The Hobgoblins (Harry Potter Fanfic)

The Banshee

He set a finger in the notebook, looking down at the scribblings of random thoughts that might turn into lyrics as he shifted in the train compartment seat, sighing. Regulus reached fingers into his hair, frustrated at the thought process or lack thereof.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing," Regulus muttered in response to Evan's question as his cousin entered the train compartment.

"Please, Regulus, tell me you aren't still studying. We're heading home for the summer, so can't you give it a break?"

"We're taking our O.W.L.s next year," Regulus responded, still focused on the various thoughts he'd jotted down as nothing bore any kind of fruit when it came to lyrics, the worry lingering in the back of his head regarding how Walburga Black would react if she knew he was attempting this rock and roll Muggles were fond of, that Sirius loved to blare as loud as possible.

A hand reached out, shutting the book and drawing his gray eyes up, only for him to look out the window rather than look Evan in the eyes. "Put the studies away, Regulus. Honestly, just do." There came a pause. "Or does this..."

Regulus' eyes blinked, his head turning slightly. "What.

"No. Never mind. I won't ask. Whatever Sirius did this time caused that last letter from your mother. I know it upset you, so I won't ask. Barty might, just to forewarn you, though. He's certainly been bugging me about it, wondering what you've been up to. Told him to give you some space."

"Thank you," Regulus said, taking a deep breath and sliding the notebook into his book bag. "You're really upset about that?"

"Upset about?" Evan let out a deep breath. "I'm not upset about that. In fact, it's not about me being upset at all, but you being upset. I can't stand it when he upsets you like that."

"Yes, well, Sirius is likely going to be laid into when we get home, that's for sure," Regulus said, thinking back to his lyrics. "Banshee, huh? I'd not really thought about those lyrics as I wrote them, so am I overthinking this."

"Ugh," Evan said, sliding down slightly and looking out the window. "They'll be screaming at each other then?"

"Very likely," Regulus said, shrugging his shoulders, thinking about returning to his notebook with the scribblings of thoughts to turn them into some semblance of lyrics.

"Says my cousin, who doesn't like loud noises," Evan said, sighing. "Acting like it's not a big deal when it is. Will you be alright?"

"I'll find ways to stay busy," Regulus muttered, then paused, looking up at Evan. "I'd say something, you know. If not for."

"Not for what?"

"The risk of someone else getting hurt," Regulus murmured.

"Snape? He's not innocent," Evan sighed.

Regulus shrugged his shoulders, closing the notebook again and looking out the window, finger still holding his place when Barty flowed into the compartment, laughing—

Regulus cringed. "I've never liked that laugh of his."

Barty's hand reached for the notebook, only for Regulus to pull it away, slipping it back into his bag, glaring at his other cousin. "Barty, no!"

"No, Barty. Bad Barty," Evan said, laughing. "You know Regulus hates people looking over his shoulder, copying his notes:

"Yeah. He'll copy them for you instead," Barty murmured, flopping down in the seat nearby, then flopping sideways so he lay on top of Regulus, resulting in Regulus stiffening up. "Hey. Don't do that!"