Disclaimer: You know Harry Potter? Well, I don't own it!
A/N: Okay guys, so a certain thirteenth soul has been 'hinting' at wanting a Regulus/OC story for a while, and I was in the mood, so, here we are! This is for you!
As usual, reviews are welcome! Please follow, favourite and review!
Enjoy xx

I learnt to look away when they killed someone. It made it easier to bear.
That way I didn't have to see the light leave their eyes.
However, that didn't mean that I couldn't hear the 'thump' their bodies made on the floor. I used to make excuses, but Mother always told me to go, saying that it would show me what would happen if I betrayed the Dark Lord. To them, killing is a like a game, a deadly game of cat and mouse, making the victim plead for mercy and then wiping them out without a second thought.

Cassiopeia Nott. It sounds beautiful, doesn't it? Like the name of a princess in a fairy tale.
Regulus Black. That sounds like the villain.
Someone once told me that that was always something you could do. It didn't matter if that thing you could do was difficult, or easy, or stupid. There are always something you can do. Always.
So that's what I'm doing. I'm doing what I can do, to help, because this needs to stop. People need to stop dying, and suffering, because of their blood. That's why I'm doing this, not because of me or Cassie, or anyone else. I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do.

First year was all new trunks and untrained pets and brandishing wands like torches, and acting like an idiot. First year was also the year that I first met her.

"Um…can I sit here?"
I nervously pulled open the door of the compartment where a tall girl with long black hair who looked about my age sat, flicking through the Daily Prophet.
"Sure. I've got no one else to sit with."

Sitting down cautiously, I brushed my hair out of my eyes as she looked curiously at me.
"So who are you, then?"
"R-Regulus. Regulus Black."
"Urghh. Your brother's an idiot."
I liked her already.
"He is a bit, isn't he?"
"Your mum's scary, too."

Her bluntness intimidated me, and I shrunk back in my seat, hoping it would swallow me up.
"So you're a Black?"
"Uh-huh, why?"
"I haven't seen you before, that's all."
I was struck with a sudden boldness that eradicated my nerves.
"So what's your name?"
She put on a posh, high-pitched voice.
"Cassiopeia Nott. It's a bit of a mouthful. Just call me Cassie."
"OK…Cassie?"
I said tentatively, and she smiled.
"It's not so difficult, see? Now, I'm going to read."

So she opened her book, and did so. Around half an hour later, the trolley lady appeared in the doorway, pushing her trolley. "Anything from the trolley, dears?"
"Um…I'll have a Liquorice Wand and a packet of Jelly Slugs."
"Of course, dear. That'll be two Galleons."
I stood up to pay for my sweets, and Cassie looked at them longingly.
"Do you want some?"
"I can buy my own sweets, thanks." She snapped, and I jumped at her harsh tone, not expecting someone so friendly to have such a quick temper.

"Go on James, go on!" A tall, gangly boy with messy hair and, I realised with a jolt, my brother came running up outside our compartment.
"There's a girl in that one, go on!"
The tall boy slid open the door, and fixed on a charming grin. Over his shoulder, Sirius saw me and sighed. "Get out, Reg."

Nodding meekly, I went to pack up my stuff, but Cassie stopped me, putting her hand on my arm, the contact making me shudder. "No, stay here, Regulus. What do you two want?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me." The tall boy said, without a trace of a blush.
"No thanks." Cassie's voice rang out loudly. "I'm fine."
"Oh, you're, um…Cassie! Cassie…Cassie Nott!"
Sirius pushed past the other boy and sat down next to her.
"Sirius Black. Pleasure."
"As friendly as always, Cassie."
"It's hard to be friendly to idiots. I've found they don't respond well to polite conversation."
I've barely had time to marvel at her response when Sirius laughs.
"Cassie, Cassie, Cassie. Alas, I must go. As marvellous as it has been, talking to you, there are plenty of other people for me to engage with other than you and my brother here."
"Good. Perhaps Daddy Long Legs here could find himself a date that way."
"Oi!" The newly-named Daddy Long Legs cried, and Sirius chuckled before dragging the other boy out of the compartment.

"That was brilliant!" I gasped, and she rolls her eyes.
"Please. I was simply being honest."
However she couldn't stop a little self-satisfied smile creeping onto her face.

In the Entrance Hall as we waited to be sorted, there were a group of smug-looking boys I vaguely recognised from various society events Mother had forced us to go to. Next to us, there was a pompous looking boy with an air of self-satisfaction that was simply repugnant. He was declaring to a few awed looking girls around him that he had a question that was so impossible to answer that he would give his wand to person who could answer it. Foolish behaviour for a first year.

"Alright ladies, calm down. Here is the question. Remember, I will give my wand to anyone who can answer this. Where in the world would I find an Aha ha?"
There were several impressed whispers from the girls.
"A what?"
"How would I know?"
"Oh, he's so clever!"
Cassie, who had been admiring her wand next to me, suddenly spoke up, making me jump.
"Africa."
The boy turned to look at her with an awed look on his face.
"What did you say?"
"Africa. AnAha ha is a species of African wasp, is it not?"
I could've kissed her.

"Um…well, yes, but-"
"Give her your wand then! Go on!"
One of the boys decided to join the conversation, and Cassie looked at him condescendingly.
"Why would I want his wand? He's not very clever, and I have a perfectly good wand of my own."
"Not very clever? Do you know who I am?"
"Yes, I do. You're Ernest Macmillan. You're also an idiot, bargaining your wand like that."
"And who are you?"
"Cassiopeia Nott." She turned to look at him, face illuminated by the braziers, eyes blazing. "Still want to argue with me?"
"Uhhh…no?"
"Good."
"Take his wand, Nott! Go on!"
She turned away from Macmillan, and looked sharply at the boy who shouted out.
"Tell me what to do again, Avery, and I'll break your jaw."

We were silent until Professor McGonagall came to get us after that, waiting quietly to go into the Great Hall.

What did you think? Let me know! Any suggestions, bang 'em in a review!
Danke,
She-who-loves-fanfiction xx