Celeste || Sirius Black

Chapter 13: Brotherly Forewarning

"I told you to leave her alone."

"Uh oh, Moony is trying not to say that he told me so."

"Well, he does have a point."

"He does."

The Marauders sat inside the Astronomy classroom for their free period. They each took a bench to themselves and sat two on either side of the room facing each other. Normally students weren't allowed inside empty classrooms but they were the Marauders. They weren't harming anyone, were they?

"What's her problem?" James asked, getting annoyed at the fact that every day, one conversation was reserved for Celeste. Sirius and Remus seemed to have a liking towards her while he didn't. Maybe she was right in a way. He is becoming obsessed with Lily.

"She is a private person," said Remus. "But I don't expect you two to know anything about that." He pointed between James and Sirius, who simply shrugged it off as a compliment. "Respect that."

"She is quite a minsk," said Sirius. It had been a few days since they had had their 'walk' and yet, he could not forget her. And it wasn't as if he hadn't tried. But every time he spent time with someone else, he was only reminded of her boldness.

"She has a temper," corrected Remus.

"I like her," said Peter, opening his mouth for the first time in a really long time. "She stood up for me during one of the classes. I didn't get my potion right and she swapped it with hers. I'll never forget her help with Charms too."

Remus pointed at Peter, glad that he had spoken up on this matter. "Exactly. She's not a bad person."

Outside in the corridors while Hufflepuffs and Slytherins were having their classes for the period, Celeste hurriedly made her way away from Defense Against the Dark Arts when she dashed someone at the corner of the corridor. "Oh my gosh, I'm so so sorry!" She started apologising as she gathered her books and the book of the other person. Only when she stood up did she realise who it was.

"It's....no problem."

Her eyes widened slightly at his sight and the smile on his face that reminded her of someone else, someone that she did not want to be thinking of. She opened her mouth to say something but pursed together, her eyebrows furrowing as well.

"You don't have to keep quiet for my sake," said Regulus Black, Sirius Black's younger brother and the supposed prodigee for the family. "I'm not as bad as everyone claims me to be, you know?"

"No....it's not that." She shook her head slightly. "I just wasn't expecting....well, you."

He smiled the same crooked smile that his brother had. She could see why there were some girls she overheard talking about how Regulus had the good genes as well, but unlike Sirius, Regulus had darker eyes and a deeper cheekbone. He had dark circles creeping under his eyes as though he wasn't sleeping enough.

"Are you getting late for class?" He asked, taking his books from her, and Celeste noticed that his cold fingers trailed against hers slightly, which made her shiver.

"Mine just got over." She pointed behind her with her index finger. "What about you?"

"Same," he nodded.

The people walking past whispered indiscreetly, which only made the two of them uncomfortable. They were talked about enough and now that they were standing together, the whispers only seemed to increase and become nasty.

"Shall I accompany you to the dining hall? I assume you have lunch now as well," offered Regulus.

But there was a certain chill in the air that was proving his intentions to be wrong. She did not want to push him away, not knowing him at all. "Don't you have to stick to Slyterins? Isn't there a certain pact about you not mingling with other Houses?" She raised an eyebrow to show that she wasn't as dumb as he was thinking her to be.

Regulus clenched his jaw together. "Fine. There is something that I wanted to tell you. And I met you here far away from my common rooms for a reason." He pulled the sleeve of her uniform and pulled her away from the corner and the main path of the corridor.

Celeste watched him lean against the wall with one leg up and only thought about how similar his features were to Sirius. They had the same lean body with slightly hunched shoulders, the darkest hair and losing eyes. He crossed his arms across his chest and it looked like he was older for a second as a shadow passed over his face.

"My brother is not someone to make friends with."

Celeste raised her eyebrows at him. The first time she talks to the Seeker of the Slytherin Team and he wants to talk about his Gryffindor brother. "Thanks for the concern, but I don't have any plans for it."

He smiled a crooked smile while looking at the ground. The similarities were getting eerier by the second. If it weren't for the different Houses, they could practically be twins. "I'm assuming you have heard the rumours," he said. "And they certainly are telling a different story."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Any story that I'm not telling is a lie. Besides, I have nothing to do with your brother. We bump into each other occasionally, that's all."

"Like how I bumped into you intentionally to have this talk?" He cocked his head to one side, which made Celeste shiver. "You're right. I'm not to be talking to you at this moment. I have other work to do. Better work. But it is my right to warn you about who my brother really is."

Celeste noticed that Regulus never used Sirius' name the entire time. "And who is he supposed to be?"

He smiled. She had fallen into his trap. "He is not as determined as everyone claims him to be. Did he tell you that he ran away from home? He is certainly not a son of the Black family any more. Be sure to tell him that."

"Why would I-"

"I have to use you as the messenger unfortunately. My life is not what he thinks it to be. But tell him that he was right about our parents."

The pain in his voice indicated something that Celeste could only recognise inside her. "Can I help?"

Regulus looked at her for a few seconds, hoping for her to crack a joke, but when she didn't do it, he smiled softly. Even this small act of affection pained him because Slytherins weren't supposed to show their emotions. But he was going to rebel if that's what it took to be free. "I'm long past saving. But you're not." He pushed himself off of the wall and stood in front of her, looking much older and wiser than her. "My brother has a tendency to destroy everything in his path. You seem to be the bridge that he hasn't been expecting. So be careful. Celeste Rajput."

Celeste stood stuck to her place while Regulus walked away from her, determined to have conveyed his message. "Also." He turned around at the end of the corridor. "Let him know that the tapestry has burned. He will know what it means."

*****

As much as I like Ezra Miller as Regulus Black, I'll have to go with Louis because of 'Fantastic Beasts'. No complaints though. I love Credence! I hope I don't have to watch him die. And I hope the next movie comes out soon

I'm sure Regulus fans are loving this