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"This is it," Belladonna had teleported them to a rock in the middle of the sea, with the waves crashing around them. A sharp, salty twang was in the air. A cave was visible, with its slimy walls. The jagged outline of a sharp cliff dominated the sky.
Regulus paled, recognising the place. He'd promised himself to never even think about the cave. He had almost drowned here, clawing for breath, the salty water burying him...
"It's quite ... picturesque in a way," Aoife said, breaking his horrible train of thoughts.
"They asked us to meet them here?" Regulus asked Belladonna.
"They told me to bring you here and leave," her brow furrowed. "I'm sure this is not their actual hideout, but just a ploy. Keep note of where they take you."
"We're not that stupid," Regulus scoffed.
With one sharp look, Belladonna vanished, leaving both of them alone on the rock, with just the waves crashing and the seagulls squawking.
"I know this is not the right time to say this but -" both of them started at the same time, after a long and painful silence.
Aoife chuckled lightly. "You go first."
"No, you." Regulus couldn't help but chicken out of his decision.
"Well, it's just that ... with all of this going on, maybe we should focus more on defeating Moldyshorts than focusing on our love life or something. Aletheia talked to me last night and said that it's fine for us to date or whatever, but right now would not be a good time. It was just a whimsical thing based on two kisses, right? Maybe, after this all dies down, we can give it a shot. Her words, not mine, but I kind of agree."
Relief flooded through Regulus. This eased up a lot of his tension. Now there was no need to bring up his proposition. All he'd have to do was agree, with a bit of sadness, that Aletheia was right, and they could give it a shot again, but after this drama was over.
"What did you want to say?"
"Oh? uh, just what you said, actually. This is pretty much the first time I'm not in a forced relationship with a girl, and I really don't want to mess it up due to the war. And, Sirius is way better for you than me. Honestly. And, uh, I shouldn't really have kissed you, that too two times. Maybe because you're really pretty and the last girl I kissed was a Pureblood snob desperate for my hand in marriage and money? Anyways, it probably wouldn't have worked out, you and I are polar opposites. I should stop speaking, right?"
"Well, your justifications are not needed, because I've also kissed a boy just to bug my uncle. Probably because of your mother's Pureblood mania and the fact that I'm pretty, you kissed me. And I really didn't want to hear another 'you snogged my brother' joke from Sirius. So, we're still friends?" She held out her hand for a shake.
Regulus shook her hand. "Friends."
"But remember," Aoife grinned. "I'm going to get the first invite to your wedding."
"Same here. Don't forget the handsome Black you almost had as a boyfriend."
Both of them laughed freely. It felt as if a heavy curtain had been lifted from them. Right after the second kiss and the proclamation they'd made, it felt so excruciatingly awkward for them to even talk to each other. Every single sentence was overthought of and there was a blush whenever they touched each other slightly. The idea of love didn't scare them, the label did.
For Aoife, who'd never had a proper boyfriend in her life, it was always about what to say, what not to say; what to do and what not to do. Overthinking was a boon for many, but for her, it was a pain in the arse. The transition from friends to lovers was complicated (leading to the ruin of the one serious relationship she had. Cough *Maxwell* cough). Does he still like the way she punched his shoulder? Is he still fine with the ridiculous nickname she gave him? Does it change anything? Does she have to change too?
For Regulus, who'd been taught from a very young age that there was no such thing as love, and that marriage was a buisness contract for money, influence and position, labels destroyed whatever love there was. In his eyes, love stayed till it was acknowledged. As soon as it was reciprocated, it turned into a mutual understanding. Complete with its own contract. Complete with a set of double-edged knives.
A sudden hissing sound sunk their ease. A harsh, outlandish sound, chilling them to the marrow. It said something, something indecipherable. Regulus quickly grasped her hand, afraid the Inferi might pull her down, while listening intently, trying to decipher the strange tongue.
"What is it?" she asked in a small whisper, unable to mask her fear. She felt powerless in Regulus's world, weak and vulnerable. These corpses had powers beyond her imagination, and Regulus had his wand. She was defenceless, with only her masochistic powers to help her.
To know that if she uses it, she might die? Quickly shaking Aletheia's foreboding words out of her head, she turned to focus on Regulus, who was muttering something.
"fecisti vinculum, nunc manete."
Aoife gasped. A literal hole had formed in the ocean, with stone steps materialising for them to enter. Water swirled around it angrily, roaring and biting, but that halo remained untouched, a portal to a dark dungeon.
Regulus took a deep, calming breath, and started to descend. Just as Aoife stepped on the worn stone, a voice boomed:
"Leave the girl there."
YOU ARE READING
INFERI (REGULUS BLACK)
Fanfictie"If you ever need me, I'll be at the Potter's." These were the words that kept on rolling around Regulus' head. His brother's last words before he left the house, bloodied and bruised. He didn't blame him of course. It must've been hell living as th...
