i heard what happened [reg]

[regulus arcturus black]

It was all alien territory for Reg, he knew to some end that his friends were petty and more interested in their own achievements than his own. They always touted their own exam results and extracurricular activities as if they were blessings from royalty and that nobody else compared. It seemed ironic to boast about school marks as such good results were attained by others aswel, most notably in Ravenclaw. It just showed how shallow and narrow minded individuals they all were if they had nothing else to shout about. He was a bit stunned by Sky’s revelation that she cared more about him than his achievements, shaken was more the word with a lot of confusion. ”You? Why do you care about me?” He was sure this had already been covered by it was such an alien concept to him that he found it hard to believe that someone outside of his family and moreover, outside of his blood status would care enough about him to voice it out loud. He was suspicious to say the least.

There was a lot being said that Regulus didn’t think he believed, or rather they were things he wouldn’t be saying if he walking down the corridors of Hogwarts between lessons. Where he was now, sat against the wall of an empty corridor with a seemingly kind and thoughtful stranger at his side was a different matter. He just felt so twisted inside. ”Yes of course I do… But well… I don’t know.” Reg blurted out incoherently, putting his head in his hands and letting out a frustrated groan as his logical brain that got him such high marks in school tried to wrestle with his parent’s teachings. Was it safe to go against such strong wishes? He would probably end up dead in a tragic ‘accident’ so his parents could save face to only having one son go against the teachings of the pure blooded Black family.

Regulus managed a small laugh through everything he was going through, Sky sounded like she had a normal back and forth with her dad if they could openly admit they were getting sick of each other. ”You wouldn’t mind not seeing your dad?” He asked honestly, it seemed like adding a whole lot more time away if Sky chose not to go home over Christmas. Reg smiled and nodded at the mention of Christmas at Hogwarts and at the giant cracker. ”Apparently they make the floor shake and they’re stuffed full of Honeydukes goodies!” He grinned mischievously, who didn’t like pulling a cracker over Christmas dinner? As she asked him why he didn’t just stay he looked down and his smile faded. ”It’s not what’s expected of me, the traditional Black family photo at Christmas time can’t be a man down.” He sighed, the life seeming to be draining from the conversation once again.

He watched her cautiously as she shifted around him but he was so down trodden to car at this point about what was happening around him. Honestly, he just wanted to sleep, to curl up in his bead for the rest of the day and forget about everything. When she placed her hands on face and stared deeply into his own, he felt entranced by her presence, with familiar and comforting smells filling the air. ”Oh?” Was about all he managed to say, wishing she would say more. He was hanging onto her every word and he wasn’t overly sure why.

[skylar roxanne winters]

When he asked her why she just looked at him. In all honesty she had no real grounding in an answer. He had made it clear what she was in her eyes, and there was plenty more he did not know. And yet here she was sitting with him. ”Because before you knew of my blood, you were one of the most interesting people I have spoken to.” That wasn’t a lie. When they had spoken he had struck her as intelligent and thoughtful. More rounded than others would believe him to be. ”You’re an ass,” Skylar reminded him. ”But you’re also not so bad.” She knew Regulus had done some things that he should not be proud of but away from others he could be somewhat decent.

”What don’t you know?” She wasn’t trying to get him to break down but rather straighten out his thoughts. Her ears twitched to the sound of footsteps but they walked passed the corridor entrance and she relaxed again.

Skylar pulled a face. ”That sounds horrible, doesn’t it? But imagine only having your Mum and you’re a guy. Well, same here. My dad, I think sometimes he forgets I’m a girl…” They had had some rocky times as she grew up but had always managed and she was grateful. The older Skylar got, though, the more she wanted to have some time to herself. ”And considering summer is spent in each other’s pockets, maybe it won’t be a bad idea.” Her Dad had already said that work might snow him under with all things considered going on in the Wizarding world.

Regulus spoke about the crackers and her eyes lit up. ”I hope that’s true.” Christmas had always been her favourite time of year. Skylar had always been a festive person. They were only in September but she would day dream about Christmas, wrapping, trees and decorations. The best thing about Hogwarts was the snow. Now that the cold no longer affected her she enjoyed it even more. Sky was pulled from those thoughts when Regulus spoke again. ”I’m sorry. It would have been nice to have someone else I know around the castle.”

He was looking at her and had barely said anything. The corridor was quiet and Sky looked directly at him. A thumping made itself more prominent to her and Sky could feel the blood pumping through his skin under her palms. The smell of sweat and parchment and the heat of him was so inviting. She could feel her mouth salivating and for a moment Sky imagined just how quickly she could snap his neck or pin him in place before tasting the thick, viscous blood running through him.

As soon as the thought came into her head Skylar pushed up and away from him a little quicker than humanly possible and was leaning against the other wall. ”I should get going.” She swallowed hard and could not look at him. If she did she knew she would be drawn in to hurt him. ”Need to return this scarf to Tyson.” Clearing her through she said, ”Look after yourself Reg. Things will get better.”

[regulus arcturus black]

Reg was torn between her words. How could someone he had treated with such distain be saying such kind things about him? He was still a mess but not so much that he was beyond recognising the change between them, mostly on his part. Sky had always treated him right from the moment they met, more or less. Reg was the one always battering her down. ”I don’t know which Regulus I’m supposed to be.” He admitted, still broken and wallowing in his own actions. ”I’m so fucked up.” He concluded, looking absently away from Skylar and down the corridor, no longer concerned about random footsteps that echoed from other parts of the castle.

How could he explain this to someone who hadn’t lived with it from birth? It would all sound insane and completely ludicrous but Sky had been so open and caring with him, he at least had to try. ”Nothing that I do is for myself. I am a representative of the Black family and my achievements are a reflection on my family values and teachings.” He started, shifting his weight around as he stayed seated with his back against the wall. ”I can never do anything that would embarrass my parents because I wouldn’t just be shaming them but every Black that came before me.” He finished, lifting his hands to his face and burring himself there for a few moments. ”I get it, you don’t understand. Nobody does.” He said pre-emptively, attempting to alleviate Sky from any guilt she might suffer from not knowing what to say. Nobody could, Reg thought.

Reg nodded his head from side to side in thought, he figured that spending Christmas with the same person for year after year could get tiresome and it’s no reflection on any ill feelings you have for them by wanting to spend a year apart. Maybe Hogwart’s would be an amazing place to spend Christmas and Sky would return to her dad next year with some killer ideas for decorating the house or what to put inside some Christmas crackers. ”Sounds like a Christmas at Hogwarts is what you need this year.” He mused, offering a friendly nudge towards Sky staying over the holidays.

Upon seeing Sky’s eyes light up, his own eyes widened in horror. ”Oh no, what have I started!?” He joked, imagining Sky setting off five at once and toppling the tree in the great hall. Christmas was Regulus’ favourite time of year. Not only was it the best time of year for food and sweets but the festive season always made him smile with songs and decorations and games with friends and family. And it was on that note that he felt the joy leaving him again. He would be expected to turn up to the Black family Christmas party to show off to his aunts and uncles how much he had improved in the last year and that they must come and see him play Quidditch this year. He was sick of it all. ”It would have been nice to stay. I don’t know if I want to or not. I don’t…” Regulus tailed off as his brain was winding down from the excitement.

And then, out of what to Regulus seemed like out of nowhere, Sky pushed away and was on her feet and put some serious distance between the two of them. He was confused beyond belief and stood up with her, holding out a hand somewhat in a silent gesture that she should say. ”Do you have to go?” Regulus asked, noticeably saddened but then as she explained his gaze dropped to the floor. ”Oh, ok.” He said slowly, nodding his head in understanding before going distant again entirely as she reassured him things would be ok. He looked off to the side and refused to meet her gaze. How could things possibly get better?

[skylar roxanne winters]

Sky looked at Reg but nothing he said was going in. The thumping from his heart was still ringing in her ears and she closed her eyes momentarily but that didn’t help. All she could think of was the thick viscous liquid filling her mouth and dripping down her throat. The words ‘do you have to go?’ filtered through to her and she almost stayed. Almost decided it was worth it but she shook her head. ”Sorry. I’ll see you soon.” With that she took off down the corridor. She needed to be as far away from him as possible. From everyone. It looked like she would be back out on the grounds.