Stalking through the damp and mist in the evening was hardly Regulus' idea of a good time. Nonetheless, whatever Lucius wanted Lucius got. The insufferable snake. He shook his head in frustration as he squelched into the mud at the edge of the lake. Why the calamus on the east side of the lake was so important was a mystery to him. Lucius' insistence that it be picked during a "waning moon, near new" also meant nothing to him. Obviously, it was for some kind of potion, but not one Regulus had any familiarity with. He roughly cut a handful of the sword-like leaves and slipped them into his bag. In twenty minutes, he would be done fulfilling stupid quests and in a steaming shower.

As he made his way up the slick bank a tinkling laugh cut through the mist, drawing his attention across the edge of the water to a copse of willow trees. Elsa. She was entrancing in the moonlight. The silvery light washed her out into an ethereal paleness that made it seem like she was from a separate plane of existence. The broad smile on her face only served to reinforce her beauty. From his time with her, he'd gathered that she didn't smile like that often, but he remembered what it felt like to have that smile turned on him in the Sundial Garden. Was it only yesterday he'd spent all free period teasing out that smile and shy laughter? He could have listened to her laugh forever. As if the universe had heard his thought, she broke into laughter once again. He watched as she turned that beautiful smile on Sirius. He curled his hand into a fist so tight that his nails bit into his palm, leaving red half-moon crescents in their wake.

The way she looked at his brother made him burn all over with anger. No, not anger. Jealousy? There Sirius was surrounded by laughing friends and with the beautiful smiling Elsa. They all looked at Sirius like… well like they actually liked him. Bloody Gryffindors. It was just like Sirius to do whatever he wanted, take whatever he wanted. Never mind Regulus picking up the pieces and so carefully toeing the line to make up for him. Sirius got to go off into whatever house he wanted and have all the fun. Of course, he would decide to sweep Elsa off her feet and take her for himself as well. Regulus shook his head in frustration. He wasn't thinking clearly. Sirius was a stain upon the family and his choices reflected that. There was nothing desirable about his situation. Anyways, Elsa was an outcast and not someone with whom he could freely associate. Sirius wasn't stealing anything from him. At least, nothing he hadn't already freely given up if only to keep toeing the line his brother refused to heed. Still, something about the moonlit picnic before him knotted him up inside. He wanted to punch something.

"So, you'll come study with us then?" Remus was hardly even blushing at how forward he was being. There was a feeling of unreality to it all. Surround by mist and moonlight, their picnic felt more like a dream than a dinner.

"Of course," Elsa answered with a broad smile and sweep of her arms, "I loved studying with you guys!"

There was an easiness and openness to her now that made him think she was also feeling the unreality of it all. Was it really just pumpkin juice in their goblets? The thought made his heart leap. It would be just like James or Sirius to spike the group's juice. Surely, he would have noticed something in the taste though. He took a tentative and suspicious sip. It tasted like normal pumpkin juice, so where was this giddy feeling comes from. Another glance at Elsa and he knew. She looked so stunning in the starlight that his heart caught in his throat.

He wasn't normally one to notice pretty girls, but it wasn't so much that she was pretty or a girl. It was the way the starlight caught in her hair and made her glow like a small moon, one he didn't have to be afraid of. Everything was magical. Which of course it was, they were at Hogwarts, but this felt like different magic. It was like the magic in the muggle fairy tales he'd slowly been reading through. It was something otherworldly that made anything and everything feels possible like the hard and fast rules he had to live by were suddenly a bit more nebulous.

There was something so perfect about the easy conversation and jokes with her around. It was as if she somehow rounded out their group in a way, he didn't know they needed rounding out. Glancing at the smiling faces of the others, he was more sure than ever of his insistence to include her.

"What are you so lost in thought about?" Sirius' flippant tone broke his contemplative mood.

"Just thinking we really ought to have more picnics like this," he murmured back, unwilling to break the dreamy happiness that had swaddled him.

"Moony, are you suggesting we break the rules more often?" Sirius asked in overdramatic mock shock.

"Why do you call him Moony?" Elsa cut in curiously, "Seems to me he has his head more firmly planted in reality than most of you."

Remus nearly choked on his pumpkin juice as panic gripped him. He was tempted to leap up and strangle either James or Sirius as they exchanged mischievous knowing looks. A temptation that was sorely tested as James launched into some tale about him mooning others on a Hogsmeade outing for some dare. It was a lie of course, but not one he could contest all things considered. Soon everyone was roaring with laughter as he studied the faint crisscrossing scars on his hand from some terrible full moon. It was all well and good for them to joke about it, and normally he would have enjoyed the jokes making his burden feel like a less all-consuming weight. Right then though… it was another reminder that as much as he might think Elsa belonged with them, she wouldn't necessarily agree if given all the facts. Was it better to reject her before she could find out enough to be disgusted with him?

"Remus?" her soft question interrupted his pity session.

When he looked up there was something about her crystal-clear eyes in the moonlight that just broke something in him. It felt like a sudden fracture deep in his chest, just over his heart. She was so earnest and… There was such deep loneliness in her gaze and a desire that reflected his own not to have to push away everyone. For Merlin's sake, he was projecting on her now.

"You got a bit quiet there? Everything ok?" her melodic voice was full of sympathy he hadn't earned.

"Just not my favorite story," he muttered back, aware that he was blushing bright red and that the conversation had moved on from James' fictitious story while he'd wallowed.

"It's interesting to hear about another side of you," she smiled tentatively, "I think I'd like to meet this more carefree Remus at some point."

Well, that was unexpected. She'd liked the story? Suddenly aware his mouth had dropped open in his shock, he shook himself.

"Carefree Remus?" he croaked uncertainly.

"Not that there's anything wrong with being more serious," she rushed and put her hands out placatingly as pink tendrils began to creep into her hair, "Just, it would be fun to see you loosen up too. Not that you need to loosen up. What I meant was…"

She trailed off uncertainly before he realized he ought to say something. However, he found his mind was suddenly and uncharacteristically blank. It made him catch his breath. He wasn't sure his mind had ever truly been blank before.

"Moony can be a pretty fun guy when you get to know him," Sirius cut in graciously, slinging a friendly arm around the sandy-haired boy's shoulders, "Have I ever told you about the time he figured out how to turn everyone in the tower's hair pink?"

Remus felt his face flame with embarrassment and wished he could sink into the ground, "I only did it because you and James insisted…"

Sirius shook his head and laughed, "Oh no, Moony, you're not getting out of this that easily. This was all your plan."

Sirius launched into the tale and soon everyone was laughing together again. It was nearly midnight by the time they all stumbled back towards the castle. Most of the boys split off to the dorms, sticking to a route they knew no one would be patrolling. Remus took it upon himself to lead Elsa through a hidden passage and oft-overlooked corridor to the Hufflepuff rooms. She thanked him softly with a quick hug and slipped away before he could be sure it was real. It took nearly the whole walk back to convince himself it probably hadn't happened.

Elsa was on her way to the owlery again. So much had happened that she had to write Madame Thécaire despite not having received a reply to her first letter yet. Of course, if she happed to see Regulus again that was fine. It was obviously not her goal, but a delightful bit of happenstance was always welcome and delightful happenstance seemed to be in her cards as of late. There was a skip in her step she couldn't remember ever being there before as she strolled down the corridor to the owlery. She took the steps up the tower two at a time, practically skipping up the spiraling staircase, and…

there he was.

Framed perfectly by the golden afternoon light streaming in through the window, Regulus looked up to meet her gaze. Time seemed to slow as her heart thundered in her ears. Sure, she'd been thinking he might be there, hoping it really, but the reality of it was still somehow a surprise. Feathers drifted in the room around them as she searched for words, any words. He coolly broke off his gaze and went back to tying a letter to his owl.

"Hello," he said curtly, and ice prickled at her veins.

"H-hello," she replied unsteadily, "Fancy running into you here."

"It's the only place to send off letters," he retorted flatly.

Oh, Godric, the once airy room felt devoid of oxygen. She wanted to curl into herself and disappear. How on earth had she convinced herself he'd be pleased to see her? Her of all people? She could almost laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. Of course, he wasn't excited to see the Rossier Freak. She shook her head in disgust.

"Right of course, sorry," she murmured without meeting his gaze, "I'll just leave you to it then."

Merlin, he was being a dolt. Acting coolly to her because he was mad at Sirius would be a great way to drive her further into his arms. He shook himself as she turned to go and caught her wrist before she could flee. She let out a squeak and jerked away, her eyes dark and wide with panic, before realizing herself and blanching completely white.

Regulus took in in stride though, "You know, I have to say I prefer pink to this snow look."

He nodded to her hair and as if on cue it gained a mild pink hue, "That's better."

"Sorry, just surprised me there," she managed to squeak through the tightening in her throat.

"Any chance for another stroll around the sundial garden?" he ducked his head with a heart-meltingly unsure smile.

She nodded before the decision registered and he took her hand once more, sending a now all too familiar warmth up her arm. One look at his now beaming smile, and all the iciness of his earlier coolness melted instantly. And once again, the utterly perfect pureblood prince was leading her to the garden as they held hands and joked. Something fluttered desperately in her chest as he smirked in response to one of her jokes, his stormy grey eyes dancing in the mid-afternoon light. It wasn't long before they ended up at their bench again.

"So, are all the colors linked to your emotions like pink hair?" he twirled a strand of her strawberry blonde hair about his finger. He seemed to be scrutinizing her face as he asked.

She shrugged softly, "Seems likes it, I mean, pink usually happens when I blush. It gets blue when I'm sad, and I've been told my eyes go orange when I'm annoyed."

"So, what do grey eyes mean?" he asked while flicking his raven locks out of his hair.

"Oh," she looked puzzled, "I don't think they're been grey before."

"I swear the last time we were here," he motioned generally to the bench, "They were grey then, when you-"

He cut himself off. He wanted to say, 'when you almost kissed me' or 'when you couldn't stop looking at my lips,' but it seemed to not be the best thing to say. Instead, he amended himself, "I mean, when I noticed your freckles I think."

"Oh," she flushed pink and let the silence hang between them for a moment.

The only sound was the gentle trickle of the nearby fountain as she refused to meet his eyes. Instead, she stared at his hand on the bench next to her. There was only a hands length between the two of them. Here she was in the garden on the bench with a perfect pureblood heir again. Merlin, if Dahlia could see her now?

"Do you know what Dahlia and Evan are doing with Lucius?" she broke the silence suddenly, realizing there was a chance for some inside information.

He gave her a puzzled look and she briefly recounted the previous night's events, including Dahlia showing up and shooing her away.

"Is she always so cruel to you?" Regulus couldn't understand how anyone could talk to her that way.

"No, well… I wouldn't call it cruel necessarily," Elsa stared at her hands, as a bit blue began bleeding into her previously pink hair. If Regulus had been a muggle, he might have laughed at the cotton candy color combination. As it was, a slow simmering anger had begun deep in his stomach.

"Dahlia's dealt with a lot," she explained slowly, picking her words carefully, "It's not easy having a freak for a sister you know?"

"You're not-" she held her hand up to cut him off.

"I am, we both know I am," she shook her head softly, "But, Dahli tries her best. She's just trying to make her way through everything safely."

Regulus nodded, "Still, I'm sure it's not exactly fun to have a sibling hurt you constantly."

"There are parts of it that suck," she admitted softly, "She stole something the other day. A friend gave it to me, and she just came into my dorm and took it."

"Siblings can be a pain," he nodded sagely.

"Yours doesn't seem so bad," she nudged him playfully, attempting to regain some of her lost levity, "I mean, he seems nice enough."

Regulus shook his head vehemently, as a hot flush of anger swept over him, "He doesn't get it. If he would just fall in line, or at least stop purposefully flaunting his differences, it would just be so much easier. For both of us."

"Falling in line doesn't necessarily fix everything," she replied softly, "Once you've been marked out…"

He raked his hands through his hair in frustration, "How is it that I can't help putting my foot in my mouth every two seconds around you?"

She laughed with only a hint of bitterness left in her tone, "I must just have that effect on people."

AN for anyone who cares:

The extremely long delay between updates is mostly due to chapter 14. I wrote chapter 13 (this chapter) in June. Then I wrote most of chapter 15, an outline of ch 16, and all of ch 17. For some reason chapter 14 illudes me. I usually only put a chapter out when the next chapter is near finished in some vain hope I will begin to update regularly. However, ch 14 and I still aren't getting along. I hope to get it out soon and then the finished chapters 15-17, but just know it may be a while yet again.