𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆, regulus black

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓𝟑: 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚

Regulus stirred as consciousness entered him. 

His first thought was that everything hurt. 

The second was his realization that he was in Rune's bed. 

His body felt almost paralyzed, and it took a tremendous amount of effort to turn his neck to the side. 

There she was. 

Fast asleep. 

She was laying on her side facing him, and one arm was sprawled over his chest. 

Another realization. He was shirtless in Rune's bed. 

He tried to shift himself, barely succeeding in lifting his left arm to move some of the blanket over her. 

It was cold. 

The movement must have been heavy because her eyes shot open, and Rune jerked up. 

She immediately reached over and placed her hand firmly over his chest. 

"Are you okay?!" 

He nodded. 

"What's 2+2?" 

He rolled his eyes. "5."

"What's my name?" she asked. 

"Blondie," he murmured. 

She heaved a sigh of relief and her taut body relaxed until she tensed up again. She looked at the clock in the corner of her room. 

It was nearly 9pm. 

"Shit! Your bandages." 

She jumped out of bed and rushed to his side. She didn't say a word as she carefully opened vials of potions on her bed side and pulled out swabs and gauzes. 

Rune was gentle and silent as she removed the bandages and plasters that were on his wounds. 

Then she said, "This might hurt." 

Regulus bit down on his lip as she dabbed an antibacterial potion on his wound before she got to cleaning it out and redressing it. 

He watched her closely as her fingers moved, switching between swabs, remembering what ointment goes where. 

He hadn't meant to come to her, but she was the only person he could think of. 

"Thank you," he murmured. 

When she didn't reply to him, he continued, "You didn't have to do all of this for me, but you did anyways. Thank you, and... I'm sorry." 

"I didn't do it for you," she replied, keeping her eyes on his wound. "I did it for me. I didn't want to have your death on my hands." 

Her hair fell over her face, and she tried to flick it away. Since her hands were sullied with blood, he reached forward and pushed it back. 

She faltered slightly and stilled for just a moment before continuing. 

"Are you mad at me?" 

"If I hadn't worked so hard to heal you, I'd kill you with my own two hands," she replied angrily. She finally looked up at him. "Why didn't you get someone to heal you?" 

"I couldn't. You must know they would investigate where the venom came from. It carries DNA the same way blood does. Everyone would know...." He lowered his voice, "Everyone would find out what you are." 

"So, you rather it ate away at you until it nearly killed you? If they found out, I might have had to leave Hogwarts, but at least no one would have died!"