'Slytherin!'
Regulus thought back to that moment, seven years ago exactly, when he had first heard that word in his head. The fair boy who had just been Sorted stumbled thankfully over to the Slytherin table and collapsed onto a bench beside a burly second year. Glancing across the dining hall, he expected to see his brother's face among the red and gold. But he didn't. Of course, how could he have forgotten. Sirius had left Hogwarts, being a year older. He was no doubt lazing around with that good-for-nothing James and the rest of them.
His attention was pulled back to the table as the golden platters were filled. This would be his last Sorting and Start of Term Feast. His NEWTs lay ahead, and all Regulus wanted was to be left in peace and sleep.
'Reg!'
His head pounded as the voice of his friend echoed down the table. He shook his head, and his friend fell silent, but pointed with great enthusiasm towards the Hufflepuff table, three paces away. A small boy in hand-me-down robes was shrinking further into his seat every time the huge boy next to him, who Regulus recognised as the Hufflepuff Beater, a fifth-year, poked him. He couldn't hear, but he got the gist.
Hating Mudbloods had been bred into his blood, and he had no reason to see any differently. But into his head came the vision of his mother trying time after time to lift the Bruising Curse Sirius had placed on him two years ago. Snape had been tormenting Lily about her Muggle parents. James usually stood up for her, but he had been in the Hospital Wing. Regulus was deathly afraid of James Potter, but as he wasn't here, Regulus walked over and stood, arms crossed, with the rest of his Slytherin friends. Sirius' face had contorted with fury. And then he had let the curse fly, and it hit him straight in the left eye and spread. Fast.
The scarring had just gone away this last summer. None of his friends had noticed, everyone was always getting into duels and contracting nasty cute in the hallways near the dungeons where they could challenge each other without fear of teacher's interference. But still, he nursed the worst scar just below his collarbone as a reminder to never interfere with his brother again. And even though Sirius wasn't here anymore, Regulus didn't have the guts to enjoy it. He was too tired.
That night, after he had pulled shut the green and silver curtains on his four-poster, he had the strangest dream. A silver mass, which he recognised to be an unformed Patronus, was beckoning. He tried to shake his head, but he couldn't. It was pulling him in his dream towards the Forbidden Forest. He tried to resist, and this time it let him. He had never learnt Occulemency, and so he could feel the thing's thoughts seeping into his unprotected mind.
'The Forest…come…'
'NO!' The shout had awakened his consciousness, and also everyone in the boy's dormitory.
'S-sorry,' he muttered, 'Not sure what…happened…'
He trailed off. Out the window, the trees waved threateningly in his direction. Wait, that was stupid. They were trees. They couldn't threaten. Not him. He refused to be scared. Whispers as the branches brushed together reached into the dormitory. Regulus shut his eyes and pulled the curtains blocking out the moon's pearly glow. But he couldn't shut out the whispers, and the feeling of being pulled by the Patronus, as they crept back into dreams that surrounded a fitful sleep.