The Hogwarts Express was alive with excitement, students filling the narrow corridors, seeking out compartments and familiar faces. The crisp September air carried the scent of adventure, the promise of a new year filled with magic and mischief.
Y/N Potter had just managed to find an empty compartment when she heard a knock on the door. She turned, smiling brightly as she opened it to find a small group of Slytherins standing there, all looking somewhat uncertain. She recognized them immediately: Barty Crouch Jr., with his mischievous grin; Evan Rosier, with his cool, confident smirk; Pandora Rosier, a quiet girl with dreamy eyes; and finally, Regulus Black.
Regulus stood slightly apart from the others, his dark hair falling into his stormy gray eyes. He was quiet, watching her with a curious intensity, a stark contrast to his companions' playful expressions. Y/N had heard stories about the Black family—stories from her older brother James about the trouble Sirius had with them, about how Regulus was supposedly the perfect little pureblood, toeing the line. But to her, Regulus seemed different—his gaze was thoughtful, almost gentle, even if his face was serious.
"Is it okay if we join you?" Pandora asked, her voice soft and melodic.
"Of course!" Y/N replied cheerfully, stepping aside to let them in. "I'm Y/N Potter, by the way."
Evan chuckled. "We know who you are, Potter. Your brother makes sure everyone does."
Y/N rolled her eyes playfully. "Yes, well, that's James. But I'm the better half of the Potter siblings."
Barty laughed as he flopped down on the seat across from her. "We'll see about that."
As the others settled in, Y/N noticed Regulus hesitating at the doorway. She gave him a gentle smile. "You can sit next to me if you'd like," she offered.
Regulus blinked, clearly surprised. His lips curved into a small, almost shy smile. "Thank you," he murmured, sliding into the seat beside her. His voice was deep, surprisingly soft for someone who carried such an intimidating reputation.
The train began to move, and Y/N soon found herself laughing with the group. Barty was quick-witted and funny, Evan sharp and observant, Pandora dreamy and full of odd, charming stories. But it was Regulus who fascinated her most. He spoke little, but when he did, his words were thoughtful, clever. He had a quiet confidence about him, an intelligence that shone through even in silence.
Throughout the ride, Y/N felt Regulus's gaze flick to her more than once. Each time their eyes met, her heart did a little flip. She found herself wondering what he was thinking, what thoughts hid behind those gray eyes.
As they drew closer to Hogwarts, the conversation shifted to their expectations for the new year. Barty and Evan made some remarks about the Slytherin Quidditch team, while Pandora dreamily talked about her love for Herbology.
Y/N turned to Regulus, curious. "What about you, Regulus? What are you looking forward to?"
Regulus glanced at her, caught off guard by the directness of her question. For a moment, he hesitated, as if weighing his words carefully. "I suppose... I'm looking forward to Potions," he finally said, his voice calm. "It's something I've always been good at."
Y/N nodded, genuinely interested. "Potions? That's impressive. I've always found it a bit intimidating myself."
A faint smile touched his lips. "It's all about precision," he replied. "A little like... putting together a puzzle."
"I like puzzles," Y/N said softly. "Especially the ones that make you think."
Regulus looked at her again, and there was something in his eyes—an emotion she couldn't quite place. Admiration, perhaps? Or curiosity? He nodded slightly, his smile growing just a bit. "Maybe I could help you with Potions sometime," he offered quietly.
Y/N's smile widened. "I'd like that."
The rest of the journey passed in a blur of laughter and conversation. By the time the train pulled into Hogsmeade Station, Y/N felt an unexpected bond forming with this group of Slytherins, and especially with Regulus Black.
As they all made their way off the train, Y/N spotted her brother James, along with his friends Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. James's face brightened when he saw her, but as his eyes flicked over to the Slytherin group around her, his expression shifted, just for a moment—a flicker of disapproval that Y/N caught, even from a distance.
Sirius, however, had a different reaction. His gaze fell on his brother, and for a moment, his face hardened, an odd mix of anger and sadness passing through his features. Regulus's expression grew cold in response, and he quickly turned his back, walking ahead with Barty and Evan.
"Y/N!" James called, rushing over. "Hey! Been hanging out with the snakes?"
Y/N rolled her eyes at her brother's teasing. "They're not so bad, James. Besides, they're my friends now."
