𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐚 || 𝘳.𝘢.𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬

011. detention

"How did you land yourself in and detention on Halloween?" Peter asks incredulously.

"Snogging Sirius' brother." Danielle coughs making Maria shoot her a warning look.
"Uh. . .I was on the astronomy tower—"

"With Regulus." Clarissa coughs.

"—reading." Maria gives Clarissa a look. "Filch caught me."

"You should have learned from the big boys that sneaking around that side of the castle gets you done." Sirius says, gesturing to him and the three other seventh year boys sat around them.

"Definitely." Maria nods sarcastically.

"Oh yeah! I'm asking Lily out tonight, it's gonna be amazing." James says. "I can feel it—this is the time when she says yes."

"Well, I hope she does—just don't leave your kids with me. . .ever." Maria smiles as she stands up. "I have astronomy! See you later!"

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"Bloody hell." Maria mumbles as she walks down the halls of Hogwarts in some dark blue, flared jeans and a cream, baggy, woolly jumper that hangs off one of her shoulders. Her converse clack on the stone floors as she reaches Filch's office, seeing a bored looking, tousle haired Black leaning on the wall outside with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

"Oh finally." Regulus groans and she rolls her eyes.

"I'm five minutes early." She defends as they stand next to each other, staring at the door. "We could make a run for it."

"What's the fun in that?" Regulus smirks whilst bringing his hand up and knocking on the door. Maria glares up at him through her eyelashes, still wondering how she possibly let herself have a detention with Regulus Black.

Filch grunts a 'enter' and Maria snickers as they push open the door and enter the small room. Filch grins maliciously at them as he rises from his chair.

"Lovely night to be polishing some trophies." He says and Regulus and Maria meet eyes, both of them looking positively devastated.

"Follow me then." Filch says and they trudge after the caretaker to the vast trophy room, dozens, maybe even hundreds of trophies lining the shelves and Maria almost groans in despair.

"I'll be back at midnight." Filch grins, hobbling away not before throwing a cloth and bucket filled with water down in front of each of them.

"I hate that bloody man." Maria grumbles as she picks up the cloth and Regulus smirks discreetly as he also starts scrubbing one of the silver trophies.

They stand in silence for a few minutes, only exchanging words when they accidentally bump into each other whilst trying to place the trophies back.

"Come on." Regulus whispers, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her away from the trophies, waving his wand to make the trophies gleam.

He then grabs her hand after slipping his wand into his jacket's inside pocket and pulls her down the hallway towards Filch's office.

"What are you doing?" Maria says breathlessly and he places a finger on his lips before knocking frantically on Filch's door.

The scraggly man answers and looks between them.

"Mr Filch—we just witnessed three students run straight into the forbidden forest without permission or supervision!" He says breathlessly and Filch's eyes widen.

"Right—back to the trophies you two!" Filch says, pushing past them and limping off in the direction of the forest.
Regulus grips Maria's hand as they slowly follow him and Maria stumbles slightly, making Filch spin around just as Regulus wraps his arms around her waist and spins her with him around a corner behind the wall.

Maria's breathing hitches as he slowly lets go, letting his hands linger on her sides for a second before releasing her. They cautiously peek around the corner and see Filch hobble around another.

Regulus grabs her hand and they run down the hall and see Filch rush towards the forest before he goes out of sight into the trees.

"You are. . .a genius Regulus Black." Maria whisper shouts, wrapping her arms around his neck unexpectedly. Regulus lets his go around her waist as he lifts her slightly off the ground before setting her down again.

Maria stares into his grey eyes as he hands slowly drop down his chest, feeling as though she's shrunk three sizes under his gaze. The proximity of their faces is dangerously close, Maria can almost feel his breath on her face before she swallows.

"We—we should get back." Maria breathes and Regulus clears his throat as he stands straighter, blinking a few times before nodding.

"Yeah. . .I told Stan and Alyssa I'd meet them in the common room." Regulus says as they begin to walk down the empty corridor. "I'll walk you back."

Maria goes to protest but Regulus shakes his head with a determined face and she rolls her eyes, continuing to stroll down the hall.
They reach the Gryffindor portrait and Maria turns to Regulus.

"Thanks—for getting us out of detention and walking me back." She smiles slightly and Regulus just smiles at her.
"Goodnight, Maria." He says before turning around and walking down the hall. Maria lets out a breath before turning and saying the password, walking into the common room before she sees Avalyn staring at her with worry and curiosity.

"Hello Avalyn." Maria says politely but the ghost just continues to stare at her. "Are you all right?"

"Yes." Avalyn answers softly with a distant expression. "It's just funny, isn't it?"

Maria frowns at her, confused, "what's funny, Avalyn?"

"How history repeats itself."

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