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—THE NEXT WEEK,RIGEL WALKED DOWNSTAIRS, EYEBROWS RISING AT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. The Weasley twins were fighting with their mother about a few products they had created, Ginny and Ron were reluctantly cleaning, while Bill and Charlie were quiet, and Percy was nowhere to be seen— since he was the only Weasley with a brain not to trust Dumbledore, and that made him leave his family.
"Where's Sirius?" Rigel asked Molly, who gave him a plate of food.
"In the basement with Remus." She answered, giving a hesitant smile. She felt... uncomfortable... around him. All of the Weasleys did. Not that Rigel even cared, though.
••
"What the hell is going on here?" asked Rigel as he stepped into the basement.
A dog barked, making him turn around and shake his head. Cierra was on Padfoot's back, looking excited. "Padfoot.."
"Padfoot change back!" Remus scolded, getting his daughter. "Ri, Tom's down deeper in the basement, but there's a boggart, so be careful about that."
Rigel nodded, immediately walking deeper into the basement. He could defend himself against dementors, so what would his fear now be? Surely it would've changed by now.
••
"What are you doing here?" asked Rigel, who was finally in the room where a boggart was at.
Tom, who was sitting down on a table by the corner, pointed to a parchment infront of him. "Planning raids. Didn't want anyone to become suspicious, so I came here."
Rigel nodded understandingly, and turned around, pointing his wand at the chest. "Alohamora."
Tom looked confused when the boggart turned into a heart, while Rigel froze in shock.
"Riddikulus." Rigel whispered and walked out of the room.
••
That night, Rigel, Tom, Remus, and Sirius were on the rooftop of Grimmauld place. Cierra was asleep, which was why she wasn't with them.
Rigel and Tom were on one side of the rooftop, while Remus and Sirius were on the other side.
"So, you're afraid of a.. heart?" Tom eventually asked, looking curious.
Rigel didn't look away from the stars as he answered, "Not the heart itself, but what it can do."
"And what can it do?"
Rigel stayed quiet, not wanting to answer. Realization dawned upon Tom, his eyes widening.
"Love?" whispered Tom unbelievably. "You're scared of love?"
"I don't understand the idea of giving somebody the ability to ruin you." Rigel shrugged as if it was nothing.
Tom's lips parted in shock. "Not everyone will ruin you." He eventually said.
Rigel merely looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
Tom pointed to Remus and Sirius, who had their backs turned to them. Sirius had his head on Remus' shoulder, who had his hand around his waist.
"I don't see them ruining each other." Tom pointed out.
Rigel followed his gaze. He sighed and shrugged. "And I still don't understand how."
Tom didn't reply and stayed quiet, not wanting to accidentally blurt something out.
"Tom? Are you alright?" asked Rigel after a few minutes of silence, noticing his frowning face.
The older boy's frowning was gone immediately and turned into a small smile. Maybe Rigel didn't notice using Tom's first name, but Tom surely did.
