𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆, regulus black

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓𝟎: 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚

Rune had stunned her kitten. 

She knew it wasn't nice but she made sure it was a painless spell that put Rolo into a slumber enough to stop her from snarling and mewling so she could take her down to the common room. 

Her time of the month was around the corner and with the serpent rising to the surface, Rolo was growing restless and violent. Rune already had four deep scratches on her arm and one under her chin. 

As soon as she spotted him doing work at the table, Rune made her way to Evan and asked, "Do you want to look after my kitten for 2 days?" 

Evan looked up at her with a frown. "No." 

"Okay, but will you look after my kitten for 2 days?" 

"Also no." 

Rune clicked her tongue. "Come on. It's just 2 days. All she does is sleep and drink milk." 

"Then ask somebody else to do it." He shook his head, "Kittens get their little hairs everywhere. I don't want to." 

"I don't want to ask somebody else to do it, I want you to do it." She held out the kitten to him. "Please." 

Evan was still shaking his head as he took it from her. "Why? Where are you going?" 

"I wasn't feeling well, so Madam Pomfrey recommended I go down to St. Mungo's for a day or two." 

He ran his eyes over her. "You look fine to me." 

"It's internal complications." 

"Whatever you say," he murmured unsurely. 

"She needs to be fed 4 times a day. If you don't mind, let her sleep with you. She likes the warmth. Thanks, Evan. I owe you one."

Before he had time to change his mind, Rune turned and bolted from the common room.

She'd ask the elves to prepare some food for her in advance, so she didn't have to leave her room during the shedding, and as she reached the stairs of the dungeons, she came to an abrupt stop at the sight of the two boys she loathed more than anything at that moment. 

Her facial expressions must have given all her feelings away, because both Regulus and Rabastan stared at her with impassive looks on their faces. 

"Hey," tried Rabastan gingerly, but she groaned and pushed past them, purposely knocking into both of their shoulders as she did. 

~ 

Regulus bit down on his lip to try distracting himself from the pain that surged through his arm at the impact of Rune bumping into him.

He huffed once she was out of earshot and lifted his left hand to his shoulder, pressing over it lightly as if it could somehow alleviate the burn and diffuse the pain. 

"Why's she so worked up?" asked Rabastan, turning around and watching Rune as she disappeared up the corridor. "Did you do something again?" 

"You did something," pointed out Regulus. "You broke up with Tina." 

"So, why is she mad?" 

Regulus tried rolling his shoulders back, but the biting pain was reaching a near unbearable level. 

He needed painkillers. 

He didn't wait for Rabastan as he marched ahead and went straight to their dorm. He pulled open his trunk and rummaged through until he found the near empty bottle at the bottom.