arcane | regulus black

d i s a p p o i n t

The next week went by quickly for everyone, but slowest for Lyra. She found herself being ignored by a certain person despite sharing a common room with him and staying in rooms barely 20 feet apart.

Them having classes together wasn't reason enough to be with her, apparently. Where usually he would linger a few seconds so they could leave together, he would just disappear and she wouldn't see him till the next class.

Every instance she had the opportunity to be with him he took away. He was barely seen around people too. Every once in a while, he would leave Hogwarts to go home but refused to tell her or anyone else why.

Then came Regulus' birthday. Organised by Romeo and Finnick of course, Circe and Lyra had gone shopping in Hogmeade to buy him something as a present.

He was, as one can imagine, a terribly difficult person to buy anything for. "Well I think this is as good as a gift I could buy him." Circe said tired, holding up a notebook. "I don't think he expects much from me but no way I'm showing up empty handed."

"It's a really small party isn't it? Rome said it would just be a few of us considering that Regulus hates pretty much everyone else." Lyra replied, shrugging.

"True. Anyway that's sorted from my side." Circe paid for the notebook at the counter. She continued talking as they walked out of the store. "What will you give him? I'll be honest, I doubt he expects anything from either of us. It's mostly a formality. I highly doubt that anyone would bat an eye if we didn't gift him something."

"You're probably right. We should head back. It's late."

Circe agreed and the pair went back to Hogwarts and to the Slytherin common room where Finnick was explaining something to Romeo with exaggerated hand movements. Finnick spoke excitedly and fast and Romeo looked over at him with a smile on his face.

"Finnick, we don't need to plan this elaborately. Regulus doesn't care even half as much as you do." Romeo said, still smiling.

"But it would be so fun!" Finnick pouted and saw Lyra and Circe join them. "Wouldn't having an explosive cake be cool? I bet you Regulus would love that."

"He would not."
"Absolutely not."
"Not in the slightest."

Finnick rolled his eyes at their responses and passed it off as them just being boring and having no taste.

Just as Finnick started to defend his idea, Lyra said, "Finnick, Regulus hates sweet things. Especially cake."

"Okay but that's not the point."

"We'll get you an explosive cake for your birthday, deal?" Lyra offered and Finnicks eyes lit up immediately.

"Yes. Deal. Here's the address of the person that sells explosive cakes." He quickly handed her a piece of paper with the address on it.

"This is 4 hours away and you can't even apparate to a muggle town."

"What's your point?"

"Yes Finnick, we will get you the cake."

"Thank you sweetheart." He kissed the top of her head, grinning madly at her.

"We're not planning your birthday Finn. We're planning his." Romeo said through gritted teeth as he waved to Regulus who entered the room in a stormy mood. He pulled a chair and sat down in between Lyra and Finn. "You alright mate?" Romeo asked him.

"Yes." Was all Regulus replied with.

"Alright then, anyway do you have any plans for your birthday?" Finnick said, happily ignoring Regulus' quite obviously terrible mood.

"No." Again, Regulus hit him with the one word answer. Finnick nodded back, unfazed by his short replies.

The conversation continued as it usually did with Finnick carrying the heart and soul of the conversation with his stories and Romeo adding in the parts that Finnick missed. Even if Romeo wasn't in the story, he heard all stories of Finnick's before everyone else so he knew what was going to happen and what Finnick had forgot to mention.

*

"Where are you going?" Circe asked as she bumped into Lyra in the corridor.

"Hm? Oh, I'm going to get my brother and his friends some things they'd wanted from Honeydukes."

"You're going home soon?"

"Yes, I'll go after Regulus' birthday." She was about to tell her how Remus hadn't been well earlier so she was going to see him but she decided against it.

They said their goodbyes and Lyra took the train to Hogsmeade. She went to the shop she had seen the other day when she had gone with Circe.

"Hello. Hi." She said awkwardly to the shopkeeper who hadn't noticed her. "There was a necklace on display the other day. The one with the snake?"

"For 'em wizards?"

"Yes. Is it still there?"

"It sure is, ma'am. I'll get it right out for you." He shuffled around in the back of the store for a few moments and later came out with the delicate silver necklace. The chain wasn't thick or largely noticeable and the pendant with the snake was wrapped around itself.

She had loved it when she saw it before, but wasn't sure if she should get it. Circe being there was certainly not helpful. Lyra thought as she looked at the necklace that perhaps it was far too personal a gift to give a person who did everything possible to avoid her.

On a whim, she bought it. She had come all the way to Hogsmeade just to buy it so it would be a waste if she didn't at least buy it. She didn't have to give it to him. There would be plenty more opportunities to gift it to someone. But it would suit him the most, she thought. Forcing thoughts she didn't want to think out of her head, she moved on and bought the chocolates she had told Circe she was buying.

By the time she returned, everything was shutting and down and curfew was a few minutes away. She went up to her dorm and tried to sleep. But of course, she couldn't because her thoughts weren't with her but rather with someone just slightly away from her. So close, yet so far.