SNAKE - Regulus Black

VALENTINES DAY SPECIAL: Chapter ten ~ Tangled Hearts

Morning: The Gift That Wasn't His

Valentine's Day at Hogwarts was insufferable. Pink confetti rained from the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall, and first-years ran around delivering charmed letters that sang their contents aloud. Cassandra St. Clair had no interest in the holiday—until she sat down for breakfast and found a single, dark red rose resting atop her plate.

A folded note lay beneath it.

For the only Slytherin who could make me question my sanity.

Cassandra rolled her eyes. Probably Regulus. A dramatic touch was exactly his style, even though they weren't dating. He had spent the last week sulking over her so-called friendship with Remus Lupin.

And yet, when she glanced at the Slytherin table, Regulus was staring at the rose with cold, calculating suspicion. He wasn't smirking. He wasn't pleased. He wasn't even pretending he had sent it.

That was when Cassandra realized—Regulus hadn't sent the rose.

A chill ran down her spine.

And then, as if summoned by fate, Remus Lupin walked past her table, tray in hand, gaze flickering toward the flower. Just for a second. Not long enough for anyone else to notice. But Cassandra did.

Her fingers clenched around the note.

🕸️

By midday, Cassandra returned to her dormitory to find her bed buried in gifts.

Emerald green and silver roses (definitely not from Remus), a velvet box containing an enchanted bracelet that shimmered like liquid silver, and a single card.

I don't share. — R.B.

She let out a slow breath, irritation bubbling beneath her skin. So this was Regulus' answer. A silent declaration of war.

Cassandra didn't have time for this.

Or maybe—just maybe—she wanted to see how far he would take it.

By the time Astronomy class rolled around, Cassandra was exhausted from dodging both Regulus and Remus. Unfortunately, that became impossible when they were assigned as partners.

Regulus had been stiff and silent the entire time, calculating their star charts with precise, almost violent strokes of his quill.

"Are you going to act like a child all night?" Cassandra finally muttered, rolling her eyes.

Regulus didn't look at her. "Are you going to pretend you don't know what you're doing?"

Cassandra frowned. "Excuse me?"

Regulus finally turned his head, eyes burning like embers beneath his dark lashes. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"You think I didn't see it?" His tone was soft, but there was steel beneath it. "Lupin. The way he looked at you. You think I wouldn't notice?"

Cassandra tilted her head, smirking. "And what if I like it?"

Regulus inhaled sharply. A muscle in his jaw twitched.

The next thing she knew, he had reached out—fingers curling around her wrist. Not hard, not painful. But firm enough that she couldn't ignore the heat of his touch.

"Do you?" he asked, voice low and dangerous.

Cassandra's breath caught in her throat. For the first time, there was something raw in his expression. Not just anger. Not just possessiveness.