A Loner

[Regulus Black]

(GAH!!! I'm so sorry I haven't posted in awhile. College sucks... but here we go! A Post. And to make i instresting..I'm going to say Regulus' secret got out.))

Regulus Black walked in silence along the lake, both hands resting in his pockets. He slowly raised his head and looked up at a cloudly sky. A small frown made its way across his face, "Why is it always so clouldy here?" he muttered to himself. He made his way back onto the grass and sat down leaning back. Lately he'd been avoiding everyone, in class he sat in the back, when he ate he sat at the far end of the table.

Why? Why had Sirius told? Regulus didn't do anything to him. What Sirius did was done out of pure hate, and now his parents were treating him different. It seemed everyone was treating him different. In fact...even he was treating himself different.

"Why.." he whispered, "Why do I feel this way? Do I even feel this way?" He closed his eyes Yes..yes I do. I do feel this way. He sat up and ran his fingers through his hair. He had to find a way to make his parents proud again. He had to find a way to become the hero. He had to redeem the family name. But what could he do? What would change his parents mind about him?

"What can I do?" he whispered as he closed his eyes, taking in the soft sounds around him. He stood up and made his way towards a tree. He leaned against it and watched the gentle waves across the lake. He leaned down and picked up a rock and walked towards the lake and skipped it across.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. He counted in his head. Night slowly began to settle in. An owl flew over head softly hooting. Bat slowly made their way from the forrest ready to feast. And the moon took its place with the stars. Regulus looked up at the sky and noted where the dog star, and where his star was.

"Sirius and I are the brightest stars in the sky.." he mummured, "But do we really deserve that glory?"

[Andromeda Black]

ll -eats Reggie- :9 ll

"I'll see you at dinner, then?" asked the fourth year to the other fourth year.

"Like every other day," the Ravenclaw replied, looking in each direction before climbing up on her tip toes to give the Hufflepuff a quick peck on his cheek.

"Love you too. Bye."

Andromeda watched in silence as Ted made his way back to the castle, letting a high pitch giggle slip out as her date nearly tripped over a rock resting peacefully in the middle of the pathway. Stumbling for a moment, Messr Tonks regained his balance quickly, straitening out his back as he glanced back to glare at Andy. "Ha, ha," was his response to her immature girly laugh, which caused the Black to grin and look bashfully at her feet. Rolling his eyes in amusement, Ted continued on his way.

Andromeda took a deep breath, turning toward her school bag that was just feet behind her and collapsed beside it when she reached it. She was quite happy with her time management skills, as she had only a little bit of Herbology to finish before it started to rain, nothing big.

Beginning to take out her text book, the Ravenclaw noted some sort of strange muttering noise nearby. Turning her head, she saw none other than Regulus Black walking along the lake, his jaw moving up and down every now and then.

Andy bit her lip, silently deciding if she should go talk to him. She knew his little secret was out, judging by the way he looked, why he was talking to himself, and how her parents seemed to send her an owl everyday 'checking up on her' as they had put it, but the whole concept of a gay Black was still pretty new in the family, maybe it just needed some time?

Andy shoved the Herbology book back into her bag and then stood up, making her way over to Regulus. She knew she'd regret this the moment her ears picked up the second year saying something about "deserving that glory".

"Evening, Regulus," Andromeda said politely to her cousin as she came up behind him. "Mind if chuck some pebbles at the lake with you?" A single rain drop fell on the bridge of the fourth year's nose, causing her to scrunch up her face for a split second. "Are you cold?" the Ravenclaw asked, tugging at her navy and bronze scarf that was tied loosely around her neck. "I have my sweater on, so if you need the accessory," Andy offered.

ll -glee- Cousinly love! x3 ll

[Regulus Black]

Regulus jumped and he turned, "Oh, hello Andromeda.." he mummbled as he bent down to pick up another rock to skip across the lake. "Sure...knock yourself out.," he whispered and he flung his across the lake. He sighed and looked to her.

"How have you been lately? That Ted fellow doing alright?" He sighed and sat down. He looked up at her offering the scarf, "Yeah...that would be nice thanks.."

[Andromeda Black]

Andromeda bent over to grab a jagged looking stone off the ground and was about to skip it across the lake when Regulus said the name Ted.

The color completely draining from the Ravenclaw's face, Andy shot a death glare in her cousin's direction. "If you utter so much as a single phrase to anyone, anyone about Ted, I promise your life will be hell till the end," she whispered hoarsely, suddenly noticing that she would be strangling the pebble she held in her hand if it had lungs.

The fourth year took in a long breath of crisp air through her nose as she stared out over the lake, letting her expression become less tense. "What I'm trying to say is that..." Andromeda let her sentence linger for a moment, realizing that her and Regulus were actually pretty much on the same boat. They each had feelings for non-pure bloods which would be automatically rejected by the family, (although Andy didn't mind this of course). "Just... don't tell anyone," Andromeda untied her scarf and held it out to Regulus. "I don't want to end up like you. No offense."

[Regulus Black]

Regulus took the scarf and wrapped it around his neck, "Why would I say anything..." he whispered. "Who would I tell? Who would listen to me..?" He closed his eyes and brought his knees to his chest.

"Of course...who would want to end up like me?"

[Andromeda Black]

"I didn't say that to make you upset," Andy breathed, looking back out at the lake, watching the ripples silently expand in the water as a result of the raindrops. "It's just I actually have something with someone for once in my life, and I don't know what I'd do if this feeling was taken away from me."

Andromeda crossed her arms in front of her in an attempt to keep warm, glancing down at Regulus. "Can you even imagine what would happen if the family knew? I mean, you got pretty beat up for just liking someone. I've actually been doing stuff with Ted," the Ravenclaw cast a sideways glance at Regulus, unsure if she should reword that last sentence. "My point is, I will literally be torn apart, limb by limb I might add, if someone of high importance with the last name of Black discovers my secret."

[Regulus Black]

Regulus sighed, "At least you have someone Andy. You have someone to love. He'll always be there for you. I have no one. Remus...he doesn't like that way. But Ted loves you and you love him. I won't ruin that for you." He looked away from her, "I know you didn't mean to upset me..." He closed his eyes, a tear rolling down his cheek.

[Andromeda Black]

Andromeda folded her legs beneath her and sat next to Regulus on the moist ground. "Thanks," was all she could think of to say. "...you like chocolates?" Andy asked suddenly. "I have some in my bag from, uh, yeah. So, do you want some?" The Ravenclaw decided it would be best to leave out the small detail that her boyfriend made them for her due to the current situation.

ll Sorreh, short! ll

[Regulus Black]

Regulus offered a small smile and he turned to face Andromeda, "Sure..." he mummbled, "If you dont mind sharing..." He shifted slightly so he was facing her." He eyed her for a moment, "Why'd you come over to talk 'Dromeda? you've never done it before..." he smiled, "I enjoy the company."

[Andromeda Black]

Andromeda smiled at Regulus before springing up from her place and jogging over to her damp school bag. Grabbing it by the strap, she swung it over her shoulder and made her way back to her relative.

"Alright," she smiled, unclasping the bag and shuffling through it for a few moments, pulling out a small pink box. Carefully opening the box, Andromeda handed her cousin a large truffle and took one for herself. "They have a raspberry filling," Andy commented as she bit into her candy.

"I just never see you smiling," the Ravenclaw replied to the Slytherin modestly as he asked her a question. "And usually a little company doesn't make your mood terrible."

[Regulus Black]

Regulus smiled, "My favorite.." he took a bite and some of the filling spilled on to his lips and he cursed under his breath. He licked it off and smiled, "These are really good. Where'd you get them?"

He sighed, "I've never had a reason to smile 'Dromeda.. I've never had many friends..and I haven't seen Remus in a while..."

[Andromeda Black]

Andromeda stuffed the candy box back in her bag. "Oh, I have a friend who likes to make candy," was the only thing she could think of to say.

"I've never had a reason to smile 'Dromeda.. I've never had many friends..and I haven't seen Remus in a while..."

"...do you want another truffle?" Andy offered, trying to bring the topic away from Remus and friends.

[Regulus Black]

Regulus frowned, "Are you sure you dont mind sharing?" He tilted his head and looked at her face. It did seem that she wanted to share with him. "Are there different fillings or just rasberry?" The boy didn't mind..he loved chocolate. It always made him feel better. "So..um...how are classes going?"

[Andromeda Black]

"Classes are pretty good," Andromeda replied, reaching back in her bag for the truffles. "You the drill, a lot of homework, exams, and more homework," the Ravenclaw pulled out a white chocolate truffle and stared at if for a few seconds. "I think this one might be coconut. Do you want it?"

ll SHORT! >.< ll

[Regulus Black]

Regulus nodded and took the truffle. "Well.." he started, "I'm failing potions..." he looked away. I don't know what's wrong...I'm normally really good with potions...but lately things have been going down hill."

He smiled when she mentioned her friend made candy, "I wish I had a friend who made candy..."