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The great hall is too busy. It's too busy. It's jam packed with people. Not nearly enough room to breathe and it feels like every student at Hogwarts and their mum have been shoved in here. People keep brushing past me, barely touching me but it's making me wince every single time. Sounds reflect and bounce off the echoey walls of the great hall multiplying the volume of every single syllable a thousandfold. People seem to be yelling at everyone and nobody and me and it's all too much. I try to focus on my breathing to stop the nerves or neurons or whatever's in my brain from fizzing out of control. In. Out. In. Out. It's not working but I carry on anyway. In. Out. In-
"Reg stop scratching your arm."
"Right." I hadn't noticed I was doing that.
"Regulus you've drawn blood!" Lily shrieks, grabbing my arm.
Shrinking back, I pull my arm away and start tugging at my hair instead. The sharp stab of pain grounds me. In. Out. In. Out.
"Regulus stop fiddling with your hair." Another voice directed at me from the surrounding cacophony.
I don't stop though and they don't stop talking.
In. Out.
"Regulus do you want me to take you to Pomfrey- actually I know a spell that stops bleeding." She grabs my wrist again and starts inspecting it.
In. Out.
Professor McGonagall is winding her way through the crowd towards me.
"Ah, yes Regulus. There you are. I've been meaning to speak to you. I have noticed that the standard of your assignments and class work in general have fallen significantly. I was wondering if everything was quiet alright? If you're struggling with anything you can always go to your head of house and my door is always open!"
In. Out. In. Out. In. Out.
I need McGonagall to go away.
I need Lily to let go of my arm. But I can't find the words to tell them.
And I need-
Someone's bag knocks against my back and I stumble. Their hand is on my shoulder stopping me from face planting. "Sorry mate, didn't-"
"CAN EVERYONE STOP FUCKING TOUCHING ME?"
And finally there's silence. But eyes turn to me and their gazes bounce around my head and the silence starts to ring in my ears. I elbow them out the way as I run out of the hall. I race through corridors until I find a corner of an empty classroom I can shove myself into. I sit down. Cold seeps through my trousers, I bang my head against the wall until my pulse slows and my thoughts unjumble enough.
"Hey, I think you should stop that." The voice flops on the floor beside me. The voice is as smooth and as sweet as the chocolate bar it's offering. Remus. I sigh and I ignore the bar.
"I know from experience that you'll be in danger of a concussion if keep that up. Do you need something to drink or eat?" I shake my head and scrunch my hair up in my hands. He scoots closer. He smells of warmth and chocolate. He lifts his hand to my face in question, I nod. He wipes my eyes and I realise I might of been crying. He pulls my head onto his shoulder and strokes my hair. He's warm and comforting so I curl up into his chest. He wraps his arms around me and I feel small. Small and safe. I drift off into oblivion but not before I feel Remus place a kiss on my head. "I love you." he whispers.