𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐬 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐧𝐞-𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬

Black and Riddle Heir not at the Great Hall

In the grand, gray hall, the usual din of chattering students filled the air, except for a few missing Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and—most notably—the Black and Riddle heirs. The Slytherin table, usually brimming with smug confidence, had a quieter hum. Four students sat clustered together: Slytherins Barty Crouch and Evan Rosier, Ravenclaw Pandora Malfoy, and Gryffindor Dorcas Meadowes.

Evan leaned in, a smirk tugging at his lips as he whispered, "Alright, tell me something I don’t know, Pandora."

Pandora’s eyes sparkled mischievously, and she leaned closer. “Evan, you didn’t hear this from me,” she began in a conspiratorial tone, “but a little birdie told me the reason Regulus and Mattheo aren’t here… is because they’re having some fun together.”

At that precise moment, Sirius Black, who had been sitting at the Gryffindor table and happened to overhear, shot up from his seat, practically sputtering as he shouted, “WHAT?!”

The entire hall fell silent, all eyes on Sirius as he stood there, looking half outraged and half scandalized. James Potter nudged him, half-laughing. “Merlin, mate! Lower your voice, you’re giving McGonagall heart palpitations.”

But Sirius wasn’t listening. His face was a mixture of horror and disbelief. He whipped his gaze toward the empty Slytherin table, as if expecting Regulus and Mattheo to magically materialize. When they didn’t, he muttered to himself, “Regulus... with him?”

Pandora and Evan stifled their laughter, trying and failing to look innocent. Even Barty cracked a smirk. Dorcas leaned over, raising an eyebrow, and whispered, “Sirius, you didn’t know?”

Sirius crossed his arms, frowning. “Of course, I didn’t know! And it’s Regulus! He wouldn’t do…that.”

Pandora’s grin widened as she shrugged. “Well, rumor has it they’re… quite close. Close enough to skip dinner together.”

Sirius opened his mouth to argue, but no words came out. He was left standing there, utterly gobsmacked as the hall slowly returned to its usual buzz, with hushed laughter and exchanged looks aimed his way.