Imagines- Harry Potter

Lavender | R.B

"Professor Black?" A Hufflepuff student raised their hand, "Yes, Ms.Abbott?"

The Hufflepuff - Hannah Abbott - swallowed thickly, "Are you worried?"

"Worried about what?" Professor Black queried with her signature sweet smile, "Sirius Black." Hannah stated.

The Professor chuckled, "No, dear. Nor should any of you be. Sirius Black will not harm any of you."

Quietness remained through the classroom, "You know what, we have about twenty minutes of class time left. Why don't you ask me all the questions troubling your minds? No judgment. You ask me questions, and I shall tell you no lies."

Hermione's hand shot up, "Yes, Ms.Granger?"

"How do you inherit the Black surname?"

Y/n smiled faintly, "I was married to one of the brothers."

"Which one?" Ronald Weasley interjected, "Regulus Black." Y/n answered.

"Pardon me if this sounds rude," Dean Thomas began, "But wasn't Regulus a deatheater?"

Tension set throughout the classroom, "Indeed, he was Mr. Thomas. I congratulate you on your research, but Regulus was not an evil man." Y/n replied reassuringly.

"What was he like?"

"Regulus Black was a kind and ambitious man but pressured by his parents - Walburga and Orion - to accomplish things he never had ambition for." Y/n twisted the ring on her finger, "Sirius Black and Regulus Black had more in common than they liked to believe. In the end, it seems that they weren't different at all."

"What do you mean, Professor?" Hermione queried at the cryptic response.

Y/n stood in front of her desk with her arms and legs crossed, "What I mean is that they both sacrificed themselves for the people they loved."

"I can't go into Regulus' whole background, we just don't have the time for that, and I can't speak for Sirius, but I can assure you, Sirius means no harm."

Glancing at the clock, most students began to pack up and leave. Hermione seemed intrigued and wanted to ask more, but she left despite her craving for knowledge. Ron followed shortly after. Harry seemed to be packing extraordinarily slow. Both his closest friends leaving him behind while the classroom expired itself out. Y/n returned to behind her desk, and Harry stared at her with his bright green eyes.

"Professor." Harry called, grabbing her attention, "Yes, Harry?"

"Did you know my father?"

"I did."

Harry stuttered, "Can- Can you tell me about him?"

"Perhaps," Y/n answered teasingly.

The boy sat back down at his desk, "James Potter." Y/n spoke with a laugh, "Merlin, he was a joy to be around."

"I was a close friend of James', which was fortunate. Most people couldn't get too close to him aside from the Marauders, but I managed to sneak my way in." Y/n explained, "James was kind and sweet, but he had his flaws like everyone else. Sometimes he hurt people - not that he noticed; of course, he thought it was all in good fun, but occasionally someone would get really hurt."

"Most of the time, I was his shoulder to cry on. Your mother - Lily, she was something, let me tell you. Hurt your father in more ways than one. Rejecting him constantly made him question his self-worth. But he covered it up with his famous James Potter smile."

"Your father wasn't perfect, Harry." Y/n stated, "Despite what anyone tells you. James Potter was not perfect, but there is one thing I bet he was fortunate for."

"What's that?" Harry asked, "He and Lily died together. They never lived without one another." Y/n answered.

Instantly Harry felt like he crossed a boundary, "I- I'm so sorry, Professor...."

"No need to apologize."

"Would you talk about him? Regulus, that is?"

"Of course. Um- Regulus was one year younger than the Marauders. He was also a Slytherin favored by his parents over Sirius." The Professor explained, fidgeting with her necklace, "He drowned. That's- That's how he died."

"He was eighteen when he passed in 1979. I can't express the pain I felt when I received news of his passing." Y/n chuckled bitterly, "Sirius ached too. Whether he showed it or not, I knew that he was hurting for the loss of his brother."

Tears began to gloss her eyes, "I was hurting. We had gotten married a month before he died. Looking back on it, I think he did that on purpose because he knew that soon he would do this mission that would result in his death. His biggest concern was always me and my well-being. So for me to inherit his fortunes, he married me."

"That's not to say he only married me for that reason, but I think he wanted to die knowing I'd be taken care of." Y/n added quickly, "Not even two years later, your parents died. Those three years were awful. And I mean absolutely dreadful."

"Shortly after I realized Remus - Professor Lupin, excuse me, began to distance himself, so I reached out to him before he could hide away. Remus and I moved into a flat together; we still do. I also have my daughter."

Harry spluttered, "Daughter?"

"Yes, my child with Regulus."

"What's her name?"

"Phoenix Regulus Black, a true Hufflepuff." Y/n announced proudly, "She's a year above you, but I'd recommend you meeting her."

"I- I know her." Harry murmured, "You do?"

Harry nodded, "She- She's been a good friend of mine since first year."

"Well then." Y/n chuckled.

Something was amiss in Harry's attitude. Y/n was not daft. She noticed that at the mention of her daughter's name, his eyes lit up. The way his green eyes sparkled like a freshly mined emerald. The way his usual pale complexion turned to a faint pink hue and his dopey smile. The same smile James had with Lily. The same smile Regulus had with her.

"You like my daughter, don't you?" Y/n crossed her arms, smiling playfully, "I- I- Pardon me, Professor." Harry stuttered.

Y/n laughed, "Oh, you so do! You love my daughter!"

"Maybe I do...." Harry confessed, "Well, Harry Potter, I have no problem with you having a crush on my daughter. Just don't make her a fling." Y/n replied, narrowing her eyes teasingly.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Now, run along. You have to catch lunch before it's up."

Harry rushed out of his seat after realizing the time. His bag placed on his shoulder as he left the classroom in haste. Y/n smiled and sat at the chair behind her desk. When moving a piece of parchment, there was a distinct rose petal. It was odd, she didn't have roses anywhere nearby, and no one had been near her desk all day aside from her. The rose petal was a beautiful shade of lavender.

Lavender roses were the only color of roses Regulus would give her. It made Y/n smile, "Thank you, Reggie."

In the afterlife, Regulus would've been sitting watching her entire conversation with Harry. He was smiling at his beautiful wife doing what she always aspired to do - teaching kids. Regulus could only hope that when Sirius was to find her that he'd take care of her. Perhaps Sirius could become Phoenix's father - the parent Regulus never got a chance to be. Regulus could only hope that Phoenix knew that he did everything to keep her safe. His beautiful baby girl.