I'm baaaaaack

A sinister conversation

So I actually did end up snogging Sirius in broom closet and he managed to coax me into admitting that it was quite nice. Okay really nice.

7th year at Hogwarts was proving to be more work than I had thought it would be, and our whole grade was suddenly confronted with the question of what next year and beyond would hold.

"Sirius stop hogging the sausages!" Mary cried across the table.

"Yeah mate you don't need them you've gotten fat" James added, as he stuffed his face with eggs.

"Ugh." Lily rolled her eyes and turned to me as the boys started rowing.

"You take that back I have not! – Bella have I?" Sirius grabbed my shoulders and started weeping in an extravagant manner.

"You really have, I think you better get back in shape if you want to stay together." I deadpanned.

Sirius gasped dramatically, and with the air of a theatre troupe actor delivering a tragic monologue, he continued, "shamed by my friends, deserted by my love…Will I amount to anything?"

I joined in the chorus of laughter at his antics, but my eyes caught some peculiar action across the room. At the Slytherin table I saw Thaddeus Gaunt dragging Regulus by the arm out of the hall, whispering furiously at him. The Slytherins watched them go sharing furtive glances at each other.

"Bella..? Are you alright? You usually lose it when I eat your food and I just snatched your toast right from under your nose" Sirius said. I looked around to see all my friends staring at me curiously.

"Oh," I chuckled awkwardly, "I just thought you could use it after all the fat shaming, chubby" I winked at him.

Everyone around roared with laughter while Sirius gave an outraged gasp.

I couldn't get my mind off what I just saw at the Slytherin table. I remembered the conversation I had with Regulus just a few weeks back on the Hogwarts express, and how scared he looked.

"Guys I have some potions homework to finish before class, I'm going to zip up to the common room, see you all later!" I stuffed my eggs into my mouth and got up from the table amongst well natured goodbyes from my friends and groans of protest from my boyfriend.

Once I exited the Great Hall, I ran in the direction of the dungeons. Having no idea where Thaddeus and Regulus had gone, I decided to head towards the Slytherin common room and hope they would be around.

I stopped short just as I was about to turn a corner when I heard voices. Angry voices. I tried to catch on to the conversation.

"-with you lately?! Have you lost your mind? This year is important, and we don't need you to screw up now!"

"I know, I know. I just… I don't know.. I'm thinking through stuff okay?" I started as I recognised Regulus' voice sounding timid and fearful.

"Oh yeah?" Thaddeus sneered, "well think about what side your on. Think about your family, your friends, your blood. If you let us down and turn into a coward, I. Will. Kill. You. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!" He roared.

There was silence.

I gulped and before I could stop myself I slowly poked my head around the corner.

Thaddeus had grabbed Regulus by the scruff of the collar and was holding him against the wall, looking livid.

Regulus had his face turned toward my direction but his eyes were lowered to the ground.

"Yes I understand." He finally said in a quiet voice. He lifted his head up when he spoke and my heart lept into my throat as his eyes locked straight onto mine. His eyes widened for a split second before Thaddeus let go of his collar and he stumbled to remain on his feet.

"Good." Thaddeus spat. He turned to walk towards me. I quickly ducked back around the corner and looked around. Only a long corridor. There was no way I could escape or hide anywhere before he turned the corner and saw me. My heart pounded in my chest as I heard his footsteps approaching.

"Oopsie, looks like someone is in trouble." A sinister voice chuckled darkly right by my ear.

I whipped around to see a painting of a haughty baron looking at me like I was a trapped mouse.

"Wait!" I heard Regulus shout to Thaddeus.

I heard the footsteps stop.

"What?!" Thaddeus demanded.

"I-I think-I don't think it's a good idea for you to go back to the hall…"

"Why ever not?!" I didn't need to see his face to know he was fuming.

"Because….the way we stormed out, my brother noticed. If we come back in then he'll get suspicious and start meddling."

"Wouldn't he be even more suspicious if we don't return?"

"No he has probably forgotten by now, the stupid dolt. But we best not remind him."

Another pause. Then I heard the footsteps resume, only now they were walking away from my direction.

"Listen here closely, Reg," Thaddeus said in a low voice. I strained to hear the conversation, "I don't need that fly messing around in our business. But make no mistake, I am not afraid of you or your git brother, do you hear me?"

"Of course, I know."

I peeked around the corner again to see Thaddeus stomping off in the opposite directions, towards the common room, and Regulus staring after him with he back of his head facing me.

Eventually he turned to look at me and I gasped inwardly at the malice in his eyes.

"What. Do you think. You're doing?!" He fumed as he stalked toward me.

"She's been eavesdropping, she has. Heard everythi-"

"SHUT UP" Regulus roared to the painting of the baron who had jumped in to frame me.

I flinched but stood where I was.

"I asked you a question" he said, looking directly at me.

"Why did you do that?" I queried, instead of answering him.

"Do what?"

"You saved me from being seen by Thaddeus. Why did you do that?" I repeated.

He grew red before seeming to become doubly angry.

"THAT'S IRRELEVANT. WHY DID YOU FOLLOW US?!"

"I was worried Reg! I-"

"DON'T CALL ME THAT! WE'RE NOT FRIENDS!"

The air grew eerily silent as there was no sound other than his harsh breathing as we stared at each other.

"I was worried Regulus. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

At first, he was too shocked to speak, then seemed to grow impossibly more furious, then, as he continued to stare into my unblinking eyes, I saw most of the bluster leave him and he visibly deflated. His shoulders sunk.

"Why? Why do you care?" His tone was quiet now. Guarded.

"I don't know, I just do."

"If it's because your involved with my stupid brother now so you somehow think you can take an interest in my affairs-"

"You think your brother sent me after you? If he knew what was happening he would have charged after you and blasted Thaddeus Gaunt into the Forbidden Forest!"

Regulus sneered, "Hah! He may be some heroic knight to you and your friends but you don't know him like I do. He's possibly the most cruel person I know! And he doesn't give a damn what happens to me!"

We kept staring each other down as I thought of how to reply.

"Look, I meant what I said. I'm not here because of Sirius or anyone else, I was worried so I followed you. It's as simple as that-" I saw his disbelieving frown and hurried to continue, "Regulus don't take this the wrong way but don't let people pressure you into doing something wrong-"

I stopped short because his countenance had turned nasty.

"You dare to presume what's going on with me? Just STAY OUT OF IT!"

Having had enough of the conversation, I turned to leave when I heard him say softly,

"For your own good…please just stay out of it."

I stood frozen for a moment before turning to face him once again.

He wore a heartbreakingly anguished expression and I can't remember how many moments we just stood there.

I watched him school his features and turn and leave.

Hey guys! It's been 2 years wow. So much has happened with me but I re-read the story and I couldn't resist continuing!

Just fyi, VERY LARGE CANON DIVERGENCE WITH REGULUS'S ARC INCOMING. In fact, pretty much everything will change so I can achieve the ending I want.

Don't read if you're not into it!

~Sugar