The Marauders Era

A bus without a roof.

"You don't mind, do you?"Cassie whispered to Rabastan as she and her brother had just broken the news to their parents that he, Regulus, would be joining Cassie and Rabastan for their trip to Diagon Alley, or at least that's what they thought. After she had mentioned to her younger brother about the plans she had made with Rabastan, he had instantly agreed to keep it a secret, and if there was one thing she knew, Regulus was an excellent secret keeper.

"No, of course not. Besides, I think a few hours together without your mother breathing down your neck would do you both some good." He replied quietly. The two stood currently in the hallway, waiting for Regulus to come down the second-floor bathroom.

"Thank you." She smiled gratefully at him.

"But.. he does know, right? Where we're going?"

"Yes, he knows. And he promised not to tell anyone. If it's going to do anyone some good, it is him, he might not say anything, but he needs this a lot. I heard him laugh this morning. For the first time in months, I honestly don't think I've heard his laugh since Sirius left. He's a teenager. We all are. I think we deserve a day to act like it. Just.. let's try not to take him to a pub or anything. I don't think we'll manage to keep our secret if he came home drunk."

Rabastan chuckled as he could almost envision both of their mothers' reactions if they had even dared to bring a drunk Regulus back home. "Well, it would be fun to find out what sort of drunk he is." He commented, causing Cassie to roll her eyes.

"I doubt it would be anything I haven't seen before." Rabastan raised a curious brow at her, though as he got no response, he lowered it before raising it again. "What?" she questioned.

He looked away for a moment before meeting her gaze again with an astonished expression. "This." he pointed to his forehead as he raised his eyebrows again. "This was supposed to tell you to explain. It was me urging you to continue." he shook his head in disbelief, while all Cassie did, or rather all she was able to, was to stare at him until she burst out laughing.

"This- you though... and that was supposed to... how could i.." was all she managed to get out in her fit of laughing. Rabastan moved his gaze back and forth between her and the end of the hall in case anyone decided to show up. At the same time, Cassie continued to laugh until she felt her stomach aching and her eyes brimming with tears. Though each time he looked at her, he really couldn't help but smile along.

The sound of someone rushing down the stairs made the two share a look before both setting their eyes on the staircase, watching as Regulus descended. When he saw how red his sister looked along with the amusement radiating in her eyes, he gave her a puzzled look. "Why are you so red?"

Cassie turned to Rabastan while bearing a wide grin. "Would you tell my brother by I'm so red?" she asked sweetly.

He let out a sigh as he rubbed his face before meeting her gaze. "Because your sister does obviously not know what this means." He raised a brow, just like he had done a few moments ago.

"Doesn't it mean, really or seriously?" Regulus asked as he switched his gaze from Rabastan to Cassie, who nodded approvingly.

"Yes. Yes, it does."

Rabastan looked at the two Black siblings and shook his head disapprovingly. "No. It means go on. Continue with what you were saying." He received a somewhat uncertain look from the boy, while Cassie just stood bearing a shit-eating grin.

"I think I'm going to stick with my sister on this one." Regulus decided as Rabastan rolled his eyes before moving towards the closet to find his coat. As Cassie let her brother go before her, she bit her lower lip to suppress the laugh that threatened to erupt as she watched him pull out his black cloak.