𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐚 || 𝘳.𝘢.𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬

053. shower in the storm

Regulus has his jaw clenched as he glares at the greasy haired man before him, wanting anything but to be stood in front of him.

"I mean I always knew shed end up the way she is now, growing up with an arrogant brother - I'm sure you can correlate - must turn you into a bit of an attention whor-"

"Don't fucking talk about her like that again." Regulus warns Snape dangerously, shoving the older boy roughly.

"That is what I mean, Black, keep defending her and you both will end up dead." Snape snaps and Regulus rolls his eyes.

"Why do you care?"

"I know someone who wouldn't be too happy if she died."

"Oh? You mean your precious Lily?" Regulus pushes and Snape grits his teeth. "Don't tell me you're still smitten with Evans, Severus. Because I'm sure the rest of us won't be too happy with that, maybe even worse considering she's considered a mudblood in their eyes."

Regulus smiles and pats Snape's shoulder teasingly as he sets off down the stone hallway before turning back to the angered potions assistant. "But hey, I won't tell if you don't."

Maria sighs stepping off the wall and colliding with Regulus' taller body as she goes to walk again, the Black grabbing her waist quickly to steady her.

"Hey, I was just coming to see you." Regulus smiles and Maria frowns slightly, why wouldn't he tell her he'd argued with Snape? She brushes t off and smiles, leaning up and pressing her lips on his. "Let's go, I'm starving."

[][][]

A storm was headed straight for Hogwarts when Maria settled in the scarlet sheets of her four poster bed that night, a couple of candles lit beside her and her usual book in her hand as her chocolate eyes skim over the many words printed onto the pages. She thought of Severus and Regulus' conversation multiple times as she'd tried to doze off into her slumber yet couldn't get comfortable, therefore resulted in confiding in her books. After finishing two chapters of 'Pride and Prejudice' when she finally tries yet again to get to sleep.

However a loud strike of lightening followed by rumbling thunder disturbed her and she groans, grabbing her pillow and pressing it against her ears to try and muffle the loud grumbling from the rain filled clouds above the tower.

A thought pops into her head and she doesn't think twice before slipping on a hoodie and tiptoeing out of the dormitory and down the stairs into the common room where a few rebellious teens are sat chuckling to themselves as they gossip, some revising for beginning of year tests and some just trying to distract themselves from the violent sounds of the storm outside. Walking out of the large common room, Maria cautiously walks down the moving staircases before reaching one painting in particular.

"Salazar." Maria whispers and the black snake nods, the portrait opening to reveal the dim Slytherin common room. As Maria had suspected, the racket of the storm above had settled and she could now only here the soft sound of water above. Her initial thoughts had been that since the Slytherin dormitories and common room are both positioned beneath a lake, a rather deep lake to be precise, the noise of the rain and the bangs of lightening should be quietened by the dark waters.

The brunette strolls up the stone staircase towards the boys dormitory and walks into Stan and Regulus' dormitory, seeing Alyssa cuddled up to Stan is his bed, remembering that Alyssa doesn't like being alone in storms since the lightening reminds her of spells being fired from dark wizards.

She frowns noticing Regulus' empty bed but hears the quiet sound of a shower from the bathroom and smiles, gently opening the door and the curtain is closed but she can see the outline of his body.