Undertow
.The night was drawing itself up into a bundle of dense darkness, preparing to spring out into a new day outside the castle. It was roughly an hour before dawn and one Slytherin boy remained awake, staring up with reddened and tired eyes.
Regulus was uncomfortable in his own skin. Every joint seemed to pulse with a sensation he could not concretely define. Sweat bound his bare back and thighs to the soft surface of his sheets which for once covered his thin body up to the chin. One hand was elevated slightly, just visible in the corner of his eye.
Disturbing rumours had recently begun to circulate Hogwarts. Tales of new friendships and alliances made to destroy what remained of the old. Severus and Noreen may or may not have been in bed together, and she certainly was leaning in his direction. Now Regulus had no individual in his own house he could trust to any minor degree.
He couldn't bring it up with Lupin. It wasn't his problem, and if all accounts were true, Remus was occupied with some new intrigue of his own.
Black grinned up at the uncompromising darkness, in his fatigue resembling his brother more then ever.
"Sabrina is a good person, and Remus will be fine."
However, the problem of Severus remained. Snape was clearly and disturbingly skilled in Legilimency, or possibly just bluffing- but even without direct ability he was a serious danger. The older boy was an accomplished student, even by Regulus' high standards.
Regulus closed his eyes, staring at the darkness of his own eyelids.
Perhaps he had risked far too much in standing against Severus. Hopefully it wouldn't come to a non-verbal assault, for Black was leery of dueling an opponent as ruthless and powerful as his housemate.
Regulus was uncomfortable in his own skin. Every joint seemed to pulse with a sensation he could not concretely define. Sweat bound his bare back and thighs to the soft surface of his sheets which for once covered his thin body up to the chin. One hand was elevated slightly, just visible in the corner of his eye.
Disturbing rumours had recently begun to circulate Hogwarts. Tales of new friendships and alliances made to destroy what remained of the old. Severus and Noreen may or may not have been in bed together, and she certainly was leaning in his direction. Now Regulus had no individual in his own house he could trust to any minor degree.
He couldn't bring it up with Lupin. It wasn't his problem, and if all accounts were true, Remus was occupied with some new intrigue of his own.
Black grinned up at the uncompromising darkness, in his fatigue resembling his brother more then ever.
"Sabrina is a good person, and Remus will be fine."
However, the problem of Severus remained. Snape was clearly and disturbingly skilled in Legilimency, or possibly just bluffing- but even without direct ability he was a serious danger. The older boy was an accomplished student, even by Regulus' high standards.
Regulus closed his eyes, staring at the darkness of his own eyelids.
Perhaps he had risked far too much in standing against Severus. Hopefully it wouldn't come to a non-verbal assault, for Black was leery of dueling an opponent as ruthless and powerful as his housemate.