The Hogwarts library was the only place where Regulus Black could find real friends. He has friends, but he was forced to be friends with them because of his family. Now that he was a Ravenclaw he didn't feel like they were his friends. He giggled and walked over to one of the many bookshelves. Who knows what friends he will find in the library? He picked up a book about werewolves off the shelf and walked over to a table. Regulus smiled to himself as he pulled up a chair and opened the large book in front of him. He smelled the book. He loved the smell of books. It calmed him. He then smiled a little to himself before he started to read in the silence of the library.

He didn't know how long he was reading, and he didn't care. He put the book down on the table. It's only been a month since he started Hogwarts, and unlike everyone, he didn't feel at home. However, he could wait to see if he could make a real friend. He knew that he wasn't really going to find one in the library, but it was the only place where he could think of looking.

'Maybe another Ravenclaw could walk in? We like reading. Maybe we could bond over that?' Regulus thought. 'Maybe they also like reading about werewolves?' He looked up when he saw someone walk over towards him. 'They could potentially end up being friends with me. They might think I'm interesting because I'm reading a third-yearbook and a book about werewolves too.' He put the book down hoping that the person would come over to speak to him or say hi.

However, when Regulus saw the other boy, he didn't have a happy smile on his face. Nor did he look like he wanted to read with him.

Regulus swallowed thickly when he recognized the boy. He was friends with Regulus's ridiculous cousin. 'Did he get taller?' Regulus thought before he swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Well, well. Look who we got here," the older boy said, putting his hands on the back of Regulus's chair. Regulus flinched.

"Little Reg, you know you won't make friends in the library, right? It's boring" He paused before he counted. "You were never supposed to be a Ravenclaw! You should have been a Slytherin, and you know it!"

Regulus didn't listen to him. He tried to ignore him by picking up the book again and starting to read. However, it was hard to focus when the bully started to shake his chair.

"Little traitor! You decided to join the Ravenclaws, didn't you? So, who's a little traitor? You are!" He shook the chair harder now making Regulus drop the book. It made a rather loud crashing noise on the floor. The people in the room looked over at them, but after a few seconds, they looked away. The bully laughed again. Regulus let out a shaky breath, but he didn't turn around.

"I'm not a traitor," Regulus said in a small voice before his throat closed. He couldn't speak anymore for he was reminded of when his mother used to beat him before he started Hogwarts.

"What was that? Speak up little traitor," the bully said, shaking the chair again, only harder this time. Regulus had to hold onto the chair to keep himself from falling over. The bully laughed before he tipped the chair over, making Regulus fall onto the book that had fallen next to him.

"Wait!" Regulus tried to say but his voice cracked. The bully towered over him and started to kick him with his foot, and Regulus was reminded of his mother again. He closed his eyes to try to ease the pain. He kept kicking him and laughing.

"Please, please wait! Stop, Mother, stop!" Regulus pleaded, holding out his hands. He knew it was not going to work.

"I'll be back, little traitor," the bully said but Regulus couldn't hear him.

Regulus kept his eyes closed, awaiting blows and harsh words that didn't come any longer.

"Are you okay?" A calm quiet voice asked which made him open his eyes.

In front of him was a boy around the same age as Sirius. He had sandy blonde hair and scars on his face. 'Was he attacked by a werewolf?' Regulus thought, looking up to see.

A bandaged hand was held out for him to take. Regulus nodded and took his hand. He wiped his eyes and realized that he had started to cry sometime in the last few minutes.

"You're Sirius's little brother," the boy said with a small smile. He didn't sound angry or shocked. There was a sad smile on his face when Regulus brushed himself off.

"Yeah, how do you know my brother?" Regulus asked, trying to sound older, but it was hard with him crying. The boy picked up the book from the floor and sat down at the table. He ran his hand over his face with a sigh. Regulus sat down next to him and waited for him to say something.

"He's a friend. Now that he knows something that I've been keeping from him and my other friends. Oh, I'm Remus by the way," he held out his hand for Regulus to shake. Regulus took his hand and smiled a little.

"I'm Regulus," he told Remus. He opened his mouth to say something else when the bully returned, but this time, he had someone else with him.

"Oh, look. The little traitor made a friend. Who's this, little traitor? One of the freaks?" Regulus stood up and glared at them.

"Go away!" he yelled, but it fell short over the laughing. Remus also stood up and pushed the young Ravenclaw behind him.

"You heard him," Remus's calm voice only made the bully laugh louder.

After they calmed down, one pulled a book out of a shelf. "You like to read little nerds?" the bully asked as he ran their hands over the book. He then smiled and aimed it at Remus.

"I love to read because, unlike you, I can read. Maybe you'd have learned as well if you'd just listened to your parents more," Remus said with a smirk, crossing his arms. The bully growled at Regulus before he threw the book at Remus, but Remus caught it. "Nice throw," Remus said with a smirk.

"Oh, he thinks he's funny," the bully said to his friends who started to back up slowly. Remus's eyes turned yellow.

"Was he going to attack them?" Regulus thought.

"Yeah, he's the best," a voice said from behind Regulus. Regulus turned around when he saw Sirius. Remus let out a breath when he turned around and allowed his eyes to turn back.

"I would run if I were you, you are messing with my little brother and best friend. That's not a good thing for you," Sirius said walking closer to Regulus. The bully's friends ran into each other as he toppled over the chairs.

The bully looked behind him to see that his friends were gone. The bully laughed nervously before he ran off.

Regulus let out a breath once the bullies were gone. "T-Thank you," Regulus said, sitting back down.

"You're welcome, little brother. "I see you met Remus," Sirius said, putting the book down on the table that was in his arms. Regulus nodded with a small smile.

"Yeah. He's nice," Regulus said with a sigh. "I didn't really need help but…" Regulus cut off and ran his hand over his face. Sirius shook his head.

"Reg, do you want to hang out with us? Me, Remus, and our other friends?" Sirius asked, opening the book. This makes Remus smirk.

"Doing your homework finally?" Remus asked.

"Shut up Remus," Sirius shot back, making Remus laugh, but his eyes dropped.

"I should get to bed. Last night was… well you know, Sirius," Remus said standing up to gather his things before he walked out of the library. Sirius nodded and looked at Regulus who had his eyes closed.

"Reg?" Sirius asked, looking at the book in front of him.

"I really want to be friends with your friends, but will they like me?" Regulus said, looking out the window. The sun had set. It's good that they didn't have class in the morning.

"They will love you. Remus is very overprotective, but I think you saw that already," Sirius said with a laugh. Regulus laughed as well. "Come on, let's get dinner," Sirius said standing up.

Regulus did the same thing as they both grabbed their things. Regulus knew that he would have better friends than before.

A/N: Regulus is a Ravenclaw Au: Regulus is picked on by bullies until Remus saves him.

FFn/a03: Captain Voxland/3CaptainVox7!

House: Hufflepuff

Class: DADA

Prompts: [Location] Hogwarts Library and [Theme - New friendship] - Focus on happiness, and fresh start excitement.

Standard

Word count: 1451

Warnings: Bullying