AN: Just really quickly, I didn't realise that there was confusion over Sofia's name, so I'd just like to clarify that her proper given first name is Sofia, and Sonya is a Russian diminutive, used as a nickname by friends and family. Same with Natasha being a diminutive for Natalia, and Vanya for Ivan.

wonder woman — kacey musgraves

"don't you know i'm only human?

and if i let you down i don't mean to."

Many times during her four long years at Hogwarts, Sofia wished she could just call home.

There were infinite reasons why this would be useful, but one of the main ones was emergencies. That was what she had been most afraid of when she had first agreed to come to Hogwarts, leaving behind three younger siblings including a two-year-old. That something horrible would happen and she wouldn't be contacted immediately.

Of course, Dumbledore had assured her time and again that there was a number they could call in Hogsmeade and he would be notified immediately if there was a call. Then, of course, Sofia had asked if she could call home from this mysterious phone in Hogsmeade only to be denied.

She knew it must exist because it had been used before. Mostly for her siblings' occasional medical emergencies, a broken leg from Roman, a skin infection from Natasha and once when Mum had left all three kids stranded at school and they had no idea what other number to call.

The mystery phone wasn't supposed to be used for mild emergencies though. Like the cold Natasha was battling with right now. Sofia's mum had written to her to ask if she could brew some magical remedies for her sister and Sofia would normally be happy to do it, she'd done it whenever one of her siblings was sick, but this time Sofia had a growing suspicion this wasn't an actual 'sickness'.

Natasha had been rightfully disappointed when she had been informed by her sister and mother that Papa wasn't going to go to her ballet recital, Sofia had tried her hardest to make it better but Natasha had sulked all through Sofia's visit home on Sunday. And now she was claiming she was sick without any physical symptoms. Sofia called bullshit.

Sofia sent a letter back asking her mother if she was absolutely sure Natasha was actually sick because Sofia didn't currently have a ton of time to brew potions for her sister. She didn't get a response until hours later, which frustrated her to no end (this would be a lot easier with a phone!). But when the letter came it wasn't very useful in terms of having discovered how true Natasha's illness was.

So Sofia gave in and arrived early to potions class to brew a few healing potions for Natasha.

"What are you doing?"

Sofia looked up from her cauldron, startled. She glanced at her clock. Shit, it was time for class already.

She eyed Regulus. "Potions," she answered simply.

He approached her work station. "What is that, Pepper-up Potion? You don't look sick."

Sofia sighed. "Well, it's not for me."

He looked at the other bottles on her desk. "Sleeping Draught? You know I think they might have these in the Hospital Wing."

Sofia rolled her eyes. "If you absolutely must know, they're for my sister."

He looked at her for a second. "You're giving these to a Muggle?"

Sofia's eyes narrowed. "Don't you think Muggles deserve health care?" She really just asked to see his reaction.

"Does Slughorn know you're using class hours to work on personal projects?"

"Do you know that snitches get stitches?" She scoffed. "And last I checked, it's still five minutes until class starts officially."

He glanced at her cauldron. "That doesn't look like it'll be done in five minutes."

Sofia frowned. He was right. She should've gotten there earlier but she had already skipped one other class to do this.

"I know it's your turn today but... if you want I can do... show and tell with Slughorn," he said in a low voice, like he could barely get the words out.

Sofia hid her surprise. "Really? You'd do that for me?"

Regulus rolled his eyes. "Don't flatter yourself, if you don't want the time with Slughorn, I'll gladly take it."

Well, well, well. Maybe his nerdiness could work in her favour. "Yeah, sure, if you're willing. I'd... appreciate it."

Regulus nodded once and went to his own station.

After finishing the potions and sending them off, Sofia had found out that her sister really seemed to be sick. Her mother had sent another letter saying that Natasha had a fever and a runny nose. And now Sofia felt like shit that she hadn't believed Natasha was really sick. And even though Nat didn't even know Sofia had thought this, Sofia felt the need to make it up to her sister.

So, she spent all day Tuesday brewing even more potions since she didn't even know what exactly was wrong with Natasha and their mother just kept insisting on slapping Vaporub on her and hoping for the best instead of taking her to the doctor.

Sofia's mum had even sent her an actual jar from her stash of Vaporub and told Sofia to find a way to integrate it into her potions. Then Natasha had written to beg Sofia not to put Vaporub in the potions. Sofia missed them so much it hurt.

Sofia had been so preoccupied with all of this that she hadn't even noticed the Halloween Feast was taking place that night until she arrived at dinner and found the Great Hall decked out in Halloween decorations.

She was actually early since she was quite hungry, having missed lunch. She sat next to Sirius and friends. "Why didn't you tell me it was Halloween?"

Sirius stared at her incredulously. "James and I wore costumes literally all day."

Sofia frowned. "Really? Huh. That's fun."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just... I think the fumes from the potions started getting to my head. But I should be okay now that I'm breathing fresher air."

And her head did clear, but she still felt dead tired. Which was quite obvious when she ran into the person she went out of her way to avoid the most in the entire school.

She had just wanted to go say something to Chloe a few metres down the Gryffindor table and in that short treck, she bumped into none other than Hunter Braun. She tried to contain a scowl.

"Oh, hey Sof, what's up?" He asked casually.

Sofia wanted to punch him in the face. She had no idea what she had seen in him before. He was too blonde, and well... too polished-looking she guessed. Ugh, why couldn't he just keep walking? Did he have to stop and make conversation?

"Hi Hunter," she said unenthusiastically.

"How've you been?"

Sofia tried not to scowl. Were they seriously going to pretend their turbulent relationship, which crashed and burned last year never happened? She was not the kind of person to just let those kind of things go.

"Uh, good. I... I actually just remembered there is a potions assignment I haven't finished that I have to turn in tomorrow, so, I should be off."

Hunter nodded, obviously not believing a word. "Right, of course. Maybe we could get a butterbeer or something sometime."

No fucking way in hell. Sofia nodded with a tight-lipped smile and then raced out of the Great Hall and towards her potions lab.

It wasn't even a lie, really. Sofia had been quite distracted making the potions for Natasha and she had neglected her Potions assignments. It was finally her turn to present something to Slughorn and she was not about to let Regulus have the floor again.

She would probably have the time to brew the potion she was planning tomorrow but there were a few ingredients she needed to prepare ahead of time.

She grabbed her wand and got to work on the removal of a very specific part of a Death-cap mushroom that she needed.

She was so focused on her task that she didn't even register someone coming into the room until a throat cleared.

Sofia looked up, startled, to find Regulus. "What are you doing here? You scared the shit out of me!"

"What are you doing here?"

Sofia sighed in frustration. "I'm preparing some stuff I'll need tomorrow."

She raised a brow expectantly upon his lack of an answer.

"Me too."

Sofia's eyes narrowed. "Right." That seemed kind of fishy to her. "Well, don't mind me."

She went back to her mushroom but she could feel Regulus's eyes on her. She stopped. "What are you looking at?"

He inhaled sharply. "Nothing."

He turned away, finally.

Sofia went back to her mushroom, she managed to remove the gills and carefully levitated them a few inches off the table. Just as she was about to bag then, the back of her hand brushed against the discarded piece of mushroom on her desk. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

She quickly cast a disinfecting spell over her hand. But it was burning already. Tears stung her eyes. She stood. She needed to get to the Hospital Wing. But she could feel her legs stiffening. She took a few steps forward, steeling herself, but she made it two steps before collapsing to the ground.

"Shit, Bessonova," she heard Regulus say.

She clutched her hand to her chest and tried to get up.

Regulus walked over to her. "Did you touch the fucking mushroom?"

She looked at him but didn't answer. It was way too embarrassing.

The stinging pain in her hand was getting worse, she barely held back a sob. "I need... I have to..."

"Go to the Hospital Wing," Regulus finished her sentence. "Yeah, no shit. Come on."

"I can't," Sofia cried. "I can't— I can't feel my legs."

Regulus sighed. "It's already numbing your legs? Shit, this is bad, Bessonova. Let me see."

He took her hand and examined it. Then he raised his wand and cast a spell that made the sting feel cold, but no less painful, really.

She hated being in such a vulnerable position in front of Regulus Black.

She didn't even notice what she was doing but at some point, while he looked at her injury, she'd started clutching his hand in a death-grip. She would've thought he'd shake her off in a heartbeat, but for some reason, he didn't.

She was vaguely aware of his arm going around her middle in an attempt to get her off the ground.

"No, no, no, no. I can't, it hurts too much." She swallowed back the tears. Her vision started filling with spots. "Oh, fuck."

Then everything went black.

When she awoke and realised where she was, Sofia expected for a split second to see Regulus before realising just how ridiculous the notion even was and chastising herself.

"Sof, you're awake!"

Sofia craned her neck to see Chloe sitting next to her cot. "Oh, hi Chloe."

Chloe smiled knowingly. "Sirius was here too but I sent him to your dorm to get you a jumper."

Sofia nodded. "How long have I been out?"

"Not long, I think. Maybe an hour." Chloe shifted in her seat to look at Sofia better. "Regulus Black came to find me."

Sofia tensed, even momentarily forgetting the pain that still lingered on her hand. "Oh?"

"My guess is he would've told Sirius but those two would go to incredible lengths not to speak to each other, hence, he told me."

"And what'd he tell you?"

Chloe shrugged. "That you had an accident while making a potion and he found you and brought you here."

Sofia nodded. "And what did you tell Sirius?"

"I didn't tell him who told me you were here, and I didn't tell him this incident happened in your and Regulus's private potions lab if that's what you were worried about."

Sofia looked away, slightly embarrassed. "Okay."

"But you should probably tell Sirius about that."

Sofia grimaced. She really didn't want to do that. "I... yeah, I know."

"Miss Honda, didn't I tell you to get me if she awoke?" Madame Pomfrey burst into the room.

Chloe smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Madame Pomfrey."

Pomfrey neared Sofia's bedside and examined her. "You gave us quite a scare there, Miss Bessonova. Young man burst in here with you unconscious in his arms, all freaked out, demanding I heal you immediately."

Sofia wanted to hide under the covers.

Chloe raised her eyebrows exaggeratedly. "Oh, did he?"

"Made quite a scene. Although I guess it might have been merited, if he hadn't gotten you here so fast, things could've been much worse."

Just as Madame Pomfrey finished speaking, the doors to the infirmary opened and in walked Sirius, carrying a dark purple jumper and with a sombre look on his face.

His eyes brightened open seeing Sofia and he rushed over to her. "Hey, how you doing, S?" He turned to the nurse. "Will she be okay?"

"Should be with the draught I'm giving her. She has to stay at least a full day but I believe she will be fine," Madame Pomfrey replied. "Now, you two should be going off to your dormitories and let Bessonova rest."

Chloe stood. "Right." She hugged Sofia briefly. "I'll come back tomorrow, Bess."

Sofia nodded and smiled weakly as Chloe left.

"Just a few more minutes, please," Sirius said.

Madame Pomfrey rolled her eyes but relented. "Five minutes, Black."

She went back into her office.

Sirius handed Sofia the jumper. "In case you're cold."

"Thanks."

"Who brought you here? I thought you were in the potions lab Slughorn lent you."

Sofia knew this was coming but she wished he'd at least let her have a few hours before she had to come clean. She had just almost almost died after all. She exhaled. "Well, remember when I told you about the lab and how Slughorn was letting me work on whatever potions I wanted there instead of attending his class?"

Sirius nodded, slightly confused.

Sofia frowned in distress. "Well, I didn't want to tell you this because I knew you'd probably try to make a bigger deal about it than it is and I also didn't want you to worry about me because you do that way too much."

Now Sirius looked worried as he waited for her to finish.

"But... when Slughorn allowed me to use that potions lab, it was with the condition that I share it with... someone else."

"Just tell me with whom."

Sofia wrapped her arms over her chest. "With... your brother."

Sirius leaned back from her and sat back in the chair at Sofia's bedside. "And you agreed to this?"

Sofia shrugged her shoulders. "Well, it was too good an opportunity to pass up! Regulus and I agreed to just work there each at our separate stations and leave each other alone and it's been working out fine, to be honest. He doesn't bother me, I don't bother him."

"So, he's Regulus now?" Sirius huffed.

Sofia frowned in disbelief. "Well, that's his name, isn't it? I'm not gonna call him Black, that's your name, it'd be weird."

Sirius exhaled sharply. "He's... he's an extremely fucked up person, Sonya."

"And I'm not disagreeing with that. But I can handle him just fine, Sirius."

Sirius rubbed his temples and shook his head. "No, you don't understand. He... you should not be locked in a freaking dungeon with him for hours every day. There's just no way that will end well."

"It's not like I don't have my wand with me, Sirius. I can take care of myself. See? This is why I didn't want to tell you. I'm perfectly aware of the situation and I know I can handle myself."

Sirius looked sick. "I know you can take care of yourself. I just... I don't want him to do anything to you."

"Well if he was going to do something I think he could've very easily done it when I poisoned myself with a Death-cap and was passed out on the floor of the lab."

Okay, now he genuinely looked like he might throw up. "Sweet fucking Merlin, Sofia, you have to be more careful."

"I thought we had established that if he was going to do something, he's already missed his window."

"I don't trust that little shit."

Sofia rolled her eyes. "Well, me neither, Sirius. But I know he at least doesn't want me dead, because he brought me here."

Sirius's nose wrinkled. "I don't exactly trust his reasons for that either."

"He probably just didn't want to get in trouble when Slughorn found me half-dead in the lab tomorrow and realised Regulus had just left me there," Sofia reasoned.

Sirius gave a half nod, seemingly lost in thought.

"Black!" Madame Pomfrey called out. "It's been over five minutes! Don't make me go over there!"

Sofia laughed weakly.

Sirius eked out a smile. "I... guess I'm leaving, then. I'll see you tomorrow. Feel better." He stood and leaned down to kiss the top of Sofia's head.

"Night," Sofia said and though that had been slightly unnerving, she felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest.

Sofia felt a lot better when she awoke the next morning. Madame Pomfrey had given her another dose of antidote and a Sleeping Draught last night so she had slept like a baby.

Sirius and Chloe had stopped by to see her on their way to breakfast but ultimately were sent off to class.

It wasn't like Sofia was happy about having poisoned herself but she had to admit it was a welcome break, getting to miss a whole day of class. Even if she would have to catch up on the work eventually.

It was pushing on noon when Regulus Black walked through the doors. Sofia hadn't really expected him to come see her but she wasn't complaining about it.

She raised a skeptical brow as he neared her space. "Hello."

He acknowledged her with a nod. "Just wanted to check whether you were dead or not."

Sofia almost laughed. She tsked. "Well, sorry to disappoint you... but I lived, bitch."

He nodded once. "I can see that."

Sofia sighed. "I guess I should say... thank you for not leaving me for dead."

"What were you doing with that Death-cap?" He asked, ignoring her thanks.

"I needed the extract from the gills for a potion."

"Then why not get the extract itself?"

Sofia scowled. "It's less expensive if I get it myself."

"And it also implies less risk of accidentally poisoning yourself."

Sofia started getting mad, was he really here just to berate her? "Why do you even give a fuck?"

Regulus took a steadying breath. "I'd just rather not have to haul you to the infirmary every other day."

Sofia sighed."It was a dumb mistake, it won't happen again, alright?"

He took a long pause. "Well, now that I've seen you still live, I must be going."

Sofia observed him for a moment. "Alright."

He nodded stoically before walking off, not looking back.