Pandora Preston found herself back on the bank of the Great Lake once more during her first week back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This day, however, the weather was not an idyllic early fall day. The grey mountains had a purplish hue as a chill swept through the air. Pandora pulled her large cardigan closed, over her Ravenclaw uniform. She looked over the banks. She was still alone. Her head spun around as she heard a branch snap behind her. He had a thin face with high cheekbones. He was two years younger than her, but only one grade below her. His dark curls hung loosely around his face. He wore the same school uniform as the other boys, but his was green and silver. He sat down next to her.
"I got your message, what's up?" he said.
"How are you?" Pandora asked
"I'm fine Pandora, why do you ask?"
"We haven't spent time together in a while"
"I've been busy"
"You've had time for other people" she said
"What?"
"Reg, I've heard some things"
"What do you mean?" Regulus Black asked
"You've been hanging out with Lucius Malfoy's gang" Pandora said
"So? You've been hanging out with Potter's gang for years now. We can be friends with different people" he shrugged
"The Marauders aren't blood supremacists Reg" Pandora said. Regulus rolled his eyes
"They're not that different, Dora" he said venomously. Clouds began to move in, over the mountains
"How can you say that? The Marauders are some of the most accepting people at this school" She said
"You know James, your cliche's leader, is nothing more than a bully. You've seen how he treats Severus"
"Severus called Lily the m-word. He's far from innocent"
"What, a mudblood? That's what she is, Dora"
"What happened to you? You never used language like that before" She said
"Why did you call me here, Pandora?" He asked
"I'm worried about you Reg"
"Why? Because I finally managed to find some decent friends"
"What does that make me?" Regulus did not answer "there's a rumor going around that Bellatrix Lestrange got in touch with Lucius Malfoy to find purebloods in the school to recruit for that Dark Wizard, the one Dumbledore warned us about. It's not a coincidence that Lucius Malfoy just started to hang out with you right after."
"So you're saying that people would only want to hang out with me if they can get something in return?"
"What I'm saying is that they aren't good people"
"Thanks, Dora that makes me feel great" he got up to leave
"Regulus Black, please just listen to me" she said, he stopped and faced her "I don't want you to do something you'll regret. I can't let you walk down that path. It would destroy Me, Sirius, you"
"So that's what this is about? Sirius sent you?"
"You know he didn't"
"Well, you can tell my brother that if he wants me not to join, then I'll enjoy it even more" Regulus said
"They've already asked you" Pandora said
"And I've made my choice" Regulus said
"What's happened to you Reg? What happened to the sweet boy I became friends with?" Pandora's eyes filled with tears
"He died the minute his brother abandoned him in that hellhole" Regulus said. Tears slid down Pandora's cheeks.
"Hey Dora, I'm sorry I-"
"No, you made yourself perfectly clear. I just want you to know that I've always loved you. You were like a brother to me. And I will always love you, but if you stay on this path, know that I can't stand the person you're becoming" Pandora buried her head into her knees. Regulus opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He sat there for another moment, before getting up to leave. He stood up, but he hadn't heard another group of people step into the clearing.
"Oí, Reg, that's where you've been," a boy with shoulder length blonde hair said. He had piercing blue eyes and pale skin. Lucius Malfoy, the king of Slytherin house. At his side was his fiancé, Narcissa Black, cousin of Sirius and Regulus. Rabastion Lestrange, Antonin Dolohov and Severus Snape were with him.
"Hey, isn't that the freaky Ravenclaw who hangs out with the Marauders?" Rabastion Lestrange said
"I think you're right" Lucius said, with a smile "hey, freak, where's all your friends at? Aw, look it's crying," the other laughed. Pandora grabbed her bag, got up and began to storm off. "Hey, where do you think you're going?" He grabbed her arm, Pandora whipped out her wand and pointed it at Lucius's throat. The ones behind him laughed "what are you going to do? Curse me?"
"Don't make me," Pandora said.
"Is that a threat?" He asked her
"Depends what you do" Pandora said
"Oí, Lucius, back off, she's mine" Regulus said
"Have at her, Regulus" Lucius let go. Regulus pulled Pandora close
"Please Dora, just leave" he whispered. Pandora looked in his eyes.
"So this is what you've become" she said, pushing herself away from him. The wind blew her long blonde hair around her shoulders, her skin looked almost translucent in the clouded lighting. She stood there, like a pale ghost against the Great Lake. She turned to leave. Rabastion Lestrange blocked her path. She stumbled back. The rest of Lucius's gang circled around her
"Where do you think you're going darling?" One of them said. They moved in closer. Rabastion Lestrange raised his wand at her, but it was sent flying out of his hand
"Back off Lestrange," James growled. Lily Evans was beside him, wand raised. Sirius Black was on his other side
"Well, well, well, look who it is" Lucius said.
"Let her go Malfoy" Sirius said
"Or what?" He asked
"You'll be dealing with us plus Pandora and trust me, you don't want to mess with us" Lily said
"Aw, look the mudblood thinks her voice matters," Dolohov said
"Try me" Lily said
"Sure, about time you learned your place" he said. James put himself between Dolohov and Lily
"Hey, if you want to get to her, you have to go through me" he said
"I can fight for myself James" she said
"Yes but that doesn't mean you have to" James said. Pandora shoved past Narcissa and stood at Sirius' side. The sky darkened. A drop of rain fell on Pandora's nose. Sirius, Pandora and James raised their wands.
"Children, inside, before the storm starts or you lose your houses points" McGonagall called. Pandora looked up and saw lightning hit one of the mountains. "James Potter, Lucius Malfoy, inside the castle now" McGonagall called. James lowered his wand and Lucius followed. There was no messing around in front of McGonagall and they both knew it.
Regulus sat in a window seat of the Slytherin common room. He watched the rain fall down and move the waters of the Great Lake. Lucius Malfoy approached him
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Regulus asked
"I got a letter"
"From who?"
"Your cousin, Bellatrix"
"What is it about?"
"There's a meeting in two weeks and we are going"