brother.

brother: chapter 04

September 25th 1975.

Regulus had been avoiding Maud and Davina for weeks, much to Maud's annoyance. He wasn't sure how to proceed from here, he'd really messed things up. How was he to tell Maud he didn't fancy her? Sure she was pretty and he'd snog her again but she was just, so annoying.

He had been coming up with incredibly lame excuses as to why they hadn't seen much of each other, lying about extra quidditch practice, being swamped with schoolwork, late night classes that didn't exist.

On top of his tense state with Maud, Barty was in a foul mood. He hadn't made the quidditch team. Regulus wasn't surprised, Barty really had no chance. Every other player on the team was a seventh year, there wasn't a single weak link. The team hadn't had many changes the past few years. Narcissa had been the seeker and before she graduated in their second year, the only change was Regulus assuming her old post.

Even worse, he didn't feel bad. He loved Barty, but he needed something that didn't include him. Otherwise he'd be driven up the wall by him.

Lucky for Regulus he'd found himself a new acquaintance, Roman Stavrous. A 5th year Ravenclaw in his Defence Against the Dark Arts class. Roman didn't have friends, which Regulus didn't find surprising considering Roman did not talk, like ever.

The seat next to him had been open his first DADA lesson, and he had been sitting in the back left corner of the classroom, which Regulus considered the perfect spot. Then later that day Regulus went to the library to hide, he found Roman in his favourite table in the furthest corner of the library from Madam Pince.

He stared at the table, then at Roman, who did not look up. He began to walk away, then some shuffling came from behind him,

"Sit," Roman said. Regulus stared into his eyes, one was green and the other was grey. "Sit," Roman repeated and gestured for the seat beside him, which he had moved his pile of books from. They sat and studied in silence, only speaking to ask each other for notes or for an opinion on something the other was writing. This went on for a week and a half.

Regulus found himself in the library reading and book, beside Roman who was writing a potions essay which Regulus had already finished, on a Friday night.

"Are you going to Hogsmeade tomorrow?" Roman asked without looking up,

"Oh, I forgot tomorrow was the first visit," Regulus said, surprised with his faulty memory, "Are you going?"

"Maybe, I might go look in the bookstore, I'm looking for a copy of Beasts of the Dark Arts, I haven't been able to find it anywhere," Roman said, sounding annoyed,

"Oh I've read that, it's in my parents library. It's hard to come by, I can have them owl me it if you'd like to read it?" Regulus said earnestly,

"That would be great!" Roman smiled. Regulus noticed his mouth for the first time, his bottom teeth were crooked and his lips were much fuller than most other boys. "I might still go to Hogsmeade, I've run out of fudge flies," Roman laughed lightly, Regulus hadn't heard him laugh before, he had a nice laugh,

"Oh that reminds me! Rosier ate all my pumpkin pasties the fatty, I've barely been getting by without a midnight snack," Regulus laughed, Roman laughed with him. He had dimples, and freckles. Regulus had never noticed his freckles, maybe it was because he was sitting closer to him than usual.

"We could go together if you like? You haven't been hanging around your friends much lately," Roman asked. Regulus suddenly felt frozen, his stomach dropped so far he thought it might fall out his arse,

"Oh- yeah yeah. Sure we can go together." Regulus felt himself blush. What is wrong with you.

"Can I ask why you haven't been around them? You don't have to tell me," Roman was maintaining eye contact, giving Regulus his full attention. Regulus could feel his heart beating at an alarming rate.