A/N: I've noticed flaws in the previous chapters, so I'm making 'corrections' here.
One – I'm fully aware that the Yule Ball was a thing of the Triwizard Tournament. Yes. I don't quite know how to fix that one. Suffice to say, 'we have a ball'.
Two – the HP lexicon says James was a Chaser, and the thing about the Snitch in the books was a tool to impress girls, rather than an indication of his position.
If I have made further errors – do point them out, and I'll correct them, or explain them or just..apologise for the plot holes.
Regulus strode down the corridor, twisting his hands together nervously. He couldn't believe his brother. Blacks stood together, they were family. Surely that meant more to Sirius than..than friends? He swallowed hard, a lump of misery in his throat, hard and unshiftable, coming to a stop in the corridor just outside the Slytherin common-room.
So much for Gryffindor loyalty.
He bit his lip. Think, think. How was he going to manage this? He needed help – If she caught him..
The cold of the dungeons began to penetrate his robes, and he shuddered, hearing the door to Slytherin common-room swing open. It couldn't be, where could he hide? He saw the window behind him, the thin slit blowing chilly, Scottish wind into the hallway, and the little alcove just to its side. He ducked into it, hoping against hope that she hadn't seen him.
"Why are you scuttling, Cousin?" Bella called, her voice drawling and lazy. She was arm in arm with a couple of other seventh years he recognised vaguely, the malicious smiles on their faces identical. Bella shook her head slowly, her curtain of thick, dark hair swinging gently back and forth. She beckoned to him, and shaking, Regulus stepped out, and walked toward her.
"Tell me, Cousin," Bella's finger crooked him toward her until he was only a step away, and then her hand fell to her side. She cocked her head on one side, appealingly, but Regulus knew too well that Bella could appear soft, and sweet, but was knife-edge sharp beneath it all. "Why were you hiding from me?" Her voice was dripping with honey, enticing. Regulus stood his ground, summoning strength from somewhere.
"I wasn't..hiding," he said, almost steadily. Bella smirked, and glanced at one of the boys flanking her. Her hand shot out, and gripped Regulus's arm, twisting it painfully until she caught his little gasp of breath.
"Don't lie to me," she said softly, dropping his arm back to his side, her lips twisted into a sneer of contempt. He rubbed his arm, blinking back tears, biting hard on his lip to stop himself from letting the tears escape.
"I wasn't hiding," he maintained, keeping his voice unshaken. Bella smiled surprisingly.
"At least when you lie, you stick to it," she said thoughtfully. "Coward, but you keep to your position." She stroked his hair, her fingers trailing across his cheek and down to his chin, abruptly forcing it up into the air, making him meet her eyes. They were odd, so darkly black they were almost opaque, her eyelids heavy.
"Ask him about the Gryffindor," one of the boys prompted Bella, his voice mocking, and knowing. Regulus trembled. He had the feeling that the uncanny seventh years could read his mind at times.
"Yes? Do tell me how my dear cousin Sirius is," Bella caressed his cheek once more, her voice almost laughing. Regulus shook his head numbly.
"Sirius and I don't get on," he answered, trying to stop himself shaking. "You know I think he's a traitor. He's a Gryffindor." Bella sighed and rolled her eyes, irritated.
"You mean he won't talk to you," she translated, with a sly pinch to his cheek. "You don't know, Regulus, dear, that this year is quite.." she slid a look at the others beside her, and flashed back to her cousin quickly, "Important for me. I don't want Sirius Black, or any other messing it up for me. And you, you can help me, for once." She smiled dangerously, her teeth glinting. "I want Sirius out of action. I don't want him to notice what is happening around him. So you, dear Regulus, make it happen."
"But I.." Regulus stumbled over the answer he was trying to give her. Bella waited, her arms folded across her chest. Regulus fell silent, and hung his head.
"Good," Bella said, satisfied, and she and her companions walked away, leaving Regulus to struggle over how he was going to subdue his brother, when Sirius loathed the sight of him.
A/N: A short chapter, to further plot, and well – because original kinda took over my life. But there's an update! All is not lost!
Next chapter – more Remus/Sirius, James and Lily fighting, the four get back at Snivellus, and a visit from Sirius's father.