#regulus just casually skipping class

[lulublack90]

Prompt 25 - Future

@jegulus-microfic February 25, Word count 310

Previous part First part

Technically, he was supposed to be in Potion’s, but as he was already brewing past N.E.W.T level, Slughorn rarely batted an eye that Regulus wasn’t in his classroom. Going to his little Slug Club also helped Regulus get away with doing as he pleased. 

He watched James flying around the quidditch pitch. He’d always known James was a good flyer. He was the bane of the Slytherin team. But watching him on his own without the rest of his team and the opposing team, he could see just how outstanding he really was. A vision of James’s future floated into his mind. Pro Quidditch player. The World Cup. Quidditch coach to their kids.

James swooped around, completely focused on his broom, and Regulus got the most perfect view of James’s arse in his tight quidditch trousers. The next twenty minutes were torture for Regulus. 

He’d been about to grab one of the schools and fly up there and drag James back down, but James finished a lazy lap and dipped his broom handle towards the ground. He alighted in the most elegant landing Regulus had ever seen and started walking towards the changing rooms with his broom over his shoulder, shooting Regulus and walking towards him instead. 

“You shouldn’t be allowed to wear those trousers,” Regulus smirked appreciatively. “Far too distracting.” James apparently appreciated Regulus’s words as he swooped in and kissed Regulus on the lips. It was sweaty, but for some reason, Regulus couldn’t find it in him to care. 

“Wanna help me get out of them?” James asked as he straightened up. It was Regulus’s lucky day. 

“Hmmm, I suppose I could be persuaded.” Unable to help himself, he grabbed James’s arse as he sauntered towards the changing room, a smile spreading across his face when he heard James stumble behind him to catch up. 

Next part

[crescenthistory]

A big round of applause for your 2k milestone carina congratulations^^

May I request an argue with dialogue 48 with poly!Bartylus with a fem! Ravenclaw reader likes doing questionable stuff to satisfy her random curiosity. Problem being she has little sense of self preservation so she often lands in the hospital wing and whenever the two show up after hearing she had the nth concussion, she's does a very casual report be like: 'so turns out Thestrals do behave like horses if I tugged its tail too hard'. Regulus probably aged another 10 years while Barty is half concern and half rolling on the floor. Or idk, I just wanna see Reggie massaging his temples while Bee wheezing his lungs out with a confused reader lol.

thank you so much for your request babes<33 i switched this one up a little, hope you enjoy it

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i will ARGUE for prompt 48 "sometimes i wonder how you're still alive" with poly!bartylus

carina's 2k celebration

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cw: fem!reader, use of y/n, barty pov and all of its usual chaos, established poly relationship, clumsy and whimsical reader

wc: 1.3k

Barty sat waiting for you to exit your Transfiguration class, so he could spend his free period with you, but you were taking an awfully long time. 

His instincts told him to just sneak into the classroom and call out for you, but he had been scolded for doing just that very recently – not just by professors but by Regulus, his own personal authority figure apparently – so he bit his tongue. Yet, when Lupin and Potter exited before you, he could no longer help himself from throwing his head back and groaning, drawing their attention.

“You good, Junior?” Potter asked wearily with a raised eyebrow.

“No, I’m looking at my annoying brothers in law and not my wonderful girlfriend. What’s taking her so long?”

The two exchanged a glance before Lupin cleared his throat. “Y/N wasn’t in class. I’m quite certain she’s in the infirmary?” It was voiced as a question, but Barty could tell that it wasn’t really.

On paper, this revelation should fill him with worry and concern for your wellbeing, he should want to run full throttle towards the infirmary. Instead, he was filled with a dread of a very different kind and let yet another raspy groan escape him. 

“Not again,” he hissed before slapping his knees and getting up. “Right. Where’s Regulus?” 

“Should you not be your own boyfriend’s keeper?” Lupin asked at the very same time as Potter said “Potions”.

Barty looked at Lupin with a hah-expression. 

“Best get there before he does then!” He announced cheerily before turning on his heel and skipping down the hallway, using every wall and pole he passed as leverage. He didn’t bother looking back over his shoulder to see what more the two boys had to say.

The journey to the infirmary went by quickly, Barty’s movements all motivated by a desire to have Regulus not get to the scene before him. 

“Evening, darling Poppy,” he called out to the matron who looked up at him with an unamused expression. “Where’s she at?”

She looked like she wanted to comment on his unprofessional language, but instead she gave a heavy sigh, clearly giving up before even starting. “Miss L/N is in bed 6 to the right,” was all she said, turning back to cleaning her equipment near the door.

Barty blew her a kiss before beginning to skip in and promptly transitioning to walking upon Pomfrey’s deadly expression. 

You quickly came into view, sitting up in your bed while happily eating some of the infirmary food. Your sweet expression brightened when you spotted Barty coming towards you and any thought that might have swirled in his head about being strict with you immediately melted away. He felt as if he was floating up to you as he came to plop down on your bedside.

“Good afternoon, my lovely darling angel,” he all-but cooed. “Happy to see you in one piece.” 

You leaned forward and brought him in for a loving kiss that you hummed your greeting into. “Hi, B. How are you?”

“Well for one, I’m not the one with an icepack on my shoulder.” His brows furrowed in entertainment. 

You pulled away from him and looked perplexed at his comment for a moment before reaching to your shoulder, as if you had forgotten it was even there. “Oh, that was no bother. I have good news: You can pet the Thestrals even if you can’t see them. Not all of them necessarily enjoy it, but it’s certainly possible.”

Barty huffed a laugh, leaning forward to bury his head in your non-injured shoulder. Even in the infirmary, you still smelled so effortlessly like yourself, a scent he wanted to drown himself in every time he was near you. Still, he was a man on a mission, and he could not be distracted, even by the loveliest girl in the castle.

“Right, that is fantastic to hear,” he said as he pulled away to look at you. “And I would love to hear even more – but somewhere else. Are you good to walk? You’re good to walk yeah, we can get out of here?” Even as he spoke he was beginning to back your belongings from the bedside table into your backpack. You began to giggle, but before he could ask why, he was interrupted by another voice.

“It’s no use, Junior, I’m already here.”

Barty’s shoulders sagged theatrically as he let your backpack fall to the ground with a soft thump and turned to look at the source of the voice. Coming around the corner with a wettened towel in one hand and the other places accusatorily on his hip was Regulus — Barty’s favourite boy that he really did not want to see right now.

“Aweh, Reg, baby, I’m so glad to see you.”

“Cut the crap, B,” he said with faux iciness as he passed him to sit on the other side of your bed. “You were planning on keeping this from me, weren’t you?”

Barty looked to you for backup, but you just took in the scene before you with wide entertained eyes. You were lucky he loved you so much.

“Now why would you even think that? I’m just eager to get this little rascal into her own bed.”

“Barty.”

He threw his hands in the air. “Okay, so I wanted to protect her from your hysterics. Sue me.”

You just giggled and placed a hand on Barty’s wrist, rubbing circles into it placatingly. “Thank you B, but Reggie has been very sweet and patient with me. No need to protect me.”

Regulus was placing the damp towel over your neck, which clearly provided some relief as you sighed. His fingers were mindful in his ministrations of moving every piece of hair away, so they wouldn’t be caught beneath the towel. His eyes were zeroed in on his work as he spoke. “Yes, I have been very sweet and patient. You see, Junior, I heard a rumour about where she got this idea that approaching Thestrals was a good thing.”

Barty swallowed. “Did you, now?”

Regulus looked up through one of his curls that had come loose to give Barty a withering glare. “Sometimes I wonder how you two are still alive.”

Barty felt a sudden need to play all of his cards. He brought his hand up to tuck Regulus’ curl softly behind his ear, letting his fingertips linger as he traced over the edge of his boyfriend’s sharp jaw, caressing softly. He kept eye contact as a small smile lingered over his lips. “It’s a miracle all thanks to you, pretty boy. Don’t you want to keep us that way?”

Regulus kept glaring, but Barty could see how his resolve was shaken, even by his blatant manipulation. It made him grin widely. 

“Please don’t kill Barty, Regulus. He’s too fit to die and you’re too fit for Azkaban.” You supplied your own defense around a mouthful of yoghurt, clearly beyond amused at not being the only one in the doghouse.

“If you don’t watch it, you two will be the death of me,” he grumbled under his breath as he abandoned the towel to rub the tension out of his temples. 

Barty took the opportunity to manhandle Regulus down onto the bed beside you, so that he could lay across both of your chests – a cuddle pile that this bed was most certainly not built for but that he swore to make work nonetheless. You immediately opened your arms to accept Regulus into your side, who was still murmuring protests all the while the tops of his cheeks were darkening in colour.

“We’ll keep you safe and sound, Reg. Won’t we, baby?.” Barty grinned up at him, knowing he’s won yet again. “And we’ll make sure this little bird right here doesn’t fly too close to the sun.”

“You better,” came the quiet murmur from the reddened boy.

The shade only worsened when you and Barty both went to kiss his cheeks – as did your smiles.

[florsial]

@bartylusmicrofic - Wish Also he/they and trans Regulus!

Caught up in the flow of studying, the common room opening didn’t register in Barty’s head until the sound of jewelry was being set on the table. 

Throwing himself away from the numerous notes and open books, he sees his boyfriend scowling, his brows pressed together, and his lips being bitten raw. Judging from the formal outfit, Barty could guess that Slughorn’s party didn’t go too well for his boyfriend. The heated look in his eyes was evident enough and Barty suddenly wished he had attended with Regulus.

“Still planning on attending the next one?” He asked as he closed his notebook and looked up at Regulus, accepting the fact that he probably wouldn’t be studying for the rest of the night. 

Twisting another bracelet off his wrist, Regulus replied, “I don’t know, I’ll see after I’ve cooled off.”

“You could skip the next one.”

“The meetings are good for my future,” Regulus makes a face at his own words, “I think.”

“Uh huh,” Barty hums, standing up from his seat. He doesn’t really believe that, after all, Regulus is as smart and talented as he is, and no, Barty isn’t being biased, it’s true. He’s been trying to top Regulus in their History of Magic class, but his boyfriend always manages to keep a firm grasp on the position of being the top of the class. Barty would be proud if he hadn’t been trying to beat Regulus for years, even before they had started dating.

And that is just the tip of his boyfriend’s intelligence.

He is broken from his thoughts when Regulus asks, “I need to get out of all this, can you help me?”

“Yeah, sure,” he replied, “let’s go.”

Truthfully speaking, Barty doesn’t understand why Regulus insists on wearing the traditional pure-blood clothing, he is pretty sure some students have turned up in less than formal wear. Also, Regulus complains often about how scratchy and tight everything is and the hair-dos. Always braided and pinned with pins that give Regulus a headache. He ought to convince his lover to tone down for the Slughorn’s parties.

When they get to their dorm, Evan is still not asleep, unsurprisingly. A single light emits from his wand, highlighting his wide eyes and unsettling expression as he reads the book of myths he always reads. He doesn’t spare them a glance as they make their way to the bathroom, but he does nod subtly without looking up.

“Hi, Ev,” Regulus greets casually as he passes by, snagging his silk pajamas from his bed.

When the bathroom door closes, Barty locks it as Regulus undoes the buttons and straps of his outfit. He leans against the door as he watches carefully and with adoration as his lover curses under their breath at the overly complex parts of their dress before fully stripping themselves from it, leaving Regulus only in the long undershirt and corset he stubbornly refuses to take off lest he becomes a hunchback like their mother fears. 

Barty tries not to make fun of him too much for that.

He walks over and takes a moment to admire the freckles sprinkled all over and a slight blush brushed over their collarbones and shoulders. As hands rest on their waist, Regulus turns around.

“Loosen the back, would you?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.”

In the beginning, Barty was only ever vaguely familiar with the mechanics of a corset. He remembers his mother wearing it for some time before she started getting more ill and he’s never taken an interest in wearing one, unlike his father, they were too constricting for his liking. 

It wasn’t until he and Regulus grew closer did he learned to tighten or loosen the strings for there was nothing more intimate than hearing the way Regulus’ breath evens out with every string undone by Barty. Most, if not all the time, it would only ever be just the two of them in the bathroom, late in the night. After that, Barty would press soft kisses with his hands under Regulus’ long shirt carefully running over the smooth skin. They would stay like that for an undetermined amount of time before brushing their teeth and heading to bed, and this time, it was no different.

“I’ll go with you next time,” Barty said softly, trawling the string around his finger, “I promise.”

“You don’t have to,” Regulus replies, “you’re busy, and it’s not like Slughorn is your biggest fan either.”

“Even more reasons to,” Barty grins, “and what type of boyfriend would I be if I’m not there to defend your honor? There are too many snobby and entitled members, I have to scare them off.” 

“As if anyone is good enough for Blacks,” Regulus scoffs, the air of arrogance from birth prevalent around him.

“Lucius?”

“Narcissa wanted him, not the other way around.”

“How about me?”

“You know exactly why,” is Regulus’ settled reply after a couple seconds of silence.

“Tell me again,” Barty leans down and presses his lips to their shoulder, “I want to hear it again.” He mumbles against the freckled skin. He’s loosened the corset but Regulus has not yet taken off the garment, leaving him free to toy with the strings, twirling them around his finger in a comforting motion. 

His lover tells him. The same words again and again. The same words that Barty will never tire of. The same words that increase the hole in his heart that craves for more of what Regulus gives in love.

[to-fly-with-clipped-wings]

1. The Very Beginning

The Very Beginning - Killing Butterflies

Pairing: (H. Potter x Black! reader)

"I think he's brilliant," the boy said coldly. "Do you?" Draco said, jeering. "Why is he with you? Where are your parents?" "They're dead." Your mouth opened once again in shock before shutting. You were torn between apologising to the boy for bringing it up, or telling him to join the club. OR: in which you and the boy who lived have a less than fairy tale beginning

Series Summary: (Y/n) Black - the one and only heiress to the noble house of Black - who also happens to be the daughter of the infamous Regulus Arcturus Black (and the niece of the notorious criminal Sirius Black). But despite the titles, rules and expectations that befall you, there are only two things that you long for, at which you will not cease to achieve: Firstly, to fill in the big shoes left behind by your late father. And secondly, burn the butterflies that flutter within your stomach in the presence of Harry Potter (who happens to be the sworn enemy of, perhaps, your entire family).

-> Series Masterlist and Summary -> Harry Potter Masterlist

The sharp noise of a hand rapping upon your bedroom door at an ungodly hour is how your day had begun. You jolted awake, harshly rubbing your eyes and scowling at the sound that had forced you up.

As your eyes began to unblur and focus, a voice called out from beyond your room. You didn't catch that they said, though.

Grumbling, you tossed your blanket aside and grudgingly walked to open the door to your bedroom.

Cracking open the door, you expected to see Dobby, the Malfoy's house elf, bidding you a good morning and handing you a cup of water.

To your surprise, however, outside was Draco Malfoy, your distant second cousin (something along those lines, you'd never really been fussed enough to check). He was still in his nightwear. His hair was slicked, as always, and he had been tapping his foot impatiently as he waited for you to emerge from your room.

"Finally, there you are," he rolled his eyes, but he didn't bother to mask the excitement that was stretching across his face rapidly. "Guess what the owl just dropped off?"

He didn't wait for you to guess, as he just brandished two thick, yellowish letters toward you.

Your eyes widened as you registered the words scrawled on top of the envelope.

Ms (First Initial). Black

(Y/n)'s Bedroom

Malfoy Manor

Skipping over the last few words of the address, you felt far more awake. "The Hogwarts letters have arrived?"

You felt a grin quickly cross your face and without a second thought you raced off to the dining hall with Draco hot on your trail.

"Narcissa! Lucius! Can you believe it?!" You beamed at them, skidding to a halt at the entrance of the room. Beside you, Draco nodded his head profusely.

Narcissa gave you both a gentle smile, and Lucius gave a grunt in acknowledgement, not glancing up from his newspaper. 

Draco handed you your letter and you pulled out the parchment inside.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand. Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed.    of Wizards)

Dear Ms Black, 

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva Mcgonagall

Deputy Headmistress

You clutched the letter tightly in your hands and grinned once again. 

Lucius eyed both you and Draco before saying "I don't see why you both are so excited. I mean, it's obvious you two were going to get in to Hogwarts from the moment you were born."

Draco's joyful stance deflated slightly, taking on a more poised composure. He nodded again, but far more solemnly as he mirrored his father's expression of casual disinterest.

 Narcissa patted Lucius's hand lightly. "I'm just glad that you decided against having either of them sent to Durmstrang," she said, referencing the cause of their heated argument just days ago.

He lifted his chin up before sniffing. "I still think it would be a better choice than Hogwarts and all the mudbloods they'll be exposed to. Not only to mention the more respectable curriculum!"

"Let's not get back into this again, Lucius."

Lucius sighed and returned to his paper, drawing a long sip from his cup of tea.

Interjecting into the conversation, you asked "when will we be able to get our stuff for Hogwarts?"

"Yeah, I want to get my wand," added Draco, turning his nose upwards. "I also want to check out the new model for the Nimbus line."

"Well," began Narcissa. "Your father and I have quite a bit of work for the Minstry that we have to get completed before the months ends, but I do suppose we can pop down to Diagon Alley on the 31st to grab your new school equipment."

You and Draco both nodded at her words and with a satisfied look on her face, she said "alright, wonderful. Now the two of you get dressed whilst I send the owl to Hogwarts with your answers. I will send Dobby up when he finishes preparing breakfast."

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31th, July, 1991 - Approximately thirty days later.

"Mistress Malfoy requests that you show up downstairs to leave for Diagon Alley, Miss Black," chirped the house elf in front of you, Dobby. He was a dopey little thing, but you found him to be earnest and sweet. His large green eyes ogled at you and you swore that they got larger every time you saw them.

You crinkled your nose, trying your best to ignore the feeling of apprehension that settled in your stomach. You'd be travelling by floo powder, and while you did agree it was one of the best ways to get from one place to another, the journey itself was rather... tumultuous.

Dobby squeaked at your expression. "Dobby is sorry, Miss Black. B-but Mistress Malfoy said that she did want extra time to pick up supplies...!"

If you had been any other person in the Manor, you'd have slapped Dobby off of you and given him a severe punishment for making such a comment. But, thankfully, you weren't and instead you just gave him a slightly awkward thumbs up.

"Ah, that's fine, Dobby, I was just thinking of something else. But don't get troubled by it."

Nodding at Dobby in goodbye you grabbed your bag and hurried down the stairs to the fireplace. You were greeted by three disgruntled faces.

"Now that (Y/n) has finally arrived," said Lucius, throwing you a pointed look. "Let's get going."

One by one, you each grabbed a handful of the powder, threw it into the fire, stepped into it, crying out "Diagon Alley!" and were then suddenly sent through a series of fireplaces before tumbling out of the fireplace inside of the Leaky Cauldron. After being tossed out of the floo network, you leaned on the wall, gasping for air, dusting off your robes that were now caked in soot.

Tom, the barman, widened his eyes at the presence of you and the Malfoy family, but there was little time to gauge his reaction. You all strode through the pub to the small out room.

Tapping his wand on a brick on the wand, Lucius revealed a whole new addition to the drab setting of the Leaky Cauldron. Not that it was anything astounding to you, though.

Narcissa placed her hands on the shoulders of Draco and you, getting your attention. "Now," she said. "Lucius will go and handle your book list and stationery supplies and I will go to Eeylops Owl Emporium to pick out owls for the two of you. In the meanwhile, you two go to Madam Malkin's and get your robes sorted out. We will meet up by Ollivander's once all of this is completed."

"Wait, no," said Draco frowning. "I want to see the brooms first."

"Okay, then," Narcissa compromised. "We'll meet up by Quality Quidditch Supplies and then go to Ollivander's."

She then proceeded to clap her hands together and shoo you both away.

As soon as the both of you were at of earshot, Draco turned to you and mumbled "Don't you think that mother does that a lot? She gets all bossy and and commanding out of nowhere?"

You looked at him and then nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I suppose she does." He seemed pleased with your answer, and that was that apparently.

When two of you had entered Madam Malkin's shop (Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions), a rather squat woman greeted you at the door and then ushered you to the back of the shop and onto the footstools.

Two more witches bustled toward the two of you. "Hogwarts, am I right dearies?" asked one of them.

"Yes," you said, answering her question.

The shop fell into a silence as the witch attending to you slipped a long, black robe over you and began diligently pinning the fabric to your frame. 

You tried your best not to wince whenever she accidently stuck a pin into you, instead resorting to scowling at a corner of the room. It sapped a lot of your willpower, though, and your scowl was steadily growing into glaring at the poor mannequin at the window.

A few minutes later, a rather scrawny boy with tousled black hair and glasses entered into the shop.

He was nothing too impressive, you noted, but on closer inspection you did realise that his eyes were the most brilliant, vivid shade of green. It put your own eyes to shame, really. 

The boy stood on the stool next to Draco and Madam Malkin began fixing up a robe for him too.

"Hullo," said Draco immediately, "Hogwarts, too?"

"Yes," said the boy, who did look quite nervous. But it wasn't unusual, most people looked nervous when they spoke to one of the Malfoys.

"Us too," drawled Draco, tilting his head casually towards you. 

You dipped your head in hello, and he too quickly (and with much awkwardness, mind you) reciprocated the gesture.

"My father's next door buying my books and Mother's up the street looking at owls," continued Draco. "Then I'm going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first-years can't have their own. I think I'll bully Father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow."

"First-years can't have brooms because they want to make sure we know how to play properly first," you reminded him in a jabbing tone.

He shrugged. "Have you got your own broom?" he asked the boy.

"No."

"Play Quidditch at all?" Draco pressed on, despite the other boy's clipped answers.

"No."

"I do - Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree."

"Do you know what house you'll get into?" you questioned him, causing the boy's head to swivel from Draco to you.

"Er, no." he said sheepishly.

"Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they?" said Draco, "but I know I'll be in Slytherin..."

You smirked slightly and nodded at that.

"...All our family have been - imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?'

The boy mumbled "mmm," and you raised your eyebrow curiously at him. The boy looked very clueless to the words that Draco had been spewing out. It made you wonder if maybe this was the first time he had heard them.

With a furrowed brow, you wondered if that was because - maybe - he was a mudblood.

"I say, look at that man!" Draco cried out suddenly.

A man of considerable height stood outside the window. He grinned at the scrawny boy and gestured towards the two large ice-creams he hand in his hands. With his scruffy, untamed mass of hair you seriously wondered if he was a giant. But even with his great size, he was too small to be one. Maybe he was a giant that suffered from an extreme case of dwarfism. He was tall, sure, but was probably still only the size of a regular giant's ring finger.

"That's Hagrid," the boy answered properly for the first time. "He works at Hogwarts."

Your mouth widened into a 'oh.' You had heard of the Hogwarts gamekeeper through Lucius, who was a school governor. 

"I've heard of him," you supplied. "He's like the maid there, isn't he? A savage drunkard?"

The boy gave you a less than displeased look, but Draco agreed with you. "I hear he lives in a hut on the school grounds and every now and again he gets drunk, tries to do magic and ends up setting fire to his bed."

"I think he's brilliant," the boy said coldly.

"Do you?" Draco said, jeering. "Why is he with you? Where are your parents?"

"They're dead."

Your mouth opened once again in shock before shutting. You were torn between apologising to the boy for bringing it up, or telling him to join the club.

Luckily, though, Draco handled it for you. 

"Oh, sorry." he said, but you were certain even that Hagrid man could tell he didn't sound too sorry. "But they were our kind, weren't they?"

"They were a witch and a wizard, if that's what you mean."

Guess he wasn't a muggle-born after all. Perhaps he was just a really slow pure-blooded boy? He should've been familiar with all the wizarding terms, even if he hadn't been raised by his parents. How weird, you thought.

"I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you?" continued Draco. Merlin, that boy just kept on talking. "They're just not not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What's your surname anyway?"

Madam Malkin though, before the boy could answer, announced he was done and free to go. The boy quickly hopped down form his footstool and gathered his new robes.

"Well, I'll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose," said Draco, bading him goodbye.

When the boy had left, Draco began speaking to you. "You're awfully quiet. Where's your usual blabbermouth?"

You scowled deeply at him. "Nevermind that. We arrived before him, why does he get to leave first?"

"Oh, sorry about that dears," said your witch, straightened up and pulling the robe off you. "Female robes just take a few minutes extra and I figured you'd want to leave with your friend."

"Okay," you said simply, but you frowned at her anyways. For good measures.

You dug into your bag and handed her enough Galleons to cover the price of both sets of robes.

You and Draco left the store and immediately headed (basically sprinted) towards Quality Quidditch Supplies.

You wished you could say something interesting happened there before Narcissa and Lucius had arrived, but really, it was just Draco's nose pressed up against the glass of the shop whilst you stood next to him, admiring the broom in a much more dignified manner.

Your guardians, upon their arrival, wasted no time in dallying and the four of you made your way to Ollivander's for your wands.

The store was rather slim and its sign Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC had begun to peel off. Regardless of its poor appearance, to an old wizarding family like yours, you knew that the wands there were nothing short of the best.

The wide, watery gray eyes of the store's owner were the first thing that you saw when you entered. 

"Hello, Ollivander," said Lucius, almost politely. 

"Why hello to you too, Mr. Malfoy," he said softly. His face was wrinkled and elderly. "What a wonderful family you have there."

His gaze seemed to grow distant before he snapped his eyes suddenly back to Lucius. "Elm with dragon heartstring core, sturdy and thirteen inches long, am I right? And for your lovely wife here, another elm wood too, twelve and a half inches but with a unicorn hair core. Springy, no?"

You shivered a bit at the man's piercing stare and his freakishly sharp memory.

"Well then," he fixed his eyes now on you and Draco. "What arms are your wand arms?"

Draco held out his right arm and you obediently stuck out your [dominant arm]. He then began to measure the lengths between your fingertips and elbow.

"Hm, I see," he said, nodding his head seriously once he had finished. He suddenly dashed to the shelves and scanned through them. Taking out two boxes, he handed the first to Draco ("Dragon heartstring, cedar wood, bendy, ten inches") and the other to you ("pine wood, phoenix feather, nine and three quarters").

He didn't say anything else and just observed you and Draco closely as you both waved the wands around in the air.

Needless to say, when all of the windows and lamps shattered within seconds, it was just a tad bit obvious that these wands were not to be.

Ollivander tutted and turned around again. He didn't look that upset however. He bustled to the back of the shop and pulled out a few more boxes. Waving the next few wands had no better effect than the first ones.

Ollivander suddenly gasped, as though an idea had just sprung up into his head, and using his own wand, summoned a box from the top shelves.

Handing it delicately to you, he murmured, "ten and a half inches. Cypress wood, unicorn hair core and pliant."

Taking the wand into your hand, you raised it above your head and waved it. A tingly, warm feeling suddenly flooded through your body, and with it, a spectacular shower of sparks emerged from the wand.

Ollivander looked delighted and exclaimed a few words of praise. Narcissa was smiling widely and even Lucius looked somewhat pleased. 

"They do say that cypress wands pick only the most noblest of wizards!" cried Ollivander, his grey eyes positively shining. "It's no surprise that one it would pick was the heiress to the house of Black!"

Draco glared at you, his frown reappearing from frustration. He had yet to find a wand that would choose him. He grabbed another box from Ollivander's table.

He ended up trying out quite a few more wands before he came across a wand that picked him. Honestly, you were surprised that there was a wand out there that tolerated the boy enough to be stuck for the rest of his life. You didn't pay attention to it was made of but knew it also contained a unicorn hair core like yours.

You were instead admiring your wand, turning it over in your fingers. An intricate vine-like pattern weaved up from the wand's base and smoothed itself out near its middle. Despite all of the crevices formed from its spiralling trail, it still managed to fit your fingers perfectly. It was quite a beauty.

Lucius handed Ollivander fourteen Galleons and Ollivander bowed at the four of you as you left.

"All that's left is the apothecary's," you said.

All of you headed towards the said shop and you took the time to look at the owls Narcissa had picked up for you and Draco.

For Draco, she had somehow gotten an eagle owl (even though the Owl Emporium did not sell them). He looked particularly smug with his newly acquired wand and owl. 

And for you, Narcissa had gotten a large tawny owl who was blinking at you with its massive eyes. You cooed at it, and smirked when it hooted back. 

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

You later named him Castor. You quite liked the name, which was as a star in the Gemini constellation. It was also, you believed, the name of a distant relative who had died of dragon pox some time ago.

You handed the owl a letter addressed to 12 Grimmauld Place. It was a note to Kreacher, informing him of your acceptance to Hogwarts and a request to send back one of his sandwiches in his reply.

Waving the owl off, you couldn't quench the growing excitement inside of you. In just a few weeks, you'd be on the Hogwarts Express on your way to becoming a Hogwarts student, and eventually a fully fledged witch.

Who would've guessed what happened to you before then?

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

Hi guys 💞😀

Thank you so much for sticking till the 1st (technically 2nd) chapter!! 💓💗💛

The fun fact today is:

You didn't speak to Draco for two days because you got mad at him for "copying your wand's core"  and gave him a lecture on at least trying to be original.

[devcted]

she never wants to assume the worst in regulus, she's never known him to be anything but sweet and gentle with her, she's never seen him as anything but her prince out of a fairytale book but she also isn't totally naive the way everyone sees her as, she knows regulus isn't as perfect as she dreams him to be because theres no such thing as being so. she knows it's not impossible for at least some do the rumors to be true but it makes her sad to think he was put in such a position at a young age.

bee remembers when cedric casually brought up the silly rumor during dinner with her parents, bee quickly telling her brother it wasn't true because regulus wasn't cruel and wouldn't hurt people but it was then her mother chimed in letting her know that it wouldn't have been his fault if it were true, his parents were so wrapped up into their own selfishness that they'd disown their own son because of it so yhere was very litrke way for poor regulus to stand a chance and that they should be weary of everything they hear from the other kids anyway. it made bee wonder if her mother was right, that even if regulus could be what they say that it wasn't his fault and he was simply a victim. it makes her angry to think that, if what she's about to tell her is then it's the fault of fucked up ideals forced onto children.

"I trust you reggie, I know that whatever it is it's...its not your fault." she says with a smile kind of sad as she looks back at him. his words are sweet but in a way that's almost sexy, so low as he's apologizing and telling when he's suffered from not getting to have her as if anyone has stopped him but himself. it makes her smirk a little though, cause at least she wasn't the only one looking like a fool. "you know I shouldn't, I used some of my best seduction skills in you and you rejected me..." she says teasingly but almost out of breath as he begins kissing her, lower and lower until blue eyes flutter. "but maybe if you can kiss me like this a little more I'll consider it " she teases, biting down on her lower lip as she sighs.

she hates it almost in the same way that she loves it, bee couldn't stay upset or angry or even sad, she couldn't not want him and his touch when it was the best feeling in the world and knowing he actually might want her just made it so much better. he whispers again, nipping at her ear as she lets out a shaky sigh. "I want to give you everything reggie, my sweet prince." she moans. "you already had me I'm just waiting for you to figure it out." she purrs, holding him close as her fingers run through his hair a bit but then he pulls away, lacing their fingers together as he guides her to the slytherin common room.

it amazes her they got such a bad reputation when their common room had been so comfortable she almost liked it as much as her own. it was so beautiful. the waterfall by the steps and the beautiful skylight that shines down, it wasn't too bright nor was it too dark, just peaceful all around. she walks inside with regulus, taking his hand again as her eyes wonder around the space, it's empty as everyone was busy with their classes and theo was probably in the hospital wing getting that nose of his checked out. "I think this is our first time truly alone..." she smiles a bit. usually they have someone with them, probably for good reason because bee isn't so sure she could be in here alone with him without wanting him the way she does now. "I like being here with you too...you company has always been my favorite." she agrees as he guides her along.

heart skips a best when he asks her to join him in his bed, smiling shyly as she nods biting down on her lower lip again. "yeah..." she says warmly, squeezing his hand a bit. "like I said, regulus... anywhere."

she doesn't seem to believe that she has him, which makes him sad even though he understands. the way he acted last night didn't make sense... touching her the way he did, even under her skirt, only to ask her to stop when she wanted to touch him. but she doesn't know that he has the mark and it'll be dangerous for her to know about it, or even dangerous for him if she somehow decides she hates him. he doesn't think bee would ever tell anyone, but if she did, he wouldn't have time to return to the cave to swap out the horcrux with the fake he's been working on. he only knows of it because of kreacher, who was so badly wounded by the inferi that he almost died that night.

"would you forgive me if it was for a very good reason?" he asks gently, thumb tracing her cheek where her tears had fallen. "please forgive me... it was suffering enough not to have you last night. i'm very sorry i made you cry." his words are spoken softly, his other thumb wiping at the tears on her opposite cheek. "you are beautiful." he leans in, pressing a kiss to her cheek, and then another to her jaw. tilting his head, he plants the next kiss on her neck, his lips lingering there for a moment. "i'm so in love with you," he answers, kissing her skin a little lower. it doesn't feel too soon to say, because he's felt it for years now, even if he never had her.

he pulls back when her voice is serious, meeting her eyes again. "i'll tell you. but first..." he leans in again, teeth catching her earlobe to nibble it gently before pressing another kiss beneath. "please let me have you, because i can't wait another second." his hands rest on her hips, touching her as he kisses her neck again. after a moment, he slips one into her own, his fingers tangling with hers so he can hold her hand as they leave the potions dungeon. she assures him she'd follow him anywhere, which makes him flush. "then i'm lucky," he says, but privately his stomach is turning a little at the thought of baring his body and soul to her, because what if she stops wanting him when she sees what's on his arm?

he leads her a short ways to the slytherin common room, speaking the current password to allow the statued serpent to reveal the door. pushing it open to allow bee to go in first, he takes her hand again when they're walking down the stairs, past a moving set of armor and several tapestries. "i like taking you here when it's just us," he says softly. he also likes when bee hangs out with him, draco, astoria, blaise and the others. but there's something about getting to show her the common room alone, when it's just the two of them, that makes his heart race. it feels intimate, showing her his home like this. "would you join me in my bed?" he wants to do the spell there, after they pull his privacy curtains, to give them a place to talk without being heard.

[willowbleedsonpaper]

Winter In The Shade XIV

Part XIV

Sirius Black x Ravenclaw Reader

W.C. : 2866

Requested by @pogueslandia : It is Sirius’ fifth year at Hogwarts, the same year he ran away from home and to the Potter’s. Soon, he discovers the unfamiliar sight of his brother Regulus smiling and looking truly happy, next to him a Ravenclaw girl who immediately captures his interest. What will happen when the Black family gets involved in their sons lives and the ones they hold close to their hearts?

Warnings: None (Let me know if there's any, though)

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Masterlist | Series Masterlist

You were distracted. Regulus had noticed that much. Two weeks had passed by since his game against Gryffindor and he had taken to himself to watch you closely. At first he was worried, now he was curious. He could feel you were distant, sometimes he would find your eyes lost in the crowd of students or a smile growing on your lips at something only you could figure out from all the voices. You spent more time out after dinner, Regulus finding you walking back to your common room late at night when you had supposedly already gone there. He didn’t question you but he wanted to know who this person was who had captured your attention.

Unfortunately, he was certain it had to be a Gryffindor. The presence of the house is always there whenever he notices these changes in your behaviour. He had so many questions and no reason to ask you about it. But he knew he could dig a little with the right words.

“...and I need this one and that one.” you said, walking through the shelves of the library with Regulus following you “Can you reach the red one for me?” you asked him, his arm easily going over your head and taking the book you pointed “Thank you.” you told him, adding the book to the pile in your arms.

Regulus just observed you, noticing a sweet smell coming from you. Your favorite perfume. You looked the same as always, Ravenclaw uniform neatly worn with a few details of your own design, leather bag hanging from your left shoulder as your body inevitably leaned towards that side due to the weight of all you carried. Your face, your hair, your voice it was all the same but it was all in the details. The perfume, the skip on your step, your more cheerful mood.

“You seem happier.” he said, earning a chuckle from you as you returned the book in your hand to the shelf.

“Thank you?” you answered doubtfully. There, no retort to fight him, no sarcastic comment to notice his own gloomy or serious mood.

“I mean it.” he told you, trying to look casual about it. He didn’t have it in him but he had to try, he’s used to being direct but going around things was not his thing. “What’s gotten you in such a happy mood lately?”

You made a face at him, leading him towards your table at the library. He took the seat right across from you, facing the entrance of the library as he had always liked to observe the people going in and out of the room. You moved your own chair out and took a seat, dropping the pile of books on the tables’ surface.

“Would you believe it's because of you?” you asked with a smile, taking your things out of your bag and placing one by one on the table.

Regulus shook his head, following your movements as he did the same “The fact that you asked me if I would believe you tells me it’s not because of me.” he stated, resting his back against the chair as he watched you. “And there is a reason because you are making up excuses.”

You frowned, hitting the table a little too hard with the spine of your book “I hate that you’re so clever sometimes.” you muttered bitterly, unknown to Regulus that you were starting to panic. Your leg a jumping mess under the table.

“Why won’t you tell me?” he asked. Going around things wasn’t working for him, it actually never worked for anyone but he knew that and trying it anyway got on his nerves a little too much. He needed answers.

“Because there is nothing to tell.” you said, voice high as you avoided his gaze. You were lying.

“Look at me.” he said.

You closed your eyes shut, letting out a single breath as you pressed your lips in a line. Finally you lifted your face, meeting his eyes. He had a relaxed posture, as relaxed as Regulus could get, but he still tilted his head. Oh, he knew what he was doing. He looked approachable and kind, more than usual in your eyes.

“You’re seeing someone.”

Your heart almost jumped out of your chest, the drop of your stomach as you felt like someone had punched you on the gut enough to make all the happiness he was asking you about wash out of your face.

He wasn’t asking. It wasn’t a question. He was telling you because he knew.

Your thoughts started to go over everything you had done, everything you had said, how you acted, anything that could have given it away to him. Everything and nothing came to mind as you just stared at him, your body completely still.

Then it dawned on you that you weren’t seeing anyone. Not really. You and Sirius were friends who liked to spend time together. Behind your best friend and Sirius brother’s back. You thought bitterly, guilt starting to rise inside you. We’re just friends. Then why did your mind go immediately to Sirius at the question of you seeing anyone?

“What?” you asked in a whisper, taking a shaky breath after as the fear of your secret being discovered became more real.

He looked for your eyes, a small smile on his face “I know you’re seeing someone.”

“You know?” you repeated.

“Yes.”

But did he knew?

“And you’re not upset?” you asked, taking careful steps in the conversation.

“I don’t know why you felt like you couldn’t tell me.” he said “I’m more upset over the fact that they’re a Gryffindor, but I guess I’ll get…”

“You know!” you yelled. The shushing sounds from the students around you made you shrink in your place as you muttered a quiet apology, the flush in your cheeks nothing as you turned with wide eyes at Regulus, mouthing the words You Know.

“I had my suspicions.” he said, looking around before he settled back on you “You stare at the people of their house a lot and I still have to figure out who they are…”

His words were muffled by the relief washing over you. He didn’t know.

*******

Sirius had looked for you a couple of days after the Quidditch game. He had managed a couple of minutes away from all the eyes at Hogwarts to ask you to meet him later that day. Of course you had agreed.

You moved through the castle with light steps. It was late but not enough to get you in trouble, just to get a warning look from the professors. Sirius had asked you to meet him inside the castle but you couldn’t risk another surprise visit from Regulus, his extra classes had gotten all over his schedule and you no longer knew when he would be out and what days he wouldn’t. So you asked Sirius to meet you at the castle entrance. Doubtful, he had accepted.

So that’s where you were headed, playing with your fingers as you moved. The corridors were empty and the day getting colder, a chill running down your spine as more nerves got to you. Somehow, although you wanted this, you were also dreading it.

The doors were wide open, your figure a dot in the distance of what the entire castle represented. You glanced at either side of the door before you decided Sirius wasn’t there yet. You rested your weight on the wall outside the castle, closing your eyes as the air blew on your face. You found the feeling relaxing and refreshing, almost taking your worries with it.

Then something changed in the air, a different smell caught in the air as you started to feel different. Not alone. Your eyes fluttered open to see Sirius standing right beside you, a different look on his face as he watched you.

“You looked peaceful.” he said, offering his hand for you to take.

You glanced hesitantly at him, grabbing his hand “You look different.”

“And we’ve never looked better.” he said, his usual grin back on his lips as he gave a soft squeeze to your hand “Lead the way, since a castle is not enough for the lady.”

You rolled your eyes, shaking your head as you pulled him with you, missing his triumphant smile at teasing you.

You walked for a couple of minutes, going down the stairs to the black lake in silence. Once you got over the hills and past the shore of the black lake Sirius started asking questions but you didn’t give in, ignoring his every word until you got closer to your destiny, your secret space.

“Would you relax?” you asked him, his mouth never stopping until you talked “We’re almost there.”

“You could have told me where we are going.” he said, looking around you and seeing nothing familiar “You could be leading me to my death.”

“Oh, yes.” you smiled back at him before narrowing your eyes at him “I’m not really a student at Hogwarts. You see, I’m this serial killer who lures her victims by being a sweet girl, this is the place where all my victims have died and you are next.”

Your grasp on his hand got tighter, smiling at him before you focused on the way you were walking. Sirius raised an eyebrow but said nothing, letting you drag him with his arm now stretched to create space between you two.

“I can’t tell if you’re joking.” he said, his voice a little worried “You sound very convincing and your scenario sounds entirely possible now.”

You laughed out loud, throwing your head back lightly. Sirius' fake worry all washed away as a genuine smile replaced everything in his features, thinking that maybe, if you were actually a serial killer, this wouldn’t be such an awful way to die.

“I’m very capable of a lot of things, so you shouldn’t underestimate me.” you said, raising your eyebrows at him before you turn back front “We’re here.” you announced, letting go of his hand as you advanced some steps on your own.

You moved through the grass, grass tall enough to reach your ankles and wildflowers who filled the ground with beautiful dots of color. And to your right an enormous tree, vines hanging from its branches that you moved as if it was a curtain, letting you and Sirius through to a small meadow. The place was comfortable enough to have a picnic with a few friends and still have room to move around, the makeshift walls made of more trees and vines that covered the space to make the shape of what almost resembled a circle.

“Welcome to a small haven just outside Hogwarts.” you said to Sirius, spinning once in your spot as you focused back on his face. He looked amazed, his eyes finding the sky once before he moved to the green grass and small patches of flowers.

“Just outside is putting it lightly.” he whispered, but you could see he didn’t care about the distance or about walking all the way there with you. He softly ran his fingers over the vines that fell like heavy silks once again, covering the spot where you two had walked in. “You found this place?”

You hummed in response, nodding your head “I was trying to escape some friends while we played. It was my first year so I didn’t know the grounds of the school very well. I ran and ran until I could no longer hear them and then I hid here. They never found me.”

He laughed, his smile reaching his eyes as he continued to look around “You probably shouldn’t have shown me this place.” he told you, knowing perfectly that he would use it as a way to avoid professors and detention.

“I didn’t show you anything.” you said, patting a spot in the ground to then sit there with a huff “You followed me here.”

Sirius did the same thing and sat down next to you “You dragged me here.” he stated, giving you a knowing look.

“You offered your hand.” you argued back, throwing some of your hair over your shoulder “You could have let go at any time.” Your confidence didn’t last much as you burst out laughing, shaking your head as you tried to speak, the words coming out of your mouth unintelligible.

It took you a couple of minutes to catch your breath but in the end your chest started to rise and fall evenly, the air calm as you could only hear the breeze moving the tree tops. The silence fell heavily between you two, not in an uncomfortable way but enough to let you know the laughter was over.

You swallowed in anticipation, not knowing how to begin. In the end you didn’t have to, Sirius taking the chance first.

“I’m sure you have many questions and believe me, so do I,” he started, looking at his hands as he spoke “But you have to know whatever he is doing it’s not good.”

“You don’t know that.” you said in a low tone, still a hint of hope in your voice.

He shook his head, turning to look at you with that same desperation he had in his eyes the day you found Regulus. “You’re too good.” he whispered, raising his hand hesitantly to your face, his finger moving a piece of hair behind your ear.

His skin felt warm against yours, the back of his hand grazing your cheek as you moved your face away “I’m not naive.” you exclaimed “I know him. He is my friend, my family, he would never say that.”

“We both heard him, Y/N.” Sirius reminded you, his voice sounding deeper now “How can you explain what we both heard?” he asked, looking at you expectantly.

“I don’t know what I heard.” you said stubbornly, refusing to look at Sirius.

“You do know. I saw you there and you were hurt, we both know what he called you.”

You grunted, pushing yourself to your feet as you stood with your back at him “There must be an explanation.”

Sirius followed you, standing just behind you “For calling someone Pure enough…”

“Dont’!” you hissed, turning to Sirius with a glare in your face.

“I think it’s self explanatory, Y/N.” his voice had raised in volume, the two of you facing one another with glares in your eyes, not moving but holding each others’ eyes.

“Then why is he still my friend?” you asked in a whisper, faces inches away from one another, he heard you just right. “Why is he still by my side, why has nothing changed?”

“Because you’re everything he has left.” he whispered angrily, not being able to hold your gaze any longer as he turned from you. “I was once in your place. Then, he could afford to lose me, so he did. He had the chance to change, to prove everyone wrong but he chose status and the glory of being the only son of the Black family.”

“What are you talking about?” you asked him, confusion growing inside of you as you digested his words.

“Why do you think I left my home?” he asked quietly, “Why do you think my family and your best friend hate me so much? A shame to the Black family.”

A frown was set deep in your face, eyes wild as you started to put all the pieces together inside your head. The perfect son who hates his traitor brother. Traitor. Blood traitor.

Your gaze stilled for a moment, your eyes on the ground as you breathed in deeply. You raised your face slowly, eyes meeting Sirius’ as you stood straight. You opened your mouth but nothing came out, the small gap letting out air as you tried to even your breathing. Your entire face fell, sadness overtaking your eyes as you finally understood.

“You don’t believe in blood purity.” you whispered, voice rough as all the emotion you held inside tried to pour itself on your words. “But he does.”

“Yes.” A simple word, a full sentence. One that changed everything now that the truth was out.

Words got tangled on your tongue, you tried to speak but felt like all it would come out would be your screams.

Your body moved back on its own, rubbing the side of your arm with your hand as every word repeated itself in your head.

“He stayed?” you asked him.

Still that hint of hope. Sirius thought.

“He didn’t ask to come.” he said truthfully.

You nodded your head continuously, not stopping until you covered your face with the palms of your hands, pressing the cold feeling against your skin.

Seconds after you felt a pair of arms around your shoulders, his whispered words on the side of your head filled you with comfort as you moved your hands around his chest.

He held you for a long time, I could have been minutes or hours, it felt like a lifetime. Despite everything you had just learned, there, you felt safe.

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Sirius Black

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[casualmaraudering]

ok but everyone lived au, voldemort & dumbles died in the first war, and somehow every one of the marauders being a hogwarts professor:

the war means losses, of course. Plenty of casualties and trauma, many teachers were either killed or didn't want to teach anymore. McGonagall, new headmistress, had quite a few positions to fill

Remus is approached first, for DADA ofc. He's always wanted to be a teacher, he was a perfect student, well behaved, what more would you need? there was no one else McGonagall would ask

then there's Lily, so passionate about potions, of course she's gonna say yes to teaching it. And, since she was a Slytherin in her student days, McGonagall makes her head of house. Lily is smug about it for months

then, there's the fact that, since McGonagall is the headmistress, she doesn't have that much time to teach transfiguration. There's not anyone that comes to mind who could teach it - but one day Sirius Black casually strolls into her office, and he comes out with a job. She's always had a soft spot for him, he was extremely skilled in her class even if he was a troublemaker. He's made head of Gryffindor and he couldn't be more proud (take that Mrs Black)

throughout the year, Lily finds it hard to teach quite so many kids - there's basics, NEWT and OWL classes, extracurriculars, too much to do, especially that potions are required for many careers, so a lot of students sign up for the classes. She asks McGonagall if there's a chance there could be a second teacher

and so Regulus Black is asked to fill the position of the Potions Master (the second one). He's very withdrawn and introverted, doesn't do well with young kids, so he takes on advanced classes and NEWT prep, and Lily has the basics and OWL prep.

Regulus is the youngest professor in the castle, at just 20. But McGonagall knows just how skilled he is and that, even with the lack of experience, he'll manage just fine.

James is offered a position a few years after all of his friends. The previous Quidditch teacher resigned, and so McGonagall sends a letter asking James if, perhaps, he'd be interested to fill the position. James quits his previous job in an instant

Sirius and Remus are married, of course. None of the students know, because Remus thinks it's best to keep it on the low and not embarrass the children with too much physical affection. The students can easily tell there's something there though. Most 7th years think they're having an affair with each other

the staff wing is,,,, a lot. there's just A Lot going on there at all times

James does Little League Quidditch for smaller kids from nearby magical villages on the weekends (with McGonagall's permission, of course)

if you're looking for Sirius, you'll most likely find him in Remus's office, annoying him (because who needs to mark essays when you can be kissing your husband, right?)

Sirius, just like McGonagall, loves to show off Padfoot to his students. and often he strolls around the castle as Padfoot. it's quite amusing to see a gaggle of students to "hello Professor Black!" at a dog

James sends flowers to Lily's office roughly once a week. they always have a little note attached to them that's like "you looked beautiful today!" "woah you're so gorgeous, will you go out with me??" they're married, but it's cute nevertheless

James coaches all of the teams, and he gets very invested in the lives of his students. He's like the most approachable guy in the staff wing, loves giving advice and trying to cheer his kids up if they happen to have lost a game or have a bad day. If you have a problem you're not sure what to do about, you go to James

Regulus can be spotted in the library very often. He has his own spot where every student knows, that's where Professor Black (the Potions one) sits. He doesn't talk Much with his students but that's just cause he's introverted and doesn't like people that much. but every now and again a student will sit next to him and ask for help with an essay, and he never says no

at least twice a month Sirius will try to persuade Remus to change his surname to Black. the chaos if there were three Professor Blacks?? hello??? Remus isn't amused (actually they both have a double surname but go by just Black and Lupin, so the kids aren't confused and they can remain lowkey)

Remus has a drawer full of treats just in case there's a student coming into his office. whether it's to retake a test, ask for help, or just chat. he always has sweets

Regulus also helps out in the hospital wing sometimes. Prior to working at Hogwarts, he was studying to be a healer, and Madame Pomfrey took him under her wing and teaches him all he needs to know, so he's technically both a potions professor and also a healer

Remus is really good at reading his students, so once he invites a certain student to his office. He talks to them a bit at first, and then offhandedly mentions that he was born a girl - just to see the student's eye go wide and ask if that's possible. for Remus it was really easy to notice that whenever he called them "miss" they'd have this uncomfortable frown on their face, just like he once did. The student ends up coming to him a lot, finally shyly admitting he's not a girl, but a boy - and always leaves a little more happy, more confident. Remus can't be happier when he skips into his office one time and says he's transferring to the boys' dorm

similarly, Sirius once has a student who didn't want to come home for the summer. She was a second year, a gryffindor, and very shyly approached him once, asking if there's something she can do so she doesn't have to go home. He didn't have the answer to that just yet

and so Sirius talked to Regulus. And together they went to McGonagall's office, asking if there's a way to arrange a place for students who don't want to, or can't, go home. They've both been there once - they didn't want to go home, but there was no other way. And so, with a bit of work, and volunteering to watch the kids on their part, they arranged a way for students to stay the summer if their situation isn't perfect

James attaches to students so much that he cries every year at graduation

Lily takes over one of the greenhouses to have a little potions ingredients garden - for stuff that isn't necessarily in the curriculum, but she thinks the students could find useful or interesting. Reg has a small patch in there for healing plants

Sirius's office has a waterbowl for Padfoot and an empty bowl right next to it. sometimes students will leave dog treats there

[engie-ivy]

I've written a part two for this fic! Read part one here.

What Chance Do I Have?

Regulus has agreed to tutor a classmate in statistics, but quickly comes to regret his life choices when the only chance the guy seems interested in, is the chance of getting to snog Regulus’ older brother.

“You want to snog my brother!” Regulus points his pen accusingly in Remus’ direction.

Remus huffs and straightens his back. “In my defence, your brother is very snogable!”

Part one: Crushin'

Part two: Fallin'

What Chance Do I Have? Part two: Fallin'

Dating Sirius Black is like a dream. No, a fantasy. A teenage fantasy of summer romance.

Dating Sirius Black is sneaking up to his room after Remus’ tutoring sessions and snog for hours on his bed. Dating Sirius Black is hurrying outside when his motorcycle pulls up, while Remus’ mum throws him a worrying look. Dating Sirius Black is Remus’ arms tightly wrapped around his waist while sitting on the back of his motorcycle. Dating Sirius Black is driving up a hill to watch the sunset and wearing his leather jacket when Remus gets cold. Dating Sirius Black is eating take-out pizza in the park late at night with him teaching Remus the constellations. Dating Sirius Black is skinny dipping in the lake at midnight. Dating Sirius Black feels like homecoming and an adventure, an obsession and an escape, too much and never enough.

Also, Remus’ statistics are actually going better. Regulus has given up on banning Sirius from their tutoring sessions. Sirius would just go outside to do all sorts of distracting activities in front of the window, like watering the plants in just his swimming trunks (“What the hell are you doing? We have a gardener! You haven’t watered a plant in your life!”), washing his motorcycle (“If you want to wash that thing, at least pour more water on your motorcycle than over yourself!), or doing his stretches (“What muscles are you even trying to stretch? You’re just standing there bend over. Get your arse away from the window!”). After Regulus sending Sirius away, Remus would go to the toilet and disappear for twenty minutes.

Regulus eventually allowed Sirius to stay, when Sirius came up with the idea of rewarding Remus for each good answer with a kiss, which remarkably improved his performance. Except for one instance where Remus had solved a particularly difficult problem and Sirius had gotten a bit carried away in his reward (the hoisting Remus up on the table throwing the statistics book on the floor-kind of carried away), and Regulus had muttered something about rinsing his eyes with bleach, it was a good arrangement for everyone.

Today, Remus is having drinks with a few girls from his class, Mary McDonald, Marlene McKinnon and Lily Evans. They had apparently taken a liking to him and decided to befriend him, which Remus still finds surprising. Lily Evans and her boyfriend James Potter are the school’s it-couple, and the most popular people in school.

Remus and the girls have gathered for brunch, and some much-needed catch up-time.

“How’ve you been, Remus?” Marlene asks, sipping her tea. “Hardly seen you since the summer hols started.”

“I’ve been good. Keeping myself busy.”

“Ah, right,” Lily says. “You’ve been having those tutoring sessions with Regulus. How’s that going?”

“Yes.” Mary not-so-subtly steaks a pancake from Marlene’s plate. “How are you bearing spending beautiful summer days in the stuffy Black manor?”

“It’s not that bad.” Remus does his very best to sound casual, but he can’t help the corners of his mouth curling slightly upwards thinking about some of the times spent in the Black manor.

“Oh oh,” Mary says, staring at him with a piercing gaze. “Look at his face.”

“Ah, yes,” Marlene says. “I see.”

“Maybe it’s just the heat?” Lily suggests weakly.

“No,” Mary says decidedly, shaking her head. “The combination of a blush like that and the dreamy look in his eyes can only have one explanation.” She points her fork accusingly in Remus’ direction, pancake pieces flying through the air. “You’ve met Sirius Black!”

Remus tries to look unaffected and calmly meets her gaze. “I may have seen him around.”

Marlene leans forward resting her head on her hand. “So he still looks like that, huh?”

“He does Marlene,” Remus replies, forgetting about seeming unaffected. “He really does, and I was very unprepared.”

Mary chuckles. “Some things there’s no preparing for.”

“It doesn’t matter what he looks like,” Lily interjects, looking at Remus pointedly. “You cannot start being friends with Sirius Black!”

Remus rolls his eyes. “I haven’t started being friends with Sirius Black.”

Lily lets out a relieved breath and takes a sip of her tea.

“I’vestarteddatingSiriusBlack,” Remus murmurs in one breath.

Lily spits out her tea, Marlene drops her fork with a clatter, and Mary actually shrieks.

“What?” Lily coughs, dapping her chin with her napkin.

“You… are dating… Sirius Black?” Marlene asks, stunned.

Mary just stares at Remus with something like awe.

Remus shrugs. “We kind of clicked.”

“Dating Sirius Black,” Mary whispers. “Many have tried, and many have failed.”

“Including you,” Marlene says to Mary.

Mary sighs wistfully. “I should’ve taken tutoring sessions with Regulus.”

Marlene whacks her over the head. “I’m pretty sure Sirius Black’s type is cute, freckled guys with big eyes and floppy hair. Not whoever his little brother happens to be tutoring at the time.”

“You shouldn’t be dating Sirius Black!” Lily points her finger accusingly in Remus’ direction. “That guy cannot be trusted! He’s bad news, Remus.”

Remus arches an eyebrow. “He has been nothing but respectful towards me, and has never given me a reason not to trust him.”

“Well, maybe you don’t actually know him that well,” Lily retorts.

“I’ll find that out for myself then, won’t I?” Irritation seeps through in Remus’ voice. “I’m very much capable of making my own decisions.”

“You are,” Lily replies. “If you were making those decisions with your brain and not some other body part.”

“I’m afraid I have to agree with Lily, Remus,” Marlene says hesitantly. “I think you can’t see that Sirius Black is no good for you.”

“Yeah,” even Mary chimes in. “While I know it’s easy to get distracted by that hair, and those eyes, and that smile, and those shoulders, and that arse- wait, what was I saying again?”

Marlene whacks Mary over her head.

“Look, I’m not just dating him because he’s a walking definition of physical perfection,” Remus says. “He’s so clever, and he’s always doing nice things for me, he actually listens to what I say, and he always makes me laugh…”

“Oh god.” Lily is staring at him with a horrified expression on her face. “You’re falling in love with him!”

Remus can feel his cheeks reddening, but he refuses to look away and stares back defiantly. “If I was, I’d be none of your business.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt, Remus!”

“I appreciate your concern,” Remus says cooly. “But that’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

“Fine,” Lily scoffs. “If he does break your heart and you need a shoulder to cry on, you know where to find me. And whatever you do, do not mention him in front of-”

“Hi, Lilyflower!”

“James!” Lily shrieks, whirling around in her chair and her voice sounding three octaves higher than usual. “Hello. Hi. How do you do? Fancy seeing you here.”

James gives her a funny look. “You mean where we agreed I’d meet you to give you back your car keys? Thanks again for letting me borrow your car, by the way.”

“Oh, right. Silly me,” Lily says with a very unnatural chuckle, as James places the keys in her hand.

James glances around the table suspiciously. “What were you talking about?”

“School,” Lily says, at the same time Marlene says “the weather”, and Mary says “cows”.

James looks at Remus, but he looks just as confused as James is.

“Alright then…” James says. “Well, sorry for interrupting your school-wheather-cow discussion.” He bends to give Lily a kiss on her cheek. “See you tonight, babe.”

“Yes, toodles!” Lily says, and James gives her an amused look before walking away.

Lily slumps in her chair.

“I think that went pretty well,” Mary says.

Marlene whacks her over the head. “Cows?”

“I panicked!”

Remus arches an eyebrow and leans forward in his chair towards Lily. “Care to tell me why I can’t mention Sirius to James?”

Lily sighs. “Back when Sirius Black was still in our class, he and James were best friends.”

“More than best friends,” Marlene adds. “Like brothers. Platonic soulmates.”

“You never saw one without the other,” Mary chimes in. “They were on the football team together, sat next to each other in class, were always pranking the teachers together.”

Marlene snickers. “The teachers always said ‘PotterandBlack’ in one breath.”

“Well, yeah,” Lily says. “But then Black started skipping grades, and I don’t know, he must’ve thought he was too good for James suddenly. He just stopped hanging out with him, quitted the football team and didn’t speak to James anymore.”

“That’s rough,” Remus frowns. “Without giving any explanation?”

Mary nods sadly. “It was a though time for James.”

“It really threw him off,” Lily agrees. “It was hard to see.”

“I thought you said you hated James back then?” Remus asks.

“Nah, she didn’t,” Mary replies.

Marlene smirks. “Unless it was in a ‘I hate James Potter and his stupid face, with his stupidly sexy hair and that stupidly cute grin, and those horribly pretty eyes and outrageously broad shoulders’.”

“Anyway,” Lily says pointedly, her cheeks flushed. “The point is that you deserve better, Remus. Someone who treats people as if they’re disposable is obviously no boyfriend-material.”

Remus thinks about it for a moment. “Alright,” he eventually says. “I’ll admit that I see where you’re coming from, but still. I have to make my own judgment from my own experience with Sirius.”

“I respect that,” Lily replies, only a tad reluctantly. “All I ask is for you to be on your guard.”

Remus walks home with Marlene, who’s going in the same direction.

“How are you going to handle it, though?” Marlene asks. “I mean, it must be stuck in your head, the question what Sirius Black’s deal was with that whole thing with James?”

“It is,” Remus replies. “But I’ve come up with an ingenious plan to find out.”

“Which is?” Marlene asks.

“Out-of-the-box as it may be,” Remus says. “I’ll go up to Sirius and ask him ‘what was your deal with that whole thing with James?’.”

Marlene grins. “I can see Sirius Black didn’t just like you for your pretty face!”

“Oh Marls,” Remus throws an arm around her shoulders. “You forget that he met me while I was doing statistics.”

Marlene throws her head back and laughs. “I take it back! It was definitely your pretty face!”

Remus decides to go and see Sirius that very evening. They didn’t make any plans, but Remus figures he can always check if he’s home. He walks up to the Black manor and knocks. After a few moments, an anxious looking Regulus opens the door, only slightly.

“What are you doing here?” Regulus hisses, the moment he recognizes Remus.

Remus is about to answer, when a woman’s shrill voice sounds from the living room.

“You ungrateful brat! After everything we’ve done for you, you’ll choose to shame us?”

Remus blinks, and Regulus looks over his shoulder and then back to Remus.

“This is not a good time,” he tells Remus. “You should leave, quickly!”

A man’s heavy voice now comes through. “You’re embarrassing yourself. And worse, you’re embarrassing your family. I’m starting to doubt whether you’re even worthy of being our son.”

Suddenly, Sirius bursts out the living room, pushes the front door further open, and stalks out into the street. He’s walking fast, jaw tight, and eyes fixed on the floor. He doesn’t even register that he walked right past Remus.

Regulus makes a move as if to follow him, but then the woman’s voice sounds again. “Regulus! Regulus Black, where are you? You get over here immediately. I will not have you talk to your brother!”

Regulus looks terribly conflicted between hurrying after Sirius and making sure his parents don’t freak out more.

“I can go after him,” Remus offers in a quiet whisper. “Then you can deal with your parents.”

Regulus nods gratefully, before disappearing back into the house.

Remus finds Sirius sitting on some steps not far from the house, his head in his hands. He looks up at Remus’ approaching footsteps and startles.

“What… what are you doing here?”

“I came to see you. I was at the door.”

Sirius shakes his head. “I didn’t even see…”

Remus smiles. “I noticed.”

“Did you hear…?”

“Only some bits.” Remus sits down one step above Sirius and threads his fingers through his hair. “Wanna talk about it?”

Sirius shrugs. “I told my parents I was thinking about becoming a veterinarian instead of a doctor. I thought they’d might be okay with it, as it’s still a medical profession, not too much of a deviation from their plan, but apparently veterinarian is ‘an inferior profession much below their status’ and I am ‘selfish, stubborn and ungrateful to even consider it’.”

“I’m sorry,” Remus says softly.

Sirius sighs. “Yeah. I’m just sick of it, you know? Sick of trying to live up to their expectations instead of my own.”

“Is that also why you stopped being friends with James?” Remus asks hesitantly.

“I ruined my friendship with James for the same reason I’ve ruined each good thing I’ve had in my life,” Sirius replies bitterly. “My bloody parents.”

Remus stays silent, and after a moment, Sirius continues.

“They said I couldn’t become a doctor if I kept wasting my time on playing football and acting childish with immature people. Being a dumb fifteen-year-old, I believed them, and considering the option of not becoming a doctor never even occurred to me. It was the plan they had set out for me since the day I was born, it was a given.” Sirius turns his head to look at Remus. “Did James tell you?”

Remus shakes his head. “I heard from others.”

“Right,” Sirius looks away again, but Remus can still see the pained expression in his eyes. “I knew that. Regulus already told me James never even mentions me anymore.”

“Well, you’ve never given him a reason,” Remus says. “James is a good person-”

“He’s the best,” Sirius immediately says.

“Right. If you had just explained the situation to him?”

“I know,” Sirius sighs. “But James was like… the height of cool, and I had somehow managed to convince everyone I was the same. I just couldn’t bear the embarrassment of telling him it was because my mommy said no, so I took the cowardice approach. I just stopped talking to him. I regretted it soon after, but by then I was convinced he already hated me, and it seemed futile to make him hate me again for a different reason.” Sirius runs a hand through his hair. “Now I regret ending the friendship in the first place. Hanging out, playing football, pulling pranks… Life was fun back then, you know?” Sirius looks down at the stone pavement. “Life hasn’t been fun in a while.”

“It’s supposed to be!” Remus says. “Especially at our age. Life’s supposed to be fun.”

“I mean, life was fun these past weeks with you, but those years in between…” Sirius shrugs.

Remus moves down a step and takes Sirius’ hand in his. “Look at me, Sirius. You deserve to play football and pull pranks, to become a veterinarian and live life according to your own expectations, and you deserve to have fun!”

Sirius just stares at him, his eyes seeming glassy.

Remus, suddenly feeling awkward, drops Sirius’ hand. “So, I don’t expect I’ll be meeting the parents any time soon?” Remus meant it as a joke to lighten the mood, especially since he and Sirius aren’t even officially together, but Sirius looks at him intently.

“If you want me to tell them about you, I will.”

“What?” Remus asks, bewildered. “They’ll kill you!”

Sirius shrugs. “Most likely.” And Remus hates the casual certainty in which he says it, and he hates even more that he’s not sure if Sirius means it in a manner of speaking.

“But I want you to know I’m not ashamed of you.”

“I appreciate it, really,” Remus says. “But I don’t want you doing anything stupid for my sake!”

“But Remus,” Sirius says. “Isn’t that the foundation of our relationship? Me doing stupid things for your sake?”

Remus chuckles. “Perhaps, but this is not something that needs doing for my sake! I don’t mind. Well, I mind for as much as that I whish you had decent parents whose heads aren’t so far up their arses, but I don’t mind for my sake.” Remus smirks. “I think it’s kind of hot, actually. Our romance being-” He lowers his voice to a husky whisper. “forbidden.”

Sirius snorts. “You’re insane.” But he’s smiling again, so Remus considers it an absolute win.

“I mean it! We’re like Romeo and Julliet!”

Sirius raises his eyebrows. “You do know their romance lasted five days and six people died?”

Remus shrugs. “We can break that record.”

Sirius raises his eyebrows even further.

“Oh, god, for the number of days! Not the number of deaths! I don’t want anyone to die for our romance! Although, if some tragedy were to befall your parents…”

“Remus!”

“I’m kidding! I’m kidding!”

Sirius shakes his head, but Remus likes to think it is the fond sort of headshake. His suspicion is confirmed when Sirius cups his face between his hands and strokes Remus’ cheeks with his thumbs.

“You’re insane, Remus Lupin,” he says softly. “And I think I’m falling in love with you.”

Part one

[regulus-wil]

She is the Sunlight |

Regulus occasionally wondered how Walburga discovered his infatuation with Charity Burbage. His mother was not in Hogwarts, and his eldest cousin, who he thought would have been the most likely to report back to her, had graduated already. But she had found out – and while she only voiced mild disapproval in company, he could tell there was true anger dwelling within her. Did he constantly need to have an eye on the back of his head? But then – there were times like a week prior – where it was blatantly obvious how his parents might have discovered the truth about his relationship.

Charms, a class shared with Slytherins and Hufflepuffs alike, had an assignment set up. A partner was needed for the rest of their academic year. An automatic reaction should have been for him to turn to a fellow Slytherin, but instead, he’d stood up and wandered over to Charity as if it was nothing. Because, in his mind, it was nothing. He simply wanted to work on a project with his girlfriend, if only for an excuse to see her more out of lessons. And Charity had acted just as casually about it – which is what finally made him realise how his parents knew.

They were possibly one of the least subtle couples at Hogwarts without even realising it. Any one of the many students in his class could have mentioned it to someone who was in close contact with a member of his family. Or one of them could have mentioned it to their own parents who, in turn, told his. In the end, it didn’t matter who had told them. All that mattered now was that they knew – so, in theory, there was no reason to hide their relationship at all. Not that he’d been doing an excellent job at doing that in the first place.

The realisation that there was no way he could make his mother more irritated with him was almost freeing, and the ability to show open affection, as much as he was able to without having a minor panic attack of course, was something to be celebrated. That was how he found himself now, sitting next to his Hufflepuff in the library, absent-mindedly stroking his thumb across the back of her hand as he attempted to read at least some of the passage in the book in front of him. It was all pointless, of course. The downfall of being partnered with a significant other was that it was highly distracting.

He found his eyes wandering upwards every now and again just to observe her and think how unquestionably lucky he was. Regulus had never expected to feel anything like this – and it broke every tradition Orion and Walburga had tried to instil in him regarding marriage and love. So if it went against everything they tried to teach him, why did his heart skip a beat every time he thought of her or saw her smile? How could simply being in her presence cause him such a clouded mind?

So in awe of her, it took Regulus a moment to register that she’d said something. He felt his face heat up and shot his gaze back down to the book in embarrassment. “Er, sorry. What did you say?”

@charity-whoisleft