Year Five
"Black?" Said Annabelle, spotting Regulus in the Black lake,
He'd waded down to his knees and seemed to be immune to the cold biting into his skin. Annabelle took off her shoes before wading after him,
"Bullocks, its freezing," she exclaimed, jumping a little bit before resuming her mission to be beside him,
"Just leave," said Regulus, he felt so, so, awful. But Annabelle shook her head, and he felt her presents right beside him,
"I will get hypothermia on a whim but I refuse to let you go through this on your own," said Annabelle, feeling the rocks beneath her feet and regretting removing her shoes, but she wouldn't dare leave Regulus' side right now, "Just out of curiosity, when did your legs go numb?"
"Did my brother send you?" Asked Regulus, his fists clenching,
"Probably wouldn't have come if he had sent me to be honest, bit of a plonker really," said Annabelle, and Regulus hummed in acknowledgement relief washing over him, before casting a warming charm over her,
The backs of their hands were touching but Regulus couldn't bring himself to do anymore than that, he could only stand motionless staring at how the stars were reflected in the Black lake,
"You're right." Said Regulus monotonously, "What are you doing here?"
"Good Samaritan," she said, bowing a little bit with the flourish of her hand and he wanted to snatch her hand as it moved away from his and keep it there, but first he would never be so controlling with her, and second he couldn't quite bring himself to move, "At your service,"
"Would you," he began but then he thought the better of it, shutting his eyes tightly as he tried to process exactly what had happened in the final weeks of summer, in addition to wanting support but not knowing how to accept it, and when he tried the words got lost,
His hand must have twitched our something, because then she slipped her hand into his, squeezing his hand tightly,
"He left." Said Regulus, coming to terms with it himself as he thought about the argument, the aftermath, the letter, the encounter at the leaky cauldron,
*I did what you weren't brave enough to do!*
The words were played on a loop in his brain until he heard,
"Would you like me to break one of his balls for you?" She asked, her voice deadly serious, and Regulus let out a small laugh, the statement had caught him rather off guard.
"I didn't even say a name," said Regulus,
"He left you. A dick move if I do say so myself," said Annabelle, and he smiled, his hand gripping hers back, "It probably wasn't you he was leaving," she said quietly, and his smile faltered,
"Sirius thinks I'm just as the rest of them," said Regulus, and Annabelle furrowed her eyebrows,
"Just to be clear we're talking about your Arsehole brother?" Said Annabelle, and Regulus grimaced, nodding, "The sod who forced all the expectations placed on him onto you without warning. Your home may be toxic but it's still home, and your one normal-ish relative leaves you to soak up all those negative, negative.... vibes?" he almost smiled, "Honestly, Black, I don't know how you're still standing,"
"Why are you like this?" He asked honestly, no human should be like this. People like Annabelle existed only on paper. Were only products of lonely people writing friendships into their fictitious lives on paper.
"I know what it's like to be alone." She answered, "No one I care about is ever going to feel that way,"
She cared about him. Regulus shut his eyes for a moment as she confirmed it.
He laced their fingers together wordlessly, and allowed a comfortable silence to fall over them, and then she whispered,
"Do you have the answers to the potions homework?" She asked and then he laughed, he was caught off guard, and it made the fuzzy feeling in his stomach grow, or rather butterflies.
"Not yet. Starting the year off on the right foot aren't you." He said,
"Last year I happened to turn around my grades in such a heroic way that McGonagall quizzed thrice,"
"Great use of the word thrice, Aelin."
"Thank you, Black." She said, grinning at him, "She quizzed me to be sure I wasn't cheating and now I am officially a prefect," said Annabelle, and he gasped quietly.
Excitement building inside him. What if they had rounds together? How exciting.
"A terrible decision really," said Annabelle,
"I would have to agree with that," said Regulus,
"I could just go inside right now,"
"No," he said quickly, "I mean, would you stay with me?" He asked the words coming out difficult and strained,
"Yeah, alright." Said Annabelle, "Of course. You know I hate professor Slughorn with the passion of a thousand suns,"
"Why?" Asked Regulus,
"First off he is a thumping bore," Regulus let out a small amount of laughter, "Second he is an elitist without the aesthetic,"
"Being classist is fine as long as you're wearing diamonds?" He asked, Regulus had taken to wearing rings this year, and he spoke with gestures occasionally, Annabelle had not been able to pay attention to anything else in the great hall when he was telling a story she couldn't even hear.
"I didn't make those cufflinks for nothing, you had better be wearing those too," she said, and he smiled, nodding,
"At every event." He said,
"Good." She said, "I'll bet you looked simply charming before you had them but with them,"
"Oh have I graduated to dashing?" Asked Regulus, scratching the back of his neck,
"Dashing or debonair," she affirmed, "All because of the cuff links. Remember that,"
"I will," he said,
"You know that this is my top pick for an existential crisis," said Annabelle,
"I would have guessed astronomy tower," said Regulus,
"Heights and crises don't mix. Besides I've got a pretty good view of the stars here, especially-"
"I will push you into the water," he said, a smile on his face,
"Christ, I was going to say Regulus, but I guess Sirius is also fairly-" he knocked her over into the water, and she submerged for a second, having landed flat on her arse before sitting up,
"You little shite," she said, and he was laughing until she pulled him down with her, so they were both sitting in the frigid water, but neither seemed to care,
He splashed her with water and she laughed,
"I will fucking end you, Black," said Annabelle, sending a wave of water at him,
"I'd like to see you try," said Regulus, a grin on his face, as she moved closer to him,
"I think I might just bide my time for a bit,"
"So I should douse my clothing in flame repellent?" He asked, as she continued to assault him with water,
"No I'm thinking something a little more classy for you, your majesty," said Annabelle, "You're special that way,"
"Wow. I'm flattered," said Regulus, moving closer to her, he didn't even know why, as he pushed her hair behind her ear, "Your hair is soaked," he muttered as he removed his hands from her face and she cleared her throat,
"Getting shoved under water by a absolute and utter-" he splashed her again,
"I don't like slander," he said, and she sputtered,
"I was going to say Adonis but I guess dickswab will do for now," said Annabelle and he laughed until he felt her hand on his face brushing the hair from his eyes,
"I think that qualifies as slander," said Regulus quietly, before spotting a strange mark on her arm, "Every year," he said, "Another boating accident?"
"No. It's a crazy story, true story," she said quietly, "There was this evil step mother and she really didn't want this girl to-"
He ran his thumb over it delicately, so delicately she thought he may even try to kiss it better,
"Private?" He asked,
"Yep."
Regulus didn't press. He knew he'd find out eventually, instead he stood up and helped her out of the water because she was shaking a little,
"Never travel north," he said,
"Dually noted," She said, as he draped his robe over her shoulders,
"I'll walk you back to Gryffindor."
It was late. No one would see them.
-*-
Regulus was up high on his broom scanning the pitch for the snitch. It was the Ravenclaw Slytherin game and he had a growing frustration with his chasers as they were slaughtered by the strategic Ravenclaws.
Why Slytherin didn't just cheat with Ravenclaw like they did with Gryffindor. Honestly, if they were going to be underhanded and coniving, commit.
His thoughts must have shown his thoughts because when his gaze dropped to Annabelle in her usual spot in the stands she was laughing at him. She was trying to hide it for the sake of Potter, McKenna, and Claire near her. But then she mimicked him, and he rolled his eyes,
Suppressing a smile and mouthing,
Shove off.
She mocked her, pressing a hand to her heart and responded with,
Never.
Regulus felt a strange feeling in his chest as he dodged a bludger, he didn't even care if he didn't win at this point, he spotted a glint in the air and his eyes darted to where the Ravenclaw seeker hovered, blowing a kiss to his girl in the stands.
Then the warm feeling in his chest was replaced with something else.
"Crouch! Bludger, now!" Said Regulus, getting Barty's attention and having a bludger sent that seeker's way so that Regulus would have no competition as he sped towards that tiny golden ball,
He ignored the announcer, and then felt the Ravenclaw seeker close behind him, and then Regulus' stomach must have dropped as the other boy gripped the back of his broom, pulling it out from under him as Regulus' fingers closed around the golden snitch before hitting the ground harshly,
He blinked, the noise around him blurred as he lifted his hand, groaning as he looked at the small golden ball in his hand, and then he went unconscious,
-*-
"Black," Said Annabelle in a whisper as she emerged from a stolen invisibility cloak she'd stolen from Potter. Regulus was asleep, it was ridiculously early in the morning and-
By god he was handsome. Annabelle would swoon but she was at a loss for time, she didn't know if or when one of his friends would show up,
"Regulus?" She tried, and then she glanced at the get well cards on his night stand, most were from girls, "By god, majesty, got yourself a proper fanclub don't you," He tone was laced with jealousy and she could have sworn she saw a smirk on his face,
It went away, and Annabelle rolled her eyes, before a wicked smile rose to her face, his eyes were still closed, he was pretending, she could tell,
"If only you were a Gryffindor, you'd be simply irresistible," She said, and the smirk disappeared, and she stifled her laughter, "Regulus Black, the most handsome person, well in Slytherin, so that's pretty slim pickings,"
Regulus scowled, with his eyes still closed, "But if, Mandy Macmillan thinks your eyes sparkle like- your eyes aren't blue. Bloody incompetent that's what she is,"
"Jealous?" Was the first scratchy word to leave his throat, he was wearing bandages, and that was about it over his chest other than the blanket,
"Over what? Over you? Because of Mandy?" She asked, her cheeks reddening, "Please."
"I may be on more pain potions than you can shake a stick at, but I think I know what your blush looks like," Said Regulus, and Annabelle scowled at him, "Although, you might be a hallucination."
"Oh?"
"I saw a black dog last night," Said Regulus, "We don't have dogs at Hogwarts. Prove to me that you are real." He demanded, his hand twitched like it always did when he wanted her hand it his,
But then her hand trailed along one of his bandages, and he could have stopped breathing,
"What happened?" Asked Annabelle quietly,
"Just some internal bleeding," Answered Regulus,
"Well that's where the blood is supposed to be," Said Annabelle, and Regulus let out a laugh, and her cheeks reddened more before he winced because of his injuries, and he lifted an arm to hold her wrist as her hand reached his shoulder,
"You worry me," Said Regulus, looking at her with those deep grey eyes that were like-
Annabelle cleared her throat and pulled her hand away and brought the book out from under her arm,
"I brought you a book. Do you prefer vampires or necromancy but muggles," Said Annabelle, arching an eyebrow,
"Leave both please," Said Regulus as she casually much to his delight brushed the cards from girls off his bedside table, "Belle," he said as though scolding her, and she froze, she liked that nickname,
"Oops." She said, and he laughed, eyes lighting up before he winced a little from the pain, but it was worth it,
"You are so pretty when you blush." Said Regulus,
"Shove off," Said Annabelle, shifting uncomfortably on her feet, "I should-"
"Stay. At least for a bit. You're the one who woke me up at this ungodly hour as you would put it, so you are going to keep me company," Said Regulus, and she scowled at him,
"You get cocky when you're on pain killers," Said Annabelle, and Regulus nodded,
"Yes. This is true." Said Regulus, "But you want to stay, with me, and look into my most certainly not blue eyes."
"Oh, shut up." Said Annabelle, as he looked at her softly,
"I want you to." Said Regulus, and she looked at him, and for a split second he thought she might need him as much as he needed her, but that was just impossible, "Tell me what muggles think they know about vampires,"
"Where to begin?" Asked Annabelle, as Regulus began to play with her hand, she'd given herself a stick and poke tattoo, it was faded he smiled when he realized it was the constellation Leonis. "First of all you should know about my crushing disappointment at when I first met a vampire and he wasn't super fashion forward,"
"Is that why you hide or run from Slughorn whenever he mentions his club thing?" Said Regulus.
He had such a lovely smile.
"I'm not going to sign up for crushing disappointment," Said Annabelle, "And the food is so heavy, and honestly how many times can I tell one man that fishermen aren's mermaids. I really don't understand where the mix up happens,"
"Did you ever name that fish?" Asked Regulus, arching an eyebrow,
"Went with Satan,"
"Oh?"
"Seemed Apt."
"Apt." He mimicked her scottish accent, "What did the fish do anyways?"
"It's more what the fish represents." Said Annabelle, "You really had to be there."
"I don't like boats. I'm not a very good swimmer."
"But you like brooms. No accounting for taste." Said Annabelle, rolling her eyes,
"You're one to talk, your boat keeps beating you up,"
"Which one of us is in the hospital wing right now?"
"Technically you're here too," Said Regulus,
"You know, I can just go," said Annabelle, and he held onto her hand,
"No." He insisted, "We've got time, Aelin,"
She checked the clock on the wall and then huffed, "Move then,"
"What?" He said, his voice practically cracking as he woke up completely, the idea of having her that close to him, horizontally,
"I could get a chair I guess,"
"No. No, it's fine, I could Move," Said Regulus, moving over in the bed, and she sat next to him, then she removed her hand from his and began playing with his hair,
Oh, Regulus just loved that. He loved a lot of things that Annabelle said, did, and was. You know. Casually. As a friend. She smelt like the ocean. From this close he could tell she had freckles. They faded into her deep skin at a distance. He felt special that he was allowed close enough to see them.
"What is Frankenstein about?" He asked glancing at her,
"Just necromancy for muggles, with a twist of electricity and patchwork," Said Annabelle, "And then there are the city dwellers who somehow think that fire is the number one weakness for literally everything,"
"Is it not?" Asked Regulus,
"Metal."
"Is the monster made of metal?"
"Partially," Said Annabelle, she smelt like the ocean,
"DId you write in the Margins?" Asked Regulus,
"Only a few."
"Good." Said Regulus, and she kept talking,
Annabelle had such pretty lips.
-*-
"Regulus," Said Barty, snapping his fingers and getting Regulus' attention away from his potion, "Anthony has been weird lately, what do you think that is?"
"I don't know?" Said Regulus, trying to make sure he didn't mess up his potion,
"He just keeps disappearing without explanation you know?" Said Barty, "Do you think we should confront him?"
"No." Said Regulus, "His business is his business,"
"But he just totally smiled at that bloodtraitor,"
"You are being immature," Said Regulus, "Maybe he's just trying to win her back from what was it you called it? The great evil?"
"I just don't like it," Said Barty, "This is how it starts,"
"How what starts? You are getting awfully inventive lately, maybe becoming a novelist is in order," Said Regulus, with a small smile at his own quip,
"No, how they start picking us off one by one," Said Barty,
"What? Like assassins?" Asked Regulus, almost chuckling at his own joke, "Imagine, Lupin the assassin, might smother you in a knit sweater," He actually did let out a bemused sound, "Or Potter might have you get lost in that mess on his head until you never reemerge. Or,"
"Regulus, honestly,"
"No, I'm having fun," said Regulus, putting the moonstone into the potion, "Give me a list of the rest of the people you hate and I'll have a set for you on Monday,"
"What would you say if I struck up a friendship with, with, Aelin," Said Barty as Annabelle walked by dropping off her potion the instant Slughorn had his back turned so that she wouldn't have to talk to him,
"Probably that you should look out for her to rollerskate you to death," Said Regulus, before clearing his throat, finishing his potion and scratching the back of his neck,
"You know too much about Gryffindor filth," said Barty, "I thought your brother joining their ranks would have some per- ow," Said Barty as a cat clawed at his legs, "Whose bloody cat is this?"
The cat hissed looking at Barty before leaping up on the table and knocking over Barty's cauldron,
"Professor!" Called Barty, as Regulus tried to suppress a laugh watching as Lila returned to Annabelle, hiding beneath her cloak, "Where did the awful thing go?"
"I haven't the slightest clue, I had better turn in my potion before it's the next victim of this" he did hand quotation marks, "Cat,"
"Don't gaslight me, Black,"
"Wouldn't dream of it, Crouch," Said Regulus, glancing at Annabelle who was returning unused materials to the storage room, "You aren't meant to bring cats to class, Aelin," he whispered,
"Lila isn't so much a cat, as a cute but spiteful little gremlin who I have trained to do my bidding," Said Annabelle,
"How?"
"Affection and bribes," Said Annabelle, nodding,"She's basically a polotitian." and he suppressed a smile,
"Slughorn's coming," He said, hearing the man coming back to the classroom,
"I have to go, um, oil my desk," She said, disappearing back to the back of the classroom, and Regulus smiled almost like bashful schoolboy down at the ground, his back to Barty before scratching the back of his neck, and setting his potion on the desk, it wasn't fair that Diggory got to be Annabelle's potions partner.
-*-
"Claire," Whispered McKenna from across the table in the great hall, "Annie, tell Claire that it's idiotic to break up over this,"
"I don't know what you are talking about," Said Annabelle, flipping the page of her magazine,
"Annie, would you sick Lila on McKenna," Said Claire,
"Why is he being a sour puss?" Asked Annabelle, with a dramatic pout, circling the roller skates she wanted and putting a heart around Stevie Nicks' face, and Claire pointed at her laughing,
"Good one," Said Claire,
"So good that you'll tell me why you kicked the puppy that is McKenna?" asked Annabelle, arching an eyebrow and flipping the page before gasping,
"What?"
"Abba might break up, this is the biggest breakup news like ever," Said Annabelle, looking directly at McKenna,
"I sort of hate you," He said,
"Hmm, join the ranks," Said Annabelle, "THe troops are uniting against me under Crouch's command, so, you know, never gonna get organized and filled with internal suspicion."
"Funny." Said McKenna, "It's a wonder you are still single,"
"The Prince of Spain proposed but I like to keep my options open," Said Annabelle, wrinkling her nose and then she looked back to her magazine and then gasped again,
"What? Is Fleetwood Mac breaking up too?" Asked McKenna and both girls gasped,
"Why would you even say that?" Asked Claire,
"This is why you broke up with him isn't it? Honestly, like my heart just broke a little bit," Said Annabelle, "I just saw gloves you could use for Quidditch that are cheaper than the magical ones,"
She turned her magazine around and he looked at them and then he scowled at her,
"You could get them in red."
"You are a thoughtful piece of garbage,"
"Damn, McKenna, with proclamations of love like that it's a wonder you got dumped," Said Annabelle, "I'm on her side, by the way,"
"Aww," Said Claire,
"You don't even know what happened," Said McKenna,
"More affection and attention to me," Said Annabelle, shrugging, as Claire began to braid her hair,
"For all you know, Claire is totally in the wrong and I am in the right," Said McKenna, pouting as Annabelle took her magazine back and flipped the page,
"Annie, wouldn't it be so great if I bought us matching dresses?" Asked Claire pointing to a set of purple dresses,
"With the matching headbands?" Asked Annabelle,
"With the matching headbands,"
"Who are you gonna go to the nongryffindor Quidditch games with, huh?" Asked McKenna,
"Potter," Said Annabelle, "This is like when my parents got divorced and they were fighting over my sister,"
"And you?"
"They gave me a cat. And my neighbour's house is very nice, Mrs Sorin makes really good mashed." Said Annabelle, "But I am rather materialistic. So, um, I'm gonna have to go with whoever buys me the prettiest stuff,"
"You never go shopping with me." Said Claire, and Annabelle shrugged,
"I just don't know how to shop, but you do," Said Annabelle,
"Are you saying what I think you are saying?"
"I finally caved to Slughorn and that I need a dress for a slug club meeting, and well, you have immaculate taste," Said Annabelle, and Regulus arched an eyebrow in passing, and she looked to the side with a defeated nod, missing his grin,
"Oh, I am going to dress you up like a doll,"
"Don't go crazy,"
"So is my broken heart a joke to you?" Asked McKenna, and Annabelle looked at Claire, knowing that any answer sympathetic to McKenna would hurt her,
"More of a punchline, really," Said Annabelle, and James slid into the seat next to her,
"I do like your witty banter, but when you return my cloak and don't tell me the adventure you had, it's sort of rude," Said Potter,
"Leave her alone, Potter," Said Lily,
"Why are you even here, Evans, or could you just not stay away?" Said Potter with a cocky grin,
"I am here to sit with my dear friend Annabelle Aelin who is going to her second Slug club meeting, you can borrow another one of my dresses you know," Said Lily, and Annabelle shook her head, Lily was a lot paler than Annabelle and was fuller in certain areas. The dresses wouldn't suit or fit her.
"You're taller than me, plus this is Claire's Christmas present, she's tearing pages out of my magazine as a moodboard as we speak," Said Annabelle, and Claire looked up as though caught,
"Would you rather I be on drugs?" She asked, as though deeply offended, and McKenna laughed, the same soft look in his eyes as he looked at Claire,
"This is rough," Whispered Potter, "Even I can feel the tension,"
"And Potter has the intuition of a red brick," Said Lily,
"Better than gravel," Said James, and Lily laughed, and suddenly Annabelle felt like the very fifth wheel,
"Aelin. Is it true that you stole Prongsy's cloak?" Asked Sirius, "Where did you go just out of curiosity?"
"Nowhere. I haven't the slightest clue what you are talking about," said Annabelle, playing innocent,
"Hm. Don't quite buy it. Sort of smelt like the hospital wing when you returned it," Said Sirius,
"You sniff Potter's clothing? I knew you were close but that's a wee bit too far," Said Annabelle, taking a sip of her pumpkin juice,
"I just have a good sense of smell," Said Sirius,
"Almost like a dog? I knew your hair reminded me of something," Said Annabelle,
"You're mean," Said Sirius,
"Right?" Said McKenna,
"Only when I want to be," Said Annabelle, "Dogs are at least loyal."
"You bitch," Said Sirius, a bemused smile on his face, and she tutted at him,
"I'm not the dog, that's you," Said Annabelle, and Sirius laughed,
"Funny you say that actually, Aelin," Said James.
-*-
"I hate losing." Said Regulus, sitting down next to Annabelle on the bench of the Quidditch stands, and she shrugged,
"Hufflepuffs are just particularly good finders," Said Annabelle, sitting cross legged on the bench with a notebook open, she'd been waiting for him,
She knew he didn't like to be around other Slytherins if he lost,
"Where does it say that in Hogwarts a history?" Asked Regulus and she flipped to a brand to page of her notebook, pulled out a pink pen and wrote,
Revenge Plots across the top, surrounding the words with innumerable flowers around it,
"It just felt right," Said Annabelle, and he leant over her shoulder,
"Who do you need to get revenge on?" Asked Regulus, his arm went behind her, he liked being so close,
"A variety of people, this is more generalized brainstorming," said Annabelle, and he laughed, setting his head on her shoulder as he watched her write,
"Like who?"
"Still angry with that Ravenclaw seeker," Said Annabelle, writing fire in big capital letters,
"I thought fire wasn't a universal weakness," Said Regulus with a small smile, lifting his head off her shoulder,
"For a wooden broom it is," Said Annabelle with a wicked smile, and he nudged her, almost nuzzling the side of her neck before looking away,
"Why must you be so cruel?"
"I looked it up, and internal bleeding is actually quite serious," Said Annabelle, flipping several pages back to where there was a pasted article and several choice exclamations, "Did you know this?"
"Well, it's fairly common knowledge," Said Regulus, nodding and he watched as she crinkled her nose and turned to look at him, their faces were close,
"I didn't know," She whispered, and his gaze dropped to her pretty lips before he cleared his throat and looked away,
"That's because you are an idiot," said Regulus, and she hit him lightly on his chest, she really did smell like the ocean didn't she?
"I was always told that bruises are proof of an honest day's work, or a good game," Said Annabelle, and Regulus furrowed his eyebrows, "Or that I did something bad, but that it's never serious,"
"What are your parents like?" Asked Regulus, every time she mentioned her past the more he grew more inquisitive, wondering why it was that she didn't go home for Christmas, Annabelle seemed the sort that would love Christmas.
"They are rather unique people. I hope I'm nothing like them when I get old," Said Annabelle, her voice slightly strained, as she flipped back to her page of Revenge plots, her eyes tracing the new letters she added to the page while his eyes were trained on her face,
"I understand that." Said Regulus, "Do you ever actually get on the train to London?" he said, the casual edge forced into his voice,
"Yes, my mum lives there with my step father, and sister," Said Annabelle, "Well technically she lives just north of London, in Bristol, but I don't like to actually go to hers. Sort of dilly dally on the way there."
"Why don't you just stay with your dad then?" Asked Regulus, getting his Belle to open up was an art form, it was exceptionally difficult and required a gentle hand,
"That's not exactly the best way to live either," Said Annabelle, shaking her head, and a frown pulling at her lips, "I'm not a big fan of summer. But I did get to watch Satan die,"
"Not many mortals can say that," said Regulus,
"I'm no mere mortal," Said Annabelle, smiling coyly, "Didn't you know this?"
"Always knew there was something special about you, Aelin, just could never put my finger on it," Said Regulus, before taking her notebook from her, setting it aside and reclining on the bench, his head in her lap,
"I really hate losing,"
"A Slytherin after all," said Annabelle, "I had thought you were going soft,"
"I am not going soft," He scoffed,
"Whatever you say, your majesty," Said Annabelle, arching an eyebrow playfully as her hand began to run through his hair, the way he liked,
"I am a proud Slytherin, I am so cunning, and ambitious, and, and,"
"Resourceful,"
"Exactly, what more do you want from me?" He asked, "Soft." he scoffed,
He wasn't soft. Except for one person.
It pained him to think of how she might look at him after he met the fate his parents had planned for him. If that dark mark found its way onto his arm.
"You're one to talk," Said Regulus,
"What?"
"Well first there is the way that you speak to me," Said Regulus,
"Oh, do shut up,"
"Then there is the blushing, my personal favourite part." Said Regulus, and she narrowed her eyes at him as he lifted a hand to touch her soft curls that fell to her shoulders,
"What are you trying to get at?" She asked,
"Then there is the caving to Slughorn," Said Regulus, "Going to any Christmas parties, Belle?"
"Regularly, I like it when you are in a good mood. Not today," Said Annabelle.
"You don't want tips on what to wear?" He asked, teasing her.
Feeling little desire to maintain a barrier when they were alone. Seeing no point in doing anything that might displease her,
"I'm letting Claire dress me," Said Annabelle, she would never hear the end of it if she asked her mum for the money for a dress like the one she might, "What?"
"Just picturing it." Said Regulus, a happy grin on his face, which only widened as he watched her blush,
"Remember that time you lost at Quidditch? Where did that attitude go?"
"It's your own fault," Said Regulus, and she looked at him inquisitively, "You put me in a good mood."
"You're so damned hard to hate, Black,"
"Likewise, Aelin,"
-*-
Regulus' gaze would drift to the door every so often. He hummed in acknowledgement at whatever it was Anthony had said, nodding along to Barty's words.
His friends had always thought him rather quiet. That he was quick witted but reserved this nature for small moments,
"So, we've been wondering," Began Barty, looking to Anthony,
"Wondering, what a philosophical word," Said Anthony, and Regulus nodded,
"Thinking of becoming a philosopher? I'm afraid there is already a stone, although a simple rock might be up for grabs," Said Regulus, looking to the door again, watching for someone,
Anthony nudged him with a chuckle, times were simple for now,
"You've been disappearing a lot lately," Continued Barty, and Anthony's smile dropped,
"Oh, just study, Owls and all," Said Anthony, "My father expects a lot from me, the results are all hoot you know anyways."
"The professors make them seem more frightening than a dementor," Said Regulus, "You don't think we'll have to cast patronuses?"
"I don't even know what I'd think of," Said Anthony,
"Maybe a blood traitor," said Barty, and Anthony gulped,
"Maybe a butterfly," Said Anthony in a small panic,
"Maybe becoming a servant," Said Barty,
"Of-" and then Regulus realized who he was talking about, "Oh."
"The day our lives gain purpose." Said Barty, and Anthony nodded,
"The day our lives gain purpose." Anthony repeated,
"Of course." Said Regulus, his gaze drifting to the door again, spotting the first of the Gryffindor set, one Lily Evans at the door, Lupin at her side as she dragged someone else through the door, He whispered, "Maybe someone else,"
THen she was at the door, she did look rather uncomfortable, but it was hidden by the elegance of her appearance, her hair tucked away from her face and her dress deep blue, with a small golden chain around her neck,
Took his breath away, and most certainly his attention, he watched as her eyes scanned the room as she was dragged across it, only to land on him and she gave a tentative smile with a subtle wave of her hand,
"Can't believe they let two mudbloods in here," Said Anthony, his voice wavering ever so slightly,
"I thought we had house elves to rid the castle of filth," Added Barty, with a nod,
She looked rather glamorous. Like she could hold the same place in his world as she held in his heart. The thought took root in his mind, and would root itself deeply in his subconscious after this day,
This night, where she looked so lovely, that her lips had looked so tempting,
"Mudblood." He muttered, clearing his throat and looking away,
She could never. He could never. Looking towards his friends who would hurt him were they to read his thoughts, then back to her, where she stood making conversation with Lupin,
-*-
"Not going home for Christmas are you, mudblood?" Asked Anthony, and she looked up at him arching an eyebrow,
"Not going to be with the person you love because you're a coward, Avery?" Asked Annabelle, and he scowled at her,
"What do you have to go back to anyways? Probably got a drunk of a father, from the bruises on you," Said Anthony, and she stood up, scowling at him,
"Don't talk about my family, when yours are a bunch of grovelling sychophants to a man who doesn't even have a fucking nose." Said Annabelle, and he drew his wand,
"Oh yeah, Finnigan and I are buddies. Duelling partners." Said Annabelle, "I'll never understand the point of all that bloody money you lot have got if you can't even be-"
Anthony pushed her against the wall with magic, maintaining his distance, Annabelle struggled to breathe under the gripped and looked to her wand in her bag,
"What have you caught here, Avery?" Asked Snape, rounding a corner and sneering at Annabelle,
"Your worst nightmare," She choked out, "A bottle of shampoo," She managed before raising a hand shakily and flipping them off, "And the rejection of Evans."
She managed to summon her wand half way but then she was struck with a hex that made her black out curtosey of snivellous,
"She's not worth it," She heard hazily, whether the words were truly spoken or simply words that haunted her since she was young that lived in the depths of her mind waiting for a moment of weakness to emerge,
She didn't know.
What she did know is that she woke up to a worried Regulus holding his wand, casting innumerable healing charms waiting for the right one to take effect.
"Belle," He whispered as he watched her eyes opened lazily, and he dropped his wand clutching her to him, waiting for the gesture to be returned,
"You're so overdramatic, your majesty." She said, and he let out a shaky laugh holding her tighter.
"What happened?" He said, sitting on the ground beside her, praying no students would pass,
"Poked the wrong bear with a stick instead of a wand," She muttered, he had never had so much worry course through him as when he spotted Annabelle on the ground unconscious, bruises crawling over the length of her skin,
He allowed a breath of relief,
"Who?"
"Snivellous." She said, not finding it within herself to blame Avery, because While Annabelle was rather impulsive, she didn't blame him for being the same way, "I rather hate him. I've started putting Shampoo bottles near where he sits in the main hall,"
"He hates that."
"Sort of the point, Black," Said Annabelle, and then he felt her arms wrap around him, almost reluctantly,
Because she'd transferred every resentment she had towards Regulus into Avery. And every cruel word she'd thrown at the Avery heir could easily be said to Regulus,
How she didn't understand the purpose of all this privilege and money how he couldn't just just, do whatever he wanted,
But all that anger melted away as soon as he-
Regulus chuckled, not moving from having her against him, "You are so my favourite person."
"You're mine. My favourite human that is." Said Annabelle, as she felt his hand hold the fabric of her shirt, he was so sweet to her, she'd be blind not to notice it,
But of course emotionally we oughta hand her a walking stick and give her some sunglasses because she was absolutely blind to how he felt about her,
-*-
Annabelle could duel. She had plenty of pent up aggression that she didn't dare use against anyone else, except for maybe Avery (rarely), and well, Crouch, and maybe Mulciber, but this was her number one way of expressing herself besides moodboards and knitting.
"Prepare to eat my dust, Aelin," said Leo Finnigan, and she rolled her eyes, as they bowed to one another,
"Funny. I was about to say the same thing to you," she replied and he chuckled as they took their marks,
Then it began.
Then it ended five seconds later with Annabelle blowing something up, Finnigan shrieking and her disarming him, he was coughing up dust.
"You were saying," said Annabelle, grinning and tossing her wand in the air for flourish before fumbling to catch it, "Ugh, that could have been so cool,"
"You could say it again," said Finnigan, as the teacher came by to clean up Annabelle's mess,
"It's lost its effect," muttered Annabelle, frowning, "I still kicked your arse though haven't I?" She said, a grin rising to her face as she tossed his wand back,
"Only because you used cheap violence," said Finnigan, and Annabelle rolled her eyes,
"Pah-lease, it's called being theatrical?" She said, and Finnigan scoffed at her, as she flourished her hand,
"Oi, McKenna, you heard about this theatrical business?" Asked Finnigan, McKenna had been rather down lately,
"No," he said,
"Christ, this is what I always imagined a depressed dog to look like," said Annabelle, and Finnigan nodded as she walked over to him to chat whilst others duelled,
One in particular found it difficult to concentrate when Annabelle laughed at something Finnigan had said,
Giving up on humouring Avery who also seemed rather distracted and just ending the duel quickly to listen to her conversation,
Regulus was handsome. He knew that much from the way he was looked at by his peers, but he didn't really want anyone. Anyone else that is.
It's not that he had a crush on her. No. Obviously. But Annabelle's was the only face he could even picture if he so much as thought about relationships.
Whenever his mother tossed about the word betrothal, he was gripped by guilt, and he rebuffed is mother's every attempt. Betrothal. No. Regulus was hardly emotionally ready for a relationship let alone an engagement.
But this this feeling he felt stirring in his gut when he saw her mutter something in Leo Finnigan's ear before the pair started to laugh, it wasn't pleasant,
"Hey, Black," said Annabelle, walking over the instant Avery had left for the washroom, I shit you not, the nano second, "I thought you ought to know about the snakes in the Slytherin common room,"
"There are snakes in the Slytherin common room?"
"I don't recall saying snakes." Said Annabelle, "And eggs,"
"What?"
"I don't recall saying eggs, but wherever you choose to go after six pm, totally up to you, I mean I'll be on the third floor by the really cool stained glass." said Annabelle, before she was turning away and heading back to the small group of Gryffindors in the room.
And the horrid feeling went away, replaced by a new one,
"So, I'm not going to be in the Common room tonight between six and eight," said Regulus, to Avery as he walked in the room,
"Special lady?" He said, grimacing,
"Just lots of homework."
-*-
"Evans?" Said Annabelle, standing at the record player in the Gryffindor common room, looking over her shoulder at Lily who was trying to teach her more than she wanted to know about potions, "Have you ever met Dolly Parton and tried to steal her man?"
"Annie," She said testily, "I have a very busy schedule. I might not even remember,"
Annabelle laughed, placing the record on the player, and swaying to the music as she turned around,
"Did you also tell her your name was Jolene, Jolene, JolEeen, and did she beg with you not to take her man," Said Annabelle, as Lily set her work aside,
"And I didn't take him just because I can," Said Lily playfully as Annabelle conjured a feather boa, "You can do that but not memori-"
"Your beauty is beyond compare with auburn locks of flaming hair with ivory skin and eyes of emerald green," She said, putting the feather boa around Lily's neck, as Lila hopped up on the coach to sit with Lily, "It's so bloody specific,"
And then there were footsteps running down the skin as Potter showed up,
"I have totally said all these things about you, Evans, turns out I could have just played this record the whole time, your smile really is like a breath of spring you know?" Said James, and Lily almost blushed as Annabelle scooped Lila off the couch so James could sit with Lily,
"And I cannot compete with you Jolene," Said Sirius coming down the stairs and plopping down on the couch with Annabelle sitting beside him,
"He talks about you in his sleep And there's nothing I can do to keep,From crying when he calls your name, Jolene," She said,
"How are you cool and a cat person?" Asked Sirius, and Lila hissed at him, and his eyes went wide,
"Careful, she bites," Said Annabelle as Remus came down to the common room,
"Moony,come, make me feel better," Said Sirius,
"I'm going to the li-"
"No." Said Sirius, "Come. Sit. Defend me against this gremlin," He said, glaring at Lila, "You're like a movie villain with that monstrosity,"
"You come here, on the day of my daughter's marriage asking me for a favor?"
"Sorry Don corleone, but I hate your bloody cat," Said Sirius, as Remus read calmly beside him, glancing at Sirius before putting an arm around him and pulling him away a bit from Lila.
"Disrespectful." Said Annabelle, as Sirius handed her a cigarette and she lit it with her magic,
"I didn't know you smoked." Said Sirius, as she inhaled, lighting his,
"Only at home or imitating an Italian mobster," Said Annabelle, blowing the smoke into his face, "I don't at school because-"
"He doesn't like it," Said Sirius, smirking at her, and she scoffed, blushing,
"You are just, so, ugh," Said Annabelle, "I never asked, and lung cancer, mhmm,"
"Right." Said Sirius, nodding and taking her cigarette away,
"I am not above death threats." Said Annabelle, pouting, "You may be waking up with a horse head in your bed."
"Are you sure Lila wasn't in the movie?" Asked Sirius, trying to bond with who he thought was his future sister in law,
"Well, she did go missing for about a week in 72 and I've always wondered," Said Annabelle, as Lila purred affectionately, and then Claire came down and waved something shiny in Annabelle's face, she was immediately distracted. "Sparkle shiny thing." She whispered,
"Oh this?" Said Claire, "Just my engagement ring,"
"It sparkles, it shines, it delights, I- Engagement ring?" Asked Annabelle,
"Calm down, Annie, it's not that strange, I was almost betrothed, but no woman could tie this down eh, moony?" Said Sirius, nudging his 'friend,
"Good luck finding one that would want to," Said Remus casually and Annabelle laughed, as Sirius scowled,
"You know Dolohov? He's a seventh year, got that older brother?" Said Clair sitting practically on top of Annabelle, her legs going across everyone else on the couch as Lila moved to her lap,
"Yeah," Said Sirius, "He's alright to look at. No Moony or, well me, but he's alright. Bit mad though,"
"If you're into that," Said Annabelle, "But what about McKenna?"
"Some things are more important than feelings," Said Claire, "He is a story I will tell my children to humanize me when I am drenched in so many diamonds that I look divine,"
"Huh. I want to see that." Said Annabelle, deep in thought as Claire went on,
"What are you thinking about?" Asked Sirius, and she scowled at him,
"Nothing."
"Don't worry, you may still be my sister in law yet," said Sirius,
"Anyone ever tell you that you always take it just one step too far," Said Annabelle,
"All the time," Said Remus, "At least once a day."
"You are thinking about him aren't you."
"Shut your stupid face."
-*-
"Happy Birthday," Said Annabelle, and Regulus furrowed his eyebrows looking up from his work,
"It's not my birthday," he replied,
"Well you won't tell me when it is," she replied, sitting across from him and setting her bag down indicating she was going to be staying a while, "And I stole you a whole bunch of candy and found a book,"
"You realize I can just buy these- you didn't." Said Regulus, suppressing a smile as he read the inside of the cover,
"My very own collection of fairy tales, took a while to track down," said Annabelle,
"If this is my sister, piss off, and don't tell mum I said piss off, give it back now, and then there are about a thousand exclamation points before it says, P.S. if this is a stranger, and out of respect for finders keepers, do enjoy the book," he said, covering his smile with his hand before looking up at her, "By Merlin, Aelin this might be more humiliating than mine,"
"Shove off," she said, shoving a moderately sized bag of candy towards him, "There might be some stains from when I took it out on a boat,"
"It's perfect even though it isn't my Birthday," said Regulus, smiling as he flipped through the pages with her own drawings in the corner, "Why did you pick today to celebrate my birthday, out of curiosity,"
"Well it's more of a general existence day, if you really think about it," said Annabelle,
"Why pick today to celebrate my existence," said Regulus, smiling at her, and then he realized she was nervous, shifty eyes, and uneasy laughter, unable to sit still,
"Just. Just nothing. Wondering if you'll be at Claire and Mulciber's wedding," she said, and he arched his eyebrows,
Was this her way of asking if he were betrothed? Why would Annabelle even care about that?
"I don't exactly have my own to plan so why not attend someone else's?" Said Regulus, and a smile spread across Annabelle's face, it made his chest warm, his gaze was fixed on her lips.
She cleared her throat before saying, "So I'll know someone there. I'm trying to convince her to do a masquerade theme because I'm not much of a polyjuice fan,"
"So you'll actually see a pure blood event?" He asked,
"In all it's serene decadence, your majesty," said Annabelle excitedly, flipping her hair over her shoulder, "Like Pride and the Prejudice with the witty banter, because you lot are very proud,"
"And?"
"Well I wouldn't want to assume," said Annabelle, and Regulus smiled, his grey eyes getting lighter, and he liked the way Annabelle looked at him when he did,
And then it faltered with thoughts of the letters he'd received from his mother about the dark lord. What if the way she looked at him changed?
"Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing," he answered almost nervously, scratching the back of his neck,
He just adored her.
"Could I ask a favour?"
"Of Course,"
-*-
"You won," said Annabelle, beaming at him as she rushed over to him where he stood at the heart of the field after all his friends had left, and he scratched the back of his neck, she looked so pretty, his scarf wrapped around her wrist,
A good luck charm.
"Well spotted," Said Regulus, lifting the small golden ball up and admiring the way it glinted in the sunlight, before setting it in the palm of her hand,
"It's so cool," Said Annabelle,
"You are going to have to give that back," Said Regulus, and then she pouted, and he switched his broom from one hand to the other, resisting the urge to give her whatever she wanted,
"Don't you mean please give it back if I please?" Asked Annabelle, arching an eyebrow and grinning wickedly at him,
That flutter in his chest just couldn't be ignored at this point.
"Have you ever flown outside of class before?" Asked Regulus,
"No, in fact I have to leave and um, pay taxes, and feed my pet elephant, not to mention flying to the moon, playing amongst the stars, seeing what spring is like on jupiter and mars," said Annabelle, nodding, and backing away but he put the snitch in his pocket and grabbed her arm, sparks igniting under his skin where they were touching,
"Don't tell me you're a cowardly lion," said Regulus, his thumb running over her wrist, causing her to blush,
"I am. In fact they nearly cast me in the wizard of Oz," said Annabelle, nodding,
"They made it a movie?" Asked Regulus, pulling her closer to him,
"Christ, I get you're like pure blood royalty or something, majesty, but it's like you live under a rock or something," said Annabelle,
"Or something," said Regulus in agreement, "Why not simply hold the broom?"
"I'm an Earth sign, wish I could but," she sighed, shrugging, as he held the broom out in front of her,
"Do you even know how to get on a broom?" He asked, and she rolled her eyes,
"Of course,"
"Show me." Said Regulus, and she huffed, distracted by the glint in his eyes to the point that she would do legitimately anything he said, and she put a leg over the broom,
Regulus acted quickly, getting on the broom with her in front of him, his hands softly almost over hers before kicking off as he heard her yelp in surprise,
"Regulus fucking Black, what the hell is wrong with you?" Asked Annabelle, moving her hands to grip his, his head was looking where he was going on her shoulder so he could see how her eyes were clenched shut,
"That's not my middle name," said Regulus, grinning as she leaned further into him, opening one eye at a time,
"I bloody hate you,"
"That's nice," said Regulus, nose diving and she screamed for a moment in surprise, "Say you don't hate me,"
"Black I swear to fucking god!"
"I'm a wizard. We don't do god." Said Regulus, as the wind blew through her hair, she smelt like the ocean, "I'm only a good pilot for people who don't hate me, that's the correct terminology isn't it?"
"Fine! Fine, I don't hate you," she said,
"What's that? Is that all?" He asked, a grin on his face as they neared the ground,
"I adore you!" She said, and he pulled up, and they moved back up in the air again and she let out a sigh of relief, "Bloody hell, Black," she said, opening her eyes again slowly, her body was pressed to his, and he had to say,
He rather enjoyed it.
"You adore me?" He said quietly, teasing her as she leant into him,
"So long as you don't fucking kill me," said Annabelle, gripping him instead of the broom because she trusted him far more than she'd ever trust the broom,
"I would never," said Regulus, they were practically cheek to cheek as the wind rushed passed them, "Kill you that is,"
"Thank you for the clarificatio-" he zoomed quickly to part of the black lake not visible from the school, prompting another small shriek from Annabelle, and he moved his hands off of the broom, even causing her to fall into the black lake,
She surfaced, sputtering water, and looking up at him, he was laughing, smiling, with the sunlight glimmering in his eyes,
Any curses she would have launched at him became void after that, because Regulus was rarely this happy, and she wouldn't want to ever stand in the way of Regulus' happiness would she.
She reached out a hand, and he took it, but not before saying,
"If true to you pull me in with you, I will leave you here,"
"Fine, you pile of shite," said Annabelle, as he pulled her so that she was behind him this time,
"Hold on tightly this time," said Regulus,
"Aye aye, captain," said Annabelle, holding onto him tightly, her heart beating quickly from adrenaline, and butterflies erupting in her stomach as she felt him stop breathing because of the way she set her head on his back, and pressed her body tightly to his,
"I thought flying was pilot and sailing was Captain," he said, taking them back to the Quidditch pitch slowly,
"It means a lot when I find out you've been listening to me," said Annabelle, shaking a little from the cold, as he touched down back on the grass of the Quidditch pitch, and she left him although he wished she would simply have moved so he could hold her to make her warm again,
"You got my uniform all wet," said Regulus, and she would have retorted but everything she said would have sounded wrong,
"Then maybe don't drop me in the freezing water next time, majesty, honestly pretty inconsiderate of you, Black," she said,
"Next time?" He said, hopefullness seeping into his voice as she dried herself magically,
"So you can get your snitch back," she said, grinning wickedly at him over her shoulder as she walked away,
He rather liked that wicked smile of hers. Made his heart-
Regulus checked all of his pockets, only to see that she had it in her hand, the snitch that is.
And then he called out for her, "Aelin!"
"What?" She asked turning around as he walked over to her, then he got nervous, really nervous,
"I live in London, you know?" He asked, before his hands were at his sides, absentmindedly leaning towards her, as though she were a gravitational force pulling him in,
"Yes, that's one of the main reasons that I tell you I live to be around there," Said Annabelle, and then she cleared her throat, shaking her head, "Sorry, that I tell you that I'm there,"
"Mhmm," He said absentmindedly as they begun to walk towards the Black Lake,
"You know," Said Annabelle, holding the snitch tightly in her hands, "I'm there most of the summer since me dad's been, doesn't matter," Said Annabelle, "Point is, I'm there,"
"And I'm there." Said REgulus, the back of his hand, bumping hers, before he took a breath, blushing furiously as he laced his fingers through hers, scratching the back of his neck and looking away, looking down, grateful he left the broom at the pitch so that he could hold her hand in his,
She glanced at him,
"I really hate loose plans, so if you could just give me some dates, I'll make it work," Said Regulus, sputtering nervously, because her hand in his just, ugh,
"Don't worry, I'll take a swing at your day planner," Said Annabelle, and they stopped in front of the black lake, and he sat down, with her next to him,
He released her hand, his hand holding him upright behind her back, "You just get me," he lowered his hand to nudge her, almost nuzzling her neck,
"You are like a horse," Said Annabelle, her hand on his face, laughing as she pushed him away, so that she could turn her head to look at him, "It's adorable,"
"Well you do, adore me," He teased, doing it again from the front and she hugged him, laughter falling from her lips as she fell back on the grass, with him above her,
Seeing her under him was- he had to sit up before they both became very uncomfortable,
"Only because you didn't kill me," Said Annabelle, as he pulled her up,
"Pretty low standards," He said, leaning towards her, his gaze dropping to her lips,
"You're also rather brilliant,"
"Uh huh,"
"And funny,"
"You're one of the few that think so,"
"And handsome," She breathed, and a smirk tugged at his lips,
"Really?"
"I've only told you a thousand times," Said Annabelle,
"You're really beautiful." Said Regulus, "Like truly lovely,"
And then he leant away, clearing his throat, blushing furiously, as she got nervous under the praise, and then he did it dropping his head, again only to have her hand push him away,
"Oh, shut up," She said, rolling her eyes, she wrapped an arm around his neck, "You-" he surprised her, his arm around her waist his head on her shoulder, and he pulled her legs across his lap, placed strategically just in case,
"I what?" he asked,lifting his head,
"If you keep sending mixed signals, the plane will crash," Said Annabelle,
"I have literally no idea what that means," Said Regulus,
She really enjoyed how affectionate he had gotten. Especially in private. Always holding her hand. And she could tell he held himself back from kissing her, and she would kiss him but she didn't want to be rejected,
She groaned, leaning back on the grass, "I really like you, your majesty,"
"I like it better when you say adore,"
"Damn it, I love it when you're in a good mood, even this stupid cocky shit, all because you won and I find it cute," Said Annabelle, he was so quiet in the halls,
"Happy to hear," Said Regulus, trying to make the most of the moments before she was disgusted at the sight of him,
The letters from his mother had gotten rather detailed about how he would be a devout servant to the dark lord,
"Do you think you would ever hate me?" He asked quietly, and her heart stuttered, as she pulled him to lie down beside her,
"No." She answered, "I don't."
"Why not?"
"I know you," Said Annabelle, "You're my favourite person, I don't really know what would change that,"
"It's complicated with my family you know?" Said Regulus,
"Yeah," said Annabelle, "Families are like that,"
"You looked really pretty at Slughorn's Christmas party and I never told you that," Said Regulus,
"And you looked very handsome, happy to see that you really do wear the cufflinks,"
"Of course I do. Someone special made them for me."