Shattered Reflections

Chapter 1

"Regulus, right?", she said. Not 'Sirius' Brother', 'Black' or 'quiet Slytherin guy', she actually said Regulus. I looked down at her, she was quite beautiful. Blonde, a ravenclaw and widely smiling, I liked her smile.

"Yes, I suppose that's me. What do you want?" My voice sounded harsh, I didn't want it to sound harsh, that wasn't my intention. I almost expected her to go away, have a look of fear in her eyes or seem insecure but her smile lasted, as wide as ever.

"How are you?" That was unexpected. "Why are you talking to me?" Again I sounded annoyed, which didn't stop her from seeming as happy as ever. I liked her smile.

"Oh, in class you seemed to be a little distracted, almost as if something had been bothering you so I wanted to check up on you and lend you the notes I took if wanted." I didn't really know that girl too well. Juliette was her name, I wasn't too sure of that either though.

Maybe she liked me or something, I didn't see a different reason for her to be talking to me. But yet again - I was the uglier brother. Not that it bothered me, people mostly only seemed to recognize my brother in me, so I was confused why she was here, addressing to me as 'Regulus' now.

"I'm fine, I don't need help from someone like you." She couldn't genuinely just be nice, that wasn't possible. So why should I myself treat her good if it was just some kind of joke from her anyway?

"Alright, you can always talk to me if you want or need anything, though!" Her eyes held the warmth of a sunlit forest floor, rich and inviting, while she looked at me like that. It was like she was drawing me into the depths of her eyes like a tranquil lake reflecting a starlit sky.

"Stop pretending like we're friends, we don't know each other." I was getting angry. Not because I couldn't stand her, but much rather because I couldn't risk the chance of getting attached, it seemed to be way too easy with a person like her.

She was like a sunbeam breaking through the clouds on a gloomy day, radiating warmth and light that seemed to brighten the world around her.

"Why?" I asked finally, she didn't look at me in a way of confusion though, like I expected, she seemed to be understanding exactly what I meant.

"Because everyone deserves kindness, Regulus." she replied, her voice steady and genuine.

Kindness.

"It doesn't matter who you are or who you're related to. You're only a human too." Her unwavering gaze held me almost captive-likely, and for a moment, I was at a loss for words. It was like she could see right through me, through my grey facade, through all the pain I felt.

"Why would you care?" My voice was calm and quiet but at the same time had a great impact on most people. Most people. "You barely know me. I'm just..."

His brother. I'm just his brother. The one he doesn't even accept.

"Sirius' Brother. Nothing more." She smiled, not in a mean way, no, almost in a motherly way. But what even was a mother? Looking into her eyes gave me the answer, a mother was caring. Not mine, but someone's.

"You're not Sirius' brother. You're Regulus." She kept looking at me, almost insisting that, wanting me to believe it. But what was Regulus even worth? I had a greater chance to be important as the Black's youngest, or Sirius Black's brother.

I scuffed. "Regulus, huh? Sure I'm Regulus, what do you care for?" I could feel the edge creeping back into my voice, but I was less interested in pushing her away now. I didn't know what, but there was something in the way she looked at me, like she was waiting for me to reveal a secret I didn't even know I was hiding.

"How are you, Regulus?" She asked once again, I got slightly annoyed and confused. Why did she want to know that over and over again?

Sure, I was in pain, but that had begun too long ago that she could change anything about it. I was gotten used to it already.

"Juliette - whatever, what the hell is up with you? Leave me alone." She nodded, her voice became even softer than it was before, when she started talking again. It felt like drinking a warm, hot chocolate, while watching the rain from the cozy inside. "I will, Regulus. But you're not alone."

I frowned. "Sure." With these words I went away, I had lots of study to do. Studying was what held me back from going somewhere and saying goodbye. It was like knowing stuff made me happy, I couldn't even describe it properly.