Sweater Weather // Regulus Black

chapter two // conversing with regulus

  As soon as Regulus helped the girl gather her books, he was gone. The first Slytherin that Estella had genuinely found herself wanting to talk to, was gone. That was just her luck.

  She sighed as she continued to walk into the library, laughing to herself as she saw Lily evans hiding from James Potter in the corner.

  "I-Is he here?" She spoke, her glance directing towards Estella, who silently shook her head, the corners of her lips twitching up.

  Nobody ever wanted to talk to Estella, nobody ever even noticed her. She couldn't help but consider today to be her lucky day, when everything would hopefully change—For the witch was gaining confidence, in herself and in others.

Estella was finally starting to fit in.

- - -

  Later that day at dinner, Estella had finally built up the confidence to look for the boy she had met earlier. She had originally planned on doing it at lunch, but got too nervous and decided to just eat alone, as always.

She stood at the corner she always ate lunch at, but she didn't sit. She had no intent on sitting there, unless it was where Regulus was.

The boy fascinated her so much—Too much, in Estella's opinion. The fact that there was a Slytherin boy that she had never met, or even seen had absolutely mind boggled her. It consumed her thoughts throughout the entire day, as she pictured his face constantly, just trying to figure out if he had any familiarity. News flash, he didn't.

Her eyes scanned the Slytherin table for a good two minutes before she finally had eyes on the young wizard.

He sat in directly in the middle of the left bench, no one within a foot of him. It was in between where the seventh years sat, and where the third year girls sat. Smart, Estella couldn't help but think. It was a good way to blend in.

She took a few sharp, deep breaths, before finally picking up the courage to take a step towards the boy. Then another one, and another one, clear up until she was standing directly next to him. z

"Erm—D-do you mind if I sit?" The girl questioned, her voice barely above a whisper. Regulus nearly jumped at the sudden noice, but he stopped himself with a simple wince.

"I suppose," He muttered, his face not leaving the book he read as he delicately placed a chip into his mouth.

Estella nodded, mentally squealing as she sat next to him...Until she realized that they had been, and would continue to be, absolutely silent. Neither of the pair were talkers! What did you expect? She thought as she mentally grimaced.

  Just as Estella opened her mouth to speak, sucking in a breath as she did so, Regulus spoke up instead, for the first time in nearly five minutes.

  "You're quiet for a Slytherin girl," He murmured, his eyes still fixated on his book, not so much as glancing up at the girl. Estella smiled sheepishly, her cheeks heating up at the sound of his voice. "I've been told," She mumbled in response, finally causing the boy to look up at her.

  "What year are you, anyway? Not seventh year, and definitely not third year," He asked, his voice raising a decibel as he gestured towards the loud groups around them—The third and seventh years.

  Estella shook her head. "You're correct. I'm a fifth year," She informed him. The boy nodded slightly, before falling back into silence and redirecting his eyes towards his book, making Estella frown.

  "You...What about you?" She asked after a moment, as she realized the boy had zero intent of talking. She usually wouldn't, either, that was something the two had in common.