The Life and Lies of Cassiopeia Rosier- Regulus Black

.unwinding memories.

.pain demands to be felt.

A week passed without significance. Classes had begun, and our whole year was reeling from the workload that had been heaped upon us, trying to prepare us for the NEWT exams we would take next year. My only solace was the fact that being in school kept me far from the clutches of the Dark Lord.

As evening approached, I was on my way to the library after finishing my dinner in the Great Hall. The book bag at my side weighed heavily with books and parchment, and I was more than ready to put it down. But just before I turned down one of the first-floor corridors, the pressure was relieved as the bag was slipped from my shoulder. I spun around, my hair flying around me in a sheet of midnight to find Regulus. He smiled at me cheekily as he slipped my bag on his shoulder.

He was freshly showered from what I was sure had been an unpleasantly intense Quidditch practice, and his skin still had a rosy glow from the heat of the water. He looked dreadfully handsome, and for a small second, I was captivated by his appearance. A memory sprung to my mind of a moment where the roles had been reversed, and I had been the one fresh from the shower, how I had longed to kiss him then, to let him take me in his arms and make me forget my troubles.

"Cassie," he questioned, waving a hand in front of my face. "Are you alright? You haven't responded to my question."

Heat blossomed across my cheeks as I realized that I had been so caught up in his appearance that I hadn't heard a word he'd said. I was sure I looked like one of the moony-eyed girls who followed him around the hallways, smitten by his strikingly handsome looks.

"I'm sorry, Reg. I've just been a little distracted today." I replied, quickly trying to cover my true error. Needless to say, he knew me too well, and a small smile crept up his face. It was a smile that warmed my soul. How was it possible that he could have such an effect on me?

"Well, I just asked if now was a good time for you to help me?" He said it in such a manner that anyone overhearing our conversation wouldn't have had an inkling as to what we were talking about.

I was glad that he had chosen now. I had already completed all of the schoolwork that was due in the near future and was just headed to the library to do some research on the Gaunt family. A change in plans was most welcome, especially if it meant spending time with Regulus. Being with him was just natural; there were no pretenses, no hidden agendas. With him, I could be myself, and I loved him for it.

"Yes, now would be a lovely time," I exclaimed, taking note of the twinkle that appeared in his eye as I accepted.

"Marvelous. Now I've been thinking. There are a few classrooms on the third floor that don't get used often. We could go there." He proposed. But I had a different plan. Thanks to Dumbledore, we had a better option.

"No, I have a better idea." I grabbed his hand and pulled him along after me as I took off toward the staircase that led to the seventh floor.

When we reached the painting of Barnabas the Barmy, I halted, offering a silent plea that this would actually work. We stood before a very blank wall. No paintings, no decorum marked anything significant.

"It's a wall." Regulus pointed out, voicing the very thoughts in my mind.

"You better than anyone should know that things aren't always what they appear." I gave him a pointed look, to which he just smiled.

I let go of his hand, and feeling like quite a fool walked the length of the wall three times. At first, it seemed as if nothing would happen, and I was about to feel very uncomfortable at the fact that I'd looked utterly ridiculous. But then the stone started to fade away, shaping into vines of iron that soon transformed into a door. I looked back at Regulus, whose mouth was agape with awe. All at once, I was excessively grateful for the insight of Albus Dumbledore.