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The closer it came to Christmas, the more joyous the students became. The more joyous they became, the harder they were to control during class. Unfortunately for Professor Tapper, she'd been given a class of rowdy Gryffindor's and Slytherin's to handle and so had taken to giving them their chances to cast a patronus.
Unfortunately for Regulus, it was one of the few lessons he had which didn't include the one and only Miss Mulligan. And while the class seemed to be enjoying themselves, he took to standing in the back corner and watching the failed attempts of his friends, Barty and Florence's facial expressions were quite humorous when in deep concentration is what he had managed to conclude from the situation.
"You two look like absolute idiots." He stated, hiding a grin behind the book in his hand, especially when Barty took to sending a glare his way. "Hey, don't blame me."
"Well I don't see you doing the work, Mr Black." Florence teased, giving him a look as if she had won the argument before attempting the spell once again, only to fail miserably.
Raising an eyebrow, he chose to ignore her remark and instead focus on the words he had been reading. Well, that's what his friends thought at least. Regulus hadn't been able to focus on any book or homework he'd attempted at since Florence had mentioned him having a "crush" on the unknown girl two days ago.
It had gone over in his mind a million times so far, an internal debate which he didn't see ending anytime soon occurring with no foreseeable answer in the future. Of course, it didn't help at all that Regulus couldn't recall ever feeling such things for a girl before, especially since he was told from a young age that a girl had already been picked out for him.
We are pure, Regulus. The tainted are not welcome in our ranks and will not taint us.
He scrunched his eyes shut in a measly attempt of ridding his mother's voice from his mind. The young Black had found the words plaguing his mind more frequently over the past few weeks, popping up during the day as if to remind him what would come when the school year ended. Pinching his arm gently, Regulus opened his eyes and glanced over the room, naming few of the students who he knew by name.
"Oh come on, Regulus. At least give the spell one try!" Barty groaned, falling against the wall beside his friend with annoyance in his eyes. Clearly, he had not managed to master the spell he'd claimed to be easy not long ago. "Prove her wrong for me my friend."
"A happy memory spell? Shouldn't be hard." Regulus mocked, giving his friend's shoulder a light punch before handing him his book and walking forward, coming to a stop when he stood where Barty once had.
A happy memory, shouldn't be hard. Regulus wasn't so sure it was easy, especially as memory after memory flashed through his mind, none of them seeming the tiniest bit close to happy. He was ready to give up when it struck him, eyes landing on the boy of similar blood to his own, his happiest memory was one that he should forget.
Laughter and children voices echoed in his ears as if the memory were coming to life before him, two boys playing in a garden, wooden sticks in hand and legs running as fast as they could. Regulus watched the boys run circles around the room, looping through the other students almost in sync as the innocence of their words faded.
"You'll never catch me Regulus! We both know I'm the fastest!"
"We'll see." The boy whispered, still watching the children as he withdrew his wand and raised it, the spell name escaping his lips just as they stopped in front of him, wide eyed and out of breathe.
"Merlin's beard, Regulus. You actually did it..." A voice said in awe, not long before a hand grasped his arm and shook it gently.
Still, his eyes never strayed from the two boys in front of him, even as the silver fox burst from his wand and trotted around the room, weaving through the pillars swiftly. Regulus felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as the two children began to laugh once more, the feeling contagious as one bubbled in his chest also. And then it came.
Their smiles dropped simultaneously as a figure stepped before them. Long, dark fabric draped their body as a hand came in contact with the eldest's cheek. Her slender neck was on show as dark locks of hair were tucked into a neat bun atop her head. The woman faced the other way, shoulders shaking in anger as silent screams left her mouth, scaring the boys in front of her so much that the youngest had tears in the corner of his eyes.
"No! Leave them alone!" Regulus tried to shout, panic building deep in his bones as the woman stood up straight as if she'd heard him. And then she turned, and her blood red eyes landed on him in a glare which could cause even the darkest of heart to kneel.
Stumbling backwards, the young Black felt his body falling before he collapsed to the floor of the classroom, his friends stood above him and his classmates staring. Looking around in fear, he felt it leave as quick as it came as the figures were nowhere to be seen. It was only when his eyes met his friends that he realised they were talking, worry obvious on Florence's face.
"Regulus, are you okay? Looks like you fainted..." she mumbled, reaching a hand down to help him to his feet.
Regulus swatted them away angrily, getting up by himself and sending the class a warning glare as he brushed himself down, ridding the dust that had clung to his robes when he'd fallen. Still he could feel the curious glances burning through his head. They're staring at you. They're staring at you. They're-
"I'm leaving." He stated abruptly, head pounding from the words echoing around his head. Snatching the book from his friend's hand and shoving it into his bag, he ignored the disagreement of the pair and stormed out of the classroom.
The headache soon passed as Regulus continued on, muttering incoherent words beneath his breathe. He finally stopped when he felt his shoulder bump into another, followed by a loud noise as he presumed their belongings fell to the floor.
Frowning to himself, he knelt down immediately and quietly apologised for bumping into the stranger.
"It's no problem really, I should have been looking where I was going." The girl explained, continuing to pick up pieces of paper that had flown all over the place.
"No really, I must-" he started, only to trail off as their hands touch and he found himself looking up into a pair of hazel eyes. Eyes which belonged to a certain Ravenclaw.
Feeling the tips of his ears burning, the young boy quickly broke eye contact and looked down at the piece of paper in his hands, shocked to find a sketched portrait staring back at him.
"I, uh, I really should be going." She laughed nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind one ear while the other quickly snatched the paper from his hands.
By the time Regulus had managed to gather his thoughts, the girl had already disappeared. Still, the sketch remained clear as day in his mind as he stayed crouched on the floor. A drawing made of dark, jagged lines forming a boy with sharp features and haunted eyes. A boy who, Regulus was pretty sure, was meant to be to him.
That's stupid. Why would she draw you of all people?
He felt a sneer grow on his face as he stood, grasping his bag strap tightly and storming in the direction of the kitchens. Perhaps a steaming cup of tea would clear his mind of such ridiculous thoughts.
Because there was not a chance, not a single chance, that Ivy Mulligan had been drawing Regulus Black.
A/N i am so sorry for the long wait?? I was trying to keep a schedule and it failed miserably so ill just be updating when i get the chance. However, because of such a wait, i will be writing a little extra for this chapter that will hopefully be published soon!
