occasus [regulus black]

𝐱𝐱.

Lethargic. That was the word that could describe Estelle best in the last weeks. Contrary her behavior directly after Nesrin died, where she took every chance she got to keep her occupied, it was now not a rare occurrence that she stayed in bed, claiming to feel sick. At first Ophilia tried to motivate her to go to class, but after many failed attempts she stopped trying. On days like these she would stare at the ceiling for hours and hours not moving a muscle, only getting up if she and Regulus were meeting.

Over the time she has gotten better at her spells and even won against Regulus once. They didn't speak much. Neither of them knew what it was, but the tension between them seemed to be suffocating. Their last meeting had been a week ago, before Regulus left school for one week, to spend Christmas with his family.

Hogwarts was very empty around this time of the year. Nearly everyone preferred to celebrate with their family and loved ones. Estelle felt worse than ever thinking about that. She could've also went home, but after everything that happened there, she wasn't too sure if she could still call it that. Why leave the school for loved ones you don't longer have?

Most of the students had started to overcome Nesrins death. The masquerade ball Lily had started to organize during the summer was now just a day away. At first Estelle wasn't sure if she should go, but after spending the first week of their winter break alone in either her bed or in the greenhouse, she started to realize that this would've been against Nesrins will. She wouldn't have wanted her to isolate and drown in her thoughts.

The evening came earlier than she expected. Going back to her dorm she passed the Marauders, but didn't bother greeting them. They had made it very clear what they thought about her, when they made her responsible for Nesrins death in front of her whole Transfiguration class. Even Sirius, just stood with the others, who had had visions himself. It wasn't that she was angry at them, but she couldn't help but feel betrayed and helpless.

Regulus arrived. His step was heavy and content. His head up high and the curls pulled back sleekly. No one could've notice the things he had went through the past week. It had hit him without warning and the voice of his mother screaming at him wouldn't leave his head. Trying to push the memories back he fell into his bed and could feel his muscles relaxing for a minute, before he fell asleep and cramped up again. The next morning he woke up and almost couldn't move his arms, because his shoulders were so tense.

Estelle slept in and left her room just after lunchtime, so she wouldn't have to sit with the others. Yesterday evening she went through her wardrobe and found a long, silky, dark grey dress. Nerio had bought it for her as a birthday gift and she just never had a opportunity to wear it. After having a quick lunch, she was hurried out of the Great Hall so that the decorations could be placed. Back in the dorm Estelle started getting ready for the evening.

The dress was stunning and fit perfectly, the long sleeves covered her arms and shoulders completely, without looking too old fashioned, because of the cleavage and the leg slit. She pinned her hair up loosely and pulled the silver mask from her drawer she and Nesrin originally wanted to wear together. At least her memory will be able to attend the ball, she thought before leaving towards the Grat Hall.

Everything inside the Great Hall was covered in a warm and golden light. The floor was polished and sparkled under the lights of the stars displayed on the ceiling. People were waltzing around the dance floor gracefully, careful to keep up their masks.

At fist Regulus didn't want to come, but he had to keep the impression of being the perfect pureblood son. So he stood in the corner, doing light conversation with a nameless Slytherin. Her name didn't matter as long as she was a pureblood, which he checked. A jump in his heart made him turn around and everything seemed to slow down around him. There was no point in denying his emotions when he saw Estelle walk in.