toujours pur

  At the mention of Mary Macdonald, a girl whom infuriated Rabastan more than most yet he enjoyed the fact that if he truly wanted to he could make her his little game. Truth be told the reason Rab was even still at this school was because it was so easy to harm those he believed to be inferior and she was just another to add to that list. “Well maybe this study partnership isn’t so bad after all … You should do me a favour, get to know her weaknesses, then I can play on them … Oh I’d love to see that little bitch beg” The way Rab was going off on a tangent was rather worrying, in fact he daydreamed about causing other people pain more than he should , not that he cared.

Regulus heaved a sigh, glancing sideways at his friend. "You're too much, Rabastan. Honestly, how do you expect me to get to know her weaknesses? We're going to be studying, and that's all. I don't want to spend a second more than I have to with her."

  "Oh no, no, no," he said, tsking three times and shaking his head. "Today, you’re busy. But— the other day? Hm, you seemed to go out of your way to have that little confrontation." His smile broadened, but it wasn’t one of mirth or joy. "What’s changed, Reg?" His head tilted to the side and he leant over the table, closer to his brother. "Maybe I should talk about something you might find fascinating— hm, what to say, what so say…" He tapped on his chin a few times and let out a laugh. "How’s dear mumsy? What’s she said about me? Has Bella come and written you, expressing how you were always better— always so much more sweet?” 

Regulus looked up at Sirius, his face carefully void of any emotion. "Mum hasn't said anything at all about you. She and Da are still in that 'spit every time you hear his name' phase. I took quite the curse when I mentioned you those first few times, but I soon learned my lesson. There's only one Son of Black now, no reason for any of the family to mention you." He drawled, his tone never waivering. If Sirius wanted to play dirty, he would play dirty. But Regulus would keep the upper hand in this and all discussions. Sirius was nothing anymore.

  Sirius watched his brother closely. He didn’t know what to feel looking at him, didn’t know if he was supposed to feel as close, didn’t know a thing. He beamed at his brother, something that was more encoded in his DNA than anything. “Punishment. Even the word give me shivers.” The words came sarcastically, like much that he said, “Really gets me started, Reg. You know me better than I know myself.” The words really held no affection, and he wondered when that stopped.

Regulus noted how cold Sirius sounded and it struck a chord. Long gone were the days when it was just the two of them, laughing at something foolish they'd done together. Sirius had new friends, a new family, and Regulus was left alone. "As fascinating as I find this, I reallly am busy. We can't all skate by on our good looks."

  Sirius said nothing for the first few tense moments. He had approached his brother for no reason, something had possessed him (perhaps it was habit,) to walk up to him as he studied in the library. “I think I’ve been sent to the Hospital Wing three times in the short while we’ve been here. Thoughts?” He pursed his lips, but that didn’t last long as it broke into a smile.

Regulus watched his brother carefully, waiting to see what he would do. Their previous encounter had not ended well, and he wouldn't put it past Sirius to retaliate. His lighthearted comment put him at ease, though, and Regulus allowed himself to relax. "It sounds to me like you've a penchant for trouble, but that's hardly news. Perhaps you're glutton for punishment?" He kept his comments light, but it didn't take too much reading-into to realize the intent behind them.

  As Reg complained about the cold again, Rabastan shook off his jacket and through it over to his friend , making sure to give his side a big nudge afterwards. “There, have that and stop moaning. It’s much better out here than being cooped up inside, sometimes I feel as if I’m going crazy within those castle walls” he complained, wishing more than anything that he could get his studies over and done with and prove his loyalty to Voldemort. At the mention of the study system, something which almost made Rabastan laugh because it was so damn pathetic, he shook his head. “Don’t tell me you’ve gotten close to some Gryffindors because of a study session… Honestly, it’s the most preposterous thing I’ve ever heard of.”

Regulus sliped his arms into the offered jacket and grinned at his friend. "I wasn't moaning, I was merely trying to make you aware of the possible consequences, that's all. I do agree, though, that castle is absolutely stifling." Regulus didn't mind his studies, he enjoyed them even, but he was tired of being surrounded constantly by people he wanted nothing to do with. He missed Grimmauld Place and the security it offered. He missed spending all day in the top floor library, bothere only for meals and lessons. Now though, here at Hogwarts, he was lucky to get an hour of peace before someone came up and disturbed him. It was enfuriating.

  Part of him wondered whether Regulus would actually turn up, because he wasn’t as adventurous as he was at breaking the school rules – not that he’d ever care about those anyway. Most of the fun here was pushing he boundaries, and keeping the Professors on their toes, especially when he wasn’t going to excel at the academics anyway. A small grin flashed across his face as he heard that familiar voice, he knew it was only going to be Reg so he turned to face him and stuck up his middle finger in response to his comment. “Relax, it’s not that cold out”

"You're insane, it's bloody freezing out here." He shook his head and ran his fingers through the blades of grass. He watched as Rabastan tossed a rock out onto the lake, "Yeah, I know what you mean. I usually just walk around the castle but, well, I suppose that only aleviates the problem if no one else is around." He shrugged and looked over at his friend, a small smile playing at his lips.

listen, it’s simple, I’m saying it now, while I’m still sober, while I’m not about to weep bitterly into my own glass, while you’re still here—don’t go yet, stay, stay […]

  "They say brothers are alike in so many ways. Must be hard having someone who brings so much shame to the family. Now it’s all up to you to carry on the name Black.”

"It can be difficult, yes." He muttered through gritted teeth. He liked Jon, he really did. But he knew how to push people, and Regulus didn't take very well to being pushed. 

  The table had turned. For once, it wasn’t the word mudblood in affiliation with her friends making her blood boil, but the mention of her own ‘unfulfilled potential’. She wasn’t accustomed to hearing how well she’d fit in among his housemates and the suggestion that she’d blend in easily was frankly more insulting than being called a blood traitor.

Regulus smiled at how easy it was to get under her skin. That was the problem with passion, it opened you up for attack, and got you into trouble more often than not.

All parents damage their children. It cannot be helped. Youth, like pristine glass, absorbs the prints of its handlers. Some parents smudge, others crack, a few shatter childhoods completely into jagged little pieces, beyond repair.

  The moment that Regulus jerked back, Sirius smiled gently. He heard Regulus begin to speak the spell, and a laugh escaped him, cut off by the blast that knocked him several feet backwards, into the wall. Though he didn’t see it, people around the two brothers scattered, watching from the far ends of the corridor, murmuring, gawking at the brothers Black.

Regulus walked closer to Sirius, pointedly ignoring those that stared. He stopped a few feet away and looked his brother over, surveying the damage he'd done. A sick sense of pride came over him at the sight of his brother on the ground. He had half a mind to curse him again, but a quick glance over at the lingering crowd made him decide against it.

Rabastan & Regulus

Regulus was hardly surprised to find a peice of parchment next to his seat in the coommon room, nor was he surprised to seethat Rabastan wanted to meet with him. He was an odd bloke, never just coming out and saying what he thought (unless he was thinking about mudbloods, in which case you could rarely get him to stop talking), always leaving notes or sending first years to relay messages. Not that Regulus minded, really. He didn't care too much for sharing either. It was one of the things that drew the two boys together.