Regulus couldn't sleep. He was having the dream again. Not that it was actually a dream but more a horrific memory.

He shifted so his legs were dangling off the side of his bed. His body drenched with sweat. It had been a few hours since he left Emma. He almost just stayed there but the thought of it seemed a little more than he was ready for. Not that he hadn't slept with a girl before but it had never been intentional. He'd always just fallen asleep and woke up to a girl on top of him. Not the worst thing but not the best when the girl was usually curled around him tighter than he was comfortable with. This... thing was different. He didn't leave after they finished their shower. He could have but instead he slipped back into her bed and talked with her a bit more.

It was funny really. He wasn't much of a talker but whenever he was talking to her it was so easy. Maybe it was because he'd been around her for years. So there was that level of comfort that had built organically over the years. Whatever it was, they stayed up late talking about their favorite board games (his; wizards chess, hers; wizarding trivial pursuit) and random things he was sure he would have never talked to anyone else about.

Leaning over, he ran his hands over his face and tried to slow his breathing. Count to ten inhale, count to ten exhale. Like... like his brother had taught them when they were little. Back when he was a foot and a half shorter with no need to shave every day or put a charm on his forearm to hide his tattoo or all the rest of his scars. Sometimes he missed Sirius so much it felt like it was suffocate him. He always acted like he didn't love his brother but even Sirius knew it was a lie. Sirius was his best friend. The only one that bothered to care about him. When he had to learn how to tie his shoes, when he had to learn how to read, when Regulus had to learn anything it was Sirius that took the time to teach him. He was never too cool to include his little brother or show Regulus he loved him. Until he got to Hogwarts.

All of a sudden he found friends and didn't need Regulus anymore. A part of him understood that though Sirius was there for Regulus no one was there for Sirius. No one could protect Sirius from their father's abuse or their mothers neglect. As an adult he understood some of it more now but he was still bitter about all of it. And the dreams weren't helping. He didn't want to remember how his brother had left. The blood, the screaming, the broken glass... He just wanted to forget everything. But his mind wouldn't let him.

Sometimes he thought that he repressed so many things his brain had filled his capacity. Maybe that's why he gravitated towards Emma in the first place. Unlike everyone he knew she wouldn't judge him or use his weaknesses to get ahead. Maybe he just liked the idea that if he needed to talk for once he could. And maybe she was another thing he couldn't bring himself to repress.

Either way he just wanted to be in control of himself. He wanted to be better, stronger and not so torn about everything all of the time.

Standing up, he showered and went for a run. It was still early so he didn't see a soul as he sprinted out of the castle. His feet pounded against the uneven ground and he tried to even out. In a few hours he'd be out with a girl while the rest of his dorm were at home screaming at their house elves about crust lined sandwiches. For a few hours he wasn't going to be a Black. He wasn't going to wear a tie and feel like everything he said was scripted and written by people who didn't know him at all. He could just be. And even if this was the only time he ever got the chance or let himself do it, he was taking it.

Just before it was time for breakfast he arrived back to his room. He wasn't quite sure what to wear on a date. He couldn't say he'd exactly been on one before. He'd slipped into dates but most of the time he hadn't realized he was on one until it came time to pay the bill and the girl would look up at him expectingly. Not that he minded. He had the money to spare and only once was the girl rude about it. But he hadn't really cared. They'd ended up snogging or shagging but at the end of the day it really didn't matter to him. He never fretted about whether he should wear jeans or what kind of shirt he should wear. With Emma he had no idea what to expect. He'd only seen three versions; school uniform, sweats or her Quidditch uniform. It didn't really give him a base to know what was appropriate.

When he met her by the boundary line by the forbidden forrest he was relieved to see she was wearing jeans and a red sweater. She hadn't put on much make-up just something around her eyes but her dark hair was down instead of up or pushed back like it usually was. He smiled at her and it quickly turned to a grin.

"Ready to go?"

She nodded but said. "Do you have anywhere in particular you were planning on taking me?"

"No. Not really."

"Mind if I pick? I have an idea and I swear no one would know you."

Regulus looked down at her for a moment before he gently held his hand out for her to take. He watched her brown eyes, so warm and big, look at his hand before she carefully slipped her hand into his.

"Your hands are so cold." She told him, stepping closer while she rubbed the circulation back into them.

"I always am." He said, fighting a smile.

Emma glanced up at him, rising up to kiss him. It was like he'd seen around. Girls hovering closer and closer before they'd kiss the boy ever so gently. He'd just never been the one in that equation before.

She smiled and he did too.

"Okay." She whispered. "Let's go."

When they landed Regulus wasn't sure what to expect. There were a lot of places he could go that someone wouldn't know him. Pureblood's tended to have specific routes and areas. When he opened his eyes he was surprised to see they were in some sort of building with ice in the center. She asked. "You can ice skate right?"

He nodded and followed her forward to get skates. "Do we have to pay?"

"No. It's free skate today." She explained. "I used to come here with my dad sometimes. His parents, my grandparents house, is just down the way."

Regulus slipped on the skates, tied the as tight as possible and lead her out to the rink. He hadn't ice skated in years. Back when Sirius and him were little. Their Uncle Alphard took them and promptly got them hot chocolate after. It was one of the most normal afternoons of his life. He wondered if this was what it was like to not be a Black, a Pureblood. Weaving around the rink, no structure, no weight. Just existing.

He looked over just in time to see her do the skating spins, she looked graceful. Something he wouldn't have used to describe Emma before that exact moment.

The joy on her face was radiant. He couldn't look away. Her dark hair flew around her, her arms spread out like she was flying. She beamed like a little kid and he couldn't help but smile the same way in return. She came over to him and took his hand. No hesitation, no silent conversation about who they were and what they should be doing. Just a girl holding a boys hand.

At one point he took her waist and started skating like they were dancing. Her laugh filled the room. By the time they came off the ice they were both thirsty and ready for some hot chocolate.

"Want to walk with it?" He suggested, slipping his hand back into hers.

She nodded and they walked around the town.

"Do your grandparents still live here?" He asked.

Emma shook her head. "No they're traveling. They're a bit of nomads. They lived here until three years ago when they decided they wanted to travel again. They get a bit restless."

"... Your grandparents?"

"Yeah." She smiled. "Age doesn't really stop them from doing anything. They're probably as fit as I am really."

"Wow."

"Are you close with your grandparents?"

"I was. I spent a lot of time there when I was little. I don't see my gran as much now that my grandfather is gone."

She looked over and said. "You call your grandmother gran?"

"Yeah."

"That's cute." She said softly. "What did you do with them?"

"Play chess with my grandfather or he would teach me about Greek myths."

Emma smiled. "And your gran?"

"Mostly just get food and talk shit about the rest of my family."

"...Really?!"

Regulus smiled. "Yeah. She kind of is the Queen of Pureblood society so she can say whatever she wants to whoever she wants. And she does."

"She sounds sassy."

"She.. that's a word for it." He laughed.

Emma grinned. "Do you still do lunch with her?"

"Some times. Not as much lately. There's been a lot going on."

"I see... My dad keeps trying to get me to visit my grandparents or go see them for a summer but I don't really fancy roughing it. I mean I don't think I'm necessarily prissy but I also hate camping or not having access to a shower."

Regulus listened and snorted. "I can agree with that."

"Yeah I couldn't necessarily see you roughing it." She laughed.

"What do you mean?"

Emma bit her lip and said. "You are always perfectly well put together... I've never even seen you with a hair out of place. Only time you have been anything less then perfect is after shagging and that's just because my hands were in your hair."

Regulus flushed at that. "You do, do that."

"Well... yes." She laughed again. "Just like you like to go after my neck."

"Hmmm." Regulus stopped walking and started kissing down her neck. "I do enjoy this."

She giggled and lightly smacked his arm. Drawing back, her brown eyes stared up at him. He could see attraction, amusement but for the first time, no fear. Regulus couldn't say he understood what was happening. A month or two ago he would never have kissed her, asked her out or be looking back at her the way he was.

"Is there anywhere around here to get food?"

"Mhmmm." Emma took his hand back and they went into a restaurant.

"I've never heard of some of these things."

"Because you are so Pureblood it's painful."

He laughed. "I'm too pureblood to know what-"

"Yes." She answered before he could finish.

Regulus threw a straw wrapper at her. Emma giggled and dodged it before he broke of the end of hers and shot it at him. Regulus grabbed more straws and tried to shoot them back and her but missed a couple of times leading Emma to double over in laughter.

A nearby waitress smiled and didn't reprimand them for taking all the straws, instead giving them a minute before asking them to order. Emma ordered for him, insisting that he at least try it before he left it. And he did try everything she put in front of him. Only being difficult when he knew she would kiss him to get him to do it.

When they walked out he asked her. "Why do you love Quidditch so much? I mean I've always liked it... but you... you really love it."

"It was kind of a family thing. Both of them loved watching me play. My mum... She really loved Quidditch. When she was little her dad used to sneak out and take her to games. Her mother didn't want her going because she was a girl but he took her anyway. And one day when I was little I just stumbled over to a broom and it lifted up for me." Emma smiled, "So she bought me a little kid one and I was just hooked ever since... She signed me up for all of the camps and things I could do and I've just never get tired of it."

"It is kind of freeing to be on a broom." He nodded, smiling at her last comment. "While the rest of the kids were sneaking out to the next town to get candy you were flying."

"And you stayed in your bunk where you were supposed to be."

Regulus looked at her, tilting his head.

"What?"

"You remembered that."

"What? You're surprised that I remember what you were doing but you clearly remember what I was doing?" Emma took a step closer. "Did it ever occur to you that I've known you for years so it's possible I could have noticed you before now?"

He flushed. "No."

She rolled her eyes.

"What?"

"You really think you're not worth paying attention to, don't you?"

The question threw him. Yes he knew he was generally attractive. Yes he knew he was a viable suitor. But he never thought about it like that. His brother was smart, and full of life. Everyone was drawn to Sirius, but Regulus was more of a acquired taste.

Emma leaned up and kissed him. Then as she pulled back, she cupped his face and said. "You're someone worth noticing Regulus."

He blinked, kissing her again and again until his lips were far past swollen.

When the sky started to darken they headed back, knowing people would be starting to head back to the dorms soon and at least one of their absences could be noticed. Regulus walked her to her door and said. "So."

Emma bit her lip and said. "So."

"I'm not stopping unless you want to."

"I don't want to stop."

Regulus smiled. "Okay... Um then maybe after practice we can sneak away?"

"Yes." She giggled. "I'd like that."

He kissed her. Probably for the millionth time that day but he still hadn't grow tired of it.

"Regulus." Emma sighed, gripping his jacket. "You need to go."

"Okay." He kissed her again and started to leave. "I'll see you."

Emma nodded, leaning into the doorframe.

Regulus understood what the expression 'walking on a cloud' felt like. When he dropped back on his bed, he couldn't wipe the smile off his face. He'd had the perfect day. He didn't even remember the morning anymore, only what it felt to have her hand grip his and hear the warmth of her laugh.

Eventually he heard the others come back from their weekends. He could hear them loudly bragging about the girls they shagging and insulting the girls who had obviously rejected them. It was the same things he'd heard countless times before. Now instead of being bored with it, he laughed to himself. Not because he outright found it amusing but because he could picture so clearly how ridiculous Emma would find it.

And he couldn't help but laugh.

Thank you for reading! Special thanks to everyone who reviewed! Please keep reading and reviewing!