Don't Tell Anyone About This | Regulus Black

Chapter Sixteen

"Do you guys actually need to practice quidditch so much? I mean, we win nearly all the time anyway." Avery droned on.
Regulus muttered, "That probably has something to do with the amount of practice we do."

Avery glanced over to the other Slytherin boys with them - Selwyn, Rosier, and Travers - and shared a knowing look that their friend was in his usual bitter mood. Though they never said anything, they were starting to grow concerned that after two months, Regulus didn't seem any more his usual self. And those of them that weren't concerned were just bored of him.

Regulus, himself, was well aware of this. It didn't take a genius to notice that his friends were growing tired of walking on eggshells around him. But knowing this only made him feel more annoyed.
To add on to his foul mood, it was also Halloween night. It wasn't that he particularly disliked the holiday - if anything, he rather liked it. What had, over recent years, made the evening intolerable was the new tradition that Regulus' brother and his immature Gryffindor friends would perform some elaborate prank in the Great Hall. Unsurprisingly, this was then talked about nonstop for days afterwards, and was an unwarranted reminder that Regulus did actually still have a brother. If only by blood.

"Just join the team already." Selwyn suggested, "Then you won't have to sit in the stands waiting for us to finish training."
Avery grimaced, "Yeah, but then I'd have to do sport. That sounds worse."
Selwyn huffed and rolled his eyes, "Then stop complaining and shut up already."

Avery grumbled, "Thanks for your compassion, mate."
"Anytime."

At this point, the group of boys had ascended from their common room in the dungeons and were just making their way out of the castle. They exited the building and were wandering beside the courtyard, under the covered walkway, when Regulus spotted Nera at the far end and walking towards them.
In a way that was nowhere near as discrete as he would have liked, Regulus slowed his pace so he fell from the front of the group to the back in the hopes that he might be able to duck behind the other boys out of view.

He hadn't spoken to Nera since their... Confrontation of sorts a couple of days ago. Now he came to think of it, Regulus thought he hadn't even seen the girl. Had he been subconsciously avoiding her? Possibly. There was no way he could face her after what he'd said.

Thankfully, none of the other Slytherin boys made a remark as they strode past the Gryffindor girl. They did notice, however, the absence of a sly quip from Regulus. Whenever Regulus and Nera were near each other, the group of boys knew that the two of them would shoot witty remarks to each other.
Though it was only Avery that noticed Regulus lower his head and keep his eyes fixed on the ground as the girl moved past them.
Not only that, but Avery also watched as his friend turned around and watched Nera meet up with Edgar Bones at the far end of the corridor.

"Ugh." Mulciber groaned, and then pretended to retch as he gestured back towards the Gryffindor girl.
Selwyn and Travers both chuckled and knowingly nudged each other in the side.

Regulus had to hold back from scoffing at his friend's immaturity. Yeah, Stark was a mudbl... A muggle born... But that didn't take away from the fact that Nera was actually stunning. There was no point in Regulus lying to himself about that, even though he hated to admit it. Regulus also knew that deep down the other Slytherins thought the same. They had eyes after all.

"You look like you're thinking about something awfully serious." Avery said, causing Regulus to snap out of his thoughts.
The taller boy only hummed in response.
"Is this about today?"
"Today?"
"Halloween."

Oh, of course. It was quite remarkable that, if only for a short while, he'd actually managed to forget it was Halloween. It was normally at the front of his mind.
Every year, for the past five years, without fail, in the evening Sirius Black and his group of stupid friends had always pulled off some elaborate Halloween prank in the Great Hall.
Without fail, for the following week, it was all anybody talked about around the castle.

It had never been particularly ideal, but this year it was particularly unbearable for Regulus. He didn't want to have to listen to his brother being celebrated, and he wanted to be well away from the whole thing. That was really why the group was going down to the quidditch pitch for a practice session so late in the evening.

Regulus shook his head, "No. It's not to do with that. I'm fine."
"Alright," Avery patted him on the shoulder, "Good."

Back up at the castle, Nera had met up with Edgar and Ada in time to go to dinner.

It seemed that, miraculously, Edgar wasn't going to bring up the conversation that had now taken place a few days ago. He'd returned to his usual kind and jokey self - something that Nera greatly appreciated. She was almost certain she wasn't ready for any kind of romantic relationship.

Anyway, it was nice to be hanging out with her friends again. Things had been a little weird the past couple days, and it was nice to feel more normal again. It was particularly nice to have Regulus and that whole situation far from her mind.

"Come on, divination is ridiculous!" Edgar complained as they sat down together in the Great Hall.
Ada scoffed, "You're ridiculous."
He chuckled, "Really? Oh, Nera, you've got to agree with me!"
She shrugged slightly, "Well, it's got some merit - there's amazing Seers and Legilimens, aren't there? But... I don't suppose it's a subject for everyone."
Ada smirked, "Typical mediator."

Edgar smiled and shook his head, "Nera just doesn't want to hurt your feelings by agreeing with me."
"Obviously. Plus, agreeing with you would mean that she'd be lying." Ada retorted rather proudly.

"So you're seriously saying that you could tell me my future or whatever?" The boy asked.
"Well, no." Ada shrugged, "I'm rubbish at it. But potentially someone could read your tea leaves to foresee significant events in your future."
In response, Edgar could only rub his hands over his face and let out a laugh.

Nera sighed, "How exactly did we end up talking about this? We've drifted so far off topic."
"What were we originally talking about?" Ada asked before taking a sip of her drink.
"About going to Hogsmeade."

"Yeah..." Edgar conceded, "We did go horribly off track."
Ada tutted, "Well that's your fault for starting to talk about Halloween and... What was it again?"
He explained, "The Halloween prank."
"Oh, yeah, that nonsense."

Edgar tutted and turned to Nera beside him and asked, "Do you remember the year that they transfigured all of the food at the Slytherin table into bats?"

"Yeah..." She reminisced, "Though, now I come to think of it... I'm not really sure if that counts as a prank."
Ada nodded in agreement, "It does just sound like those Gryffindor boys are cruel."
Edgar frowned in thought, "Well... Maybe, actually. I suppose the consolation is that the Slytherins are, at least, just as bad."

Nera looked down at the table as she felt the gazes of both Ada and Edgar fall on her. It wasn't really a consolation that Sirius Black and his friends would target the Slytherins for being nasty. Nera never felt like those pranks were being done on behalf of her and the other student subject to the malicious taunts. 

"Let's just... Just get back to planning the Hogsmeade trip, yeah? What time should we leave?" Nera asked.
Edgar ran a hand through his hair and ruffled it up as he suggested, "Midday? That way I have time to finish my Transfiguration work before we go."

Ada nodded, "That's fine - I'm not going anywhere before midday anyway. I'm not giving up my lie in."
Nera laughed, "Well that's settled, we'll meet then."

"I'm glad." Edgar nodded in confirmation, "I can't wait for a good Butterbeer and some chips."
Ada bitterly tutted, "British cuisine at its finest, I suppose."
Nera smiled, "You're not wrong."