Rewrite The Stars- R.A.B

50

Regulus watched his girlfriend lay in his bed, holding her red teddy bear tightly and staring off into the distance. She's been like that for at least a week. She was a stubborn little thing and he loved that about her. But she needed to take care of herself.

He hated how he couldn't do anything. Ever since the death of Mr. and Mrs. Potter, the Potter siblings refused to talk to anyone but each other. Last night, the younger Potter had snuck into her boyfriends dorm, tears falling down her cheeks as she crawled into his bed. He had woken up immediately and held her without saying a word.

He knew that no matter what he said, it wouldn't help. Words never did. He could say that he was sorry. But Grace didn't want pity. She never did. She hated it when people pitied her or worried about her. So he just held her in his arms as a show of comfort. A silent way of telling her that he was there. And he always would be. He wouldn't leave her.

Not ever.

But he was getting tired of not being able to do anything. She just layed there, so sad and pale and.... Heartbroken. It was slowly eating at him. It hurt him when she was hurt. Her pain was his pain. Her tears were his tears. Every time she sobbed or had a panic attack, thinking about her parents, it was like someone was stabbing him with a rusted knife in his chest over and over again. She was in so much pain. And he didn't know how to help.

Regulus was never good at comforting people. All he ever did was push them away. Until her. And even then, he made her life a living hell before he let her in. Even that was a challenge. Comfort was something he never learned how to do. He never received it, never seeked it and never knew when to give it. Till he saw her so heartbroken and broken.

The normal bright and happy spark from her eyes was gone too. She was a mess. Both mentally and physically. He kept his poker face on when others were around and beat up anyone who even looked at her wrong or made disrespectful comments. Anytime someone gave her a pitying glance or apologized for her loss, he would glare at them till they ran off.

Why couldn't people understand that when you lose someone close to you, you don't want their pity? You don't want to be told that it'll be okay, because you won't. That's a type of pain that never leaves. It eats away at you and you always feel it. It won't ever go away. It might eventually numb into a dull ache but it won't leave. Losing her parents would always hurt her. Pity and fake sympathetic apologies won't help her.

He slowly walked up to her and kneeled on the floor in front of her, gently threading his fingers into her hair. She didn't flinch away or even move like she would the first few days after the death of her parents. Anytime he tried to get close, she sobbed and told him to leave and that she wanted to be alone. Not now. Not recently. She barely moved. She barely ate. Just enough to not starve to death but also not enough to properly function.

She was like a ghost. The only colour around her was the red teddy that she refused to let go off. The same one her brother had given her before he left for his first year of Hogwarts. That teddy and the necklace her parents gave her - which was an old family heirloom - were the two things she refused to go anywhere without. With one hand, she clutched the necklace that she never took off and with the other, she held the teddy.

"Please, sweetheart. You need to eat. Something. Anything." He whispered, gently rubbing his hands through her hair as he looked into her brown eyes with his worried grey-blue ones.

She didn't respond. She didn't even move to look at him. Actually look at him. She was staring at the wall in his dormitory. Like she has been for the past few hours. He had kicked everyone out of the dorm and has been making them sleep somewhere else. Anywhere. He didn't care. As long as they weren't here to see her like this. He knew she wouldn't want anyone seeing her like this. Besides, they were pissing him off with the questions since he wouldn't let them see her.

He sighed and sat on the bed, gently putting her head on his lap. She hadn't said a word for the past week and it killed him. Her silence was much worse than anything he could imagine. He wanted her to talk and laugh and be her bright self again. But she needed time. She just lost her parents and the recovery wasn't going to be easy.

Slowly, so excruciatingly slowly, she nestled into him, leaning into him. Regulus swore that he could've smiled out of pure relief. His heart raced and he was a bit relieved. His Gracie was in there. He just needed to guide her back. He would have to be gentle. More than he has ever been with her and ease her into coming back.

He could hear her silent sobs once more. Her eyes were already red and puffy from days of crying and he was sure that she had a growing fever. He had given her water and some medicine to help her but she refused to eat anymore than what she absolutely needed. Just enough to survive but not nearly enough to properly function. It pained him to see her like this.

He gently caressed her hair and held her close to him while she kept her head on his chest. Not once did she let go of her teddy or necklace. Who knew how long had passed but when Grace eventually fell asleep while crying, Regulus relaxed ever so slightly. She needed her rest. He layed her on his pillow and covered her with his blanket and covered the bed with the curtains. He changed and layed in bed beside her, holding her close to his chest. Even in her sleep, she hadn't let go of her things. But Regulus just held her and didn't even try to take her hands away from the teddy or necklace.

If that was her comfort and if it helped, then he would never dare to stop her. He kept a hand on her waist and cradled the back of her head with his other, holding her close. Regulus caressed her and watched her sleep. Even when she was sleeping, she looked a bit pale. But she also looked so much more at ease and relaxed than when she was awake.

AN: Well, the train to pain and heartbreak has officially left the station. I hope you guys enjoy this rollercoaster of emotions. Again, apologizing for what I'm going to make you feel but will I stop? No.

Anyway, reminder to drink enough water and eat and stay healthy!

Giving tissues for the tears.

Love you guys

- Ro xx