Bright Lion and a Stag (Regulus Black, James Potter, Marauders)

Chapter 8

October 30 - November 1, 1975

With Regulus still thrilled that an attack never happened, he still was a bit on edge about one happening on Halloween as he remembered being young and going about with his family and hexing muggles, but he tried to not be too worried. 

Halloween was a Friday this year, and the next day was a Hogsmeade day, which he was going to spend with Barty since Evan had a date with a fifth year girl named Iris Lavigne. 

The day before Halloween he was in Care of Magical Creatures which is one of his favorite classes, in part because very few Slytherins took it, and also because he was very fascinated by magical creatures. For a pre Halloween event (since they didn't have this class on the day of Halloween) Professor Kettleburn brought in a baby unicorn he found in the forest who was very friendly. 

He told the class about how unicorns typically much preferred a females touch and he made a joke about how he also preferred a women's touch which was extremely strange coming out of his old, scarred professor who was missing limbs and seemed to have little to no life outside of these creatures. 

Professor Kettleburn then invited the female students to come up and meet the unicorn which had them all gushing over the animal. Kettleburn said he may allow for the males to come up to the unicorn as well after all the girls go first. Regulus did not mind and decided to sketch the unicorn which he sometimes did in care of magical creatures. 

Although nobody really knew he was actually quite a good artist as well as Sirius. He actually only picked up on the hobby because of his brother, but their mum never approved and told them that drawing was deserved for lower class people who need money, which Sirius and Regulus would never be. 

Regulus still did art though, and really enjoyed drawing, and was one of the things that could help him destress. After a bit when nearly half of the girls had gone, Cordelia Rowle, one of the two other Slytherins in his year taking care of magical creatures came up to Regulus and sat down next to him. She had her green and black robes draped over one of her arms and when she sat she put it over her legs. 

"That's a brilliant drawing." She told him sweetly. 

Regulus didn't really know Cordelia. They were friendly after being in the same year and same house for so long, but for the past four years he's tried his best to avoid girls at all cost, other than Eleanor Burke, who is in the same year as Regulus and is a close family friend. Unfortunately last year they had their first kiss together, which neither of them enjoyed, and they've been barely friendly terms since. 

 He tended to find them tricky and was extremely intimidated by them. He knew though, he could not do this forever especially because now Evan was going out on dates and Axl has been trying to get Kayla Ikerson's attention for the entire term. Perhaps soon even awkward little Barty would be going to Quidditch games with a girl. 

And Cordelia was quite pretty. She had bright blue eyes, dark hair and a soft jawline and she came from a prestigious family. He could certainly do worse so what's the worst that could happen. Finally he told her, "Thank you." with a nice smile. 

"You are very talented you know. I've seen you fly as well and you read a lot which is often a sign of brilliance." She stated softly.

"Yeah I think I read that somewhere." She laughed at this which made Regulus significantly less worried. Maybe he could be a ladies man like his brother. 

"You're cute you know." She remarked.

"Hm am I? You're um- quite pretty as well." He looked up at the line where the girls greeting the unicorn were and saw it was much shorter now.