SNAKE - Regulus Black

Chapter four ~ Divided Paths

Cassandra's steps echoed down the dimly lit corridors as she hurried back to her dorm, trying to push Regulus out of her thoughts. It had been days since their last argument, and still, she hadn't forgiven him. His words, sharp and calculated, had left a mark. He always knew how to push her buttons, but this time, he had gone too far. Avoiding him had become second nature—skipping meals in the Great Hall when she knew he'd be there, lingering in the common room until late just to ensure she wouldn't run into him on the way to class.

But Regulus was relentless.

This morning, a bouquet of dark purple orchids and soft white lilies awaited her by her bedside, wrapped in silver silk, with his name scribbled on a folded parchment. A note. Cassandra hesitated, her fingers grazing the edge of it before she snatched it up.

"Cassandra,
I know we haven't spoken. But ignoring me won't solve what's between us. I'd like to talk when you're ready. Until then, these flowers reminded me of you.
—Regulus"

She crumpled the paper and tossed it aside. He was trying, she knew that, but it didn't mean she was ready to forgive him. Not yet.

Later that day, Cassandra found herself in the company of two familiar faces: Narcissa and Andromeda Black, both of whom had beckoned her over during lunch. As they settled in an alcove far from prying eyes, the conversation drifted to lighter topics before inevitably landing on Regulus.

"So, have you spoken to him yet?" Narcissa asked, raising a perfectly arched brow as she daintily sipped her tea.

Cassandra stiffened. "No. And I'm not planning to. Not after everything."

Narcissa tilted her head, her icy gaze steady. "He's persistent, I'll give him that. He doesn't usually care enough to chase after anyone."

Cassandra scoffed. "Well, he can stop chasing. I'm not interested."

There was a brief silence before Andromeda spoke, her tone gentler than her sister's. "He does have a point, though, Cassandra. You can't avoid him forever."

Cassandra blinked. "You're on his side?"

Andromeda shrugged slightly, as if weighing her next words. "Not entirely. But I understand where he's coming from. Maybe you should hear him out. He cares about you, in his own way."

Cassandra bit her lip, unsure how to respond. The Andromeda she knew wasn't one to blindly follow anyone's opinion, let alone Regulus's. Yet here she was, almost defending him.

"Regulus is... complicated," Andromeda continued, her gaze softening. "But you know as well as I do that he's always been caught between what he wants and what he's expected to be."

Cassandra's suspicions began to stir. This was unusual, even for Andromeda. Why was she defending Regulus now? Wasn't she supposed to stand with Cassandra, to uphold the same values and ideals? Something didn't sit right.

Andromeda met her gaze, as if sensing her unease. "Look, I know it's difficult. But maybe it's worth considering that Regulus isn't entirely wrong. He's doing what he believes is right, even if we don't agree with all of it."

Cassandra narrowed her eyes. "And what do you believe, Andromeda? Really?"

Andromeda hesitated. The pause was telling. Narcissa, ever the one to keep her distance from emotional entanglements, simply looked on, eyes flickering between them.

"I believe..." Andromeda started, her voice softer now, "I believe that some things aren't as black and white as they seem. Sometimes, we have to question what we're taught."

Cassandra's heart skipped a beat. Was she really hearing this? Andromeda, the one she thought she could always rely on to uphold their shared beliefs, was now openly admitting doubt.

The conversation drifted back to safer subjects, but Cassandra couldn't shake the growing unease. She studied Andromeda quietly, wondering how long those seeds of doubt had been growing beneath the surface—and whether she had ever truly known her friend at all.

Cassandra's eyes narrowed, her voice tinged with curiosity rather than accusation. "Do you still believe in the Dark Lord's cause, Andromeda?" she asked quietly. There was a subtle shift in the room's energy, as if something unsaid lingered between them. Andromeda hesitated, and for the briefest moment, her usual calm exterior faltered. Narcissa remained silent, watching her sister closely, her expression carefully guarded.

Andromeda blinked, her expression unreadable for a moment before she smiled softly. "Of course I still believe in the Dark Lord's cause," she replied, her tone smooth, but there was something too quick about the response. Cassandra's narrowed eyes remained fixed on her, picking up on the subtle tension in her words. Narcissa, though silent, glanced briefly at her sister, her lips pressed together in a thin line. The unspoken doubt lingered between them, but neither sister acknowledged it.

Cassandra turned to Narcissa, her voice soft but pointed. "Cissy, she's your sister. Do you believe her?" Her gaze didn't waver, searching Narcissa's face for any sign of doubt. Narcissa's lips pursed slightly, and for a fleeting second, her icy composure cracked. She glanced at Andromeda, then back to Cassandra, before responding, her voice cool and measured. "Andromeda has always known where her loyalties lie." But even as she spoke, there was a hesitation that Cassandra couldn't ignore.

A subtle, sinister gaze flickered in Cassandra's eyes, a hint of suspicion that she quickly forced down. She let out a slow breath, masking her unease. "Right," she said, attempting to keep her tone light, though the weight of doubt lingered in the air. Andromeda smiled again, but this time, it felt strained. Cassandra's mind raced, wondering if the sisters shared a secret that ran deeper than she could see. For now, she would let it go, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. "I'm off then."

Cassandra stood up, smoothing her robes as she turned to leave, her suspicions rising with each step. She waved goodbye over her shoulder, but the uncertainty gnawed at her; she didn't know who to trust anymore as she walked away, leaving the sisters enveloped in silence.

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NOTE: please leave comments to lmk what to add next!!!!