Inferius | Regulus Black

"For luck?" Asked Annabelle, rather breathless, Regulus pressed a second kiss to her lips, unable to stop himself as Annabelle's arms wrapped around his neck, "That's a lot of luck,"

"I'm going to need it," He said, grinning at her, "Gryffindors may not be clever or strategic or hardworking, but," He looked up as though in thought, "actually maybe I don't need luck," he said looking at her scowl,

"Well. Fuck you too," Said Annabelle, and he arched his eyebrows suggestively, prompting her to turn bright red, "Not what I meant, Majesty," She mumbled,

Three words eight letters.

Depth of his soul to the tip of his tongue.

I love-

"Where are you Black?" Someone called from the other side of the stands they were hidden safely behind, and Regulus flinched, kissing Annabelle rather indulgently before separating himself from her, checking her wrist, and she huffed, showing him his shrunken scarf around her wrist,

"I-" He started, before kissing her knuckles, "Have to go,"

"I know I call you Majesty, but this is a little much," Said Annabelle,

"Is that why you are blushing?" He asked, adjusting his uniform, and she looked at him and all she had to do was cock her head to the side and look him over, he blushed vibrantly, scratching the back of his neck, "I-" "I'll just be going now," He said,

"Catch the snitch, eh?"

"I'll get right on that," Said Regulus, "Maybe even take you flying after, who knows?" He called over his shoulder, ducking beneath the stands and walking in the opposite direction as her,

"Sorry, can't hear you, you're, too, farrrr," Said Annabelle, covering her ears chauvinistically, and Regulus scowled, before hurrying away towards the player's entrance to the pitch.

He ducked under the beam and lifted the fabric covering the base of the stands and moved into the change room where he was immediately greeted by Barty,

"Finally, aren't you the one meant to be captain next year? Where were you?" He asked, lacing up his boots, and Regulus shrugged,

"Thought I'd clear my head you know. Muggles have that zen thing I thought I'd see what it was all about," Said Regulus casually, picking up his broom and propping it up at his side,

"Muggles? Since when do you concern yourself with muggles?" Asked Barty, picking up his own broom,

"I don't know, that was zen this is now," Said Regulus, happily as Barty groaned, running a hand over his face, "What?" He asked, his good spirits falling away, Barty said nothing, brushing past him towards where other members of the Slytherin stood solemnly

'mid pregame brood' is what Annabelle liked to call it.

"It was a joke," Said Regulus, a feeling of worry forming in the pit of his stomach, Barty shot him a dark look, "Sorry," He added, and Barty only hummed in recognition,

"I'm going to knock Potter off his broom today. Hard." Said Barty a sick smile on his face, and Regulus shrugged it off,

"So long as you protect me while you're at it?" Said Regulus, and Barty muttered something in recognition before taking off, "Happy Christmas to you too," He said before kicking off,

His eyes tracked the stands before the game begun, trailing over the vivid reds of the Gryffindor stands until he spotted her, sitting with McKenna and DuPont eyes trained skeptically on Regulus' broom before mounting to his eyes,

He arched his eyebrows and then she winked at him,

"Merlin." He muttered, turning his attention to the game and catching that snitch.

He thought about what Barty said as Regulus' eyes traced the sky for the golden snitch,

Regulus knew what he was meant to do. He knew the path he had to take, and the borrowed time he was living on.

As though mimicking his thoughts, the sky begun to darken. Dark clouds swirled overhead as he soared around the pitch, searching for that golden snitch,

A glint of gold sent the boy plummeting to the ground arm outstretched, he circled the goal posts in his pursuit,

Regulus was skimming the ground, dodging blugers as best he could the Gryffindor dealer hot on his tail.

Regulus' fingers were about to close around the snitch when- His broom stopped abruptly.

He flew from it hitting the ground harshly and skidding along the surface of the pitch, landing flat on his back, gasping for air,

He felt he may be drowning.

Regulus gasped for air but none entered his lungs, he tried to grip the grass or push himself up but he was utterly paralyzed in fear.

The sky only seemed to darken further as he saw it.

A looming figure of living death. Not a man. Not a ghost. The inferi reached out to touch Regulus. The same he'd seen since- he hadn't seen one like this since he'd faced his boggart,

Dark grey eyes were the only life like thing about the creature. A cold undead hand reached out to touch Regulus when, it froze,

"Regulus." The name was a mere whisper, the Scottish accent was enough to indicate whom it belonged to, "What do you want?"

'You' he willed to say and the figure disappeared into a haze of darkness.

He coughed out his breath as his teammates rushed to his side, he held that golden snitch in his hand and managed to raise it,

"Son of a bitch." Muttered Potter, Sirius who had gone down to the pitch to stand beside him added,

"You got that right."

-*-

"Belle?" Regulus said, turning his head slowly to see Annabelle asleep in the chair beside his bed. It was rather late at night and he supposed she'd come around during rounds,

His smile was soft as he looked at her, pulling a pillow from behind his head and nudging her with it. Annabelle awoke with a start,

"You stayed?" He asked, voice raspy, and low,

Annabelle cleared her throat, running a hand through her hair as she sat up, "Couldn't sleep. I was completely selfish in my coming here. Just to stroke my ego as a Good Samaritan. Or so you believe." She said rather matter of factly,

"Selfish?" Said Regulus, staring at her incredulously, "You?"

"Yeah, you know me, the most selfish person to walk the face of the Earth," said Annabelle, as though dusting off her shoulder, "Not only do I sell fish, quite literally,"

"Merlin." Said Regulus, covering his face with his pillow, she was such an idiot, his smile hidden from her view widened for a moment before he schooled his features and removed the pillow, looking at her expectantly as she continued to talk,

"I also sometimes even hide things my dorm mates need when they're mad at me so I can find them and they forgive me," said Annabelle, "I'm evil incarnate what can I say?"

"You monster," he said sarcastically,

"May as well have fangs and claws, or maybe really cool dragon wings," said Annabelle, sarcastically,

"What time is it?" He asked,

"About four in the morning," said Annabelle, glancing at the clock by his bed,

"You could have just gotten in," said Regulus, almost softly, as though offended she hadn't simply slipped into the bed beside him,

"I didn't want to wake you," she said casually,

"I wouldn't have been cross with you,"

"Majesty, are you saying that you want me to get in bed with you?" She asked, arching an eyebrow, her wicked grin threatening to spread across her features,

"In a word." Said Regulus, looking at her pointedly, "Yes." He said,

In Three words, eight letters.

He prepared himself to utter them, they had floated from the depth of his soul to the tip of his tongue yet again,

Annabelle sat on the bed beside him and begun playing with his hair. He loved that.

"Your broom," she started, ill concealed worry in her tone, "It just stopped. Wh- why?" She asked, there was already a silencing charm around them,

"You didn't see it?" He asked, glancing at her,

Sure if her voice echoed through his mind pulling him away from the Inferi she must have seen it.

"See what?" Asked Annabelle, and Regulus bit the inside of his cheek,

"Never mind." He said quietly, if it had been a boggart she would have seen it too and it would be in a state of continued shifting,

"No. Not never mind. What did you see?" She asked, her hand on the side of his face,

"It's hard to explain." Said Regulus, looking away, Pulling her hand softly from his face, kissing the back of it before letting go.

He had wasted so much time not being romantic with Annabelle. He wasn't about to continue that tradition.

Annabelle settled beside him, holding his arm and resting her head on his shoulder,

"I'm not hurting you am I?" She asked, and Regulus shook his head,

"All the bleeding was internal, and as a," he glanced at her, "reckless fool,"

"Wise Sage you mean?"

"once said, that's where the blood is supposed to be," he said,

Regulus pressed a kiss to her forehead, before relaxing completely.

"Have you finished your potions essay?" He asked, he needed her to get good marks so that they could be head students together the following year. Annabelle did wonderfully in practical magic, it was the theory that seemed to befuddle her.

"Nope." She answered,

"It's due on Monday."

"I'm aware."

"And insane. It's a monster of an essay,"

"I got distracted," said Annabelle, who had spent an entire day figuring out who Voldemort was. Annabelle, had a habit of chasing conspiracy theories as a means of distracting herself and procrastinating. she had notebooks full of everything that went through her head, "I'll tell you everything next time I have my research on hand,"

"Tell me everything?" Asked Regulus, and she nodded, sometimes it felt like Regulus hardly knew the girl he was so in love with.

"Yeah," said Annabelle, her fingers grazing over his forearm delicately, inadvertently touching the skin that would soon be branded with the dark mark, "It has to do with the founders, a locket, a cup, and a Hufflepuff who died at some cliffs a while back. Rather exciting if I do say so myself,"

"Belle, I-" he started, "I've been wondering," he continued, remembering the moment where the roles were reversed, "what happened to you over the summer,"

"I saw Star Wars with you, can't believe you don't remember,"

"I'm your best friend. And your boyfriend." He said, scowling at the ceiling, "I think I ought to know. At least so I can stop assuming the worst."

"You're my boyfriend?" She said, sitting up a little and his face begun to redden, his unhelpful hand rising to scratch the back of his neck,

He probably should have asked her before giving himself the designation. He really was more of a half boyfriend wasn't he? Annabelle probably would be- Annabelle surprised him,

Regulus' eyes drifted to Annabelle's,

She was suppressing a smile, and she wrinkled her nose when her smile grew too wide, even letting out a small laugh. Almost of disbelief,

Annabelle moved to sit up a bit, hovering over him for a moment before pressing a kiss to either cheek before pressing her lips on his. He loved it when she did that, Regulus sat up, thanking all the potions Madame Pomfrey had given him to grant him the ability to deepen this kiss.

He moved his hand to her jaw, as hers settled on his chest lightly, beginning it's descent so slow that he didn't even notice, preoccupied with the feel of her lips on his,

"Yes," said Regulus, taking in all her affection happily,

Three words eight letters.

Depths of his soul to the tip of his tongue,

"And I-" he said, starting out strong, "Think you should tell me,"

"That I'm your girlfriend?" She said, arching an eyebrow, and smiling at him, suddenly he could think of little else,

Other than the way her hand was nearing his-

-*-

Annabelle had the hiccups. There was only one appropriate course of action to be taken. Regulus cast a silencing charm around there table, sneaking up behind her,

"Blaire!" He shouted, and she flinched, yelping turning pale and slumping against the desk as she recovered,

"Bullocks, Black, you arsehole," she said, covering her face as he chuckled causing a smile to spread across Annabelle's own face,

Regulus sat down beside her, "Are your hiccoughs gone?" He asked, a grin on his face as he waited for her to raise her head,

"So are all my feelings for your sorry, arse," she grumbled sarcastically, "Little fucking shite."

"I was helping," said Regulus, as she raised her head and rested her forehead against the side of his shoulder, hiding her pale cheeks from his view, "Your hiccoughs are all gone,"

"You call them hiccoughs?" Asked Annabelle, sitting up straight, and grinning at him wickedly,

Truly unfair. How was he meant to think straight when she looked at him like that?

Regulus scratched the back of his neck, looking away for a moment,

"This is Britain." He protested, "And if they're not called that then why, pray tell, is it called the hiccoughing potion?"

"Pray tell?" She mimicked, a wide smile on her face, her imitations were getting eerily good,

"Shut up."

"I thought you were praying for me to tell you something," said Annabelle, as he hung his head as though incredibly upset by her jeers but she new better than that, pushing his hair from his face, and pressing her lips to his cheek before turning his face to look at hers,

He was hoping maybe she'd be the first to say three words composed of eight letters,

Annabelle looked him dead in the eye, taking both his hands in hers, and he held his breath,

"Hiccough is a dumbass word, and I will insult crown and country as many times as it takes for Hiccups to take its place," said Annabelle deathly serious, "And I think Crouss is a beautiful word, it means cheerful, so you know. It's really saying something coming from me,"

Regulus felt a smile break out across his face, dipping his head and practically nuzzling against her neck before pulling away,

"I got you a Christmas present," she said, rummaging through her bag for it,

Regulus made a rather crass comment inside his head about how he was satisfied enough from what had happened in the hospital wing when she'd-

"What is this, Aelin?" He asked, his smile almost embarrassingly wide,

It appeared that Annabelle had reimagined their time in the muggle world together into a helpful children's novel called,

His Majesty Takes A Walk

*To be read in a Scot's accent.*

He flipped through to the page where, "You had to include that?"

"Yes." Said Annabelle, nodding, "It's important that you remember that you can't just pick flowers from window boxes, Majesty." He hid his face in his hands,

She removed them delicately, "Even if it's the sweetest goddamn thing ever," Annabelle had kept the flowers he had given her, safe and sound hidden in pages of beadle the bard,

"You know technically, Regulus means Prince so you shouldn't even be calling me Majesty anyways," he said,

"What should I be calling you then?" Asked Annabelle,

"You address a prince by your royal highness,"

"Highness?"

"Highness."

"Ha," Annabelle started to laugh and then she covered her mouth. High. Funny."Are you Serious?" She asked and then he looked at her,

"I'm Regulus." He said, and she took a deep breath,

"You'll regret killing him later, you'll regret killing him later," she repeated to herself, much to Regulus' amusement,

"And you call yourself my girlfriend." He said, and her face flooded with colour,

He flipped through to the end of the book, "I wanted to kiss you right then," he stated,

"Why didn't you?"

"Got nervous," said Regulus, as he furrowed his eyebrows,

Belle returned to Scotland, and the stick returned up his Majesty's arse.

The end.

It was hilarious. He wouldn't lie. He loved Annabelle in all her humorous glory.

But he had not known Annabelle was going back to Scotland. He had thought she was going to her mother's house.

"You went back to Scotland?"

"Yeah. Unfortunately," she replied biting the inside of her cheek, "Forgot that I had to pick something up for my mum,"

"So what happened?"

"When?"

"When you went back?" He said, his mind had been closing in around the time frame she could have been hurt as badly as she was.

Memories of how it sounded when Annabelle cried, how it felt to hold her weakened body in his arms, the way her head had lulled against his shoulder from exhaustion, the faint words, the fear that she may die haunted Regulus,

Annabelle stayed quiet, looking away from him,

"It's been bothering me." He said, "Every year when you come back there's something, just this time, it was- it was different."

"I saw my dad and my town, what are you so-"

"You know what I'm talking about." Said Regulus, "You were faint, and you were hurt, and I couldn't help you, and-" he stopped talking,

Annabelle had never looked so uncomfortable, her face was blank as though she couldn't process what was happening right now. Then she scrunched her eyes shut and took a deep breath,

"Belle?" He said softly, searching her face,

Annabelle didn't go home for Christmas. Annabelle had a great deal of anger she got out during duels (he saw her during class and suffice to say he had a drive to keep her happy after that). Annabelle always showed up bruised. Annabelle didn't seem to care if she got hurt there was an edge of carelessness to how reckless she was.

"I shouldn't have brought it up," Regulus concluded, and she relaxed considerably,

"I'll tell you another time," she muttered looking down and away, and he nodded, no matter how vague her answer it was still an answer,

"I'm sorry,"

"Don't be. You were just being a Good Samaritan," she muttered, and he pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her, and pulling her into a hug,

"At your service." Said Regulus, he always mimicked her when he didn't know what to do, "I'd add your hand flourish but I don't want to feel like an idiot,"

Annabelle let out a small laugh, returning his embrace, he felt his heart warm,

"You know I really," two more words, Regulus, two more words, "am going to miss you over Christmas. It's just two weeks but that's an awfully long time," to be away from the person you love, "I wish I could stay in the castle with you,"

Regulus was so sweet to her.

The sort of kindness that he would only show her.

Regulus was by no means the most virtuous Slytherin. He was not brave yet. He did as he was told. Peer pressure worked on him. Regulus didn't hold doors open for people and he did not smile at mere acquaintances in the hall.

Regulus was certain however that he loved Annabelle completely, he simply wasn't sure if she loved him the same.

-*-

"You can't be serious!" Shouted Justin McKenna, as Claire marched into the common room sitting on the couch, and Annabelle cringed, hiding behind her magazine, before it was plucked from her hands, "Annie. Tell Claire she's being crazy?"

"Don't bring Annabelle into this, because she would clearly side with me." Said Claire, "Play your cards right and I'm buying you a new cat," She whispered, and Annabelle perked up,

"No cat can replace-"

"I'll throw in a subscription to Witch's weekly and a new pair of roller skates,"

"Claire had her reasons for what she said, did, or implied." Said Annabelle, sitting up straight, her face completely blank as she nodded, speaking in a monotone, "She is an angel on this Earth with nothing but benevolent and kind intentions. Truly. A patron saint."

"Ha,"

"That doesn't count. You bought her," Said Justin, pouting, "But you have some experience with being bought don't you, Claire?"

Claire touched the oversized ring on her finger for a moment before scowling at Justin, "He didn't buy me. He loves me."

"I love you, Claire. Me. Justin McKenna, you may know me as your boyfriend for the last two and a half years?" He said, and Annabelle was very uncomfortable, and tried to leave, "Sit!"

Annabelle sat back down and tried to sink into the couch. "There's an article in there about the zen life, um you wanna crack it open, pick up some tips?" Asked Annabelle weakly,

"She didn't even breakup with me this time round, okay? All Claire did was start planning her wedding in front of me. And apparently she can't leave him. This Dolohov bloke." Said Justin scowling,

"I thought his name was Mulcib-"

"It's not just him I'm leaving you empty headed single minded asswipe!" Shouted Claire, standing up,

"Can I just have my-"

"What? Claire? You told me you loved me. Yeah? You did all that lovey crap and you still fucking do that and then, and then you pull this." Said Justin, fishing an invitation to her wedding from his pocket, "You should have talked to me about this at least!"

Finnigan entered the common room, reattaching his tie, sitting down next to Annabelle on the couch,

"What did I miss?" Asked Finnigan, and Annabelle gestured to the glaring contest between Claire and Justin,

"Because I knew you would be like this!"

"Be like what? Hurt? That the woman I love is marrying another man and sent me an invitation instead of telling me like a human being!"

"Merlins wrinkled nutsack," Exclaimed Finnigan quietly, and Annabelle nodded, terrified inexplicably that the fight might escalate,

"You got that- is that a Slytherin tie?" Asked Annabelle, and Finnigan chuckled nervously, vanishing the green tie,

"What tie?"

"And is that," Said Annabelle, "A hickey? Three hickeys? Who are you shagging? A vampire who hasn't got their fangs yet?"

"Look who's getting better with magical turn of phrase," Said Finnigan, patting Annabelle's head.

"YOU ARE A COWARD!" Shouted Justin, and Annabelle flinched,

"Jesus fucking christ," Said Annabelle, "Damn near gave me a heart attack,"

"A what?!"

"A Coward. Gryffindor my arse. If you were a real gryffindor you would leave your controlling family and be with me or at least break it off with your ancient fiance,"

"Three years age difference."

"Still. You should have been a stone cold Slytherin, no offence Leo and Annie for your respective relationships with Slytherins." Said Justin,

"You?" Said Annabelle, "Still?"

"You?"

"How did Justin even, goddamnit Claire." Said Annabelle,

"Yeah, she tells me everything because we are in love!" Shouted Justin,

"I sensed drama so I came." Said Sirius, waltzing into the common room, an apologetic Lily trailing after him,

"Watching soap operas must require a wee bit of a cleanup then," Said Annabelle, no one laughed but Lily,

"Imagine. Days of our li- unh, unh, ivesssss," She added, playing with Annabelle's hair from behind the couch as she giggled,

"The young and the rest-yes, yes, Yessssss," Said Annabelle, and Lily chortled from behind her, hand rising to cover her mouth,

"I don't like this dynamic." Stated Sirius, "You're a bad influence on her Evans."

"Me?"

"Yes you." Said Sirius, folding his arms over his chest and looking down his nose at Lily, "This is my future little sister that you are corrupting,"

"Love is a feeling. I can get feelings with plenty of other people." Said Claire, her own argument continuing despite any new pockets of conversation,

"Not like this. Even bloody Black left his family and look at him. Couldn't be happier," Said Justin, but Sirius wasn't listening, trying to get Remus' attention as he sat reading,

"He didn't love his family. The Blacks are awful." Said Claire, "Even Black the sequel might be evil incarnate. We don't know. No offence."

"And your parents are just peachy aren't they?" Asked Justin,

"Well yeah. They love me, support me, and want me to have a nice life,"

"Do you really think I couldn't do that?"

"This is an emotional roller coaster." Said Finnigan, "Surprised Black the original didn't find a way to make this all about him. Thought with Potter here there would at least be props."

"There's still time." said Lily, sitting in front of Annabelle as she begun braiding her red hair.

-*-

"It was two weeks," Said Annabelle, as Regulus kissed her again pressing her against the wall of an alcove, slanting his lips over hers once more, Annabelle wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss,

He had not been able to believe his luck when she was assigned his rounds partner.

"Two long weeks." He said, "I've wanted to kiss you a thousand times," Regulus muttered, lips descending her neck, "For so many years. I thought it was bad before I knew what it felt like to have your lips on mine." Regulus said, "I had no idea."

Annabelle kissed him back, hand in his hair, she had missed him too.

He must have rehearsed those words a thousand times. It was far from anything similar to an obsession, or possession. It was merely finding comfort in thoughts of Annabelle.

Three words eight letters.

Depth of his soul to the tip of his tongue.

Regulus moved away from her refusing her lips with difficulty as she leant to kiss him again.

"Did you miss me too?" He asked cheekily, and Annabelle scowled at him, he pressed his forehead against hers,

"Of course I missed you, Majesty," She said, and he rewarded her with another kiss, before moving away again and straightening all his clothes, looking like he was about to pout again, "What?"

"I just feel like my answer was just a bit more poetic and romantic." Said Regulus,

"You are the glorious sun and-"

"I always felt like I'm more of a moon person."

"But I think- Fine." Annabelle took a deep breath as he looked at her expectantly, that playful little smile she could never refuse on his face, "But isn't the sun a star and isn't Regulus a- okay. Moon, the moon. Mooning, Regulus Black, you are incredibly handsome and that assessment includes and is not limited to your fine arse," she said, and he burst with laughter,

She pushed off the wall, kissing him, and his neck as his smile refused to leave him,

"Nothing to add? Do you not like my arse too?" Asked Annabelle, and he looked her dead in the eye, hands drifting downward,

"It's safe to say that I'm incredibly appreciative," Said Regulus, he really liked it when Annabelle flirted with him, her lips trailed his neck, when her lips met the skin directly below his adam's apple drifting to the juncture of his neck he very nearly moaned,

Thoughts of what she had done for him in the hospital wing flitted through his mind, and how he might like to return the favour,

"How was your holiday?" She asked conversationally, as though he was not putty in her hands right now.

"Awful," he said, utterly unable to lie, "Yours?"

"No better than usual," She said, her hand trailing downward but he stopped her, backing her up against the wall again, his hand moved up her thigh slowly, waiting for her to stop him,

"Belle?" he said softly, kissing her neck twice before returning to her lips, she seemed rather breathless, "Can I,"

His fingers had reached the hem of her underwear, she'd asked his permission so he figured she would want him to do the same,

Annabelle bit her lip and nodded, colour flooding her cheeks as he pushed her underwear aside,

-*-

"Merlin's wrinkled balls," Exclaimed Avery panting after dueling Annabelle. His clothing was soaking wet and singged in places, his skin had soot on it and his hair was a mess, "Aelin. What did I ever-"

Annabelle arched her eyebrows and Anthony stopped talking. Annabelle twirled his wand in her hand chauvinistically before tossing it back to him.

"I get carried away." She said as an explanation, shrugging her shoulders, Annabelle retied her ponytail, holding her wand between her teeth, "Want to go again?"

"Annie, they never want to go again," Said Justin, smirking as the Slytherin sulked away,

"Honestly if you expect men to want or be able to go again within the first hour? You're in for a world of disappointment," said Claire, and Justin glared at her, "What?" She said innocently,

"Sorry, I wasn't listening Dolohov, I was talking to my friend Annie here who slaughtered a bigot in a duel." Said Justin, "You know. Sort of like the man you are going to marry,"

"Avery is pretty chill compared to some of the others I mean in a world of bare minimum-"

"Could you just drop it?"

"every time I drop it I wind up being lured back into your venus fly trap," Said Justin,

"That's a weird name for her cun-"

"Oh piss off, Justin," said Claire, and Annabelle tried to move away, "Stay put Annie."

Annabelle groaned,

"Why?" She said, "It's so stressful,"

"So that you can see what a bitch-"

"Make love, not war." Said Annabelle, uneasily, looking for any sort of escape, "Hey Leo, wanna duel?"

"You? Pff, no, I don't want humiliation today," Said Finnigan, looking at the charred Avery heir, and Annabelle frowned,

"I'll duel you, Aelin," Said Regulus, going in for the save, and the hero praise he was sure would follow it,

Annabelle smiled happily, before pretending to be sad to have to leave her squabbling friends, and moving to a cleared space with no spectators for their duel,

"I'm not going to go easy on you just because," I love you, he wanted to say, hand rising to scratch the back of his neck before their duel begun,

"I know, I know, Black, now to get this over with, I'll even let you go first," Said Annabelle, with a roll of her eyes,

Then something strange happened.

Regulus cast the hex, then tried for a stupefy and even an expelliarmus. But no magic left his wand.

The only spells he could manage were blocking and nonviolent spells, spells that could never really hurt her.

He glanced at Annabelle to see if she was having any similar problems, but she didn't fight like a witch. She didn't opt for expelliarmus or stunning charms, instead there were waves of water and fire. She was good with fire. Luckily these were the only spells he could seem to counter,

"What is happening?" She mouthed, walking toward him, and he ceased fire of his weak little charms, holding his wand at his side, wary if anyone was watching,

He missed when she plucked his wand from his hand and took a step away,

"I win." She said, suppressing her smile and he scowled at her,

Running a hand through his now soaked hair, grateful she hadn't burnt any off.

He looked at her, and in spite of their surroundings he wanted to say the words now. The words that surfaced in his mind whenever he so much as looked at her now.

"Could you at least dry it, Aelin?" He asked, referring to his hair, Annabelle looked up at it and narrowed her eyes, Annabelle Aelin. Annabelle Black. That was a new thought to cross his mind. He rather liked it. A lot.

"No." Said Annabelle simply, trying to maintain a healthy distance between them. She knew what was at stake for Regulus were they to be found out. And as much as it frustrated her to no avail,

If she were offered an incredibly large amount of money for just existing she would probably want to keep it too.

"Can I have my wand back?" Asked Regulus, arching an eyebrow, and Annabelle shrugged admiring the dark wood,

"It's pretty," Said Annabelle, "I'd make more comments but the innuendos alone could last me a lifetime,"

"Gryffindors are so crass," Said Regulus, extending a hand for his wand, and she shrugged her shoulders,

"I've met some Slytherins with foul mouths," Said Annabelle casually, handing it back to him, "How would a pureblood prick such as yourself put it? Ah yes, uncouth," she said a little upetee,

Regulus bit down hard on the side of his cheek to prevent a smile. He tried not to watch her walk away. He really did.

Her birthday was in a week. And he knew she would like her present.

It was a strange thing that had happened with his magic, he dried his hair before casting a stupefy on a potted plant, it worked perfectly.

"Professor," He said, approaching Professor Silverstone, "I have a question,"

-*-

Regulus some time around the first week back to school got into the habit of finding Annabelle in the library, as she studied or did whatever it was she did in there, and falling asleep on her if he was tired,

He just hadn't been able to sleep well during the holidays.

Regulus would find her, touch her shoulder lightly, she would usually be at the very edge of the seat anyways, and then sit down in the space behind her. The seats in the library were rather large and if there was a problem he would simply have her move.

Regulus would then. wordlessly mind you, wrap his arms around Annabelle's waist and fall asleep on her shoulder.

"Fuckin' hell," She would curse at her homework,

"I am trying to sleep, Belle."

"How do you get it all in your head the first time round?"

"Mystery." he would mutter, kissing her cheek before resting his head on her shoulder once more,

This time round it was Annabelle who had fallen asleep. He had found her this way, research notes that certainly were not for the potions assignment due the next day strewn about, her head on it's side resting on her arms,

Regulus pushed some of the hair from her face. She looked so peaceful while she slept.

Regulus set his things down so that if she woke up she would know not to leave, before he set off on a book hunt of his own,

It scared him that his magic just not work with some people. The professor had not had an answer for him.

"In your duel with..." She had said.

"Aelin,"

"She isn't your partner, Mister Black,"

"She got bored. So I volunteered,"

"I can't imagine why your magic would not have worked unless, well that's impossible. Research it. But I don't see any reason for worry."

Regulus pulled several books on spellwork off of the shelves, along with several on wands, then one that was just light reading in case Annabelle woke up and wanted something to read, Regulus scanned the shelves for anything important.

What sort of wand did Annabelle have?

He picked up a book on wand cores specifically, then another one, he smiled to himself pulling out a silly little book on love, remarkably similar to the one that Annabelle had had him toss into the lake for her in third year. She would laugh.

Regulus was returning to their table when her heard voices.

"Are you sitting with anyone, Aelin?" Asked Diggory,

"I'm never alone not with the voices you know how it is," Said Annabelle, trying to scare the boy off,

"Whose bag is this?" Asked Diggory, "R.A.B." He read,

"You know Black is my rounds partner, and I wouldn't dare steal from him for fear of being left to die in a corridor somewhere, so there is a certain level of trust," Said Annabelle simply, Regulus furrowed his eyebrows,

When had Annabelle become a good liar? It was impressive.

"Right then." Said Diggory, "I should-"

"Go unless you want an earful from Black on how you aren't allowed to touch that and me to get one on why I even let you within spitting distance," said Annabelle, "See you in potions, Diggory,"

"Yeah, in potions." Said Diggory, and Regulus could have sworn he also heard, "Not Hogsmeade."

Regulus observed her as she let out a sigh of relief, and begun organising her papers in the most unorganized way he could imagine,

"Subtlety is not your forte, your majesty," Said Annabelle, a small smile on her face as he approached the desk, sitting down next to her,

"I didn't know you could lie," Said Regulus,

"Are you scared?"

"Horrified," Said Regulus, "I mean what else is possible? Is Dumbledore going to give points to Slytherins? Are pigs, non magical pigs going to start flying?" Are you finally going to tell me what happened to you over the summer?

"There are magical pigs?" Asked Annabelle, a look of genuine shock on her face, "I had no clue,"

"There are. How did you not know this? They were in the OWL exams," Said Regulus, furrowing his eyebrows and putting his arm around her, leaning back in his seat, forgetting his work because he was with her,

"I made a joke about the minister of magic and the examiner and I had a laugh, I didn't know they were real," Said Annabelle defensively, beginning to blush pink as he laughed,

Three words, eight letters.

Depth of his soul to the tip of his tongue.

"Hey Belle?" He started,

"Yeah?"

"I-" He started, "I was wondering what your wand core was,"

Goddamnit. He thought to himself, resisting the urge to scowl at his own cowardice,

"Dragon heartstring," Said Annabelle, "I was hoping for something like veela hair or phoenix feather, or like thestral fluff," she said with sparkle fingers, before he took her hand in his, running his thumb over the back of it before kissing her knuckles, "Why?" She asked, blushing furiously,

"I couldn't stun you," Said Regulus, and then a wicked grin spread across her lips and she arched her eyebrows,

"You stun me every day, your majesty," She said, with a wink and he felt colour rise to his face, "Just with those eyes," she flirted with him blatantly, going so far as to bite her lip looking at him, and he scratched the back of his neck, glancing away from her,"What's your wand core anyways?"

"Unicorn hair," Said Regulus, "I was only wondering why I couldn't seem to create any traditional offensive spells, neither could you from the looks of it,"

"The fire, there was lightning, majesty-"

"But you couldn't disarm me." Said Regulus pointedly, if this had happened with anyone else he would have said nothing and never duelled them again,

However he shared everything with Annabelle. She even knew about the time Sirius had enchanted a snowman to follow him around and he'd challenged it to a duel, before he had his wand, after hiding from it for weeks,

"I must have done it wrong, last week I fucked up a charm to levitate something, it's still hanging there in the charms class, flitwick can't get it down," said Annabelle, and Regulus shot her a look, "What?"

"You really think that there isn't something more?" He asked the girl he loved with everything he had, "Look at where we are, read the room,"

"Read the room?"

"Read the room."

"Because we are in a library?" She asked, smiling at him sweetly, as he nodded, she messed with his hair affectionately, pulling him in for a kiss, "You are a blithering idiot," She said fondly, pressing another kiss to his lips, "Also somehow the cleverest person I know. Don't really get it."

An idiot who loves you.

And your scottish accent. And the way you look at me. And you know everything you say and do. It's just you and me, and us. How long we stay that way depends entirely on how long you want me. Lord knows I'll want you forever.

Regulus kissed her deeply,

"It is an excellent turn of phrase," Said Regulus,

"I-" Started Annabelle, and Regulus' heart leapt, "can't believe I spend so much time with you. I mean what does that say about me? As a person?"

"That you have good taste." Said Regulus, grinning at her cockily, causing her to become rather flustered, she really liked it when Regulus was confident,

"I- you- Can-" She stuttered, "Shut it." She said, and he dipped his head nuzzling against her neck for a moment before kissing her cheek and leaning away from her a little to look at the piles of notes on the desk,

"Are you about to tell me about Merlin's three headed Narwhal he mistreated or something, because honestly I'm all ears," Said Regulus,

"No, sea-rberus is old news, do try to keep up your majesty," said Annabelle, setting a series of magazine clippings on the table, before pulling out a brand new notebook. He was fairly certain she made them herself,

He had noticed Annabelle was rather good at making the most random little things.

"This is about the Slytherin family tree." Said Annabelle, "Pureblooded all the way until you know who," Said Annabelle, and Regulus furrowed his eyebrows, "I know, I know, incredible, apparently," She pulled out two obituaries, "This is Marvolo Gaunt. Survived by Merope and Morphin Gaunt, and then, here she is Merope Riddle."

Magical obituaries were fairly simple to track down. They were on public record. Annabelle had had to mend this parchment personally, someone had tried to destroy it.

"Riddle is not a magical name meaning,"

"She married a muggle." Finished Regulus,

He had been getting letters since Christmas. Recruitment letters. But now wasn't the time to think of those obsidian envelopes he saw dropping in front of he and his classmates. Or the green seals. Or the green ink on the pure white parchment.

"And then who should come to Hogwarts? Tom Marvolo Riddle. He was awarded for special services to the school. The trophy is in the trophy room." Said Annabelle, "Which is an anagram for- I am Lord Voldemort but then it's also Immortal love rodd, so you know. Might be wrong."

"How much spare time do you have on your hands?"

"It's how I procrastinate," Said Annabelle, "Muggles have this thing called the united nations you know? And can you guess which nation I'd represent?"

"What?"

"Procrastination." Said Annabelle. And Regulus rolled his eyes,

Remember you love her. Remember you love her. Remember you love her.

"I-" He started, two more words, "Think you are lucky you're incredibly beautiful," She kissed his cheek, "And charming, and clever," the other cheek, "A proper good snog,"

Annabelle almost let out a small laugh before pressing her lips to his, he deepened the action, his hand on the side of her face as he kissed her lovingly.

Regulus sometimes thought that Annabelle didn't understand fully the consequences of her words. Like she assumed no one was really listening.

Annabelle pulled away from him, blushing furiously before schooling her features and clearing her throat,

"I like it when you find me in the library," She decided out loud, he smiled, nodding in agreement, their knees and elbows brushed as she completed her journal of rest of their time in the library,

Just being together. That was, that was perfect.

-*-

"What did you need to pick up in a jewelry shop?" Asked Barty, arching an eyebrow as Regulus exited the jewellers' in Hogsmeade,

"New cuff links," Regulus replied, "Mother's went on a rampage during the Holiday and I don't want to give her ammunition this summer."

"Fair enough," Said Barty, "This summer is going to change things," he said, an edge of excitement in his tone,

"What do you mean?"

"You've been getting the letters haven't you?" Asked Barty, and Regulus gulped. Of course he had been,

He had been more distracted from his future lately.

"Of course, but this won't it won't happen until after graduation," Said Regulus,

"Not if we are chosen," Said Barty a grin on his face, "We could rule the world Regulus," He said, "All powerful, all we need to do is get a tattoo and follow some orders,"

"Rule the world?" Said Regulus, imagining how much power he might have if he had the power to change laws, surely his parents could not control him anymore if he were more powerful, the way Barty put things was just-

Twisted.

"Have it all," Said Barty,

All.

He wouldn't let down his family and he would have-

"What about the, you know, murder?" Said Regulus, glancing at Barty who then burst out in laughter,

"What?" Said Regulus,

"You are funny sometimes, Black," Said Barty, "Look at Selwyn, isn't she pretty? Hey whatever happened between you and Sayre?"

"We didn't get along." Said Regulus, shaking his head in regret. "She is rather manipulative. Reminded me of my mother," He said the words that would guarantee Barty would never bring her up again,

Regulus was regretful of that damned Slug club dinner. He had been a jealous prat as soon as some other guy had looked at Annabelle, just laughed at something she had said and was generally able to give Annabelle things Regulus wasn't.

He did not get that way anymore. Well at least. Not to the same extent. He trusted Annabelle.

"Merlin, so that's the end of that." Said Barty, "Are you going to get betrothed?"

"We are warlocks, Crouch, there are some perks that come with it," Said Regulus in his most posh voice possible, and Barty nodded,

"More than some," He said, smiling at Katarina Spencer-Moon as she passed and causing a grin to spread across her features,

"Aren't you with-"

"Doesn't matter. Just don't mention it to her."

-*-

"Are you shitting me?" Asked Annabelle, turning and smiling at Regulus,

"No, I am not shitting you," Said Regulus, "You really should stop asking me that,"

"Well I can't exactly ask if you are serious can I?" She asked, as he transfigured her shoes into figure skates before casting the charm on his own, "You really did all this?" She asked, looking at the frozen section of the lake,

"It is your birthday isn't it?" Asked Regulus, as they carefully got onto the ice, she nodded, "And nature really did most of the work, I just made sure it would not break and we would not die,"

"Like I've never fallen through ice before," Said Annabelle, with a small laugh, getting onto the ice and skating a bit ahead of him,

"I'm going to ignore that you just said that because it worries me more than I'm proud of," Said Regulus, skating next to her,

"You, you can skate?" Asked Annabelle, grinning at him as he pushed ahead of her, skating backwards in front of her,

"My cousins had a river near their manor," Said Regulus, "You know how competitive Slytherins get,"

"What did the inferior Black refuse to participate? Out of Gryffindor principle?" Asked Annabelle, "Too busy charming snowmen to chase you?" She asked, teasing him,

"Why do you think I learnt to skate so quickly?" Asked Regulus, and she smiled scrunching her nose, moving to take his and and turning him around before letting go and taking hold of the front of his jumper and kissing him, hard.

Regulus shut his eyes, deepening the kiss,

"Thank you," Said Annabelle, pulling away,

Regulus rather dazed, nodded absently,

"Yes, I like skating too,"

"Regulus?"

"What?"

"Thank you," Said Annabelle, turning a little pink, "I've never had a birthday party,"

"No problem," Said Regulus, she released the front of his jumper, "You can do that whenever you want by the way,"

"Christ, Majesty, you're making me blush," Said Annabelle before skating away, Regulus blinked his own flush painfully obvious even in the dark, he touched his lips lightly, "Are you coming?"

Her hands were clasped behind her back, as though daring him to try and take them,

Regulus, caught up to her, taking her hands in his, causing them to spin. Annabelle laughed the sound loud and pure filled with joy. Some part of Regulus never wanted it to end, never wanted this to end.

Three words eight letters.

Maybe she would say them first.

She was at his side again the minutes passing like seconds, any time was too short a time to spend with together.

"I-" He started, two more words, two more words. Then he tripped,

"Are you alright?" Asked Annabelle at his side in an instant, on her knees on the ice beside him, her hands on his face, and he got distracted with how badly he wanted to say the words, "Are you alright, Regulus?"

"I'm fine," he went so far as to hold her wrists lightly, kissing the palm of her hand before turning to face her once more,

"Can I tease you now having confirmed the fact that you are alright? Given I was just told another story about what an adorable little shite you were when you were younger?" Asked Annabelle with a grin on her face, he said nothing distracted with how pretty she was, then the grin melted into a look of concern, "Majesty, I need an answer,"

Do you love me?

"Or should I bring you to the hospital wing," Said Annabelle, these words were spoken with more sincerity than her last, "I can turn your shoes into rollerblades and then tug you if you are really hurt, or use magic."

"I-" He started, "I'm fine, really," He said and she wordlessly sat down on the ice beside them, he found her faith in his freezing charms naive considering his magic tended not to work around her, so he moved to lay on the ice, knowing it was safer and gestured for her to lay beside him. She did, "I just don't want the ice to break,"

"Of course," Said Annabelle, as he took hold of her hand in his,

He never got tired of the way that felt.

Neither did she.

Made Annabelle feel safe.

"Have you really never had a birthday party?" Asked Regulus, even his parents in their own way celebrated his birthday, and Kreacher had always made his favourites for dinner,

"My parents forget stuff like that," Said Annabelle, "I know better than to remind them,"

"What about in Gryffindor?" Asked Regulus,

"I'm not into being around drunk magical people," Said Annabelle, "I saw Potter drunk once, he made a carpet cry whenever anyone stepped on it, and then he composed a sonnet for Evans which played on the radio for three days, and then he turned into a stag and it was horrifying. He didn't turn back for hours."

"Explains his nickname," Said Regulus thoughtfully, "Never liked him,"

"You don't say,"

"I do say." Said Regulus as though exasperated, and she giggled covering her mouth to stifle the sound, "Can't believe you didn't notice it," He said sarcastically,

"And regularly I am just so observant," Said Annabelle, like she were truly disappointed in herself,

"Hey, Belle?" He said,

"Yeah?"

"Why couldn't you remind your parents it was your birthday?" He asked, glancing at her to see her turn her face away from him towards the sky,

"They would get angry," Said Annabelle, "Don't like it when they're angry." He was really only beginning to scratch the surface, "And that's not a good way to celebrate a birthday."

"Fair enough," Said Regulus,

"Which one's your constellation again?" She asked, looking at the sky, she knew where is was. Annabelle just liked it when Regulus pointed it out to her.

"That one, Leonis, it's the bright star," Said Regulus,

"Leonis as in, A lion? The great heir of the Black family, the superior Black brother, in the house of the snake but in the constellation of the lion?" she gasped dramatically,

"Don't."

She scoffed, "And you call yourself a Slytherin," Said Annabelle, shaking her head before turning her head to look at him, a smile pressing into her features as his face reddened, "The only part that adds up is that it's the brightest star in the constellation,"

"The brightest star? That's the part that adds up?"

"Even if you think you're more of a moon person," Said Annabelle, "Bloody idiot is what you are if you think you are not at least a star person,"

"Come on," Said Regulus, getting up, and offering her a hand to stand, "You have provided the perfect segway into the gift I got you and I'm not going to waste it,"

"This, this isn't my present?" She asked, furrowing her eyebrows in genuine confusion as she took his hand and even allowed him to pull her back to the shore,

"This is a date," Said Regulus, "You wore a dress," He said, pulling her towards him and pressing a kiss to her forehead right at the edge of the lake, "I figured you knew," he said before kissing her indulgently intending to leave her dazed, as she had left him.

Regulus pulled away and watched as her eyes remained close for a few moments, Regulus transfigured his shoes back into shoes and stepped off the ice before repeating the spell on hers and helping her off the ice,

"I- I- Majes- You- This- just- shut it," Said Annabelle, blushing furiously, as he pulled a small box from his pocket, handing it to her,

"Happy Birthday,"

It was a necklace. The Leonis constellation, the Regulus star larger than the others, "Are you,"

"I'm not shitting you, I figured since you were a Gryffindor," He began, pulling the necklace from the box and moving behind her to attach it around her neck, "And as we have confirmed. I am Regulus, it worked well."

"It's perfect," Said Annabelle,

"You'll wear it?"

"Good luck trying to get it off me," Said Annabelle, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling his lips level with hers before kissing him, "Not that you couldn't take other things off, of me or you, that's just your choice,"

"You make me look like a good flirt, Belle," Said Regulus,

"You're making me all flustered," Said Annabelle, "Not my fault is it?"

"Not at all," He said, kissing her softly, "Remember last time during rounds, when I touched you?"

"Yes," She said, "Well, really well,"

Making Annabelle come had been one of the most magical experiences of Regulus' lifetime. And no, he was not being dramatic. At all.

"I wanted to do that again," Said Regulus, his lips just barely touching hers, her breath was quick and her gaze was locked on his lips, "But," he said,

"But?"

"I want to know what you taste like."

-*-

"What are you thinking about?" asked Claire as Annabelle spaced out at the breakfast table on Sunday morning,

"How do Dragons blow out candles?" Asked Annabelle, genuinely perplexed,

"Aelin. Have you been getting into my stash?" Asked Justin,

"Your stash? The pile of Oregano you keep in your pillow?" Asked Annabelle, arching an eyebrow, and Claire begun to laugh,

"I told you that guy was ripping you off," Said Claire, nudging Justin playfully her hand lingering on his shoulder a moment longer than Annabelle thought was necessary,

"How would you even know, Annie? It's not like you come to parties," Said Justin, Annabelle shrugged, looking to an owl coming closer and closer to their table that she did not recognize,

"Just accept it, babe, you aren't as cool as you thought you were," Said Claire, a sweet smile on her face,

Annabelle didn't ask, she didn't want to know. And she did not want to break the uneasy peace. A letter was dropped in front of her and Annabelle furrowed her eyebrows. She never got post.

Annabelle turned the letter over in her hand and frowned.

"What is it?" Asked Leo, sitting down beside her,

Annie

"A howler?" Asked Justin almost excitedly,

"My dad sent me one last week on accident," Said Leo, smiling a little, "You could hear mum in the background scolding him and it was hilarious,"

"My parents are muggles." Said Annabelle,

"Right, right, so maybe it's like one of those newfangled birthday cards that sing when you open them?" Asked Claire,

"Those are magical." Said Leo, "Muggles won't figure that out until the late nineties,"

"It was your birthday last week wasn't it? Maybe that got lost in the mail," Said Justin,

"Lost in the mail? Like Owls just get lost?"

"Happened to the Weasley bloke loads a while back. Forgive my observant nature."

"I'm going to the bathroom," Said Annabelle, unused to muggle contact during her time at Hogwarts,

Annabelle left the hall, turning the letter over in her hands again. A cheap sticker acted as the seal. Whoever had wrote this certainly was not magical.

Annabelle tore it off, opening the letter as even more confusion gripped her, out of habit she took a left, then a right, then a third right, moving a painting out of the way to enter her favourite abandoned corridor in the castle,

Annabelle's body begun to fill with that numb feeling as she recognized the writing, so slow that she hardly even notice until the cold coated her hands and begun to mount her wrists,

Annabelle walked into the corridor,

But It wasn't just her hidden hallway,

"Majesty," Said Annabelle in a small amount of surprise at seeing him, sitting by the window, reading, another of those damned black envelopes at his side,

Regulus didn't look up, merely smiling because of her presence and lifting his arm to indicate he might like her beside him,

When she didn't immediately sit at his side he closed his book, and looked up at her, wondering what might be wrong.

"Good morning?" He said,

"No." She answered, the letter still in her numb hands, the feeling of nothing that had been spreading through her halted because of the way the sun coming through the window illuminated Regulus' features,

"What's that?" Asked Regulus, setting his book atop his own unopened envelope and standing up, because Annabelle never got post,

"I-," She said, "I haven't read it yet." She glanced at the book covering the black envelope, "Another one?"

His stomach dropped. Of course Annabelle had noticed. It's not like the letters were unnoticeable in the hall. Stood out against the beige of regular parchment.

"Yes." Said Regulus, "Who is that from?"

Annabelle folded the page so he could see who had signed and turned it around,

"Dad got into a wee bit of trouble," said Annabelle, "Needs me to write a character statement for court, you know, spew a load of trash about how I'll be ruined if he goes to jail. I've done it before." She said with an eye roll, rereading the letter as though it was nothing, "Doesn't exactly have the same flare for the dramatic as whoever keeps sending those black envelopes round, or is it just a Slytherin thing?"

"Slytherins are not more dramatic," said Regulus, his hand moving to hold hers softly where it was frozen at her side, "Merlin your hands are colder than Antartica," he said,

"Slytherins are not dramatic," she chided, as Regulus held her hand in both of his in an attempt to warm it,

"I'm not being dramatic," said Regulus, as she pocketed the letter from her father, and he took her other hand, "Merlin's beard how did you spend breakfast? Trying to freeze your hands off?"

His hands were warmer and softer than hers, refusing to let go,

"Majesty-"

"Not until they are at room temperature," he said, Annabelle not being okay would never sit right with Regulus,

Annabelle never could identify how she felt when she was with him.

"My hands aren't that cold," said Annabelle in protest,

"I almost get frostbite just from touching them," said Regulus, she let out a small sound of amusement, she pulled her hands from his and he was about to protest when her arms wound tightly around him in a hug,

Regulus hugged her back, his hand holding the fabric of her shirt, she smelt like the ocean, he breathed deeply he felt the shakiness of her breath against him,

Regulus knew full well she wouldn't want to talk about it. Maybe he could say three other little words that might make her feel safe enough to tell him everything,

Depth of his soul to the tip of his tongue.

"I-"

There would footsteps and both parties backed away from each other hastily,

"I should probably," she started, cheeks heating up,

"They'll probably pass." Said Regulus,

"Fair enough,"

"What are you doing here, mud blood?" Asked Crouch,

Annabelle's demeanour changed entirely, the vulnerability on her face vanishing the instant she faced Barty, replaced instead with a mischievous vindictive glint in her eyes, as she walked passed him,

"Don't get your wee little bawbags in a twist, Crouch, that is if you've even got them in the first place," said Annabelle, "Always thought you might be over compensating for something like a wee little balls or maybe it's your wand that's teency."

"Don't talk to me that way, mudblood." Said Barty, drawing his wand, "What were you even doing here anyways?"

"There was a goblin Black and I removed during rounds, just wanted to make sure it was gone. And you know purebloods don't like to do work themselves," said Annabelle, "See you in Defence," she called,

Annabelle walked down the hall, unwilling to hear the rest of their argument.

Annabelle didn't like causing problems for Regulus, she just hated Crouch with the passion of a thousand suns.

"Boo!" Shouted Sirius, and Annabelle yelped, jumping up a little and covering her face,

"Jesus fucking Christ on cracker, Black, why are you like this? Were you dropped on your head an infant?" Asked Annabelle,

"Bold of you to assume I was ever held."

-*-

Regulus touched her shoulder lightly where she sat studying in the library. Annabelle leant forward as he sat in the space of the seat behind her.

Regulus wound his arms around her waist and rested his head on Annabelle's shoulder.

"Comfortable your Majesty?" Asked Annabelle quietly, and Regulus shook his head pulling her further into him before nodding, "couldn't sleep?"

He nodded once, his eyes shut, pressing a kiss to her cheek before falling asleep on her shoulder.

Regulus was having a rather hard time falling asleep. He had been since the beginning of the year. The obsidian letters had begun as a monthly occurrence now he received one nearly every day,

Not to mention the letters from his mother urging him to become a death eater. His cousin had even threatened to send him a howler.

His arm moved across Annabelle's shoulders gently holding her to him as he breathed easy knowing she was here with him,

Annabelle scribbled notes for her Transfiguration test trying to make everything fit inside her head. Constantly mystified at how Regulus seemed to get everything in his head the first time round.

Annabelle huffed, scratching out her mistakes,

"Belle." Muttered Regulus in his sleep, and she raised a hand running it through his hair before returning to her work,

Minutes passed in seconds, Annabelle honestly thought scientists should have this studied. Time wasn't linear at all was it?

All it was was a collection of moments that fell around them like snow or confetti,

Christ, she was spending too much time with Regulus.

Annabelle nuzzled her head against Regulus' for a moment, entwining the fingers of her unused hand in his where it rested on her waist.

Annabelle had never thought Regulus would look at her this way in all honesty. Absolutely blind to the effect her words had on him since day one, always figuring he probably was not listening anyways.

That little shit. Annie Aelin you charming little shite.

Not to mention she could never seem to lie to him. Ever. The words would come out jumbled and mixed up, in nonsensical stories.

The more easy with her that Regulus got the more she fel-

"Admiring the art?" He asked snapping her out of it, and startling her,

"I can't help that you are incredibly handsome can I?" She asked, and he smiled, kissing her softly, "Why aren't you sleeping at night?" She asked, not that she didn't like to have him here, rather lo-

"My mother keeps owling me about being a death eater," said Regulus simply, half asleep, "Rather stressful," each time Regulus thought of his future, a future without Annabelle he was greeted with an unfriendly face hovering over him as he slept,

Annabelle tensed. The death rate was- it was unignorable. Not to mention she had a hunch that Voldemort liked killing off people at random when it struck his fancy,

Annabelle did not know what she would do if Regulus died.

"Can you get out of it?" Asked Annabelle,

"I can try." He replied, "Sometimes I wish I were anyone but me." He said sleepily,

"I know the feeling," she said before glancing at him and adding, "But I like you, adore you, whatever you want to call it," said Annabelle, his eyes blinked open and he glanced at her, almost hopefully,

Love? Did she love him?

"Did you cast the noticemenot?" Asked Regulus,

"Yes." Answered Annabelle, "Dont want to get interrupted again, your Majesty?"

He turned rather pink. "I just want to help you with your Transfiguration homework without interruptions." He said, pressing a kiss to her neck,

"My transfiguration homework?"

A second kiss,

"Yes, we are Prefects, we ought to help each other," he said,

"Of course." Said Annabelle, turning her grades around in fourth year was all fine and dandy but the thing about achieving is that suddenly all these people have expectations of you,

His lips were just barely touching hers, a smile spread across his beautiful face,

"Belle, if I'm actually going to help you you have to move so I can focus on anything other than how many seconds have passed since my lips touched yours,"

It had been a while since his lips had gone other places too, and she was pressed right up against him, not helping any thoughts he might be having,

Annabelle moved to the seat beside his and he moved up in her seat, looking at her work.

"You just can't memorize it?" He asked, looking at her corrections and all the work that was already perfect,

"Exactly," said Annabelle, and he pulled out his wand, setting it on a spare piece of parchment, slicing it into even pieces,

"I'll make you flash cards," said Regulus, matter of factly, "You can colour code them later, but I think we both know who has the better penmanship."

"Shall I fetch your special green ink your Majesty?" She asked in a posh accent, "Oh please would you please give me an answer?"

Regulus blushed furiously and scratched the back of his neck,

"I was young then. Do you want the flash cards or not?" He asked,

"In the special green ink?"

Regulus muttered something incoherently under his breath before pulling the green ink from his bag and watching her face light up,

"Only because," three more words, Regulus, three more words, "You let me nap on you,"

Damn it.

"It's not like I don't enjoy the view." Said Annabelle, her hand running through his hair,

Regulus really did love her.

-*-

The day he got the letter he just lived in a state of disbelief.

Regulus really was going to be a death eater.

The lack of air to his lungs is what he noticed first, dazed and confused throughout all of his classes. Barty went on and on excitedly, Anthony was nowhere to be found.

How was Regulus meant to face her?

Regulus sobbed, holding the edges of the sink in the boys bathroom, tears hitting the sink, how would Annabelle even look at him,

He had been stalling seeing her all day.

Regulus had even faked sick for Quidditch. He was so devoted to the sport that the current captain didn't doubt for a moment that Regulus must be on the brink of death.

Even Sirius tried to track him down, to quote 'get his last words in'. It had only culminated in Regulus lashing out at his older brother, tearing him a new one,

"I'm trying to protect you."

"WHEN HAVE YOU EVER PROTECTED ME? You left. You left me alone with them."

Regulus felt a hand close around his shoulder a chill formed in the room,

For a moment he thought maybe it was Sirius, Regulus thought running his hands under water and scrubbing them raw,

Maybe he had come and maybe it would all be okay.

Then Regulus realized slowly, as the grip tightened on his shoulder bruisingly,

There had been no foot steps. No door opening. Nothing. Regulus thought he may be drowning, breath ragged as he looked up to face himself in the mirror,

He let out a small cry as he saw the inferi in the reflexion, practically hitting the glass as he tried in vain to wipe the reflection away,

Certain,

Absolutely certain,

That his imagination was playing tricks on him. As it had when he was a child. As it had when he hit his head on the Quidditch pitch,

The grip on his shoulder only tightened he looked down slowly, unable to breathe as he saw the skeletal arm covered in decayed flesh gripping his shoulder,

He batted it off, stumbling away, not sparing a look over his shoulder as he ran from the bathroom, searching for an escape,

He turned his head almost feverishly in every possible direction, eyes wide and afraid,

At the end of each hall an inferi, he ran instead towards the door, a sound of relief leaving him as he caught his breath before,

On appeared in front of him, and he found himself moving down towards the lake, a safe good place,

Yes that's what it was.

Once Regulus reached the lake he would be safe, a hand gripped at his shoulder trying to hold him back from his fate,

The wind felt almost wild around him, almost like it wasn't air meant to be inhaled at all, like water was all around him, raging without rest until he was-

"Regulus?" He heard his name spoken softly, and it all stopped. He stopped at the edge of the lake, breathing heavier, growing heavier still as he looked at his own shadowy reflection in the lake,

Regulus looked over his shoulder sure he would see the army of inferi that had been chasing him, but he just saw Annabelle,

His eyes darted everywhere, hunting for one, what if it tried to hurt her?

Regulus' tumultuous magic stirred violently at the thought of anyone daring to touch a hair on her head.

"Regulus," she said again, she was closer this time, hands rising tentatively to touch the sides of his face and wipe away his tears,

This was certainly the worst Annabelle had ever seen him.

"Look at me." She said quietly, "Look at me." She said again, refusing to outright force him to look at her, her gaze flickering all over his face,

Regulus finally allowed his gaze to drift downward to her concerned eyes, an arm wrapped around Annabelle's waist protectively as though of it's own accord,

Annabelle pulled him down into a hug. A hand on the nape of his neck, fingers running through his hair, the other on his back, holding him to her,

His heart beat was wild and frenzied, calming down slowly,

"You're okay," she whispered to him, her hand gripping the fabric of his shirt, he couldn't help but cry,

Regulus held Annabelle to him as he sobbed into the crook of her neck, holding her to him unwilling to let go,

"Nothing bad is going to happen right now," she said softly, the sort of softness that travelled like a loving caress along his skin, "You're safe,"

"No," Regulus sobbed, and Annabelle furrowed her eyebrows,

Annabelle, like most times she found him in similar situations hadn't the slightest fucking clue what was going on.

"I- there were," said Regulus, his voice breaking, Annabelle's own breathing picked up, she hated to see him like this,

It broke her heart.

However she did not care if he broke her heart a thousand times over. Smashed it to smithereens each time there was a tear in his eye. Or shatter it completely when he would inevitably leave her in seventh year. It was only ever his to break anyways.

"I was scared one might get you," he said, clutching her to him still,

"That what might get me?" Said Annabelle, concerned for him,

"The- the-" his voice broke with more tears of what she must think of him, she likely didn't even belie-

"Are they gone now?" Asked Annabelle, "Are we safe?" She asked, pulling away from him and searching his face for an answer,

Annabelle moved her hands to hold the sides of his face tenderly again, Regulus nodded slowly, eyes flickering away from her for a moment as though to double check before turning his face and pressing a kiss into the palm of her hand,

"Do you want to walk?" Asked Annabelle softly, very aware of how visible they were from the school,

Regulus nodded, and her hands left his face. One slipped into his as they walked along the edge of the lake silently,

The wind was gentle now. Regulus' eyes continued to hunt for the Inferi. It had been so long since he had seen this many,

Annabelle cast a small blue bell charm sending ahead of them by a few paces illuminating the path,

Her hand rose to the crux of his elbow and he seemed to relax a little more.

Regulus stopped walking, and glanced at her,

"We could sit," said Annabelle, she was not planning on going anywhere,

Regulus nodded, sitting on the grass by the black lake with Annabelle beside him, one hand in his the other had moved to hold his shoulder delicately,

Regulus glanced at her, his breathing had calmed and everything around him seemed rather still, perfect.

His mouth opened and closed several times as though trying to decide what to say.

"Do you remember by boggart from third year?" Asked Regulus, and Annabelle nodded it had been rather difficult to forget,

The looming figure of living death. Not a man and not a ghost.

"How, it came from how I thought- how I thought- one was haunting me?" He asked,

"Yes." Said Annabelle, her eyes not leaving the side of his face,

"It was more than that," said Regulus, furrowing his eyebrows and looking down, "Started when I was around seven, whenever I woke up for months there would be-" his breathing picked up again and she ran her hand over his back before her hand found purchase on his shoulder once more, "One of those monsters hanging over me or in the corner of my room, and I couldn't move. Like I was paralyzed. Then right before it could touch me it would just vanish,"

He glanced at her, there was no trace of judgement on her features only concern,

"During that Quidditch match, the one where I fell off my broom," said Regulus, "It was because one made my broom stop,"

"Made your broom stop?" Asked Annabelle, moving closer to him, "You've been seeing them now?"

"Everywhere." Said Regulus quietly, "I was in the bathroom and I thought I was just imagining it in the reflection of the mirror, but the thing's hand was on my shoulder and it- it hurt, like it was trying to mark me,"

Annabelle removed her hand from his shoulder slowly and pressed a kiss to it as though to kiss it better before returning her gaze to him,

"And-" he said, "Then it was like the inferi were everywhere down every hall and for the first time seeing them I could move, so I ran."

"Is one here right now? Want me to sort them out for you? I throw a mean right hook," she said, and the statement caught him so off guard that he smiled,

"Oi, dead people, stop haunting my boyfriend, I have no moral code when it comes to killing something twice," said Annabelle,

And if ever there were a moment to thank Merlin, or God, or Hecate, or whoever it was responsible for putting Annabelle Aelin on his boat all the way back in first year, it was now,

A small barely there chuckle left him,

"You probably think I'm crazy," he said,

"I believe you." Said Annabelle, who as a muggle born witch had learnt to suspend her disbelief when if came to all things magical like this beyond simple explanation, "And I think you're surprisingly sane considering,"

Annabelle's hand ran through his hair, Regulus felt tears build behind his eyes again,

As though each time struck anew by the fact that someone was listening to him.

"How do you always make me feel not- not awful?" Asked Regulus, glancing at her,

"Read a book on it," said Annabelle, and he almost guffawed, moving up a little on the grass bringing her with him so they could lie down looking up at the stars as they spoke, "I'm completely serious," She said, extinguishing her blue bell charm, entwining her fingers in his and settling beside him,

"There is a lady in my town who gives me a book on how to be a good person every time I'm in her shop," said Annabelle, and he glanced at her, "Studied them like a priest studies the bible. Picked my favourite parts and ignored the rest. Couldn't stand the idea that I might turn out like either of my parents, always thought they messed me up in the head,"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't even know, hard to pin point but impossible to ignore," said Annabelle with a small laugh, before looking at the sky,

She was so happy to be with him.

Annabelle always made him feel better.

Annabelle eternally made him happy.

Annabelle believed him.

"Still find it crazy that your constellation is at the heart of a lion constellation," said Annabelle,

As though he were fated to fall in love with her.

He wanted to tell her before she knew what he was.

Then he started in on his quest to get those three words out of his heart and into the world, "Belle,"

Not even caring if she didn't return them.

He needed her to know.

Depth of his soul to the tip of his tongue,

"I love you."

Then out into the world.

Saying the words was as easy as breathing. This relief washed over Regulus as he held her hand in his, staring up at the stars in the sky,

He found himself wanting to repeat them.

Over and over.

Tell her that he was over the moon for her. Hell, maybe even over the sun, over Jupiter or Neptune or his own star,

Annabelle sat up a little bit looking over at him, he was looking at her with his stupid beautiful smile,

So she learnt over and kissed him wholly, he kissed her back, sitting up, unable to accept there was any distance between them at all, he pressed his forehead to hers, separating their lips,

Not wanting her to think he had just said it because he wanted sex. Regulus enjoyed the physical intimacy they shared just as well as the emotional intimacy.

"I love you," he repeated, looking at her from beneath his lashes,

Annabelle wore the most unusual of facial expressions on her face.

Then she looked at him, furrowing her eyebrows. The only context in which she had heard the words I love you were when her parents or sister hurt her in some way, she'd never been able to return them.

Not once in her life.

Because they had never been real for her. It was rare she heard them, but they were never partnered with anything remotely good,

"I love you, sweetheart," her mother would say as the caseworker watched, allowing she and her sister to come home, "just wish you weren't so clumsy," she would say touching the bruises on Annabelle's face,

"I love you, Annie," her father would say drunker than a soldier come home from war, or "Sweetheart, I love you it was an accident," he would say in front of the nurses as they asked how exactly Annabelle had broken her arm,

"Love you, Annie," her sister would say before telling her she'd lost all of Annabelle's piggy bank money,

"What did you do?" She asked, frowning at him and he looked at her in utter shock, "Is there something you're not telling me?"

He took her hands in his, "I love you, is that so hard for you to believe?" He asked, and from the look on her face the answer was yes,

A million times yes.

Her chest was rising and falling rapidly, he hadn't expected to hear the words right away but this certainly was not the reaction he was hoping for,

"Belle,"

"What did you do? Did I do something?" Asked Annabelle,

"I just fell in love with you," said Regulus, touching the side of her face delicately,

"I don't understand." She said,

"Annie, won't you come out, I love you," her father would shout as she hid under her bed praying he would just pass out on the couch,

"Tell the teachers you fell okay? I love you and I don't want you and your sister taken away," her mother would say,

"I love you Annie, I had to tell them," said Olivia as the pair of them were moved into a foster home,

The words were never real. The words were always lies covering something up,

"Belle, I'm not going to take it back," said Regulus, not enjoying the role reversal, "I love you," he said, pressing a soft kiss to her lips,

"I don't need you to say it back," said Regulus, his lips hovering over hers, "I just need you to know that I love you. It's just you and me and us and how we make it work for as long as we possibly can," he said

They were words he'd rehearsed a thousand times that she'd never imagined hearing from anyone in a million years,

"Majesty, I- I've never," she started and he kissed her again,

Annabelle was his best friend, and the love of his life. He needed to figure out how to convince her of the latter.

"We should go back to the castle," she whispered,

"Belle," he said, standing up, and she pulled his tie from his shirt, and reattached it properly around his neck,

Annabelle took her time. Her hands lingering on his shoulders longer than they needed to,

Eyes lingering on his longer than necessary,

"Right then," she said, extending a hand for him to take,

Her heart felt like it had split right down the middle trying to open up to him, but she hadn't been able to. If there was anyone she should be able to be vulnerable with it was Regulus,

She didn't know how to tell him how much she felt for him, the word that might encapsulate it all was one that she had tried to say before one he had said to her,

But she failed to.

Replacing it with words like idiot spoken so fondly it could almost be confused for a sweet word.

When he was hurt and she couldn't bare the thought of him being alone she'd wanted to say it to him softly the way they did in books,

Love and possession were mixed together in books so frequently that she almost refused to believe love existed,

Regulus took her hand, twining their fingers together,

"It's you, me," she said, with a small nod, and he took her other hand, kissing her forehead before kissing her lips, "us," she repeated his words,

There was an irrevocable sense of guilt in Regulus' gut.

He was hiding something from her.

Regulus wrapped an arm around her shoulders and an arm around her waist as he kissed her, pulling Annabelle flush against him, her hand was in his hair,

Regulus showed her all the love he had for her and Annabelle tried to reciprocate.

She wanted to explain everything. Everything. It was simply immensely difficult and would take a lot out of her,

Annabelle looked at him for a moment before kissing his cheek admiring the dazed look he had on his face after kissing her and bringing him back into Hogwarts,

Making him laugh as many times as she could and turning Regulus' horrible day around,

She succeeded.

Regulus truly wanted to scold her for this, smiling as she told him about what she'd found out about the Philosopher's stone, if she didn't want to accept the words 'I love you,' then why did she cause the feeling so easily?

-*-

"Good morning," said Regulus, catching up to Annabelle as she walked through the hall on a Saturday morning, a few weeks after he told her he loved her,

"Sleep well, your majesty?" She asked, glancing at him as they stood at the base of the stairs to the astronomy tower,

"What sort of question is that?" Asked Regulus, as though his insomnia was something to be taken lightly,

"You must have, to rise before the sun to-"

"Be with you," he finished, "I wanted to be with you. I also brought you tea," he extended the mug of warm tea which she took in her cold hands,

"Majesty, you flirt," she said, and he blushed, smiling at her, touching her unused hand,

Annabelle had been trying to get more in touch with her emotions so that she could be a better person in general but also for the added benefit of being able to express herself.

To the point where she had actually told Regulus this. That when she felt too much she got cold and numb,

Hence the tea.

"The English and their tea," said Annabelle, smiling a little, "Thank you,"

She took a sip and he looked away guiltily and she tried to hide her grimace,

"I'm not the best at tea," said Regulus, sheepishly scratching the back of his neck,

He was adorable.

Annabelle twined their fingers together and pulled him towards the stairs,

"The astronomy tower? You hate heights." Said Regulus,

"Why do you think I'm dragging your sorry arse with me?" She asked, mounting the steps, "Besides it's special in the mornings,"

"You call this morning?" Asked Regulus, it was about four o'clock in the morning, middle of the night if you asked him,

"Yeah," said Annabelle, "And it's my favourite time of day,"

"That's because you are insane," said Regulus,

"Then bring me to the loony bin because I am not changing," said Annabelle, and Regulus chuckled,

"If you wake up this early everyday why not simply do your homework then?" Asked Regulus, not minding the view from where he mounted the steps behind her,

"And corrupt the morning with Merlin's evil theories? I think not. Little shite he was, taking credit for everyone else's work like that," said Annabelle,

Regulus was happy. Regulus was in love.

"I found a legend, not all that reputable of a source but still, that he murdered his best friend for shagging his mistress while his wife was in love with him. The best friend," said Annabelle, "I mean," she said, turning to face him as they reached the top,

"Cool motive, still murder," said Annabelle, and he kissed her forehead,

"You want me to hold your hand because your scared of heights?" He asked, a smug grin on his fates as they faced the things that she feared and he did not,

"No...." she said indignantly, scoffing and wrinkling her nose, glancing at the view and shifting on her feet before saying, "Yes," somewhat defeated,

"Wow."

"What?"

"Thought I was dating a Gryffindor," said Regulus, sighing and looking away,

"Are you serious right now?" She asked,

"I'm Regulus," he said as though offended, taking her unattended hand in his once more and revelling in the way it felt,

She walked to the very edge with him at her side, he let go of her hand, sliding his arm around her waist instead, as she drank more of that god awful tea he had made her,

"I thought it was awful," said Regulus,

"Yeah, but you made it for me," said Annabelle, and if it were possible for human beings to melt, Regulus would be a puddle on the floor, "You've been sleeping alright?"

"I sleep upwards of two hours literally on you. I would think you would notice," said Regulus,

"You know what I meant," said Annabelle and Regulus tensed a little,

The paralysis was back as he woke up. And he couldn't do anything. Each new letter, the letters he had to return for fear of being killed or his family being killed,

"I'm alright," said Regulus, "You looked beautiful at Slughorn's dinner by the way,"

She was 'a wild card' as Slughorn liked to say, and Regulus always wanted to punch him after. Annabelle, if she were a card would sure be the queen of hearts.

"I can scrub up when I need to," said Annabelle, "You're dashing all the time, so I don't feel the need to comment, but the cuff links are a nice touch to any ensemble really,"

He chuckled, pressing a kiss to Annabelle's temple,

He shrugged, "Someone special made them for me," he said,

Annabelle bit her lip for a moment and then looked at him,

"I come up here to watch the sunrise in the spring," said Annabelle, looking at the horizon line where it met the Black lake holding the warm cup of tea in her cold hands, "no point in the winter. Not the same." She added, "So I wake up early, and I get the balls to do this, usually I only sit over there," she said, nodding to a space a few paces away where her initials were engraved into the floor boards,

"I always thought that was you," said Regulus, "I'll add mine another time," he said, and she nodded in agreement, not wanting him to leave her side,

"I hate heights, and who doesn't want a couple extra hours of sleep, it's a lot of effort for that moment when the sun reaches the horizon line and the world comes to life," she said, her eyes locked on it,

"That's what people have been like to me, all this effort for, well I don't know not a big pay off? Talking like you is hard," she said,

Annabelle mimicked him when she wanted to express her emotions with more of a poetic edge.

(A/N Annabelle 'I tend to ramble when I'm nervous' Aelin is about to tell Regulus everything, it's long,)

"And yes I mean everyone." Said Annabelle, "Even me. So I'll save you some effort, I know all about your family, and I know mine are muggles but they fucked me up just the same,"

"My dad is named Arthur, my mum's name is Alice, they met when Alice was seventeen about to turn eighteen, dad was twenty, and they fell madly in love. Coincidentally nine months later my sister, little light of their lives, Olivia. She did everything perfectly, I mean everything, Mum swears she potty trained herself. Money is tight and dad goes out early in the morning and comes back late at night, fish are scarce so more long hours. Mum is alone with a baby at home, she's basically a kid herself, so she goes and she plays. Dad got cross and then nine months later I showed up. Dad didn't think I was his despite us having the same fucking eyes," said Annabelle, shaking her head,

"That's when she shouting started and didn't stop. The first time I saw mum slap him was when I was three. It just got worse," said Annabelle, "Dad started drinking. Smuggling with the boat. He starts bringing me along because no one would search a family man's boat, and I got distracted by the sun coming up every time, like it was magical or something,"

"Spoilers," muttered Regulus, unable to believe she was finally telling him all this,

"My parents always preferred my sister, never really made me feel like I was worth much at all," said Annabelle, "Whenever I got sick I was scolded because what if Olivia caught it, whenever I got a bad Mark I got hit because I was tarnishing her legacy. I got hit for the first time as a punishment not just on impulse when I was six, I can't even remember what I was being punished for. Kept going, I used to hide under my bed a lot whenever I heard footsteps coming up to my room. Olivia is gentle hearted, kindest person I've ever met. I always had to lie to her,"

"Tell her I fell, or make up a story to distract her. Crazy but true." Said Annabelle, "Then one day I slip up, I tell her. And she tells the school, insisting that I need an ice pack because dad hit me, so a caseworker gets involved, Mum gets mad. Because dad leaves drugs out, with booze, and she hits me for the first time. Olivia and I are taken away and separated. I went all over. I was younger."

"Foster care was just a bunch of stale men and their bitter wives looking to make an extra couple quid taking care of the trash," said Annabelle, "It was awful. I can't even joke about it. I mean yeah my dad hits me and my mum couldn't care less about me but at least they aren't- anyways,"

"Went all over Britain with complaints and so much bad luck until, dad sobers up and decided to get us back. He and Mum clean up the house and do all that, but the only way they get Olivia back is taking me back too, and I come home. I was stupid to think it would last. My mum starts an affair with Ernest, my step dad. He is a pervert. And divorces dad. Who spirals. She takes Olivia with her, gets partial custody of me and calls it a day. She's got her perfect daughter. Dad- he doesn't try. He's drunk he gets into trouble, he hits me, hot temper, first time I went to see mum after he had to take me, pushed me out the car because I said I was excited. Told me he loved me and not to tell Olivia. Broke my arm. Mum got mad because she had to pay for it, Ernest hates me now and I don't know what I've done."

"I hide under my sister's bed and read the book I was given, how to be a good person. Then I go to Hogwarts and meet you," she said, nudging him, "And you are so nice to me. You don't know me and you actually have grounds to hate me for no reason at all, but you don't. Blew my fucking mind. Come home from Hogwarts get into sports with my sister and it's all fun until mum can only afford one of us, and I get sent home. Summer after second year a bottle got thrown at me, that's what happened to my neck. Then this summer. I read a book, and it says to talk through your problems. My emotions they just shut down when I'm stressed so I hardly really feel any of it, dad and I had a row. I go to Mum's and she says not to tell anyone, because she still anger shags my dad sometimes and she can't do that if he's in prison. And I know that if schools find out I'm back in foster care. So I keep it a secret, hope it'll heal it doesn't."

Regulus felt incredibly tense. Because knew she was sugarcoating things for his benefit. He could tell from her face it was rough, and when she laid it all out for him he almost felt like throwing up.

"I know it's not what you mean when you tell me you well, that, me. But everytime you say it I feel like something bad is going to happen. And I know it's irrational and I know I can't handle my own emotions so I handle other peoples', but I-" she took a deep breath, glancing at him and then back at the horizon as the first glimpse of dawn broke through,

"So once, once ironically in a blue goddamn moon I guess, someone might be worth waking up early in the morning and doing something you're terrified of just because it's worth it." Said Annabelle,

(A/N Annabelle is done)

Regulus' eyes trailed her features as the sun slowly illuminated them.

By Merlin, Salazar, and all the gods he could possibly worship, Annabelle was beautiful,

"Did that make sense?" She whispered, looking down, the tea had frozen over in her ice cold hands and he vanished the cup causing her to look at him,

"Perfect sense." He said, to him at least, Regulus pulled her closer to him in an attempt to warm her up, he succeeded,

"I know that this is a one day at a time thing," She started, he covered her cold hands with his, pulling them to his lips as though to kiss them better, "But that's never bothered me, so long as those days are with you, Majesty,"

Regulus looked at her like she was the whole world wrapped up into a single selfless person. He let go of her hands in favour of turning her to face him. His hand delicately went beneath her chin, tilting her head up,

He kissed her, relief coursed through her. Regulus deepened the kiss, pulling her flush against him,

It was like he was drowning and Annabelle was the air. Like she actually scared all his 'sleep paralysis demons' off for him and made it all easier.

Annabelle kissed him back, hand twining in his hair, other hand on his shoulder, Regulus' lips left hers, descending her neck and causing a small whimper to leave her, she tilted her neck back to allow him better access, his eyes darkened about three shades,

"Regulus," She said breathily, as her hands began to unbutton his shirt,

"You're sure?" Said Regulus, liking the way his name sounded on her lips, he stopped the next searing kiss he knew would be pressed onto his lips, their lips just barely touching,

"Yes," Said Annabelle, before kissing him properly, the way she knew he liked,

Her hands made quick work of his shirt, he cast several charms because this was a moment he simply did not want to be interrupted,

"Majesty," Said Annabelle, her voice still breathy, running a hand over his torso, and he practically groaned at the way it felt, "Work of art is what you are," Her eyes traced his body as though trying to memorize every last inch of him, pushing his shirt from his shoulders before she felt his hands under the hem of her top,

Regulus pulled her shirt off over her head, his jaw tensed as he looked at her, he recited transfiguration formulas in his head to stop from getting to hard to fast,

"Fuck, Belle," He muttered, kissing her neck and pulling her closer to him, wanting to feel her skin on his, he felt her hands on the buckle of his belt, pulling it off and throwing it aside, "Merlin," he exclaimed quietly,

"My name is Annabelle, Majesty, do try and keep up," Said Annabelle, and her amusement lasted until his hand pressed against her through her jeans and she let out a small moan,

Touching searing need took over.

He unbuttoned her pants, tempted to throw the bloody jeans over the edge for getting in his way and being a constant cause for distraction whenever he saw her in them, she took them off, and his breath caught in his throat,

"You are so beautiful," Said Regulus, "I love-" She cut him off with a searing kiss,

Every scar, every mark, everything that could possibly even be considered a flaw was nothing because they belonged to her.

He couldn't recall how exactly they had wound up on the floor of the astronomy tower. All he felt was pleasure, love, and adoration for the girl with her lips on his.

-*-

Regulus could not remember the last time he had slept so well, and he thought perhaps he never had.

Annabelle was asleep in his arm, a conjured blanket thrown over them, Annabelle's body was pressed against his her back to him as she held his arm around her waist as she slept soundly,

Regulus kissed a faded scar on her shoulder as he sat up

Regulus muttered a series of other charms in addition to the preexisting repulsion charms over the astronomy tower because this moment was not something he wanted simply to let pass, The sun was well up in the sky by now, lighting up Annabelle's delicate features perfectly,

A sudden feeling of guilt spread through him because he still had not told her why he was so upset the night he told her he loved her for the first time,

Regulus would repeat the words I love you to her, and each time she would look at him skeptically. He knew she had trust issues surrounding the word, and Regulus understood why, for him love might be an escape from his life of duty and family honour, for her it was something else entirely.

He could not stop himself from saying the three little words words that he'd longed to for so long, depth of his soul to the tip of his tongue so often it should be considered criminal,

Annabelle begun to stir, turning over to be closer to him, he pressed a kiss to her forehead as she woke up,

"Sleep well, your Majesty?" Asked Annabelle, opening her eyes, Regulus looked well rested, the colour had returned to his face, and the circles beneath is eyes had all but disappeared,

"You could say that, yes," He said with a small nod, and she smile, a small sound of amusement leaving her as she did, he smiled into the kiss she pressed onto his lips, "If I accidentally gave you a hickey, hypothetically, how would you react?"

"Hypothetically?"

"Mhmm,"

"Might just chuck you off the astronomy tower," Said Annabelle sarcastically, her eyes still locked on his lips before flickering to his eyes, he chuckled, pressing a kiss to the accidental hickey on her neck,

"I'm sorry," He said, then she touched the side of his face, "I couldn't help myself, you happen to not only be incredibly beautiful, but also exceptionally hot,"

Annabelle started to laugh, sitting up a bit, holding the blanket over her chest and he accidentally held it down so it slipped from her fingers and she shot him a withering stare,

"Accident," Said Regulus, as her hand was on his abdomen, and he looked at her,

"Accident," She repeated the word, hand feeling the contours of his torso,

"Enjoying yourself?"

"I really am. Thank you for asking your Majesty," Said Annabelle, grinning at him and turning him to putty in her hands as her hand went up his chest and to the side of his face, fingers gazing lightly on his skin, "Are you?"

"Yes, clearly, obviously I mean, yes," He rambled, he did not usually get like this just having a naked Annabelle this close to him, looking at him like that, she leant forward and kissed him,

Regulus kissed her back, "Was it," he started,

"It was perfect," Said Annabelle, kissing him again, "What did you expect? It's you and me,"

Us. he thought before pressing his lips onto hers once more,

Us.