𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆, regulus black

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟒: 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐎𝐧𝐞

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚

Rune and Tina dug into the large slice of chocolate cake as they listened to Nancy, the elf in charge of Hogwarts' kitchens, speak about the 'good old days'. 

"Ooh ooh! And the one time, Headmaster Dumbledore took Nancy to Paris with him. Nancy learned how to make perfect pastries and croissants. Even when the dark times came, Nancy always cooked well!" 

"Mmh!" said Tina as she licked chocolate frosting off the spoon. "I don't doubt it. This is the best chocolate cake ever." 

Nancy's hands flew up to block her face as she shouted, "Miss Tina is being too nice! Nancy will make chocolate cake every day!" 

"Oh no!" tried Tina quickly, "That's not what I..." 

She drawled off as the elf whizzed away undoubtedly to start preparing for more cake. 

"Now see what you did," laughed Rune, digging her spoon into the cake. 

"I didn't mean to," murmured the Ravenclaw guiltily. 

"Relax!" said Rune, stretching out. "After a week, we'll come down here and tell her we've had enough. It's no biggie." 

"I hope so..." She glanced at Rune, "So, what is it that you wanted to talk about?"

"I tried speaking about this to my... friend... but he's a boy and I need a girl's input." 

"And...?" prompted Tina. 

"And you're the only girl who I'm close enough to for me to speak to," continued Rune. 

Tina tilted her head slightly as she studied her. 

Rune knew that Tina had plenty friends. She'd rarely ever seen her alone save for Arithmancy. It was something that made her a little jealous. 

She wished she was easy to like. 

She also hoped that despite the two girls only seeing each other in Arithmancy, Tina would have considered her as one of her friends as well. 

"Okay," said Tina, sitting up straight. "Shoot." 

"Okay, so... let's just say... hypothetically... that there's a boy who's shown interest in me—" 

"Regulus Black?" 

"What?" asked Rune disgustedly. "Ew, no." 

"Oh..." said Tina with a sheepish smile. "Who?" 

"I can't say right now." 

"Okay, then continue." 

Rune took a deep breath in. "I've spent the last 2 weeks analyzing him and my findings conclude that while he is a nice person, he displays a general nicer-ness to me." 

Tina blinked at Rune a few times before shaking her head with a smile. "Did you have to make it sound like a scientific experiment?" 

"Of course, I did. How else would it make sense?" 

"So," said Tina, still smiling, "I'm guessing you're interested in him too?" 

"Well, no boy's ever liked me before so I do want to know how it feels," shrugged Rune. 

"But do you like him?" 

Rune thought about it for a second and then laughed nervously. "I don't know. I think I do." 

Tina narrowed her eyes in thought before gasping. "Wait here. I'll be back in around 10 minutes."  

"10 minutes? Where are you going?" called out Rune, but Tina had already left the kitchen.