Sweater Weather // Regulus Black

chapter seven // the party

october 31st, 1975

  Estella could hear loud footsteps approaching her from behind as she sat in The Great Hall for breakfast, making her roll her eyes.

  "Marlene, Mary?" She asked with a grin as she turned around to face the two girls, who were giggling furiously.

  "We have a little invitation for you," Mary squealed, Marlene nodding vigorously. "A glorious invitation, indeed!"

  "There's a little Halloween party happening later tonight, after dinner, you down?" Mary asked with a small squeal. Estella grimaced at the thought.

  "A party? I-I don't know—" She started, though Marlene quickly cut her off. "Okay, okay, before you turn all Introvert-Quirky-Mysterious-Witch-y, just know how much this means to us! We have a new friend and we want to flaunt her!" She exclaimed.

  "I just don't think it's my scene. You do want me to enjoy Halloween, don't you?" Estella asked with a small grin, nudging Regulus in the shoulder, as if she was asking for backup.

  "Erm—Yeah. W-we were going to hang out, maybe go down to the kitchens and ask for candy," He explained with a rosy-cheeked smile, making Estella smile as well. She thought their plans would be a lot more fun than a party.

  "As fun as that sounds," Mary drawled with a small laugh. "Maybe you should try something different. Regulus, of course you can come, too."

  Estella sighed, knowing that what she was doing this year was different. Usually she went down to the kitchens for fresh candy by herself, this time Regulus would be there! Though, she couldn't help but think about how interesting a party sounded. It was good for people watching, after all.

  "I'll think about it, okay?" Estella said after a moment, Regulus rolling his eyes at the statement.

  "Yes! Okay, it's in the Gryffindor commons, come by whenever as long as it's after dinner," Marlene said with a grin, before the two grabbed each other's hands and skipped off.

  Estella and Regulus grimaced in unison. Gryffindor commons? That definitely wasn't their scene, not at all. But if Mary and Marlene would be there, maybe she wouldn't mind too much.

Estella had really enjoyed the two girls' company, this past month. They weren't the best of friends, but they occasionally sat together, and enjoyed being partners in potions class. Estella thought it was fun.

  "Are we actually going to this party?" Regulus asked with a sigh, making Estella roll her eyes. "Come on, Reg. Maybe it will be fun," She said with a shrug, though Regulus did not look amused.

He did not look amused at all.

But Estella truly didn't care. She knew she'd be able to convince him, one way or another. She knew.

- - -

  "Un-fucking-believable," Regulus muttered as Estella dragged him towards the Gryffindor common room, a grin on her face.

  She was still nervous for the party. She wasn't sure if she would enjoy it or not—But Regulus would be there, as would Marlene and Mary, so at least there was that.

She'd thrown on a dark blue dress—The only dress she could find, though it seemed to fit well—And a touch of mascara, but she didn't do much. She'd never learned how to do makeup properly, so the young girl truly didn't want to attempt it.

  "Just stay by me the whole time," She said with a laugh as the two approached the Fat Lady. "It'll be fine."

  "Password?" The painted lady shrieked in her bone-shrilling, high-pitched voice, as she ran a hand through her brown hair.