sanguine ⏩ sirius black

19.

FARRAH COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW STUPID SHE WAS.

Ever since her birthday, things had not been the same with her friend group. Usually, arguments between her and Josh blew over within hours. However, it had been weeks since the 29th of March and she and Josh were no closer to being on good terms than they were when he stormed out of the Room of Requirement. 

Regulus was another case all by himself. Although he talked to her occasionally, he too had become distant. The number of letters he was receiving from home increased, sending his mood down the drain whenever he opened one. She pretended not to notice but even she couldn't ignore that he had started hanging out with Snape and Avery's gang. 

Looks like times were changing after all. 

Then, it happened. 

She couldn't remember what she was doing when the realization hit her. Whatever it was was no longer important. The only thing that was important was that she found Regulus.

How did she not realize it?

You know, there are only so many different ways you can tie your hair in a ponytail.

In the moment, the comment had bothered her. Not so much because of its words but because of the tone he had said it in. However, she had forgotten about it because it didn't seem to hold much meaning. 

That was until a part of Sirius' confession from yesterday replayed in her mind.

And you fix your hair when you lie.

How could she be so stupid?

As she ran across the castle in search of Regulus, the words of the two brothers played over and over in her mind, like a call and response in her brain.

There are only so many different ways you can tie your hair in a ponytail.

Where would Regulus be?

You fix your hair when you lie.

Regulus had always been intuitive; he always seemed to know more than he let on. Why did she assume this would be any different?

There are only so many different ways you can tie your hair in a ponytail.

You fix your hair when you lie.

"Reggie!" she called out, finally finding him on the sixth floor. He was walking with that same group of older Slytherins, some that she knew by name and some that she only knew by face. 

The entire group turned to look at her and one of them murmured something. By the face that Regulus made and the laughs that it earned from the rest of the group, she deduced that it wasn't anything good. She slowly approached them, her face turning red, "Reggie. Can I speak to you privately?"

The Black watched her carefully. She tried to read his eyes but like always, his guard was up and she had no idea what he was really feeling. 

"Please, Reggie, I need to talk to you," she tried again.

"Yea, Reggie," Avery said, raising his voice by an octave to mock the girl, "Your bitch needs to talk to you."

The rest of the group burst out in laughter. Farrah could feel her face getting hotter and was about to tell Regulus to forget about it when the boy cleared his throat. It was soft but somehow, the sound cut through the group's laughter and rendered them silent. 

In a strong voice, Regulus said, "Why don't you all go find something productive to do while I talk to MacMillan?"

To Farrah's surprise, the entire group complied to Regulus' demand. As Avery walked past him, Regulus reached out and grabbed the older boy by the forearm. He pulled the older boy closer to him, "Listen. She might not be like you and I but MacMillan is still one of us. Remember that the next time you decide to address her."