— chapter eighteen —
A GINGER CAT

—

            HOGSMEADE SEEMED MUCH brighter now. She felt happier, lighter, and the colors of the town seemed so much brighter – and the cheers much happier. She could see her schoolmates, the other residents of the town, and they were smiling. Such bright smiles, happy smiles. And they didn't even notice her, because she knew that if her schoolmates noticed her, the cheers would stop and the whispers would begin. Everyone knew. By now, everyone knew that she was disowned. And Remelda couldn't bring herself to care.

         The Prophet thought it was gold. Such greedy writers. After an insight from a student – from her own house – told them the story in exchange for money, and it was printed in bold letters the next day. Of course, being such a scandal, it ran first page. People started talking since, pointing at her and whispering as if she were at a zoo – an animal at a zoo for them to point and talk about. And laugh. Oh, how they would laugh. The person from her house hadn't even gotten the reason right. They said she was disowned for sleeping with a Gryffindor boy. The horror! Though, she suspects it was said for a better story. So the people laughed. They didn't know a thing.

         No one in her house would look at her anymore, not that she really cared in the first place. Demetri would, sometimes, and his face would hold a scowl and a glare. The way he glared at her, as if she had done something bad to him personally. She didn't mind the look, she knew that she had done nothing to him. Nothing at all. All she had was free herself for those for who couldn't. For those like Regulus, who wanted to be freed, wanted to be good but couldn't...she closed her eyes for a second, it hurt too much to even think of him still.

         The laughing seized. She knew it immediately, that sound stopped and she opened her eyes again to see students of Hogwarts looking at her. They looked at her as if she were a creature, whispering to each other the little things she hated.

         "That's Remelda Black! Can you believe it? She's been disowned," the girl whispered to her friend, "She'll probably drop out and join the Death Eaters – become better than her family just to spite them."

         She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at that. No one could see, but the whole point of her being disowned was to be free from that future. From that husband, that cage, that underlining knowledge that she too would become a killer.

         "I wouldn't put it past her," the other girl muttered, shaking her head and sending a little glare at Remelda. Raising her head higher, the Black girl recalled the little saying of her mother: sit still, head up, straight, and stay quiet – like a proper lady should.

         She wanted, at that memory, to sag her shoulders and defy her mother again even though she wouldn't see it, but her muscles wouldn't allow her. It was a second nature, she couldn't help it, even though she wanted it to end so badly.

         Turning the corner, she was at the door of The Three Broomsticks when it opened and revealed probably the last person she wanted to see. No, not Demetri. Not her parents or even Voldemort, but motherfucking Nancy Daniels. At the sight of her, the girl glared at her.

         "Well, well, well. Look who the cat dragged in," Nancy sneered at her, thinking that maybe her jab would have an effect on Remelda, but all the girl did was roll her eyes.

         "Hello to you too, Nancy. It's really great to see you," the sarcasm was practically dripping from her voice.

         "So what was his name? The Gryffindor boy?" Nancy questioned, pushing her buttons more.

         "There was no boy. There was another reason," Remelda answered, "You don't actually believe the papers, do you, Nancy? They're all fabricated truths, all for a better story."

         Nancy smirked, "Why are you getting so worked up over this? Unless, you're trying to hide something."

         The Black girl sighed, "I don't see why you're trying to do this. You should be happy. You finally have Demetri all to yourself. That's what you've always wanted, right?" Nancy bit her lip, "That's what I thought."

         Remelda was walking past her, hand on the handle when she turned back, "Oh, but word of warning, he can be quite possessive. Good luck with him, though." And with a smile, which was smug and a little overplayed, on her face, she walked into The Three Broomsticks to be greeted by her brother and his friends.

         "Hey, Remelda!" Nadia cheered.

         Not to get anything wrong, but the two certainly weren't the best of friends. Actually, they really weren't friends at all. Nadia was nice enough and she was great to Regulus (when he was alive), even better a girlfriend for Sirius. But they weren't friends. Remelda didn't need her as a friend, she was only there to mend things with Sirius and, maybe (a little unconsciously), talk to Remus.

         "Hello," she greeted back, always being courteous. She took a seat beside Sirius, who smiled at her. "How has everyone been?" it was only nice to ask.

         "Oh, same old. Thinking of a nice prank for Filch, it's been a while since we messed with him," Sirius said.

         "Yes, because last time you two idiots," he motioned towards Sirius and James, "got detention for two weeks. Had to clean out his office and fed the garbage to the Giant Squid."

         "Ah, Salamander, I remember him. Been a while since we last visited him, reckon we should soon."

         "That's beside the point, James," Remus rolled his eyes, "And really, Salamander?"

         Remelda nodded in agreement with that while Sirius scoffed, "You say that as if you weren't the one who devised the whole plan – had the idea to mess with him in the first place."

         "Yes, but I wasn't one of the idiots who got caught," Remus put his arm around Peter, "See, we were smart and left when we heard something coming towards us."

         "We weren't done – I can't leave a prank unfinished!" Sirius exclaimed to defend himself.

         "Yes, but those detentions caused you to sacrifice our date night," Nadia reminded him, "And to think, I had something wonderful planned for her and you never got to see..."

         Remelda wrinkled her nose, "Ew, if you two are going to continue to say shit like that, I'm leaving."

         "Remelda, how dare you use that language!" Sirius blinked, "That's not eloquent!"

         She just rolled her eyes, "Like you've never used that language before. Who do you think I learned it from?"

         "Oi! You're making me look like a bad influence!" Sirius couldn't help the smile spreading on his face. It was nice to have this conversation with Remelda, so carefree. It reminded him of the simpler days – maybe not simpler, but the days before he left. When they were still as thick as thieves and she had hope in him.

         She didn't say anything to that, just shook her head, "And how is everyone else?"

         James smiled, "I have a date with Lily tomorrow. Quite excited, haven't been able to properly see her lately. Always doing schoolwork or hanging out with Dorcas..."

         There came a tense silence at the table which Remelda didn't understand for a moment, almost as if they were grieving over a friend. But the Potter boy tried to crack a smile again, "Marlene always wished the two were closer."

         "Marlene..." Remelda couldn't help but murmur before a spark of recognition registered in her mind, "Marlene McKinnon?"

         Remus nodded, "Yeah. She died a few months ago, was killed by..."

         "Death Eaters, you don't have to say it, I already know," Remelda finished it for him, not really feeling all that sad seeing as she didn't know the girl, "Heard about her, the girls were talking about her."

         "What did they say?"

         "Wasn't really listening," Remelda honestly answered, "Afraid my ears weren't really trained on that, too busy thinking about what happened that day."

         "What happened that day, Remelda?" Sirius asked, shoulders tensing as a protective instinct inside him grew.

         "Oh, just Alfred. Nothing that concerns you or me anymore," she waved it off, but that it was a lie. It would always concern her, always haunt her. She looked down at her hands, knowing the way her shoulders looked naked with all those fresh scares because of him. Because of that stupid fucking spell and his glare. "Really, all that's happened months ago. I'm over it."

         "Alfred? Wait – the boy who was expelled from Hogwarts?" it was Nadia who asked the question that time.

         "Kindly asked to leave would be a more accurate way to word it, but yes," Remelda nodded, "I heard that he's at Durmstrung now, though I could be wrong. It was Demetri who told me, apparently they keep in touch."

         "Even after he almost killed someone?"

         "Especially because of that," Remelda sighed, "Pretty sure Demetri wishes I died that night."

         "You? What?" Nadia choked on her drink, all of them looking at Remelda with wide eyes.

         "Oh, yes. You didn't know? I was the girl Alfred almost killed and the reason he was expelled," Remelda was grinning like a fool at that, thinking of how much Demetri hated her for that.

         "Well I'll be damned..."

―

         The day was great and the light was almost gone by then. Sirius and Nadia, holding hands and looking quite in love, left together a little before the rest of the group, something about wanting to have some time alone. Remelda didn't want to think about that, not one bit. And then James caught sight of Lily and her friends and immediately jumped at the chance of joining her (them) for dinner. Peter decided that he needed to visit Honeydukes before they left and Remus went with him, leaving Remelda by herself as she finished her drink.

         She didn't mind the silence, didn't mind being alone. She had gotten used to it the past few weeks. And after finishing her butterbeer, Remelda had left the pub and taken a nice stroll alone. Since it was much later and most students returned back to Hogwarts for dinner, not having or wanting to spend the money on food somewhere in Hogmeades, the streets were mostly empty. Only the villagers walking home really present.

         And that's when she heard it: "Meow." With furrowed eyebrows, Remelda turned to see the alley with an ugly, ginger cat looking at her. Blinking, she shook her head and turned away only to hear the cat emit a sound again.

         Turning back, she walked towards the cat almost to pick it up only for it to hiss, causing her to take a step back. The cat almost seemed to look like it was turning its head before walking further into the alley, turning its head as if waiting for Remelda to follow. And, thinking this quite insane (because it was), she followed, going down the alley and turning into the area before many buildings where no one could see her or the cat.

         That's when it happened, the cat turned from a cat into a teenage boy who was turned away from her. Remelda blinked, stumbling backwards at it only for the boy to turn and show her the face of a ghost. "Regulus," she choked out, looking at him as if she expected him to disappear.

         "Hi, Remelda," he sent a smile to her, and that's all it took for her to go barreling into his arms and wrapping him in a tight hug as tears spilled down her cheeks.

         After releasing him, they had been holding each other for about five minutes give or take, she said, "I thought...I thought you were dead. I saw you die."

         He shook his head, "No, you Disapparated before I turned into my animagus form; the cat. Those creatures didn't attack me as a cat and I could get out of there. Then, I used dad's old wand to get out of there."

         "The one he lost?"

         "The one I stole," Regulus nodded, "Look, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you, but it was already dangerous enough having you come along. If anyone were to look into your mind, you could already be killed, but I just...it sounds so selfish, but I didn't need you knowing that I was alive."

         "No, no, that's a smart move. Just...wow, you're alive. I thought I had lost you forever," Remelda breathed.

         Regulus flashed her a sad smile, "I'm sorry."

         "It's alright."

         "So, tell me what's been happening with you recently?" he changed the subject, "I've read the Prophet and, man, it's been interesting."

         "Then you've heard that I'm free now?" he nodded, "It's great. That weight isn't on my shoulders anymore, I'm not looked in that cage anymore. And I've even been getting closer with Sirius."

         "You have?"

         "I have," she nodded, "And it's been great. He has some great friends, just like he told us. And Nadia's been welcoming as well."

         "Like she always is," Regulus smiled, "I love you, Remelda."

         "I love you too, Regulus. Forever."

         "Forever."

you didn't actually think I could kill regulus here, did you?

but yes, this is a theory I read about on tumblr about how regulus was also an animagus and was the potters' cat. of course, I really loved it and wanted to incorporate it into a story and this was just perfect!