𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍 | 𝐖𝐎𝐋𝐅𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 𝐗 𝐅𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐎𝐂

⊰ CH 15: GENUINE ⊱

"YOU CAN GO OUT AND swim if you'd like?" Andromeda suggests, noticing Regulus staring out the window at the ocean once again.

Her comment causes him to blink out of his thoughts and look down at the cup of tea resting in his palms before softly replying, "I don't think I will."

He doesn't like swimming. One of the core memories of his childhood is when his father was trying to teach him not to be afraid of the water. Orion Black ended up holding him underwater for a long period of time, causing the boy to almost drown.

It's not something he likes to think about often.

Andromeda sighs. She's slightly disturbed by her cousin's lack of motivation to hold a conversation. She doesn't need to pry to understand what's going on at home. She can tell just by looking at him. After all, she did go through it herself not long ago.

"I didn't want this for you..." she says solemnly.

"What? Our family?" Regulus deadpans, not looking up from the dark brown liquid. "We don't get to choose what family we're born in, Andy."

Both of their voices are low, seeing as Nymphadora is sitting next to them, munching on a biscuit, completely zoned out.

"I did," she denies with a shy smile, trying to spark hope in the boy.

"You're lucky." He nods, looking up at her with tired and depressed eyes.

"You could too... If you-,"

"Could we not talk about family for a moment?" he asks, raising his voice to a normal volume as he straightens his posture.

Andromeda sighs, looking at the boy in pity before nodding. "Of course, Reg."

She turns to look at her daughter, who is looking between the two 'adults' as though there is something she should be understanding but simply can't.

"Dora, Darling?" Andromeda questions, gaining the girl's attention. "Don't you have a gift to give Regulus?"

Nymphadora gasps, causing her hair to spike outwards for a second before it flattens down to normal the next. She jumps out of her seat and races away past a wooden staircase to what Regulus can only assume is her bedroom.

"A gift?" Regulus repeats sceptically.

"You'll like it," Andromeda promises, mischievously giggling to herself.

A second later, Nymphadora returns, quickly tumbling her way over to her older cousin with a lightly closed fist.

"I made this for you," she says softly, emptying the contents in her hand into his open palm.

He brings it closer for him to look at.

It's a handmade pink beaded bracelet.

He looks up at the girl before him, who is awaiting his reaction before looking down at the bracelet again.

He clenches his jaw as he tries to stop the tears that want to spill, not wanting to show any sign of vulnerability. "Thank you, Dora," he whispers, not trusting his voice.

He slips the bracelet onto his left wrist before looking up at the girl with a tight-lipped smile, the first genuine one he's had in weeks.

He's never going to take her gift off. Ever.

Nymphadora brings him in for a hug, to which he immediately returns, holding her small body to his.

She's warmed his heart in a way that he didn't know he needed.