Only the Brave

Chapter 2: Amortentia

Notes:

TW for this chapter

Discussion / mentions of homophobia
Insomnia
Mentions of bullying
Swearing!

I think that's it, but if I left anything out feel free to let me know!

Enjoy :)

Regulus can't sleep.

This is annoying because sleep is actually quite important. This is one of the things he's discovered this summer. If he's going to carry out his plans and get his revenge, he needs to be as strong as possible. Not just physically, but mentally as well. To this end, he's been devoting himself to a strict exercise routine that his mother believes is solely to help him win the Quidditch Cup for Slytherin. For once, she approves. It's such a strange feeling Regulus prefers not to acknowledge it at all. He's also been eating every meal Kreacher has made for him, which has the added benefit of making his house elf very happy. And, most importantly, Regulus has been sleeping.

Some nights more successfully than others, but he's been trying.

He turns in his bed, groaning into his pillow in frustration. It's not the end of the world if he has a bad night, but there's little to do in the castle. And he didn't bring any cigarettes with him so sneaking out to the astronomy tower to smoke isn't an option. Besides, he can't be caught out past curfew—detentions are not a good use of his time, so he'll avoid them. And his dorm isn't exactly conducive to late night entertainment. Barty and Evan are passed out cold, snoring in their beds. Edward Selwyn is awake, reading behind his curtains but Regulus doesn't like Edward.

He lays there for a little while, quiet in his bed, contemplating. He thinks of his summer. Early mornings running through the grounds of their summer manor out in the countryside. The days slipping away as he tore through his family's library, reading every book on the Dark Arts he could find. He thinks of the evenings, sat on the rooftop on his own with a pack of muggle cigarettes and no one but the stars for company. Thinks of the meetings happening downstairs. People in dark cloaks and strange masks coming and going. Of the voices discussing plans that would make any non-broken person's toes curl in their shoes.

Soon, Regulus' voice will add to those. He'll whisper in corners, hide in shadows. Do what must be done for the betterment of the world.

He will get his revenge.

Not tonight, though. Tonight, he's just a student with an insomnia problem getting bored out of his mind.

He slips away from his dorm in silence and pads down the stairs to the common room. It's deserted, which isn't unusual this late at night. It's one in the morning and the only light is from the windows facing the lake. Everything is a dark, glowing green that Regulus finds kind of peaceful. Not that he'd ever say that out loud to anybody.

Just as his back hits the couch, the door to the common room swings open and Dorcas stumbles inside with a grin on her lips. It strains and disappears as soon as her eyes meet Regulus'.

"What are you doing here?" She asks.

Regulus raises an eyebrow.

Dorcas sighs. "I'm not telling you where I was. It's none of your business."

He tilts his head to the side, dark curls bouncing. "I didn't ask."

Regulus likes Dorcas as much as he can like anyone. She's a good friend. A little ruthless, which he appreciates. She's brave enough to have been a Gryffindor if not for her cunning mind.

She hesitates for a moment before plopping down on the sofa next to Regulus. "Can't sleep?"

"No." No point in denying the obvious. And he could do a lot worse than Dorcas for a late night chat. Barty would be too loud and obnoxious. Evan would simply not be awake. Ever. Under any circumstance. And Pandora lives in the Ravenclaw tower so she's not an option. Regulus doesn't have any other friends. He doesn't want or need them.