He wasn't sure how long he watched the open air before she found him. It could have been minutes or hours. All that mattered was one moment he was freezing and alone and the next he was freezing with company.

Elena always had a knack for finding him when he least wanted to be found. It was one of those talents that was just so unexplainable it was stupid. Everything was stupid nowadays though.

"Go on then." She said. After that she sat across from him and watched his face. He wasn't sure what she was seeing exactly. It was dark enough to where she could only see a general outline.

Her hair was down oddly. That was the only thing he noticed about her. She never wore her hair down, she was ridiculous with following rules that weren't even expected of her. For the most part that was, not too long from now they would be enforced but now? She could enjoy her childhood.

Focusing on her made it easier for him to forget his own problems. Their influence crashing down, his grandfather's death. Had this all happened before?

The death yes, but their family problems? He wasn't sure anymore. He had been so young who knew what was flying over his head.

"I don't know what you're waiting for."

This time it was her turn not to reply. What was she looking for when she gave him that look? What was she expecting?

Did she want to hear their plan was ridiculous and he knew it? That his whole world was falling apart? That every time he looked at his brother all he could see was the mass murderer? What was she waiting for?

Instead of saying anything she moved to sit next to him. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders they watched the sky.

He still didn't understand her. But that was okay he supposed, as long as they had their agreement they could survive this.

Halloween was fast approaching. As was customary first years gathered around the great hall two weeks before the actual holiday to learn all about the church of merlin.

For children who weren't born into society it was almost like a fairytale they heard growing up. Some rejected the church and vowed only to believe in their Christian, Jewish, or whatever god they pleased. Others saw it as a different approach to religion and had a dual religion type of thing.

Regulus wasn't sure what to think of it. He had been born into this supposedly. In this life the church of Merlin was all around, everything they did revolves around it. You were blessed by the priests on the day of your first accidental magic, you visited the temples once a month and vowed on your magic. You learned all about Merlin and his deeds.

Yet in his previous world it was a sort of conspiracy only the daft believed. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do but he followed along so he wouldn't be labeled as a heretic. Almost all purebloods of good standing were either dual or solo merlinites. Officially he was dual, unofficially he didn't know anything.

He walked next to Nellie as she chatted his ear off about their temple and how beautiful it would be. He didn't dislike her, but she almost seemed disappointing when compared to her fearsome reputation. Even now people strayed away and gave her wary glances. Regulus couldn't fathom what was so terrifying about her.

"Do you know what they're gonna teach us?" He finally put in.

She rolled her eyes with a small laugh. "My bet is they're gonna do the sermon they always do and add a little more magic." Regulus almost wished she was wrong.

They stopped in front of the doors waiting impatiently for Professor Dumbledore to open it and announce their priest. Alex Slughorn was at the right of the double doors watching the two of them anxiously he noticed. He wondered for a passing moment what that was about. Nellie seemed to not even see him.

He couldn't keep the frown off his face. His chest was eating away at him. He wished this entire month would just be over with already.

Finally after taking a hundred years the headmaster made his appearance. With a pretty display of flashes and sparks he appeared right in front of the door. Poor Alex and another Ravenclaw boy jumped in freight. The headmaster was wearing long red robes and an emerald green hat. He almost looked like a carrot.

Nellie shivered and muttered something about exotic clothing. With a grand flush of his wand the doors sprang open behind him.

"Welcome students! I know for many of you this may seem strange and for some I'm sure this seems boring, but we're trying this year to cater to everyone." Even from the middle of the crowd Regulus could see the little twinkle in his eye when he said this. "After some nice feedback from the second years," he could only imagine what nice meant here, "we changed some of the curriculum taught in these upcoming lectures. Yes I did say lectures with an s, my apologies Ms. Caters I know you don't like sitting still."

He let out the deepest sigh he could. Of course by updating the curriculum would they make them learn even more than before.

"Now everyone please grab a buddy, that's it I mean everyone. There's an even number of you I expect everyone to have someone."

Nellie shared an uncomfortable glance with him. Touching another girl was inappropriate when you were attached to someone else, past a certain age it was very frowned upon. Especially in such a public setting.

She held out her hand and shrugged. He reached out and held onto her wrist. For both their comfort this was the best option. "Wonderful! Let's get inside now. Pick up the step now we have a nice full day ahead of you."

He almost wished classes hadn't been cancelled for the day.

As it turns out the lecture didn't go the way she predicted. In fact it turned out worst. Nellie hated being wrong and right now she cursed it.

The priest was one everyone mutually hated. All children who went to the Hogsmead temple knew Priest Merlin the jest. He was the most annoying of the priests to ever take the name Merlin.

Yet somehow he had been given the honor? He was horrible! He stood terribly cocky at the center of the great hall and gave them all this terrible look of condensation. They were forced to sit with their buddies lining up against the wall in order of house.

It didn't take long for even the Muggleborns to hate the man. There was just something about him that was so easy to hate. It was probably the voice. The most annoying voice in history! He just drew out every syllable of every word. He didn't know when to shut his mouth either. On and on he went.

She was practically falling asleep on Regulus and he was joining her. The only thing that kept her from tilting was the sight of Alex partnered up with Ele, he looked even more uncomfortable than Regulus had which was rather funny.

Ele of course didn't show any sign of emotion that wasn't pure happiness. She smiled and nodded along as the Priest drowned and droned and made the whole idea of church sound dreadful.

Was this their new revamped curriculum? If this was better she shuddered to think what the last years must have looked like.

She glared at the boy next to her who the audacity to laugh at something the stupid priest said. She couldn't believe they would have to go through multiple of these.

Nellie pulled at Regulus sleeve and made a face in the direction of Ele, who was currently torturing poor Alex. He tried to contain a smile as his eyes finally shot open from their suspiciously long blink.

"Wonder what she's saying to him?" She whispered out of the corner of her mouth.

"Probably some rumor. Did you hear about-"

And just like that their friendship turned into something she could actually appreciate. He made the lecture a little less boring as he seemed to remember all this sort of gossip. How fun.