Truth or Dare ✔️

AE - 14

Hermione sat on the settee and poured the tea for Regulus. It was an odd sensation sharing morning tea with her former cat. "So, how is it that you and Ally seem to be so close?"

Regulus smiled warmly, looking so much like Sirius that it was uncanny. "We were in the same year at school."

"But she was sorted into Gryffindor, was she not?"

Regulus nodded and chuckled. "Oh yeah, she was!" His head nodded as it tilted to the side. "But she was cool, never had a mean thing to say to anyone, unless it was on the pitch that is, then she had the mouth of a seasoned sailor! Ohhhh, the things that would come out of that sweet mouth of hers!"

Hermione chuckled and nodded.

"Brought her home once," he mused as he replayed the mostly unpleasant memory in his head. "That didn't go over too well."

"Oh?"

Regulus nodded. "Yeah. She's Irish, you know...Can't have that. See, I thought that because she's a pure blood, that she'd be a safe bet, you know? I fancied her so much..."

"And now," Hermione asked, looking toward him.

"Doesn't matter anymore, does it...she's Sirius' now, isn't she?"

"Well, I go to look at the tapestry every day, did you know that?"

He shook his head. "I knew that you went for morning walk daily, but I wasn't aware, no."

"I saw something yesterday," she continued. "There's another golden thread among the royal line...want to take a guess where it originates?"

He chuckled silently. "Damned relic..."

"You should tell her how you feel Crooksha...I mean, Regulus. Sorry..."

He looked into her eyes and reached up to pull the hair from her face. "You apologize far too often..."

She smiled bright and giggled. "Your brother says the same thing."

"I'm worried about him 'Mione."

"Why?"

He chuckled uncomfortably. "Please don't think any less of me...?"

She shook her head. "What...?"

He sighed uncomfortably, knowing full well her feelings about the subject. "Well...I took Divination during my time at Hogwarts..."

She sighed with disgust and rolled her eyes.

He chuckled. "Hear me out, will you!"

"Fine..."

"It was one of Allison's favorite subjects...she's really good at it and I, uh, was trying to impress her...Anyway, I've a lot of resources at my disposal..."

Her face brightened. "Oh?!"

He nodded. "Yeah. The coat? There's an undetectable extension charm...anyway," he sighed, "I've consulted the tomes after overhearing Remus and Sirius talking in secret...that was before you all learned of my true identity..."

She nodded. "Go on..."

"Remus said that he had been contacted..."

She nodded. "By the seers. Yes, I know. He told me as well."

He nodded with relief. "Then you're aware. He's not supposed to be here?"

She sighed again and leaned back on the settee. "Well, you are aware of my feelings on the subject and I think it's all...as your brother would put it, bullshit."