Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
It was Monday, and the weekend had flown by quickly for Josie without her doing much. Her classes for the day have already concluded, except for astronomy, which is scheduled much later at night. Previously, it used to be at midnight, but after student complaints, the time was changed to 10:00 PM.
Josie finds herself outside near the black lake, engrossed in reading. She has finally delved into one of the many unread books stored in her trunk. Frustration wells up inside her as she mutters to herself, exclaiming, "What the fuck?" for what feels like the twentieth time, thanks to the character in the book making foolish decisions.
Her eyebrows furrow as she stares down at the pages, lost in her thoughts. Suddenly, the sound of a twig snapping in front of her breaks her concentration, and she looks up quickly. "Regulus," she greets, closing the book.
"Josephine, may I sit with you?" he asks, not wearing the usual Slytherin uniform but instead opting for black pants and a black shirt, which suits him quite well.
"Sure," she replies, feeling her nerves spike as he settles down across from her. She absentmindedly picks at her nails, a familiar nervous habit.
"How are you?" he inquires, his brows furrowed. They had seen each other earlier that morning in their shared class.
"I'm fine, how about you?" she responds, using the word "fine" that she often resorts to, even though it rarely reflects her true feelings.
"I'm alright. What's happening in the book you're reading?" he asks, gesturing towards the book in her hands. "You seemed troubled by it."
"Oh, right. There was just a character doing something stupid. I tend to overreact when it comes to books," she explains, wondering why he would even care about what she is reading.
Before he can reply, his attention is diverted by something behind her. She turns her head to see her brother and his friends watching them, causing annoyance to surge within her.
"Sorry about them," she mutters, turning her attention back to Regulus. His face transforms into a cold mask, seemingly affected by her brother's presence.
"I can leave," he offers.
"No, don't," she quickly responds, facing the direction where her brother stands and defiantly raising a middle finger. Her brother, predictably, has a dramatic reaction, causing her to roll her eyes. She redirects her gaze to Regulus, who is now sporting a slight smile.
"Just ignore him. He doesn't want me to be friends with you," she explains, hoping to dismiss the negative influence her brother holds.
"We're friends?" Regulus questions, his gray eyes locking onto hers.
"Oh, I mean, we can be if you want to. I didn't mean it like that," she stumbles over her words. Idiot
"I'd like to be your friend," he interjects, interrupting the potential awkward rant she might have gone on.
A genuine smile spreads across her face, a sensation that feels foreign to her. She isn't accustomed to this warmth and acceptance. Regulus and his entire friend group have brought about a remarkable change in her within just a few days.
"Do you have any more classes today?" Regulus asks, twirling a ring on his finger.
"Yes, Astronomy," she replies. Astronomy is a class she enjoys. Despite its inconvenient timing later in the day, she finds great delight in the subject.
"I have the same class," he reveals. He is about to continue speaking when Pandora and Dorcas approach them.
"Hello," Pandora's soft voice greets as she and Dorcas join the conversation.
Regulus and Pandora exchange a silent conversation through their eyes. After a few moments, Pandora speaks up, apologizing for the interruption.
"It's alright. How are both of you?" Josie inquires, braiding a small section of her hair absentmindedly out of boredom.
"I'm sad. I still haven't had a chance to talk to Marlene," Dorcas groans, flopping herself down onto the grass.
"I'm sure you'll have your chance soon," Josie reassures her.
"A Gryffindor, right?" Regulus asks, referring to Marlene. Josie remembers that although he is kind to her, he still holds beliefs of pureblood supremacy. At this point, they haven't grown close enough for her to fully understand his views.
Pandora glares at him. "Yes," Dorcas confirms curtly.
Regulus simply hums in response.
"What's the book about?" Dorcas inquires from her position on the grass, pointing to the book Josie is reading.
"Um... it's a romance book," Josie mumbles, feeling an inexplicable sense of embarrassment saying it in front of Regulus. She can't quite comprehend why she feels that way.
"Oh, I've read that one," Pandora chimes in.
"We should discuss it once I finish reading it. I'm enjoying it so far," Josie suggests, hoping that engaging in a conversation with Pandora would distract her from the piercing gaze of Regulus, who seems fixated on the book. She absentmindedly picks at her nails, nerves creeping in.
~~~
It it nearing 10:00 PM as Josie walks out of her dorm and makes her way to the astronomy tower. Exiting the common room, she descends the stairs and makes her way to the classroom. She enters the class, spotting Regulus already seated. She briefly contemplates sitting elsewhere, but he catches her eye and waves her over.
"Regulus," she greets as she settles down and lays out her astronomy book.
"Josephine."
The professor patiently waits for the remaining students to arrive. The room is filled with hushed conversations, and some students seem visibly fatigued.
Josie adjusts her position slightly, ensuring she has a clear view of the stars.
"Alright, class, today we'll be filling out a blank star chart with the stars you observe. Inside your books, you'll find a list of stars. Try to identify as many as you can tonight," the professor explains, circulating to distribute the charts.
"Do you enjoy stargazing?" Regulus inquires once he shifts his focus away from the chart.
"Yes, although I'm not the best at identifying specific stars," Josie admits with a hint of self-deprecation.
He chuckles softly. "Would you like some help?"
"Sure," Josie agrees, accepting Regulus' offer to help. He assists her in identifying several stars, while she manages to recognize a few on her own.
"Where are you?" she asks, trying to locate a particular star that shares his name.
"Right there," he replies, pointing in its direction. Josie turns her gaze and follows his gesture.
"Where?" she inquires, feeling her breath catch in her throat as his hand gently grasps hers to guide her gaze.
"Oh," she breathes out, mesmerized by the sight. She has to remind herself to inhale, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness with him so close.
He releases her arm, and they continue working on the assignment. An hour later, the class concludes, and Josie and Regulus walk out together. They reach a point where they have to part ways, pausing to bid each other farewell.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Regulus states before walking off. Josie waves goodbye and heads towards her own common room.
