What's In a Name? | Regulus Black | Marauders Era

7

Regulus' expensive cologne filled Malia's nose as he lead her to the dance floor. He turned her so she bumped into his chest and put on hand on her hip, the other still intertwined with hers as they started to dance. Malia reluctantly put her hand on Regulus' shoulder and looked up at him, asking with her eyes what the hell he thought he was doing. Regulus just smirked as they swayed to the slow song, both of them gliding along the floor with utter grace and elegance as they had been taught how to properly ballroom dance since they could walk.

"You said you wanted to talk to me, Black." Malia muttered as she was spun by her hand and pulled back into Regulus.

"Yes," his hand slid to the small of her back so there was little to no distance between their bodies, "I did." his cheek was pressed against Malia's black hair and he could smell her strawberry shampoo.

"So, talk." Malia was getting impatient and she dug her nails into his shoulder slightly, spotting Sirius and James glaring at them across the room.

"I have a proposition." his voice reverberated through where her ear rested on his chest, "I want us to be friends."

Malia snorted involuntarily and she pulled back from their close proximity, expecting to see Regulus donning a jokey smile, but instead he looked completely sincere.

"Oh, you're serious." Malia whispered with wide eyes and Regulus nodded his head slightly, "You want to be...friends?" Malia drawled with a raised eyebrow,

"You and I, we're more similar than you think, Burke." Regulus looked into her eyes and Malia wasn't surprised to not hear a name, once again, "If we set aside our pride and need for humiliating one another - we could be good friends."

"And why do you suddenly want to be chums, Black?" Malia stared at him inquisitively and Regulus lifted one shoulder in a shrug,

"Call it, self-preservation." he smirked,

"Which is the subtle way of saying you don't want to be embarrassed mercilessly by my quick wit anymore." she tilted her head innocently and he kissed his teeth,

"Something like that." he muttered, "Not to mention my friendship would offer you and your companions immunity from any Slytherins that currently give you grief." he offered and Malia marvelled at how much he sounded like a salesman trying to sell off his product.

"But I like putting dirty snakes in their place." she pouted and straightened the collar of Regulus' shirt, undoing the top two buttons which earned her a raise of the eyebrow,

"Undressing me in public, Burke?" he asked and Malia smiled up at him sardonically,

"Making you seem less stuck up, Black." she patted his chest and Regulus smirked. He never used to see the Ravenclaw express any emotion and now he was getting used to the cheeky smirks and sarcastic smiles that she would often send his way.

"So, do you have an answer to my offer?" he nicked her chin with his forefinger and Malia hummed thoughtfully before stepping away from him,

"I'm sorry," she pouted and patted his shoulder, "I don't make friends with fascists." with that she flicked her hair over her shoulder and strutted away, a smirk gracing her pink lips.

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Malia and Dia stood gosipping in Herbology, occasionally turning away from each other to place a Fanged Geranium in a pot before resuming their pressing conversation.

"Oh, I love blondes, Mal." Dia sighed wistfully, a smile on her face as she remembered the night before and Malia raised an eyebrow,

"Don't let Bails hear you say that."

"For such a tall girl, Lauren was surprisingly nimble." Dia commented and Malia shook her head,

"That must have been why you didn't come back to the dorm until morning." she said under her breath but she didn't really hold any contempt for her best friend. She was used to Dia disappearing off for hours on end with girls and boys alike and held a large amount of respect for the girl seeing as she was never ashamed of what she did. Dia was having fun, who was Malia to think differently of her because of it.

"We spoke for most of the night anyway." Dia tucked a braided piece of hair behind her ear, "Lauren's really interested in contellations so we sat by the open window as she named all the ones we could see." Dia's cheeks went slightly rosy and Malia smiled to herself, "She's incredible."

"Yet, you're not going to see her again."

"I don't know yet...I might." Dia shrugged and Malia reared her head back in surprise,

"You what? You never double dip, Dia." she gasped and her friend smirked at her,

"There's a first time for everything." she giggled and peeked over her shoulder, "Speaking of," she gestured behind her and Malia looked to the other side of the room where Regulus was staring at her rather intently, his expression unreadable, "You haven't insulted each other yet today." Dia commented airily but Malia knew what she was getting at,

"I am not becoming his friend, Di." Malia curled her lip as though the mere though disgusted her - which, to be fair, it did. "He's an awful, little boy."

"He could be better deep down."

"You're just saying that because you think he's fit." Malia stated and Dia bit her lip, sneaking another glance at the boy,

"He is, Mal! And I can't tell you from experience, he's got a huge-"

"Okay, class! Now you can begin to add the soil!" Professor Sprout announced excitedly and Malia reached over to grab the bag of dirt whilst scowling at her best friend,

"Your 'experience' was one drunken night last year and neither of you have spoken of it since." she hissed under her breath and Dia meant closer to her, smirking widely,

"But he was very good." she whispered and Malia rolled her eyes,

"I don't want to hear about how 'good' Black was in bed, Dia." Malia muttered as she packed the soil around her plant, checking to see if Regulus was still staring at them. He was.

"Why? Jealous are we, Mal?" Dia seemed to be enjoying herself and Malia slapped her on the arm with the back of her hand,

"Don't make me flirt with your little blonde friend, because I will do it."
"You wouldn't!" Dia gasped but soon smirked, "So you admit you're jealous?"

"Oh! Hi, Lauren!"

"You're joking!" Dia spun around to see if Lauren was actually stood behind her but her face soon fell when she realised Malia was bluffing, "I hate you, Burke."

"You love me, Calippo."