𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆, regulus black

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟐: 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐬

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚

Rune stared at the hands on the clock in her room, wincing each time the minute hand drew closer and closer to the start of the school day. She wanted nothing more than to not have to look at Regulus Black ever again but since he was in every single lesson she was meant to be in, she would be seeing him every minute of the day.

"Idiot," she muttered, pulling her pillow over her face to muffle her scream.

Since possible exam questions were to be discussed, Rune haphazardly pulled herself out of bed and unwillingly got dressed. It was obvious to her that Regulus had prayed for her bad luck because her first lesson was Ancient Runes. 

And from all the possible 12 subjects that she had chosen, Ancient Runes was the only one where she sat next to him. 

Despite running late, she had somehow managed to arrive early to the lesson. Aside from the professor, the only other person in the classroom was Regulus. 

As soon as he looked up, she jerked her eyes to the window and she must have been staring at it too intently because Professor Wampus said, "Please take your seat, Miss Westwood." 

Rune pressed her lips together. "Do I have to sit there?" 

"No," answered Professor Wampus cheerily. "You can choose to sit outside my classroom if that works for you." 

Rune sighed audibly as she dragged her feet forward to the desk. 

To her pleasure, Regulus had his eyes down on his book and was doing his best to ignore her existence. 

She pulled her chair to the furthest possible distance away from him and then sat down on the edge of it. She pushed her hair forward to block her face and covered the sight of him with her hand. 

Well, well, well, she thought to herself, if it isn't the consequences of my own actions.

"Hi," he hummed quietly. 

She wished she could have responded but if she opened her mouth, she knew whatever she said would have had her wanting to die. So, she said nothing.

"Rune—" began Regulus, but his voice was cut off by the loud chime of the school bell and she was ever so grateful for the unruly noise of students filling into the classroom. 

Rune glanced at her watch. One minute down. Eighty-nine more to go. 

"Today's material is going to be paired work," said Professor Wampus.

That would be 89 miserable minutes to go.

Rune had barely half a thigh on her chair as she craned her neck and squinted at the piece of paper which had blurry ancient runes from Ancient Egypt. 

Teiwaz, kaunuz, ansuz. Or was it Teiwaz, perp, fehu? 

She couldn't see. 

She strained her eyes slightly more, as if she could somehow zoom into the paper. She tried straightening her back as if that would bring her closer to the paper without taking her close to Regulus, but all it did was puff her chest out and make her look like a proud rooster waiting for a hen. 

Before she could embarrass herself further, Regulus slid the sheet closer to her. 

Just as she was about to sigh in relief, he moved himself closer to her as he studied the paper which was on her side of the desk. 

She caught a whiff of his cinnamon and apple scented shampoo, and her eyes involuntarily travelled from his curly locks, to his perfect cheekbones, the curve of his lips.