Filthy Purebloods | ʳᵉᵍᵘˡᵘˢ ᵇˡᵃᶜᵏ

Best Friend

Sidra stared into space for the majority of the sorting ceremony and welcome assembly. She was between the two people she cared about most and yet she didn't feel her usual warmth. She felt downright horrible.

Her mind kept drifting to Regulus's left arm, which was casually wrapped around her waist and she wanted nothing more than to shake it off. The mark that now stained his skin scared her. She wasn't ready for anything associated with it. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, in awe at his beauty, but unlike when she used to gawk at him and see nothing but perfection, there was a stain. The stain of a murderer.

Sidra couldn't bear it much longer so when Marina excused herself with the pretence of a stomach ache, Sidra got up to follow.

"I'm going to check on her, okay? Don't wait for me."

"Sidra, I don't think that's wise." Regulus grabbed hold of her wrist.

"Why?"

He leaned in close, pressing his lips to her ear. "She isn't one of us. You shouldn't associate with those who don't align with his values."

"But Marina is our friend." She pulled out of his hold and shot him a glare.

"I'm not telling you to cut her off. I'm only warning you not to get attached. We don't know where her loyalties lie."

Sidra scoffed and stormed out after Marina. The audacity to tell her not to speak to her best friend. The audacity to even assume that she would care who Marina sided with.

When she reached the portrait she spat the password out and stepped into the common room. It was lit only by the blazing fire that cast Marina's shadow across the opposing wall. Sidra went over and rested her hand on Marina's shoulder. "Hey..."

Her eyes were glassy but she offered up a small smile.

"I knew there was something wrong on the train, I should have stayed with you then." She sat beside Marina and stared into the flames. "What happened?"

She sniffed. "I can't tell you."

"I just want to be here for you, Marina."

She nodded and bit her thumb. "I want to tell you but... I don't know what you'd think of me." More tears began to stream down her face.

"Oh Merlin, Marina. Nothing would ever change my mind about you. You're my best friend." She gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"I... I've lied to you this entire time. To everyone! I'm not a pureblood!" She looked Sidra in the eye now. "I'm not even half."

Sidra gasped despite herself. "You're a muggle?" She breathed.

"I didn't want anyone to know but it's becoming harder to hide. My father... he's gone missing. My sister and I fear he's dead. You know how they're disappearing!" She cried out. "I know I'm next or Rosetta. We're going to die, Sidra!"

Sidra pulled her best friend into her arms and shook her head at the sound of Marina's sobs wetting her shoulder. She rubbed her hand along the length of her back and tried to repress her own tears.

Her best friend was a muggle.

Everything became far more serious the moment the words left Marina's lips. Sidra didn't have a single muggle in her life that she cared for... until now. How could she sit there and confess to Marina what had happened during her holiday? How could she sit there and hug the girl whom she might very well be forced to kill someday?

It made sense now why Avery had attacked her, why Regulus had said not to get attached. They knew.

She held back a sob. "I am sorry, Marina. I am so sorry."

"Don't be. You didn't kill my dad." She pulled back and looked Sidra in the eye. "And I know you, Sid. You're not like the other Slytherins."

Sidra nodded slowly, swallowing the lump in her throat. Marina was wrong. She was exactly like the other Slytherins. Even if it wasn't by choice. She was still going to have to become a Death Eater.

An image flashed behind her closed lashes of losing Marina in the same way she had lost Sirius. She gulped and held her friend tighter. It was just another eventuality.