January 23rd, 1979

The cold weather was not welcoming on a Tuesday morning. There had been a snow storm over the weekend, covering the grounds in several inches of snow, icicles hanging from the roof. The freezing temperatures outside did nothing to help the poorly insulated castle.

Everyone was walking around wearing sweaters and cloaks, trying not to freeze to death in the castle. I might be a bit dramatic, but it is pretty cold, and there's only so much you can wear to stay warm when you're required to wear a skirt everyday. This is one of the many times that I pray on the downfall of misogyny.

Unsurprisingly, Regulus was quiet all of Potions class, letting Evan ramble on about Merlin knows what.

I think he said all of ten words to me the entire class, most of them mumbled.

We haven't spoken since the party the other night, and I'm beginning to think that he doesn't even want to talk to me. To be fair, I did kind of throw myself at him. It's a bit embarrassing.

I go through the day on auto-pilot.

Potions, Divination, lunch, Transfiguration.

I only have one class left for the day, History of Magic. However, it just so happens to be the only other class that I have with Regulus Black.

None of my friends are in the same class, and neither are his, so it's not even like there's a buffer to keep me distracted from him. It's just him and I.

I walk into History of Magic to see Professor Binns asleep, hovering in the air at the front of the classroom.

Merlin, this is going to be even more boring than usual.

I take my assigned seat in front of Regulus, giving him a quick glance as I walk by him. He doesn't look up, he's busying himself by twirling his quill in his left hand.

He's left-handed. That's something I noticed from sitting next to him in Potions.

I get my stuff out of my bag and set in on the table just as my table partner, Michael Murray, sits down. He's in Hufflepuff, and he seems super nice, but we don't talk much.

"Hello, Meredith," Michael says, getting out his parchment and quill.

I give him a small smile, "Hi, Michael."

Professor Binns startles himself awake and looks at the clock on the wall. He clears his throat. "Okay... let's get class started," He says slowly. "Today... we will be talking in depth about... the first of the... Goblin wars."

The class collectively sighs.

Professor begins his lecture, droning on about the importance of the Goblin wars, his voice trailing off every few seconds.

Just when I think I'm going to start pulling my hair out from boredom, a levitated piece of folded paper lands in front of me.

I look behind me, only to see that Regulus is staring at me, waiting for me to open his note.

I glance down at the folded paper in front of me and open it up. In Regulus's meticulously perfect handwriting it reads:

Astronomy tower at midnight? I want to see you.

R

Michael glances over at me, so I set the paper on the edge of the table and write back an answer.

Maybe.

I fold the paper back up and send it flying back to Regulus, landing softly on his desk.

Regulus looks down at the paper, then back up at me, then back at the paper as he writes back.

I'm trying to tune back into Professor Binns' lecture when the note lands back in front of me.

Please, I've been dying to see you. I just want to talk.

I roll my eyes at his writing, pressing my quill to the paper as I write a response.

You're staring at the back of my head right now. You had all of potions to speak to me.

The paper goes flying back to Regulus, and I look away before he opens it and writes back.

"They were a series of... bellicose conflicts between the wizards and... giants."

The piece of paper lands in front of me once again.

You know what I mean, just tell me you'll be there?

I have a moral debate in my head that lasts all of three seconds before I write a final response.

Fine.

The paper floats back towards Regulus, and he quickly reads it. He gives me a small smile before pocketing the piece of paper, turning his attention back to the lecture.

By the time that the bell rings, everyone in the class is grabbing their things and practically fleeing the classroom as Professor Binns begins to doze off again.

I throw my bag over my shoulder and pass Regulus to leave the classroom. Our eyes meet, and his eyes soften slightly. He doesn't say anything, so I keep going, leaving the classroom.

I keep walking until I reach Gryffindor Tower, where the Fat Lady lets me in, and I find myself heading up to my dorm to drop my things off.

- - - - -

11:50

I sit up in bed and put my shoes on. I had been staring at the clock since class, but it was actually time to leave now.

"Where are you going?" Maggie asks, peeking her head out from the bathroom.

The rest of our roommates are asleep.

"Uh, I have a patrol," I whispered.

Maggie raises a confused eyebrow at me. "Oh, okay."

"Goodnight, Mags," I say, reaching for the doorknob.

"Yeah, goodnight."

I rush down the stairs to the common room, which is empty except for a few students.

A group of fourth years looks at me nervously as I walk by, waiting for me to send them up to bed or give them detention. I don't. I would be a fucking hypocrite if I did.

I silently leave the common room, making a beeline for the astronomy tower.

The good thing is that if I run into anybody, no one will think anything of it. Perks of being Head Girl.

Although, my conscience is telling me this is an abuse of my power. I decide against having an internal dilemma, only focusing on making it to the astronomy tower.

When I get there, the door is unlocked, slightly cracked open.

I take the steps slowly, going higher and higher into the tower. The door at the top is closed, so I slowly open it and step in, closing it behind me.

The astronomy tower should be freezing, but I feel his warming charm as soon as I step further inside.

"Meredith, hi."

He's standing close to the railing, resting his arms on it.

I exhale, "Hi."