loveless; regulus black

ೃ⁀➷ xvii. real

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ophelia greengrass waking up with nightmares were normal. ophelia waking up with nightmares at three am was normal. ophelia waking up with nightmares at three am sweating was normal.

yet ophelia greengrass waking with nightmares at three am, sweating whilst her entire body was hot as fire was not normal.

because as soon as venus was about to hand ophelia her water and caroline was about to leave the room to go to the kitchens, the former touched the ophelia's shoulder and yelped at the heat. the parkinson girl's first instinct was to wake up evan and regulus, so that the latter could carry ophelia to madam pomfrey; so she did just that.

when they arrived at the scene, regulus wore a very concerned expression as evan rushed to ophelia's side. like his fiance, evan yelped at how hot ophelia was, literally.

"wrap her around the blanket," mary managed to say. evan nodded as he did just that and then lifted the girl. the heat wasn't as strong as it initially was—due to the blanket—but he could still feel her burning up.

the group all rushed out of the girl's dorm and ran towards the hospital wing.

they had to shout for madam pompfrey to arrive. when she made her appearance, she was ready to scold them for waking her up at such an hour, but when her eyes landed on the greengrass girl, no explanation was needed.

"put her on the bed," she instructed instantly. evan followed and placed her on the bed. "now, all of you—leave."

they hesitated but had no choice as the old woman practically kicked them out.

"my—my friends, they're alright?"

"my dear," madam pompfrey gently-scolded as she gently pushed the girl back on the bed, preparing a sleeping potion after. "it is not them you should be worried about."

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water. everything was water. no escaping. endless nothing. water. everything was water. no escaping. endless nothing. water. everything was water. no escaping. endless nothing. water. everything was water. no escaping. endless nothing. water. everything was water. no escaping. endless nothing. water. everything was water. no escaping. endless nothing water. everything was water. no—

"hey, hey, pan," the soothing voice of regulus brought ophelia back to the surface as he placed his hand on top of hers. when he was sure she was okay, he got up and handed her a glass of water and a chocolate bar. "i had venus tell me your schedule after nightmares."

ophelia smiled fondly at him as he brought out the copy of a tale of cities. "would it be alright if i just read to you?" regulus asked as he flipped through the pages, trying to find where they stopped.

"yes, but can we start with my favourite scene?"

regulus nodded before reading, ""without it, can i not save you, mr. carton? can i not recall you—forgive me again!—to a better course? can i in no way repay your confidence? i know this is a confidence," she modestly said, after a little hesitation, and in earnest tears, "i know you would say this to no one else. can I turn it to no good account for yourself, mr. carton? he shook his head. "to none. no, miss manette, to none. if you will hear me through a very little more, all you can ever do for me is done. i wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul—"

he couldn't finish his sentence as ophelia placed her hand on his cheek, he leaned in on her touch but when he realized what was happening—when he saw how close she was getting—he pulled away and he held her hand. "when we kiss, when i get to know what your lips are like, i want it to be real. your feelings to be real."

ophelia stares at him, as though she both anticipated yet did not expect what he said. "when i sleep, my mind would be vulnerable, then, you can search my merories of last night. a conversation between venus and i, and i trust that is all you would glance at."

the boy nods, reading more, ""in my degradation i have not been so degraded but that the sight of you with your father, and of this home made such a home by you, has stirred old shadows that i thought had died out of me. since i knew you, i have been troubled by a remorse that i thought would never reproach me again, and have heard whispers from old voices impelling me upward, that i thought were silent for ever. i have had unformed ideas of striving afresh, beginning anew, shaking off sloth and sensuality, and fighting out the abandoned fight. a dream, all a dream, that ends in nothing, and leaves the sleeper where he lay down, but i wish you to know that you inspired it.""

when ophelia eventually fell asleep, regulus does what he was told and used legilimency to search her mind of a conversation between the two girls.

the scene paints itself as ophelia and venus were in their dorm. their three other dormates were probably with their significant others as it was just the two of them fixing their shared closet. "i think i'm starting to fall—i think... i know i like him. i like him." ophelia said.

venus hesitated. "and sirius?"

ophelia shrugged as she folded her pants. "him... me... us? that's complicated," she said. "but when i'm with art, it's not. i like him and he's in love with me, i don't see why that's a bad thing and why you aren't happy."

"because maybe you don't actually like reg, lia," venus sighs. "you're right, reg is in love with you. maybe that's why you think you like him. the feeing of being loved and all that!"

ophelia looks over at venus would the most betrayed look. "that's not fair nor true. you know i don't like being liked—much less loved. i don't like being put on a pedestal and thought of as perfect! you know that better than anyone!" she raised her voice, regulus immediately knew there was something he didn't know. yet her voice softened at her next words, "but with art... everything is so easy and calm, v. i need easy and calm. but don't mistake that for boring. this, how i feel for him, is new. i've never felt more at peace—more at home with him."

regulus, having heard enough, was about to pull away from the memory, but accidentally went further into the night. he caught a glimpse of a face. the woman looked very much like ophelia, just with a lot more years. but before he could think more on it, he fully pulled away from her thoughts.

it was about half on hour when ophelia woke up. her eyes instantly went to regulus. "so, did you see? hear what i said?"

"and did you mean it?" regulus asked, a tone ophelia couldn't name.

"it's the realest thing i can give you."

it was vunerability. the tone in regulus' voice was him being vulnerable. ophelia now knew that. because she heard that in her voice as well.

searching her eyes, trying to find any evidence that this was a lie, regulus placed his hand on her cheek. "i want you, ophelia greengrass."

ophelia looked into his eyes now, not pull away. "then have me."

he did as he was told and within a second, their lips sealed a kiss.

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ˏˋ°•*⁀➷D SPEAKS!

hello my lovely swimmers (yes, that is what i am calling u guys) i am sorry for not updating HASHASHAHA but i will try more... defo cant make promises tho since school starts in 2 weeks but whatever