Rabbits and Rattlesnakes [Regulus Black/OC/Tom Riddle ]

Chapter 3

At the beginning he viewed me as a joke. He saw me as everyone else did, as the character I had created for myself. Regulus pushed the limits as much as he possibly could, trying to scare me with dark stories or put me off by being strange and vulgar, but as the weeks went by I could see his surprise and excitement each time I went and sat next to him in class. One day I was in the library with a group conducting a study session when I saw him staring at me from the corridor. For a second I wondered if he would come over, but just as quickly as I saw him he vanished, his black hair blurring into his robes as he sped off. I immediately got up and ran after him, but as I entered the hallway I saw him only a few feet in front of me.

"I have nothing to say." Regulus muttered.

"He's your brother-" I felt my eyes roll. James Potter. A Gryffindor who had a rather large taking for picking on the weak for someone with such a "strong moral compass". I'm no saint, but at least I only place my efforts towards worthy opponents.

"Not anymore."

"Reg please-" Sirius was harder to hate, but even easier to read. I took the opportunity so perfectly laid out in front of me.

"Regulus." I placed a hand on his shoulder, startling him slightly. "Is everything ok?" I felt all of their eyes on me, but the way Regulus looked at me sent a fluttering shiver down my spine. He was so surprised at my presence, and so confused at the notion that I cared enough to come over.

"Eloise?" I turned to look at Sirius. Seeing him this close reminded me of the beginning of the year when we'd kissed after a Gryffindor party. He'd always tried it on and I'd let him but that's all we had ever been. I'd refused to be a conquest, but it had been a specifically dull party and sometimes a girl has to make her own entertainment.

"Sirius." I responded flatly.

"Look, he just needs to talk to his brother-" James spoke. Again. I tried my best not to show the immense boredom that would wash over me each time I heard his voice.

"Since when are you two friends?" I turned back to Sirius, the jealously almost oozing out of his pores. The brothers didn't hate each other, they just had different analyses on life. With these different views came different roles. Sirius was meant to get the girls. This interaction didn't make sense to him. I no longer made sense to him, and I could tell by the way his eyes squinted as he assessed my whole being.

"Sirius don't-" Regulus began before I interrupted him.

"I think this conversation's over now." I stated before lowering my hand into Regulus'. I felt his arm stiffen for a moment before easing into my grip.

"El what are you up to?" I finally let my eyes roll before starting to pull Regulus away from the group.

"Not everything has to do with you Padfoot." I sneered. Once we turned the corner I felt Regulus tighten his grip on my hand and pull me down a side corridor into the shadows.

"Merlin wh-"

"What was that about?" He gently pushed my back up against the stony wall as he stood in front of me, his black hair hanging over me as I looked up into his eyes.

"I just thought-"

"Has all of this been about Sirius?" I instinctively lifted my hand and laid in softly on his cheek, feeling how his emotions warmed his skin.

"You're kidding right?" Regulus stared down in bewilderment. I realised then why Regulus no loner spoke to his estranged brother. He had been left behind. Everyone knew Sirius, the fun cheeky boy with muscles and a heart-warming smile. No one paid attention to the younger brother, left in the shadows to fulfil his family legacy alone.

"Regulus I have absolutely no interest in your brother. If I wanted to know him I could without your help." His stare softened slightly, his face swaying into my touch. Slowly he placed his hand over the back of mine, and for a moment I felt my lips tingle in anticipation, but instead he clutched my hand and pulled it away from his cheek, setting it back down by my side. Such a small action shouldn't have made my insides twist as much as they did. Control was something I was born with, a skill I had found unmatched. Why was he resisting?

"For you I recommend a friendship with him over me. This game has gone on long enough." That same stare chilled my fingertips, so cold and daring but oddly paired with those fearful rabbit eyes.

"What do you mean for me? " I scowled.

"Someone like you shouldn't get to know someone like me." He lifted his hand from mine and took a step back. He suddenly seemed taller after peering over me for so long. His pale skin and sharp jaw created an almost ghostly face.

"You think I won't like what I find?" I asked finding myself getting more and more irritated.

"Let's hope we never find out." He turned, leaving me in the corridor.

"Why?" I shouted from behind him, watching his tall silhouette re-enter the flickering light of the hallway. He stopped for a moment, still facing away from me.

"Because it'll terrify you." With that he left, disappearing while I leaned back against the rough stone walls trying to wrap my head around his words. Slowly I felt a grin rise from the pit of my stomach. Terrify me? Terrify me? He really didn't know me, and even better he didn't suspect me.