ACT I
"carpe noctem"
seize the night

THE FOOL

upright — beginnings, freedom,
innocence, adventure, idealism

reversed — reckless, careless,
distracted, naive, foolish

OCTOBER 1972

AMARIS SELENE LECLAIR was a coward. All her life, she had always played safe, following the rules and working hard enough not to fail. It was no wonder that the Sorting Hat decided not to sort her as a Gryffindor.

She was terrified of losing the place she belonged in, and as a witch who grew up in the Muggle world, it was already hard enough to find such.

"Don't stand out," they said.

"It's for your own good," they swore.

"Different isn't always a good thing," she learned.

It's for that reason that she observes people carefully, discerning their intentions and going out of her way to help —to please— them.

In short, she's a wallflower and a people-pleaser.

(It's a terrible combination, really.)

After all those years of being ostracized by her Muggle peers, she's desperate to fit in especially when she finally found the magical world she was told she belonged in.

Then again, despite her efforts, the truth can't easily be changed:

She's different back then, she's different 'till now.

And that wasn't merely due to the fact that she was a Muggle-born witch (although that certainly played a great contribution).

.

Even with her Muggle roots, Amaris finds herself in the same place she had been before. She's not like the other wizards or witches her age. She doesn't care much about Quidditch, doesn't want to dare try a single jellybean from Bertie Botts Every Flavour beans, doesn't care about learning new Charms, getting into the Dark Arts, or whatnot.

Sure, she was fascinated by the idea of magic. It piqued her interest in a way that no other Muggle subject had before. Though that easily went to shite because unlike those bright and talented witches and wizards, she had to work hard— really really hard. Otherwise, she'd be left behind.

And yeah, Hogwarts was certainly amazing. To call it such would be an incredible understatement. It was out of this world; animated pictures, enchanted staircases, friendly ghosts, owl posts— the list was endless. But it hadn't taken long until the homesickness crept up on her because— Merlin, she's eleven and she just wanted to go home.

She hasn't been away from her family for only this long and she's starting to think that maybe boarding school wasn't such a good idea.

Don't get her wrong; she's more than thankful to have the opportunity to be there.

She was sorted into a great house. The Hufflepuffs treat each other like family, the common room is cozy, and they even have tea times on Friday afternoons. Not to mention, upperclassmen Marlene Mckinnon and Alice Fortescue always went out of their way to look out for freshmen like her.

Additionally, the blue-eyed maiden had gained a good amount of friends in a short amount of time that even she managed to surprise herself. One of them happened to be fellow Muggle-born Mary MacDonald from the house of red and gold, alongside the pure-blood witch sorted into the house of blue and bronze, Pandora Lestrange.

They were a rather odd mix, but even if it's only been a month since they've formed their little group, they've been stuck from the hip since then. Amaris can gladly declare that they are some of the best people she's ever been acquainted with.

It's just that… She just misses home a lot.

Though whatever worries she had, she immediately pushes them back into that box hidden in the deepest corner of her mind.

She shakes it off as soon as she notices her Gryffindor friend making her way to their side of the table.

. . .

Mary MacDonald takes a seat at the Hufflepuff table as if she's one of them. But then again, Pandora Lestrange, who was seated beside the actual Hufflepuff of their group, hadn't been any different either.

Their assortment of red, blue, and yellow doesn't manage to catch too much attention from onlookers. Among the four houses, the Hufflepuffs were the most welcoming after all. Their table at the Great Hall had a wide variety of students from different houses unlike the Slytherins, whose prominent color (if not the only color) continues to be green.

"'Sup, Ames? 'Sup, Dora?" Mary greets, taking a seat in front of them as she places her meal on the table.

Pandora shoos her away, nose still buried in her book, "Shh, I'm in the zone."

Amaris is the one with the decency to actually greet her back, "'Morning, Mary."

It was then that Marlene McKinnon joins in on their conversation, yawning as she takes a seat among the three freshmen, "Good morning."

Alice Fortescue, who had arrived with her friend, glances at the Ravenclaw's untouched meal and asks in concern, "Has she been reading since you got here, again?"

"Knowing her, she's probably been at it all night," Amaris reckoned, taking a bite of her meal after a glance at Pandora.

And just like that, their breakfast passes like it usually had before.

. . .

Once the owls dropped their mail off, the students had slowly dispersed to head toward their respective schedules. Despite the way the Great Hall began to clear out, the Ravenclaw stays immersed in her book as if she couldn't be bothered by anything else.

As eccentric as others would claim Pandora Lestrange was, the Hufflepuff can honestly admit that she actually finds the most affinity with the brunette.

Pandora was known to be the black sheep of the Lestrange family. She was sorted into the house of Ravenclaw despite their long streak of Slytherins. And regardless of people's assumptions, she can barely give a crap about the whole pure-blood supremacy bullshite. (Not that she can do anything to change their prejudice about it.)

"It's absolute bollocks," she once ranted to the Hufflepuff, having never admitted such to her family's faces.

It's for that same reason that she'd rather preoccupy herself with her passion rather than her peers.

.

Books are better than people, Pandora would claim but despite all that, she actually befriends Amaris Leclair regardless of their separate houses and their glaringly distinct backgrounds (the former being a pure-blood and the latter being a Muggle-born witch).

Amidst the first week of classes, Pandora Lestrange had been alone for the most part. However, unlike Amaris Leclair, she was equally comfortable with it, never desperate for the company.

She'd be lying if she said she wasn't surprised to find the blonde maiden approach her even after hearing all those damned rumors.

Amaris was the first person to willingly talk to her and it wasn't even because she needed the Ravenclaw's intellect. Rather, she was worried about the maiden's wellbeing, having noticed Pandora's pale complexion that resulted from numerous sleepless nights of being immersed in some book.

And just like that, the Hufflepuff had become the only person she tolerates enough to stop reading for.

.

Amaris, who had decided to stay behind, checks on her wristwatch before she calls for her friend to remind her of the time. "Dora."

Pandora has yet to move, unable to recognize the way the Hufflepuff was attempting to catch her attention.

Amaris lets out a knowing smile, shaking her head incredulously before attempting again.

"Pandora!"

"What?" the Ravenclaw finally turns to her, curious hazelnut eyes meeting the other girl's blue orbs.

"We have Transfiguration first thing today," Amaris reminds her.

The girl's words felt like a bucket of cold water had just been poured over her, waking her from her daze.

It's only then that she realizes how there had been only a handful of people left in the Great Hall.

Shite. They're going to be late.

Pandora looks around and finally shuts her book before asking, "Where are the others?"

"Alice and Marlene went on ahead to their lectures. Mary is off to her flying lessons."

"If she'll actually make it," the Ravenclaw snorts, aware of how the Gryffindor was terrible with directions.

"I'm more worried that we won't make it," Amaris deadpans. "We're having Professor McGonagall, remember? If you haven't noticed, she is a very scary woman."

"You could've gone ahead. I haven't even eaten yet," the Ravenclaw pushes her tray away, stacking her things in her arm before they began to exit the hall.

"If I left you, you would have missed class…" Amaris trailed on, offering to carry some of her notebooks as she handed the girl an apple, already anticipating the repercussions of her friend's engrossment, "Besides, aren't Ravenclaws supposed to be studious?"

"No, we're curious. There's a difference," Pandora corrects her. Regardless, she gratefully takes the fruit, linking their arms together as they walk side by side.

"Ah," the Ravenclaw sighs in relief, peeking between the gap of her book as she attempts to resume the page she was on. "What will I do without you?"

"Don't read while we're walking," Amaris tutted, eyeing her carefully as if she knew her friend was bound to trip. "I don't want my face to meet the floor again, Dora."

"Yes, Mum," Pandora sing-songs, but despite the teasing insinuation, the corners of her lips quirk up to form a smile as she thinks about how thankful she truly was to have the Hufflepuff as a friend.

Likewise, Amaris certainly felt the same way.

.

.

.

NOVEMBER 1972

AS ALREADY ESTABLISHED, Amaris was no doubt a coward. It's for that reason that she never bothers to stand up for herself. She doesn't even attempt to pin the blame on others even if it was surely their fault.

But (that's what truly matters, doesn't it?) that will never prevent the maiden from actually acting like a decent human being to others.

Such is the case when the little Hufflepuff bumps (or rather, rams) into none other than Regulus Arcturus Black, the boy akin to Slytherin royalty. He was so influential that he even managed to command respect from the prideful upperclassmen of his house. And it was almost a given to have that intimidating air follow him around like a plague.

So, when she collides against him, having rushed to get the notebook she left in the classroom, Amaris thinks it's only natural for her to apologize, regardless of the way that they had more than enough time to steer clear away from her.

She ran into him, therefore she has to say sorry. Simple as that.

Albeit, perhaps she needs to work up a bit of nerve first after watching the way his aristocratic features morph into a scowl.

.

With one glance at his cold grey eyes, her feet had immediately glued themselves to the floor. She finds herself stiffening under his gaze, and the two other boys who were tailing him around don't seem to alleviate her growing fear.

It takes a couple of seconds before she gathers the courage to muster the words she desired to express.

"S-Sorry."

Amaris inevitably stammers, palms cold and a lodge forming in her throat.

Despite her efforts, Regulus only ignores her.

"Out of the way, you filthy little Mudblood," the boy's companion, Avery II, goes out of his way to antagonize her, shoving the maiden away.

Although the meaning behind his words certainly leave a pang in her chest, it was more akin to aggravation if anything.

Thankfully, instead of embarrassing herself any further than that, she manages to keep her balance after stumbling a few steps back.

.

As if the heavens were perfectly aware of her dilemma, it was at that exact moment that her best friend catches sight of her and manages to come up with a quick excuse in an attempt to avoid further conflict.

"Amaris," Pandora Lestrange immediately walks over to her side, grabbing the Hufflepuff's arm to pull her away from the trio, "A professor was looking for you."

"Well, well, if it isn't Lestrange," the other Slytherin, Mulciber Jr., sneered at the maiden. "You sticking up for this Mudblood?"

Amaris tenses at his words but it's nothing compared to the way Pandora tightens her grip on the girl's arm protectively. In truth, she worries about the Ravenclaw's well-being more than her own.

"I have no time to spare for you," Pandora answers all calm and collected despite being anything but. She turns to face the girl beside her, keeping her priorities straight, "Let's go, Sprout called."

"Okay," Amaris agrees, but she doesn't leave without giving Regulus one last look and a curt nod, mumbling, "Sorry again."

The Hufflepuff only decides to hurry her steps as she hears Avery bark, eyes narrowed at the other girl, "Blood traitor."

"Git," Pandora retorts, cursing under her breath as Amaris drags her away.

.

Once they were finally far enough from the group of young pure-blood supremacists, the Ravenclaw immediately berates her friend, "You didn't have to apologize, you know. I saw it. They were in your way."

Leave it to the maiden to be brutally honest.

"Yeah, but an apology costs me nothing. Might as well…" Amaris gives her a sheepish smile before averting the subject.

"So, what did Professor Sprout want?"

"That was just an excuse."

"Oh…" the girl purses her lips in realization. As she recalls the slurs the Slytherin spat, she turns to her best friend in concern. "Are— Are you okay?"

"I should be asking you that," Pandora counters before badgering her with questions. "What did they want with you? Did they do anything? Should I hex them?"

Amaris shrugs nonchalantly, "Just bumped into Black, is all."

"Bloody hell, what do you mean just?" the Ravenclaw looks at her incredulously. "Do you not know who Regulus Black is? He comes from one of the most prominent houses that want to purge you and your kind—"

.

The Hufflepuff raises her eyebrows, finding it an exaggeration on Pandora's part. Regardless, she cuts her friend off before the girl decides to continue rambling heatedly, "I don't think he's the one you should be worried about. It was Avery who called me a filthy little… you know."

"Should've hexed him after all," the other girl mutters.

If it weren't for her frank nature, overwhelming curiosity, and knack for experimenting with charms, Amaris could've sworn that Pandora Lestrange would've been sorted as a Slytherin like her parents desired.

The Hufflepuff finds a certain form of amusement in the way her friend was infuriated for her own sake. A small smile forms on her lips as she assures the brunette, "Anyhow, I came out unscathed. No need for trouble, now is there?"

"You should really learn a handful of jinxes. I told you, I made some of them myself. They're tried and tested. I give them my seal of approval—"

"Pandora, I'll be fine."

"I'm just saying," the brunette insisted, "They're bad news, Amaris. Whatever you do, just steer clear from Black and his crew."

"Trust me, I would know. I come from a similar background," she scoffs. "Insufferable bigots, the lot of them."

At the mention of the Lestrange family, Amaris frowns, worry getting the best of her, "What's going to happen to you? Mulciber called you a blood traitor. If your family finds out—"

"Like I said, worry about yourself, Ames. I'll figure something out."

"Right, because hearing you say that is always so convincing."

The way her friend refuses to respond to her words only affirms her words.

Pandora Lestrange may not be a fool, but Amaris was perfectly aware of the truth. If the former's parents ever caught news of how their daughter had befriended a Muggle-born witch, she'd no doubt get into trouble. Whatever repercussions it may be would undoubtedly be nothing to laugh at.

And when the time comes, despite the Ravenclaw's assurances, Amaris knew she needed the courage to see everything through. She had the resolve to never put Pandora or anyone else in such a position where they'd have to choose over their well-being or their friend's.

She may be a coward, but she would never bow out for the people that truly mattered to her.

.

.

.

DECEMBER 1972

THE FIRST YEAR HUFFLEPUFF was absolutely terrified to bump into the same guy later that year when she was basking in the comfortable solace of the Astronomy Tower.

See, more than anything else, Amaris Leclair wanted to go home. There were only a handful of days left until the winter holidays but she was truly honestly desperate to go home.

It's only been three months (as enjoyable as they may be) but she misses her kind and protective older sister, Aurora. She misses their house cat, Leo, who she decided not to bring to Hogwarts due to the mere reason that an owl would have been more practical for sending mail. And she even misses her sister's boyfriend, who she's pretty sure is bound to become her brother-in-law somewhere along the line.

She misses her family. She misses her home.

It's harder to wait the closer it gets. And so, the girl lounges at the Astronomy Tower, recalling the words her sister once told her.

Having been told that she was named after the moon, her older sister so often associated such with her.

The Muggle woman even went as far as to remind the little witch before she even left for Hogwarts.

"Whenever you feel lonely, just look at the moon and remember that somewhere, I'd be looking at it and thinking of you too."

And Amaris clung unto her words with every fiber of her being.

Thus why she was here right then staring at the moon, anticipating her reunion with her sister, and counting down the days until Christmas.

.

One of the few perks of being kind and friendly and keeping good relations was being given a certain leeway when it comes to the rules. Now, that's not exactly why she acts that way, but who was she to deny such privileges?

That said, Amaris was perfectly aware that she shouldn't be in the Astronomy Tower especially considering how late it was. But in her defense, she did get permission from the Head Girl, a Hufflepuff prefect who seemed to have a soft spot for her.

Seeing the disheartened expression on Amaris' face, the upperclassman told her she'll make an exception so long as she keeps it under the wraps.

Not to mention, the ghost of the Fat Friar even went out of his way to provide her with some assistance. Honestly, she was beginning to think that they spoiled her too much.

She had already taken enough measures to not get caught by a professor, but despite anticipating such (and anything else that could go wrong), never in her life would she have taken into consideration the probability of her running into Regulus Black.

And now, here she was tensing at the sight of the infamous Slytherin.

She never wanted to go home so badly.

.

Amaris eventually finds herself stuck in a staring contest when she turns her back to catch sight of the raven-haired boy. His features were ever so chiseled that he was akin to a Greek Adonis. His usual stony gaze was similar to his brother's and it never failed to make the other girls swoon.

She would have certainly agreed that he was attractive had she not been downright petrified by the sight of him—

Because let's face it. This was a boy who came from the noble and most ancient house of Black. With his perfection, inevitably comes an incredibly intimidating aura that drew the line between their extremely different worlds.

That, and she just so happened to be a Muggle-born, the subject of his kin's eternal and non-yielding animosity.

Although she's never one to listen to the rumors without making sure of it herself, that doesn't make their encounter less scary than it had initially been.

.

Amaris doesn't make a move to leave. Not because she thinks she earned the right to stay (even if she was there first), but rather, she was merely too terrified to even move. Her mouth dries up and a chill runs up her spine as he walks toward her.

One wrong word and he likely wouldn't hesitate to push her off the tower.

But he doesn't.

Despite whatever anyone else would assume, Regulus doesn't make a move to hurt her. He simply sits beside the nearest pillar, remaining silent meters away from the maiden as he gazes at the evening sky.

And that's what makes her wonder if the rumors had any essence of truth in them.

Because if he truly hated her then surely he wouldn't have hesitated to make use of the opportunity to get rid of her, right?

It's only when he acknowledges her presence that she hears him speak.

"You're that Mudblood…"

With the lack of hostility and emotion in his tone, Amaris finds herself releasing the breath she was holding in. Her shoulders finally relax as she leans against the pillar beside her.

.

Regardless, that notorious slur doesn't fail to irk her and despite her patience when it usually came to withholding her emotions, for once, she actually finds it in herself to express her displeasure.

"I have a name. It's Amaris Leclair in case you didn't know."

Her tone is playful, harmless, and well-meaning as if to get back at him for his behavior all the while trying to prove that he didn't get under her skin.

The boy raises an eyebrow, responding with a tad bit of snark, "So?"

"Just putting it out there if ever you decide not to act like a jerk," she shrugs nonchalantly as if it weren't such a big deal.

"What makes you think I'll call someone like you by your name?"

"Oh, don't get your knickers in a twist. It's just a supposition…" Amaris pacifies him, speaking as if she was talking to a pampered child. Though she clearly fails when she teasingly adds, "Besides, you're more than welcome to leave if the presence of this Mudblood displeases you, Your Highness."

He ignores her and she could have sworn that she could practically hear his eyes roll from their sockets as he muttered something under his breath.

Despite all that, he doesn't leave.

And a small part of her (it's minuscule really) can't help but take it as a good sign.

.

They ended up basking in the silence that engulfed the tower. There's no tension or awkwardness, just peace, the type of tranquillity that lulls one into sleep. She watches the moon as he stares at the stars. They're both lost in their own (separate) world(s).

And just as she thinks he wouldn't respond, he finally breaks the silence after a long pause and much contemplation.

"Regulus Black."

"Huh?" Amaris turns to him in surprise.

She catches his figure staring at the night sky, the gentle light of the moon glazes over his features.

He doesn't look back at her, stating rather simply, "It's my name."

"Or are you so daft you can't even comprehend something as simple as that?" Regulus doesn't fail to add after another beat.

His demeanor reminds her of a pompous little brat, although she's perfectly aware that pointing such out will only lead to an argument and the last thing she'd ever want was to ruin this moment— So she keeps it to herself.

Instead, a genuine smile graces her features as she tells him, "No… No, I already knew that. There isn't anyone in Hogwarts who doesn't know of your name. You're rather famous, you know?"

"Right," he scoffs before refusing to speak once again.

Despite the way that he doesn't bother to even look at her, with that short exchange of words, the girl finds herself staring at his forlorn figure that was still gazing at the stars, eyes never leaving the sky.

And then something inside her stirs at that moment. Rather than giddiness or attraction, it's an unpleasant feeling brewing in her gut as her thoughts gnaw on her head.

She can't help but wonder if he's lonely. Can't help but wonder if he was stuck in the same position as her pure-blood friend. Can't help but wonder what was beyond the caricature of Regulus Black.

—Because although Amaris Leclair was undoubtedly a coward, her greatest weakness was her inability to turn a blind eye when someone was in need.