Pumpkin Pasties

Almost two weeks went by, Tamara believed that Regulus had forgotten about her, she stayed close to the edge of the forest in case he called for her. 'Tamara, I'm here,' she heard, she hurried Thaleia, as the two left, with her aunt's permission. Thaleia tried to keep up with Tamara,

'How do you know he came alone?' Tamara heard

'I trust him,' she responded

'You barely know him,' her sister thought

'I can't explain it I just do,' the two sisters arrived at the surface, Tamara waited for the red sparks, she emerged from the water slowly, in case he did bring someone, he was alone.

"Hi, I would have come sooner, but I didn't have a chance to come alone," he told her,

"I brought someone," she told him, ducking under the water, pulling her sister up, Thaleia hissed at Tamara. "This is one of my sisters, Thaleia,"

"Nice to meet, I'm Regulus," he held his hand out to both of them, they back away, "sorry, it's just a greeting," they looked at one another

"How do you know we won't drag you down?" Thaleia asked

"I just trust that you won't and I'm a pretty good swimmer," the two sisters laughed, "what's so funny?"

"You mean to tell two water-dwelling creatures that you're a good swimmer," Tamara said, he nodded,

"I'll admit Tamara, I've never seen a human swim before," Thaleia said, she nodded agreeing with her.

"Do you mind if I get in?" he asked, they shook their heads, he turned around as he discarded his clothes leaving him in just his underwear he dove into the lake, slicking his hair back as he floated,

"I'd say let's race but you'd win," they laughed swimming in circles around him, jumping out like dolphins, Tamara lifted her tail-fin out of the water splashing him,

"Hey, that's not fair, I don't have one of them," he felt something on his ankle, "erm, could you maybe look out for Grindylows, I don't want to be dragged down,"

Thaleia ducked under the water, he had kelp tangled on his foot, she loosened it. 'I wish James would just let it go already' both Thaleia and Tamara dove under the water. Regulus wondered why they left, so suddenly then he realised why.

"Reg, what are you doing?" Sirius said,

'They must have heard his thoughts,' he thought. "Just taking a swim,"

"I can see that but why there are dangerous things in the lake you know that," Sirius told him

"Only Grindylows,"

"Yeah and they're strong enough to pull you down," Sirius offered to help him out,

"I don't need your help I can get out by myself," Regulus held his wand drying himself, and quickly put his clothes on. He walked in a direction that lead further away from the castle, while Sirius continued

"Are you okay?" he heard, he looked over the edge Tamara and her sister stayed afloat.

"Yes,"

"Don't lie we can hear your thoughts," Thaleia said

"He's your brother isn't he," Tamara questioned, he nodded "he does feel guilty, for leaving you,"

"How would you know?" he snapped, Tamara move further away from him, "Wait-" both sisters dove back under the water this time they didn't resurface.

"I thought you said he was nice," Thaleia asked

"He is I think his brother upset him," Tamara said, trying to reassure her sister.

***

Regulus felt terrible about frightening Tamara and her sister, he didn't mean to snap at her, she was only asking how he was. He wanted to apologise but whenever he called for her or cast red sparks, she never showed up, he tried his luck one more time after a few days of no sign of her, he sat on the edge of the water scanning the surface for any movement.

Tamara could hear his calls she heard him every day for a week, she didn't mean to ignore him. She had too, her father had become suspicious of the frequent use of red sparks flying across the water's surface. He was determined to find out who had been interacting with wizards, for one to be trying to draw them out, as he calmed she decided to go and see Regulus.

"Regulus," she said quietly, he smiled upon seeing her

"I'm sorry, I frightened you,"

"You didn't, I sensed you needed space," she said, she noticed that he had something wrapped up she creased her brows

"Oh, it's pumpkin pasties do you want one?" he asked, noticing her glancing at the treats she nodded, swimming closer to him, the swallow water proved to be too difficult for her, she leaned over, taking the treat from him.

"It's nice," she said, enjoying the new sweet treat. She struggled to move back into the water.

"Here, I'll help you," he said, quickly walking into the water, he wasn't sure how he was going to help,

"Just pulled my fins, it won't hurt," she told him, as though she could hear his thought, he reluctantly grabbed her fin, pulling her out of the shallow water. "Thank you," he smiled

"Have you ever been on land?" he asked

"How do you suppose I do that," she questioned, he looked at her a little confused

"It said in a book I read that Sirens can come on land," he told her, she looked over to the land, she had spent her whole life underwater she didn't even think it was possible to walk on land.

"I've never been on land," she admitted,

"Do you want to?" he asked, she nodded swimming to a rock that she could sit on Regulus walked over to her, he held out his hand, "I promise, I'll help you," she reached her hand up quickly diving under the water

"Reg we've been looking for you, and we have questions," Avery asked with Mulciber by his side.

'Tamara, I'm sorry I have to go, I'll see you tomorrow,' he thought hoping she would hear him, to his surprise he heard her not in person but in his mind, he smiled at what she told him.

'I'll be waiting, bring more Pumpkin pasties, please'