Paradox | T. Riddle ✔

~•3.3•~

With Christmas Break approaching near and almost everyone from Slytherin House were going to go home for the holidays, the festive spirit had taken hold of the entire school as well. The news of Regulus and Eleanor being together had reached their respective families as well and since both belonged to influential pureblood bloodlines, the Troys and the Blacks had no objection to their relationship.

In fact Walburga Black had arranged a Christmas Ball at Grimmauld Place, inviting the most influential and well known of Sacred 28 families including the Troys.

Regulus wasn't fond of big gatherings so it was no surprise that he was reluctant when his mother told him about the Ball and asked him to especially invite Eleanor. Though the formal invitation had obviously been dispatched to the Troy family earlier.

He was waiting for her in the Room of Requirement which was honestly the only place those days where he could get some peace and quiet. The door shifted open at last as Eleanor stepped in, carefully closing it behind her.

The enticing floral scent engulfed him as she flung her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to kiss him. Each time he was with her, he felt all the worries fade into the background, hence he treasured each second he got to spend with her.

Eleanor's green eyes were shining radiantly as she pulled apart, her wrists still crossed at the back of his neck and his arms encircling her waist.

"How have you been?" She asked, her eyes taking in his features closely.

"Good, you?"

"Perfect," she breathed, leaning closer to kiss his cheek again, "though it seems like you have not been sleeping well these days."

He shrugged it off, "I'm fine."

"Regulus..."

"I called you here because I have to tell you something," he changed the topic because he didn't want to talk about his own self, he still hadn't told her that he was a Death Eater though he knew she would eventually find out.

"Okay and what do you want to tell me?"

"My parents have arranged a Ball this Christmas," he spoke up, "they have invited a lot of people including your family. And Mother wanted me to invite you specially."

Green eyes flickered playfully, "specially?"

"Yeah," he grew slightly nervous as she stepped closer.

Even though they were dating and he had eased a lot around her, there were times when her striking aura became much too overpowering. He could hardly think straight whenever he was around her.

"And what if I refuse to come?"

"You wouldn't," he replied, "Mother really wants to meet you."

"Ah I see," she laughed, pinching his nose affectionately as she watched his cheeks turn a faint red, "so it seems like your mother wants to know if I am fit for their family or not."

"Somewhere along the lines of that though she didn't say it herself."

She nodded, "alright then, I'll come. I also want to meet the people who raised such a fine gentleman."

He shrugged, "you do know they raised Sirius too?"

Her laughter increased at that and a soft smile broke out on his face as well. "Ah of course, how could I forget? Seems like they gave all their care and attention to just one of the two. So the other turned out to be quite rebellious."

The smile evaporated from his face just as quickly as it had formed, realizing that even though she had meant it as a joke, she was actually right about it.