It is still early in the morning, and not everyone has gathered for breakfast.
An entire muggle family is wiped from existence.
With a heavy sigh, she sets the paper down, the weight of guilt settling upon her.
She stares into nothingness, absently pushing the food on her plate. She isn't eating, just idly playing with her food.
Just as she contemplates visiting Regulus in the infirmary, he walks in.
"Why are you here? You're supposed to be—" she begins.
"Pomfrey released me," he states, taking a seat at the Slytherin table. Josie moves to the nearest edge of the Ravenclaw table to be closer to him.
"So you're alright? No pain?" she inquires with concern.
"Josephine, I'm fine, I promise," he reassures.
Josie's worry is evident as she watches him, and when he winces slightly in pain, she can't help but glare at him. "Liar," she mumbles under her breath.
"It's just the bruises; it's fine," he insists. There is an unspoken thing to his words. He is used to the bruises.
"Stop worrying," he urges. "Truly, Josephine, I'm alright."
Before she can reply, some of their friends join them. Pandora smiles at them, and Josie feigns a smile as she pushes her plate away.
"I'm going to class," she declares. "See you later, Pandora."
Josie rises from her seat and leaves the Great Hall. As she walks, thoughts about Tom's recent injuries and the attack on the muggle family swirl in her mind. He has claimed not to care about blood supremacy, so why attack muggles? The realization hits her – he has lied to her. She shouldn't be surprised; he probably lies about many things, given that he knows about the prophecy concerning her. She wonders if Tom believes he has fully drawn her into the dark side.
Her thoughts are interrupted by someone calling her name.
"Sorry, what?" she turns to see Regulus walking beside her.
"Are you alright?" Regulus asks.
"I'm fine," Josie replies, picking at her nails as they stroll through the echoing halls toward their first class. Each step of her boots forms a rhythmic pattern.
"But are you sure you're okay, considering you got hurt and—" Josephine starts to express her concern.
"Josephine, I told you, I'm fine,"
"Okay," her response is curt, and she can't help but feel his reply is somewhat impolite. Perhaps she is being bothersome. She decides to push that thought away, feigning indifference to avoid getting upset.
This is her usual way of dealing with things. When people she cares about upset her, she buries those emotions and pretends everything is fine until they fade away.
As they walk into their first class together, Josie gracefully navigates her way through the students, finally taking her seat. She adjusts to the chill of the chair before stealing a quick glance at Regulus. His face remains its usual stoic mask.
Pretend.
She mirrors his composed expression and leans her head against the palm of her hand.
~~~
The day has progressed, leaving just one class on Josie's schedule, and she and Regulus have barely exchanged words throughout the day.
Now, as they walk together to their last class, she steals a glance at him, silently checking if he is okay. This time, he notices, and his steps come to a halt, causing her to pause as well.
"What's wrong?" she inquires, her concern evident.
"Can you stop?" Regulus's tone is icy, mirroring the same cold and indifferent manner he had when they first met.
Confusion knits her brows. What has gone wrong? What has she done?
"You've been crowding me all day because of some stupid injury. I told you I'm fine!" He snaps, his frustration boiling over.
She takes a step back, her nails becoming her focus as she searches the empty hallway for any sign of witnesses.
Has she really been crowding him all day?
"What's your fucking problem, Regulus? I'm just trying to make sure you're okay. I just want to hel—" She cuts herself off.
"That's the problem, Josephine. Stop trying to help. I don't want your help." He maintains a blank expression as he speaks, but his eyes betray an underlying emotion.
"Fine," she responds She won't let herself cry in front of him. Instead, she walks away, and he doesn't pursue her. She isn't sure if she likes or hates that fact.
He is exceptionally rude. What is his fucking issue? She hasn't done anything besides expressing her concern.
All she has to do is wait until she reaches her dorm. There, she can finally let her tears flow. Nobody will be there; they will all be in class.
