Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Written for; Button Bonanza, Blue 13. Power and Character Appreciation, 29. Cool

Word Count - 682


A Promise Broken (A Heart Shattered)


You watched from across the hall. Green surrounding more green. Laughter, smiles, smirks. Knowing looks and raised eyebrows. Pushing and shoving and friendly banter.

Regulus was sitting in the middle of it all, the Prince of the seventh year Slytherin students. He was so cool and collected. They all looked to him, they wanted his attention, his appreciation, his guidance.

You had that. In private, he was yours to hold, yours to kiss, yours to caress. He was yours to love, and you threw that away and you know the jealousy is eating you up inside because you don't have him anymore.

You hate the blue on your tie, because it separates you from him. It keeps a barrier between you, one that's even larger than him refusing to be open in his affections for you. He cannot be seen to love anyone. He told you that, and you promised you understood. You didn't.

You threw it back in his face and you left him, and that's your fault.

"Barty... you're wearing my tie."

"Eh? Oh... yeah. Sorry."

"Leave it on. It looks good on you."

He ignores you entirely now and you hate it. No more secret glances in the corridors. No more secret notes in your pockets with times and places to meet up. No more stolen kisses. No more whispered confessions. No more Regulus, and all because you couldn't control your emotions.

He keeps his distance. You've been up to the Astronomy tower every night since you shouted at him, since you told him you couldn't deal with it anymore. He hasn't been there once. He doesn't want you anymore and it kills you to know that if you'd only held your temper, only controlled yourself better, you'd still have at least a part of him.

You'd still have his heart.

The same way he's holding yours hostage.

"You shouldn't join him. You know it's not a good idea, Reg."

"What am I supposed to do, Barty? It's what's expected. Sirius certainly isn't planning to do his family duty, is he? He isn't going to give them the power they crave. It's left to me."

"I just... I don't want you to get hurt."

"I know. It... it is what it is. Come on, we need to go to the top. I want a cigarette, and the last thing I need is to be caught smoking again."

You know that he's going to be angry with you, but the fear, the doubts and the uncertainty in your decision are secondary always to the knowledge that if you join him, you'll be closer to Regulus. An ugly tattoo on your arm in exchange for being close to the only boy you've ever loved; the only person who's ever loved and accepted you as you are, rather than who you should be.

You also know that this doesn't guarantee he'll take you back.

But it's worth the effort.

It's worth the fear.

Because he'll be there and you'll be there and that's closer than you've been in months.

"I wish we could run away, just you and me. We'd be happy, Barty. I'd make you happy."

"You already do. I love you."

"I know. I love you too."

He shouts at you. You're pleased. If he didn't still love you, he wouldn't care that you've taken the mark. If he didn't still love you, he wouldn't have fear shining from his beautiful eyes. If he didn't still love you, he wouldn't have pulled you aside privately at all.

You grab his arm and pull him close.

He holds on tight.

You kiss him, passionately, desperately, longingly...

He pushes you away, disgusted and tells you no.

"You're so pure and innocent. I love that about you the most."

"Reg..."

"No. It's true. There's nothing dark and mysterious about you. It's refreshing. Simple. Perfect. Don't ever change, Barty. Promise me."

"I... promise."

You broke your promise to him.

You know that's why he disappeared.

He never realised that you became this for him, and he took himself away.

You'll never be pure again.