Chapter One
She watched him through lowered lashes as her hand moved across the smudged paper. He leaned his shoulders against the rough surface of the tree and stared out across the lake's glassy surface. She tried desperately to draw his lips perfectly. The way his bottom lip puckered out and the corners curled in a small constant smile, as if he were laughing at the world.
She frowned at the gaggle of girls making their way towards him. He pretended not to notice as they sat a few feet from him, but she knew different. He always knew what was going on around him. She wouldn't have been surprised if he knew that at that very moment she was examining him like a bug.
There was just something about him that entrapped her. He was always so cold and distant. He walked around Hogwarts' never really talking to anyone, but always watching. He could quiet the toughest Slytherin with a mere flick of his eyes and in the next instant melt the heart of the most straight-laced girl. Each of his strides silently demanded respect while his thick brows arched arrogantly over steel gray eyes.
He intrigued her in every way. From the graceful way he walked to the occasional flash of white teeth that he passed as a smile. She liked the deep rumble of his voice when he answered a question and the way he tugged at his ear when he was uncomfortable. But she knew that he'd built a wall around his heart.
She'd watched a few girls try and make it over that wall to no avail. She often wondered if he himself pushed them off any time that got to close. So she decided that she would do the impossible. But instead of climbing over the wall he'd constructed, she would tear it a part. She would rip at each stone until they were nothing but ruble at her feet.
They weren't beat. Not physically at least. Hell, compared to Sirius he was treated like a god. They were taught to be men. From as far back he can remember his father had been drilling that into their heads. He even set up rules for them to follow. Regulus even remembered his very first lesson…
"What are you crying about, boy?" his father growled, picking him up by the collar of his shirt.
Staring wide-eyed up at his father's angry face he pointed at the dead dog. His father laughed roughly and kicked the motionless dog a few times. "Stop it!" he shouted hitting his father in the leg with his small fists. Roaring his father grabbed Regulus by the hair and tipped his head up to look into his father's angry black eyes. "Rule number one, no crying. Ever."
He had only been five then, and hadn't cried since. He taught himself at a young age not to show any expression, and keep everything locked inside. His father liked it too much when he knew that he had gotten to them. Sirius never did learn to keep his emotions under control. He was too temperamental and proud.
Regulus was happy when Sirius had finally moved out. Not that he disliked his brother, but things were just quieter this way. For once he didn't have to listen to him and his parents constant bickering.
Ignoring the girls that were inching their way towards him, he pushed off the tree and walked towards the castle. He smirked smugly when he felt her eyes on him. The girl didn't know whom she was dealing with. He had fewer feelings than a corpse. What would make her watch him so intently? He's never said more then a handful of words to her in his life.
She was pretty enough. He would give her that. But, she was too innocent for him with her soulful eyes, bright smile, and her hair to dark a brown. Monsters like him ate girls like her for breakfast.
He walked across the grounds and into the castle. Taking a few flights of stairs he made it to the dungeon. The Slytherin common room grew quiet as he entered the room. Sighing, he sat on a plush armchair next to the fire that a first year had given up for him. He sensed before he heard Luke Underwood standing behind him.
"Where've you been?" he asked, sitting in the chair opposite Regulus.
Regulus shrugged, "Walking around the grounds."
Luke nodded at his best mate and examined the fire thoughtfully.
"Is there something that you wish to ask me?" he asked, sensing his friend's nervousness.
"I was wondering if you've thought about the proposition we'd been offered?"
"I haven't thought about it much."
"I have. I think I'm going to join the Dark Lord."
Regulus sat silently and watched the various expressions move across his friend's face. "I think the whole thing is a bit shady. All he's done is kill a few muggles and mudbloods. What should make him different from the rest of the dark wizards out there?"
"I don't know, but if the things he plans to do come true, it would seem the wiser to join his side."
Stroking his chin thoughtfully he thought on Luke's words. He had spent the last seventeen years of his life bending to his father's will. Why in Merlin's name should he join forces under some power hungry maniac? He would think long and hard on this.