div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I sit on the rumbling train, I can see the countryside whizz by as the smell of the sweet trolley passes us. I'm waiting for James's reaction to his head boy badge, he hasn't started shouting it out to the heavens yet, maybe he's calmed down already. I smile, Flo eats her way into a pumpkin pasty as she searches for her homework planner./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'We have to start our study diary. We don't want to get left behind.' Flo says with a mouth-full of food, she brings out a small red notebook and plan and starts scribbling into it. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I'm going to check on Sirius. You do this while I'm gone.' I say standing up, Flo nods, her head bent over the homework planner, long blonde hair falling over her face./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I open the door and make my way towards the end of the carriage, I pass the Slytherin carriage and see Regulus inside, we lock eyes as I pass. I blush, he looks away, my blush intensifies when I see a hint of redness on his cheeks. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"The end compartments are full of loud Gryffindors, I finally open the door to their carriage. The marauders must be happy to have magic again since the carriage is decked out in Gryffindor colours and the are balloons and whizzing objects inside. It looks like a small party./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius and James are roaring loud with laughter as Remus is slapping his knee and covering his mouth with his hand muffling the snickers coming out. A trunk pops open and out comes a red-faced Peter, James starts laughing even harder, leaning on Sirius's shoulder for support, even I start giggling at that./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Finally they notice me. Sirius sheepishly looks at me, he knows that I was telling the truth last year, the bad things did come to pass. James immediatly bounces over to me and thrusts his head boy badge in my face./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I'm head boy!' He shouts in my ear. 'Did you know?' James looks excited. I nod and he whoops in joy. Peter's still trying to get out the trunk./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Dumbledores gone mad.' Sirius says rolling his eyes and coming up to ruffle James hair. 'He's gone daft in the head to make James head boy.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"James puffs out his chest. 'I'm going to take this serious though. I'm going to make sure Dumbledore chose correctly.' He walks back and sits back into his seat, pulling Sirius with him. 'How's it going Sophie?' /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I tuck my short choppy brown hair behind my ear, I had had it cut this summer. 'I was just wondering how your summers went?'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Good.' Remus shrugs. 'We stayed at James's place for a bit.' He bites the end of a black and red liquorice wand and offers one to me, I shake my head./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Yeah. Sirius came around early July though.' James puts an arm around Sirius and tugs him towards him, he ruffles Sirius's hair. 'He span style="font-style: italic;"finally/span ran away from home, he's staying with me now. I bet my mum already likes him better than me.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"The look in Sirius's eye is so heart-achingly broken with a hint of envy as James says those words. He wishes that his parents love him just as much as James parents love James./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'How about you?' Remus asks politely./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Good.' I say, I can hear footsteps drawing closer before stopping. All I know is it's a Slytherin, I hope there're not looking for trouble, I glance anxiously back into the corridor. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I visited a small town around the middle of England for a week, my great aunt lives there,' I shrug, 'so, you know.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"James groans and burns his face in his hands. His hands run through his messy black hair. 'Lily live in the middle of England.' He moans./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Oi mate!' Sirius says slapping James on the back. 'Forget about her. There are so many other birds out there.' He puts an arm around James and stretches out his hand as if he's seeing his name in bright bold letters. 'I can show you a world you've never seen before.' Sirius wolffishly grins at James. 'Cheer up.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I think I might give up on her.' James mutters brokenly. Everything stops, Sirius looks shocked, he obviously didn't think James would actually take his advice. Even Peter who was still in the middle of trying to get out the trunk stops and looks on astounded. Remus looks at me in a are-you-sure-James-isn't-crazy way, I shrug./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Woah, mate.' Sirius says holding up his hands. 'I didn't think you'll go this far.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Yeah,' Remus adds on with wide eyes. 'You've been chasing Lily for years, why now?'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'She hates me.' James says with a sad frown. 'She hates my guts. I should just give up and leave her alone. She's never going to say yes.' He rubs his face with his hands and blows out a sigh./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'But...' Peters voice trailed off. 'You've span style="font-style: italic;"always/span liked Lily.' /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"A shocked silence is left in the air as everyone stares at James. His head lies in his hands, he looks up at Peter, his glasses are crooked and his smile is a bit forced, he looks like someone who had just been defeated by a long awaited enemy./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I can't imagine you span style="font-style: italic;"not/span liking Lily.' Peter says quietly./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Don't get me wrong.' James says looking around. 'I still love her. I'm just... going to give her up. It's no use.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius looks astonished. 'Are you sure prongs?' /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Yeah.' James says glumly. 'You guys must have known for ages that she'll never go out with me. It's useless. I should've given up ages ago.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'She will go out with you.' I burst. Everyone looks at me. I can see a hint of hope in James's deafeated brown eyes. 'Just act yourself around her. Become her friend. I guarantee you will become her boyfriend by the end of the year.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"The air is thick with silence. James looks at me and croaks out, 'really?' I nod./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"James gives a shout of joy and jumps up and down in the air doing a jig. He picks me up and swings me around in the cramped compartment screaming, 'YES!' I laugh out loud in delight and happiness, ducking my head to avoid the ceiling. When he finally puts me down his smile is wide and he looks like the happiest man in the world./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I'M GOING TO DATE LILY EVENS!' James shouts. I know that everyone on the train heard and somewhere Lily is putting her head in her hands./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius and Remus clap James on the back and join in on the whoops and hollers. Peters still trying to get out of the trunk, I take pity on him and pull him out./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Why didn't you tell me sooner?' James grins picking up his wand and sending miniature fireworks into the air, the compartment is now filled with hues of red, blue and gold./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I shrug. 'You would have figured it out on your own anyway.' I pick up a sugar quill and make my way out. 'I'm going to go now. Bye!' I shout over the noise./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I shut the door and make my way back but before I had stepped two feet a voice stopped me./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'How did you know that Potter was going to get the mudblood?' A person steps out of the shadows of the Marauders compartment doorway. A wave of aristocratic features, black hair and elegant posture hit me like a truck and I'm dizzy, heat rushing to my cheeks. It's Regulus Black./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'You were listening?' I ask, I can't concentrate, everything seems to be going to fast and I'm nervous, words just blurting out of my mouth like a fright train./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Regulus rolls his eyes elegantly and twirls his wands between his fingers, I can tell it was meant to be threatening. I notice a red hue on his cheeks, is he blushing? 'Of course.' He says with sarcasm laced with venom. He raises a sharp accented dark eyebrow with a bored smile and I can tell he's waiting a answer to his original question./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I didn't. I just said it.' My voice sounds croaky. I clear my throat making a odd gargling noise, Regulus looks unimpressed. I am really not making a good impression./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Oh. Then why did Sirius say that you knew that he would run away before he did?' His sharp smile mocks me as he knows that he's got me trapped. First the marauders find out and now span style="font-style: italic;"him/span, I inwardly groan./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I collect my wits and answer with a clear mind, 'I really don't know what you're talking about.' I give him a confused glance. 'I would really like to get back to my compartment now. Thanks.' I try to sound confident and exsparated but I think he sees through it by the knowing smile he has./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'That span style="font-style: italic;"blood-traitor/span also said how he would come across money soon, he didn't need his inheritance.' Regulus sharp stormy grey eyes seem to break into my soul. 'A few days later he gets Uncle Alphards Will. A coincidence?' He stares at me intently. I shrug. 'Sirius told me it was span style="font-style: italic;"you /spanthat said it. How did you know?'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I roll my eyes. 'I span style="font-style: italic;"really/span don't know what you're talking about.' I make my move to leave. We're not in close proximity but as he raises his finger I can imagine it tapping on my wrist./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'You know things. And I'm going to find out how and why.' Regulus says giving me a thoughtful look before walking away. I stare at his retreating back. Flo was right, how could I span style="font-style: italic;"like/span someone like him? I don't know. I just do. It's been this way since third year when he let me borrow a quill from in Astonomy./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I groan and make my way back to my compartment with Flo. This year is starting horribly. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"—/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"A month into the start of school and I can see why Dumbledore made James head boy. He is a natural leader — as shown when he is captain of the Gryffindor quiddich team — and he is fair as a head boy, anyone would think that James would take advantage but he doesn't. He's fair and understanding, especially when it comes to being in trouble. He has also lowered down the pranks a little, not doing them nearly as often or as cruel. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Lily has also noticed the change in James as well, expecting the return of the boy who acted like nothing but a 'toe-ragged prat' (in her opinion) she was greeted with a man who still enjoyed pranks but had a bit more understanding of what is right and what is wrong. James would act like nothing but a polite acquaintance to her and was gradually becoming her friend, I can tell Lily is shocked and is going to fall for him soon./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sixth year you have a lot of stress put on you. Ravenclaws had to even ask the teacher to repeat the question in class twice while all the other houses sat in stupor. Fifth year paled in comparison to sixth year. There were tests every single week in every lesson, reviewing the topics we have learnt. Flo and I had already started making flashcards to help us in Potions, Charms and Ancient Runes, the only lessons we were taking together. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Flo had dropped Astronomy since her career in metal-charming hadn't needed it while had taken up Alchemy which was in the dungeons with Professor Pye, it was apparently needed in the department of mysteries. It usually involved the four basic elements with undertones of potions to it./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Since potions were so hard before every single lesson I would tell Flo every single detail of what would happen, every test, every remark and everything that I knew would be in the exam. Flo and I reviewed this all the time and for all lessons./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I would help in the marauders pranks as well, occasionally when Remus would study in the library he would go and ask Flo and I questions about who to prank and how to do it. We would give them the best tips etc. As of right now./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I sit in the library with Flo at the table in the very end of the library, right next to the restricted area, there is hardly any noise except the rustle of papers, the occasional sneeze and hushed whispers. Our heads are both bent over as we test each other on potions with hushed whispering./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'What are the characteristics of the potion Amortenia?' Flo whispers to me holding a small blue card infront of her face, she hides the potions book we were studying before away from me as well./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Mother-of-pearl sheen, the steam is in spirals and doesn't cause actual love, just causes powerful infatuation from the drinker.' I say ticking them off my fingers./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Good.' Flo says nodding along to my points. 'Now, do me.' She puts her flashcards down and turns towards me with a bright smile. I close my Potions book./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Name the nine instructions to create felix felicis.' I say. Flo frowns, it's a hard question./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Flo starts ticking them off her fingers. 'One, you add Ashwinder egg, then horseradish and heat. Two, juice a squill bulb and add to cauldron then stir vigorously-' she is cut off when Remus appears looking hassled./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Bumped into Regulus in the way here.' Remus says explained his rumpled appearance. He raises an eyebrow. 'I heard him mutter your name as I went. Any ideas?'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I blushed and shook my head. 'I don't know people's emotions, only actions.' /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Remus nods. 'Well, Padfoot wants to prank the professors tonight with their food and it's really easy to do a charm on the food but we need to know which foods will be sent to the head table and which won't. The house elves are banned from telling us since the prank in third year.' Remus smiled while Flo and I snickered. Third year was a good year for pranking. I hear a rustle of books being pulled out from a bookshelf near us,/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'The food going to the professors will be right on the left side of the kitchen, right by that massive table. You'll see this house elf named Winkles, he has really big flappy ears and he'll be wearing all green. He'll be standing by the food.' I say gesturing with my hands./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Remus nods and mutters a thanks before leaving quickly./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Flo raises both eyebrows. 'That was quick.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I shrug. 'Probably had to get back to make sure Sirius hadn't burned the place down. Anyway, he'll be revising hard now. Well, he should be.' I say with a thoughtful frown. I pull out my flashcards, 'now where were we? Oh yeah, you were on number two on how to create feliz felicis using nine steps.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Flo lets out a groan./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"—/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I walk quickly towards the Owlery in the West tower where I know Sirius will be pranking the owls, next time the owls fly into the Great Hall they'll drop howlers which will bellow out limericks. James and Remus are coming later with the rest of the howlers, Peter's still doing the singing howlers./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I pass a couple sitting on a window ledge kissing, blonde hair was tangled in the boys fingers as they furiously make out. I scrunch up my nose in disgust, really? Why in the middle of a busy corridor? /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Just as I was about to walk away did I notice something familiar about the scarf the girl was wearing. That was the scarf I bought Flo! That was Flo and Rodger./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Flo?' I say in shock. I thought she was in the library./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"The couple immediatly broke apart. Flo looks flustered as she glances at me, Rodger fixes his tie and doesn't look me in the eye. There's a small silence./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Hey Sophie.' Flo says with embarrassment written all over her. 'What are you doing here?' She flattens her hair and dusts the imaginary lint of her shoulder./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Going to the Owlery.' I say. I break out into a grin and wink at Flo, ignoring Rodger completely. 'See you later.' I widen my eyes and give emphasis on my nod. Flo rolls her eyes, she knows I'll make her tell me everything later. I turn away and look at my watch. Only half an hour until quiet time./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I continue walking with a small skip in my step. People pass me by talking, I can see a group of Slytherins in the distance through the window hanging around the Whomping Willow. I shake my head remembering second year when poor Davey Gudgeon lost an eye trying to touch the bark./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Since the library was so busy there were a lot of seventh years studying on the Great Staircase or in random spots of the corridors. A group of Gryffindors were revising in a small circle in the floor, I had to step over their feet to carry on. A Ravenclaw with his head buried into a book hurried right past me, nearly hitting me if I had not turned in time. I look back and see him in a heap on the floor over the Gryffindors feet./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I finally reach the Owlery and climb the steps to get there. As I neared I heard Peters dreadful singing. I push open the door and I was greeted with a stricken Sirius Black covered in feathers holding a open howler. I hide a giggle as Peters awful singing continued. Sirius groans and begins attaching the howlers to random Owls. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"At my raised eyebrow he explains Peters singing in a loud voice to be heard. 'An Owl attacked me and the howler opened. I have to let it continue for it to stop.' He glares at the said animal who gives a haughty fluff of her brown feathers. 'Vicious creatures.' The owl nips Sirius with its beak, he yelps and glares even harder. Sirius takes another red howler out of the overflowing black sack he has at his feet and clips it onto a pure white owl who stare indigentlay at him. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I snickered. 'Look, I'll help.' I take some howlers from the back and began tying them to owls. Sirius sighs in relief and rubs his hands together./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I need a fag.' Sirius mutters pulling a cigarette out of his pocket and lighting it with his wand./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I can tell why all the girls go for Sirius. He's got a bad boy quality with his fags (as the latest trend is called) and leather jackets. He's marvellous at sweet talk as well and could charm even McGonagall into having his way. It doesn't help that he has the aristocratic features and the wealth to match./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"After five minutes Peters voice subsided and we both sighed in relief. I thought I was about to go mad. We tie the owls in silence for a moment before I speak up./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'So, when you ran away.' I say. Sirius looks up immediatly. 'What did you tell your family?' I ask hesitently, I didn't want to upset Sirius, I just wanted to see if Regulus was bluffing on the train./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius shrugs uncaringly and takes the fag out of his mouth. 'Oh, things.' He ties another howler to a owl and blows out the smoke in great beg circles. I cough and wave my hands around my face as the smoke hits my face, Sirius smiles. 'I said how I'm going to run away, become independent, how I didn't need them. Things like that.' He turns his face away from me and bends down into the howler sack, rummaging around for another howler./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Oh. Did you say anything about me?' I ask. Sirius appears from the sack with a end howler clutched in his fist. He looks at me with a raised eyebrow questioning./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Noo. I don't think so. It was a long time ago, I try to forget about it. Why?' Sirius looks at me suspiciously. I put a temporarily sticking charm on the howler innocently./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I don't know. Just wondering.' /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"We work in silence for a moment before I speak again./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'You have contact with Regulus, right?' I ask./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius sighs. 'Regulus hates me.' At my disapproving look he defends himself. 'I tried. When I ran away I told him that he could see me anytime if he was in trouble and he just looked and me and said, I span style="font-style: italic;"quote/span, 'why would I ever associate myself with a filthy blood-traitor like you.'' /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius rolls his eyes and huffs in frustration as the howler he's tying on the owl is too fiddly. I wave my wand and put a temporarily sticking charm on it. I rub his back in sympathy./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Happens to the best of us.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'It's no big deal right? If Regulus doesn't want to see me anymore.' Sirius reaches for another howler. 'I know you said last year it's really important, but Regulus isn't span style="font-style: italic;"that/span stupid to get himself into anything that gives him a bad gut feeling.' Sirius grins. 'If I taught him anything it was that.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I nod even though I know he was trying to convince himself more than me. I hope that Regulus would go to Sirius when things go bad which I know that they will./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Did you know the hat wanted to put him in Ravenclaw?' Sirius asks. I shake my head, he grins smugly at me not knowing something. 'Yeah, I wasn't too shocked when I heard, Regulus was always the clever one, the one who would actually care about his grades. I was just disappointed that he chose Slytherin. One in a line of many other span style="font-style: italic;"stupid/span things that he has done.' He finishes it off with a frown. We work in silence for a moment before a take another look at the sack./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Dear Morgana.' I sigh and rub my face. 'How many Hogwarts students are there?' I look at the sack. It isn't overflowing anymore but it's still pretty full./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'These are only the people that have owls.' Sirius reminded me with a crooked grin blowing out smoke./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'span style="font-style: italic;"And/span James and Remus are coming up with more howlers.' I add looking around. The Owlery was filled with owls sitting on perches, the floor was strewn with straw and bird dropping. The smell reminds me of a wet barnyard that my uncle owns, I can hear owls cooing into the evening. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"A bang sounds behind the thick wooden entrance door, it sounds Sirius and I frown in harmony then look at each other before looking back at the door waiting for it to open. I raise an eyebrow at the still door, it hasn't opened, Sirius gives me a nod and we move towards the door. Only then did I notice a small slit in the door. Someone could have been listening./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius opens it quickly, there was no one there, only a grey stone corridor and a smashed vase lying on the ground. It must have fallen of the grandfather clock standing right outside the entrance./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius looks at me confused. 'Do you span style="font-style: italic;"know/span who was outside.' He looks back at the vase again and takes a drag out of his cigarette. The smoke rises in characteristics spirals./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I huff. 'I don't span style="font-style: italic;"know/span everything. Only some things.' I look at the vase. 'They must have run pretty quickly afterwards, they could've just mended the vase.' I waved my wand and murmured, 'reparo.' The vase fixed itself and Sirius put it gingerly back on top of the grandfather clock./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Yeah.' Sirius looks thoughtful. 'They must've known we would come out and check.' /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"We walked back into the Owlery closing the door firmly behind us./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'The door was open a bit as well.' I say, I pick up another howler but I'm distracted, I nearly tie it onto the owls beak before I realise what I'm doing. 'They could have been listening.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius smirks, 'too bad they didn't hear anything interesting.' He says sarcastically./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'They probably didn't understand anything.' I say, trying to convince myself more than trying to convince Sirius. I cough as a plume of smoke blows in my face. 'Sirius!' /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius gives me a roguish grin. 'Sorry love.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I can really see why girls chase after him./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I roll up my sleeves. 'We better get this done quickly.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"—/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Christmas passes like a storm with presents and festive cheer. Most of the time I wished I had spent Christmas at Hogwarts. Flo wasn't here, her parents had to go on a business trip to Asia taking Flo with them, it was a good opportunity for her since metal-charmers are well-known and have a lot of history in Asia./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"When I got back to Hogwarts I was ecstatic with joy. The train ride was filled with Flo and I talking about everything, Asia, metal-charmers, Rodger, her parents, everything. I went to go see the marauders for a bit to see how Remus was doing and when I got there I was in for a surprise for there was Lily Evens having the time of her life sitting next to James. They both looked so happy./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Remus told me in hushed whispers that they're only friends, it's obvious that Lily likes James but James is too scared to ask her out just in case Lily says no and then start hating him again. I rolled my eyes and told Remus that that was preposterous. I mean, she dealt with Snape all these years and he still had a crush on her./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"At school we were given more work than ever. That's why on a lovely rare sunny Sunday morning I'm sitting in the library while everyone else is outside. I couldn't study outside, it was to noisy and the sun made me sleepy. Flo was spending the day with Rodger, apparently he was a marvellous kisser when I knew for a fact that he wasn't. I grinned then buried my head in my arms groaning, I hate Alchemy, it's so similar to Potions yet so different./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Need help?' A smooth voice sounds to me from my quiet corner of the library filled with studious Ravenclaws. It's Regulus Black and he's leaning on the table right next to him. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'No, I'm fine.' I say quickly. I turn my face away so he wouldn't see the blush, I try and will it away. It fades down which was better than our last meeting./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Hmmm, and I thought you knew things.' I frown at him but he just bends down to have a look at my Alchemy questions with calm elegance. 'I think... wow, that is hard.' He looks shocked as if he's never seen anything this difficult before. He scans all the questions, the blood leaving his face rapidly, his eyes get a glint of nervousness. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Was this our homework?' He asks with wide eyes. All the calm composure and elegance before gone, I look at him as if seeing him with new light, who knew homework could get Regulus Black all up in a tiff. I hide a smile and tuck my brown hair behind my ear, it just flows infront of my face again. Sometimes I hate having short hair (even though it was down to my shoulders) the choppiness doesn't help./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Yeah.' I say burying my head in my hands. 'And it's due tomorrow.' I moan and look up at my unfinished homework again, it lies on the tables, mocking me./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Regulus is looking at me with wide shocked eyes, he then looks down at his bag and begins rummaging furiously in it, muttering before pulling a chair out and sitting in it./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I never knew this.' Regulus whispers shocked, looking at the paper held in his hands infront of him, he places it on the table and gets his supreme limited edition quill from his bag./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Now it's my turn to look at him with wide eyes. Regulus Black just sat right next to me. I turn away and bury my head into my Alchemy text book./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Regulus looks at his paper in worried confusion. 'Did we even span style="font-style: italic;"learn /spanthis?' He asks looking confused. I shrug, I don't think I know how to answer./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Regulus writes down all the answers he knew. Which wasn't a lot, so he knew as much as me. I scratches his head and frowns at question eight. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Do you know this one?' He asks, tapping question eight./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I've looked through all the books and I can't find out this question.' I say shaking my head. Regulus looks over at my paper and points to question twenty five with a satisfied smile./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I know this one. It's Nicholus Flamel. Dumbledore used to work with him. He says. We both write down the answer. I can see how Sirius said that Regulus would have made a good Ravenclaw. He must really care about his grades, more so than other Ravenclaws I know./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"An hour later I've forgotten that the person sitting next to me was span style="font-style: italic;"Regulus Black, /spanthe boy I have had a crush on for years. Now he's just Regulus Black, a normal person, the boy who's not very sociable and cares a lot about his grades. When he's worried or stressed his whole mask fades. We've been helping each other out with all the questions, turns out we're actually quiet a good team, this make my insides curl up in joy./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'And we're done.' I close up my book with a happy grin. 'Good work partner.' I raise my hand for a high-five. Regulus just stares at it like an alien. Only then did I remember that we've finished, there's no reason for him to stick around anymore./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Regulus lightly taps my hand as I look on at him surprised. He actually high-fived me. I thought that was too low for a pure-blood like himself to do./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'We do not mention this.' Regulus's mask is back on, he packs his things and stands up abruptly with a red tinge to his face, identical to my own. Just as he walks away he turns back. 'Thank you for helping me. You didn't need to.' Then he goes in a whoosh of handsome features and strict poise./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I feel giddy and I can't stop smiling./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"—/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"The next Sunday morning I'm in the Library again, still finding an empty table in the very corner hidden by the restricted section. I start working on my Alchemy again. Last week when I handed my homework in Professor Pye was impressed, apparently Regulus and I were the only ones that actually completed it./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I chew the end of my quill, why is Alchemy so hard? I scrunch up the currant parchment I'm writing on in fustration and grab a new one./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Suddenly a shadow appears over me. It's Regulus again and he looks unsure holding his Alchemy homework, I can see the crossings and scribbles even from here./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"He sits down next to me and we start to work together. Helping each other and by the time the hour is over we've finished and we go our own way./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Soon every Sunday morning becomes the Sunday where I would sit down in the Library starting on my Alchemy. A few minutes later Regulus would join me and we would start to work together. Pretty soon we not just working together, we ask each other questions about ones life and talk about everything and anything. I'm actually getting to know the real Regulus and not just the cold Slytherin Prince that he portrays./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Quickly every Sunday morning becomes every Sunday morning, lunchtime and noon. Then every Sunday becomes every Sunday and Saturaday, then Wednesday joins. Soon it's every lunchtime or whenever we can we'll just meet in the table in the corner of the Library hidden by the restricted section./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"No one notices. Only Flo hangs around me and she's always with Rodger then, the marauders do their own business, only asking me whenever they need help with a prank, though I swear one time when I went on my way to the library James gave me a thumbs up. I frowned at him while he just winked at me before Remus smacked his head./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I can tell that Regulus knows about the me knowing things, but we don't talk about it. We don't even acknowledge it except when I say something and Regulus responds with, 'oh, do you span style="font-style: italic;"know/span it?' Or something along the lines of that. It was a very peaceful and fun friendship./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"One day on a Wednesday evening I was sitting on my usual table in the Library seeing if Regulus would come or not. The Easter holidays had just finished, I remember loads of Sixth and Seventh years went home this year. Hardly anyone goes home at the Easter holidays but apparatus toy this year was the time to go home at Easter. I wish I know why. Regulus hadn't appeared yet in the library.p so I was stuck with answered homework. I never noticed how much I relied on Regulus to correct me or to tell me when I was wrong, which wasn't a lot since I span style="font-style: italic;"know /spanquite a lot of things./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I had trouble with my Charms and since Flo was with Rodger I was hoping Regulus could help even though he hadn't shown up on either Monday or Tuesday. Flo knows about Regulus's and I's blooming friendship, she still doesn't like him but she's happy with it. Whenever I get back she always needs to know all the details. I groaned as I had to cross out yet another mistake, my page was blotchy, I resigned to just reading through the work first./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Footsteps sound around the bookshelf. Regulus appears looking hassled and worried. As soon as he saw me I can tell a mask was on, his face showed no emotion./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Hey Regulus.' I say patting the seat next to me. To say we have become acquaintances is an understatement, I would say friends is a better term, which I'm so happy about. 'Where've you been?'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Immediatly as soon as I said the words I know where he has been. Where all the Slytherins have been. I look at Regulus in horror, his eyes widen and I catch him unconciously rubbing his left forearm./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'You've... You've got the... You're already...' I say. My voice trails off at the start of every sentence although we both know where they're leading./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Regulus stands up quickly. 'You tell anyone-' his face is haggard and lined with lines. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I touch his arm. 'I won't. Trust me. I know.' I shuffle my charms papers. There's an odd silence which hasn't happened for a long time now./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'All the Slytherins...' I trail off again. Regulus nods and pulls out the charms. He hasn't made a scratch on it./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Well, I carry on ignoring the elephant in the room. 'I've made a mess of my charms papers. Do you think you can help?' I push the half written essay towards Regulus. He takes in the crosses and ink blots./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'So you're.' He gestures and widens his eyes. 'Not going to say anything. You don't care. You don't want to know.' He seems confused, I really don't mind, he can tell me in his own time. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I shrug. 'I don't really mind.' I take back my badly written charms paper./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Some people would find that answer really annoying.' Regulus drawls, tapping his quill against his piece of new parchment. He's got perfect poise and everything about him is elegant, his hair, his fingers, his teeth, his clothes. While Sirius is a bad boy Regulus is the complete opposite, always wanting to make everyone happy, always wanting to live up to expectations even if it meant consequences to himself. Sirius doesn't care while Regulus cares too much./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Well, I'm glad your not some people.' I quip back with a smile. Blush rises to my cheeks and I avoid looking at Regulus but I take a sneak peek and I see he's looking away as well. I sigh./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"After a moment of comfortable silence Regulus says, 'you know when you were in the Owlery with Sirius. It was me that accidently pushed over the vase. I was listening.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I shrug. 'I know. I realised in our study session when we revising the polyjuice potion. You said something and I just remembered.' I flipped the page in the charms book infront of me./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I was also the person listening when Remus was asking your help for pranks.' He says./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I know that one as well.' I smirk at him. 'I span style="font-style: italic;"know/span quite a lot of stuff. Don't test me.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Regulus opened his mouth again but I beat him to it. 'And I span style="font-style: italic;"know/span you were spying on me to get evidence to see how I know things.' I shrug. 'I just know it. Anyway, do you know any other advantages to a non-verbal spell other that it the opponent no idea what spell you're using and by that, split-second advantage.' I look at him leaning my head into my palm, my arm resting on the table. My other hand was writing./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Regulus looks at me shocked. 'Well you do know how to change a conversation. And no, there're no other advantages... I don't think.' He frowns and flips through his charms book. 'No, no other advantages. You're good.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Thanks.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"—/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Authors note/span/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"span style="font-weight: bold;" /span/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Hey guys it's FanaticFudge. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I put in a little Regulus and Sophie. I'm sure some of you might think Regulus is a bit out of character but we don't know much about him only that he defied Voldemort, Sirius brother and he was in Slytherin. So I'm sure that sometimes he acted all cold and harsh but if you get to know him he'll be just like a normal person. So I wanted to show Regulus as a normal person. Thanks for reading. Bye. :)/span/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'We have to start our study diary. We don't want to get left behind.' Flo says with a mouth-full of food, she brings out a small red notebook and plan and starts scribbling into it. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I'm going to check on Sirius. You do this while I'm gone.' I say standing up, Flo nods, her head bent over the homework planner, long blonde hair falling over her face./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I open the door and make my way towards the end of the carriage, I pass the Slytherin carriage and see Regulus inside, we lock eyes as I pass. I blush, he looks away, my blush intensifies when I see a hint of redness on his cheeks. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"The end compartments are full of loud Gryffindors, I finally open the door to their carriage. The marauders must be happy to have magic again since the carriage is decked out in Gryffindor colours and the are balloons and whizzing objects inside. It looks like a small party./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius and James are roaring loud with laughter as Remus is slapping his knee and covering his mouth with his hand muffling the snickers coming out. A trunk pops open and out comes a red-faced Peter, James starts laughing even harder, leaning on Sirius's shoulder for support, even I start giggling at that./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Finally they notice me. Sirius sheepishly looks at me, he knows that I was telling the truth last year, the bad things did come to pass. James immediatly bounces over to me and thrusts his head boy badge in my face./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I'm head boy!' He shouts in my ear. 'Did you know?' James looks excited. I nod and he whoops in joy. Peter's still trying to get out the trunk./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Dumbledores gone mad.' Sirius says rolling his eyes and coming up to ruffle James hair. 'He's gone daft in the head to make James head boy.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"James puffs out his chest. 'I'm going to take this serious though. I'm going to make sure Dumbledore chose correctly.' He walks back and sits back into his seat, pulling Sirius with him. 'How's it going Sophie?' /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I tuck my short choppy brown hair behind my ear, I had had it cut this summer. 'I was just wondering how your summers went?'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Good.' Remus shrugs. 'We stayed at James's place for a bit.' He bites the end of a black and red liquorice wand and offers one to me, I shake my head./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Yeah. Sirius came around early July though.' James puts an arm around Sirius and tugs him towards him, he ruffles Sirius's hair. 'He span style="font-style: italic;"finally/span ran away from home, he's staying with me now. I bet my mum already likes him better than me.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"The look in Sirius's eye is so heart-achingly broken with a hint of envy as James says those words. He wishes that his parents love him just as much as James parents love James./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'How about you?' Remus asks politely./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Good.' I say, I can hear footsteps drawing closer before stopping. All I know is it's a Slytherin, I hope there're not looking for trouble, I glance anxiously back into the corridor. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I visited a small town around the middle of England for a week, my great aunt lives there,' I shrug, 'so, you know.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"James groans and burns his face in his hands. His hands run through his messy black hair. 'Lily live in the middle of England.' He moans./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Oi mate!' Sirius says slapping James on the back. 'Forget about her. There are so many other birds out there.' He puts an arm around James and stretches out his hand as if he's seeing his name in bright bold letters. 'I can show you a world you've never seen before.' Sirius wolffishly grins at James. 'Cheer up.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I think I might give up on her.' James mutters brokenly. Everything stops, Sirius looks shocked, he obviously didn't think James would actually take his advice. Even Peter who was still in the middle of trying to get out the trunk stops and looks on astounded. Remus looks at me in a are-you-sure-James-isn't-crazy way, I shrug./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Woah, mate.' Sirius says holding up his hands. 'I didn't think you'll go this far.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Yeah,' Remus adds on with wide eyes. 'You've been chasing Lily for years, why now?'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'She hates me.' James says with a sad frown. 'She hates my guts. I should just give up and leave her alone. She's never going to say yes.' He rubs his face with his hands and blows out a sigh./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'But...' Peters voice trailed off. 'You've span style="font-style: italic;"always/span liked Lily.' /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"A shocked silence is left in the air as everyone stares at James. His head lies in his hands, he looks up at Peter, his glasses are crooked and his smile is a bit forced, he looks like someone who had just been defeated by a long awaited enemy./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I can't imagine you span style="font-style: italic;"not/span liking Lily.' Peter says quietly./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Don't get me wrong.' James says looking around. 'I still love her. I'm just... going to give her up. It's no use.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius looks astonished. 'Are you sure prongs?' /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Yeah.' James says glumly. 'You guys must have known for ages that she'll never go out with me. It's useless. I should've given up ages ago.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'She will go out with you.' I burst. Everyone looks at me. I can see a hint of hope in James's deafeated brown eyes. 'Just act yourself around her. Become her friend. I guarantee you will become her boyfriend by the end of the year.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"The air is thick with silence. James looks at me and croaks out, 'really?' I nod./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"James gives a shout of joy and jumps up and down in the air doing a jig. He picks me up and swings me around in the cramped compartment screaming, 'YES!' I laugh out loud in delight and happiness, ducking my head to avoid the ceiling. When he finally puts me down his smile is wide and he looks like the happiest man in the world./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I'M GOING TO DATE LILY EVENS!' James shouts. I know that everyone on the train heard and somewhere Lily is putting her head in her hands./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius and Remus clap James on the back and join in on the whoops and hollers. Peters still trying to get out of the trunk, I take pity on him and pull him out./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Why didn't you tell me sooner?' James grins picking up his wand and sending miniature fireworks into the air, the compartment is now filled with hues of red, blue and gold./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I shrug. 'You would have figured it out on your own anyway.' I pick up a sugar quill and make my way out. 'I'm going to go now. Bye!' I shout over the noise./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I shut the door and make my way back but before I had stepped two feet a voice stopped me./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'How did you know that Potter was going to get the mudblood?' A person steps out of the shadows of the Marauders compartment doorway. A wave of aristocratic features, black hair and elegant posture hit me like a truck and I'm dizzy, heat rushing to my cheeks. It's Regulus Black./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'You were listening?' I ask, I can't concentrate, everything seems to be going to fast and I'm nervous, words just blurting out of my mouth like a fright train./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Regulus rolls his eyes elegantly and twirls his wands between his fingers, I can tell it was meant to be threatening. I notice a red hue on his cheeks, is he blushing? 'Of course.' He says with sarcasm laced with venom. He raises a sharp accented dark eyebrow with a bored smile and I can tell he's waiting a answer to his original question./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I didn't. I just said it.' My voice sounds croaky. I clear my throat making a odd gargling noise, Regulus looks unimpressed. I am really not making a good impression./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Oh. Then why did Sirius say that you knew that he would run away before he did?' His sharp smile mocks me as he knows that he's got me trapped. First the marauders find out and now span style="font-style: italic;"him/span, I inwardly groan./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I collect my wits and answer with a clear mind, 'I really don't know what you're talking about.' I give him a confused glance. 'I would really like to get back to my compartment now. Thanks.' I try to sound confident and exsparated but I think he sees through it by the knowing smile he has./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'That span style="font-style: italic;"blood-traitor/span also said how he would come across money soon, he didn't need his inheritance.' Regulus sharp stormy grey eyes seem to break into my soul. 'A few days later he gets Uncle Alphards Will. A coincidence?' He stares at me intently. I shrug. 'Sirius told me it was span style="font-style: italic;"you /spanthat said it. How did you know?'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I roll my eyes. 'I span style="font-style: italic;"really/span don't know what you're talking about.' I make my move to leave. We're not in close proximity but as he raises his finger I can imagine it tapping on my wrist./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'You know things. And I'm going to find out how and why.' Regulus says giving me a thoughtful look before walking away. I stare at his retreating back. Flo was right, how could I span style="font-style: italic;"like/span someone like him? I don't know. I just do. It's been this way since third year when he let me borrow a quill from in Astonomy./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I groan and make my way back to my compartment with Flo. This year is starting horribly. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"—/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"A month into the start of school and I can see why Dumbledore made James head boy. He is a natural leader — as shown when he is captain of the Gryffindor quiddich team — and he is fair as a head boy, anyone would think that James would take advantage but he doesn't. He's fair and understanding, especially when it comes to being in trouble. He has also lowered down the pranks a little, not doing them nearly as often or as cruel. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Lily has also noticed the change in James as well, expecting the return of the boy who acted like nothing but a 'toe-ragged prat' (in her opinion) she was greeted with a man who still enjoyed pranks but had a bit more understanding of what is right and what is wrong. James would act like nothing but a polite acquaintance to her and was gradually becoming her friend, I can tell Lily is shocked and is going to fall for him soon./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sixth year you have a lot of stress put on you. Ravenclaws had to even ask the teacher to repeat the question in class twice while all the other houses sat in stupor. Fifth year paled in comparison to sixth year. There were tests every single week in every lesson, reviewing the topics we have learnt. Flo and I had already started making flashcards to help us in Potions, Charms and Ancient Runes, the only lessons we were taking together. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Flo had dropped Astronomy since her career in metal-charming hadn't needed it while had taken up Alchemy which was in the dungeons with Professor Pye, it was apparently needed in the department of mysteries. It usually involved the four basic elements with undertones of potions to it./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Since potions were so hard before every single lesson I would tell Flo every single detail of what would happen, every test, every remark and everything that I knew would be in the exam. Flo and I reviewed this all the time and for all lessons./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I would help in the marauders pranks as well, occasionally when Remus would study in the library he would go and ask Flo and I questions about who to prank and how to do it. We would give them the best tips etc. As of right now./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I sit in the library with Flo at the table in the very end of the library, right next to the restricted area, there is hardly any noise except the rustle of papers, the occasional sneeze and hushed whispers. Our heads are both bent over as we test each other on potions with hushed whispering./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'What are the characteristics of the potion Amortenia?' Flo whispers to me holding a small blue card infront of her face, she hides the potions book we were studying before away from me as well./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Mother-of-pearl sheen, the steam is in spirals and doesn't cause actual love, just causes powerful infatuation from the drinker.' I say ticking them off my fingers./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Good.' Flo says nodding along to my points. 'Now, do me.' She puts her flashcards down and turns towards me with a bright smile. I close my Potions book./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Name the nine instructions to create felix felicis.' I say. Flo frowns, it's a hard question./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Flo starts ticking them off her fingers. 'One, you add Ashwinder egg, then horseradish and heat. Two, juice a squill bulb and add to cauldron then stir vigorously-' she is cut off when Remus appears looking hassled./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Bumped into Regulus in the way here.' Remus says explained his rumpled appearance. He raises an eyebrow. 'I heard him mutter your name as I went. Any ideas?'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I blushed and shook my head. 'I don't know people's emotions, only actions.' /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Remus nods. 'Well, Padfoot wants to prank the professors tonight with their food and it's really easy to do a charm on the food but we need to know which foods will be sent to the head table and which won't. The house elves are banned from telling us since the prank in third year.' Remus smiled while Flo and I snickered. Third year was a good year for pranking. I hear a rustle of books being pulled out from a bookshelf near us,/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'The food going to the professors will be right on the left side of the kitchen, right by that massive table. You'll see this house elf named Winkles, he has really big flappy ears and he'll be wearing all green. He'll be standing by the food.' I say gesturing with my hands./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Remus nods and mutters a thanks before leaving quickly./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Flo raises both eyebrows. 'That was quick.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I shrug. 'Probably had to get back to make sure Sirius hadn't burned the place down. Anyway, he'll be revising hard now. Well, he should be.' I say with a thoughtful frown. I pull out my flashcards, 'now where were we? Oh yeah, you were on number two on how to create feliz felicis using nine steps.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Flo lets out a groan./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"—/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I walk quickly towards the Owlery in the West tower where I know Sirius will be pranking the owls, next time the owls fly into the Great Hall they'll drop howlers which will bellow out limericks. James and Remus are coming later with the rest of the howlers, Peter's still doing the singing howlers./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I pass a couple sitting on a window ledge kissing, blonde hair was tangled in the boys fingers as they furiously make out. I scrunch up my nose in disgust, really? Why in the middle of a busy corridor? /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Just as I was about to walk away did I notice something familiar about the scarf the girl was wearing. That was the scarf I bought Flo! That was Flo and Rodger./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Flo?' I say in shock. I thought she was in the library./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"The couple immediatly broke apart. Flo looks flustered as she glances at me, Rodger fixes his tie and doesn't look me in the eye. There's a small silence./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Hey Sophie.' Flo says with embarrassment written all over her. 'What are you doing here?' She flattens her hair and dusts the imaginary lint of her shoulder./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Going to the Owlery.' I say. I break out into a grin and wink at Flo, ignoring Rodger completely. 'See you later.' I widen my eyes and give emphasis on my nod. Flo rolls her eyes, she knows I'll make her tell me everything later. I turn away and look at my watch. Only half an hour until quiet time./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I continue walking with a small skip in my step. People pass me by talking, I can see a group of Slytherins in the distance through the window hanging around the Whomping Willow. I shake my head remembering second year when poor Davey Gudgeon lost an eye trying to touch the bark./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Since the library was so busy there were a lot of seventh years studying on the Great Staircase or in random spots of the corridors. A group of Gryffindors were revising in a small circle in the floor, I had to step over their feet to carry on. A Ravenclaw with his head buried into a book hurried right past me, nearly hitting me if I had not turned in time. I look back and see him in a heap on the floor over the Gryffindors feet./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I finally reach the Owlery and climb the steps to get there. As I neared I heard Peters dreadful singing. I push open the door and I was greeted with a stricken Sirius Black covered in feathers holding a open howler. I hide a giggle as Peters awful singing continued. Sirius groans and begins attaching the howlers to random Owls. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"At my raised eyebrow he explains Peters singing in a loud voice to be heard. 'An Owl attacked me and the howler opened. I have to let it continue for it to stop.' He glares at the said animal who gives a haughty fluff of her brown feathers. 'Vicious creatures.' The owl nips Sirius with its beak, he yelps and glares even harder. Sirius takes another red howler out of the overflowing black sack he has at his feet and clips it onto a pure white owl who stare indigentlay at him. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I snickered. 'Look, I'll help.' I take some howlers from the back and began tying them to owls. Sirius sighs in relief and rubs his hands together./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I need a fag.' Sirius mutters pulling a cigarette out of his pocket and lighting it with his wand./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I can tell why all the girls go for Sirius. He's got a bad boy quality with his fags (as the latest trend is called) and leather jackets. He's marvellous at sweet talk as well and could charm even McGonagall into having his way. It doesn't help that he has the aristocratic features and the wealth to match./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"After five minutes Peters voice subsided and we both sighed in relief. I thought I was about to go mad. We tie the owls in silence for a moment before I speak up./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'So, when you ran away.' I say. Sirius looks up immediatly. 'What did you tell your family?' I ask hesitently, I didn't want to upset Sirius, I just wanted to see if Regulus was bluffing on the train./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius shrugs uncaringly and takes the fag out of his mouth. 'Oh, things.' He ties another howler to a owl and blows out the smoke in great beg circles. I cough and wave my hands around my face as the smoke hits my face, Sirius smiles. 'I said how I'm going to run away, become independent, how I didn't need them. Things like that.' He turns his face away from me and bends down into the howler sack, rummaging around for another howler./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Oh. Did you say anything about me?' I ask. Sirius appears from the sack with a end howler clutched in his fist. He looks at me with a raised eyebrow questioning./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Noo. I don't think so. It was a long time ago, I try to forget about it. Why?' Sirius looks at me suspiciously. I put a temporarily sticking charm on the howler innocently./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I don't know. Just wondering.' /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"We work in silence for a moment before I speak again./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'You have contact with Regulus, right?' I ask./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius sighs. 'Regulus hates me.' At my disapproving look he defends himself. 'I tried. When I ran away I told him that he could see me anytime if he was in trouble and he just looked and me and said, I span style="font-style: italic;"quote/span, 'why would I ever associate myself with a filthy blood-traitor like you.'' /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius rolls his eyes and huffs in frustration as the howler he's tying on the owl is too fiddly. I wave my wand and put a temporarily sticking charm on it. I rub his back in sympathy./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Happens to the best of us.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'It's no big deal right? If Regulus doesn't want to see me anymore.' Sirius reaches for another howler. 'I know you said last year it's really important, but Regulus isn't span style="font-style: italic;"that/span stupid to get himself into anything that gives him a bad gut feeling.' Sirius grins. 'If I taught him anything it was that.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I nod even though I know he was trying to convince himself more than me. I hope that Regulus would go to Sirius when things go bad which I know that they will./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Did you know the hat wanted to put him in Ravenclaw?' Sirius asks. I shake my head, he grins smugly at me not knowing something. 'Yeah, I wasn't too shocked when I heard, Regulus was always the clever one, the one who would actually care about his grades. I was just disappointed that he chose Slytherin. One in a line of many other span style="font-style: italic;"stupid/span things that he has done.' He finishes it off with a frown. We work in silence for a moment before a take another look at the sack./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Dear Morgana.' I sigh and rub my face. 'How many Hogwarts students are there?' I look at the sack. It isn't overflowing anymore but it's still pretty full./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'These are only the people that have owls.' Sirius reminded me with a crooked grin blowing out smoke./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'span style="font-style: italic;"And/span James and Remus are coming up with more howlers.' I add looking around. The Owlery was filled with owls sitting on perches, the floor was strewn with straw and bird dropping. The smell reminds me of a wet barnyard that my uncle owns, I can hear owls cooing into the evening. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"A bang sounds behind the thick wooden entrance door, it sounds Sirius and I frown in harmony then look at each other before looking back at the door waiting for it to open. I raise an eyebrow at the still door, it hasn't opened, Sirius gives me a nod and we move towards the door. Only then did I notice a small slit in the door. Someone could have been listening./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius opens it quickly, there was no one there, only a grey stone corridor and a smashed vase lying on the ground. It must have fallen of the grandfather clock standing right outside the entrance./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius looks at me confused. 'Do you span style="font-style: italic;"know/span who was outside.' He looks back at the vase again and takes a drag out of his cigarette. The smoke rises in characteristics spirals./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I huff. 'I don't span style="font-style: italic;"know/span everything. Only some things.' I look at the vase. 'They must have run pretty quickly afterwards, they could've just mended the vase.' I waved my wand and murmured, 'reparo.' The vase fixed itself and Sirius put it gingerly back on top of the grandfather clock./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Yeah.' Sirius looks thoughtful. 'They must've known we would come out and check.' /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"We walked back into the Owlery closing the door firmly behind us./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'The door was open a bit as well.' I say, I pick up another howler but I'm distracted, I nearly tie it onto the owls beak before I realise what I'm doing. 'They could have been listening.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius smirks, 'too bad they didn't hear anything interesting.' He says sarcastically./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'They probably didn't understand anything.' I say, trying to convince myself more than trying to convince Sirius. I cough as a plume of smoke blows in my face. 'Sirius!' /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Sirius gives me a roguish grin. 'Sorry love.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I can really see why girls chase after him./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I roll up my sleeves. 'We better get this done quickly.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"—/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Christmas passes like a storm with presents and festive cheer. Most of the time I wished I had spent Christmas at Hogwarts. Flo wasn't here, her parents had to go on a business trip to Asia taking Flo with them, it was a good opportunity for her since metal-charmers are well-known and have a lot of history in Asia./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"When I got back to Hogwarts I was ecstatic with joy. The train ride was filled with Flo and I talking about everything, Asia, metal-charmers, Rodger, her parents, everything. I went to go see the marauders for a bit to see how Remus was doing and when I got there I was in for a surprise for there was Lily Evens having the time of her life sitting next to James. They both looked so happy./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Remus told me in hushed whispers that they're only friends, it's obvious that Lily likes James but James is too scared to ask her out just in case Lily says no and then start hating him again. I rolled my eyes and told Remus that that was preposterous. I mean, she dealt with Snape all these years and he still had a crush on her./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"At school we were given more work than ever. That's why on a lovely rare sunny Sunday morning I'm sitting in the library while everyone else is outside. I couldn't study outside, it was to noisy and the sun made me sleepy. Flo was spending the day with Rodger, apparently he was a marvellous kisser when I knew for a fact that he wasn't. I grinned then buried my head in my arms groaning, I hate Alchemy, it's so similar to Potions yet so different./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Need help?' A smooth voice sounds to me from my quiet corner of the library filled with studious Ravenclaws. It's Regulus Black and he's leaning on the table right next to him. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'No, I'm fine.' I say quickly. I turn my face away so he wouldn't see the blush, I try and will it away. It fades down which was better than our last meeting./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Hmmm, and I thought you knew things.' I frown at him but he just bends down to have a look at my Alchemy questions with calm elegance. 'I think... wow, that is hard.' He looks shocked as if he's never seen anything this difficult before. He scans all the questions, the blood leaving his face rapidly, his eyes get a glint of nervousness. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Was this our homework?' He asks with wide eyes. All the calm composure and elegance before gone, I look at him as if seeing him with new light, who knew homework could get Regulus Black all up in a tiff. I hide a smile and tuck my brown hair behind my ear, it just flows infront of my face again. Sometimes I hate having short hair (even though it was down to my shoulders) the choppiness doesn't help./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Yeah.' I say burying my head in my hands. 'And it's due tomorrow.' I moan and look up at my unfinished homework again, it lies on the tables, mocking me./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Regulus is looking at me with wide shocked eyes, he then looks down at his bag and begins rummaging furiously in it, muttering before pulling a chair out and sitting in it./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I never knew this.' Regulus whispers shocked, looking at the paper held in his hands infront of him, he places it on the table and gets his supreme limited edition quill from his bag./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Now it's my turn to look at him with wide eyes. Regulus Black just sat right next to me. I turn away and bury my head into my Alchemy text book./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Regulus looks at his paper in worried confusion. 'Did we even span style="font-style: italic;"learn /spanthis?' He asks looking confused. I shrug, I don't think I know how to answer./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Regulus writes down all the answers he knew. Which wasn't a lot, so he knew as much as me. I scratches his head and frowns at question eight. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Do you know this one?' He asks, tapping question eight./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I've looked through all the books and I can't find out this question.' I say shaking my head. Regulus looks over at my paper and points to question twenty five with a satisfied smile./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I know this one. It's Nicholus Flamel. Dumbledore used to work with him. He says. We both write down the answer. I can see how Sirius said that Regulus would have made a good Ravenclaw. He must really care about his grades, more so than other Ravenclaws I know./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"An hour later I've forgotten that the person sitting next to me was span style="font-style: italic;"Regulus Black, /spanthe boy I have had a crush on for years. Now he's just Regulus Black, a normal person, the boy who's not very sociable and cares a lot about his grades. When he's worried or stressed his whole mask fades. We've been helping each other out with all the questions, turns out we're actually quiet a good team, this make my insides curl up in joy./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'And we're done.' I close up my book with a happy grin. 'Good work partner.' I raise my hand for a high-five. Regulus just stares at it like an alien. Only then did I remember that we've finished, there's no reason for him to stick around anymore./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Regulus lightly taps my hand as I look on at him surprised. He actually high-fived me. I thought that was too low for a pure-blood like himself to do./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'We do not mention this.' Regulus's mask is back on, he packs his things and stands up abruptly with a red tinge to his face, identical to my own. Just as he walks away he turns back. 'Thank you for helping me. You didn't need to.' Then he goes in a whoosh of handsome features and strict poise./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I feel giddy and I can't stop smiling./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"—/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"The next Sunday morning I'm in the Library again, still finding an empty table in the very corner hidden by the restricted section. I start working on my Alchemy again. Last week when I handed my homework in Professor Pye was impressed, apparently Regulus and I were the only ones that actually completed it./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I chew the end of my quill, why is Alchemy so hard? I scrunch up the currant parchment I'm writing on in fustration and grab a new one./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Suddenly a shadow appears over me. It's Regulus again and he looks unsure holding his Alchemy homework, I can see the crossings and scribbles even from here./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"He sits down next to me and we start to work together. Helping each other and by the time the hour is over we've finished and we go our own way./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Soon every Sunday morning becomes the Sunday where I would sit down in the Library starting on my Alchemy. A few minutes later Regulus would join me and we would start to work together. Pretty soon we not just working together, we ask each other questions about ones life and talk about everything and anything. I'm actually getting to know the real Regulus and not just the cold Slytherin Prince that he portrays./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Quickly every Sunday morning becomes every Sunday morning, lunchtime and noon. Then every Sunday becomes every Sunday and Saturaday, then Wednesday joins. Soon it's every lunchtime or whenever we can we'll just meet in the table in the corner of the Library hidden by the restricted section./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"No one notices. Only Flo hangs around me and she's always with Rodger then, the marauders do their own business, only asking me whenever they need help with a prank, though I swear one time when I went on my way to the library James gave me a thumbs up. I frowned at him while he just winked at me before Remus smacked his head./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I can tell that Regulus knows about the me knowing things, but we don't talk about it. We don't even acknowledge it except when I say something and Regulus responds with, 'oh, do you span style="font-style: italic;"know/span it?' Or something along the lines of that. It was a very peaceful and fun friendship./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"One day on a Wednesday evening I was sitting on my usual table in the Library seeing if Regulus would come or not. The Easter holidays had just finished, I remember loads of Sixth and Seventh years went home this year. Hardly anyone goes home at the Easter holidays but apparatus toy this year was the time to go home at Easter. I wish I know why. Regulus hadn't appeared yet in the library.p so I was stuck with answered homework. I never noticed how much I relied on Regulus to correct me or to tell me when I was wrong, which wasn't a lot since I span style="font-style: italic;"know /spanquite a lot of things./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I had trouble with my Charms and since Flo was with Rodger I was hoping Regulus could help even though he hadn't shown up on either Monday or Tuesday. Flo knows about Regulus's and I's blooming friendship, she still doesn't like him but she's happy with it. Whenever I get back she always needs to know all the details. I groaned as I had to cross out yet another mistake, my page was blotchy, I resigned to just reading through the work first./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Footsteps sound around the bookshelf. Regulus appears looking hassled and worried. As soon as he saw me I can tell a mask was on, his face showed no emotion./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Hey Regulus.' I say patting the seat next to me. To say we have become acquaintances is an understatement, I would say friends is a better term, which I'm so happy about. 'Where've you been?'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Immediatly as soon as I said the words I know where he has been. Where all the Slytherins have been. I look at Regulus in horror, his eyes widen and I catch him unconciously rubbing his left forearm./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'You've... You've got the... You're already...' I say. My voice trails off at the start of every sentence although we both know where they're leading./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Regulus stands up quickly. 'You tell anyone-' his face is haggard and lined with lines. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I touch his arm. 'I won't. Trust me. I know.' I shuffle my charms papers. There's an odd silence which hasn't happened for a long time now./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'All the Slytherins...' I trail off again. Regulus nods and pulls out the charms. He hasn't made a scratch on it./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Well, I carry on ignoring the elephant in the room. 'I've made a mess of my charms papers. Do you think you can help?' I push the half written essay towards Regulus. He takes in the crosses and ink blots./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'So you're.' He gestures and widens his eyes. 'Not going to say anything. You don't care. You don't want to know.' He seems confused, I really don't mind, he can tell me in his own time. /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I shrug. 'I don't really mind.' I take back my badly written charms paper./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Some people would find that answer really annoying.' Regulus drawls, tapping his quill against his piece of new parchment. He's got perfect poise and everything about him is elegant, his hair, his fingers, his teeth, his clothes. While Sirius is a bad boy Regulus is the complete opposite, always wanting to make everyone happy, always wanting to live up to expectations even if it meant consequences to himself. Sirius doesn't care while Regulus cares too much./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Well, I'm glad your not some people.' I quip back with a smile. Blush rises to my cheeks and I avoid looking at Regulus but I take a sneak peek and I see he's looking away as well. I sigh./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"After a moment of comfortable silence Regulus says, 'you know when you were in the Owlery with Sirius. It was me that accidently pushed over the vase. I was listening.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"I shrug. 'I know. I realised in our study session when we revising the polyjuice potion. You said something and I just remembered.' I flipped the page in the charms book infront of me./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I was also the person listening when Remus was asking your help for pranks.' He says./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'I know that one as well.' I smirk at him. 'I span style="font-style: italic;"know/span quite a lot of stuff. Don't test me.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Regulus opened his mouth again but I beat him to it. 'And I span style="font-style: italic;"know/span you were spying on me to get evidence to see how I know things.' I shrug. 'I just know it. Anyway, do you know any other advantages to a non-verbal spell other that it the opponent no idea what spell you're using and by that, split-second advantage.' I look at him leaning my head into my palm, my arm resting on the table. My other hand was writing./div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"Regulus looks at me shocked. 'Well you do know how to change a conversation. And no, there're no other advantages... I don't think.' He frowns and flips through his charms book. 'No, no other advantages. You're good.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"'Thanks.'/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"—/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Authors note/span/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"span style="font-weight: bold;" /span/div
div style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 16px;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Hey guys it's FanaticFudge. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I put in a little Regulus and Sophie. I'm sure some of you might think Regulus is a bit out of character but we don't know much about him only that he defied Voldemort, Sirius brother and he was in Slytherin. So I'm sure that sometimes he acted all cold and harsh but if you get to know him he'll be just like a normal person. So I wanted to show Regulus as a normal person. Thanks for reading. Bye. :)/span/div