The Slytherin common room was rather large, the large windows that gave a perfect view of Black Lake. He often opted to rest by the fireplace after classes with Barty, Evan, and Antonin. Who would mostly just sit around and gossip like a couple of witches about who was doing what and who was dating who or worse, discussing the feuds between their parents.

They were spending their time currently studying for their exams coming up, the ones they needed to take before they could leave on break. To be quite Frank, Regulus was facing a dilemma of sorts. Regulus heaved a sigh and his eyes roved over the Gryffindor table, until they landed on the back of his brother's head, his hair had grown longer and curlier in the last couple of months. He was pushing his food around his plate, but not really eating any of it, not to mention he was quite alone. A rare sight.

Regulus cocked his head and furrowed his brow, scanning the table yet again; he knew that James and Peter were serving detention after having been caught pranking the Slytherin Quidditch team. However, Remus was nowhere to be found and he wasn't with his girlfriend of his, she was also sitting at the table, a bit aways down talking with Mary and Alice. He always seemed to disappear around this time of the month.

"Hey, Reg?" Barty asked, breaking Regulus's focus away from people watching. "Mind if I look over your transfiguration essay for Professor McGonagall?"

"Huh? Oh - uh - yeah, hang on," Regulus picked up his book bag, and pulled out the crisp parchment paper, as his entire bag was organized and everything was easy to find.

"Thanks mate! You're a lifesaver!"

Taking his essay, he began to look over his own, using his as a reference point and began to mark his own every now and then.

His bag slumped over on the table in front of him, the letter and envelope onto the table in front of him and breathed out a heavy sigh.

"What's wrong mate?"

He just sighed, running a hand through his hair. "my mum wrote me a letter, she is demanding I come home for the break and I don't want to. I hate being home with her and my Father."

Barty shrugged, "I kinna what you mean."

Regulus furrowed his brow, "why don't you want to go home?"

"My dad wanted me to follow in his footsteps and be in Ravenclaw," he sighed loudly. "Just imagine how cross he was over a letter when I told him I got in Slytherin, even sent me a howler."

He couldn't help but think about Sirius and how he had been placed in Gryffindor rather than Slytherin, like their family had always been.

"Did you want to be in Ravenclaw?"

Barty nodded, "I wanted to make my father proud but I belong in Slytherin. The Sorting Hat saw that I belonged in this house—" he gestured to the large area. "—you can't hide who you are."

He frowned.

Barty caught this, before he nodded towards the letter before he gestured towards his older brother. Who shoved himself away from the table, his uniform in disarray as he left the Great Hall. "Your brother doesn't deserve to be hated for what house he was placed in, even if it is Gryffindor," he chuckled. "I'll tell you what, his taste in witches is immaculate however."

"Whatever do you mean?" Then remembered, "are you talking about him snogging McKinnon?"

"Not her," Barty snorted. "Heard from Pandora that she is a rather vain witch."

"Then who are you referring to?"

"His relationship with Donoghue," he grinned wolfishly. "Anyone with common sense can see just how beautiful she is."

Evans snorted, falling into the seat in front of them, across from Barty. "Beauty can only get so far."

"She is the one of the most intelligent witches in her year," Barty shrugged. "Not to mention she is generous and kind. She tutors anyone who asks for her help."

"How would you know Crouch?"

"Your sister told me about her," he grinned, causing Rvan to shoot his a scathing look.

Evan just rolled his eyes, taking a magazine from the table, as it had been left behind from the mail delivery twenty minutes ago. "She is my sister and she is rather a funny girl," he snorted.

Antonin came and fell into the seat beside him, in front of Regulus., "Rosier is hot even if she is a tad bit loony but luckily for her she has a pretty face just like her friends." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively

Evan just whacked him with the magazine in his hand, "that is still my sister Antonin, only I can call her funny and keep your eyes off my sister."

The wizard just shrugged, "fine fine, but her friends are hot, especially that one witch that everyone talks about, the Donoghue witch."

He wasn't sure why but the way he talked about Gwen disgusted him, made his stomach turn and lip curl.

"Keep her name out of your mouth Antonin," Regulus glared before quickly recovering. "Plus we both know she would never give you the time of day."

This caused the other guys to laugh, smiling, he ignored the way Antonin glared at him as he huffed. Rolling his eyes, he picked up the letter and left the Great Hall. He was going to go find said witch and talk to her.

Stepping out of the Great Hall, he was met with Narcissa Black, his elder cousin. She leaned against the wall, her eyes gazed at her nails in a rather bored manner, her uniform without a single wrinkle and not a hair out of place.

"Reg, cousin dear," she greeted, her eyes never looking up. "I suggest that you become friends with Severus Snape."

"Whatever do you mean?"

She finally looked up, her eyes empty as she blinked slowly at him. "Aunt Walburga wrote to me asking that you learn Occlumency from Severus, it is rather important for you to do so."

Then she turned and walked into their common room as though nothing had happened.

There she stood.

The witch that he had been looking for. She was sitting with her friends, Jacqueline and Antonette, both girls were in the same year and house with her. They were sitting in the courtyard, smiling and laughing as they talked. He had finally located her after having his subconscious to take the lead. Where it leads him to her.

Regulus couldn't help but hang back and watch her interact with her friends. Just based on beauty alone, he understood why his brother would have feelings for her, she was the epitome of beauty and grace, just as everyone talked about.

He couldn't help but gaze at her with a foreboding feeling as though something bad would happen to her. Swallowing, he shook the image from his head and braced himself.

Immediately as if she sensed his stare, she turned to him, her lips curving into a kind smile and waved him over. Flushed at having been caught, he walked towards the group of girls.

"Girls this is Regulus Black," she introduced. "Reggie, this is Toni and Jackie."

He took note how she didn't use titles or even reference his brother. Even his own mother still referred to him as "Sirius' younger brother" or "this is my youngest". Gwen introduced him as himself, nothing more and nothing less.

"He is positively adorable," Jackie giggled. "They look so much alike, both rather handsome."

Toni clapped her hands, "it must be a Black thing to have such beautiful curly hair like that."

Regulus felt his face grow warm as both girls gushed over his looks with excited squeals. Gwen must have been amused as she smiled before taking pity on him.

"Don't you girls have studying to do otherwise Olivia will drag you two back to the dorm?"

The girls only responded by turning tail and leaving quickly back into the castle. Regulus glanced to see Gwen smirking.

He wondered if she took pleasure in torturing the two at the mention of the other girl. Perhaps she had a sadistic streak about her. If so, it only made her all the more interesting.

"What can I do for you Reggie?"

He cleared his throat, "what makes you think I was seeking out your acquaintance."

She just smiled, "if you are to be more secretive and cunning than I suggest you learn to control your emotions and be less obvious."

He stared at her, stunned.

"Now tell me what is it that you wish to talk to me about?"

"My Mother wishes for me to come home and I find myself hesitating to go home…" he mumbled out the last part.

Gwen furrowed her eyebrows, "why would you be fearful of going home Reggie?"

He swallowed nervously, his mouth opened but no words came out. His gaze fell to the charm bracelet she wore that jingled ever so slightly from the wind.

"Reggie darling," she spoke softly. "Does your Mother raise a hand against you?"

The way he flinched back when she leaned forward was the only indication she needed to know. Clenching her jaw, she took a deep breath, and used legilimens to search his memories. It wasn't hard for her to find the memories in question as they were at the forefront of his mind and she retreated quickly.

A lump formed in her throat after only seeing a few of the memories, her heart squeezing painfully tight. Without hesitation, she took him in her arms and held him close to her, not caring if anyone saw her indifferent facade break.

"Oh Reggie," she murmured. "You will stay with me during the Christmas break."

"My Mother will never allow that to happen,"

Gwen pulled away, a dark glint in her eye. "Your Mother is so desperate for my better opinion that she will do what it takes to get it, even giving you to me."

Although he was hesitant to believe her words, something was telling him that her words were true. That his own Mother would sell him if it meant upholding their traditions and values, that their House would continue to stand proudly as the Noble House of Black regardless of the cost.

The thought terrified him.

Remus spied from behind the safety of his book, leaned back in the arm chair in the Gryffindor common room, he had been watching his girlfriend Lily talking with Mary and Alice for the last hour. They had arguably made up but if Remus was being honest with himself, he was still bothered by something. That something being his secret.

His lycanthropy.

He felt guilty for keeping it from her as it was half of who he was. Which is why he had come to the conclusion that he would tell her. While also asking Gwen for her opinion on the matter, which had been positive.

Closing his book, he laid it on the table and summoned his courage, "Lily?"

She smiled immediately after seeing him, "Yes Remus?"

"I need to talk to you about something," he stated. "Alone."

"Alright," she waved bye to the two girls and followed him out of the common room. "Where are we going?"

He took her hand in his, flashing her a quick reassuring smile. "The second floor."

They walked in relative silence. While Lily was smiling to herself, Remus was internally arguing with himself that this was a good idea and he needed to go through with it. Once finding the classroom Gwen had suggested he used, he opened it and dragged her inside, closed the door and warding it with a silencing charm.

"Why have you brought me here Remus?"

He blushed at how close she was, his eyes straying to her strawberry glossed lips that were pulled into a frown.

Clearing his throat, he gestured for her to sit down at one of the desks. Suspicious, she did as he wanted and continued to wait patiently, her bright green eyes staring at him.

"What I am about to tell you must never leave this room," he pleaded, eyes holding clear desperation. "I am begging you Lily, this conversation must stay between us."

"I solemnly swear, Remus," Lily was now frowning further, worried about where the line of conversation was going.

He leaned against the desk across from her, his eyes staring into hers. He took a deep breath, his voice shaky. "My father is famous for having pushed for werewolves to be registered by the ministry to keep Wizarding and muggle folk safe."

Lily nodded, smiling. "I remember reading about this, your Father was the first signature."

Remus couldn't help but smile. Of course she knew, she was a bit of a swot like he was.

"When he had campaigned for it however, he had made some remarks that had quite pissed off a well known werewolf." He took a shaky breath, "I was four or five at the time. Quite young to remember but I had been in the yard playing while my Mum was hanging up the laundry to dry. My mum had left for a moment to put away the laundry. He attacked me, nearly killed me had my Father not come home in time and but it had been too late. I was afflicted with lycanthropy."

He watched as she stared at him in silence. All she did was stand up and walk up to him, fearing a negative reaction, he flinched back only to stand stunned in silence as she wrapped her arms around him. She buried herself in his embrace as he had hesitated in touching her, swallowing nervously when she held onto him even tighter.

The sound of her sobs broke the silence which made his heart clench in pain. He wasn't quite sure how long they stood there, holding one another as she sobbed, coaling his jumper with her tears.

Not knowing what to do, he continued speaking, "Dumbledore had given me and my parents the opportunity to go to Hogwarts as he made special accommodations for me to attend and keep myself and others safe from my condition."

"It all makes sense now," she sniffed, pulling away slightly. "Your mysterious disappearances, your colds and even Gwen making excuses for you when I would ask."

"You didn't deserve that."

Her words stunned him. Which he didn't even think that was possibly considering he was surprised to begin with.

"Does this mean that you aren't scared of me?"

Lily smiled, "I suspected that you were a werewolf after first term last year when I took note of your disappearances and your symptoms rather quickly."

He flushed, embarrassed at it having been that obvious. At least for her.

"I assume the boys know?"

"Gwen was the first to figure it out before she told Sirius and he told James and Peter."

Lily frowned, "why didn't she tell me?"

Remus scratched the back of his neck, rather awkwardly. "We weren't close and you made it rather obvious that you couldn't stand us."

"I would have accepted you," she murmured before leaning forward and kissing him. The taste of strawberries snapping him out of it and kissing her back, his hands grabbing her waist and pulling her closer to him.

He pulled away, "does this mean that you and I will continue to be boyfriend and girlfriend."

Lily started laughing, her lips in a large smile, "I wouldn't be kissing you if you weren't."

Embarrassed, he couldn't help but smile too. His heart felt light as it felt as though a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

Snow began to stick to the window in her dorm, long enough to where she could draw it and replicate it. Winter had come, the frigid air crept in through the cracks and crevices of the ancient castle. Students were bundled up in coats, jumpers, scarfs and gloves to keep warm, even going as far as to enchant some of their clothes with a simple warming charm.

With winter came the spirit of the holidays. Such as drinking hot beverages after a long day of playing in the snow. Something about Christmas time was special.

"I won once more!" Gwen cheered as she brushed the snow off her blue coat, she let out a laugh when she heard Severus grumble about it being unfair "I win every year Sev, it's not my fault I'm that good"

He merely snorted before flopping down onto a bench he had transfigured and watched as she began to run around playing in the snow.

She continued to tease the boy dressed in a black coat as he rolled his eyes at her as he sat next to Lily who was laughing at the both of them.

"I go easy on you every year" He mumbled as he looked away from both girls with a blush on his cheeks, either from the cold or that he was beaten by a girl

"You take the game way too seriously Gwen" Bookmarking her page, she closed the book and set it on her lap as she wore an amused expression as she watched Gwen dance around with excitement

"You think?"

Severus snorted as he took the book from Lily as he began to read it now that he had fulfilled his yearly duty of having a snowball fight with the young ravenclaw who was currently off in her own world at the moment

While the two girls had started to build a snowman together, Gwen hadn't realized she was being approached by a Slytherin.

"I haven't built one of those in quite a while," the soft feminine voice spoke, her words being carried away by the wind.

Gwen's eyes turned to find Narcissa Black, the seventh year Slytherin, standing there bundled up in dark green and black.

"Narcissa," she greeted with a smile. "How lovely to see you today."

Other than greeting and explaining pleasantries in the halls and socializing with one another during the Slug Club meetings. The two hardly spoke or sought one another out. She was a bit taken back by the young woman's approach.

"Likewise," she smiled back, small and demure as always. "I was hoping to inquire details about the invitations you had sent out in regards to your ball."

Gwen had decided to take the initiative and host her own ball, one that would mark a great significance to the other families. After her conversation with Reggie the other day, she deemed it necessary to find out just how ugly and twisted the families were behind closed doors. To see just what kind of people they were under the expensive silks and glittering jewelry. The ball would be under her control to watch them squirm. One that she would play hostess and pretend as though she knew nothing of what was really going on amongst them behind closed doors and dark corridors they skulked about in.

"What inquires shall those be?"

"You are planning the ball before the Malfoy Winter Solstice Ball," she stated. "That is the first event of the season."

Gwen hid her smile, instead she nodded. "Yes, I thought it rather prudent to host the first event as it is my coming out party. It bears a great significance in comparison to the same event that is held every year."

"I see," her smile never wavered. "Is the event at your home correct?"

Gwen shook her head, "it is to be held in our Ancestral home in Scotland."

She wasn't stupid to allow them to be in her own home, to wander around and poke their noses in places they shouldn't be. Gwen didn't miss the flicker of emotions in her face, nor did she miss the fact that her eyes strayed to where Severus sat, watching from behind his book.

So the whispers and what she had seen had been true.

Narcissa smiled, polite as ever, not a single hair out of place. She looked like a fragile but beautiful porcelain doll, one to be admired from afar and never to be played with. Only to sit still and look pretty.

"That is all I wanted to know," she bowed her head slightly. "Thank you for entertaining my questions."

She had turned, moving to leave but had stopped when Gwen called out to her. "You're an intelligent witch Narcissa, you know it is quite rude for you to assume I wouldn't know what this little meeting was really about. You insult my own intelligence."

Narcissa turned, her eyes lighting up. "A rather formidable opponent you are Miss Donoghue. Good day." Then she turned and left once more.

Lily scrunched her nose, "what was that about?"

She just clicked her tongue, "just polite conversation." Picking up more snow, she packed it onto the snowman, "Come, let's finish our snowman."

Her eyes strayed to Severus, where he stared after the older Black witch with hesitation. Turning her gaze back to Lily, she felt solemn and wondered whether he would choose correctly. Would Severus pursue his feelings for Lily or follow the path that promises power and recognition, things which he had been denied due to his Mother's marital choices.

As the holidays approached with every fallen snowflake, brought on a feeling of happiness, excitement, and merry cheer for most people. Yet for some, it confronted the feelings of fear, anticipation, and dread. One of those very individuals was Sirius Black, himself.

Decidedly so, he had hid away from everyone by taking refuge in the empty Astronomy Tower. The letter in his hand dangling haphazardly as he stared out into the vast neverending snow covered landscape.

He frowned, the cold feeling creeped into his bones as his mind recounted the words off the letter with ease as he had read it over and over for the last couple of days. An internal chaos had raged inside him as he debated on the contents of the letter and how it forced him to confront things he had been putting off.

Resentment, anger, and hatred had been swirling inside him as he thought about his parents, about his situation, and the position he had been born into. He had been struggling to contain his own feelings in regards to how the holidays rapidly approached.

"Is there a reason why you are brooding up here by yourself?"

He turned to see Gwen, his frown melting away as he watched her smile at him. Those feelings vanishing as he felt warm and light all of a sudden.

"I hadn't heard you approach love," he held his hand out to her. "Come join me."

She frowned, "I am not interrupting you, am I? I can leave if you wish to be alone."

"Why be alone when your presence is all I would ever desire?"

Sirius hadn't missed how her face flushed a pretty hue of pink, she just continued to smile and took his hand. He brought her flush against him and the metal bar railing.

"You know that I fear heights," she whispered

Leaning close, he couldn't help but smirk as he brought his lips to her ear. "Pray tell, darling, would you ever think that I would allow you to slip from my fingers? To allow that to happen, you'd have to kill me first."

His arm wrapped around her waist, holding onto her tight. He didn't miss how her breath caught in her throat, her hand slipping to his. "Sirius, you mustn't mean to say such things…"

"It is the truth."

The scent of blueberries, vanilla and roses invaded his senses, the close proximity of her against him lulled him into a peaceful state. One he hadn't realized as he just closed his eyes, drinking in her scent and warmth and leaned his head onto her shoulder.

Turning in his embrace, she wrapped her arms around him, allowing him to hold onto her in a comfortable position. His head burrowing into the junction of her neck, inhaling the fruity and floral scent that haunted him at night.

For a while they stayed like that, until Gwen broke it.

"You're going home for the holidays."

It was all she said.

Taken back by her statement, he pulled away, stunned that she knew he was debating on going home or not.

"I haven't even made a decision," he ran a hand through his hair. "I was actually considering staying here at Hogwarts for the season."

She just stared at him, her flushed face replaced by an indifference. "I wasn't asking if you were going home. I was telling you that you will be coming home for the holidays. I already informed Professor McGonagall that you will be on the Hogwarts Express at nine am sharp."

Sirius was flabbergasted, unblinking as he watched her pick up the fallen letter and handed it back to him.

"Darling, you don't understand why I fear returning home and why I am indecis–"

"I understand plenty," she started. "It is because I understand why you will be going home."

Unsure of why she was so insistent on him returning home, he just decided to not argue and just to do as she asked. Something telling him that he would do whatever she asked or demanded of him and he found himself strangely okay with that idea.

"If I am to endure this cruel and unusual punishment then you will have to show me more of that muggle music you adore so much."

"Beg and I might consider,"

He felt his blood go cold. Something about the way she had said it brought a pleasurable shiver down his spine.

"Whatever you ask and it is yours, love."

The marauders were all lounging on their respective beds, all doing different things. Sirius was supposed to be doing his Transfiguration essay, but he just couldn't seem to focus. James was flipping through a Quidditch magazine as he levitated the golden snitch, Peter was copying Remus' DADA notes since he had slept through class, and Remus was just staring at the fabric canopy that covered his bed as he smiled to himself thinking about his redhead girlfriend.

"I can't wait to go home and see Mum and Dad," James threw the magazine aside. "Are you guys heading home as well?"

"Mum would kill me if I didn't come home for the holidays, saying it's a special time for my family." Peter shrugged, abandoning the rest of the notes. "What about you Remus?"

"I was originally going to stay here for the holidays but Mum asked me to come home, misses me." Remus just shrugged, his own hesitation slightly evident.

"We'll mate, seems as though you'll have the form to yourself as you'll be only one here, mate," James looked over to Sirius. "Offer still stands for you to stay with my family for a break."

"Turns out your cousin decided that I would be going home."

"What?" Remus and Peter both sat up and blinked at him.

James just grinned, "that's my cousin for you, she has a way of getting what she wants."

Peter just rolled his eyes, "he's whipped that's why."

Sirius grew wide eyed at the statement. Sharing a look with Remus, who in turn grabbed a jumper, balled it up and threw it, hitting him smack in the face.

"Ow!"

James sat up, "did you say something mate?"

"Just that I was debating on whether to prank Kreacher or my Mother first."

"Definitely the house elf, try to have some peace first before all hell breaks loose." Although he joked, he frowned, concerned and worried. "Are you sure about going home though? Your mum is quite the monster, because I find it hard to believe that your parents using unforgivables on you just screams family bonding."

Remus just blinked, "it's because of your brother."

James and Peter wiped their heads towards Remus and then back to Sirius, "she asked me to come and if I didn't then there would be hell to pay…except it would be Reggie who suffers."

"Who cares if your brother gets hurt? You said it yourself that he is just your parents puppet, and will just cry to your Mum." Peter pointed out, to which the other two nodded in agreement

Sirius ran a hand through his hair, "I just have this feeling that something big is going to happen…I'll be damned if I don't see it. Plus he's my little brother, he doesn't know better and what kind of person would I be if I were to abandon him?"

The three boys all looked towards one another, sharing similar looks as though having a silent agreeable conversation before turning back to Sirius.

"I understand that you want to be a good older brother but you must understand that there is only so much you can do and say to him, he will have to discover for himself what you have been protecting him from."

James was right, begrudgingly so.

"What if your Mum decides to use the Cruciatus on you again?" Remus asked, his voice lilted with concern.

Sirius shrugged. "Reggie deserves my support, even if he is a twat at times. If things go sideways then I will simply stay with James if I am not killed in the process that is."

Remus rolled his eyes as James laughed, the quidditch magazine falling to the floor.

"Would Regulus even want you to come home?" Peter asked, and the whole room fell into silence.

Sirius felt his heart drop, and Remus and James both shot Peter their fiercest glares. "I just mean that you insult him, make fun of him, even go as far to avoid him as well." Peter shrugged, "you even said that he called you a blood traitor."

The room fell into silence once more, James and Remus both still glaring at the youngest boy.

"That is what siblings do, they aren't always kind to each other. Plus it doesn't mean that Sirius is going to just abandon him at the mercy of their parents" James defended, his voice laced with anger.

Sirius' mood became mute after Peter's comment. James and Remus, both debating on whether to prank the boy after he fell asleep.

The four boys all fell back into a normal conversation, but Sirius couldn't stop thinking about Reggie, and if perhaps Peter was right. What gave him hope however, was their talk a few weeks back. He didn't know why, or what had brought it on. However, Peter was right. The brothers never saw eye to eye, and Reggie had called him a blood traitor, a term he learned from their parents.

He was young, naive and confused on who he should be listening to. He didn't have the same conviction as he did. He lacked the backbone to say no to their parents and turn his back on their ideals.

The voice of Elton John filled the dorm room while the four girls packed, now that the exams were over they would be leaving the day after tomorrow to board the Hogwarts Express. They would throw a small celebration tomorrow, which meant they would also be cleaning up the dorm tonight for them to all sleep on the floor together when Olivia was back from her date with Harold.

"Are we still on for coming over during break?" Toni folded her shirt and threw it into her trunk.

"I have already made the preparations for the three of you to come and stay for two days." Gwen had already taken the time to pack and prepare what she would be bringing home with her and was laying in bed, reading a book.

"I'm honestly so excited to see where you live," Jackie smiled, before groaning in frustration and stomping her foot. "Ugh I don't know what to pack!"

The girls laughed at her as she just threw the clothes up into the air, causing them to fall like snow. Pandora picked up her wand and began to levitate her clothes, folding them one by one, and then placing them into several neat stacks on her bed.

Gwen took note just how powerful Pandora had become when it came to her magic. She had read that the Rosier family were quite gifted at magic and most of them were able to harness wandless magic before they graduated Hogwarts.

Wandless magic seemed to be quite the important skill to learn just as her learning Occlumency and Legilimens. Based on the headlines in the papers, it would make sense for her to learn, to protect herself at all costs.

Gwen blinked.

She wasn't sure where that thought had come from.

Images of death, blood and smoke rushed to the forefront of her mind. Chains appeared ripping from the ground, latching onto her and snaking around her arms. They forced her to kneel onto the ground, the metal chains dug into her smooth skin. Everywhere was death, bodies being burnt as blood was splattered everywhere, fire and smoke filling the air.

She blinked again, it all disappearing as quick as it had come.

What…happened?

Why did she suddenly feel fear?

Her dorm came back into view. The girls were all chattering and packing as they rushed about in the area. Gwen looked to both her arms, seeing only pale and smooth skin.

She furrowed her eyebrows.

"Gwen, are you alright? You looked as though you were somewhere else?"

Jackie had leaned against her bedpost, concern written all over her face.

What had happened? What had she been thinking about just now? She honestly couldn't remember what she had just been thinking about. Just fear that seemed to wash away quickly.

"I don't remember." She smiled, "I was probably just in a daydream."

This seemed to make her slyly grin, "was it in regards to Black?"

Just as she had been able to retort, an ugly snort came from the entrance of their dorm. They all snapped their heads towards the sound only to find Marlene McKinnon, leaning against the doorframe, a snide smile on her lips.

"What are you doing in our dorm?"

"I just came to speak to her—" her eyes cut to Gwen, her lip curling a bit.

"Say what you think is so important and then leave," she dryly responded.

"Your relationship with Black," she started. "It will end one day and I'll be there to pick up the pieces. Trust me on this."

She blinked, once, twice and then snorted. "That is the best you could think of? My, and to think that you are a part of the Ravenclaw house and yet lack the intelligence to come up with a rather witty threat and instead deliver this drivel. You should try again and do better, yes?"

Marlene fumed at this, her hands twitching at her sides. Even as her eye began to twitch, she snarled at her. "I don't understand why people are so obsessed with you, so enamored by your beauty and brains but you're nothing but an ugly stupid witch."

Gwen clicked her tongue, "I will give you one warning McKinnon. Leave me alone."

"Or what?"

"It's be a shame if that pretty hair of yours were to be chopped off, you kinna my meaning yes?"

The girl just stomped off, slamming the door closed in the process. Gwen smiled, before flopping back onto the bed.

"Something tells me that won't be the end of it," Toni sighed. "If anything it might have made her more determined than ever."

Jackie shrugged, "why pick a fight over a boy who made it clear that he doesn't want her? She is asking for trouble."

"Perhaps the nargals will take her things." Pandora giggled, causing the other two to giggle while Gwen just smiled.

The Hogwarts train would be leaving the next day for all of the students who were going home for the holidays. The castle reflected the merriment and cheer that the students were brimming with. Friends exchanging gifts, laughing and chattering about their upcoming plans. Now that exams were over, students were taking this day to relax in their common rooms or the common areas, or strolling about the castle and looking at the decorations elves had taken the time to hang up.

Hagrid, more jolly than usual, had spent his day chopping and bringing in large evergreen trees from the grounds into the castle, and into the Great Hall.

Regulus had been reflecting on the conversation he had with Barty and the conversation with Gwen. To say that he was filled with anxiety was an understatement. Even though Gwen had given her word that she would help him, his fear of his Mother had all but squashed that hope that he would be relieved from the clutches of his mother.

The truth of it was that he would be returning to 12 Grimmauld Place the next day, alone most likely as it didn't seem as though Sirius would be returning home himself. This meant he would be in the hellish place called home for three weeks with no break.

Regulus would never admit it to anyone, not even to himself most days, but he was beyond terrified and anxious to be around his parents for that long again. Now that he had a taste of freedom, a taste of warmth and comfort, he was dreading going back. He hadn't seen either of them in almost four whole months, and now he would have to spend three weeks alone with them.

His mind wandered to his older brother, Sirius. Although they had only talked that once, they hadn't been on the best of terms. He remembered just how broken and betrayed Sirius had looked when he called him a blood traitor and how he couldn't even look at him. Gwen knew what he had said and comforted him, spoke soft and kind to him, and just said that things would become better.

Running a hand through his hair, he took a deep breath, and turned the corner in the corridor, only to run sharply into someone. Stumbling back, he brushed off his robes, his mouth open and ready to apologize, but the words died in his throat when he saw the person he had just been thinking about.

He took note that he had a sack full of something.

"What is in the sack?"

Sirius just stared at him. "Shouldn't you be down in the dungeons with your mates?"

Regulus clenched his jaw, "I was looking at the decorations."

"I find that hard to believe."

"Yes well, you know how dull and drab our house will be, as it always is."

Something flickered in his eyes, Regulus narrowed his eyes to study it but failed as it disappeared rather quickly.

"The house reflects just how cold and dark our parents are," Sirius shrugged, his tone with a cold bite. "If being home is hell, then you should just stay here over break if you don't want to be there."

Regulus wanted to ask him if he was going home, if they would be in that house together. It made him wonder if perhaps they could celebrate as they always had before. Before things become so complicated between them.

Now that he could see his older brother up close, he took note of how older he looked, how mature he seemed to be. Sirius's hair was grown past his ears. His face appeared to have more color and definition to it, and his eyes were a bright silver. He had also grown in height, towering over him a couple of inches.

"Why are you here Reggie?"

Regulus was quite taken aback by the hostility coming from his brother. Was his brother still angry at him for his words? He thought that their talk months ago would have changed things, that perhaps they could forget about it but maybe that was his own delusional thinking.

"Are you angry with me for being in Slytherin?"

"No," he stated. "If it is truly where you belong then that is fine, but we both know that you choose that house to please our parents."

Regulus swallowed.

Although his words were true, how had he known that he had chosen to be in Slytherin? How had he known that he did it to become a great wizard? That is what their parents told him, that if he wanted to become a powerful wizard who did great things, then Slytherin would nurture that.

"If that is all, I will be taking my leave now."

Brushing past him, Sirius felt guilty for being cold and short with Regulus but couldn't help it. After seeing how healthy and happier his brother looked, even his hair was a healthy shiny shade of black rather than dull.

"Sirius!" Regulus called out to him, and Sirius spun around on his heels. Regulus saw his hand instinctively twitch, as it reached toward the pocket, he felt his heart drop. "I wanted to apologize for being angry with you for being in Gryffindor," he said softly. "It is where you belong and I didn't realize that."

Sirius stared at Regulus in silence for a few seconds. Regulus suddenly felt quite embarrassed, and he rubbed the back of his neck

Sirius nodded slowly, and he took a few slow steps towards Regulus, until they were a mere few feet apart. They stared at one another, a look passing between them, their eyes softening. At that moment, it was as if things were as they had been before. Just two brothers with shitty parents who loved and cared for one another.

Then Regulus remembered just who he was supposed to be, clearing his throat and breaking eye contact first. "You should return to bed before you get caught for sneaking off to the kitchens."

"Have a great holiday then."

"You too," Regulus watched as his brother left and disappeared down the dark corridor, leaving him alone in silence.

Sirius felt the same protective feeling as he felt for Gwen, and now that he was feeling it for Regulus, it made him wonder if Gwen had known. If she had known that Reggie needed his help and that is why she had signed him up for going home. Perhaps she saw or knew something he didn't because he couldn't think as to why she was so adamant about him returning home, even going as far as to signing up for him.

Remembering the flash of fear in Regulus's eyes for a split second when Sirius had brought up their mother had just solidified the need to return home. He needed to go back for christmas and figure out just what his parents did to Reggie when he was gone last year.

The next morning, the castle was bustling with students who were getting ready to go home for the holiday. Regulus and Barty both had their trunks packed full of everything that they would need for their brief amount of time away from the school. However, due to their parents, neither of them had budged from their dorm as they didn't want to leave the castle. Ultimately they found themselves riding the carriages to the Hogwarts Express, their silence speaking volumes.

Upon arriving at the station, Regulus caught sight of Gwen with her friends. They were chatting, bundled up in coats and scarves. He must have caught her eye as she turned to him with a bright smile.

She excused herself from her friends and came over to him, "good morning Reggie."

Warmth melted the icy feeling that consumed his heart, "good morning Gwen."

She pulled out a closed envelope, and handed it to him. "This is a formal invitation for you to stay with my family for a couple of days in the days after my ball."

It was addressed to him in silver script, her handwriting beautiful and neat.

"Are you quite sure?"

Gwen smiled, her eyes softening. "I am quite sure." She leaned forward, hugging him tightly, her own warmth seeping through their clothes and touching his skin. "Have courage Reggie, things will change."

She placed a chaste kiss to his forehead, smiled at him and than disappeared in the crowd.

Regulus stood dumbly, her letter in hand, as he continued to stare at the space that she had occupied. His heartbeat thumping in his ears, his body cold from the lack of warmth he felt.

"Do you have a crush on her?" Barty stopped beside him, his eyes peering at him and his flushed face.

"I don't have a crush on her!"

Barty chuckled, "I think you do."

The train had luckily just arrived at the station, giving him the perfect excuse to change the subject. Tucking the letter into his own coat pocket, they boarded and quickly found a cabin along with Evan, Antonin and Severus.

The train ride was long and boring; they all kept quiet, as they either read or did homework. As the sky grew darker, the lights dimmed and they had all fallen asleep, one by one. Except Regulus, who had finished his homework and now stared out the window, the landscape was barely visible as it whired past; it all blurring together in shades of blues and blacks.

"Your cousin came to me asking that I teach you Occlumency," Severus spoke, after having made sure all the others were asleep. "We will start when we return to school."

Regulus just accepted it. How could he argue? It had already been decided for him to learn by his parents.

The night sky was growing darker, and it was almost pitch black outside by the time the Hogwarts Express reached Kings Cross station. The boys had all woken up, yawning and stretching. They collected their things, still half asleep as they stepped off the train and onto the platform.

"Great it is my Dad picking me up," Barty swore under his breath. "I guess my Father made my Mum stay home."

Regulus looked to where he was looking. Only to see Bartemius Crouch, a tall, lean young looking man, clean shaven and dressed in a fine black suit with a cane. "I'll write to you."

"Have a happy Christmas." Regulus replied.

Barty disappeared, leaving him to stand on the platform alone while he was surrounded by parents hugging their children, smiling and laughing.

"Regulus!"

Biting back the need to flinch at hearing the oh so familiar screech of Walburga Black, he just took a deep breath and followed the source.

"You made it sound as though you were staying at Hogwarts for the break," Regulus stared at his older brother.

Sirius avoided looking at Regulus, "Gwen invited me to her ball."

They both saw it as the pitiful excuse it was. Deep down, Regulus was quite glad that Sirius had come home. This was an opportunity for them to fix their relationship, away from the blood traitor nonsense, from house loyalties, and from the excruciating gaze of the other families.

But in reality, stepping back into 12 Grimmauld Place came with a whole new level of pressure and anxiety under the ever watchful eye of their parents. One that was practically a mine field to navigate through.

Especially since Regulus was the new head of house, after Sirius had disgraced their family by being placed in Gryffindor, it had compelled their parents to place him in the limelight to uphold their family name and its traditions.

Taking several deep breaths, he forced himself to relax before stepping into the drawing room. The room was empty, his parents and Sirius had already cleared out, leaving him alone. Not for long as Kreacher, their house elf, came barreling in the room.

"Master Regulus is home!" Kreacher croaked. "I shall take this for Master Regulus!"

Immediately he took the trunk out of his hands.

"Happy Holidays, Kreacher!"

"Kreacher has set up and cleaned your room for your arrival,"was all he said before snapping his fingers and disappearing. Once more leaving him alone in the cold, dark, and dusty house he called home.

This was going to be hell alright.

At dinner, they ate in tense silence. Sirius sat beside him and ate the horrible tasting food that was barely edible. His parents sat at opposite ends of the dusty table, barely acknowledging one another. The letter in his pocket was burning to be taken out and shown to his mother, the same one that Gwen had given him that very morning.

"Mother," Regulus started.

"Yes Regulus?"

"I have been invited to stay a few days with the Donoghue family after tomorrow night's ball."

She whipped her head up, her hands clapping together. "Oh what joyous news!"

Sirius just rolled his eyes, but kept his mouth shut.

"Did you hear that Orion?!"

The head of the Black family just nodded, sipping his wine and watched as his wife began to prattle on.

"May I be excused?"

Sirius didn't wait for an answer and instead just got up from his chair and disappeared. While his Mother chattered about and his Father pretended to listen, Regulus just pushed his food around.

"Oh how I cannot wait to brag to the other ladies about this!" The chair scratched against the floor, scraping the wood from her jumping up. The skirts of her dress swishing as a dark glint shone in her eyes. "We are very proud of you Reggie for getting close to that girl."

"I never said that I accepted." It was a lie but Regulus wanted to know—no he needed to know the answer.

Walburga's mood shifted dramatically, her lips turned into a frown as she narrowed her dark eyes at him. "It is not up for discussion, if they invite you then you accept regardless of any stipulations Regulus."

"But—"

Her hand twitched, reaching for her wand. "What was th—?"

Orion interrupted her, "don't you think about it Walburga. You harm him and leave any evidence, it will draw in unappreciated questions."

She took a deep breath, "as you wish Orion." Turning her attention back to him, she smiled, "be a good boy for Mother and write to her accepting her invitation."

"Now?"

"Now."

Pushing away from the table, he left the dining room without even sparing them a second glance. After trudging up the stairs, entering his bedroom, he pressed his back against his bedroom door. With his knees buckling, he crumpled to the floor.

Gwen had been right.

His parents would sell him. All to keep up their reputation, traditions, and values.

As luck would have it though, Gwen is a kind witch who was honest and compassionate.

Regulus heard a quiet single knock against his door. Startled, he immediately backed away from the door.

"Lemme in Reg," it was Sirius.

Sirius closed the door behind him, bringing with him the same sack he had seen the other night when they ran into one another at Hogwarts. Before he could think to ask what was in the bag, Sirius moved farther into his room.

"Help me make a fort," Sirius began to pull his blankets and pillows off his large four poster bed. Regulus took note how Sirius avoided looking at most of his room.

The room was filled with the musty scent of old books, and the walls were adorned with a strange mix of Dark Arts paraphernalia and posters of their favorite Quidditch teams.

They quickly built a rather cozy fort in the center of the room, before crawling inside, facing one another cross-legged. It was one of those rare moments when the two brothers managed to put their differences aside. They found themselves in Regulus's room, surrounded by the dimly lit shadows of the night.

Sirius grinned mischievously. "Remember when we used to do this all the time?"

Regulus nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, before things got more complicated."

They shared another look with one another before, turning back to the bag.

"I went ahead and swiped food from the kitchens. Knew that our parents would either starve us or serve us the gruel. Gwen taught me a preservation spell so it would still taste great and an undetectable extension charm in order to have it all fit."

Sirius pulled out a couple of small dishes of green beans, potatoes, rolls, sausage and a few other things that he didn't bother to think of as he was acutely aware of his stomach growling in response to the delicious food.

"You're brilliant Sirius,"

He grinned, his ego boosted.

"Let's dig in."

Declan and Gwen sat at the dining table across from one another, they were eating dinner. He watched her, silently as she ate steak and potatoes. When he had picked her up from the train station, she was beaming with excitement, the most emotion he had seen her exhibit since the death of her mother. Other than the fact that she practically lit up when talking about Sirius.

"Father?" Declan's ears perked up to see his daughter wearing an expression of hard determination

"Yes?" He brought the cup of coffee to his mouth as he sipped it slowly wondering just what his daughter was going to say

"Everything is prepared for the ball, yes?"

"Yes, of course darling." He swallowed his wine, "I had Maeve oversee everything for tomorrow night."

"Wonderful," she went back to cutting up her steak.

"May I ask why you suddenly wish to throw a ball and invite only the families of the Sacred twenty-eight?"

"You and Mum have always supported my decisions, and I have been thinking that it's about time that I took my place among the other families."

He clicked his tongue, causing her to narrow her eyes in turn. "That isn't the full reason."

"I've read the papers, I've seen the death toll." She started, dabbing her mouth with her napkin. "I'm not daft in knowing that the families are plotting something and I just have this feeling that I need to know what, that it's imperative that I stay one step ahead."

Declan clenched his jaw, not liking where this was going. "Have you been having nightmares of the possible future?"

Her eyebrows furrowed, her teeth gnawing at her bottom lip. "I'm not sure, I do admit that my memory has been hazy this last month and I'm not quite sure on why it happens. It's probably due to sleep."

She waved it off, before returning to her dinner. "I just have a gut feeling that they will try to involve our family in their endeavors."

Declan sighed as he leaned back in his seat, he looked across the table to his daughter. She sat, staring at him with sincerity and hard resolve.

"I'll support this," he started. "But if things get too dangerous then this stops and we cut ties."

"Thank you Father," she smiled "now if you may excuse me I'd like to go and write to the girls." Gwen stood from her seat and left the dining room.

Declan ran a hand through his hair, a touch of silver had been added in the sixth months she had been gone. Downing the rest of his wine, his gaze slid to the portrait on the wall, where his wife frowned down at him from her place.

"What is our daughter planning?"

She just crossed her arms.

"It seems as though she is taking more after you then we thought," he set the glass back down. "I fear that she will end up just as you did."

This caused her to look away from him, before staring back ar him and shaking her head.

"What do you suggest I do then, darling?"

She picked up the red grapes and squirted the juice onto the tablecloth in a pattern. She held it up to him.

Truth.

"She is much too young to know why you really died," he paced around the dining room. "There is no guarantee it's even the same person who killed you and who they call the Dark Lord."

She narrowed her eyes at him, her lip curling. Her hand fisted the fabric.

"I will tell her the truth after it can be confirmed it's the same person," Declan watched as his wife nodded after some thought. "Otherwise, I'll tell her when we agreed to."