Lesson 1 - Kicking Off and Getting A Good Start
Prompt (location) Diagon Alley
Hermione had barely stepped foot into Diagon Alley before she had been shoved to the ground amongst the hustle and bustle of school preparations.
"Oh, I'm awfully sorry," a voice apologised. "I wasn't watching where I was going." Hermione grimaced and waved a hand as if to shoo away the apology but the voice carried on. "I'm in a rush you see. I've lost my parents and my brother and though he doesn't care where I disappear to, my parents would be greatly disappointed."
By now, Hermione had sat herself up and was looking at her grazed shins and palms, her eyes filling with tears as they started to sting and blood welled up on the small cuts.
"Ah, please don't cry."
She sniffled and dusted her hands and legs before climbing to her feet and looking at the person who shoved her. She felt a blush creep on her face and she smiled shyly when she noticed that his sparkling grey eyes were focused completely on her.
"Sorry for getting in your way," she apologised and his eyes widened in shock which she found amazing because it only highlighted the silver and platinum flecks in his grey eyes. She should be concerned that her eleven-year old mind had decided to analyse this stranger's eyes instead of being concerned with the books that she was only steps away from. "My name's Hermione Granger."
"Regulus Black," he responded, straightening his back and nodding his head in a form of bow. "Granger? I don't think I've ever heard of a name like that before!"
"I'm Muggle-born," she explained and flinched when his face had dropped. Professor McGonagall hadn't brought her into this world with ignorance - she had been made aware of the prejudices that were occurring daily - but she didn't expect to encounter it just yet.
"I've never met a Muggle-born before," he said slowly, chewing his lip. "What is life without magic like?" His voice dripped of curiosity and she raised an eyebrow in confusion. Wasn't he meant to be spewing slurs at her? "What?"
"You just seemed so… disappointed," she offered as an answer and he nodded. "I can't help what I am and I wouldn't change it, even if I could."
"Which I wouldn't expect," he defended. "My family are full of pure-blooded wizards and witches who reek of prejudice and there are only three people in our family that I'm aware of to not act like the rest - my brother, cousin and uncle." Hermione stepped away and turned to look for Professor McGonagall in the crowds - she'd gone to get them both a snack before they carried on shopping. "Who are you looking for?"
"I really think that that is none of your business," she answered, still stepping back. "It was lovely meeting you but-"
"Wait," he called, gripping her hand to anchor her with him. "I want to be like my brother, I really do, but I'm not brave like him or courageous to speak my mind and face the consequences. I'm sneaky and I just know that I'm going to be put into Slytherin."
"So you haven't started Hogwarts yet?"
"I start in September," he answered and then eyed her - the way she was still taking everything in as if it was the first time and the way she didn't check for a wand - and came to the conclusion that, "You will too." She nodded wearily and he smiled a sad smile. "I don't want to be like them."
"But if you join Slytherin, you will be?" He looked at her, truly looked at her with her wind-blown bushy brown curls and her chocolate eyes that held hints of what could be caramel and the freckles that covered her cheek and small nose. He looked at her small yet plump lips and her small stature and he knew that he wanted to keep her.
"If i go in Slytherin, can we still be friends?" She stared at him, looked him over like he had just done for her and held his breath.
"Sure we can." He offered his hand as if they'd just made a deal and grinned when she took it. "It would be nice knowing someone my age there."
"Miss Granger?" A voice called out, breaking the two children's attention from each other. "Are you okay?" Professor McGonagall had finally returned and was eyeing Regulus with a mixture of worry and distaste. He felt sick to his stomach.
"I'm fine Professor," she reassured. "I was just speaking to Regulus, he promised to be my friend when we go to Hogwarts." McGonagall's lips tightened as she tried to reign in her instant displeasure but she feared that the two eleven year olds noticed.
"How nice." Her voice showed that she found it anything but that. Their next interruption occurred only seconds later with a loud screeching, calling for Regulus. He winced and looked panicked before adopting a calm and cool façade before a woman that Hermione could only presume was his mother, appeared. By her side was a boy who looked just like Regulus, only older, and he took in the whole scene with a calculating gaze.
When it became apparent that the foul woman had sniffed out her blood status, Regulus' brother (for could he be anybody else?) smiled at her and grinned at Regulus as they two were dragged away. The last thing she saw of Regulus was a small smile and a tentative wave which she returned.
