgeous eyes, far prettier than your brother's,"
That made him feel nice,
"Number three, really bloody smart, like fucking hell, Black, you might be the smartest person I've ever met," said Annabelle, "Not saying much when you really think about it though, but I am countin' Evans. Don't tell her I said that."
"I won't." He said, glancing at her hand on the ground and then he furrowed his eyebrows, it was bandaged, "What happened to your hand?"
"And that brings us to number four, covertly caring." Said Annabelle, "That is called roller derby marks, my sister actually did that, it was an accident. But we won, so it's worth it. Priorities being in order and all that."
"You've got a sister?" Said Regulus,
"Yep. Muggle. Tall. Straight hair. Perfect grades. And so fucking nice to everyone, perfect daughter," said Annabelle, as though irritated, "Sometimes I wish she'd fall off that high horse of hers and get trampled,"
Regulus let out a small amount of laughter and she placed her hand over his.
"You aren't alone." She said and he felt the fabric of the bandages over his hand before she stood up, clearing her throat,
"Chin up, Black, or you'll miss dinner," said Annabelle walking in front of him and offering her uninjured hand to help him up,
"What happened to your face?" He asked standing up, but he didn't walk, keeping her hand in his,
Every year when he saw her it seemed she was hurt in someway,
"Crazy story, true story," she said, looking up at the ceiling, "There was a cow and a moon, and then the cow jumped over the moon but the thing had to land somewhere,"
Regulus sighed and released her hand,
"Just say, it's private," said Regulus, but he was still smiling, "Isn't that hard,"
"But you're smiling now, and that brings us to number five, a very handsome smile," she said, before turning away and walking to the dining hall,
Leaving Regulus blushing furiously in her wake.
"Oi, Black, don't miss dinner you bloody idiot!" She called, and he cleared his throat, hurrying after her,
"I am not an idiot," he said, "I happen to be the smartest person you know."
"Number six, always rises to the challenge," she said, grinning at him, and he scowled playfully at her,
He was happy.
-*-
Annabelle didn't believe in love. She was fourteen years old today and found it rather difficult to believe in the concept as her mother sent her hand me downs from her sister for her Birthday.
It was a rather depressing time of year to be born. In January. The entire school between holidays, and night catching up far too quickly to the day time for her liking. Annabelle furrowed her eyebrows as she read the book her sister had sent her.
Olivia Aelin loved romance books. And couldn't be bothered to check any other section of the bookstore for novels that Annabelle might actually enjoy. The attempt to convert her made sense considering they were from the holiest of hell holes in Scotland.
But Annie Aelin desperately wanted something in common with her sister so she red them, brows furrowed and face wearing a what the fuck expression as she read the supposedly romantic words in the books, the bloke had just proposed to some other woman, and was now professing his love to the original broad that she was his and his alone. How the fuck was that love?
It was such a stupid book. And her face must've shown it, because it was yanked from her hands,
"By Merlin, Aelin, what did the book ever do to you," asked James Potter, handing the book off to Sirius who looked at it, turning it over in his hands,
"Shit, Black, give it back," said Annabelle, teaching for it, but he merely raised it in the air, "You are such an arsehole," she said before standing, kicking his shin and snatching the book when he flinched,
She didn't even hesitate. She never did when she was in a fowl mood,
James was laughing though, pointing out how stupid Sirius looked,
"A romance book? Didn't think you were the type, Annie," said James, as Annabelle sat back down,
"My sister sent it to me," she said, and James and Sirius shared a look,
"I thought you must have an older brother," said Sirius, passing the galleons to James,
"You had a bet on this?" Asked Annabelle,
"We have bets on everything, don't feel too special," said Sirius, and Annabelle thought for a moment before setting her book aside and asking,
"Like what?"
Merlin has she ever wished she hadn't asked that because she'd been trapped there for thirty minutes when it finally ended,
"And that's why I am the superior bet," said Sirius, grinning, "I became padfoot long before he became prongs," he said nudging James,
"As I live and breathe is that Evans?" He asked as he spotted Lily coming into the common room, and then he jumped ship to pursue the noble art of making Lily smile,
Sirius collapsed on the couch next to her,
"So, what's your sister doing sending you romance books?" Asked Sirius,
"It's her birthday," said Claire, handing her a wrapped up parcel as Sirius gasped,
"Your Birthday isn't today and you didn't tell me?" Asked Sirius,
"We aren't exactly friends," said Annabelle, rather uncomfortably, she really did prefer regulus over Sirius.
"We're in the same house so we're basically family," he protested, "Why are you in a bad mood if it's your birthday, you know I love birthdays,"
"Really?"
"Yeah, I mean why not celebrate the most important day in history, the day I was brought into the world, I assume you are similarly afflicted,"
"She hates birthdays," said Claire, shoving a box onto Annabelle's lap,
"It's just that-" she gasped, a smile spreading across her face, "You got me yarn?"
"Yep," said Claire as she watched her friend go through all the different colours,
"What's so special about yarn?" Asked Sirius,
"Do you know how many uses there are for Yarn?" Asked Annabelle, standing up, "We start with crocheting," she gestured to the halter top she wore beneath her robe, and Sirius begun taking notes,
"Go on," he said, making Claire laugh,
"Next we have a conspiracy theory board," said Annabelle, taking a painting off of the wall and turning it around,
"What the actual fuck, Aelin," said Sirius, laughing,
"Do you seriously expect me to do my potions homework when I could be getting answers? Somewhere in here lies the toad of truth and I'm gonna fucking find it," said Annabelle, making them both laugh hysterically, as she placed the painting back on the wall,
"Next?"
"Cat toys, and then hats, and knitting, and socks, and then art installations, and my personal favourite use putting it in Snivilous' practice potions," she said, scowling at the thought of the boy,
"Brilliant." Said Sirius, clapping, "A true visionary,"
"Don't steal her yarn," said Claire,
"If you touch it, I'll know." She said,
"Oh, we need to check our horoscopes, the magazine's upstairs," said Claire, leaving and scampering to the dorms,
"Does Regulus know it's your birthday?" Asked Sirius, as she sorted her yarn,
"We aren't that close." She muttered, and Sirius nodded, unconvinced, because Regulus had taken to looking at Annabelle occasionally in the great hall,
"Right, right, I'm sure,"
-*-
"It's your birthday?" Said Regulus, catching up to her as she walked towards the black lake to dispose of the book that her sister had given her,
"Yeah, big one four, funny thing feels like I was thirteen just yesterday," said Annabelle, it was the first she was hearing from him in months,
"I didn't know,"
"I didn't tell you," said Annabelle, "When's your Birthday anyways?"
"Earlier this year," he answered, "Or rather last year," he said, looking up for a moment as though trying to remember his own birthday, "Anyways, I found you something you might like since, I didn't really have time to buy anything,"
He handed her a book wrapped in old daily prophets,
"Is it a puppy?" She asked, looking at him playfully, and he shook his head, a smile threatening to rise to his face, she opened it, "The tales of beadle the bard,"
"They're the wizarding equivalent of the fairytales you use when you lie," said Regulus, and she smiled as she opened the book, to see his name,
"Property of R A B," she read, mimicking his accent, "If found please return to number twelve Grimmauld place if you please. This is so bloody adorable," She said, grinning, and he scratched the back of his neck,
"Shut up," he grumbled,
"I can just imagine little Regulus writing this with his very special green ink," she said,
"Do you want me to go, cause I'll go,"
"No, stay, it's my favourite gift," she said, "Besides maybe you could chuck this book my sister sent me into the lake for me,"
"Oh?" Asked Regulus, taking it from her and reading the title, "Not a fan of the romantics?" He asked as she linked her arm through his on their way to the water,
"Not particularly, the main character in the book mixed up love and possession, but that shouldn't be possible should it? They're opposites. Love and owning someone,"
"Yeah," said Regulus, before throwing the book into the black lake, "Suppose so,"
"You suppose right." Said Annabelle, "Blimey it's cold," she said, and he glanced at her before removing her arm from his and removing his cloak,
"Dress warmer," he said, putting it over her,
"But now you'll be cold," said Annabelle,
"It's your birthday isn't it?" He asked,
"Yeah. It is my birthday," she said,
"This is just occurring to you now?" He asked, arching an eyebrow and she took his hand,
"I want to go to the kitchens. With you." She added, "Have cake, and you would be there, with me and we could make fun of," she glanced at the book he'd given her, "Babbity rabitty,"
"And his cackling stump?" Asked Regulus, and Annabelle laughed,
"How could I forget his cackling stump?"
He smiled as she pulled him back to the castle, his eyes trained on where their hands were connected. He should seek her out more often.
-*-
Regulus was listening Barty go on and on about how unfair it was that they hadn't made the Quidditch team, and how biased the captain must be,
"That's terrible, Barty," said Anthony,
"Thank you for the sympathy, Anthony." Said Barty, before milking the situation for all it was worth,
Regulus rested his head on his arms, having heard all he was saying this morning in the dorms.Occasionally Regulus preferred the company of his sleep paralysis demon over him. Especially when he repeated the same complaints over and over. Regulus only sat up when Barty pulled a mock offended look on his face.
"It's not my fault they chose me for next year." Wrong thing to say, wrong thing to say, Barty scowled and a pit formed it Regulus' stomach. The current captain was a seeker. He'd asked Regulus to be his successor. "Sorry. I didn't mean that." He directed his eyes anywhere but Barty.
He spotted something at the Gryffindor table. Sirius was teasing Annabelle about her freckles, and her friend Dupont was laughing, then when Sirius wasn't looking,
Annabelle dowsed his entire plate with pickled onions, Regulus coughed to cover laughter, and then they made eye contact,
And neither could contain a smile or even a laugh, especially with the quirked eyebrow from Regulus, and the wink from Annabelle,
"What is it, Reg?" Asked Barty,
"Oh, nothing." Said Regulus, wanting to scold him for calling him 'Reg', wasn't allowed. But he wouldn't, he was in too good of a mood, watching Sirius' face as he blindly took a bite of mashed potato and got a mouth full of vinegar,
"Aelin!" He shouted, and she laughed, grabbing her friend's arm, and rushing from the great hall, smiling over her shoulder at Regulus as she went,
He could see the Gryffindor table erupt in laughter at the look on Sirius' face, and how Potter was too busy watching Evans laugh to chase Annabelle with Sirius.
Regulus smiled, and he didn't feel so alone.