As the Stars align ( Regulus Black )

Six: Checkmate

The day after the SlugClub ball all everybody talked about the rain of glass that shattered all around. I had dreamed of it, the way that the glass flew through the air in all its dangerous beauty. Even then I had found it more beautiful then I should have. Perhaps the same thing applied to those cold green eyes that pierced through the dream like a knife.

Regulus Black had not yet appeared to any of the classes that we had together and I had not see him since he departed last night either. My guess was that he did not bother to show his face. Next to me sat Dorcas, conveniently ignoring that she had Charms assignments to do just so she could question me about what was going on between me and Regulus.

Apparently my ignoring had reached its peak when I realized that each and everyone of the students in the class including Professor Flitwick was starring at me. I looked around until I saw that I in fact had missed quite a lot in my time of ignoring the entire world around me. Professor McGonagall stood in the open door with raised eyebrows and a stern look on her face.

"Must I ask you to come with me again Miss Thorne" she pinned me with an annoyed stare. I looked at my stuff, then at Dorcas, silently asking her to take it with her if I did not return before the class ended. Dorcas nodded, so I stood up and hurried to the door.

Minutes of silent walking led to the huge statue of a Phoenix standing golden and proud.

"Professor Dumbledore is waiting for you" Professor McGonagall nodded at the steps. I walked onto the steps hoping that she would follow but she did not "sherbet Lemon"

The steps begun moving without warming causing me to almost lose my balance. I attempted to grab the wall but considering that it wasn't moving with me it didn't really help my situation. After a few struggling seconds I regained my balance, yet the feeling of dizziness stayed with me.

The second I reached the heavy wooden door I felt the dizziness go from my mind straight to my stomach. I swallowed harshly as an attempt to hold down the food that I had eaten this morning in the great hall. After I had made sure that I was not going to throw up I knocked on the door.

I was waiting for an answer when the door swung open. Professor Dumbledore, in all his glory, stood before me smiling widely like he knew something that I did not. Of course he knew something that I did not, he was Albus Dumbledore. When he stepped to the side to let me in he cleared my view into the rest of the room. Regulus Black was leaning against the headmaster table, hands in his pocket and hair hanging lazily onto his forehead.

"Wonderful, now that we are complete we can begin discussing the situation at hand" Dumbledore gestured to the chair next to the one that Regulus was now sitting on. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No thank you" I rasped out, taking a seat next to the Slytherin. Even from this for away I could feel the warmth of his skin. Perhaps I was just imagining it, yet it felt so real. I crossed my leg over the other nd placed my hand gracefully into my lap, just like my Mother had taught me to.

"Sir whatever Alexis told you" Regulus began as soon as Dumbledore sat down. "She is lying-"

"Miss Thorne has not said anything Mister Black" Dumbledore blinked a few times "It was in fact Professor Slughorn that brought the incident to my attention" So this was about last night. "I must say that I am disappointed at how you handled the situation Miss Thorne"

My eyes went wide and the nausea hit me like a truck. How could he turn last nights events into something that I should learn a lesson from? How cold he not punish Regulus for ruining the Party?

"You should not have simply left after the accident happened. Professor Slughorn and several of the Club member had to clean up the mess alone" I felt like I was about to puke. Never before had a teacher ever given me anything butt praise. "You do not need to look so smug, Mister Black"

I turned to the boy next to me just in time to see his smug smile disappear "I have a witness confirming that the accident was not an accident on you part after all."

"I don't know who your witness is but they are lying, perhaps furthering the agenda that Slytherins are always the bad ones. You should really look into it" Regulus crossed his arms over his chest like a pouty child.

"My witness is a Slytherin" Dumbledore deadpanned " I gather that this sits much deeper then a simple squabble between the two of you, hence my decision to enforce a more... creative punishment"

"There is no squabble at all, Professor. Last nights incident was an honest mistake. How could i have known that Alexis would be foolish enough not to fixate the tower with a spell-"

"In fact you gave me the idea for the resolution of this Problem Mister Black" Regulus raised his eyebrows " In an effort to further the cooperation between the houses Ravenclaw and Slytherin I have decided that both of you will select a team of people from your house. These teams will work together under the guidance of the two of you to organize the Winter Ball this year"

"What?!" We both exclaimed at the same time.

"I'll squash that Idea right now then" Regulus stood up from his chair and leaned over Dumbledore's desk "I would love to work with Amelia over here" he nodded to me suddenly acting like he doesn't know my name again " I really would Sir, but I simply don't have the time. Between my extra elective class and my Quidditch practice there is simply no time"

"Oh well" Dumbledore looked down at his table "This revelation deeply saddens me" he pulled on his long white beard "But I am sure that the Quidditch team will find a suitable replacement for you before the season begins"

Now my jaw hit the ground. Clearly Regulus was surprised by this as well because this time his perfect facade of not-caring cracked.

"You cannot be serious" he gasped as he dropped himself back into his chair.

"I am serious, Mister Black" Dumbledore pushed his half moon glasses back up his crooked nose "But If the Party is a success I shall consider you going back onto the team"

"Sir, I must object. I cannot work with him" I exclaimed as calmly as I possibly could "Planning this party is a huge responsibility and of course an honor. I cannot guarantee that the party will go smoothly if him and his friends are involved" I took a deep breath before continuing "With all respect, Sir, this is a bad idea"

"For once I agree with her" Regulus mumbled under his breath, but I understood him clearly and pinned him with a deathly glare.

"Miss Thorne, I had always valued you for your ability to handle any situation and to always keep control" I was about to thank him for the compliment "Is my trust in you misplaced?"

"Of course not, Sir-"

"Then you will accept this challenge and you will lead this endeavor gracefully" I blinked rapidly, trying to come up with a solution to this mess, Judging from the silence next to me Regulus didn't have any moves left either. Dumbledore knew there was nothing we could do.

We were both Checkmated

(A/N Hey there! I wanted to do a quick a/n to say that english is not my native language so please excuse any mistakes. This chapter took longer to write then I expected but I quite like how it turned out. I hope all of you enjoy this as much as I do. Please tell me what you think in the comments. Love, S)