lynn

(♡ = request, ୭ = smut, ✧ = angst, ☽ = fluff)

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ- hogwarts imagines / blurbs / hc

☁︎ ☽ normal pancakes / george weasley x muggleborn!reader

☁︎ ☽ stealthy, like a ninja / cedric diggory x prefect!reader

more to come....

requests are open! please send some of your ideas in!

masterlist requests are open!

☆ cedric diggory x reader

☆ word count: 641

☆ warnings: fluff and making out, inspired by this jaw dropping scene between Steve and Nancy.

In which Cedric Diggory only wants to sneak into your common room...to study!

Being Prefect meant that you had a lot more on your shoulders than the rest of your peers. Nightly patrols left you barely any time to focus on your O.W.L.S studies, your assignments piled up in the corner of your bed chambers. Your boyfriend Cedric, who was Hufflepuff's Prefect, seemed to have balanced his academics and his duties better than you, not to mention his preparations for the Triwizard Tournament.

It was the morning after another late night patrol and you tried your best to support your head from falling into your breakfast. Your eyes felt heavy and all you could think about was the feathery pillow waiting for you. Cedric was watching you from the Hufflepuff table like he did every morning, immediately noticing your drowsy state. He couldn't help staring at your puffy red eyes and perfectly rosy lips and all he wanted to do was shower you with kisses until you fell asleep. An idea came to him in that instant, he would help you with your assignments tonight and selfishly get more time alone with you. He tore a piece of paper from his notebook and started scribbling, letting the note fly over to you.

"Meet me in the Prefect's Bathroom. -C"

It took you a second to register what was scribbled on the note. You looked up towards your boyfriend, who was already grinning widely at you. With all the time divided into studying and patrolling it had become significantly hard to spend your days with Cedric. You gave him a small nod before making your way to the Prefect's Bathroom, with Cedric following a few minutes later so as to not raise any suspicion.

You barely heard the bathroom door fall shut before you were pressed up against the wall. The cold tiles were stinging your back but the warmth of Cedric's lips made you numb to the feeling. His hands were running up and down your waist, finding a spot to rest right by your hips. You sighed into the familiar rhythm of his kiss, feeling every part of your body tingle and awake from your sleepy state. You tugged at his hair, silently thanking him for growing it out because he knew you preferred it long. At the sound of his moan you could have sworn you ascended to heaven and for a split second filled with bliss you forgot where you were. Until you heard the footstep of students walking past the bathroom.

Panic took over as you pushed your flushed boyfriend away from you.

"Ced," your eyes widened as realisation hit, "we shouldn't do this here."

"Sorry, darling." Cedric traced his swollen lip with his finger, holding back a smile.

He inched closer to you again but careful to hold a safe distance from you, scared to be tempted into another kiss.

"What I actually wanted to ask you was whether you'd want to study with me tonight?"

You raised an eyebrow at him, not believing a word he was saying.

"I'm serious, I could sneak into your common room at night and we can study...and spend some time together."

"What if you get caught, Ced?" You reached out to touch his hair again, twirling it between your fingers.

"I won't," he scoffed, "I'm stealthy, like a ninja."

You let out a small chuckle at your boyfriend's ridiculous attempt to get you alone tonight, admittedly liking his idea.

"Fine," you gave in, letting him take your hand and kiss it.

"But Cedric-" His eyes snapped to you, lips still glued to your hand.

"Only to study!" You said sternly before backing away from him. Cedric was nodding fervently, picking up his discarded bag from the floor.

"The password is cupiditas."

"I love you," he cooed.

CHAPTER 12: MINE

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The air had turned sharp, and a constant grey sky seemed to be looming over the grounds, the cold seeping through the walls of Hogwarts. Branches of the Whomping Willow were left bare to declare the arrival of November. 

It had been one week since the duelling incident and rumours grew rapidly throughout the castle. Severus became the target of the whole school, safe for his Slytherin pals. Objects were thrown at him during class; his belongings would vanish and reappear completely reconstructed. The nicknames that the students created for him were harsh, and the way they said it to his face even harsher.

Romula also felt the weight of the incident, however, completely contrary to Severus, people were approaching her kindly. They offered to carry her books, sat next to her freely during classes and started greeting her in the hallways. This was all that Romula had wished for since she was a young, doe-eyed student at Hogwarts, but somehow it felt impossible to enjoy. The image of her and Severus sitting in Compartment 44 was weighing her down, obsessively making her trace back their interactions, hoping to find where she went wrong. 

The pressure of these emotions made it impossible for her to focus on her studies, and she watched her homework assignments pile up in the corner of the bed chamber. 

Regulus had started to keep conversations short, scared of saying the wrong thing again, and Romula felt partly glad because she could not look at him without hearing his words from last week. 

Quidditch practice was the only thing she looked forward to; however, it was not the Slytherins she was watching. 

"You need to stop moping around, come to Quidditch this week, I guarantee it will be fun watching me score all those goals."

Marlene had invited her a few days prior to the practice when Romula was helping her with her Potions homework. The two were an unexpected dynamic. It still wasn't clear to Romula why someone like Marlene would want to be her friend. Though they never used the term, it was clear that they were more than just classmates. 

The Lestrange girl found herself sitting on the long benches above the Quidditch pitch, her scarf wrapped tightly around her neck, covering her mouth. With every breath she drew, she felt the warmth evaporate around her chin. 

Marlene was not exaggerating when she boasted about her goal scoring, not having missed a single shot. She would wink at Romula each time, before doing a loop on her broom. Though all the Gryffindor's on the team did not mind having the Slytherin girl there, she could feel the stares of James Potter burn holes through her sweater. 

Opposite to where she was sitting, she could see three boys, wearing red and gold jumpers, hurridly sitting down. She recognised them, after adjusting her teary eyes in the harsh wind. Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. It was as if Romula could not escape them, constantly circling around each other, always connected. 

Sirius was cheering loudly whenever Marlene would score, and tease James for being slow with the snitch. He had thrown a quick glance at Romula before returning to his loud cheers. Peter was snacking on chocolate frogs, looking partially uninterested in the game while throwing the wrappers across the floor. 

"That Bludger was nasty, did you see that Moony?" Sirius was glued to the Quidditch Pitch, awaiting a response from his friend. His friend however, seemed more interested in the view in front of him.

A girl draped in silver and green, her long scarf covering half of her face and her black hair fluttering in the wind. He noticed how she was rubbing her fingers together to keep warm, and he felt ashamed that he had his gloves on instead of giving them to her. 

"Moony" Sirius elbowed him on the side, making Remus turn his head away to see one of the Gryffindors lying on the floor clutching his nose in pain. He was unsure how he could have missed this commotion, or what distracted him enough to make him so absent minded. But before he would say anything, Sirius, who had followed his sight, was now smirking at him. 

"What?" frowned Remus.

"Nothing, Moony," the mocking tone from Sirius made Remus' cheeks glow hot red in the freezing November air. 

The crowd erupted with noise; James Potter had just caught the Snitch.

Romula finally looked away from the pitch, rubbing warmth back into her hands, unaware that for a second too long, someone on the opposite stands had been looking at her like she was the main event of that afternoon. 

She hopped down the steps into the pitch, seeing Marlene waiting for her with a wide grin. Her hair was damp and sticking to her face, as Romula got close she could feel the heat radiating off of the Gryffindor girl. 

"What'd you think? We will beat Ravenclaw right?"

"I think you could beat the entire school to be honest, that was brilliant," Romula felt guilty saying this, knowing that Regulus was on the Slytherin team. He was just as good as James, but the distance between them made Romula unable to give her enthusiasm to the Slytherins. 

The rain had come down shortly after the exhausted students entered the castle and separated into their common rooms. There was time to kill until dinner and Romula thought it best to keep up with her assignments, knowing that the Prefects patrol was going to take the whole night.

The Slytherin common room seemed quite enough to focus, most of the students were either in the library or their bed chambers, the weather leaving no other option to spend the Saturday.

Nysa was purring in Romula's lap as she read more on the movement of Mercury and how it would affect her personal life over the next six months. It all sounded like rubbish to her. She knew that her grandmother always excelled in Divinations, and Romula had wished that the talent would have been passed down to her. Her eyes started to get tired, she could see the letters shift in and out of focus. Time was passing around her, but she stayed glued on the book.

The couch sunk slightly on Romula's side and Nysa let out a hiss at the sudden disturbance. 

"Why didn't you come down for dinner?" said a voice next to her, low and raspy.

Romula did not look up from her book, "I was studying, Regulus. Still am."

There was a long pause, Romula felt his eyes on her, watching the notes she was taking. He took a long breath and spoke again, this time a little more assertive. 

"That Gryffindor girl," his mouth turned into a frown, like finishing the sentence caused him discomfort, "Mckinnon? You've been spending a lot of time with her."

It wasn't meant to be a question; it was a statement. An acknowledgment that he had been watching her from a distance while she opened up her heart to others, who were undeserving of it. 

Though he would never admit it, it caused him pain to hear her laugh with someone else, louder than she ever had with him.

He hated that he saw her leave with Mckinnon to class or to the library. He hated that, somehow, the four Gryffindor boys including his brother were orbiting around her, closer than he was. 

"She came to check on me last week. She is really nice," Romula huffed, the annoyance laced in her voice, as she slammed the Divinations book shut.

Regulus kept his eyes steady on hers as she looked at him. 

"She's loud," he stated, "Sirius' type of loud."

Romula couldn't help but let out a laugh, in disbelieve that she was having this conversation, when all she wanted was to go to sleep and let the chapter she read wash over her. 

"And what type am I?" she asked before she could stop herself.

Regulus looked at her, his eyes shifting from left to right. Without missing a beat he said, "Mine."

Romula felt her stomach twist at his words, she had managed to forget, for a brief moment, the inevitable agreement their families have made for them.

Nodding her head hesitantly, as if she was processing the information he had shared with her, she got up. Nysa jumped from her lap in time and ran down to the bed chambers. 

"I have the patrol thing tonight; I have to go. Good night, Regulus," before she could pass him, he grabbed a hold of her hand, softly but enough to make a point. 

"Good night, Romula," he replied and let her hand go.

The portrait swung shut behind Romula and she was out in the corridor, staring blankly ahead. She felt the walls close in around her. Her breathing was heavy and she walked mindlessly up the stone steps, past snoring portraits and squeaking armor. Regulus' words were pressed somewhere behind her ribs. Her hand was burning where he had touched her. 

Mine. 

The words replayed in her mind until they became distorted.

By the time she reached the Astronomy Tower she felt the cool air hit her exposed throat. She welcomed it, breathing deeply in through her nose. She just stood there for a moment, letting the wind pass through her, fingers curling into her sleeves. 

Below, the grounds were blurred; the Whomping Willow moved slightly in the distance. Romula reached the edge of the balcony, her hand touching the stone top. She let the cold seep into her palm, numbing it slightly. It took another inhale for her to notice the faint smell of smoke. Not the comforting smoke from the common room chimney but more bitter and heavier. 

In the silence she could hear a sizzle, then a sharp inhale followed by an exhale. Something glowed orange in the far back by the balcony, held by a hand half hidden by a pillar. Someone else was here, past curfew. Prefect duties would start soon and Romula would need to send the student back to their room, but she did not move at first.

Her shoes made a quiet sound on the stone as she shifted her body towards the smoke. The figure turned slightly, like he did not expect to be disturbed. When she got closer, she could see the outline of a familiar lanky figure. Remus Lupin stood there, shoulders slightly hunched as if he was trying to take up less space than his body allowed. His Prefect badge caught a faint bit of light when he moved.

He looked tired, but not from lack of sleep, like something had been weighing on him that caused him restlessness. Romula imagined that she must have the same look on her face.

"Sorry I didn't expect anyone to be here," Romula said, feeling as though she had interrupted his privacy. 

"Oh- I can leave if you want-," the usual nervousness crept up in Remus, the one he always had whenever the raven-haired girl looked at him. 

Romula's eyes widened as she realized how her sentence was received by the boy in front of her. 

"That's not what I meant," Romula kept her voice calm and firm, looking at his hazel eyes, soft and exhausted. 

Remus froze for a bit before making space for Romula to join him by the balcony; breaking eye contact, as if looking at her any longer would cause him to say something he shouldn't. He took a long drag of his cigarette, exhaling up in the air to avoid the smoke enveloping Romula. 

"...Your arm," he said after a while. His voice careful and quiet; like he wasn't sure he had permission to ask. Romula glanced at him, a shy smile on her face. 

"It's better," for a moment she debated, "The chocolate helped."

Remus Lupin could have died on the spot. He would have given anything to conjure up a spell that would let the ground swallow him whole. His face felt incredibly warm, he was sure he looked feverish. "Right," he said, too quickly. He took a drag of his cigarette and looked away toward the dark outline of the Whomping Willow, which bore witness to his shame.

"It's getting colder. We should go inside," Romula muttered, her teeth slightly clattering as the cold started penetrating her thick sweater.

"We should."

masterlist requests are open!

☆ george weasley x reader

☆ word count: 642

☆ warnings: nothing, just fluff!

In which George Weasley doesn't have the patience for making pancakes the muggle way.

"It says here we need to crack three eggs." You furrowed your brows, trying to decipher your mother's handwriting. You had been spending the summer holidays living at the Burrow with your boyfriend George, and decided to surprise the Weasleys with your favorite homemade pancakes.

"I just don't see why we can't do this the normal way," your boyfriend whined next to you, trying his best to crack an egg over the bowl without letting any eggshells fall in. You couldn't help suppress a laugh when you saw half of the eggshell swimming around in the batter. The truth was you could have used magic to make these pancakes in a matter of seconds, but seeing George struggle and complain about the most basic tasks brought you inexplicable joy. He looked so adorable with his cheeks puffed out in concentration and his hair a frazzled mess from running his hand through it in frustration.

"This is the normal way, my love." You gave him a peck on the cheeks, hoping to motivate him. Sighing, he fished out the eggshells from the bowl and grimaced at the slimy feeling on his fingers.

"Now, I just need to find a medium-sized pan," you looked around, trying to see through the clutter of pots and pans lying around the kitchen. "You just keep stirring the batter until it's perfectly smooth, Georgie."

George grabbed the whisk and looked over at you. He found it endearing how you were wearing his shorts, which were folded over multiple times to stop them from falling down. Stuck in admiration for you, he forgot all about the instructions you told him. He looked to the batter and then back to you. Seizing the opportunity of you being distracted by searching for the right pan, he pulled out his wand from his back pocket. With a quick flick of his wand, the batter became smooth, not a single lump floating around. Hurriedly he hid his wand as you approached him, pan in hand.

You gasped; the batter was perfect and had the exact color and consistency you remembered from your childhood.

"Oh, Georgie," you grabbed his face and planted hundreds of tiny kisses all over, "it's perfect!"

A very red George Weasley scratched his head, flustered by the unexpected morning affection, but a pang of guilt stirred in his chest. You poured the batter onto the pan and watched it turn into the most perfect golden brown pancakes. You were jumping up and down, happy that you both managed to make pancakes the muggle way without any errors, but your boyfriend did not seem to share the same enthusiasm. Looking closely at his expression, you could see that he looked like a child who knew he did something wrong. When George took the plates with over to the table, you saw something poking out from under his shirt.

"George Weasley"—you never used his full name unless you were about to scold him, and something about your tone made him freeze in his spot.

"You used magic, didn't you?"

"No," he slowly turned to face you, guilt written all over his face.

"You are a terrible liar."

"A terribly cute one, at least?"

Typical of George to throw in a joke at the most inappropriate time. However, you did admire his ability to make light of any situation, and you tried your best to hide your smile. He slowly made his way towards you, a sheepish grin on his face.

"I'm really disappointed," you mumbled, although you did not sound like you meant it. The way he was holding your waist, pressing you so close against his chest made you forget all about your disappointment. His nose rubbed against yours, and with the faintest whisper he replied,

hellow! on top of posting my fanfic on here I thought it would be fun to do some blurbs / imagines / requests. Currently only doing HP characters and marauders!

CHAPTER 11: MARLENE

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The medication was highly effective, putting Romula to sleep until the late afternoon of the next morning. She could feel that her eyes had become puffy along with the rest of her face. The last time she had slept so well was too long ago to remember. She looked over at the bedside table, smelling the delicious scent of chamomile tea, still steaming hot. Next to it was a chocolate tablet with a note attached to it.

"These always make me feel better :)" 

Had Regulus visited her while she was asleep? She made sure to remember to thank him for the small gesture, he must have been worried sick. Knowing that Regulus did not have anyone else to rely on at Hogwarts besides herself, the days he spent without her were always highlighting his worst fears.

"Can I see her?" a soft voice was heard as the door to the infirmary opened. Within second, Romula saw the tousled blond head of Marlene Mckinnon, peaking through the curtains of her bed with a wide smile on her face.

She was wearing her Quidditch uniform, her face was glistening from sweat and her eyes watery from the wind blowing in her eyes. 

"You're up early," Marlene grinned, pulling over a chair from the corner and collapsing onto it. "You've been out cold since last evening." 

Romula huffed a laugh. "You've been checking up on me?"

Marlene leaned forward, grabbing the cup of tea from Romula's bedside table and taking a sip. 

"Oh, don't flatter yourself, I just wanted to see that wound of yours," she rolled her eyes before adding "Also Prefects stick together, and all that nonsense."

Romula could not suppress her laugh. It felt so refreshing to be able to have a normal conversation, with a normal witch her age. She rolled up her sleeve, uncovering her swollen scar, which was now shining in an angry red color. 

Marlene winced at the sight. "I'd prefer getting hit by a Bludger than whatever the hell that was. Bloody Snape, I thought you were friends."

Romula's smile faded at the mention of him. She thought they were friends too, but the boy she once knew seemed to be a distant memory by now. She thought back to his blank expression as he exited the classroom yesterday.

Marlene noticed the discomfort settle between them and tried to shift the topic again, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ears, a tick she had whenever she got nervous.

"At least you got to miss Potions, that was a catastrophic mess. Peter blew up the whole table. Professor Slughorn spent the last thirty minutes of class cleaning everything up."

They chatted on for the entire rest of the afternoon, before Madam Pomfrey gave Romula the permission to leave, just in time for dinner. 

When the two girls arrived together in the Great Hall, some students from their houses turned their heads back and forth, snickering between themselves. It was perhaps a rare sight to see a Gryffindor and a Slytherin be cordial with one another. 

"By the way," Marlene said from the corner of her mouth, "Remus will be pleased you're alive."

Romula frowned.

"Lupin?"

"He practically hovered outside the hospital wing this morning. Madam Pomfrey threatened to hex him if he kept peeking through the door," Marlene laughed, before she walked over to her table, sending Romula a wink.

Regulus was sitting alone, his untouched dinner growing cold in front of him. The skin around his fingers were raw from biting at it. Dark circles sat beneath his eyes. He looked up when she approached. For a moment he simply stared, as though he wasn't entirely convinced she was really there. 

He was on his feet before she could sit down, throwing himself at her, hugging her tightly. 

"Merlin, don't ever scare me like that again. I was up all night." It sounded like Regulus would start crying any second. "I wanted to come and see you, but Madam Pomfrey would not let me."

Romula thought back to the chocolate and the note. If it hadn't been Regulus, then who left it for her? As Regulus continued to squeeze her tightly, making her gasp for air, her gaze drifted towards the Gryffindor table. Past James, who was animatedly talking with his hands. Past Peter, who appeared to be trying to balance a cup of pumpkin juice on his forehead. Until finally it landed on Remus.

He was already looking at her.

Neither of them looked away.

"I'm alright Regulus, just a scratch," she managed to cough up, not breaking eye contact with the dirty blond Gryffindor. Like she wanted to communicate with him, without words. Like she wanted to ask him, "Was it you?" 

She didn't know why it mattered to her, but it was certain that it did. 

"A scratch?" 

She almost forgot Regulus was still there, holding her. She had gotten used to being confined in his arms. 

"Romula, there was blood all over the classroom," his voice cracked, making Romula turn away from Remus and pat Regulus' back soothingly. 

The dinner had appeared shortly after Regulus had let go of Romula, and the pair sat down. From the top of the Dining Hall, it was clear that Professor Ashcroft was looking over at their table every now and again. Severus was sitting at the far back, to no surprise being surrounded by Avery and Mulciber. He had not spared the Lestrange girl a look since she had entered but Romula couldn't find it in herself anymore to care. 

"They are writing him off as some monster, we got deducted 70 points yesterday," Regulus spoke through his half-closed mouth, trying to contain the chicken and mashed potatoes he had shoveled down.

"Well, he did slice my arm open, there had to be some consequence," Romula frowned, unsure of how Regulus was able to brush over the accident that had occurred, when seconds ago, he was worried about her wellbeing. Regulus' was looking at her, his bright eyes reflecting the icy blue of the ceiling in the Great Hall. He looked at her for a while, carefully choosing his words.

"I think he should have been awarded a point for being the most advanced in that class. What happened was just a mistake, it could have happened to anyone."

"A mistake? I was in the hospital wing, I could have a permanent scar, Regulus. Whatever that spell was, he could have saved it for actual combat, instead of using me as a test bunny."

Romula was furious, her voice was reaching all the way to the end of the table, earning her hoots and whistles from Rosier and Avery. She pushed the plate away, unable to stomach any food, and drank her pumpkin juice in one go, hoping to cool down the hot anger rising inside of her.

"Sorry, I was just saying that maybe if we had a more competent Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, we would have learned that spell already, and you would have known how to deflect it."

No matter what Regulus was adding to his argument, it seemed to make Romula's state worse.  She swallowed hard, flaring her nostrils and avoiding looking at him. She didn't want to cause a scene, otherwise she would have left the table a few sentences ago. 

"What is it you want me to say?" Regulus finally asked.

Romula laughed bitterly, still not looking at him.

"I don't know. Maybe you could stop defending him."

Regulus looked down at his plate, playing with his food, unable to think of a reply. The truth was that he did realise what Severus did was wrong, but the thought of turning against one of his own was something he did not want to go through again.

Around them the Great Hall carried on as normal. Somewhere down the table Rosier was telling a story loud enough for everyone to hear.

"You think he's becoming one of them," Regulus spoke up, barely loud enough to hear through the chatter of students.

Romula followed his gaze towards Avery and Mulciber.

"I think he already is."

These words settled bitterly on her tongue, she wanted to wash the aftertaste out, but she had no more pumpkin juice left. For a brief moment, she thought she saw hurt flash across Regulus' face.

"You sound like Sirius."

Romula felt her heart sink, looking at Regulus now and seeing the same boy she met at number twelve Grimmauld Place. The same boy who erupted into tears when his older brother had been mean to him. The same boy who even now couldn't hide the painful glances he threw towards the older Black when he walked by.

Across the room, the Gryffindor table erupted into laughter. Peter had finally dropped the cup balanced on his forehead, showering himself in juice. James was talking loudly across three people to Lily, who was trying her best to ignore him. Even Remus was smiling.

Romula stared at the angry scar beneath her sleeve, which was still prickling every now and again, reminding her of its permanence on her skin.

Chapter 10: SECTUM SIGNUM

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽𓅨☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

"Father says that this should all die down. Once they eliminate all the blood traitors and useless muggles, that is," a roar of laughter followed the statement made by Slytherin's Rosier. 

Romula passed them, keeping her head down, hiding her repelled face. She did not need this conversation today; it had been haunting her since Hogsmeade. Rosier was leaning against the doorframe in front of the classroom, a group of Slytherin girls circling him like moths to a flame. 

On the opposite side stood the Gryffindors, some were rolling their eyes at Rosier. Sirius Black was being held back, his wand was out and ready to jump at Rosier if it hadn't been for his friends. Remus Lupin had looked up in time to catch Romula's concerned expression. He gave her a small smile, so as to greet her, before turning back to Sirius, who was still trying to escape his friends grip. 

The Lestrange girl decided it was best to wait in the classroom, so she put her head down again, trying to avoid any attention and any comments that might be thrown her way to rush into the room. 

"Do you mind telling me why you carry that thing around with you all the time?"

"Lily, stop getting on my nerves, stay out of this"

"Severus, you are always around Avery and Mulciber, it's clearly not good for you!"

"Lil-"

Their heads turned towards Romula, who had stood frozen by a desk. She knew it was wrong to listen to their conversation, but she felt it would be worse to interrupt them. Lily looked at Severus once more before running out of class and towards the Gryffindor students outside. The voice of James Potter calling after her, ringing through the halls.

Romula gave Severus a small nod before sitting down at the far back. She was not sure if he would want to talk to her now, given that they haven't been on speaking terms since last year. 

Professor Ashcroft had always been a frightening woman. Always tense, disappointed and angry during the lessons. However, when she rushed into the classroom, there seemed to be something else hidden underneath her usual emotions. If one looked and listened close enough, it sounded like fear. 

The Muggle and Wizard killings did not stop since the last article they read at Hogsmeade, in fact they increased in numbers. Romula was watching half of her Herbology class getting called back home. 

"I do not want my students to be incapable of defending themselves. No matter how safe you think Hogwarts is, we cannot risk letting our guards down. I want your wands out; we will practice defensive dueling," Professor Ashcroft exclaimed, a little out of breath.  At once, the tables and chairs were knocked to either side, making enough room for the duelling lesson. 

Romula had lessons like this before, however none of them carried the same foreboding feeling as this one. 

She was paired with Marlene Mckinnon and they started to jolt out all the defensive spells they had learned thus far. Marlene was quick on her feet, almost managing to send Romula's wand flying out of her hand. Romula had to admit that this was the most fun she had had since beginning of term. In a way they were dancing a dance, adjusting to each other's rhythms. 

Mulciber crashed into a wall, omitting a loud yelp as he fell to the floor.

"Very interesting, and where did you learn this spell Mr. Snape?" Professor Ashcroft said, rushing over to Mulciber to aid him back on his feet.

"The library," Snape replied after a moment's pause, his voice as flat as his facial expression. 

Romula thought back to all the nights Severus had spent in the corner of the common room, bent over a book, drinking in the words and closing them abruptly when Romula would join him. She thought of last week, when she saw him sitting by the restricted section and of the fight between him and Lily before class.

"Ms. Mckinnon, you are a Prefect correct?" Marlene nodded, unsure of what would be asked of her. "Would you please accompany Mr. Mulciber to the hospital wing? I'm afraid he might be concussed."

Marlene heaved a sigh of frustration before grabbing Mulciber by the arm and out of the classroom. 

Romula and Severus were partners now, and the Lestrange girl felt excited, nostalgic for a time where they had been duelling partners. 

As opposed to Marlene, she remembered Severus' moves, it was a rhythm she was familiar with. An old friend turned cold. 

They started the usual way, Romula tactfully defending and redirecting Severus' spells, but as time passed it seemed his frustration grew. His eyes were narrowed, sweat was forming on his forehead, and his spells became more forceful. 

Severus' arm twitched slightly, like he was hesitating his next move. Then his expression flattened completely.

"Sectum Signum!" Snape yelled out, as a flash of light hit Romula on the arm holding her wand. 

It felt as though a thousand small glass shards were slicing her arm. With a cry, Romula dropped her wand and was holding her arm. She could feel small amounts of blood dampening her shirt. That spell wasn't anything they had been taught. Again she wondered why he would feel the need to learn these in secrecy. 

Professor Ashcroft's face fell as she witnessed the scene unfold, for a moment she stood there motionless until finally she yelled, "Enough!"  Some had not noticed the duel between Romula and Severus, they were confused why the Lestrange girl was clutching her arm. 

Remus Lupin had twisted his neck as much as possible to see her through the students. He could see her biting down on her lip, eyes glossy, threatening to let a tear roll down her cheek.

He had a sudden urge to run to her. To offer to take her to the hospital wing. She looked like she had last night during patrol. Not her usual confident self, but fragile. 

But he didn't move. Unsure of her reaction, but more so afraid of the reaction from his friends. 

Across the room Severus was staring at Romula's blood soaked shirt. Guilt flickered in his eyes and his hand trembled slightly, but in a matter of seconds he regained his cold stare. He stormed out of the room, bumping into Marlene who had returned to find a classroom full of muttering students and blood drops on the floor.

"What the bloody hell happened?" Marlene shrieked, running towards Romula to look at her arm.

"This spell...where did he learn this?" Professor Ashcroft was searching for her words. The students had never seen her so out of it.

"A Prefect should take her to the hospital wing, I'm afraid this will leave a nasty scar, dear....Mr. Lupin would you be so kind?" 

Remus, who had inched closer to the scene than the rest of the students, nodded fervently, picking up Romula's wand that was soaking in the blood. 

The pair walked out of the classroom and silence fell upon them again like last night. Only their frantic footsteps against the marble floors were heard. 

"I'm sorry that happened to you," said Remus hesitantly, like he didn't have the right words to say. 

"Me too..."

Romula wasn't referring to the accident but to getting another confirmation that the person she knew was barely there anymore. She felt anger towards Avery and Mulciber, who had infested his brain with all their cruel remarks and ideologies. If only she could make him see that they were wrong for him. She thought back to Lily's words, but before the silence could settle between her and Remus again, she added,

"At least you won't be the only one with a cool scar." A stupid attempt at a joke, at an attempt to break the uncomfortable formality between them. 

To her surprise, she heard Remus chuckle. 

"Cool?" he asked "I wouldn't call my scars cool. I actually hate looking at them," Remus stopped his sentence abruptly, like he had said too much already. 

Romula noticed that this meant there were several other scars, aside from the one on his arm. Though she wanted to ask him about them, she did not let her curiosity get the best of her and they went back to being silent. Remus felt thankful that she did not inquire further about the reasons behind his scars.

"Merlin, this is the second student in an hour, what are they teaching you down there?" Madam Pomfrey's shrill voice of concern was heard the second the pair had stepped into the hospital wing. 

Taking a closer look at the young girls wound, Madam Pompfrey clicked her tongue in disapproval. Remus was shifting nervously from one leg to the other. He wanted to ask how serious the injury was, he wanted to know that she would get better and would not have a scar as a reminder of what happened today. But again, he refrained. He was always refraining. 

Romula sat down on the hospital bed, watching Madam Pomfrey shoo Remus – who had not seemed to want to leave –away. 

The injured Lestrange girl waved at him, but couldn't shake the upsetting feeling that everyone around her was hiding something.

Chapter 9: THE MIDNIGHT PATROL

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In the second week, the Prefects were chosen to patrol the floors after curfew. They were paired in two and assigned a floor. Romula was waiting on the second floor, by the DADA office, for her partner. She was tired beyond imagination, having pulled all nighters for the past few days, studying and writing homework. 

"Good evening, Ms. Lestrange," she heard the voice of Nearly Headless Nick flying by her. She was glad it wasn't Peeves, who would have caused nothing but trouble and a mess for her to clean up. She remembered how he made the toilets overflow on the first floor last year. They were unable to restore it for a few days, and the person who was in the toilets at that time was sent to the Hospital Wing for a week. 

A beat later, she heard footsteps running down the stairs and was met with a very out of breath Remus Lupin. His Prefects badge was wonky, and he was holding something in his arms. Allowing herself a closer look, Romula noticed the black ball of fur, Nysa. 

"Oh you silly cat, where have you been!" she exclaimed, taking her off of Remus' hands, who was now blushing. Feeling the need to explain why he had her cat, he rambled so fast, it was barely understandable. 

"Uh..she, she followed me a few nights ago and it was quite late, so I thought it's best if I kept her. And then...there was not really a chance to give her to you so I kept her for a bit, and she also didn't seem to mind, so I thought I would give her to you tonight. So, I'm sorry for temporarily stealing your cat," his face grew redder, but this time due to shortness of breath. 

An amused smile was dancing on Romula's face. She found it sweet how worried he was about being accused of cat theft. 

"It's fine, really Lupin. Thank you for taking care of her," she felt odd calling him by his last name, when in her head he had always been Remus Lupin. However, they were not close, and after the library incident she felt that formalities were in order.

"Anytime, Lestrange." Remus felt awkward saying her last name out loud, he felt like he put a barrier between them, which was not what he had intended to do. But it did not help that the girl in front of him scared him a little. 

Ever since that day, in Compartment 44, he knew not to mess with her. She was relentless when it came too protecting her friends, with a tongue so sharp she could cut you in two. Yet, she looked so different in the dim lights of the second floor. Her usually tense face was relaxed, and her dark eyes made him crave the chocolate he kept in his trunk. 

They went around the second floor, neither of them speaking, both of them staring at the portraits, hoping that one of them would break the silence. 

"Are you always this quiet? Or just with me?" Romula broke, if she did not speak now, she would fall asleep. 

"I suppose all these articles are hard to ignore," Remus replied, hesitantly. "And maybe I'm a rubbish patrol partner" he added.

"You looked pretty distressed in The Three Broomsticks. To be honest, I didn't think anyone took those articles seriously." Romula answered, regretting the last part because she saw Remus' scrunch up his nose. 

"Who wouldn't take it seriously?" he said quietly, but there was an edge to it now. "People are dying outside these walls, and we can't do anything to stop it."

Romula felt a sharp embarrassment settle in her chest. It was clear how little knowledge she had on these things. The only news she got was from those articles. It was never a family table discussion between right or wrong. Rather, it was something that was praised by her parents and brother. 

They passed the armor suit, its head following the pair with a creak. 

"You didn't look much calmer in Hogsmeade either. I saw you." Remus spoke softly.

"I didn't agree with them." Romula hummed, remembering the cruel comments from Avery. 

"I didn't think you would," he said, now turning his head towards Romula as she stopped walking. 

This was the first normal interaction she had with someone outside of her house. For the first time she was not a Lestrange. Not a Slytherin. Not "Mrs. Black". She was Romula. 

"I think we checked everything; I better catch some sleep. I have Professor Ashcroft in the morning."

Romula needed to go, she needed to be alone. This new found comfort making her feel strange and almost guilty. 

"Scary woman. Good night Lestrange."

"Good night, Lupin. Thanks for my cat!"

Romula waited for the stone steps to adjust and dashed downstairs to the Slytherin common room. Luckily, it was already empty, and she plopped down on the couch. The fireplace had long been extinguished. The coolness of the common room made her skin prickle, as the silence grew louder.

Back at the Gryffindor bedchambers, the boys had been waiting for their friend's arrival. They wanted to hear about the patrol and if he had to deduct any house points from students. When Remus entered languidly, he was immediately bombarded with questions. 

"How was the Lestrange girl, did she try to hex you?" joked Peter, he was in his blue and white striped pajamas that his mother had given him for his birthday. His family never wanted their son to feel the financial burdens they had, always surprising him with gifts. 

"Oh, give it a rest, will you?" Remus rolled his eyes, changing out of his school robes and into his neatly folded pajama's. He hesitated for a moment before he spoke, "She really isn't as bad as you make her out to be, you know."

James scoffed, "Sure she isn't now. But wait until Daddy dearest tells her to join the Death Eaters. She would jump at that opportunity."

"Heard her brother and my nasty cousin have joined as well...saw the mark on her the night I ran away," Sirius added quietly, his voice losing its earlier humor for a moment before he shrugged it off.

Remus stayed quiet for the rest of the night, Sirius' words hanging heavy in the room. 

Chapter 8: Hosgmeade Trip

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O.W.L.S.

The word followed Romula around everywhere she went. Conversations at the dining tables revolved around exams, grades, future careers. It had only been the first week since they got back, and the pressure was already there.

The teachers were not being subtle about the seriousness of these exams. They assigned so much homework that students barely had time to think about the disappearances creeping through the Daily Prophet.

Romula spent her mornings in class and her evenings in the library, doing homework. She wasn't the only one pressured to excel this year. The library was always full when Romula arrived, filled with tired students from different houses. 

Regulus would often sit with her, she knew he meant well, but sometimes she felt suffocated by his constant presence. Severus would always choose a different table, often near the restricted section. Romula couldn't understand what he would need the restricted section for, considering that they had all the same classes, but she did not have enough time or energy to investigate further.

"I was thinking, how about we go to Hogsmeade together this week? I haven't been yet, but Mother just signed the permission slip," Regulus was smiling at her, his cool blue eyes staring at her, waiting for a reply. Romula felt nervous to answer. Sure, they had spent time alone, but outside of the castle it felt too serious, like a date.

"I'll think about it, maybe we can ask Severus to join? For old time's sake," Romula tried to kill the tension, and to ignore the flicker of disappointment on Regulus' face. Tight-lipped, he nodded and excused himself for needing to run to Quidditch practice. 

Hours had passed and Romula felt her temples throbbing, trying to figure out the effect of Venus being placed in a square to Neptune. Yawning, she wondered why she ever took up Divinations in the first place. As the golden streaks of light faded into a dark auburn, she wished she was in Hogsmeade, drinking a butterbeer. 

By nightfall the library had emptied, or so Romula thought. She packed up her papers and placed some of the books back on their shelves, when she heard the faintest scratch of quill on paper. She looked past the shelves and found a distressed Remus Lupin, one hand messing up his hair. Before she could make out the title, he looked up, slamming the book shut, like he got caught doing something he shouldn't.

"Hi," he said quietly, waving in her direction lazily. 

Wanting to dissolve the awkwardness, Romula heard the words spill from her mouth before she could stop them. "Need any help?"

Remus could not respond. Romula noticed how pale he looked, even with the warm candle lights shining on his face. With a nervous laugh he shook his head and put down his quill. 

"Thanks, but I think I'll call it a night," quickly he stuffed the pages into his bag and hurried out of the library. Romula lingered in the library a minute longer. The rejection stung more than she wanted to admit. Out of all the students that begun avoiding the Slytherins, she did not expect Remus to be one of them.

Back at in the Slytherin common room, it took Severus several attempts of persuasion to come to Hogsmeade. Finally, when Avery and Mulciber chimed in on their plans, he agreed. Romula felt Regulus' heart break even more, as his planned date turned into a group outing. Guilty as she felt, she was relieved that she would not need to spend all day in their entertaining Regulus and Severus alone. 

On Saturday she had some spare time before they marched off to Hogsmeade, so she tried to finish up the rest of her history homework half-heartedly. She watched her little enchanted picture frame overlooking the Hogwarts grounds. She had placed the charm in her second year, being tired of not seeing the weather outside of the Slytherin Chambers, which had caused her to be under or overdressed on several occasions. 

Before she threw on her cloak she checked again for her cat, who had been missing for two nights in a row. Romula tried to push the simmering panic aside. 

"Surely, Nysa is smart enough to come back to me," she thought, soothing her anxiety before going up to the common room. 

"Mother is asking how you are doing," she heard her little brother's voice by the leather couch the moment she entered the room. Rabastan had received daily letters from Mother and Father, Romula had received none so far. She started to imagine that Sirius Black was feeling the same envy gnaw at him, every time Regulus ripped open a new candy box from home. 

"If she wants to know, she can write me herself," replied Romula, again a stern and clear voice replacing her otherwise raspy and quiet one. Giving Rabastan a quick hair tussle, she headed out to the Entrance Hall, where the others were waiting. 

A few other students had the same idea as the Slytherin group, they wanted to make use of the leftover good weather, before October would bring its unforgiving winds. 

The walk to Hogsmeade felt longer than it was, Romula trudging behind the Slytherin boys. Regulus would throw her quick glances, like he was checking if she hadn't run off, before re-entering the boys' conversations. 

The sign of The Three Broomsticks poke through the thick fog that covered the students ahead. One by one the Slytherins slipped into the pub, instantly feeling a rush of warmth spread on their purple blue fingers. Romula, wanting to separate from her group, offered to buy them all Butterbeer and pushed through to the front. 

"Academic stress really brought out the worst in you huh, Mrs. Black."

It was the unmistakable sharp tongue of Peter Pettigrew. He was laughing at his own sentence, pointing at the five Butterbeers before Romula. She found his humour tasteless and refused to look at him. 

"What's taking so long Pete? Don't drink them all!" a saviour shouted from a table in the corner, It was Sirius Black, James and Remus on either side of him. All of them were looking at Romula now, like little children, expecting her to snap at them like she had many times before. However, Romula felt that she needed to mature beyond these childish means of arguing. Instead, she let the Butterbeers fly over her head and followed towards the table her group had chosen.

"-moments before a flash of green light illuminated the horizon. No survivors have been confirmed." Avery was reading a news article from the Daily Prophet rather loudly, checking the others' reaction. "Serves them right, bloody traitors." 

Romula slammed the Butterbeers on the table, making Regulus look at her before he spoke. "Don't be ridiculous. The Daily Prophet always exaggerates." 

Severus had grabbed the newsletter, rereading the lines and mumbling, "Well of course, an Unforgivable Curse. And still they'll find nothing. The Ministry never does."

Romula did not touch her Butterbeer. No one at the table looked disturbed. That, more than anything, made her feel ill. 

She looked over at the Gryffindor boys, they seemed to be reading the same newsletter, their reaction contrasting her groups'. They seemed horrified and angry, and Romula wished for a brief second that she could be a part of their discussion instead. 

CHAPTER 7: MOONY?

synopsis: A Lestrange. A future Black. A loyal daughter of old blood.No one expected her to become enamored with a boy who carries secrets beneath his scars.

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Sirius Black had run away from home.

It was the first sentence Romula heard after sitting down next to Regulus in the Great Hall. 

"Mother was, of course, mortified that other people would find out. I always anticipated this day to come. He wasn't much of a Black anyways. Suits him well to run to that blood traitor's house," Regulus was careful with his sentences. Though, his voice carried venom, his eyes betrayed him, lingering on the Gryffindo table a little too long. This explained the lack of letters over the past weeks.

Romula Lestrange only had one thought circling her mind, while she watched Sirius flick his hair out of his eyes. 

"You lucky fool."

How she wished it were that simple. What euphoria it must be to run away from your obligations. As Regulus continued on about his family, she could only imagine herself running barefoot across the field, the Lestrange house shrinking behind her in a distance.

The Prefects were ordered to gather by the Entrance Hall to show the newly sorted students to their houses. Severus was standing next to Romula, sparing her no glance. She looked over to the Gryffindor Prefects, Marlene and Remus, they were talking heatedly about something. It seemed all the Prefects were doing the same, but the two Slytherins remained silent. 

Romula looked at the first years, landing on her brother Rabastan; they were looking back at her, with adoration and excitement. She had also been one of them, not too long ago, and yet it felt a lifetime had passed. She was so happy to roam the halls of Hogwarts then, only for it to chew her up and spit her back out. She prayed to Merlin that these children, that her little brother, would not suffer the same fate just because of their families.

"Our perfect Prefect Moony!"

"Go easy on us Moony!"

Romula looked past the heads of the Prefects to where the cheers were coming from. Peter Pettigrew and James Potter. They were clapping loudly; Sirius walking behind them, his teeth parting his lips into a smile.

"Moony?" the nickname lingered on her lips like a question, as she watched Remus keep his head down, embarrassed by his friends. 

The Head Boy and Girl joined the Prefects, and the sea of wide-eyed first years. Slowly they divided into four, the Hufflepuffs leaving first. Then followed the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors, loud and cheerful. 

"Alright everyone, follow us, try to keep up and don't forget the password for this year!" Romula's voice now bounced between the stone walls of Hogwarts, she did not know she could be this loud. In the empty hall, that reverberated her voice, she sounded so much like her mother. Stern and powerful. 

The two Prefects led the children down towards the Slytherin common room, and made sure they had settled into their rooms before going back to the common room. 

Romula breathed in the scent of algae and leather, the familiarity and comfort washing over her. The common room was buzzing with people, all too excited to go to bed. Romula spotted the neat curls sticking out from the top of the couch, by the dimly lit fireplace. 

"Why so gloomy?" she poked her head from behind Regulus, making him gasp in surprise. He looked up at her, his eyes softening. 

Regulus was growing more and more handsome. His sunken under-eyes and equally hollow cheeks confirmed he was truly Walburga Black's son. Her golden child. Romula would see him receive sweets from his mother every week, but no owl would ever arrive for Sirius. 

"All is forgotten now that you are here." 

Regulus, so charming, so confident in the way he was speaking to her now. Regulus, who would never betray his family and go back on his word. Regulus, who was looking at his betrothed with such softness that it would make any girl lightheaded. And yet, Romula could not feel a thing. Regardless, she smiled at him, all of her teeth bared. 

She looked over to the corner table and found Severus sitting there, encircled by Averie and Mulciber. With a heavy heart she tuned their voices out. She drifted off to the memories of her and Severus when they would sit by the fire each evening, entrusting their secrets to one another. Loosing her friend felt like she was grieving the dead, and she was determined to not let anything come between Regulus and her, even if it meant lying to herself. She could not lose him. 

Selfishly, she was willing to deceive him and play along with his feelings for her. Selflessly, she was willing to put her emotions and happiness aside to make her parents proud.

In her bed chambers, her thoughts kept her awake. She could see the distant shadows of the merpeople against the dark blue lake, illuminated by the moon above. She could hear Mira Moretti's soft snores, and the purring of her cat by her feet; the Prefect Badge was on the bedside table. As Romula closed her heavy eyelids, she could see the Badge shining. Only it was not hers. Instead of it being pinned next to her dark green tie, she saw a blur of red and gold next to the polished, silver "P".

*

Up high where the Gryffindors resided, the bed chamber, housing the four boys, was full of noise and ruckus. Peter had brought "Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans" from the train, and passed it around for them to try. James got lucky each time, every bean having a delicious fruit flavour. 

"I've missed this. Promise we will move in together after we leave Hogwarts. It's been class living with James," Sirius spoke, the skin around his eyes crinkling from smiling. Remus looked around the room, at his friends, realising how much they have all changed over the summer. They started to resemble their fathers, they have grown from boys to men. 

Soon they would write their O.W.L.S, and they would need to decide on their future. Though, for Remus the future had always looked bleak. No one would accept him as he is, which jobs would he be able to get and maintain? He would have to live entangled in a web of lies, spun by his own hand. 

If not for the three young men sitting around him, his life at Hogwarts would have been filled with misery and loneliness. His heart swelled at the thought of them all living together, this way the future seemed less bleak; a sliver of sunlight visible along the horizon.

CHAPTER 6 : PREFECTS

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An owl's beak was clicking against the glass window of Romula's room. 

She was not used to getting mail, aside from the Daily Prophet newsletter-which she kept hidden in between her mattress- and letters from Regulus which came once a week.

She tiptoed over to the window and tried to conceal the sound of it opening with a creak. She did not want her mother to hear; she would surely inspect the mail before letting Romula have it.  After detaching the letter from the owl's ankle, she gave it a pat on the head and watched it fly into the morning sky. 

Eagerly the raven-haired girl tore the envelope apart to find a letter from Hogwarts inside. At first, she felt a coldness run down her neck. Had she done something wrong? Was she being expelled?

As her eyes glided over the words in the letter, her trembling hands relaxed. With her mouth agape she reread the words.

"Dear Miss Lestrange,

We are pleased to inform you that, following consultation with the Heads of House and members of staff, you have been selected to serve as a Prefect for Slytherin House during your fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

She opened the second envelope, a smaller yet heavier one. In it she found a perfectly polished silver badge with the letter "P" engraved on it. 

Running her fingers over the badge, she felt tears threatening to fall on her emerald duvet. The tears were not like the ones she shed every night for the past four years. No, these were tears of joy and pride. She was being recognized for HER achievements at school. Not become of her family's.

For a moment longer she sat on her bed, rereading the same letter over and over again, until reality settled in again. She knew that her parents would not care if she was made Prefect or even if she would achieve an Outstanding in her O.W.L.S this year. The only thing that mattered is that she would not stray off course and mingle with the enemy. 

Although the last year had been filled with misery for Romula, she was counting down the days until September 1st. She felt that her becoming Prefect might give her a fresh start at school and make up for the past years.

The days went on without mentioning anything about the Prefect badge she had received. The only person she could really relay the news to was Regulus. So, she wrote him a short letter, letting her excitement spill all over the paper. But Sunday came and Regulus' weekly letter was nowhere to be seen. This struck Romula as odd. He never missed a week. Especially now, when she mentioned the good news, she expected him to send a reply. 

She felt furious and disappointed. Was he not happy for her? When all throughout 4th years she had sat through every training and game for him. It felt like her last hope, of having someone to rely on, was flowing out of her hands like sand.

September came achingly slow, the trees already starting to shed their lush green coats. Romula was holding Rabastan with one hand and a black cat in the other. A present from father for her unwavering loyalty to her family and her obligations. It felt more like a reminder to her than a gift. "Remember where your loyalties should lie"

Their mother could not join them to bid farewell to Romula and her beloved son, as the Lestrange's had an urgent meeting to attend. This sparked signals in Romula's head, being increasingly aware of her family's involvement with the Death Eaters and the ongoing war.

The two Lestrange children made their way onto the train and settled into their compartments. Romula was adjusting her Prefects badge, which she purposefully hid in her pocket to avoid her mother's attention. She read in the letter that the Prefects needed to assemble in a separate compartment at 12 P.M sharp to receive instructions and help the first years when they arrive. With a hand petting Rabastan's coarse hair, she checked the time. 

"Rab, I have to go now and meet the other Prefects. I'll come find you when we arrive, okay? Don't cause any trouble while I'm away," Romula gave her little brother a wink before stepping out to look forthe Prefects compartment.

There was only one person facing the window when Romula Lestrange entered. She had a habit of being early even when it was not asked of her; it seemed that the boy by the window was the same. Romula let out a little cough, hoping to get the other Prefect's attention, while he was lost in his own world. 

"Oh, hey. T-The others haven't arrived yet," he looked around the compartment and back to Romula, "clearly...". His gaze dropped to the floor, cheeks tinted a light shade of pink now.

The Lestrange girl recognized him, though it took her quite some time. 

Summer had been kind to Remus Lupin. He looked taller, his dirty blonde hair was longer now, and his voice had a depth to it. Out of the four friends, he was the least insufferable, which made Romula glad that it was him and not Potter that got made Prefect. 

The black cat in Romula's hand, Nysa, jumped out of her arms and onto his lap, purring in satisfaction, leaving the her mortified. 

"Sorry, she isn't usually fond of people..."

"That's alright, I'm pretty good with animals."

They sat in silence, opposite each other, trying to welcome the uncomfortable atmosphere in the compartment. She could feel Remus trying glancing at her discreetly, like he wanted to say something, but his mouth was failing him. 

The rest of the Prefects came in, and Romula was able to breathe normally again. She saw Terry Boot and Isadora Selwyn from Ravenclaw step in first. Then followed the Hufflepuffs, Amabel Bones and Rory Finch-Fletchley as Prefects. The second Prefect for Gryffindor was Marlene McKinnon, who was also a brilliant Chaser for the Gryffindor Team.

The last person remaining was the second Prefect for Slytherin, and Romula was craning her neck to see who was behind Marlene. Then, she saw the familiar shine of black hair, parted down the middle, and her heart leapt. She had not seen or talked to Severus properly after the Quidditch game last year. She admittedly missed her friend. 

Severus was making it his mission to avoid Romula's eyes, while the Head Boy and Girl were explaining their duties for the year. Romula found it difficult to focus with the persistent ache in her heart, as well as the smell of incense and cedar, in front of her, numbing her senses.

Once the Hogwarts Express came to a halt, the Prefects scurried out of the train and waited for the first years to join them in rows of two. They walked the children to where Hagrid, the groundkeeper, was waiting for them. Rabastan was clinging on to Romula's hand and she savored this moment, knowing that he will grow up soon and not rely on her any longer. She watched the other Prefects all talking to each other, aside from Severus. He had his head down, his hair covering most of his face. 

After handing the children over to Hagrid, the Prefects had a carriage waiting for them. Severus had squeezed his way to the corner of the carriage, not leaving a chance for Romula to sit beside him, with a frown she looked around.

Chapter 5. FORMATIVE YEARS

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Hushed voices were heard in the corridors all throughout the first year, when the Slytherins would walk by. 

"Death Eater"

"Snakes"

"Black-mark brats"

When it first happened, Romula was not fully grasping the heaviness of those words. She did not understand why they were being thrown around at all.

This naivety continued all throughout the winter and early spring. In the meantime, she received letters from her family, warning her to stay away from Sirius Black, and anybody who would be an insult to her family and ancestors. 

It was in early June when Romula first heard two Ravenclaw girls whispering in the library about a war. They were crouched over a copy of "The Daily Prophet" and Romula snuck up behind them to get a glimpse:

INFLUENTIAL PURE-BLOOD FAMILY UNDER MINISTRY REVIEW

Sources within the Department of Magical Law Enforcement confirm that several members of a prominent old wizarding family have been questioned in connection with recent political unrest.

No formal charges have been announced.

One of the Ravenclaw girls caught Romula reading over her shoulder, and threw her a nasty look before grabbing her friend to leave the library.

The Ravenclaw girl had noticed Romula reading over her shoulder, hurriedly getting to her feet to leave the library. 

It was the first time she had heard the term "war" being used for the current situation the wizarding world was facing. All this time, her family had referred to it as a positive political restructuring.  

They hope of finding friends at Hogwarts was vanishing slowly, with the Slytherins being subjected to accusations every day. This was not to say, that the Slytherins were not equally as bad with throwing insults around. Whenever there were no Professors nearby, it would be a constant battle of slurs and sometimes wand fights were initiated. 

Sirius and his friends did not seem to be any different. Aside from the shy, dirty blond Remus, they were being rude towards any Slytherin they shared classes with. Whenever they tried to pick a fight with Romula. Sirius was quick to divert the topic, but never giving away how they knew each other.

Romula had tried to focus only on her grades, spending as little time as possible outside of the Slytherin common room and the library with Severus. They had many heart to hearts during late night studying before exams. Severus would often tell her about Lily Evans, a girl he knew from before Hogwarts, who was now in Gryffindor. 

When the first school year had ended, Romula wanted nothing more than to stay in her common room. The dread of going back home greater than being insulted in the hallways.

Year 2 came and Regulus Black was sorted into Slytherin. Romula had promised her mother that she would take care of him, and so she did. Hushed voices still followed when Severus, Regulus and her walked up the staircases. 

Romula had secretly subscribed to the Daily Prophet, to read about the news her family kept from her. More muggle killings were reported each day, and a boy from Hufflepuff was pulled out of school due to the disappearance of his father. 

The Lestrange girl grew more anxious as the months went on. Not only did she feel a passive guilt build inside her, but the constant glares of hatred she received were starting to impact her more than expected. 

She would see Sirius regularly during their shared classes, he was the same carefree boy she met that year at Grimmauld Place 12. His friends would never leave his side, always laughing at something and having fun, which made envy creep inside Romula's veins.  

James Potter was incredibly skilled in Defence Against the Dark Arts, tied with Severus, which gave them even more reason to bicker. Which would, in turn, give Romula even more reason to bite back. Romula discovered that she was gifted in Potions and in Charms, where she was tied in first place with Remus Lupin. 

In the evenings Severus, Regulus and Romula would sit by the fireplace that warmed the icy and dark common room. Severus would swoon over Lily, who seemed to be the only Gryffindor tolerant towards Slytherins. Regulus would stare at Romula as she spoke about her day, like he was hanging onto her every word. This would become routine for them until the end of the school year.

Year 3 started with a hailstorm. The students all walked into the Great Hall drenched and shivering. It seemed that more people from different houses were starting to be pulled out of school. Most of their parents did not deem it a safe time to return to Hogwarts. 

Romula was becoming obsessive about the news. She would open each newsletter with a heavy heart, scared that she would see one of her family members being involved in these crimes. 

She overheard Valeria and Lucien Lestrange one night, when she was expected to be asleep. They were throwing words around that Romula did not fully comprehend. Snippets of what she heard made her suspicious that her family was a part of this war

"The Dark Lord is honoring us.....", "He can prove himself worthy....", "The Dark Mark..." 

The insults in the hallways of Hogwarts ceased that year. Instead, the hateful looks were replaced by fright. The students seemed scared to even glance in any of the Slytherins direction. Scared, that they might be the next missing person in the Daily Prophet. 

Romula drowned herself in her homework, in order to avoid what was happening around her. She would eat as fast as she could, leave classrooms early and avoid Quidditch games.

Regulus stuck by her side, which Romula was feeling equally grateful and guilty for. She wanted him to make friends and enjoy his time at Hogwarts, without her anxieties dragging him down. 

The two would often land on the topic of Sirius. Romula, concealing her envy, would complain that he was not taking his academia seriously. 

Regulus would often raise suspicion that Sirius might be hiding something: "I've seen him sneak around at night, with his strange friends. I think they are hiding something. If mother finds out...,"

Often times Severus would join them and talk about new spells he read about for D.A.D.A. His fascination grew over the months, as he scribbled all the new things he learned on pieces of paper. 

Year 4 made everyone unrecognizable. All the people Romula knew, grew over the summer. They changed hairstyles and their voices had an aftertaste of maturity. Severus was the best example for it. He grew into his large nose, and his high-pitched voice would occasionally disappear. 

Romula too had changed, though she felt uncomfortable with the recent developments her body proposed. 

Regulus was trying out for the Quidditch Team as a Seeker, at the same time that James Potter was announced as Gryffindors Seeker. Though, Romula had missed all of the past Quidditch games she made a habit of going to support Regulus during trainings.

Sometimes, she would see Sirius Black sitting there as well, further away, like he wanted to stay hidden while he silently supported his brother. Romula and him would never interact, just sit on opposite sides in silence.

The first game of the year, Slytherin vs Gryffindor, ended with James catching the Snitch. The Gryffindor students, all clad in red, were making the ground shake with their intense cheers.

 Sirius, Remus and Peter jumped and ran towards James.

When Romula and Severus made their way past them to console Regulus, they heard a familiar voice behind them.

"Better luck next time, Reggie!"

Regulus turned around and hurried over to Sirius, his hands forming into fists. Romula wanted to hold him back, but he was gone sooner than she could react. 

"I don't need your luck, you blood traitor," Regulus spat at his brother and marched off into the other direction, leaving Romula and Severus on the field. 

When they tried to run after him, Romula heard the screeching voice of Peter Pettigrew call after her, "Go, go! Catch your husband and comfort him for being such a sore loser." 

Romula walked away with salty tears stinging her cheeks.

After that day, everything started to go badly in her life. 

Severus started to withdraw from her and Regulus. He would spend hours studying the Dark Arts, hiding away his notes as soon as Romula entered the common room. Anytime she mentioned her opposing opinion about the followers of the Dark Lord, he would interject and his new friends Avery and Mulciber would take his side. He had gradually distanced himself from Lily Evans too, even calling her foul names behind her back. 

Regulus was trying to fill the void that Severus left. Accompanying Romula to her classes, talking her ear off about Quidditch. Romula realized how much better Regulus was in certain subject, so she accepted his help in History and Divination. 

Occasionally they would pass by Sirius, who tried his best to avoid them entirely. Although, Regulus pretended like he did not care, Romula would catch the frustration and hurt in his words when he would talk about his brother. 

Towards the end of fourth year the severity of the ongoing war was felt in the halls of Hogwarts for the first time. Teachers were talking in whispers, and would stop whenever a student was near. Dumbledore announced a curfew to be set for all students. The visits to Hogsmeade were prohibited without parental permission. 

To make matters worse, the information about Romula being "promised" to Regulus made their rounds across the school. Seeing as she was already an outsider to the other houses, this only reaffirmed her position. 

Chapter 4: THE SORTING HAT

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Once inside the warm castle, the first years were told to line up in the Entrance Hall, and await their turn to join the feast inside the Great Hall. 

Romula could not keep her eyes still. She was looking back and forth, up and down. Every detail of Hogwarts seemed to impress her, for a moment she drowned out the noise coming from the nervous students surrounding her. 

She had never felt so much warmth at home, she was not used to feeling so free of fright. At her home she always walked with a certain caution, that at any time she would get into trouble. Looking to the front, she noticed the back of Sirius' head, seemingly just as entranced by the walls surrounding them. 

He too had not felt this peaceful in his entire life, he felt the tension between his shoulder blades dissolve, making them drop. 

"I'm starving, I hope there is enough food left when we enter," said Severus, who was anxiously flailing his arms from one side to the other. 

Romula nodded, she could feel her stomach begin to gurgle ever so slightly. 

It felt like another half an hour until Professor Hewit, who instructed them to stay put, came back to the Entrance Hall. He informed the students that they may enter and opened the door to the Great Hall. 

There were small gasps of astonishment coming from every direction. Romula had heard about the beauty of the Great Hall from her older brother Rudolphos, however, words did not do this place justice. 

She saw all the students, who were sitting among rows of four tables, turn their heads in curiosity. Some were giggling, some looked like they were looking at something very cute, some were indifferent. The end of the Hall had a raised table where the Professors were sitting, and they could see a man with a great silver beard, standing in the center, before the table. 

"That's surely Dumbledore! My brother told me all about him!" a girl among the first years hushed. Romula tried to remember what she had heard about Dumbledore, but nothing positive came to mind.

Rudolphus was not very fond of the headmaster, though he could never give any tangible reasons for it. To her, the Headmaster looked like a kind person, his warm smile was making her less anxious of the evening ahead.

One of the Professors brought in a chair with an old hat sitting on top of it, it must have belonged to an ancient wizard once. While some of the first years were confused, Romula knew what would come next. The thing she had both dreaded and longed for. The Sorting Ceremony. 

As Dumbledore confirmed her suspicion, the hat began to break out into a song. The students, already seated on the tables of their houses, cheered as the song ended, and the first years were being called forth one by one. 

"Aggarwal, Juniper," was the first student sitting on the chair, the hat being placed over her head. Everyone around the Great Hall seemed to be holding their breath. And, after a long pause, the hat roared, "RAVENCLAW." 

Cheers erupted from the table where the Ravenclaw students were eating, some got up to hug their new housemate. The ceremony went on and when it reached Sirius Black, Romula craned her neck to get a better view. 

Sirius sat down, confident as ever, as he threw a small glance towards Romula in the crowd. When the hat went over his head, covering his eyes, the room was filled with silence again. 

Patiently, they waited for what seemed an entire lifetime, until the hat spoke out, "Better be...GRYFFINDOR," loud cheers was heard from the right. 

As the Professor took off the hat, Sirius' eyes were wide. He was pale in the face, and for a moment it seemed as if he would faint the minute, he got up. Romula's heart was thumping in her ears so loudly, that the cheers from the students was drowned. She couldn't believe it, surely there must have been a mistake. 

He can't be in Gryffindor; he is a Black. 

Romula kept repeating these words over and over again. She knew what this meant for Sirius, and she was frightened for him. If he got into Gryffindor his family would surely never let him back into their house. She looked at Sirius as he made his way towards the Gryffindor table, swaying unsteadily, and for the first time that evening his smile had vanished. 

The names continued being called out alphabetically. Romula paid no mind to the rest of the ceremony, she was still going over the possibility that she too could end up in Gryffindor, disappointing her already disappointed family. 

"Lestrange, Romula," called the Professor Hewit, though, Romula was too occupied with her thoughts to hear. 

"LESTRANGE. Please, come forth at once," an impatience was present in the Professors voice, but this too had no effect on Romula, until finally Severus nudged her to the front of the line. She moved slowly towards the chair, her breath as shaky as her hands. 

The hat was now covering her eyes and its soft voice sounded in her ear. 

"A Lestrange again...well certainly it's clear where you belong. I can't help but wonder....if you could do well in Ravenclaw...the traits are all there yes. However, I think you will achieve greatness if you tread cautiously, it must be...SLYTHERIN!" 

Romula felt like someone had punched her stomach, forcing her to exhale loudly. 

The Slytherin table was cheering and clapping, some raised their cups at Romula as she walked over to them. She smiled at the people around her, relieved that she had made it. 

Still, something was dampening her mood, she was sure it had to do with the long-haired boy sitting all the way to the other side of the room. She continued watching the ceremony, hoping that at least Severus would join her house. 

The boy from the train, the one who reasoned with Romula to leave their compartment, was now called to the front. 

"Lupin, Remus," that was his name. The hat barely touched the crown of his head when it yelled out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Romula looked over at Sirius and could see his smile reappearing on his face again. Though not as smug as it was before his sorting. 

Romula was glad regardless, that he would at least have someone to rely on in his house. The rest of the boys that Sirius befriended on the ride to Hogwarts – James Potter and Peter Pettigrew – were sorted into Gryffindor as well. Romula had an inkling that those four boys would become even more inseparable as the years would pass, and she wished that she too would find loyal friends in Slytherin. 

Romula had to hold her breath one last time that evening, when Severus was called for the Sorting.

"Please be Slytherin, please," Romula muttered under her breath. 

As if Merlin heard her prayers, the Sorting Hat cried out that he should join Slytherin. Romula jumped up and met Severus half way to the table. She hugged him tight and they stayed like this for a bit, both relieved that they had each other.

As the Sorting concluded, they were urged to eat and celebrate. Food was overflowing on each table and Romula was fascinated at the variety and quantity. 

She had never eaten so well, enjoyed conversations with fellow Slytherins and laughed with her friend. Sometimes, she would glance over at Sirius to see how he was doing. He seemed to be adjusting to his fate, every once in a while, he would catch Romula's eye and smile at her, like he was grateful for her concern. 

synopsis: A Lestrange. A future Black. A loyal daughter of old blood.No one expected her to become enamored with a boy who carries secrets beneath his scars.

MASTERLIST

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

This is my original work, also found on my wattpad ( @ evakviigmohn). Also super sorry for any grammar mistakes! English is not my first language!

Chapter 3 : COMPARTMENT 44

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The smell of burnt coal enveloped Romula as she entered Platform 9¾. 

Her mother had laid out her dress the previous evening and her hair was still falling sleek over her shoulders from the straightening spell that had been used. She had her robes ready as well, nervous that she might forget to take it out of her trunk when they arrive to Hogwarts. 

They were standing before the locomotive; it's size casting shadows over the families. Romula looked around and saw heartfelt goodbyes exchanged between children and mothers, and she felt a form of disgust build in her heart. 

She liked to pretend that she was above these foolish emotions; it hurt her less to think this way. Rabastan gave Romula a quick hug, barely reaching her collarbone, and she gave him a little squeeze in return. 

The Lestranges were never the type to show their emotions, especially when those linked with weakness, but Rabastan was too young to understand. Her mother gave Romula a coldhearted kiss on the cheek, making sure to whisper lectures in her ear before they broke apart. With one last wave, Romula stepped towards the locomotive, grasping the iron stair rail, taking one step at a time. 

Inside the train there were rows of students trying to squeeze into compartments. 

Not only first years were present, but she could see older students greeting each other after their long break. Romula was hopeful at the sight of their friendships, that she too would find something like a family during the seven years ahead. 

As she was looking through each compartment, she found one completely unoccupied. Compartment 44. The smell inside the compartment reminded her of old pairs of socks but she did not complain, glad to be able to sit comfortably for their long journey to Hogwarts. 

As the train started to depart, she took out her potions schoolbook and began to go through the first chapter, skimming through most of the explanations, as she had already read about them in her library at home. 

The compartment door slid open and a high-pitched voice spoke, "Is it okay if I sit here?"                

Romula turned to see who the trembling voice belonged to. She saw a small boy with long stringy hair and a nose too large for the rest of his features standing uncomfortably by the glass door. 

She found him endearing, so she nodded and made room for the boy. They were quiet at first, the boy was chewing on his lip, nervously stealing glances at the potions book in Romula's hand. 

Romula was aware of the boy's interest in her reading material, so she laid out the book flat on the little table of the compartment, allowing him a better look. They read in silence, neither of them felt the need to speak and both of them enjoying each other's quiet company.

Although, this tranquility in the compartment was not meant to last too long, as a group of boys slammed the door open and made themselves comfortable. 

Romula looked up in annoyance, only to spot the same untidy straight hair she saw at Grimmauld Place 12. It was Sirius Black, deep in conversation with a bespectacled boy next to him. 

There were two more, though they were not as loud as Sirius and the boy on his left. 

"Excuse me, do you mind? We are trying to read," said the boy with the stringy hair. To Romula's surprise he sounded more confident than he did half an hour ago. 

The boys went quiet, as they turned their heads towards the high-pitched voice. While they looked over, Sirius had met eyes with Romula and gave her a nod of acknowledgement, probably wanting to hide the reason of their acquaintanceship.

"I don't mind. Peter, do you mind?" The boy with the glasses spoke. 

His tone coming across acerbic. One mousy boy, presumably Peter, shook his head, a snort like laugh came out of him. 

"Great! Sirius, do you mind? Remus, what about you mate?" The boy continued, looking at his friends with great amusement on his face. 

Romula tried to ignore the comments, boys were always teasing each other for no reason, she saw it firsthand with her brothers. However, the laughs of the four boys were not dying down, and she was finding it rather difficult to focus on the instructions for Pepperup Potion on page 30. 

"No don't look away now, you were so confident just a few seconds ago. What's your name," the boy named Peter spoke now, snorting again. 

"S-s-Severus," answered the boy with the stringy hair, his voice back to the trembling state it had been in the beginning and barely audible.

"What was that? Snivellus? Lovely name, nice to meet you," Sirius answered with the same sarcastic tone he had during his argument with Regulus, last Sunday of August. 

Romula did not know whether it was a general annoyance of the whole situation or the fact that Sirius joined in on the teasing, but she could not contain her emotions any longer. Mother was not here to witness her unladylike behaviour so from now on she shall speak freely, she thought to herself.

"Would you just shut up? Honestly, it was bad enough that you four couldn't keep your voices down but now your just being crass. What's your problem?" 

The sentence came out louder than Romula had intended; she did not break eye contact with Sirius the entire time. The boy with the glasses was about to chime in again, his lip twitching as a foul smile started forming, when the boy next to Peter spoke out for the first time. 

"Sorry, your right. We'll search another compartment," and with that he got up first to open the door, beckoning the rest of his friends to follow his lead. 

He gave Romula a crooked smile, slightly nodding apologetically before closing the compartment door again, leaving her and Severus alone again. 

"I'm Romula, by the way," she added quietly as she turned to page 31 and she could hear Severus let out a breathy laugh. 

The sun was setting when the locomotive came to a halt and the students outside of Compartment 44 were dashing towards the exit doors. 

Romula and Severus threw their robes over their shoulders and followed suit. Behind the row of first years, she could make out the three boys and Sirius by the exit door, they were still laughing. 

"How are they always laughing? What's so entertaining?" Romula wondered as she moved along through the sea of students. 

The older students departed by carriages, it seemed that there as an invisible force carrying them. As Romula looked towards the direction they were taking, she saw the outline of the most spectacular castle she had ever seen. 

The endless rows of windows alongside its many points evoked a warm and inviting sense, and Romula could not wait to step inside to hide from the cool autumn breeze. The first years were led by a rather tall, maybe even abnormally tall, man towards a boat that would carry them across the body of water, and to the majestic castle that was Hogwarts. 

Romula made sure to avoid Sirius and his friends, she would have enough time to nag him once they were sorted in Slytherin. Instead, she took a seat next to Severus, having found his quiet company a pleasant distraction from her nervousness. 

As they rowed over the water, she could see the moonlight starting to reflect, illuminating her face and capturing her attention all the way towards the shore.

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synopsis: A Lestrange. A future Black. A loyal daughter of old blood.No one expected her to become enamored with a boy who carries secrets beneath his scars.

Chapter 2: BROTHERS OF HOUSE BLACK

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Rain was pelting against the tall windows of number twelve, Grimmauld Place. 

Valeria and Lucien Lestrange were standing behind their children, as their coats were taken by the house elf, who had a rather unpleasant look on his face, before hearing the name of the visitors. 

Romula was admiring the interior of the house, with it's high ceilings and forest green walls. It was darker at House Black than at the Lestrange's, however they both carried the same bone chilling element. 

"Master and Mistress will be down shortly," grunted the house elf before disappearing off to what seemed like the dining room. 

Romula had the feeling that she might faint any moment, with her insides feeling carved out from not having eaten anything. 

She was tugging at the skin around her fingernail; a bad habit she couldn't control no matter how much her mother disciplined her. Even know she could feel Valeria Lestrange's sharp nails digging into her collarbone, controlling her in a subtle and unnoticeable manner. 

She felt the Black's descend the stairs before she even saw them. They were carrying an unsettling energy, the temperature in the entrance hall dropping even lower as they met the bottom step.

"I hope we did not keep you too long, there were some minor problems we had to straighten out," a grating voice escaped the tall and graceful woman before Romula. She sounded irritated as though the problem was a reoccurring incident. 

"Not to worry, we just arrived," Lucien had answered, his voice betraying his attempt at a polite response. Romula's parents liked feeling like they were the most important people in a room. 

To be kept waiting was surely a form of insult to them. The grip on Romula's shoulder tightened as her mother added, "This is my daughter, my beautiful Romula. She turned eleven this year." 

All eyes were turned to Romula, and she could feel the heat stinging her cheeks. Surely, she must have been red in the face. As she tried to do a curtsey, she noticed how her legs were threatening to fold from the pressure of her body. 

Before anyone could speak up again, the house elf walked in with a boy by his side. The boy looked younger than Romula, his hair was raven and, unlike hers, his waves were neat and defined. 

"Regulus, just in time. Come here, darling," Walburga Black cooed. The boy came over to stand in front of his parents, just as Romula did. They looked at each other before averting their gaze, as though the floor was the most interesting part of this evening. 

After a painfully unpleasant introduction between the families, they were motioned to sit by the dining table as the food was going to be ready soon. 

There was not much conversation between Romula and Regulus, but none of this concerned their parents. After all, they were really here for themselves and not for their children. This whole evening was just another tactic to ensure family politics. 

While the heads of the households were whispering about current news and disappearances, the first course appeared on their tables. Romula was clutching the chair with her hands to stop herself from stuffing her face. She knew the rules, she remembered them from yesterday's reading. "Never eat before the eldest of the family has started".

"Merlin, where is this boy. SIRIUS," Walburga Black's shouted so loudly that her voice bounced off the walls, and shook the plates on the table. Orion Black tilted his head with a sigh, as hurried steps were coming from the staircase. 

Someone was taking two steps at a time, and sprinting towards the dining hall. Romula turned to see another young boy panting by the entryway. He looked almost identical to Regulus, the only difference being his chaotic straight hair. 

His clothes were also not as neat as Regulus', his undershirt sticking out and his auburn vest buttoned the wrong way. 

The boy muttered an apology before running to sit beside his brother, not looking at his parents or the Lestranges. 

Somebody ought to give him that wretched Grace and Restraint book, Romula thought before realising that Orion and Lucien had started eating. With as much composure as she could muster, Romula ate her food one bite at a time. 

When they had finished dessert the parents had shooed the children out of the room to discuss "the most pressing matters," as Orion phrased it.

Rabastan did not pay much mind to the three children in the room, he was shaking his leg up and down impatiently, while looking outside and wishing he could get on his broomstick. 

Regulus tried to show Romula his collection of insects, naming every single one, and explaining their differences, with a passion Romula found sweet but also slightly worrying. Sirius on the other hand did not speak to Romula, he withdrew to a corner and pretended to be asleep, huffing in annoyance every now and again. 

"How much longer do I need to be stuck here," Sirius groaned, after Regulus moved on to show Romula his spider collection. 

"Could you be nice for once and play with us," Regulus bit back, the two started bickering, like you would expect brother to do. Romula stayed quiet. She could not recall having learned what a lady would do in such a situation. 

"The only reason I can't go play in the woods today is because of your stupid union," Sirius snarled, making Regulus freeze in his spot, with a blush spreading on his cheeks. 

"Mother found you a wife because she knew nobody would marry you on her own," Sirius continued throwing snide comments while Regulus was yelling over him, telling him to shut his mouth, a tear threatening to roll down. 

Rabastan seemed to enjoy the show in front of him, seeing as he finally took his eyes off the window. 

Romula was staring at the wolf spider in her hand, which had been encapsulated inside a resin mold. 

She did not want to be part of this discussion, as much as she wanted to fight back at Sirius for being tactless and mean. She bit her tongue, scared words would flow out of her mouth, when suddenly she heard something drop and little footsteps running from the spot next to her. Regulus had taken off and up the stairs. 

"Rab, could you please go and check on him, mother wouldn't want us to leave him so upset," said Romula calmly, still not looking away from the wolf spider. An annoyed huff later, the only two people left in the room where Sirius and Romula. 

The silence stretched between them until Sirius' voice finally broke it.

"How can you be so calm? About all of this, I mean."

Romula finally looked up and met the playful expression on his face. She had the impression that Sirius was unable to take a single thing seriously. 

His question, though seemingly innocent, set something off in Romula. Something which she had tried to bury inside her ever since receiving an invitation from House Black. She stood up to be eye level with Sirius, trying to contain the tremor in her voice.

"What do you expect me to do? You think I have any say in thi-," she took a sharp breath, throwing the wolf spider onto the floor. 

Sirius did not blink, so as not to miss a word she was saying. 

Romula's eyebrows were scrunched and she could feel the lump forming in her throat as she tried to resume. 

"It's not about what I want and will never be. I am a Lestrange. I am also a girl, which means that I can't pass on our last name. The only thing that would make my parents proud of me is if I marry your brother and continue this stupid pure blood legacy. So forgive me for not protesting against my family. It. Wouldn't. Change. Anything."

Sirius could feel his chest tighten, as he watched the girl in front of him struggling to speak. He felt like an idiot for the way he had behaved, all the frustration replaced by a sense of pity. He answered the only way he knew how to elevate the bleak mood he had created. 

"I would ask you to marry me instead but my mother thinks I am a disgrace to our bloodline so...I suppose... it won't be alright with your parents." Romula let out a shaky laugh, wiping her tears on the back of her ruffled sleeve. She could not forget how nasty Sirius had been just minutes ago, but she could learn to accept his apology and forgive him.

Rabastan and Regulus came down the stairs before their parents had opened the doors, announcing the end of their evening.

Romula assumed that the matter had been settled between the families, and as of today she would be promised to Regulus Black. When they would finish school, they would get married and carry on their families' legacies.