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༘⋆₊ ⊹★🔭๋࣭ ⭑⋆｡˚
The room was cloaked in shadows, the only light a dim flicker from the corner of the library where Y/N sat, poring over a thick, leather-bound tome. Midnight had come and gone, but Y/N had always found solace in the quiet hours of the night when the castle lay in deep slumber. The soft, crackling fire in the hearth was the only companion to their thoughts—until they heard footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor.
They looked up, heart pounding, as a familiar figure stepped into the edge of the light. Regulus Black. His presence was magnetic, a mixture of calm and darkness that seemed to radiate from him like an aura. His black curls fell messily over his forehead, his expression unreadable, and his eyes—intense, deep, like storm clouds—settled on Y/N with a glint of curiosity.
"You're out late," he murmured, his voice a low whisper that seemed to resonate in the quiet of the library.
Y/N managed a small smile, closing their book as they met his gaze. "Could say the same for you."
Regulus smirked, his gaze flickering over the scattered books and notes spread out around them. "Researching something?"
Y/N shrugged, feeling their pulse quicken under his scrutiny. Regulus Black wasn't like most students at Hogwarts. He was quiet, intelligent, always watching, always calculating. The kind of person who saw everything without ever giving too much away. He was elusive, mysterious—a puzzle that Y/N had found themselves inexplicably drawn to.
"Just... couldn't sleep," Y/N admitted, tucking a stray strand of hair behind their ear. "And you?"
Regulus's eyes softened slightly, and he took a step closer, the flickering firelight casting shadows across his face. "Same."
They shared a brief, quiet look, an unspoken understanding passing between them. It wasn't the first time they'd encountered each other in the library during the late hours, but it was the first time either of them had stayed long enough to talk. Regulus had always kept his distance, a lone figure in the shadows, but tonight felt different. There was a tension, a pull between them that was as strong as it was unexplainable.
He shifted, his fingers grazing the edge of the table, and Y/N's gaze followed the movement, captivated by the small, almost hesitant gesture. "Sometimes," he began, his voice barely above a whisper, "it feels like the only time I can breathe is when the rest of the world is asleep."
Y/N's heart ached at the quiet vulnerability in his voice, the faint hint of something deeper, something he rarely shared. They wanted to reach out, to bridge the gap between them, but they held back, sensing that Regulus wasn't someone who opened up easily. Instead, they gave him a gentle smile, hoping to convey understanding without words.
"I know what you mean," they replied softly. "It's like... the quiet lets you be yourself, without anyone watching."
Regulus's gaze met theirs, a flicker of surprise and something else—something softer, something vulnerable—crossing his expression. For a moment, he seemed to consider them, as if weighing the risk of letting them in. And then, almost imperceptibly, he relaxed, his guarded demeanor melting just enough for Y/N to see the person beneath.
He nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Exactly."
They fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that felt natural, unforced. Y/N could feel the weight of the unspoken between them, the sense that there was so much more to Regulus than anyone realized. And as they sat there, side by side in the quiet of the library, Y/N felt a warmth spreading through them, a quiet realization that they wanted to know him—all of him.
Finally, Y/N spoke, their voice barely audible. "You don't have to be alone, you know."
Regulus looked at them, his eyes dark and intense, and for a moment, Y/N worried they had overstepped. But then he surprised them, his voice soft, almost hesitant. "It's not that simple."
"I know," Y/N replied, their voice filled with sincerity. "But if you ever need someone... I'm here."
For a moment, Regulus didn't respond, his gaze searching theirs as if trying to understand why they cared, why they would offer such kindness to someone like him. And then, slowly, he nodded, a faint, almost shy smile gracing his lips.
"Thank you," he whispered, his voice so quiet it was almost a breath.
They stayed like that, sharing the quiet of the library, and as the hours passed, Y/N felt the walls around him beginning to crumble, piece by piece. Regulus began to talk—softly, cautiously—about his family, his fears, the weight of expectations that pressed down on him every day. And Y/N listened, offering nothing but understanding, no judgment, just the warmth of their presence beside him.
As the first light of dawn began to filter through the windows, Regulus fell silent, his gaze drifting to the horizon, his expression pensive. He turned to Y/N, his eyes filled with a kind of gratitude that words couldn't express.
"I never thought I'd be able to say this to anyone," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "But... thank you. For staying."
Y/N reached out, their hand gently covering his, and they felt him tense slightly before relaxing, his fingers intertwining with theirs. "Anytime, Regulus," they replied, their voice filled with warmth. "I mean it."
For the first time, Y/N saw him smile—a real smile, soft and genuine, filled with a quiet hope that made their heart ache. And in that moment, they knew that they had found something rare, something beautiful, in the most unexpected of places.
As they sat there, hand in hand, the world waking up around them, Y/N knew that this was just the beginning of a story, a story woven in the quiet hours of the night, hidden from the eyes of the world. And whatever lay ahead, they were ready to face it together, one secret, one whispered promise at a time.
