Chapter 2: Tomas

Sneak Peak: "How did you know?" Regulus was confused about how much she seemed to understand. "I can relate."

"What do you mean?" Angie looked up at his question. Should she tell him?

Weeks had passed and the three new students had settled in nicely. They now sat in the Great Hall for breakfast before Potions for that Thursday morning. Sirius and Angie had both gotten over the little spat from that night but they still didn't talk about it. Everyone knew not to cross Angie Morri – err, Moore – or you probably wouldn't live to tell the tale. The first Hogsmede trip was coming up and Ginny was set on trying to get both her and Angie dates. Ginny knew by now that Hermione didn't do blind dates so she didn't try with her but she still had some hope with Angie.

"Oh c'mon. If a bloke asks you, you have to say yes!" Ginny exclaimed on their way to potions class. Angie stuck her tongue out, "What if I don't like him?" There were a few other students waiting in front of the room for class to start one of which Angie recognized as her partner but she didn't think he was listening. She thought wrong. Ginny grimaced, "You never like anybody. The only guy you've ever dated is Eric Fletcher when we were thirteen. You need to get out more." Angie just shook her head as they entered the classroom and went to their respective seats. Regulus took his seat next to Angie and they began getting out what they would need. The routine went as usual. They exchanged 'hellos' get instructions; Angie flips to the page in the book while Regulus gets the supplies and then they start working.

"So your friend isn't really the shy type is she?" Regulus asked out of the blue. Angie was caught off guard by the question but didn't show it. She just casually nodded, "She's set on getting me out there or whatever." She shook her head and added an ingredient to the potion. "You don't date often?"

"Not at all. I went to a ball with a guy once but I didn't like him much and nothing happened afterward. I've never been into the dating game. I'm more of if you feel something for someone more than attraction then go for it but until then I'm a happy loner." Regulus chuckled and Angie grinned, "What about you?" Regulus frowned and shook his head. Angie raised her eyebrows in disbelief, "Never?" He shook his head again, "Even though you've got the family's good looks and smarts?" She asked sarcastically. He playfully glared at her but couldn't help the flush he felt when she complimented him, sarcastic or not. They went back to working on the potion in silence.

When they were done Angie had brought out her favorite book and began to read but Regulus was bored, "Have you been to Hogsmede?" Angie nodded, "I went there to get school stuff." Angie looked up and saw that Regulus was starring at her intently. "What are your plans for Christmas break?" Regulus was taken back by the question because everyone pretty much did the same thing; went home to their families. "Going to the Black Manor like I always do. Christmas with my parents."

"No Sirius?" She tilted her head to the side with some sign of a knowing look on her face. Regulus nodded, "He ran away last year. I haven't spoken to him since." She nodded and didn't acknowledge the fact that she already knew so. "Why did he run away?" Regulus looked at her like she sprouted a second head, "He had too many disagreements with my parents. Everyone before him had been sorted in Slytherin and he wasn't so they just had a falling out."

"He doesn't believe in blood superiority and he doesn't want to get into the Dark Arts like the rest of your family. Your parents think that he's a disgrace to the house of Black." Angie had a knowing look on her face that seemed to show signs of pain as she relived her own hell when she was a Morris. "How did you know?" Regulus was confused about how much she seemed to understand. "I can relate."

"What do you mean?" Angie looked up at his question. Should she tell him? Maybe if he heard her story then he might find the courage to break away from his dark family and that would lead to him and Sirius making up. But could she trust him? She decided that she could as she proceeded, "My family is just like yours Regulus. They're pure blooded with the same beliefs and I disagreed. I ran away when I turned fourteen and went to live with my friend Hermione. I haven't spoken to my family since then except, for Tomas."

"Who's Tomas?" Angie instantly regretted telling him her story. She never spoke about Tomas ever since he died. Angie looked down and sighed putting her book away, "He was my brother." She said simply. Regulus however noticed her slip. He looked at her curiously wondering if he should continue or let her be, "Was?" Angie looked up with tear brimmed eyes and Regulus nearly panicked right then. He could not handle emotions, especially crying girls. Angie took a deep breath.

"He died a year after I ran away. He tried to run away and find me but he got caught. I've wanted my parents dead ever since." She looked away before he could catch the tears threatening to spill out of her eyes. Class was dismissed and Angie was the first one out of class. She ran down the hall to her charms class with the Ravenclaws.

Regulus found her flaw; pain.

Angie was picking at her food at dinner with a frown. She had told Ginny about her conversation with Regulus so she didn't say anything. Hermione joined them with Sirius sitting next to her. James sat across from Sirius next to Angie and Remus sat on Hermione's other side across from Ginny. She winked at him and he blushed. James grinned at the display and planned to have a little chat with Remus at the common room. Sirius was looking at Hermione. James glanced at Angie, "Hey Ange, what's wrong?"

Angie looked up and again caught Regulus's eye. He was starring at her again. But this time it wasn't a challenge. It wasn't like a predator like before. It wasn't studying or calculating. It was concern. She looked back at James, "Where's Peter?" She dodged his question and put up a mask of confusion of the little rat's absence. Sirius shrugged, "Dunno. He hasn't been around much lately." Angie's brow creased in confusion. It was all a facade. She knew that Peter was beginning to get sucked into the Death Eater ranks.

James looked at her again, "Really, what's wrong?" Angie cursed him inside her head for not letting it go. Remus was brought out of his stupor and seconded James question, "Yeah, what is it? You look depressed." Angie shook her head. "No, I'm just not feeling well. I'm not that hungry. I'm gonna go lie down. I'll see you all later." She answered as she stood and walked out of the Great Hall.

She walked slowly in the empty hall when she heard quick footsteps behind. Someone was following her. She turned around to see her potions partner and stopped walking, "What are you doing here?" She asked curiously as the boy walked up too her sheepishly. Her brow creased when he stopped in front of her.

"You looked upset." He stated simply. He looked at her with a tinge of concern he tried to mask as indifference. But Angie saw it. She just didn't know what to make of it. "Was it our conversation?" Angie just looked away to the floor. Regulus took that as a yes. "Why don't we go somewhere and talk? Tell me what's wrong." It was more of a demand then an offer. Angie was never one to do what she's told when she thinks someone is being condescending but she knew he wasn't. So she let him lead her to an old abandoned classroom. He sat her down on a desk and she took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Regulus looked at her patiently, "How'd he die?"

Angie looked to the floor again. She took a deep breath, "It's a long, painful story." She looked at him with tears lining her eyes. Regulus knew she just wanted to go and forget this whole thing but he wasn't going to let it go. He wanted to help her for some reason. He didn't know why but she had intrigued him since the day she walked into the Great Hall that first day. "We've got time." He stated simply. He wasn't pushing her. He wasn't pressuring her because he knew this was painful for her. He was just giving her an open door. She knew that she could walk out that door and ignore him and he would let her. But she knew she was here for a reason. Whether this was a mistake or not, she didn't care. She needed to know whatever it was that made Regulus part of this plan.

She took another deep breath, wiping her eyes, "um... well. Tomas was my little brother. Younger by two years. He wanted to be just like me. He always tried to be just like me. He said he wanted to be brave like me. But he was too terrified of my parents to do what I did and go against them. So he did what they said and followed their whims because he was just too scared to get beat like me. He said he didn't want to cry and show weakness.

"After I ran away, I did everything I could to keep an eye on him. To make sure my parents didn't hurt him. I even threatened my parents. Or mostly my father. Almost a year after I ran away he snuck out to see me. He came to me crying.." Angie broke of as a sob broke through her chest. She had tears running down her cheeks. She made a futile attempt to wipe them away with her sleeves. Regulus, as if by instinct, went and took her hand in his. He hoped it was some sort of encouragement. Angie looked up at him with watery eyes and took another breath before continuing at Regulus's nod.

"He said he didn't want to live with them anymore and he wanted to be with me. He said he didn't want to be scared anymore. He said dad was drinking more and more and mom was never around. He didn't understand why our parents weren't loving like others and why the treat me so badly and scare him so much. I told him that I was going to get him out of that house if it was the last thing I did. I told him to go back home and pack only the stuff he needed, not to leave a note or anything. Just get in and get out. And that I would be waiting for him at the end of the street with back up.

"After he left I immediately got Hermione and some others to come with me and wait for him. We waited for two hours before I barged into the house. I saw them in the middle of the dining hall torturing Tomas with the torture curse. Apparently he'd been caught trying to sneak out and they got furious. Tomas must have been in so much pain for so long because I didn't barge in sooner.

"I attacked my father and got Tomas out of there and into the nearest Hospital but it was too late. The worst part was that he begged me to kill him the entire time. He begged me to make it stop. To make it all stop..." She broke off again as another heart wrenching sob broke throughout her body as she impulsively grabbed onto Regulus in an attempt to comfort herself. Regulus stiffened at the foreign embrace but soon wrapped his arms around Angie as she cried. And she cried.

"If I had just gotten there sooner or went with him he would still be alive. I shouldn't have even sent him back there. I should have never let him go back." She sobbed into his chest as his arms tightened around her. He didn't want to listen anymore. He didn't think that her life – or anyone's life – could be this horrible. He didn't think she deserved this.

"Hey, listen. It wasn't your fault. You can always mull over the what if's but it'll never change what happened. You just have to do your best to look to the future." he didn't know where this was coming from. He wasn't one for sentiments. But seeing her crying and hearing what she had been through made him want to do whatever he could to make her pain go away.

Angie pulled away, "Never thought you to be someone to say something like that." She gave a small smile at her attempt to lighten the mood. Regulus allowed it. He reached with his right thumb to wipe the tears from her face. She was startled at the show of affection. He didn't seem like the type. She smiled at him, "Thank you. For listening. I probably look awful right now, I better go to bed." As she said this she started for the door before Regulus grabbed her arm to stop her.

She looked back at him curiously before he said, "I'm always here." It was simple but with many unspoken promises that may lead to something more. She smiled at him and nodded. "Goodnight." With that she walked out the door and snuck back into the common room.

"Goodnight."

Hermione was in the common room waiting for Angie. Ginny said that she wasn't there in their dorm and she hadn't come in since and now Hermione was worried. The rest had head off to bed while she stayed behind. Hermione heard footsteps from the boy's staircase and turned to see Sirius Black emerge in blue plaid pj pants and a navy blue shirt. He looked at her curiously, "Still not back, eh?" Hermione just nodded. She tried not to drool over his muscles showing obviously through his shirt. Sirius sat beside her on the couch, "I wouldn't worry too much. She seems like the type who can handle herself."

"She is. But I always worry. She's like my little sister of sorts. With me being an only child and her family situation, we're both the closest thing to sisters." Hermione smiled softly remembering how close they were. Ever since Angie had come to her doorstep bruised and beaten they had become closer than sisters. Angie even grew closer to Hermione's parents. She even called Elaine, mum. But she never called Richard, dad. She never used the word dad. But she did call him pal and that always brought a smile to his face.

"What family situation would that be?" Sirius inquired curiously. Hermione shook her head, "Her parents are notorious in the Dark Arts and big with the prejudiced pure blooded beliefs. She went against them and befriended a mud blood," She explained gesturing to herself, "When she was fourteen and I was fifteen she was tired of living with them and their abusive ways so she ran away and came to live with me."

"Wow. That's nearly identical to how my life went. Disagreed with my parents and runaway to live with my best friend. But she was braver and didn't wait until sixth year." Sirius chuckled. But Hermione still had a sad look on her face. "Is there more?"

She nodded, "You two are more alike than you think. She also had to leave her little brother behind." Sirius's face darkened at the mention of little brothers. It made him think of his own. "That's different."

"How so?" Hermione always had the thirst for knowledge. But she honestly didn't know how Angie's and Sirius's nearly identical situations were any different when it came to the little brother aspect. "Because my little brother wanted to be left behind."

"How do you know that? Maybe you should ask Angie about Tomas someday. You may see that the two can be completely alike. But not now. I think that's why she's upset. Tomorrow's the anniversary of Tomas's death." Hermione said the last part just above a whisper and Sirius was nearly shocked into silence at the revelation. Hermione stood and bid him goodnight before walking up the girl's staircase.

Sirius stayed down there for a little while longer with a new view of his little brother. Not a mended one but an open one.

The next day Angie was still depressed but felt better after her talk with Regulus. Hermione and Ginny had scolded her for being out after curfew but went easy on her considering the occasion. Angie wasn't herself the entire day. She only ate a little breakfast when James threatened to spoon feed her if she didn't eat something. She was quiet in all her classes. Regulus was concerned when he saw her sitting in their potions class, moving mechanically.

They were both working quietly when Angie's hand started to shake when she was stirring the potion. No one but Regulus noticed and he grabbed her hand, slowing her robotic stirring. He took the stirring rod with his right hand and used his left to hold both of hers. She was touched by the gesture and wrapped his hand with her two hands and squeezed gently to show her appreciation. Regulus's face remained carefully blank but Ginny – in all her observant glory – saw their joined hands when she glanced over to check on Angie. She grinned at them without their notice and went back to her work without her partner's help.

Soon the potion was done and turned in and the two were quiet. Angie sulking in memories of Tomas and Regulus mulling over thoughts of Angie. He didn't know why he was thinking about her. He just was. He had been so obsessed with finding a flaw in her and he thought he had the night before when he saw her pain. But it wasn't a flaw. It made her human which made her all the more perfect. Pain wasn't a flaw when you were fearless in showing it like she was. And that's what she was. Fearless.

The class ended soon and Angie left without Ginny. Ginny didn't mind in the least. This was what Angie does. When she's upset she doesn't like to surround herself but more isolate herself. She just wants to be alone so she doesn't feel pressured to break down. She's done it before and she'll keep doing it until it stops working and it has yet to.

Sorry if it took too long to update. But the school year is almost over and soon I'll have plenty of time to write. YAY. Please comment and correct me if I made any mistakes. I'll take constructive criticism but NO FLAMES!! thank you. Love ya! XOXO