Eternal Light | Regulus Black

Fifth year at Hogwarts

I gnawed on my bread sleepily. It was an early Saturday morning. Normally I would have used it as an opportunity to catch up on my sleep since the nightamares tended to keep me awake at night. But Professor Moody decided Saturaday would be a good day to have an extra lesson, and early in the morning I might add.

"Where is Severus? Isn't he coming to eat before the lesson?" I furrowed my brows and asked from no one in particular. I got shrugs from Abraxas and Marvel. Theo had his forehead pressed against the table and I wasn't entirely sure if he was even awake. Regulus sat across me next to Ruby. Dorcas and Misty hadn't shown up for breakfast either, but I didn't care enough to ask why.

Right then Misty and Dorcas walked towards us, whispering to each other. I suppressed my eye roll. I saw Dorcas hesitate for a second, before she brushed her fingers on Regulus's back and sat next to him. Regulus stiffened and narrowed his eyes at her.

"Hey, can we talk?" Dorcas said hopefully. I couldn't stop myself from staring, too curious as to what had happened.

"Did you not hear me the last four times? I'm not interested anymore," Regulus said blankly. He didn't say it spitefully or gleefully, he just didn't seem to care. Dorcas clenched her jaw and then turned to look at me.

"This is all your fault!" She spat before exiting the table with Misty dramatically.

Mine and Regulus's eyes connected and his expression softened. My heart was thumping against my chest at the realization he wasn't interested in Dorcas. I looked down to my plate and bit my cheek trying to hide my wide smile.

"Can't we have just one breakfast without any drama?" Abraxas groaned next to me.

"Oh says you — You love drama," Ruby rolled her eyes and sending a quick wink at me. My smile only grew wider. Theo had lifted his head slightly, leaning on his hands.

My smile died down as I noticed Lily hurrying to the Great Hall — Severus on her heels. It looked like they were arguing about something. Lily was rushing to get a seat next to the Marauders it seemed, it wouldn't end well if Severus would follow her. But he did. I couldn't hear what they were saying but Lily turned around to hiss something at Severus, earning the Marauders and few others attention.

What is he thinking? I stood from the bench but Abraxas grabbed my arm. "Don't," he warned me but I already yanked my arm free and strolled over to the Gryffindor tables. James was already on his feet, looking like he was about to punch Severus.

"Stop causing a scene," I said quietly once I reached them. I placed myself between James and Severus, my back to Severus.

"Snivellus is the one causing a scene by harassing Lily. Are you so obsessed with her you won't leave her alone for a minute? And after calling her that — that disgusting slur, you —" James glared at Severus.

"Stop it, we'll be going now," I narrowed my eyes at James as a warning and grabbed Severus by the arm to drag him to our table.

"I don't need your help! You always have to stick your nose into everybody's business. Nobody cares a crap about what you say," Severus sneered at me.

Fine, he wants to be like that, fine. "Excuse me?" I lifted my brows at him, daring to say that again.

"You think you're better than everybody else don't you?"

"No, I just think I'm better than you," I looked him up and down. I heard a few snickers behind me. Lily had left already, her embarrasement clear.

"Nobody's ever wanted you, even Regulus chose Dorcas over you. Ruby chose Marvel, and to them, you'll always be a Slytherin reject," Severus pointed at the Marauders. A month ago his statement might have hurt, but now it didn't make me feel anything.