Torture. Regulus Black - Revised.

Chapter Two.

I buried my head deep into the fluffy duvet, much nicer than the blanket’s we had last year. I didn’t want to get up, I didn’t want to face the hallways, lessons were peaceful and easy if I’m honest, but in the hallways he’ll be waiting for me.

“Aubrey, wake up, we’ve got half an hour.” Cassandra said looking over at my bed with me still buried beneath it. “I’ll save you a seat at breakfast, no excuses.”

Great, now I had to get up and eat. Although maybe if I follow them to the first lesson he won’t try anything, safety in numbers and all that jazz, but then again they’re just as likely to not notice if I drop back.

Ten minutes later Cass was waving her hand about in the air, her blonde hair flying about as she did so, I smiled shyly and sat down beside her, away from her other friends, I don’t want to make them feel like they have to talk to me too.

“We need to keep an eye out for Black, we won’t let him get you today.” she stated and a few of the other girls nodded.

“It’s a shame it’s the Dickhead of a Black brother that likes to stalk you. It could have been very different.” One smirked winking at me as she sipped on her juice.

“Megan!” Cass laughed, “He’s mine anyway, well kind of.” She blushed and I smiled a little.

Cass really is beautiful, every feature anyone would want. Perfect straight nose, bright blue eyes a wide straight smile and volumes of honey blonde hair; not to mention a rocking body and a killer personality. Seriously this girl had no faults, apart from her taste in men.

“Cass, he’s got no interest of a girlfriend.” A red head sighed from further down, I think her name’s Sarah, not sure though. “Find a nice bloke who’ll treat you nice, like Longbottom!”

“Longbottom is in love with Alice, that’s soo obvious.” She snorted, “Anyway, who said I want a boyfriend?”

“Your face when we mention the good Black brother.” Megan snorted as the other three laughed.

“See what I have to put up with?” she pouted, “Oh I’ll be right back.”

We all snapped our heads up and saw the older Black brother winking over at her and nodding his head out towards the courtyard.

“Such a hussy.” Harriet said from the other side of ... Sarah? “She’ll never get lover it until she asks him out and he says no.”

“Maybe he’ll say yes?” I tried, feeling like I had to defend her after Cass was always so nice to me.

“He won’t, Sirius Black is a whore and likes women. Also he wouldn’t hurt Cass by going out with her and then cheating.”

“He’s got some morals apparently.” Megan shrugged and I gave them a little smile. “What have we got next?”

“Herbology.” Harriet stated after some thought, “Its Thursday so it’s herbology first, then two choices and then transfig.”

I smiled as they poked and prodded me into joining in their conversation before we had to go to lessons; it was nice having people to talk too. Maybe this isn’t such a bad thing; I might just let Cass kidnap me more often in the mornings.

---

“Black, go down to Herbology and ask for more mandrake roots.” Professor Slughorn said as I tipped back on my chair, having finished the potion a while ago. “Then you can prepare them for me if we’ve enough time.”

“Yes sir.” I shrugged climbing to my feet and wandering down the hallway whistling to myself as I went.

I gave a third year my best smile and she blushed red and bombed it down the corridor, who says there’s only one good looking Black? Eventually I made it down to the herbology room. “Slughorn would like some more Mandrake root.” I said to the teacher, he was a doddering old fool anyway, wouldn’t be here much longer.

“Yes, yes, yes, yes let me just get that for you.” he said disappearing into his greenhouse as I leant against the desk at the front.

That’s when I saw her, Aubrey. She was always nice to watch when she didn’t know I was looking, her hair falling in waves around her face, she was scribbling away with a small smirk on her face. The class was full of Ravenclaw’s and Hufflepuff’s, both hard at work doing what they’d been set, god they’re boring. At least the Gryffindor’s can banter back.

“Miss Aubrey, can you help Mr Black take these back to the potions room.” The old man asked coming back with arms full of plants. “You’ve finished, I know you Missy.”

I grinned down at her as she slipped through the class, trying to take the largest of the four plants. I coughed and she jumped back to look at me, I shook my head, I may torment her but I’m still a gentleman.

“So, you’re a herbology geek.” I smirked as she walked in silence. “What a surprise.”

She didn’t say a word and I was tempted to trip her over, but then I’d have to clean up the mud with her. I watched her from the corner of my eye; she shrank away from me as often as she could, god it was tempted to make her feel more than a little uncomfortable.

“Ah Miss Aubrey, how are you?” Slughorn said once we made it through the door, she smiled and put the mandrakes on the desk. “Still doing well at herbology I see, well thank you for assisting.”

I watched as she all but ran from the room. “What did you do, I can’t believe you spent more than five minutes with her and didn’t try something.” Barty whispered into my ear as I sat back down.

“Believe, it.” I shrugged, “Couldn’t think of anything that didn’t involve me having to help her clean up the mandrakes.”

“Bastard things they are.” He grunted. “She looked terrified though, maybe she’ll drop her guard now you’ve been ... nice to her.”

“Well, maybe. But I’ve got to play with these.” I smiled a little pulling the mandrake towards me and began to prepare it.