Chapter Text
Regulus wished that the cutlery was louder. Loud enough to overpower the intimidating silence, which had rung in his ears ever since this dreadful dinner had started. ‘Dreadful dinners’ were a tradition in the Black household and during the holidays, when Regulus was there, it was only right to invite all of his awful relatives as well. Needless to say, he tried to excuse himself from attendance, but bringing up the topic resulted in the usual yelling, which he tried his best to avoid.
"So, Regulus. How are your studies going?"
A very good question, Regulus almost smiled to himself. At least it would've been if he hadn't heard it at least a hundred times since he came back from school.
"Good. Everything's fine. I'm going to be a Prefect again this year" he said. He expected the aunt he didn’t recognize to pick up her fork and continue ignoring him, but somehow she still kept her attention on him.
“And it will be your… what? Seventh year?” she asks.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
It was a neutral answer, at least that's what he was hoping. The old uncle Alphard was eyeing him from the other side of the table. Regulus found himself having a hard time trying not to flinch. Alphard had never liked him very much, but then the feeling was clearly mutual.
"Any wife-worthy candidates?"
To be fair, this one was new. He hadn't heard it this summer yet, but he knew he had it coming. In the end, the topic was always brought up. Regulus could be sure that if he continued to answer the same way he had been for the previous years, the family would soon take matters into their own hands.
"Not really," he answered, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'm focusing on studying this year."
All of the guests were surprisingly satisfied with this answer - each and every one of them, except the old Alphard who seemed to become even more suspicious.
Regulus suddenly started wondering whether it might be possible for the old man to have some sort of mind-reading ability.
"Really?" The man leaned over the table. "You seem like a fine young man. There isn't anyone who has caught your eye?"
Regulus had to try his best not to sigh. Obviously, there was someone. An absolutely, completely unusual someone. But he couldn't mention her if he wanted to continue living under his parents’ roof. And even more, it would be incredibly risky for her as well. For a brief second, Regulus imagined bringing up her name and the utter chaos that would surely ensue.
"No. No one worth mentioning."
Uncle Alphard didn't seem satisfied, but he stopped the interrogation and let the dinner continue in depressing silence, which might’ve been solemn, but, as Regulus concluded, was way better than screaming and unforgivable curses flying in every direction.
***
Despite the clear indifference his relatives shared regarding his being a prefect, Regulus was quite proud of himself. He wore his badge with pride, happy that it was him for the third time. Since the fifth year, when he learned of the honour awaiting him when the school year began, he had continuously enjoyed the duties.
On the 1st of September, he came to Platform ¾ alone. It wasn’t novel by no means, he has done that since at least fourth year. He always liked to come with a comfortable margin of time before the train was set to leave, to avoid the noise and chaos that began a few minutes before the departure.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his Slytherin housemates. Somewhere in the other direction, there were also Gryffindor's seventh years, the group still not complete. They still had some time left to gather. He looked around, but he didn’t see Sirius. Thankfully, due to his height, he had quite a clear view of the whole platform. Among the Gryffindor guys, the girl was still missing, but upon looking around, Regulus caught sight of her together with her mother, near the entrance.
From the back, he noticed she cut her hair shorter than it was the previous year. She seemed to be engaged in a lively conversation with her mother, gesticulating with her hands. He allowed himself to look for a few more seconds, before he turned away and boarded the train, still by himself.
Upon entering, Regulus found a compartment where some of Slytherin sixth and seventh years were already seated and put his trunk on the shelf above the seats.
“Black! You’re here,” one of his classmates rose to his feet.
“Where else could I be?” he almost laughed, taking a seat next to the window.
Opposite of him, Evan Rosier and Barty Crouch were playing a card game and offered for him to join, but Regulus was fine by himself. He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, promising himself it was only for a minute until he was forced to go somewhere.
Soon, there was a whistle and the train set off, slowly at first, before it started gradually gaining speed.
Evan nudged him, mumbling something about going to the Prefects’ Compartment and Regulus unwillingly opened his eyes, got up and stretched.
He wondered who this year's head boy and girl would be. Last year, the Head Boy was a Hufflepuff boy who seemed scared of everything alive, especially Slytherins. He practically let them do whatever they wanted. Rosier was the fifth year prefect at the time and he seemed particularly keen on exercising his newly gained power.
Regulus didn't like that at all. Even though that meant more privileges for his house, he knew what these perks were used for. The weakness of the Head Boy more often than not meant the suffering of younger students, mainly those of muggle-born origin.
For the sake of everyone involved, Regulus hoped the Heads would be people strong and responsible enough.
He had to stop himself from smiling wildly when, as he entered the right compartment, he saw her again, now her face clear and prettier than ever. She had a bit of a suntan now, her hair still flowing wildly around her arms and a brilliant smile, that brilliant smile on her face.
"Hello everyone! I especially welcome those among us who are the new prefects. My name is Lily Evans and I will be the Head Girl this year," was all she had to say to make Regulus even more ecstatic about being a Prefect. He always liked it when they were paired for rounds, which happened less frequently than he’d prefer it.
"And this... should be James. He will be the Head Boy," she continued with a bright smile as James charged in, wearing his cheekiest grin.
"Well, hello Evans. Bet you didn't expect me here."
Lily laughed. Regulus felt like he would give everything to be James Potter in that very moment, to be the reason for her happiness, however brief it was.
"Let's start, shall we? Sit down, James."
Regulus didn't miss how Potter's whole face brightened as he heard her call him by his name.
"I know sixth years and above have some experiences with last year's Heads. I just wanted to emphasise: we are not going to repeat that. Personally, I think one of the most important duties of mine and James's is ensuring each and every one of the students is having the most pleasant and well-organised Hogwarts experience. James and I will work together to provide you with a schedule of rounds by the end of this week. You will receive a list of your duties and rights as well. The plan for the meetings will be created as soon as possible. I encourage you to tell us what kind of other duties you need to fulfil, apart from your studying so that I can include it in my notes. Yes, Potter, I know you are the Quidditch captain. Anything else?"
“I am on the team as well,” said Regulus. “And Wilkes is, too,” he added, seeing as the fifth year Slytherin prefect seemed determined to ignore her requests.
“Thanks you guys,” she said briskly and noted it down, before turning to talk to the Hufflepuff prefects.
The other seventh year Slytherin Prefect leaned over to Regulus to whisper to him:
"She's bloody tyrannical."
Regulus meanwhile couldn't disagree more. He looked with a bit of admiration over at her, as she stood in a room full of people who, to the best of her knowledge, either didn't care about her or disliked her.
"Good. I think we can finish right now. Anything to add, James?"
Because James didn't have anything to add, the first meeting of the year was concluded and the prefects started leaving the compartment as Lily reminded them all to take care of the lost first years.
Regulus purposefully stayed behind, gathering his things exceptionally slowly.
"Black, you coming?" Evan asked.
"I will catch up with you.”
Regulus watched as Ravenclaw prefects went to say hi to Lily and James and then disappeared out the entrance, leaving only the three of them inside.
"Hi, could I talk to you very quickly?" Regulus said, surprised at how steady and confident his voice sounded. He didn’t feel like that in the slightest.
"Yes, of course," Lily smiled that beautiful smile of hers. "Give me a second more, I will get my things... James, I will talk to you later."
Potter stopped in his tracks, eyeing Regulus suspiciously.
"Are you sure?"
"James, stop it.,” she said sternly. “Yes, I'm sure. It's okay."
Regulus felt his throat ache. Everyone expected him to start throwing unforgivables around. In the end, James did leave, closing the door behind him.
"I really just wanted to talk."
"I believe you, really, I do," Lily said, looking up at him and grinning. "What's up?"
"I just wanted to congratulate you on getting Head Girl. It's been only one meeting and I already know you're going to be very good."
She looked as if she didn't know what to say.
"Thank you... I mean, thank you. That's very kind of you to say. Congratulations on being a prefect. I'd rather have you here than any other Slytherin, you know?"
Regulus smiled a genuine smile. There were so few of those recently, he learned to count them as his own little accomplishments, proving that he was not as dark yet.
“I’m happy, too. If you would need my help with anything, I’d be happy to.”
“That means a lot. I feel like all I’m saying is ‘thank you’, but I want you to know I mean it.”
They stood in silence for a few more seconds, safe in the closed compartment, away from the prying eyes. Regulus felt desperate to say something, anything, to have her here a bit longer.
“Well, how was your summer?”
Lily’s smile thinned as she gathered her words.
“Oh, you know. Same old. I spent all of my summer back home, with my family.”
“That’s nice,” he said, smiling at her. “Me, too.”
“Well, I’m sorry. Is there anything else I can help you with? I’m a bit short on time,” she sighed quietly, looking down at her notes. “I wish I could stay here and talk to you, but there are still so many things I need to do before we arrive…”
“Yes, of course. I’d hate to stop you. Just one more thing, regarding the prefects’ schedule. If it happened so… I mean, I just wanted to say that if we were paired for any of the rounds, I wouldn’t mind that,” he admitted quietly, feeling a blush creeping up on his shoulders. He felt awkward saying that, but he would feel even more awkward if she refused.
“Oh, Regulus. Of course. I really enjoyed our rounds together last year. I will keep that in mind while we draw out the schedule,” she smiled at him and he suddenly felt all of that previous discomfort melting away.
He saw her gather up her notes and slipped out of the compartment silently, walking back to where all the other Slytherins were sitting.
And so the story, like most stories, started with a boy who felt as if he didn't belong anywhere and a girl who carried insane amounts of pressure on her shoulders. And then they talked and smiled and counted all their little accomplishments which were like little proofs that it wasn't as bad yet, that they weren't lost to the world yet. And maybe in finding they were not lost, they would discover that they were merely misplaced and that their places were beside each other.