Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Hope Marlene Potter was 14 years old when she realised she didn't like boys. They were gross and dirty, and the thought of marrying one and having kids? it was enough to make her feel physically sick.

She was 15 when she realised she liked her best friend, Ginny Weasley. She was beautiful, vibrant, full of life in a way Hope hadn't felt before. She made her smile, made her laugh and defended her against every mean girl who threw things at her in the canteen and left shitty comment son her Instagram she was soo embarrassed to tell her parents about.

And now, Hope was 16 and stupidly in love with her best friend. Her life was a mess, kids at school were awful and her mum's secret resentment towards her wasn't so secret anymore, but Ginny made it better. Ginny made everything feel okay.

Now, it was her first day of year 11 and she was honestly scared shitless. For absolutely 0 reason, she always panicked on her first day. It always felt like a whole new world despite it being the same classroom she rotted in year after year. Although, maybe the reason she woke up nervous was because she had stayed with her mum the night before.

"Hope! you better be ready in 20 or im not taking you anywhere!" Her mum yelled up the stairs, slurring her words. She had either been drinking already or was still drunk from the night before. "Yeah im ready" she called back, reaching for her phone. She was definitely calling her dad, mum was not in a safe state to drive, and what if she crashed on her way home?

Lily's drinking had gotten worse as the years went on, she had never truly recovered from the divorce. It wasn't a messy split by any means, it was quick and clean, and she even initially had custody of Hope full time. Then, she made a stupid mistake.

She had been drinking, a lot. She was in no state to go anywhere, but Hope had a dance recital that day and she had promised to show up. So, against her better judgement and well, the law, she drove to her school. She ran 2 red lights, almost hit a pedestrian and parked sideways, but she made it.

Then she got into the dance hall, and her little girl was centre stage, twirling in her little tutu with her friends, adorable as ever. She was looking out into the crowd, little eyes scanning all the seats, looking for her parents. But her eyes didn't meet Lily's, they found someone else first. Electric green met the cold grey of Regulus Blacks' eyes, and her face lit up. She smiled like she was receiving the world for Christmas, sending him a shy little wave, gapped teeth shining brightly under the lights.

Lily's heart stopped, stone still in her chest. Sure she had shown up 30 minutes late, but she was still here? She had shown up like a mother was supposed too? Why did Regulus get the affection of her daughter?

James had sat beside him, arm around his waist. He beamed like he had won it all, like things couldn't have been better for him. Bitterness flooded her veins, making her hands shake in their balled up fists. Because he did have it all, he was their baby's favourite, his stupid boyfriend was adored by all, oh so soft and gentle.

It should've been her. She should've sat there beside him, watching their girl dance and spin and smile like the most loved little lady in England.

Then, Hope finally saw her. Her face softened, smile stretching somehow even further. Her mummy came, she was late but it was okay because she came and was watching her do the dance she had practiced everyday after school. Her little 9 year old brain didn't notice Lily was swaying in her seat, she couldn't smell the alcohol on her when she hugged her after the show, telling her she looked so pretty and did a good job.

She didn't hear any of what happened in the car park, she had only seen the ending. Nobody needed to tell her what she had missed. She had grown up and seen it for herself..

Regulus and James stood patiently, waiting for Hope to reappear. They had her for the weekend and had lots of plans already. Regulus had fell in love with her quickly, she was a special little girl and it made complete sense to him James and Lily would have such a incredible little girl.

Lily stood beside them, swaying lightly on her feet. She played with her keys, trying to ignore the anger swelling inside of her. It was unfair Hope was going with them, the courts were full of shit. Why should James have visitation anyway? he left. And maybe she didn't want her little girl around Regulus, was he even safe for a little girl to be with? With his fucked up brain and all his 'trauma'?

Trauma, as if. Regulus had returned 7 years ago, all weepy and scared, claiming he had been kidnapped and held in some house in the middle of nowhere because his parents refused to pay ransom. She didn't believe that for a moment, he probably ran off with some rich asshole till he bled them dry, then came back to ruin her life. And steal the love of her daughter.

Admittedly, he hadn't actually done anything to disrupt their bond. He maintained a respectful relationship with lily, on his side anyway, and listened to all her rules for Hope without complaint. He would let her come over during James' weekends for dinner and cooked without any show of irritation, just quiet politeness. She hated it. How dare he act so elegant and poised and nice like he hadn't destroyed her family by merely existing.

She hated his existence even more in this moment, when he turned to face her and asked the most offensive question she had ever heard. "Hey, do you need a ride home?" He asked softly gaining James' attention, because of course, he always had James' attention, stupid whore.

"Why would i need that?" She hiccupped slightly, turning red. Was he trying to embarrass her in front of Hope's teacher and all these parents? She was more than capable of taking care of herself.

"Oh no! i just mean you seem tired, i know works been busy for you and i just want u to get home safe" He explained, in that soft, posh accent of his. James' smiled down at him, soaking up every bit of him like he would die without him. It was pathetic and it made her sick.

"Yeah Regulus you're just this - this perfect little prince who want t-to help" she snapped,stepping towards him and waving her arms wildly, what did he know about her work anyway? what did he know about work at al? lounging around James' house like some sad little housewife.

"Lily" James warned, stepping forwards slightly, ready to intervene.

"You know, i don't even want you around my k-kid" she pointed at him, her finger almost touching his face. "You got taken? sure you did. You were probably somewhere whoring yourself out" she spat, anger spilling over in huge, crashing waves.

Parents were starting to stare, watching this car crash, whispering amongst themselves.

"Did she really show up here drunk?"

"Why is she yelling?"

"That's Hope's mother? poor girl"

"No wonder her husband left her"

Regulus shook slightly, attempting to deescalate the situation "i'll get a motel this weekend, im so sorry. Please let us drive you home-"

"Fuck no" James cut him off, finally stepping in. "Let us take you home Lily, you are a mess and not safe to be driving. And Regulus is staying in his house where he belongs!" He seethed, pulling Regulus a little closer. Lily just stared at James' hands, one on Regulus' shoulder and one on his waist..

"Hope loves him, and he loves her" James stated simply, like he wasn't bringing Lily's world to the ground. She looked at Regulus, at the eyes her daughters' met first, at his hands that hugged her little girl, at the bracelet she had given him.

And she lunged forward, grabbing Regulus by his curls and yanking him down. He yelped loudly, trying to break free but doing his best to not touch her, he didn't want to risk hurting her. People around them had pulled their phones out and started recording, someone had called 911 and the teacher was doing her best to block a child's view.

Hope stood and watched her mother attack Regulus, and couldn't look away.

James had jumped into action immediately, hands around Lily's waist trying to drag her off. Molly Weasley had come from her car and grabbed Lily's hands, trying to dislodge them from Regulus' hair. It was another parents words that managed to stop Lily in her attack, making her still immediately.

"Hope is watching, stop it!"

She stopped immediately, her head snapping towards the classroom door. Hope stared back at her, eyes wide and fearful, dance bag tight in her grasp. She was breathing heavily, terrified of the sight in front of her. Mummy had hurt Reggie.. why?

She let go of him, shoving him backwards and rushing to Hope who took a instinctive step back, not recognising the woman in front of her. "Mummy's sorry baby, i didn't mean to scare you" she tried to hug her, but Hope just ran past her, Into.. Regulus.

He was still on the floor, his clothes wrinkled and hair a mess. James kneeled beside him, calming his obvious panic and holding Hope close to them. She had her little arms wrapped around Regulus' neck, tears rolling down her soft, chubby cheeks while she rubbed circles into his back lovingly, like the tiny angel she was.

"why did you do that?" Hope sniffled, turning to Lily, waiting for her mum to make this make sense. Lily just stood frozen, trying to come up with a excuse. What could she even say? 'sorry baby girl, I'm jealous your father loves him more and i think you might too and hes beautiful and soft and everything I'll never be so i decided to attack him'?

The police showed up shortly after that, taking statements from Regulus, James and the other parents. Lily was arrested for assault, but Regulus dropped the charges without even being asked. Him and James picked her up the next day, dropping her home safely and making sure she had enough food in for the week. They didn't stay long, but before James left, he stopped to say only a few words.

"My lawyer will be in touch"

The next few months were a blur of court dates, papers and supervised visitation. Hope forgave her eventually, because she was a child and didn't really understand anyway. But she was definitely more protective of Regulus now, it made Lily furious in a way she couldn't risk showing. At the family dinners Regulus still invited her to, Hope sat right beside him at all times, she stood between them at pick ups, and she may have forgave, but she never forgot what happened.

Which is why 7 years later, she stood in her school uniform texting her dad to drive her to school. She didn't want to risk her mum driving in the state she was in, and she could get her dad to take her stuff to his anyway.

So she waited patiently, watching out her bedroom window while packing her school bag. She was already pretty stressed and just really needed to do something with her hands. She messed with her hair uselessly in the mirror, trying to make it look good. No matter what she tried it fell in the same bushy mess it always did, causing her seemingly endless frustration.

Her anxiety spiked a little more when she heard the crackle of the driveway, signalling her Dads arrival. She knew her Mum would be upset, and would yell about how she must hate her and not trust her, but it really wasn't like that..

The knock on the door signalled this mornings bullshit was about to begin, and she headed down the stairs. Her mum answered it as soon as she hit the bottom step. "Oh are you fucking kidding me?!" She almost growled in frustration, stomping away from the front door, still wide open. James Potter stood there, bored and slightly inconvenienced, this was a recurring issue.

"Lily you can't drive like this, it's unsafe" James sighed tiredly, walking into the house he knew oh so well. "i am a more than capable parent, James!" she snapped, slamming her hands on the kitchen counter she had planted herself at. "Just because im not perfect little regulus-"

"Mum" Hope sighed, tired of hearing this rant.

"You don't trust me to get you to school safe? You are still MY kid! I know what i'm doing" she turned on Hope, spouting off once again.

"don't push this onto her, you know you're not in any position to go anywhere" he stopped her, taking some of Hope's bags from her "Say goodbye to your mum" He told her, heading to the door. She approached Lily who accepted her hug, wrapping her up tightly and wishing she didn't have to let her leave.

"are you going to come for dinner on friday?" She asked her, hopeful.

"Yes, Hope i'm coming" she sighed softly, giving in. She was going to be late for school if she didn't let her go and she did not want her baby to be late on the first day. She kissed her forehead and sent her off with her Dad, cursing the universe for the existence of Regulus Black.

Hope blushed a little, flustered by her comment. She knew she didn't mean it that way, but she could dream. The drive to school was slightly long, filled with small talk and the sound of Hope's phone pinging now and again as she scrolled through her Instagram

She thought about the upcoming school year, wondering how dreadful it would be. She wasn't stupid enough to think it may be good, it wouldn't be. People at school were mean, there was no other way to put it. They pulled her hair and shoved her, left nasty comments on her socials and spread rumours about her that made her want to just curl in a ball and hide forever.

Lavender Brown really hated her. She was unsure why, but she daren't ask. It had been worse since Ron rejected her though, she believed it was because of Hope. Ron just didn't want to date a girl so cruel, especially a girl who was so awful to his pseudo little sister.

She closed Instagram and shut her phone off as they pulled up, taking several deep breaths. This was it, the start of a new year. A very long year full of exams but a new year regardless.

"i'll be here for you later kid" James promised, kissing his daughters head and unlocking her door. He knew school made her nervous, that she was slightly antisocial, but nothing else. Nothing about the bruises on her knees from being pushed down, or the crumpled notes at the bottom of her bag, covered in nasty names.

"bye daddy" she hugged him, trying to keep her composure. It was just a school, they were just people. It was almost over and she would go to college, she would study art and she would get the fuck out of here.

She walked into the school, head held high and braced herself for the day to come.