Marlene began noticing that recently, her best friend would sneak off later in the evenings and would disappear for most weeknights. As any good friend would, the blonde began pestering the girl, begging to know where she was sneaking off too.
Of course, Marlene imagined the reasoning to be much, much different than what really was going on. After receiving no concrete answer, she began insisting that the Potter girl had entered her 'Sirius phase' and was sneaking off to see boys in various broom closets along the shadowed corridors.
It didn't help that instead of declining the theory, Violet's cheeks blushed a bright red as she froze, shocked at the accusation. This only caused Marlene to believe that this was the truth even as Violet stuttered her way through denying it.
Lily, was certainly no help in the matter as she stood off in the corner, watching along in amusement. The redhead knew what was happening, that there were no midnight escapades, it was simply just a boy helping a girl struggle her way through class.
She could've shut down Marlene, but watching the blonde bug the younger girl about who she was shagging despite Violet never having a first kiss-
Well, there was something poetic about letting the brunette, who would constantly harass her about James' annoying obsession, be interrogated in such a fashion. Karma's a bitch.
But for now, Violet had managed to escape the blonde girl, retreating to the same small library corner bathed in candle light.
---
"Is this really necessary" the girl complained, moving to slam her head against the desk when a pale hand shot forward, keeping her from crunching her glasses- again. "Do I really have to?"
The boy's shoulders shook a little, a silent laugh bubbling to the surface. "Yes, it is necessary."
She looked up at him with her large brown doe eyes, the ones she usually used to get her way, sparkling and shining as much as she could make them, "Are you sure?"
He remained stern, as much as Regulus could feel his ribs melting and heart exploding at the girl, he couldn't let any of it show, "The study packet is necessary. It will help you pass the exam, and you must pass or-"
He paused, noticing her wandering gaze. The curly haired boy raised an arm, reaching for her face and pulling her attention back to him, away from the shadow dancing across the walls.
Regulus had learned not to snap years ago. He had done it once when he and Sirius were younger, attempting to pull his brother out of his thoughts and back to the task at hand. The abrasive action caused Sirius to flinch and jump, Regulus had seen the slight fear and agitation the action had caused, that he had caused, and pledged never to do so again.
Instead, he began moving to tap their shoulder or brush their arms instead. In a particularly deep moment of distraction, the young boy had found that even tapping the table lightly would work. Any gentler method was preferred, anything that kept him from feeling he was inflicting fear into another.
Regulus pulled her face forward, waiting till her vision cleared, a sign that she was now paying attention, before he continued his sentence, "Professor Brisbane will tell Professor McGonagall-"
She tossed her hand out nonchalant, "Ah, don't worry about me Reg." she smirked, "Minnie loves me."
He nodded mockingly, humming along to her words, "She does, you're right. You know what else Professor McGonagall loves?" he questioned raising an eyebrow, "Good grades."
Violet groaned, going to hit her head on the table for the second time, Regulus reaching to stop her again, "And, if you fail, Brisbane nor McGonagall are going to allow you play in the last match."
Violets head flew up at the words, eyes blown wide, "They wouldn't!"
"They would." the boy nodded, "It happened to Atticus Pince three years ago."
The Potter girl looked scandalized, "B-but it's the last game! We're going against Slytherin for the cup!"
"I'm aware."
"They can't possibly pull me for that can they? Not in the most important game of the season!" she waved her ams wildly as she spoke, "Godrick's sake! We're going against those slimy snakes."
Regulus raised an eyebrow, making a show of adjusting his green and silver tie, "Careful now, Potter."
She simply waved him off, "Oh hush, you don't count. You're not like a Slytherin-Slytherin."
He blinked at the girl, "I'm about as Slytherin as it gets. Pureblooded, a family line of Slytherins, being in the the House of Black-"
"Fine, maybe biologically you're the poster child of the house, but still, you're not like the rest of 'em all." he nodded skeptical, begging her to continue, "Common Reg, you're a Slytherin in the good ways-"
The boy scoffed looking off to the side, "Good ways? I don't know if you can consider a house of death eaters good." he muttered bitterly.
The girl shrunk, bending forward to catch his gaze again, "There are good ways." she laughed, attempting to make a joke, lightening the situation, " After all, the house traits aren't 'be evil, snide, and rude'-"
"No, just be a self-preservationist, cunning-"
Violet watched as he spoke of his house and in extension, how he spoke of himself. She watched as the self hatred seeped into his words and desperately wanted to make it disappear from his eyes.
Maybe the Slytherin kids didn't have as much a say in their own lives as everyone thought.
"Ok," she spoke, voice smooth and soft, stopping his own quick and harsh words, "ok, but don't forget to mention the other things. The resourcefulness, determination, ambition, intelligence, confidence- the list is longer than you think." she smiled softly, "Take it all into account Reg, not only the bad things."
The brunette sat, silently looking into his stormy grey eyes, willing every sense of doubt from his gaze, and banishing it from his features. She felt partly responsible for the atmosphere switch and the spiral his mind began to take. She'd brought up the 'slimy snakes' after all.
Perhaps she should clarify next time who exactly she had meant. Her arch enemies in the house of emerald and silver will always remain those who truly deserve the words she spoke. The Snivellus' and Nina Rosier's of the world, not Regulus. Never Regulus.
Once the last dark shadow had left his brow, she resumed the original conversation, the dreaded study packet.
Violet groaned, looking up at the ceiling, "But does it really have to be that long though?"
Regulus tried not to make his sigh of relief too noticeable, but he was glad the brunette finally broke the silence. He didn't know how much longer he could stand to look into her soft honey eyes.
He shook his head softly, clearing his throat, "Yes, I've done one ever year per exam."
Violet looked disgusted at the idea, while Regulus leafed through another textbook, "We will make a pamphlet, three pages per subject, concise and neat. Important facts on top, extra information to the bottom-" he stopped, grey eyes looking up due to her silence. Quickly, he noticing the panic stretching across her face, "Are you alright?"
She gulped nervously, "Yeah, it's just- a lot. that's all." she reached to rub her eyes, speaking barely above a whisper, "Do you think I'll actually be able to do it?"
Regulus smiled a tiny smile, "Of course. We still have a few weeks, We'll just do one creature per session." he pulled another parchment from his bag, "I already made a schedule, we'll be finished in time."
Violet pulled her sweater clad palms down from her face, her skepticism of his words clear.
He reached out, placing a pale hand against her more tanned one, "You will pass Potter, I promise you that."
when I tell you I wrote this so fast-
idk I got the idea, scribbled it out, and ta-da another chapter. I don't really like it and im scared to reread it, so apologies if it sucks lol. PLEASE give me ideas if you have any, I don't know how to finish off this 'fourth year' section and get to the good bits with all the drama *muffled and frustrated crying*
anyways, thanks for reading! :)