꧁ʙᴏʀɴ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴜʀᴘʟᴇ꧂

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 42

꧁✧✧✧꧂

"𝕳aving a nice time?"

Romie hurriedly forces onto her face the toothiest of smiles, nodding enthusiastically to the figure emerging from behind.

Remus snorts, fumbling around with the half empty packet of cigarettes from his trouser pocket. He doesn't offer one to his little sister, putting them away once slipping one between his puckered lips, igniting the end. A sigh escapes him, puffing on the smoke that takes the edge off the apprehension weighing heavy like boulders on his being.

Another year older, another year closer to graduating Hogwarts. He's not ready for her to graduate, not ready for her to be free, out alone in the real world. The dark, cruel world where unspeakable things happen. Are happening. He needs more time, he needs to restore the good for her proper entrance. Even if that means eliminating himself in the process. He sighs again, the smoke filling the stuffy air around them.

The greyish haziness doesn't hinder his vision, firmly fixed on something ahead that Romie hasn't noticed herself yet. She's firmly fixed on him. The deep creases between his brows, the small tick of his jaw, the murky shade of his eyes. It starts to break up, flecks of lucent amber coming through. Romie already has hunch who's on the other end of his eyeline.

The hunch isn't wrong. Inches away from the amplified music station Mary has sneakily snatched the opportunity to seize control over, rocking a rather scandalous vest the colour of an aubergine, Sirius Black. Apparently not alone. Romie doesn't need an ashy cigarette to dry up her mouth, what she's seeing does the job. Excelled at it, really.

Regulus Black, in all his grandeur.

He's not the one doing the talking, that's all on Sirius, but it doesn't matter. Because the Black Brothers are shoulder to shoulder and awful disaster hasn't struck. It's impossible to hear what they're discussing, possible to take a wild guess because then, in concert, their silvery gazes cast straight in the direction of the Lupins. For a long second, solid stares are held, until Sirius' falls back on his brother and Remus' falls back on his sister.

Romie and Regulus' remain on each other.

Remain the whole journey to cross the common room decorated and absent of red and gold tonight. Romie doesn't hear the cheerful greeting and sing song from Sirius, entranced by him. His smooth skin, his eyes, that resemble the colourful side of Mercury up this close. His hair. Styled in a curly array that makes him untouchable. Dark, almost as dark as his choice of finery.

Romie ignores the soft, light feeling inside her chest, remembering the one rule broadcasted. The one he's chosen blatantly to turn a blind eye to. Folding her arms and settling comfortably into a glare, Romie states,

"The dress code is purple"

Two minutes pass, involving Regulus blankly staring at the stubborn girl, unrelenting. He sighs, ring embellished hands begrudgingly reaching for the collar of his shirt, popping open the top buttons then fixing her a pointed look. Romie's glare falters, something intense flashing across her face, along with recognition. A swooping sensation develops in her stomach, glossed lips parting.