" One day, i promise to get better for you. Until that day, i'm sorry."
———————————————————————————
Severus has probably spent more time with his classmates in the past two weeks than he has in the past 6 years.
Six full years of being in the same class and he's only just realized they aren't as unbearable if you dont take everything they say to heart.
There's no need to watch your words in case someone find them impolite, because everyone is impolite.
Theres no need to keep things secret because whatever horrible family you have, they have it worse. Except they have money so the stress is either 10 times harder or 10 times less.
"My dad just bought me a watch to say sorry for the hex."
"My mum bought me a new broom kit."
" My dad replaced my old cauldron."
They patch up their kids trauma with expensive toys and gadgets, stuff that makes you look more interesting to other aristocrats.
Severus found it hilarious how the wizarding world still had aristocrats while the muggle world didn't. Maybe rich people sure, but not people they'd consider noble of some sort.
But there was such classism in the wizarding world and Severus has never felt it more till now.
" One of my dads friends accidentally crucio-d me. He forced his friend to buy me whole bookstore can you believe that? Rare books too." A 7th year slytherin said as they sat around the common room, Mulciber at Severus' side.
Barty Jr, Vanity and Mulciber were the only ones he really liked. Avery and the Carrow brothers always seemed a little too dark for him.
He cant even imagine what it would've been like if Lucius Malfoy was still in school. Regulus was a good kid but a little snobbish. He was kind, much too kind for his own good.
It was clear he let his parents walk all over him to not be like his "failure" brother. The reason why Severus says snobbish is because he acts like the noble house of Black is exactly like its name, Nobility.
He has no title, no estate, no social standing other than his father's name. His mother is a witch ( not just literally) who abuses her children to her definition of perfection.
And when it doesn't work she disowns them. And his father does absolutely nothing. For his wife, for his kids, for the ministry, absolutely nothing.
For someone who holds so much power by just his last name, he sure seems useless.
Their bad habits seeped into Regulus' and made him quiet, observant and completely insufferable if you got him in a bad mood.
But he makes a good potions partner so Severus wouldn't say he doesn't like him.
" Say, Potter seems to take a liking to you." Barty mentioned one night when they were all sitting at the library.
Barty and Regulus were in the same year so they were friends, Severus and Mulciber were roommates and Vanity was Severus' friend. So it was one of those rare study sessions with the few people he can tolerate from his own house.
" Yes and?" Severus asked. None looked up from their notes or books, gossip wasn't worth losing focus.
" Did you know Regulus likes him?" Barty announced and Regulus all but ripped out his textbook pages.
Severus' head turned slowly towards Regulus meanwhile Vanity's spun towards him. Mulciber was barely awake and couldn't bother to care.
" Really?" He asked, voice surprisingly calm.
Vanity seemed to notice and looked down, ignoring how uncomfortable the poor 5th year looked in the hot seat.
" Yeah. Developed one a few months before 4th year ended right?" Barty asked as if to confirm.
Regulus just looked at him bewildered and cleared his throat.
" Y-yes."
" So i was right." Barty nodded to himself.
Severus swallowed the memories of a few days ago down and clicked his tongue softly.
Everyone was back to silence, studying. Until he just needed to ask.
" And what about it?" Severus asked.
" About what?" Barty acted oblivious.
" About Regulus' love life?"
" Well because you and Potter are friends."
" And?"
" And you are friends with Regulus."
" Hardly." Severus scoffed and on second thought, maybe that was a little mean.
With the way Regulus' shoulders fell and his hand twitched, he looked hurt.
" Anyway, you can introduce them. He has hardly any time to talk to him other than quidditch and he's too busy being his enemy. You were his enemy,
Now you're his best friend. So you should introduce them."
" And why should i?" Severus asked, putting his book down in his lap.
At this Mulciber finally seemed to wake up when Severus' book slammed shut. It was heavy, it wasn't on purpose.
" Well because Reggie is your friend. And Potter is also so-"
" So i should introduce James to his puppy love admirer?" He asked and Vanity put a gentle hand on his arm.
'Reel it in Severus. Don't want to look too bitchy.' Her words of wisdom floated into his head and he let out a deep exhale.
" I'm sorry. I shouldn't be rude. Must be very hard having a crush on your brothers best friend." He said and gave a wry smile to Regulus.
' Better but not nearly enough.' Vanity's voice rang again and she cleared her throat after, in the real world.
" It's not serious. I don't expect you to make something happen." Regulus defended calmly but it came off as vain.
Everything he said did. It was a side effect of being Walburga Black's son.
" No no. I'd be happy to. He could use a distraction." He said bitterly and on his other arm he felt Mulciber poke him.
He looked at his roommate only to see him give him a look. A weird look.
Severus rolled his eyes and tried to muster up a smile.
" Let me know when you're free. Maybe you two can hang out together." He said but he didn't know how his tone came across.
He assumes bitchy, in the words of Emma.
" Thank you. I will." Regulus nods and that was it.
He doesn't know what compelled Barty to make Regulus' secret crush public but Severus wasn't mad.
No why would he? After all, he's the one who rejected James. It only makes sense to find him a replacement.
———————————————————————————
" You should hang out with Regulus." Severus mentioned at the lunch table he sat at for the first time in a week and a half.
Lily, Pandora, Xeno and James sat at it like normal but Severus was just...absent.
" What? Why?" James asked and all Severus did was a pathetic shrug.
" He likes you."
" What?!" Lily shrieked and her fork dropped.
" Rather dramatic isn't it Lily?" Severus asked and she sputtered.
" You want James to hang out with Sirius' little brother because he likes him? You want him to hang out with another person who likes him?!" She asked and as if the sentence itself wasn't too obvious, Severus nodded.
" Yes. Barty asked me to set them up, might as well." He shrugged again.
" You must be stupid." Pandora scoffed under her breath and it was clear everyone at the table had the same thought.
Severus was utterly stupid right now.
" And you're okay with me hanging out with him? Someone who likes me?" James asked and Severus nodded.
" Of course."
" And what if i like him back?"
" You wouldn't." Lily huffed and James looked at her from the side.
" I might."
" Seriously? Sirius' little brother? Mr. Broody? Mr. Rainy cloud on a perfectly sunny day?" She asked and James nodded.
" He scowls at anything that moves." Pandora chimed in and James pointed at Severus with his fork.
" So does he."
" Touché." Pandora nodded.
There was a few moments of silence where Lily was still trying to figure out if James was joking or maybe it was Severus who suddenly became the prankster?
Pandora had already moved on and was talking to her boyfriend when Severus cleared his throat.
" So you'll meet him?" He asked, the food on his plate moving from one side to the other.
" Yeah. Why not."
" Good." Severus nodded and while James looked satisfied enough on the outside he felt like he was about to burst on the inside.
I like him soooo much.
If he falls I'll break.
I'll try to be better....for you.
For him.
And now it felt like he was being given away like an unwanted toy.
That day his scars looked a little more ugly than usual, a bit itchier. And Severus wasn't there to soothe the ache, he just pushed him towards someone else.