Don't Tell Anyone About This | Regulus Black

Chapter Seventeen

It turned out that the plan to leave for Hogsmeade at midday was quite beneficial for Nerezza as it meant she could go down to watch the Gryffindor quidditch practice that morning.
What hadn't quite gone to plan was that instead of enjoying herself whilst watching the players dart through the air, she had spent the entire time envious of them. Yes, she loved quidditch, but she'd never been jealous of the players before. But that particular morning she found herself desperately yearning to be able to fly, to be able to take part in the fun of the sport and the team.

So after the practice ended, and with dampened spirits, Nera quickly descended the stairs from the stands and scurried back up the hill towards the castle. She'd quietly been striding along, her gaze fixed down on the grass, when, from a short distance in front of her, she heard her name.
Had she imagined that?

"Stark!" A voice hissed.

No, she hadn't.
Nera lifted her gaze and saw Regulus Black making his way towards her. As her eyes met his, she suddenly felt self conscious. It was only a few days ago that he'd called her beautiful, and not a word had been spoken between them since. Was she still beautiful? Nera thought not. She didn't really think she ever had been.

"Nerezza... There's something I need to say. It'll only be quick." He said, unable to hold her gaze for more than a couple of seconds.
"Oh, er..." She straightened up, glanced around, and replied, "Alright."

He rubbed the back of his neck and looked almost bashful as he tried to figure out how to phrase what he wanted to say.
"I just..." Regulus could feel himself blushing and he hated it, he could feel his palms sweating and he despised it, "I'm sorry."

Nera blinked, "Sorry?"
"Yeah."
She frowned, "About what?"
He sighed, "About snapping at you. I don't know if anybody has ever asked if I'm alright and meant it before. I panicked and... Snapped. You didn't deserve that."

That was surprising. Regulus almost seemed like a human being. He wasn't the effortlessly genius boy, the cruel but brilliant quidditch player, or the mysterious and popular student. He was a normal person who'd made a mistake and could apologise for it.

"It's-it's okay." Nera pocketed her hands and shrugged.
Regulus shook his head, "I thought about it and... It doesn't matter. I'm just sorry, and... That's all."
"Thanks." She spoke softly, unsure of what else to say.

Regulus suddenly became aware of how dry his mouth was as he said, "It's... It's alright. Don't mention it." He scuffed his shoes on the ground.

Nera smiled, "Well, thanks anyway. That was... That was unnecessary but nice."
"No problem. Really. Things can just go back to normal now." He said.
Nera frowned, the shrugged and admitted, "I didn't-didn't realise anything had changed anyway. Did I miss something?"

"No!" Regulus responded. A little too quickly. Nera noticed him blush that time.

"Alright, cool... Cool." She nodded slowly, trying to figure out what Regulus had meant. What had changed? Nothing that Nera could think of.
He nodded back, "Good."

Even as he stood there, in front of Nera, he thought she was beautiful. Why did she have to be beautiful? That fact that he thought that, it didn't mean anything. Obviously. It was just... Just the truth.

Nera tugged at the neckline of her jumper and said, "Alright, well... I've got to get going."
"Oh right." Regulus revealed a slight smile. Even though he knew it was none of his business, he wondered what plans she had.

"Hey, Nera! You on your way?" Ada's voice called out from the top of the hill.

"Yeah." Nera flicked her dark hair behind her shoulders, and spoke too quietly for Ada to hear her from the distance. She turned to Regulus and explained, "I'm just heading to Hogsmeade, so... So I'll see you around, I guess."
"Yeah, yeah, of course..." Regulus pocketed his hands, "And, tell you what... Don't even bother sitting the OWLs, because you can't compete with me." He quipped.

Nera laughed, "Of course I'm not going to compete with you - you're many leagues below me."

Regulus grinned and stepped to the side to allow Nera to pass and go and meet up with her friend. He combed a hand through his hair and thought that he really could put the whole Astronomy Tower thing behind him now. Things could really return to normal. He could go back to his usual self now.

"He-hey!" Ada greeted, slinging her arm around Nera's shoulders as the two friends began making their way up towards he castle to meet Edgar. "You alright?" The blonde asked.
Nera nodded and smiled, "Yeah, you?"

"Tired, as per." Ada shrugged, "Who were you just chatting to?"
She explained, "We-we weren't really chatting. It was just Regulus Black and we were... You know, bickering. The usual."

Ada rolled her eyes, "If I were you, I'd just hex him. Or transfigure him into a lump of mud. Nobody would ever find him."
"That's... That's quite dark, you know?" Nera's eyebrows furrowed together.
"Eh." She shrugged, "He shouldn't be so awful then."

Nera quickly changed the topic of conversation, "Ada, I know you don't like quidditch, but-"
"That's an understatement." She scoffed.
"But... Do you know how to fly a broom? Are you good at it?"
Ada laughed and shook her head, allowing her hair to fall over her face, "Oh, no. I'm the worst. Shockingly bad. Borderline dangerous. Why?"
Nera shrugged, "Doesn't matter."

"No," Ada shook her head, "Go on, what is it?"
Nera mumbled, "Well, I just... I was toying with the idea of learning how to fly. I mean... I really love quidditch, so I might also like playing the game myself."

Ada frowned and paused for a moment as she thought, before she asked, "Did you never do flying lessons?"
"Well, yeah..." The brunette grimaced slightly, "But I was rubbish. I guess... I don't know, maybe I just need the right teacher or something."
"I bet. Well, maybe we can figure something out. Bones might have an idea." Ada suggested.

Nera smiled and laughed airily, "Are you warming to Edgar after all?"
"Ha!" She scoffed, "I think he's an idiot, and too nice. What's up with that? His constant good mood is annoying."
"You can't seriously be annoyed at someone because they're cheerful."
"Watch me."

"And what about me?"
"You?"
"Yeah," Nera asked, "What's annoying about me?"
Ada frowned in concern, "Nothing is."
"Give over." Nera shook her head, "You get annoyed by everyone."

Ada conceded, "Well... That might be true..."
Nera laughed, "Exactly."
"But don't worry," Ada reiterated, "You're not annoying in the slightest. You remind me of my sister, but you have none of her annoying habits."

"Well..." The two girls had come to a complete stop just outside of the castle as Nera spoke, "I think that's nice, but isn't your sister a sporty, popular, extrovert?"
Ada pinched the bridge of her nose, "Yeah, okay, you might be right there."
"So you're just talking nonsense then?"
"Oh, yeah."

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apologies for the short chapter, but i hope you guys are enjoying the story so far :)