A/N: Hi, just a short chapter today, didn't have much on this weekend, so I thought I'd get something written since I'm usually quite busy during the week. As usual, thanks for reviews everyone, made me happy to read them :D

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing, but the OCs (:


Chapter Eight

About a month passed. The weather got warmer, homework got harder, and the Easter holidays got closer. Just one more week...

During my time at Hogwarts I had quite quickly got used to being away from my parents, and I would be fine all term. But that last week or more before the holidays, the longing to see them would set in again, and I would be looking forward to going home.

They'd be waiting on the platform as I got off the train. After lots of hugs, we would make our way into the main bit of the station, dad would buy me a doughnut or something from one of the little shops, and then we would get in the car to go home.

Of course my parents could Apparate me home, but we've always driven, and it's always been a good time for me to tell them all about school.

How's Minerva? Am I keeping up with the work? How are Lily and Janie? Had I any more run-ins with Slytherins?

I wondered vaguely if I would tell them about Regulus and I...

I guess we were going out now, not that we'd actually agreed that between us. It was like, we held hands, and we'd kissed a few times. That was it, but wasn't that how it was, having a boyfriend in Fourth year? I had no idea, but I really didn't think I'd be asking my dads opinion...

I sighed and snapped out of my little daydream. It was becoming way too easy to drift off these days, especially in professor Binns' lesson. Yawn.

This wasn't a lesson in which I sat with Regulus, instead he sat with a bunch of his Slytherin mates, and I sat with Sirius, James and Janie. The others were on a table next to us.

Only problem today was, Sirius was being weird with me again.

He's been like this, on and off, for about a month, and I don't know why.

One day, he's his usual happy self, laughing, joking, messing around as always, the next he's quiet, brooding and doesn't talk to anyone, especially me.

I thought at first maybe I'd upset him, and I tried to talk to him, to apologize. But he just waved it off, before leaving the room abruptly.

James and Remus said they didn't know what was going on. Maybe he's stressed about OWLs? I wondered, but that seemed unlikely. Sirius wasn't the type.

Oh dear.

All too soon, it was winter again. Fifth year had arrived, bringing with it the prospects of exams and stress and extra work... I was tired just thinking about it.

Summer had been a boring one. The weather decided it would rain nearly every day instead of be sunny, and my parents decided I needed to spend time studying in preparation for OWLs. So that meant I barely got to see my friends. Even Regulus I only got to see twice.

Back at school, Mum and Dad still wrote everyday, just like they did every year. Occasionally my mum would sent a package, maybe some homemade cupcakes, or a new set of quills.

This year dad had subscribed me to the Daily Prophet, telling me it was important to read the papers in these times.

He didn't say it, but I knew what he was referring to.

Lord Voldemort.

He was a dark wizard, planning to take over the world or something. Deaths were becoming more frequent as he recruited 'death eaters' - followers - and killed any who stood in his way.

Lots of the pureblood families in Slytherin were rumoured to be involved. That Avery idiot that put me in the Hospital Wing in Third year, his parents were Death Eaters, Rosier's parents, the Lestranges, Malfoys, probably Snape, and Bellatrix and Narcissa Black were definitely involved.

I'd heard them talking about it, they were all for putting Muggles in their place, Mudbloods and bloodtraitors too, and having Purebloods rule the world. They went around school treating anyone who wasn't pureblood like dirt on the bottom of their shoe.

Yes, I'm a pureblood, but not like them. They were blood status maniacs, it ruled their life. I don't care about blood status, it doesn't make any difference what you are, its who you are that counts.


I found Regulus sitting outside under our favourite tree.

It was freezing out, and I drew my cloak closer against the biting wind.

"Hey." I said, coming up behind him.

"Oh, hey Roe." He smiled, and I sat down next to him.

"Why are you out here in the cold?" I asked.

"Why are you?" he replied.

"Looking for you."

"How did you know I'd be here?" he said.

"You're always here."

"Well then you just answered your own question." He chuckled and put an arm round me.

"Oh very clever." I smiled, snuggling into his clothes.

"I am." He grinned and I laughed.

"Sure you are." He pretended to look upset and I stretched up to kiss him.

"Seriously, it's freezing out here! How come you're so warm?" I complained, feeling the warmth in his cheeks.

"Oh, sorry." He pulled out his wand and muttered a spell, and suddenly I felt warm like I was sitting in front of a log fire.

"Better?"

I grinned. "Yep. Why didn't I think of a warming spell?"

"Because you're not as clever as me, remember." He chuckled and I rolled my eyes.

"Sure, whatever you say, Mr I-can't-do-Transfiguration."

"Ohh, you did not just go there." He exclaimed in mock hurt.

"I did." I grinned, carefully reaching for my wand in defense.

"Nuh uh, you won't be need that!" He said, reaching across me and grabbing it out of my hand.

"Hey!" I laughed in protest.

"Are you ticklish, Miss I'm-so-clever-and-beautiful-and-better-at-me-at-Tranfiguration-with-the-cute-slight-Scottish-accent?" He was grinning mischievously as he pocketed my wand, holding out both hands. He didn't wait for a reply before he started tickling me.

"Nooo!" I yelped, giggling, and trying to fight him off.

"What was that? Haha, I think I've found your weakness!" He laughed.

"Stop, please!" I laughed, trying to get his hands away from me.

"Make me."

I stopped scrabbling with his hands and grabbed his face instead, pulling it towards me and pressing my lips to his, still smiling as I kissed him.

He stopped tickling me immediately, his hands moving away, one against the tree, the other at the back of my neck, pulling me even closer.

Once again, the kiss ended too soon, mainly on account of me being breathless from laughing. I met his eyes.

"I think I found your weakness." I said cheekily, and he chuckled, before pulling me closer again.


It was only late afternoon, but it was beginning to get dark already, the warming spell seeming to be wearing off.

I sighed. "I better go. Remus is meeting me in the library for an Ancient Runes study session." I said reluctantly, not wanting to leave the comfort of his arms.

"Yeah same, I'm meant to be helping Avery with something." Regulus agreed, but neither of us made any move to leave.

"Avery?"

"Uh, yeah…" He said carefully.

"Oh, okay…"

Avery. The one who put me in the Hospital Wing in Third year… Avery.

Regulus got to his feet and brushed dirt off his clothes. He held out a hand and helped me up with ease.

Pulling me into a hug, he whispered into my ear, "I love you" for the first time. Those familiar butterflies came back at the words, chasing away the cold feeling the mention of Avery had given me, and I was filled with warmth.

"I love you too."


A/N: Only short, but I hope you like it all the same :)

-DaizeeG xXx