Filthy Purebloods | ʳᵉᵍᵘˡᵘˢ ᵇˡᵃᶜᵏ

Demotion

Sidra was just finishing up her last lesson of the day, leaving the class with a sigh. How was she supposed to focus on schoolwork when she had other much more dire things always hovering at the back of her mind? Not to mention how little she slept these days. Whether it was because of the nightmares of that muggle boy that she feared would forever scar her mind or due to Marina's sobbing, she didn't know but she looked terrible for it. The bags under her eyes were almost as bad as Regulus's.

Slughorn turned the corner and gasped in surprise. "Miss Finch, glad I ran into you. I need a word."

She nodded and fell into step beside the head of Slytherin. Despite desperately wanting to be alone, she couldn't exactly say no.

"Are you settling nicely into your sixth year?"

"Yes." She replied dully.

"That's good to hear. Now listen, please understand that it is nothing personal, but I've made the decision to demote you from your prefect position."

His words made her stop in place.

"Oh, don't look so shocked, Miss Finch. Don't think I didn't notice how uninterested you were in it last year. Missing all those meetings and now looking at you I see I've made the right decision. You look awful, I couldn't possibly add another thing onto your plate."

"Professor, please." She begged. She was in line for the position of head girl, she had been working towards that since her first year. If she got demoted she wouldn't even stand a chance.

"It's the end of it, Miss Finch." He frowned at her crestfallen expression and patted her shoulder. "It's not the end of the world. You'll have more time to focus on your studies." He handed her a piece of parchment from the stack she hadn't noticed under his arm. Her eyes widened in terror when she saw her result from the previous Potions quiz.

Poor.

She had never failed anything in her life. It made her want to cry but instead, she slipped the parchment into her bag and took off, not bothering to say another word to Slughorn. Tears poured down her face as she ran, not entirely sure where she was going.

Her feet carried her to the Black Lake where she crumpled on the edge and stared into the slow-moving waters, letting her tears become part of it.

What were her parents going to say? They were going to be so disappointed in her. They'd never look at her the same. She'd be outcasted.

The thought made her cry harder and even imagining the horrified looks on her family member's faces had her heart sinking.

The sound of approaching footsteps made Sidra wipe her eyes before a hand rested on her shoulder. Regulus knelt beside her and moved her hair out of her eyes. She must have looked like such a mess but he was looking at her with such concern that she couldn't help but feel a little better knowing he cared.

At that moment she didn't care about the dark mark marring his left forearm. It was just him and his concerned gaze and red-rimmed eyes.

He would never get a Poor on a test. His parents were so proud of him and if Sidra wanted hers to be proud there was really only one thing to do.

"Help me." She breathed and pulled him closer, digging her nails into his robes. "I can not murder someone, I need you to help me."

"Sidra?" He searched her face with worry.

"I know that I shouldn't need anyone's help." She choked out. "But I can't do this."

"What do you need me to do?"

"Use the Imperius Curse on me." She pleaded. Regulus had already killed someone, he was capable and if she didn't do this she would really lose everything. Her family, him... She needed to become a Death Eater.

"Sidra..."

"Please, Regulus. If you don't do this I am going to die. Would you rather I die?"

He gulped and averted his gaze. "All right. I'll do it but you need to think it through first. I won't have you hate me for the rest of our lives because of this."

"I could never hate you." She responded quickly. "And I have thought about it. There is no other way."

He nodded. "Fine. Then meet me in the common room tonight."

Sidra nodded and Regulus helped her to her feet, pulling her into his arms in a tight hold. He cradled the back of her head, squeezing her tightly.

"Thank you, Regulus."

"Don't thank me for this, Sidra. I'm only agreeing to this because I wouldn't be able to live if you died."

She pulled away slightly and kissed him, reassuring him that she felt the exact same way.