Les Misérables | Regulus A. Black [1]

Chapter Sixty

[Chapter Sixty]

Regulus never saw it coming or maybe he did and he just didn't want to believe. He had hoped and even prayed that Éponine would come to her senses and take back whatever she said. The last thing he wanted was to lose her, not after how far they had come together. As long as she admitted she was wrong, retracted everything she had previously said, he would fight every step of the way to marry her, even if it was against his parents' wishes. Because while neither one of them had fully admitted it before, Regulus knew damn well that he loved Éponine.

It killed him to see the betrayal on her face when she begged him to at least try to see her side of the story. But what was there for him to see? She was wrong, he knew that much, following the same path as Sirius. And under normal circumstances, he would have been beside himself with giddiness to witness Éponine slap Emmarentia, he couldn't ignore what Emmarentia had called her before then.

A blood-traitor.

Word travelled fast in Hogwarts and seemed even faster at home. The same way the story of Sirius' sorting had spread like fire, it didn't take long for everyone to learn of Éponine's behavior at school. Regulus knew he hadn't told his parents of what happened, hoping that Éponine would come around before word got out. But it was clear, the entire time they were together, their relationship was no secret. There were eyes and ears everywhere, watching them, listening to them, and ready to report back whatever needed to be said.

Regulus didn't know who exactly was watching him, but he knew someone was watching.

He didn't approach Éponine after the scene in the dorm and the Common Room. Regulus convinced himself that she just needed some time to work things out in her head. But the next day, Éponine didn't approach him, he didn't even see her but he recieved a letter from his parents.

Judging by the sloppiness of his mother's handwriting, it appeared she wrote the letter in a frantic manner. In the first sentence alone, she was questioning whether the rumours were true? Her wording didn't seem angry just yet, but rather concerned. After all, Regulus was aware just how much his parents did care about Éponine. His father had been estatic when the two were able to put their differences aside and actually sort to form a relationship. And his mother, judging by the necklace she had gifted Éponine at Christmas time was ready for the wedding in the near future.

Over Christmas, there had been obvious tension and anger between Éponine and her own parents, but she seemed happy. So more than likely, Walburga and Orion, were trying to figure out what had caused such a drastic change so suddenly?

Regulus thought about the way she had kissed him back in the dorm room, the way she held onto the front of his shirt like she never wanted to let him go. When she first started mentioning that she wanted them to be in control of their decisions, he thought it was more along the lines of choosing their own careers, even if their parents deemed them inappropriate or silly. Or maybe, she wanted control of the wedding, rather than following the traditional ceremony and receptions they had grown up attending.

No, it was beyond that and Regulus felt like he had been completely sidelined.

It was like being confronted by Sirius all over again, listening to the same spiel that all their teachings growing up were wrong. And then, for Éponine to mention Sirius, and claim he wasn't wrong, Regulus could hear no more of it. He would rather believe that Sirius had altered Éponine's mind somehow than come to terms that Éponine agreed and supported the first person to ever hurt Regulus.

And yet, the more Éponine spoke, whether in the dorm or the Common Room, Regulus knew her mind was perfectly in order. He could hear the same anger, the same passion, the same hurt that laced her voice, all of which he had heard before when Éponine previously expressed how she was really feeling. She really did believe everything she was saying and the more time that passed, it was clear, she wasn't going to take anything she said back.

When word finally got back to her parents, it seemed Heloise and Victor did have something to say, in the form of a Howler. Regulus had arrived in the Great Hall one morning, a couple of days after the entire ordeal, only to see the morning owls come in with the latest post. And where Éponine sat with little Gian Norton by her side, Regulus could see it as well. The little red envelope that contained more than likely, a very explosive scolding from her parents.

He noticed that Éponine didn't even flinch when the Howler dropped in front of her. She glanced over at it for a brief second before turning her attention back to whatever Gian was saying at the time. But after a minute or so, she looked back at it.

As many students knew, Howlers would only increase in temperature and get worse if left ignored for too long. Éponine seemed to excuse herself from Gian and collected the Howler, it was obviously getting close to errupting in her hands as she continuosly switched hands back and forth to avoid the heat.

She walked by Regulus, not even a quick look in his direction before walking out of the Great Hall.

And unable to control himself, Regulus followed, hoping that whatever her parents had to say would knock some sense back into Éponine.

Keeping his distance, Regulus peered around the corner to see Éponine selected a rather empty corridor. And rather than opening up the Howler, she placed it on the ledge of one of the tall windows and took a few steps back as if she was bracing herself for what was to come.

But before she could release the Howler, her name was called leaving her and Regulus to look over.

Sirius appeared down the corridor and in his company was not only James Potter, but Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. The four boys approached Éponine and for some reason, Regulus expected them to be there to start trouble with her. He stepped out, ready to defend Éponine, and truly show her that she had made a mistake thinking Sirius was right. From where he stood though, he couldn't hear what they were saying, but Éponine didn't appear to be uncomfortable.

Instead, she pointed in the direction of the Howler, drawing the attention of the four over to the window. James opened his mouth to speak and seconds later, Éponine was drawing her wand from the pocket of her robes. For a split second, Regulus thought she was about to send a hex in James' direction, but just as she pulled her wand, the Howler exploded.

"ÉPONINE ROSIER-"

Was all the Howler managed to get out before Éponine pointed her wand at it and set it on fire. Heloise's voice faded almost instantly and the corridor fell silent for a few moments as Éponine stared in the direction of the small pile of ashes. Sirius reached out his hand and placed it on one of her shoulders before whispering something in her ear.

Regulus could feel his skin almost ignite like he had become the Howler set on fire as he watched Éponine smile at whatever was said and then nod her head. Sirius started walking in the opposite direction of where Regulus stood, and his friends did as well.

In the end, Regulus only stood there and watched as Éponine walked away from him, following his brother.

He had never felt so alone.