For the Hogwarts Forum
Writing Club- Themed List (Leaky Cauldron)
Roald Dahl Event: Main Smokestack (write about a character smoking)
Word Count: 422
Regulus sits in a dark corner of the Leaky Cauldron. His trembling fingers fumble for the pack of cigarettes in pocket. The rush of nicotine is the only thing that can calm him now. The hours pass by, and he draws closer and closer to the moment he will take the Mark.
"Bad habit," Barty muses, taking a seat across from him.
Regulus smirks, tucking the filter between his lips and lighting it, inhaling the robust flavor of the tobacco. He exhales a puff of greyish white. "We all have our little addictions."
Even in the dim lighting, he can see the sudden hint of pink staining his lover's cheeks. Regulus tries not to laugh. He already knows Barty's addiction. From the first moment their lips met in their third year, Barty was hopelessly addicted to the Slytherin.
"Does it help?" Barty asks, lifting his glass and taking a deep drink of whatever Tom has as the pub's special today.
Regulus shrugs. "Doesn't hurt," he decides. "What about the alcohol?"
"Not the best idea. Watch; I'll be the one to puke on-"
He cuts himself off when Regulus flashes him a warning look. Poor Barty. He's always been a touch careless and just a bit stupid. Really, Regulus is shocked he ended up in Ravenclaw and not Gryffindor.
Regulus takes another drag from the cigarette, leaning back as he sends another cloud of smoke into the air. "It's going to be okay," he says.
"How do you know?"
Regulus rolls his eyes, flicking the filter and sending a shower of ashes drifting into the crystal ashtray before him. "Because I have you. That's all I need to get through anything."
He watches in amusement as Barty's blush darkens. He knows he shouldn't find it so funny. After all, the other man has been so starved for his father's affection that even the smallest compliment from a man can send him over the edge.
Barty grips Regulus' free hand, lifting it to his lips and kissing Regulus' knuckles. "Are you ready?"
Regulus plucks the cigarette from his lips, his stomach souring. There's only one good drag left on it, and he's already gone through an entire pack, trying to prolong the inevitable. It's now or never, he realizes.
Grudgingly, Regulus crushes the cigarette in the ashtray, nodding. He tightens his grip on his lover's hand, offering him a shaky smile.
He has Barty. That should be enough.
He prays that it is because there's no turning back once they leave the Leaky Cauldron.