Mixed Tape: Regulus' Story

Chapter 3: Dancing in the Moonlight

Now you might have read that title and thought "Wow, Regulus Arcturus Black dances?"

No.

I do not dance.

But someone very special does.

I promise, I'll explain what I mean in a bit, just bear with me.

It all started when I returned to school after Christmas. Pandora had, even despite the makeup from Andromeda, noticed my bruised cheek and I'd been forced to let her in just the tiniest bit.

"Did something happen to your cheek?" she asked me once we were sat in our usual place outside after the feast.

I waved away her words. "Quidditch things with my brother."

She went silent for a long moment before sucking in a deep breath. "Reggie?"

"Hm?"

"Is there something happening at home? Something you're not telling me about?"

My eyes immediately began to burn. I cry easily, it's terrible, but I'd also never had someone ask me outright and it was scary. I managed to hold in the tears though... well... for the time being anyways. "I told you already, we fight sometimes."

"Yes, I remember, but I just worry about you, you know?"

"Well, I'm alright. It's just a bruise."

She sighed heavily. "Look, my dad hit me once. I think that was part of why they divorced. I still didn't want him to leave but my mum never forgave him for it. I respect her for that now, even if I was upset at the time."

I tried to swallow, but my throat was tight. "I didn't say anyone hit me."

"You're a seeker, Regulus. I know it wasn't a quidditch accident."

And then I'd simply broken down into a fit of tears and that had been answer enough for her. That was the first time she saw me cry and I told myself at the time that it would also be the last, but naturally, it wasn't. Luckily, no one else saw, and they didn't see her show me how to properly use Andromeda's makeup either.

Because of this interaction, she understood why I trod on thin ice around my parents and she didn't question me when I told her we should be more subtle about our friendship. So, we took to sneaking around.

We had our usual meeting places outside, but we also had a few within the castle. There was a back corner behind the entrance to the astronomy tower, another little nook in the library where we'd sit and read and no one would see us, but we'd have a lovely time just being around each other.

Our most sacred hiding spot though, was the girls' lavatory on the second floor. We did have to put up with Moaning Myrtle hanging about, but she wasn't so bad once you got to know her. She actually adored reading which was perfectly alright by us.

She did, however, think we were in love and would constantly urge us to kiss. Up until that point, I hadn't really thought about love or crushes or relationships. It seemed redundant to me. And, sure, I saw students snogging in the halls, but that just wasn't me and constantly having Myrtle pushing it on me was beginning to get annoying.

"Why would we kiss?" I demanded of Myrtle on a rather gloomy Saturday.

"Because that's what boys and girls do when they hide in the lavatory, Reggie," and she giggled as she said my nickname. She always giggled when she said my nickname, it was incredibly frustrating.

"Well," I said with my nose in the air. "We aren't like every boy and girl then."

"Besides," Pandora added. "I fancy Blake."