𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆, regulus black

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝟖: 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚

The final day of school at Hogwarts had arrived, casting a bittersweet shadow over the castle grounds. Excitement buzzed in the air as students bustled about, packing their belongings and saying their farewells to friends and classmates.

In the Great Hall, the atmosphere crackled with anticipation as students gathered for the end-of-year feast. The long tables were adorned with a feast fit for kings, with platters of roast turkey, mountains of mashed potatoes, and goblets brimming with pumpkin juice. The air was alive with chatter and laughter. 

Rune stood at the foot of her bed, her gaze flitting nervously around her room as she waited for the elves to come take her trunk down to where it would be loaded onto Hogwarts Express. The weight of her impending departure hung heavy on her heart; a knot of apprehension coiled tight in her chest. 

Her eyes landed on the Slytherin robes draped over her bed. Regulus had given them to her that night in the kitchen. She ought to return it to him, so she left it out. 

As she picked up the robes and folded them over her arm, something fell out and landed on the floor. A folded piece of parchment.

Rune bent down to pick it up, her curiosity piquing as she unfolded the parchment. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized her own drawings—the O.W.L marks she had sent to Regulus weeks ago, the ones where she had highlighted her achievement of coming first in class and surrounded it with hearts.

The sight of those hearts, a subconscious symbol then which now felt like a cruel reminder. A lump formed in her throat as she traced the outlines of the hearts with her fingertip.

With a heavy sigh, Rune folded the parchment carefully and tucked it back into the pocket before the ache in her heart became even more tangible.

As two elves appeared in her room and went straight for her trunk, she asked, "Please can you put this in Regulus Black's trunk?"

The elves nodded eagerly; their large eyes filled with excitement at the mention of a task. "Yes, Miss Rune! We'll make sure it gets to Mr. Black right away!" they squeaked in unison before scurrying off with his Slytherin robes and her trunk tightly in their hands.

In the midst of Rune's conflicted emotions, a soft meow drew her attention. She turned to see her cat, Rolo, winding its way around her ankles, its tail flicking back and forth in a silent gesture of companionship.

Rune stooped down and scooped Rolo into her arms, feeling the comforting weight of the cat against her chest. 

As Rune stepped out into the bustling corridor with Rolo and shut her door behind her, the sounds of laughter and chatter washed over her, but she couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that clung to her like a shadow.

~

Although the compartment Regulus sat in was buzzing with the sounds of his friends, he had never felt more alone. He sat in the corner, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window. The train rattled along the tracks, carrying him away from the familiar grounds of Hogwarts and back towards the imposing walls of the Black household.

As his friends laughed and joked around him, thoughts of Rune consumed his mind like a relentless tide. 

The hurt and sadness in her flooding over him like an unyielding current, drowning him in a sea of his own murky feelings.

He had no idea how she could possibly think that what he felt for her was nothing more than a fleeting infatuation. The words she had spoken echoed in his mind, tormenting him with their bitter truth.