Fragmented You
Fragment 5
regulus100 challenge #12 – Neglect
When Regulus was six he wanted a rat. His mother thought it was a filthy, disgusting creature, but Regulus sulked and cried until the rat was bought and caged in his room. He wasn't allowed to touch it, but sometimes, late at night when he was sure his mother wouldn't burst into his room, he'd slid his finger between the bars to feel the brush of whiskers against his skin.
Summer came and warm nights were spent curled against his brother's side, the grey-haired rat forgotten. When the house elves smuggled the creature away and disposed of it, Regulus didn't know.