Filthy Purebloods | ʳᵉᵍᵘˡᵘˢ ᵇˡᵃᶜᵏ

Two Places at Once

As March faded into April and the weather got warmer, Sidra and Regulus had taken to studying by the Black Lake instead of the stuffy library.

She had eventually conceded to looking through the scary tome, much to Regulus's delight. The pair was currently sitting in the shade of a large tree, keeping the book a few inches from them and turning the pages with a rather lengthy stick.

Sidra had made sure that if they were going to have to go through the damned book, it would be on her terms.

Regulus hadn't argued and was actually rather amused by the situation.

The section on Horcruxes was the first they went over and it may have been Sidra's imagination, but the air seemed to become cooler and heavier around them with each turn of the dreaded thin pages.

"That's some dark magic." Regulus leaned back against the tree. "No wonder it's not in the library."

"That's what I've been saying." She shivered. "Maybe you should put it back..."

"No, Sidra. This is a gold mine of information that others don't have. We need to stand out."

"I guess..." She proceeded to turn to the next page. It was the start of a new section on the most powerful binding spells. They skimmed over it until she reached a familiar one. "I've heard of this... The Unbreakable Vow."

Regulus leaned forward, interested. "As have I. I know if you break one you die. I read that it's very advanced and it's not in any of the school textbooks. It could be useful."

"I don't see how." Sidra didn't plan on making a promise that if broken would kill her, especially not to the Dark Lord.

He shrugged and closed the book. It took a moment for the tension in the air to cease. The book had an awful dark aura that lingered for a while even after it was closed.

Sidra watched the clouds drift lazily across the sky. It reminded her that she couldn't afford to be so lazy when the OWLs were mere days away. "I should get going."

She stood and Regulus followed suit. "I actually wanted to talk to you about something."

She stopped, anticipation building up inside her. Sidra had all but given up on hoping she and Regulus would become something romantic – he hadn't said anything of the sort and acted the same way as when they first began meeting up. Aside from the occasional smile and jokes, of course. He treated her like a friend and she detested it.

"When the OWLs are over and we've finished the year, my mother wants to host a family dinner. She said to invite you and your family."

She tried to hide her disappointment. Even if he wasn't asking her out, this was still something. She would meet his family. It was a step in the right direction, at least. She tried to play it cool. "Is this to do with... the Dark Lord?"

"Isn't everything these days?" He sighed. "Regardless of the reason, I would appreciate it if you came."

Sidra didn't miss the slight pitch in his voice or the way he darted his eyes around her face. It may not have been the grand romantic gesture she had fantasized about, but it was enough. "I'll be there."

Ϟ

The OWLs flew by and despite a few jitters at the beginning, Sidra knew she aced every single one of them. If it turned out that she had not she may actually resort to hexing herself since she had been studying since September.

She packed her bags for the last time and made her way down to the Great Hall. The banners were a shining emerald green and if that wasn't a giveaway of who won the house cup, then the gloating Slytherins would have been.