occasus [regulus black]

𝐱𝐱𝐯𝐢.

"Are the Rumors true? You're getting expelled?" Ophelia didn't try to phrase it nicely but blurted it out unfiltered. Estelle couldn't care less of what she thought of her now that she was leaving anyways.

"Yes."

"Because you're a death eater."

Estelle froze for a moment while catching her belongings out of the bathroom and saw the color drain from her face in the mirror. Most confusing to her was that Ophelia didn't phrase this as a question but rather a statement.

"Sure. That and me eating babies for dinner," she replied, letting her voice drip with sarcasm.

"Very funny."

With these words Ophelia left the dorm, leaving Estelle sitting alone between her packed suitcases. Remembering the party for the end of the school year, when she heard music starting downstairs. Again she had lost her sense of time and groaned at the thought of the party. She didn't even know why exactly she decided to go downstairs, but she did and found herself in the middle of the party.

Although the music had just started a few minutes ago the room was already heavy with smoke and smelled like strong alcohol. A quick look towards the clock showed her that it were only two more hours until midnight. Estelle was quick to make her way to the bar and start drinking. After a few drinks she started to feel more light headed and felt the knot in her stomach ease.

Rumors spread fast in Hogwarts. Because of that Regulus already knew that Estelle was expelled. Originally he wanted to walk into her when she would've left Dumbledores office, but when he saw his brother walking into the same direction he changed his mind. Instead of trying to talk to Estelle again he was now on his way to the greenhouse. Inside he was overwhelmed by Estelles scent and he almost felt as if he would get high from it. He had no idea why he even went inside, but smelling her and being here, at a place that meant so much to her, made his body long for her. Looking around more closely he saw that most of the flower pots were shattered on the ground. Soil was sprinkled all over the floor and it made his heart feel heavy. Knowing that the only person who could've done this was Estelle, since no one else, except for him, knew the password, made his insides twist even more.

When he bend down to lift up one of the plants a memory got pushed into his mind. It was him and Estelle in the greenhouse. Instead of Regulus being himself in that memory he was watching the scene as a third person. Slowly he moved forward to get a better look at everything that was happening and then realized that this was the moment he realized that he was about to make a terrible mistake.

"You're drowning it," her voice sounded clear and innocent. Her hands pushed his away and then slowly extracted some water from the pot again. Her brows furrowing focused.

"I'm sure I'm getting better."

Regulus watched himself put his arms around her waist and turn her around so that they had to look at each other. Seeing the memory from a different perspective made him realize the way Estelle had looked at him in this moment. Her eyes were full of love, love for him. If he could turn back time and scream at himself to not turn against her, to not hurt her, he would've done it.
When the memory ended and Regulus was back in the destroyed greenhouse he felt sick. She hated him now and everything he saw between them just moment ago was now long gone.

Estelle let the music guide her body and danced with no shame. She was expelled anyways so why would she have to worry about her reputation. A hysteric laugh escaped her lips at the thought of having to return to her home, where her brother and mother have been murdered. But this was a problem she could solve the next evening, when she would leave, so she downed another drink and started dancing again.