Betting on Love || Regulus Black

.01

• 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄 •

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Scarlett was peacefully asleep until Sirius barged into her room and began bouncing onto her bed. With a groan, she opened her eyes to find the mischievous child staring down at her, his antics disturbing her rest. "Sirius, if you plan on staying here, you better quit it!"

Just then, James walked into the room, wearing a sly smirk as he observed the chaos. "Oi! Don't talk to my mate like that," he interjected, clearly finding the situation amusing.

"Then tell him to quit doing that!" rolling her eyes, Scarlett yanked the duvet off herself, causing Sirius to tumble to the floor. She couldn't help but smirk and stifle a giggle at his misfortune.

"How else would I wake you up, little Potter?" Sirius quipped, still wearing his mischievous grin as he straightened his hair in the mirror.

Scarlett, already heading to the bathroom to change, shot back, "Oh, I don't know, like a normal person? Maybe a gentle tap or something less childish?"

Sirius turned around, hands on his hips, and retorted, "Where's the fun in that?"

With a sassy tone, Scarlett replied, "Fun for at least one person," before grabbing her trunk and exiting the room.

As she made her way down the stairs, James chimed in from behind, "Two, actually," the sound of shared giggles trailing her as she descended.

As she set her plate on the table and reached for the orange juice, she spun around to find Black occupying her usual seat. With a swift motion, she reclaimed her plate before he could even reach for his utensils. "What on earth do you think you're doing?"

"Eating, but you just snatched my food," Sirius retorted with a piercing stare as James sits beside him and gives him a plate with food. Firmly, she rolled her eyes and settled at another spot on the table, grabbing a muggle newspaper to read as her mother entered the room.

"Good morning, my dears. How was your sleep?" Effie inquired, bustling about as she prepared tea. Casting a glance at each of their fatigued expressions, her husband approached from behind, planting a tender kiss on her cheek.

"Morning. Looks like you lot didn't get much sleep," Fleamont remarked, observing the three teenagers as they glanced down at their breakfast.

"He woke me up," Scarlett pointed out, gesturing towards Sirius without lifting her gaze from the newspaper.

"It was either that or have a grumpy Scarlett because she didn't wake up on time. You're welcome," he boasted with a grin, savoring the final bite of his breakfast.

James chuckled as he cleared the plates into the sink, swiftly ascending the stairs to retrieve his and Sirius' trunks. He carefully positioned them alongside Scarlett's trunk, and their father promptly loaded them into the car after a thorough check to ensure nothing was missing.

"Alright, my dears, take care," Effie said, embracing each of them with a wide smile. "Have a safe trip," she added, waving goodbye as they headed off.

Scarlett dashed to the car and claimed the coveted front seat, playfully sticking her tongue out at James, "I've secured the front seat!"

"This time," he retorted with a steely gaze, taking his place in the back. Usually the front seat was more comfortable, it meant you didn't have to worry about trunks or owl cages, so of course everyone was competitive when it came to that seat.

After an hour's journey, they arrived at King's Cross station. Stepping out of the car, they made their way toward platforms 9 and 10, anticipation building with each step. Without hesitation, they formed a line and ran straight into the wall. Opening their eyes, they were greeted by the sight of the beloved red train they had missed dearly. Glancing back, they waited for Fleamont to catch up. Once he did, they exchanged heartfelt goodbyes before dispersing to explore. While wandering, they unexpectedly encountered Regulus, who seemed to be awaiting someone. Scarlett shot Regulus a pointed look and gently nudged Sirius to keep walking.

Sirius spent the entire summer at the Potters, keeping his reasons for being there a mystery whenever others were around. However, on the second day of his stay, he finally confided in James, revealing the truth behind his disownment by his parents and his subsequent escape to their home. Unaware to him, Scarlett overheard every detail through the thin walls, learning not only about Sirius's dislike for Regulus but also his conflicting feelings of missing his brother.

As they encountered Remus and Peter during their walk, warm greetings were exchanged, followed by lingering hugs filled with expressions of missed friendship. After these heartfelt reunions, Remus approached Scarlett and ruffling her hair, teasing, "Well, hello there, little Potter," with a chuckle in his voice.

After smoothing down her tousled hair, Scarlett playfully crossed her arms over her chest, raising an eyebrow at Remus. "Ruffling my hair, huh? Isn't that getting old?" she quipped with a chuckle, her gaze shifting briefly to Peter, offering him a fleeting smile.

Peter remained largely silent, a contrast to the lively banter of the others, still harboring a hint of discomfort around Scarlett despite their years as neighbors. In the other hand, Remus thrived on their conversations, seeking solace from chaos in her company. Whenever he needed a break, he looked for her, engaging in conversations about books, studies, and occasionally even sharing thoughts about people they found intriguing.

A blonde girl with a shaggy haircut draped her arms around Remus and Scarlett shoulders, casting a mischievous glance at the group. "What's the topic of discussion?"

Scarlett's eyes lit up as she caught sight of Marlene McKinnon, known for her vibrant personality and status as one of Hogwarts' gayest icons. Without hesitation, she enveloped Marlene in a tight hug, feeling a surge of warmth and familiarity. As Marlene released her, Scarlett felt another pair of arms encircle her waist, and with a grin, she knew exactly who it was. The hands lifted her up, spinning her around with laughter filling the air. Once her feet touched the ground again, Scarlett turned to embrace her closest friend, Ivy McKinnon.

Scarlett and Ivy's bond formed during their first year at Hogwarts when they found themselves sharing the same compartment on the train. Fate seemed to conspire in their favor as they were both sorted into the same house. Recognizing the potential for complications, given their siblings' friendship, they made a pact never to develop feelings for each other's siblings. Remarkably, they upheld this promise; while Ivy came out as a lesbian during her third year and confided in Scarlett, Scarlett remained true to her straightness. Despite rumors swirling around Hogwarts suggesting they were secretly dating, their relationship remained purely platonic, grounded in an unbreakable friendship.

"We'd better catch the train before all the good seats are taken," Ivy declared, tugging Scarlett along with her.

"Okay, okay, catch you all later," Scarlett called out to the group before making her way onto the train.

"I swear, if your sister ends up turning my sister gay," James remarked to Marlene, watching Ivy and Scarlett disappear into the train.

"Got something against gay people Potter?" Marlene retorted, a playful smirk adorning her face as she glanced at James.

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