Chapter 41: Second Thoughts

Christmas arrived and May still had not reconciled with Sirius. Even after many letters from her brother, from Lily, from Remus and from Peter, she did not want to. She was quite content staying in Hogwarts. She and Regulus were in charge of arranging the decorating of the school. The two of them were in the staircase tower, wrapping ivy and tinsel around the banisters. She smiled at his concentration and laughed when Peeves decided to throw snowballs at them both. "This way." She laughed, leading him behind a tapestry. "Shhh." She placed two fingers on his lips. Their hiding place was quite cramped and there was very little space in this little alcove. So, they were standing close together.

Peeves had flown passed, cackling as he went. "Come on, little school kids." He was obviously chasing other students.

"He's gone." Regulus laughed when she took her fingers away from his lips. "You've cheered up."

She shrugged a shoulder and leant against the wall. "I need this break. Plus, you make me laugh. Even if you are a Slytherin." Smiling still as she tucked a strand of her long hair behind her ear. "Come on. We've only got four more staircases to decorate." She peaked out from behind the tapestry but quickly hid again. "He's comi..." She was cut off by Regulus pressing his lips against her own. She responded quickly; by kissing him back and wrapping her arms around him. "No." She whispered when she finally had the strength to pull away. "This is wrong." She removed herself from him and rushed out of their hiding place.

He followed quickly. "May!" He grabbed her arm and spun her around. "Please. Stop and think."

"I am." She whispered, pulling her arm free. "I can't..." She spun around and ran away from him. She left him standing there, just watching after her. He gave a little smirk. He nearly had her. He didn't want to hurt her but this mission was a distraction from what he was really doing. He turned around and return to the staircases, finishing the decorating.

Hannah and May sat on May's bed and May retold the events that had taken place that morning. "He kissed you?"

"I kissed him back." She bit her lower lip.

"You're joking?" Hannah stared at her best friend, who lay back and covered her face with both of her hands. "Bloody hell, May!"

May removed her hands from her face and sat up. "I know. It's stupid. It's the most stupid thing I have ever done." She looked to her friend for advice but all she was greeted with, was Hannah just staring at her in shock. "Say something. I'm losing you tomorrow and I don't know what to do."

"I don't know what to say. Both Black brothers? My my. You're busy." She laughed and lay back on May's large, comfortable bed. May lay back next to her. "Have you spoken to Sirius?"

"No." She shook her head. "I only wrote him a note to tell him that I was staying here for Christmas and that he was to leave me alone."

"Has he?"

"Yes."

"Oh May. I don't want to leave you. I'll owl my mother and tell her that I want to stay here for Christmas." She turned on her side, resting her head on her arm.

May shook her head. "No. You go home. You'll get grumpy because you're not with your family."

Hannah scoffed and lay on her back. "True. Why don't you go home to James?"

"Sirius will just turn up there. Plus this is James and Lily's first Christmas alone. I don't want to trespass on that." She sighed heavily and then groaned in annoyance and frustration. "What do I do?"

"Talk to them. You need to know Sirius' story about that night. With Regulus, you need to let him know that you don't have feelings for him." Her eyes grew wide when May bit her lip. "Oh my god! You do have feelings for him."

"NO!" May shouted at her and jumped off the bed. "I don't... I think." She paced the floor. "It's just, we've been working together and getting along really well."

"Oh bloody hell, May! You have some serious drama issues." Hannah scoffed as she sat up, watching May, who was still pacing. "Right, who do you prefer? Sirius or Regulus?"

"Sirius. When he's not being a prat." She stopped pacing for a moment and then walked across the room to her window. "I do love him but I feel like he will always hurt me or disappoint me."

Hannah stood up and walked over to her friend. "Well, you do what you think is right." Hugging May. "I have to go. I haven't finished packing. Do you want to hel..."

"No!" May shook her head and laughed. "Do it yourself, you lazy cow!" The two laughed as they hugged. "I'm going to have a long, hot, bubble bath before the feast tonight. I'll meet you there."

"Sure." Hannah smiled, picking up her bag, and leaving the room.

May gathered her bath things and made her way to the prefects' bathroom. She did have her own bathroom but it wasn't as magnificent as the large bathroom on the fifth floor. She liked the large bath in there. She whispered the password, "pinefresh." She pushed the door open and went inside. She was glad to find it empty. She switched on all the taps and choose the bubbles that would never disappear. She stripped her clothes, piled her hair to the top of her head and tied it there, and sank into the hot water. She sighed as she let the water caressed her cold skin.

"Now, that is a beautiful sight." Regulus' voice spoke from behind her.

"Reg!" She gasped, turning her back to him. "Please tell me that you haven't been there all this time."

"No." He scoffed. "Only just got here. Seems we had the same idea."

She looked over her shoulder to see him undressing. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" She looked away from him as he got completely undressed.

He scoffed again. "What does it look like?" She heard him slide into the bath. "I'm having a bath."

"Regulus!" She growled angrily. "I was here first. If we get caught, you will do the explaining." Keeping her chest pressed against the side of the large bath, keeping only her back exposed to him.

He grinned widely as he swam across to her side. "Come on. We're friends." His hand brushed against her bare back.

"Don't." She whispered. "Please stop it." She quickly moved away from him. "I came here to think. To try and think of a way to tell you that I don't like you like that. I only see you as a friend."

"You kissed me back." He grinned as he watched her climb out of the bath. He admired her bare body for the moment until she covered herself. "That shows that you don't think of me as just a friend."

"I know." She whispered. "I shouldn't have. I'm in love with your brother." She hid from his view and dressed back into her school uniform. "So please, don't push it." She gathered her things and left the bathroom. It was going to be a long Christmas break.

It was Christmas day and May felt very lonely. She always spent it with James. This was their first Christmas apart. She woke up quite early, wrapped her dressing gown around her and ventured into the common room. "Merry Christmas." Regulus spoke from the floor in front of the fire.

"Merry Christmas." She gave him a small smile and sat opposite him. He had sorted out the piles of presents. "How long have you been awake?"

"An hour now." He smiled as he reached for his first present.

May laughed softly. "Just like your brother. Awake at first light."

Regulus chuckled softly as he opened his presents. "Listen, I'm sorry about the other night. I shouldn't have done that." He watched her as she opened a present, which contained a new diary. "I do like you. It's just I've been reluctant to do anything about it for so many reasons." He shifted closer. "My brother being the biggest reason. Our houses. Our warring families."

May chuckled. "I understand." She smiled slightly. "With everything that is going on in the world, I don't seem to have the time to do anything, let alone have a boyfriend." She smiled as she opened her last present; a new quill and ink set from James.

"I'm going to go and shower." He smiled as he stood up. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas." She smiled slightly at him. Watching him as he walked into his room. "Oh Merlin!" She groaned as she gathered her presents, one of them unopened. She was being stubborn and not opening the present, which was from Sirius. She placed her presents on the bed and changed to go down to the Gryffindor Common Room. There were two first years who were staying for Christmas and they were a little nervous. She dressed in jeans, t-shirt and a large woollen cardigan. She slipped into her slippers and left her room. Just as she was leaving, Regulus was leaving his room. "I'm going to the Gryffindor Common Room."

"Ok. I'm going down to the Great Hall." He smiled slightly. "Slughorn wants me to do something for him." Rolling his eyes.

"Well, you could come with me." She spoke quietly. "You maybe a Slytherin but you are Head Boy. You're allowed in all the Common Rooms."

He chuckled. "Oh yeah. Sure. I'd like that."

"Just as long as you don't try and kiss me again." She smirked a little bit as she walked towards the door. "Or try to see me naked again."

"I'll try." He gave her a cheeky wink, which immediately reminded May of Sirius. She missed him a lot but she still didn't understand why he acted like he had. The two of them visited each of the Common Rooms. She protected him in the Gryffindor Common Room, when two of the 7th year boys got all big headed. He did the same when they went to the Slytherin Common Room, where they called her names.

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At Christmas dinner, the two of them sat together. Neither of them noticed that their headmaster was watching them. "That's not fair! You cheated in that game!" May laughed as she finished her Christmas dinner. The two of them were wearing Christmas hats as they ate together. All the tables were mixed up, except for the Slytherin table.

"I did not!" Regulus laughed.

May laughed too. "You did! You pulled on my broom!" Taking a swig of her drink. Her gaze flickered over to the Slytherin table. "You're not very popular, sitting with me."

He looked over his shoulder. "Ahh!" He turned back to her, shrugging his shoulder. "Leave them to it."

She smiled. "I have a bottle of elf-made wine in my room. Do you want to join me in a drink? No funny business. Just friends having drinks."

He nodded. "I'd like that." They both stood up and left the Great Hall together.

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They were halfway through the bottle of elf-made wine and they were laughing loudly together. "I swear to Merlin that you did cheat in that game." May laughed as she leant against the sofa. The two of them were sitting on the floor in front of the fire.

"But Madam Hooch didn't seem to think so." Pouring them both another glass of wine. "This is good wine. Where did you get it?"

"Stole it from Sirius' cupboard." She laughed as she took a sip. "Sorry. I need to stop talking about him."

"It's all right. You're missing him." He smiled a little. "Have you heard from him?"

She nodded. "Yes. He sent me a present. But I haven't opened it."

"Why not?"

"It's a begging present. He's trying to get back into my good books."

He shifted next to her. "Am I in your good books?"

"Halfway there." She faced him. "The bathroom incident threw you out of it. But today has slowly brought you back into my good books."

He laughed. "Good. What will make me completely in your good books?"

"This." She kissed him.

Regulus pulled away. "Really?" He moved closer, trying to kiss her again.

"Oh Merlin! I can't. I shouldn't have done that." She stood up and rushed into her bedroom.

Regulus was beginning to feel guilty. He was trying his best to seduce May and to find a way out of Voldemort's inner circle. He poured over the books. He needed to find a way out. He didn't want to hurt May. He really did like her. She was too nice to have such a dark side. She would never join Voldemort. He had not seen much of May since she had kissed him. She was purposely avoiding him when they were in their rooms. But she had to cope with him when they had meetings with Dumbledore and the prefects. He jotted down some notes and closed the book. He quickly put it away and left the library.

His heart fell when he reached the entrance hall. Sirius and May talking. She was smiling. They were holding hands. "You came all this way to apologise? It's taken you forever."

Sirius laughed lightly. "You wouldn't answer my letters." He raised a hand and cupped her cheek. "Come home for your birthday."

"No." She smiled. "I want to stay here. There's no point coming back for a few days."

"Let me stay." He smirked.

She sighed softly. He looked like Regulus when he did that. "No. You'll get me into trouble." She pulled away from him. "I have to go. We're having a small party for New Year's. Reg and I are organising it."

"Reg?" He scoffed and pulled his hands away. "You two seem comfortable."

"We have to be! He's the Head Boy!" She spun around and walked away from him. "Just because you've cut away from your family. It doesn't mean I have to cut him out. I have to see him every day."

Sirius followed her, catching up with her, and standing in front of her. "I'm sorry." He held her hand. "I'll let you go." He leaned forward and kissed her lips softly. "I'll write to you later." Walking around her and stopping at the sight of his younger brother at the bottom of the stairs. "Hi."

"Hello Sirius." He nodded and walking past his brother, to walk alongside May. "Shall we get going?"

"Yes." She gave him a small smile and the two walked away from Sirius.

Once out of range, Regulus started talking. "Why was he here?"

"To see me apparently."

"You don't believe him?"

"No." She shook her head. "If he was coming to see me, I would not have seen him as he was leaving the castle." She shrugged her shoulders. "Oh well. How's your work coming along?"

"What work?"

She raised an eyebrow. "School work. What other work could you possibly be doing?"

"I thought you were on about the New Year's party." He laughed as they walked to their personal rooms. She laughed with him. "May, we need to talk about Christmas Day."

"I know. I'm trying to avoid it." She smiled a little. "Red snakes." She spoke their password and walked into the warm common room. "I was drunk. I shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have led you on." She put her bag down and sat on the sofa. "I'm sorry."

"It's all right." He smiled, sitting next to her. "I'm sorry for pushing myself on you. Friends?"

"Friends." She nodded and kicked off her shoes. "Right, let's get on with this party." Opening her party planner book.

The New Year had come and gone. Another meeting had been called. Regulus sat in his rightful place. He kept his thoughts hidden. He was a good legimens. The only thoughts he showed were the ones of May kissing him. "I can see your mission is coming along well." Voldemort chuckled.

"Yes, my Lord. My traitor of a brother turned up at the school and they were reconciled. But she wasn't happy about it." Regulus explained.

"Good." His leader nodded and smiled. "Keep going. If that boy keeps breaking her heart, you can be there to pick up the pieces."

"Yes, my Lord." Regulus smirked. "May I leave, my Lord? I need to get back before I am missed."

"Of course, Regulus." He nodded, watching his youngest member leaving the room.

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Regulus had sneaked back into the school but he could not sneak back into his room. "Where have you been?" May spoke from the sofa. The fire was burning brightly as she sat with her arms folded and staring at the flames.

"The Slytherin Common Room."

"You liar." She stood up and faced him. "I saw you getting into the one-eyed witch passageway."

"May, please. You won't understand." He spoke softly. She had caught him out and now he had to try and lie his way out of it.

"Try me. I know what you are." She strode up to him and tried to grab his arm, but he pulled away from her.

He scoffed and walked towards his door. "Like you care! You're a proud Gryffindor!"

"That has nothing to do with your decisions!" She followed him. "I'm worried for you!"

"No, you're not!" He tried to push past her but she stood her ground. "You don't care what I am doing! It's my right!"

"You're just a kid!" She stood in front of him, stopping him from hiding in his room.

"I know!" He shouted at her. Tears filled up in his eyes. "And I am so scared!"

May stared at him in shock. "Oh Reg!" She wrapped her arms around him. "Leave."

He shook his head and pushed her away. She opened his bedroom door and the two of them went into his room. He sat on the edge of his large bed and she sat next to him. "It's not that simple, May. I want to leave so badly."

"Why can't you?"

He pulled his left sleeve up, revealing his dark mark to her. She gasped. "Now, I've told you the truth. Showed you the truth."

"Oh Reg." She wrapped her arms around him. He cried in her arms. He was scared and she was giving him the comfort he needed.

"Stay tonight." He whispered softly.

She bit her lower lip. She and Sirius had just made up and now this. "I'll stay tonight." He looked up at her and gave her a smile. She moved closer to him, kissing him. He pulled her closer, coaxing her to lie down on the bed. The kiss grew.

A/N: Wow! I seem to be churning these chapters out. The Reg/May/Sirius triangle will come to an end soon. Sirius WILL find out.

Responses from chapter 40:

Scarlett Angelica Potter: I'm writing more and more chapters every day. Sirius is a jerk but a loving one. :D The thing with Regulus will end in the next chapter or the one after.

CharlotteBlackwood: How is this for more? Very soon after the last chapter. What couple doesn't have an argument? May and Sirius need to argue from time-to-time. Just to show that they are human. I stole your idea that May is the reason that Regulus is starting to twice about his actions with Voldemort.