Quidditch pracitce started sooner than Regulus felt, and the captain, Drake McKinnan, was working them hard, especially him. Regulus was the Slytherin seeker, and McKinnan was determined to do anything to win against Gryffindor this year, even, Regulus was convinced, if it killed them all.
Of course, on top of quidditch practice, his classes were harder than ever. He had begun taking Ancient Runes, Advanced Potions, and Care of Magical Creatures as his electives. The last two were alright, as he was quite a natural at both. Ancient Runes was, however, much more difficult than he had initially anticipated. He frequently stayed up late, mostly with Severus for company, and finished his studies while everyone slept warmly in their beds. This was with the result that they had many meaningful conversations about the current goings on about the world.
A dark wizard by the name of Voldemort was gaining power, followers called Death Eaters. Voldemort was behind a movement to "cleanse the world" so to speak, taking a very "slytherin-esque" view of things. Severus stated one very late night that he was set on joining. Regulus thought hard about this. He thought he might want to join as well. He thought that the idea that there was someone who wanted to purify the wizarding race seemed a desirable goal. There were many pros, Regulus thought, although there were the cons...
The only flaw here was that Regulus questioned the motives of Voldemort. As such, he could not make up his mind about whether to join or not. Still, the idea that Severus was determined to join was a very big influence on the younger boy.
One morning he was walking out of Ancient Runes and a girl in Gryffindor robes knocked him clear to the floor while in a rush to get out of the room, sending his books scattering to the floor around him. He was about to make a retort when she turned toward him. Her eyes were blue, with her ginger hair framing them perfectly. It very nearly took his breath away. She hesitated, then offered her hand. He looked at it for a moment, then allowed her to help him up. There was a moment when she was nearly touching him. He could almost feel her soft breathing against his shirt, could sense every small movement she made. He looked down into her soft lengths of hair, and could smell her sweet shampoo. Then he mumbled a soft "thanks" after a hurried "sorry" from her. Then she swept down the hall, Regulus' eyes trailing after her curtains of red hair.
He shook himself and reminded himself he needed to get to Care of Magical Creatures. Professor Kettleburn was teaching them about Pheonixes today, and Regulus didn't want to miss a second. He hurried down to the grounds where classes were held. It was just a short stretch of grass with a sort of ring to keep any animals in that would be shown in class.
When he got there, Professor Kettleburn wasn't quite there yet. Trent was in this class and so for the next couple of minutes they were laughing and talking about whatever had happened the other day. Finally, Professor Kettleburn was seen heading toward the ring, a giant red bird on his remaining arm. He walked with a slight limp, as his fake magical legs were not quite the same length. With him was a girl... It was the red head from Ancient Runes! For a moment he wasn't sure what to look at, the bird or the girl, but finally his eyes settled on the bird. The girl probably didn't even want anything to do with him...
"This," Professor Kettleburn said, a little dramatically, "is a pheonix!" The girl joined the group, standing rather close to the edge, as if she also couldn't wait for the lesson. Regulus stepped forward, but Trent caught his arm and he fell back again.
"I want a good look at it," Regulus said, as way of explanation. Trent scoffed, but allowed them to move closer to the great bird.
"This is Professor Dumbledore's pheonix, Fawkes. He's lent him to me so I could show you. As you might see, Fawkes' feathers are looking rough and singed, like he is quite old. He is getting ready for a burning day." Professor Kettleburn placed Fawkes on his perch and stepped back, gesturing for them all to watch. Regulus hadn't noticed the perch before, but figured the girl must have brought it. Fawkes cooed softly, and then Regulus noticed that the tips of his wings had caught fire. Instinctively, Regulus moved forward, then stopped himself. These birds caught fire when they were ready to die, and were then reborn from the ashes as a new baby bird. As the last of the ash fell to the tray designed for such a thing, Regulus took a few steps closer to it. The girl was next to him and turned to look at him as he watched the ashes begin to stir and a small infant pheonix emerge from them. Tears made his eyes sparkle at the simple beauty of the majestic creature as it let out the most beautiful cry he'd ever heard in his life.
Professor Kettleburn motioned to him that he could touch Fawkes if he wanted. Regulus reached out a hand and very gently dusted some of the ash off of its tiny head. It chirped softly in response, moving into his fingers. Regulus was amazed how such a simple beauty could hold him so captive.
Remembering where he was, he blinked and stepped back from the perch and from the bird... But from that moment on, things were different. He would never forget what that bird did to him, how it had affected him so...
Author's Note: Well, things are getting underway finally. The last chapter was more of an introduction to Regulus' character than a chapter, but now this chapter makes it that much better. Pay attention to phoenixes, friends, they are going to be relavent. As always, please leave me feedback in the form of reviews, and as you wait for new chapters, go read A-Girl-Named-Billy's fanfiction Light.