＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚
As the week of final exams approached, signaling the end of another year at Hogwarts, Rune found herself caught in a whirlwind of emotions and obligations. Amidst the anticipation of examinations, year-end feasts and the Quidditch final match between Gryffindor and Slytherin, she couldn't shake the realization that her seventeenth birthday was rapidly approaching—a milestone that carried implications she couldn't ignore.
From the moment she set foot in Hogwarts as a first-year student, Rune had been aware of the looming nature of her maledictus curse. Every book she could get her hands on regarding the curse echoed the same ominous message: once she reached adulthood, the curse would tighten its grip with unforgiving strength.
Beneath the warmth of the May sun that was bathing Hogwarts, Rune couldn't escape the deadline that awaited her return to Honorius and the circus. Despite her attempts to push it aside, the truth remained: she had broken Honorius's rules during her Christmas break by going with Evan. The thought of his inevitable wrath, manifested in scowls and making her do menial tasks, hung heavy over her.
From her prize for winning the Potions competition, she received a hefty sum of money which provided a glimmer of hope. With a calculating eye, she assessed the numerous bags packed for her return to Hogwarts, realizing that she held the means to purchase her freedom.
With careful planning and budgeting, Rune allocated some funds to carry her living expenses for the summer holiday and for time after Hogwarts. Including her seventh year, she gave herself a timeline of three years, daring to defy the grim predictions of her textbooks.
As Rune plunged into the depths of her exams, she felt an intensity in the air that was palpable, almost suffocating. It was as though the weight of Regulus' gaze bore down upon her, a relentless pressure that threatened to consume her every thought and action.
During each grueling exam session, as the minutes stretched into hours and the tension mounted, Rune couldn't escape the sensation of his eyes upon her. It was a gaze that penetrated her defenses, stripping away the layers of her composure with ruthless precision.
At times, she could almost feel the heat of his stare burning into her skin, searing a path through the chaos of her mind. It was a gaze that spoke volumes, conveying a depth of emotion—as if it was a silent confession that left her breathless and disoriented.
With each passing moment, Rune found herself drawn further into him. When he looked at her, it was as though they existed in their own private universe, where time stood still, and the rest of the world faded into insignificance.
An additional layer of tension was building within her, a primal urge stirring beneath the surface. It was the familiar pull of her maledictus nature, reminding her that her time of the month was drawing near. She tried to push aside the heightened emotions, attributing them to the natural rhythms of her curse, but the intensity of Regulus' gaze only seemed to aggravate the sensation.
She tried to convince herself that perhaps he was throwing her off once more. Regulus knew how to get inside her head, how to distract her. During examinations would be the perfect time for him to play his games with her.
But no matter how hard she tried; she knew it wasn't that. The intensity of his gaze was too profound, too consuming to be mere manipulation. At times, she could feel the heat of her own ski mingling with the intensity of Regulus' stare and it was half driving her insane.
As the final exam approached its climax, Rune's heart thundered in her chest, her hands trembling with a mixture of anticipation and fear. She dared not glance around the Great Hall, fearing what she might see in those piercing eyes that haunted her every waking moment.
And yet, as she set down her quill for the last time and dared to steal a glance in his direction, she found herself ensnared once more by the intensity of his gaze. It was a gaze that held the weight of unspoken emotions.
With a shuddering breath, Rune gathered her belongings and made her way out of the Great Hall, the echo of Regulus' stare burning in her mind.
And as she stepped out into the cold bite of the afternoon air, she breathed in deeply. She knew to brace herself. She knew he was soon going to come and shove them into uncharted waters.
***
In all her years of having her monthly shed, Rune could not remember having a worse one. For nearly the entire seven days, she found herself submerged in the icy waters of the lake within that cave, each relentless minute a struggle to maintain control over her senses and resist succumbing to her beastly form.
It felt as though her thoughts had materialized her fears, for the moment she allowed herself to ponder the curse, it seemed to engulf her entirely. And despite her previous determinations to fight it, she found herself welcoming it, embracing the transformation into her serpent self.
Even her curse itself seemed a preferable alternative to wasting her days consumed by thoughts of Regulus Black.
When she finally emerged from the depths of her shedding, Rune felt drained both physically and emotionally. The weight of her maledictus curse seemed heavier than ever, pressing down on her like an invisible burden that she couldn't shake off.
Dragging herself out of the lake, the cool air brushed against her skin, offering a fleeting sense of relief from the heat that had consumed her.
Yet, even as she basked in the tranquility of the cave, her thoughts inevitably turned back to Regulus. He lingered in her mind like an uninvited guest. It was profound, the incessant pull she felt towards him.
But as Rune pulled loose clothes onto her damp body and emerged from the cave, she made a silent vow to herself. She would not let Regulus Black unravel her, not when she had fought so hard to maintain control over her own destiny.
And since destiny was so fond of her, she found her gaze landing on his as soon as she stepped out of the common room.
Regulus's voice cut through the charged atmosphere; his tone slightly hoarse with concern. "Where are you going?"
She narrowed her eyes at him, a defiant spark igniting in her gaze. "Why should I tell you?"
"Because I'm your prefect," he replied, "I'm currently on corridor duty, and you're wandering about after hours."
Her stomach grumbled in response, betraying her hunger, and as his eyes flicked down, she spoke curtly, "I'm hungry."
Regulus's expression softened, a flicker of concern crossing his features and she took it as her cue to push past him and make her way down to the kitchens.
Upon arrival, she found the elves had retired for the night, and there were no preparations for breakfast. Left with only leftover green beans from dinner, she resigned herself to a meager meal.
As she reached for the beans, Regulus's voice interrupted her. "You can sit. I'll make you something."
"You don't have to do that," she murmured, her guard still firmly in place.
He searched her face, waiting for her to meet his gaze before responding, "What?"
Rune's words cut through the tension; her tone tinged with bitterness. "You don't have to pretend you feel sorry for me because we slept together."
Regulus's exhale was heavy, as if her words struck a nerve. He sighed deeply before speaking, "You're quite thick-headed, aren't you?" Without waiting for a response, he continued, "Go sit by the fireplace. Your teeth are chattering so hard, I'm surprised no professor has caught us yet."
Rune bristled at his comment, her pride stung by his words. Despite the heat rising in her cheeks, she shot him a glare before moving to the fireplace as he suggested.
Regulus busied himself in the kitchen, the clatter of pots and pans filling the silence between them. Rune watched him from her seat, unable to shake the feeling of discomfort that settled over her like a heavy cloak.
After a few moments, Regulus turned to face her. "I know we don't exactly get along," he began, his voice softer than before. "But that doesn't mean I don't- I mean, it doesn't mean I'm not..." He paused, "It doesn't mean that if you're hungry, I don't want you to eat."
"What?" asked Rune, as she wrapped her arms tighter around herself and leaned closer to the crackling hearth.
Regulus let out a frustrated sigh, his expression a mix of exasperation and affection. "Nothing."
She gave him a look of contempt before holding her palms out over the fire as if it would soak in more warmth and heat her up.
Several minutes of silence passed between them as he moved carefully around the stove, and she watched him from the corner of his eyes.
He had removed his robes and left it neatly on the back of a chair. He stood over the stove with the sleeves of his jumper rolled up to reveal his forearms.
Rune licked her lips slightly as the aroma of food hit her nose and her eyes roved over his arms.
"Enjoying the show?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he looked at her over his shoulder.
She rolled her eyes. "I'm here for food, not to engage in pointless conversations with you, Black."
"Ah yes," drawled Regulus, "Because we all know how well you handle conversations."
His posture turned tense as she groaned. "Can't you go bother someone else just this once? I'm too tired to be clever enough to fight with you."
"Who said we're fighting? I was trying to flirt."
It was Rune's turn to tense, as she swallowed hard, feeling a flush creep into her cheeks. "Flirting?" she cooed, "Is that what you're calling it now?"
Regulus shrugged casually, and although she could only see his back, she knew he was wearing a smirk. "Well, I figured if you're going to accuse me of feeling sorry for you, I might as well give you a reason to think so."
"Is that a new strategy then?" she retorted. "Distract me with food and charm until I forget that we're fighting?"
"Is it working?" he asked, and while his tone was teasing, she could hear the lingering in his voice.
"Bring me the food and then I'll decide."
They lapsed into a silence once more, the tension that had lingered between them earlier dissipating with each passing moment.
Finally, he plated the food and set it on the table. As she made her way from the fireplace to the chair, she nearly cried at the sight of what was on the plate.
At its center sat a generous portion of perfectly cooked roast chicken, its golden skin glistening invitingly under the warm light of the fire. Accompanying it were creamy mashed potatoes, a colorful medley of roasted vegetables, a small dish of rich gravy, and a warm dinner roll.
"How?" she breathed before, gripping the fork and digging in.
"Magic is a wonderful thing when you know how to use it properly."
As Rune savored the first few bites of the delicious meal, warmth began to seep into her bones, chasing away the lingering chill from her time in the lake.
Regulus watched silently from across the table and sensing her continued shivering, he rose from his seat and retrieved his discarded robes from the back of the chair. With careful movements, he approached her, draping the fabric around her shoulders.
Rune leaned into the warmth of the robes, and murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, "Thanks."
"Yeah, whatever. Don't talk with food in your mouth."
Despite his attempt at casual dismissal, Rune detected a subtle softness in his voice. She scoffed, "You always make it so hard for me to hate you."
He lifted a hand a brushed her hair out of her face, the touch setting the atmosphere alight once more with that bursting tension between them.
"I have to go back to my duties before rounds are over."
"Yeah, you should probably go."
Regulus nodded, a flicker of regret crossing his features before he turned to leave. But before he could take more than a few steps, Rune's voice stopped him.
"Wait," she said, her tone softer now, lacking the usual edge of defiance.
Regulus glanced back at her; curiosity evident in his expression. "What is it?"
Rune hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering between him and the floor before she finally met his eyes. "Your robes."
"You can give it to me tomorrow," he said. "Good night."
He turned to leave once more, his footsteps echoing faintly in the quiet of the kitchen. Rune watched him go, feeling a sense of emptiness settling over her once more.
As she finished her meal and returned to her dormitory, she couldn't help but yearn for the quiet warmth of Regulus Black.