The night was still, the soft glow of the moon casting silvery reflections over the Black Lake. The gentle ripples on the water mirrored the flicker of stars above, creating a serene and magical atmosphere that seemed worlds away from the chaos and darkness of the looming war. Regulus Black sat by the edge of the lake, his heart racing. For months, maybe even longer, he had felt something shift inside him whenever Y/N was near. It wasn't just admiration for her courage or gratitude for her kindness, though those were part of it. It was something deeper. The way her laughter lit up the room, how her presence grounded him in ways he hadn't thought possible. She was light to the darkness he had always known—her Hufflepuff warmth, her fierce loyalty to her friends, even the Marauders, baffled him at first. Yet, over time, Regulus found himself drawn to her in ways he couldn't explain. The more they fought together, the more she stood by him, the more his heart was no longer his own.
What terrified him most wasn't the war or the Horcruxes, but the idea that he might never tell her how he felt. If something happened, if he lost her—or if she never knew the truth about how much he cared—he wouldn't be able to forgive himself. And so, tonight, after wrestling with his emotions for what felt like a lifetime, he had finally decided: he would confess. He had meticulously prepared everything, from the picnic to the wildflowers he had picked himself, hoping it would show her how much she meant to him. Now, as he waited for Y/N to arrive, his stomach twisted with nerves, the fear of rejection gnawing at him, even though he knew this moment was long overdue.
~~~with y/n~~~
Y/N made her way through the quiet grounds of Hogwarts, her heart beating just a little faster than usual. Regulus had asked her to meet him by the lake, and she couldn't help but wonder what was so important.
When she arrived at the spot near the water, she was greeted by a sight that made her breath catch in her throat.
Laid out under the night sky was a picnic blanket, adorned with soft cushions and an array of food that looked both simple and elegant. There were sandwiches, fresh fruits, pastries, and even a loaf of warm, freshly baked bread. In the center of it all was a small bouquet of wildflowers—delicate, unassuming, but thoughtful. And sitting beside it, with an air of quiet anticipation, was Regulus.
At night🔝
He looked up as she approached, his dark eyes filled with something deeper than their usual mystery. Y/N swallowed, surprised by the softness in his expression.
"You... did all this?" she asked, her voice a little breathless.
Regulus stood up, brushing off his robes with a hint of nervousness. "I wanted to do something special," he said, his voice low but steady. "I know we've been focused on... everything else. But tonight, I wanted it to just be us."
Y/N felt a warmth spread through her chest, her eyes darting from the beautiful picnic to the boy standing in front of her. There was something about Regulus tonight—something vulnerable, as if he was baring a part of himself that he usually kept hidden.
She smiled, her heart softening. "It's perfect, Regulus. Truly."
Regulus gestured toward the blanket, and they both sat down, side by side, the lake shimmering beside them. For a few moments, they sat in comfortable silence, eating the food he had so carefully prepared. The night was peaceful, the soft chirping of crickets and the gentle rustle of leaves providing a calming backdrop.
But Y/N could sense that Regulus had something on his mind. He wasn't his usual composed self. There was an uncertainty in the way he looked at her, as if he was trying to find the right words to say. Finally, he set down his cup and turned to face her, his expression serious but laced with a rare tenderness.
"Y/N, there's something I need to tell you," he began, his voice barely above a whisper.
Y/N's heart skipped a beat, and she met his gaze, her breath catching in her throat. "What is it?"
Regulus hesitated, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the edges of the blanket. "I've been thinking about this for a long time. And with everything happening—the war, the danger—I didn't want to wait any longer. I couldn't stand the thought of not telling you, of not... confessing."
Y/N blinked, her mind racing. Confessing?
Regulus took a deep breath, and when he spoke again, his voice was soft but filled with emotion. "I've developed feelings for you, Y/N. Real feelings. Over the past year, I've found myself caring about you in a way I didn't expect. I didn't know how to say it, and I've been afraid that... well, that I wouldn't get the chance if things didn't go our way in the war."
Y/N stared at him, stunned into silence. Her heart pounded in her chest, her mind reeling. Regulus Black—cold, mysterious, distant Regulus—had feelings for her? She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
Regulus mistook her silence for hesitation, and he hurried on, his expression clouding with uncertainty. "I don't expect you to feel the same, and I understand if you don't. I just—" He broke off, shaking his head slightly. "I had to tell you. I had to let you know, even if it's not the right time or place."
Y/N finally found her voice, her heart swelling with a wave of affection for him. "Regulus," she whispered, reaching out to place her hand on his. He looked up, surprise flickering in his eyes.
"I... I've been feeling the same way," she admitted, her cheeks warming with the confession. "I just didn't know how to tell you, either. And I didn't want to make things complicated with everything that's going on."
For a moment, they both sat there, staring at each other in disbelief. Then, slowly, Regulus's face softened, a tentative smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"You... you feel the same?" he asked, his voice filled with quiet amazement.
Y/N nodded, her hand still resting on his. "Yes, I do. I've liked you for a while, Regulus. I just didn't know if you felt the same, and I didn't want to ruin our friendship."
Regulus exhaled, a breath he seemed to have been holding for far too long. His shoulders relaxed, and for the first time that night, the tension seemed to leave his body. "You have no idea how much that means to me," he murmured, his fingers gently curling around hers.
They sat there, holding hands in the quiet of the night, the weight of their confessions slowly sinking in. The war, the Horcruxes, the danger that awaited them all seemed to melt away in that moment, leaving just the two of them by the lake.
"I'm glad I told you," Regulus said softly after a while, his eyes fixed on hers. "I didn't want to leave anything unsaid."
Y/N smiled, her heart full. "I'm glad you did, too."
The night stretched on, and for once, they didn't talk about the war, or Voldemort, or the looming threat that hung over their world. Instead, they talked about memories, shared stories, and laughed quietly under the stars, savoring the peace they had found in each other.
And as the hours passed, Y/N knew that no matter what happened next—whether they won or lost, whether they survived or not—they would face it together, with their hearts open and their love unspoken no longer.
