first few weeks of the school year flew by in a whirl of classes, Quidditch practices, and late-night study sessions. Despite James's initial reservations, Y/N found herself growing closer to her new Slytherin friends. They were different from the Marauders, yes—less boisterous, less prone to pranks and loud laughter—but they had their own charm, their own way of making her feel welcomed.
And then there was Regulus.
Y/N couldn't help but notice how often their paths seemed to cross. In the library, during Potions, in the quiet corners of the castle where he seemed to like to disappear. Every time she saw him, there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes, as if he had been waiting for her all along.
One afternoon, after a particularly grueling Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Y/N found herself wandering down a less-traveled hallway, lost in thought. She nearly jumped when she turned a corner and almost collided with someone—Regulus.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, a smile breaking across her face. "Regulus! I didn't see you there."
He blinked, as if startled out of his own thoughts. "Y/N," he replied, his tone as calm and composed as ever. "I could say the same. You have a tendency to appear out of nowhere."
She laughed. "I could say the same about you. Are you... hiding from someone?"
A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "Not hiding. Just... thinking."
"About what?" she asked, genuinely curious.
Regulus hesitated, his eyes scanning her face as if trying to decide how much to reveal. "My family," he finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "And... the choices we make."
Y/N's expression softened. She could sense the weight of those words, the conflict behind them. "I can't imagine what it must be like," she said softly. "To be stuck between what's expected of you and what you want."
Regulus's eyes darkened, and for a moment, he seemed far older than his years. "It's... not easy," he murmured. "But we all have our burdens to bear, don't we?"
Y/N nodded. "That we do. But you don't have to bear them alone, you know."
Regulus looked at her, truly looked at her, as if trying to see into her very soul. "Why are you so kind to me?" he asked suddenly, his voice almost accusatory. "I'm not like your brother. I'm not a hero or... or good."
Y/N's smile didn't waver. "I don't believe that, Regulus. I see the good in you. I see someone who's intelligent, thoughtful, and... maybe a little lonely."
Regulus seemed taken aback, as if he hadn't expected her to see through him so clearly. "You're different," he murmured, almost to himself. "Different from the rest."
Y/N shrugged lightly. "Maybe. But so are you."
For a moment, they stood there in silence, the unspoken understanding between them growing stronger with each passing second. Y/N could feel her heart beating a little faster, her cheeks warming under his gaze. She had never felt this way before—this inexplicable pull toward someone who was supposed to be so different from her.
"I should go," Regulus finally said, breaking the silence. "But... thank you. For seeing me."
Y/N's smile widened. "Anytime, Regulus."
As he turned to leave, she called after him, "And don't forget about that Potions help you promised me!"
Regulus paused, glancing back with a small, genuine smile. "I won't."
And with that, he disappeared down the corridor, leaving Y/N with a fluttering heart and a feeling she couldn't quite name.
Chapter 3: The Unraveling
Over the next few weeks, Y/N and Regulus continued to find each other in quiet moments, always in those hidden corners of Hogwarts where no one else seemed to go. They would talk for hours, about everything and nothing, sharing secrets and stories that they had never told anyone else.
For Regulus, these moments felt like a reprieve, a breath of fresh air in a life that often felt stifling and controlled. Y/N was unlike anyone he had ever met—brave without being reckless, kind without being naive. She challenged him in ways that made him question everything he thought he knew about himself and his place in the world.
Y/N, in turn, found herself growing more and more drawn to Regulus. There was something about him that was so different from her brother and his friends—a depth, a quiet strength that she admired. She could see the pain he carried, the conflict within him, and she wanted nothing more than to help him find his way through it.
But the world outside their private moments wasn't so forgiving.
Whispers began to spread—whispers about the unlikely friendship between a Hufflepuff and a Slytherin, a Potter and a Black. James started asking more questions, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive. Even Sirius, who usually kept his distance from his brother, seemed more agitated whenever he saw Y/N and Regulus together.
"Y/N, what's going on with you and my brother?" Sirius asked one day, cornering her in the Gryffindor common room.
Y/N sighed, crossing her arms. "Why do you care, Sirius?"
Sirius looked genuinely hurt by her words. "Because he's dangerous, Y/N. You don't know him like I do. He's my brother, and there's a darkness in him..."
"There's a darkness in everyone, Sirius," Y/N interrupted gently. "But that doesn't mean they can't choose to be something different. Something better."
Sirius's jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with frustration. "Just be careful, alright?" he muttered. "I don't want to see you get hurt."
Y/N nodded, appreciating his concern. But deep down, she felt something different—something more hopeful. She believed in Regulus. She believed that, despite everything, he could be more than the darkness that surrounded him.
And maybe, just maybe, she could help him find the light.
