In Noctem [English version]

Ⅰ

| 𝕯𝖚𝖝 𝖈𝖆𝖕𝖎𝖙 𝖓𝖔𝖝 𝖉𝖎𝖊𝖒 |

Staring into space, Ethan Vardar had been staring at the same letter for several minutes. He wasn't really reading the book he'd opened at the beginning of the journey. His mind was wandering too much to keep him focused on the list of spells that were scrolling before him. Across from him, his best friend, Regulus Black, kept reminding him why he was nervous. And his nervousness had a name. Maeve Megan.

Ethan looked up at him. The latter was still watching the scenery unfold behind the glass. He, too, seemed to be deep in thought. But that wasn't unusual. Regulus was always in his thoughts. What Ethan dreaded, however, was the position of his hand. Still resting on his forearm, as if he wanted to protect or conceal what he had become. The young wizard leaned towards the first case. His best friend was too proud of his mark to want to hide it.

Ethan closed his book. What was the point of continuing to pretend to read? He put it in his bag, on the small shelf between the two rows of seats. With a flick of his wand, he closed the zip and the bag slid into the luggage rack. Regulus watched him do it, a small grin on his face. The young Black could look haughty and sarcastic all the time. Which he was, in fact, more often than one could imagine, but one had to know him well to know when he was mocking, or not.

- Magic will make you lazy, Ethan.

- You're not the one who has to carry Enron's twenty books of lessons.

His brother wasn't one of the brightest students. If he had to be classified anywhere, he would be more of a rebel. The latter had a lot of catching up to do, and didn't seem inclined to listen to his big brother's advice. Ethan couldn't blame him. Their parents had forced him to accompany them on this trip so that he could watch over him and force him to study. He had the wrong role, but he had to stick to it.

- Are you sure it was a good idea to bring him with us? You should have forced him to study at Hogwarts.

- I want to help you, Ethan assured him.

Regulus smiled briefly, but kept his expression serious. Ethan was about to question him when his brother burst in. The door to their compartment opened and a spark entered the room. The spark turned into a small dragon that fluttered in the air for a few seconds before exploding between the two friends. Then, Enron appeared, a defiant smile on his face.

- Gavin taught me this spell, I think I'll use it every time I come in, he announced, closing the door behind him.

The dragon was the emblem of the Vardar family.

- I didn't know the Vardars were so vain.

- No, that's the Blacks, of course, he said to the only person concerned in the room.

Regulus ignored his remark and glanced at his friend. Ethan was a master at ignoring his provocations and had taught the young Black to do the same. The three young wizards had known each other since childhood, and even though the two elders had a bond stronger than what appeared to be friendship, Regulus had learned to tolerate and even appreciate Enron.

- Are there many Hogwarts students coming to the castle? Ethan asked.

- I only looked for Gavin. There's that idiot Barty Croupton who's been hanging around Elinor, he doesn't like it.

- Junior, Regulus corrected him.

- 'What?

- It's Barty Croupton Junior.

Enron frowned and shrugged.

- I suspect he would have wanted to put a curse on Gavin if a man in black hadn't come looking for him.

- A man in black? Ethan repeated.

- I've never seen him before. He's got a funny face...he's all twisted up like that and he had a beard. I don't think he's a student, Enron sneered.

At this description, Regulus stiffened. Ethan caught his gaze and frowned at his attitude. The young wizard stood up and left the compartment without a word. He knew who his brother was talking about. Enron, on the other hand, didn't seem to notice his reaction as he began to criticize the lack of food on the train, unlike the Hogwarts Express. Ethan listened to him for about ten minutes before Regulus returned. The young wizard stood up, questioning him with his eyes. With a wave of his hand, his best friend signalled for him to remain discreet. They waited until Enron, tired of doing nothing, put on his magic headphones before sitting down again, one next to the other.

Who did you recognize?

- Antonin Dolohov.

Ethan shivered in spite of himself. The Death Eater had no longer to make his reputation. After the murder of Fabian and Gideon Prewett, he was known as one of the most powerful wizards in the service of the Dark Lord. And while he wasn't on either side, Ethan certainly wasn't on his.

- He came to watch me.

- Watching you?

- I sent him away.

The brunet raised his eyebrows. Regulus always had a way of surprising him with his confidence.

- I'll find this obscurial on my own.

- On my own, but with my help...Ethan corrected him.

- You and I are one, old brother, that doesn't count.

Ethan nodded. Regulus settled back into his seat and resumed his contemplation, or rather his train of thought. The young Black was not very demonstrative in his actions or words, but there was always honesty in what he said. Regulus could not lie. Unlike Ethan, who kept certain things from him. He wasn't proud of it, but he was stuck. And his secret was about to be exposed by this trip. The wizard dreaded their arrival. He had a bad feeling about the outcome of 'their' mission.

- I can see the tower in the distance, we're coming, Enron informed them.

The two friends straightened up to look more closely in its direction. The tallest tower of the castle broke the horizon. The other eight soon came into view until the entire building loomed before them. Regulus looked determined before addressing his two companions.

- Let's get ready.

By blueskyling222