━━author's note: Heya! Here's my first attempt at writing Regulus, I hope you like it ;) What would a secret relationship with the younger black brother include?

━━warning(s): Swearing

━━word count: 1,386

(Y/n) was dragged by her friends to the Slytherin common room. The house had just won the cup and the party was in full swing. She wasn't sure what she was to do really, she had never been one to mingle with new people. She stood in a corner, sipping butterbeer looking over to her friend's drunken antics.

Regulus hated loud parties. His friends had made him come downstairs to celebrate but he really didn't want to. He stood at a quiet part of the room watching his friends make a fool of themselves.

(Y/n) noticed the boy standing near her, clearly just as bored.

"Not big on parties?" she asked.

Regulus turned to find (Y/n), a fellow student in his year.

"Apparently it is illegal not to spend a slytherin win celebration" he said, rolling his eyes, making (Y/n) laugh. Regulus smiled. He liked that sound.

"What about you?" he asked softly, seeing she seemed to be in the same predicament as hers.

"Apparently it's against the rules of friendship not to join your friends at parties" she replied making Regulus snort.

"So, what would you be doing if you were not here?" (Y/n) asked after some time.

"Re-reading blood and bone" Regulus shrugged.

"Oh my god! That's my favourite book! It's so damn good!" (Y/n) said widening her eyes, finally finding someone who had the same book taste as hers.

"It's my favourite too! I mean come on, how many times do you come across a character like Luke?" Regulus said excitedly.

"I know right!"

(Y/n) and Regulus spent the rest of the night talking. Time seemed to stop as they both felt a connection they didn't with anyone in a very long time. They did not notice some of their friends go back to their dorms, pass out on the floor or the thinning of the crowd.

"He really did that?" (Y/n) asked, red with laughter.

"Yeah, he did."

They noticed the calm silence eloping them. Giggling softly they looked at each other. Neither of them wanted to say something, not wanting to break the perfect moment.

"I should go." (Y/n) whispered.

"Yeah." Regulus sighed.

As (Y/n) got up to leave, she felt queasy. She wanted to stay. Specifically, spend more time with him. She didn't know what to say. Regulus wanted to stop her. He needed to know he'll talk to her again.

"(Y/n)!!" Regulus called out with an urgency in his voice. She whipped around to face him.

"Meet me tomorrow at lunch?" Regulus asked hopefully.

"Yes. Of course," (Y/n) told him as big loopy smiles emerged on both their faces.

As they both lay in their beds at night, they questioned whether it all was some dream. It was hard to sleep as butterflies jumped around their stomach and all they could remember was the other's face glowing in the moonlight.

***

(Y/n) and Regulus soon became very close. (Y/n) learnt that Regulus was shy. He was mischievous, yes, but very shy. He would help her with homework, sneak in some muffins for her whenever she studied in the library, laughed and joked around with her. She adored the crimson blush that coated his pale cheeks whenever she praised him or complimented him. She loved the way he stuttered on one of the evenings; when she wore her favourite sundress; telling her she looked beautiful.

For Regulus, it was after a long time he was himself around someone. No need to act all tough, to show he was proud of his house and blood. He loved how natural it was to talk to you. He could go on and on and on and find you taking in his each word. It didn't help that you were effortlessly beautiful and yet unaware of it.

***

"Regulus, you are spending an awful lot of time with (Y/n)." Mulciber stated one day with disgust.

"No I haven't. But what's wrong with her? She's a half-blood." he asked.

"Yeah, whose father is a muggle and the mother who comes from a very long line of blood traitors. Your parents wouldn't be happy hearing this. And the dark lord, very angry."

Regulus sucked in a breath. He couldn't talk to (Y/n) now, not at least under his friend's watchful gaze. He hated himself. Why couldn't he be more careful. He knew that this was just a thinly veiled warning. He knew he had to follow the rules, he couldn't be like his brother. Toujours Pur. He shook himself. He couldn't fight what was planned for him.

***

Regulus was acting strange. He went out of his way to avoid (Y/n). She felt saddened. Did she do or say something wrong? It was a week since he had done so much as look at her and she had enough. She pulled him into a deserted classroom when no one was looking, wishing to know what happened for him to behave like that. Regulus panicked.

It had been a week since he was avoiding her and it had been pure torture. He would see her face fall every single time he pretended not to notice her. All he wanted to do was call her close and hug her and tell her he wasn't doing it on purpose. If his parents or anyone found out about her, she would become a target. He could not do that.

"What is up with you? Why are you ignoring me all of a sudden?" (Y/n) huffed. Regulus stood frozen. He could not bring himself to lie to her, not someone who he always let see him just as he was.

"Did I do something?" (Y/n) sniffed. She had become so close to him in the last few months and just couldn't imagine him letting him go. He supported her like no other. She needed him there for her, knowing she would always be there for him no matter what.

"No, you didn't" Regulus felt bad for making her blame herself.

"So, what is it?" she asked softly.

"My family." Regulus sighed. "If they know I'm talking to you, they'll come after you. I couldn't let you risk your life for me. Mulciber and Avery are on my back every single moment and I don't know what to do except to stop talking to you. It's the only way."

"No, no it's not." (Y/n) said confidently. There's always a way. "I'm not scared of your parents, I'm strong, I'll handle myself. I-"

"But I am scared." Regulus said loudly. He exhaled. She didn't know what they were capable of. "I am scared. And like I said, I am not letting you do that for me."

"Then we'll meet privately, no one has to know. I don't know about you but I want to have you in my life." (Y/n) said desperately.

"(Y/n) you-"

"Please." She pleaded. "Please."

"Okay." Regulus nodded after sometime. "Okay."

***

Regulus and (Y/n) sneaked out every night to meet each other. (Y/n) dreaded the time she had to leave. There were never enough minutes. There were things they wanted to tell each other, silences they had to share. Regulus wished he could stretch time if only it was to have a few more moments with her.

They never told each other they loved them. It was evident. In every small thing they did for each other, the smiles they exchanged, holding hands whenever they were together. (Y/n) caught herself staring at him while Regulus wished to press his lips against hers, to taste her.

It was winter and Regulus and (Y/n) had sneaked out skateboarding over the frozen lake.

(Y/n) giggled with glee, watching Regulus fall and topple.

"Yeah, yeah laugh at me!" Regulus tried and failed to keep off the smile from his face.

"Come here." (Y/n) offered her hands and pulled him up.

They realised how close they were next to one another and their breathing laboured. Regulus leaned in and (Y/n) pressed her lips against his, kissing him softly. Regulus tilted his head moving his lips along hers and (Y/n) opened her mouth slowly. They both moaned, pulling back breathless from the kiss. They held each other, moving in circles over the ice, smiling.

"It's late. We need to go back." Regulus said, placing his forehead over hers, sighing.

"Stay a little longer." she whispered.

━━P.S. Thoughts?