Student and professor had separated discreetly, Regulus returned to Pandora, who he’d found in a cozy nook between a bookshelf and potions supply cabinet. She was below eye level on a large poof that had been magically produced for the meeting. Regulus took a seat next to her, she turned to him smiling.
“Stimulating conversation?”
“Quite,” replied Regulus, “you noticed?”
“Well I sort of figured something out you see,” she began in a whisper, her eyes gleaming, “that hourglass there,” she pointed to an ornate silver serpentine figures that adorned the delicate device sat atop a side table, “flows with the conversation, for instance, the sand sped up when you walked this way.”
Now at Pandora’s level he observed the hourglass. It had always been there, two things at once, hiding in plain sight.
“I- didn’t know that, that’s quite brilliant,” said Regulus, “Ravenclaws, you see everything. You’re all so. Observant,” he said carefully. Pandora tilted her head to the side as if the thought that she was just becoming aware of the truth in his comment.
“Hmm, you know I’m not as brilliant as some of them seem to be, hence why I hang around so many sulky Slytherins,” she gave him a playful jab.
“I wonder if it’s attached to his conversations or the overall room?” mused Pandora. Another question Regulus had not thought to wonder about. She did it without effort, like it was a simple observation and not a calculated move. This is why he’d always enjoyed her, she had none of the traditions but all of the talent that was afforded by her pure blooded descent.
“Perhaps we should try to find out?” Regulus suggested. The two looked at each other with teasing grins and shrugged.
“Very good idea, what shall we talk about?” asked Pandora, she held her head up on her hand looking at him sideways. He knew what he wanted to talk about, he knew that was why he’d stayed this late in the first place. There was just his friendship with Pandora to consider. He couldn’t get away with anything if she figured it out, and selfishly, he felt she would never forgive him if she did. Victoria, Darren, Pandora, probably even Evan and Edmund would all be lost for good. So he would be delicate.
“How do you get into your common room? For us it's a password.”
“Oh yes, I knew that. Gryffindor too, sorry,” she said after a skeptical look from Regulus, ''but you would know if you’d read Hogwarts A History .”
“How dare you, I have!” he smiled.
“Well, you clearly need to brush up,” her attention was still on the hourglass which remained at a steady pace, “the door will ask us a riddle, we get to solve it before we’re allowed to enter. Or until someone else can solve it.” She said it as if this were a logical course of action, refusing refuge until a sufficient answer could be produced. Anyone could solve the riddle he supposed, not that he would ever be so blatant as to enter the Ravenclaw dormitory to find the girl who’s name he couldn’t even think of without great effort. He was more curious to see if he could work it out on his own than anything else.
Pandora had moved on anyway, she was greedily watching the sand in the hourglass, having fun controlling its flow. She shifted out of her seat, sinking to the ground where she tucked her legs underneath her so she was kneeling at his height.
“My turn. Are you sad about Sirius? I know he didn’t do much when you were at home but you always, well, you seemed more cheerful when he was around for your birthdays, even if you were fighting.”
“He doesn’t want to see me. I can’t be seen with him. It’s complicated. I suppose he’s tired of trying,” Regulus tried to hide the hurt in his voice, “I don’t blame him, really.”
