This is a long chapter, buckle up!

TW Mentions of sexual assault

- - - - -

December 31st, 1978

The holidays were painfully boring. Marlene and I spent most of our time in town, or apparating to other cities for the day. Christmas was good, although our dad was called into work just before dinner, leaving the three of us to eat Christmas dinner alone.

Things picked up when Dorcas arrived, however, her arrival also meant that I was officially a third wheel. Marlene and Dorcas didn't seem to mind, but I couldn't help but feel like I was intruding.

"Meredith, are you ready?" Dorcas asked, popping her head into my room.

I set my lipstick down on my vanity. "Yeah, I think so," I answered, "Do I look alright?"

Dorcas smiled, "You look beautiful. Come on, Marls is waiting downstairs."

I followed Dorcas downstairs, where Marlene was waiting by the front door.

"Finally, I was worried I was going to have to start pre-gaming," My sister exclaimed.

Dorcas laughed, "Don't worry, love, we can leave now."

"Bye mum," Marlene yelled.

Our mum peaked her head into the foyer, smiling. "Bye girls, have fun and be safe!" She chimed.

Marlene opened the front door and practically dragged the both of us onto the porch. She looked around, and when she saw no one around, she pulled out her wand.

"Grab on," Marlene instructed.

I grabbed her arm, and was quickly pulled into the twists and spins of apparition.

When we landed, it took me a second to gather my bearings. The streets were filled with people, and music could be heard from the sidewalk, drifting out the club.

"You know, we might see people that we know," Dorcas said, looking around.

I shrugged, "Probably, it seems like there's a lot of people here."

We were in a popular wizarding neighborhood of London, also the only one that has a club unless you want to venture into muggle London. The chances of me seeing someone that I know were very high.

"Can we go inside, it's freezing out here?" I asked, quite literally shaking in my boots.

Marlene laughed, dragging Dorcas and I behind her.

The club was already extremely crowded, and drastically warmer than I thought it would be. I'm no longer regretting not bringing a coat.

"I'll go get drinks, you guys try to find a table," I yelled to Marlene and Dorcas, over the loud music.

They ventured off further into the club, and I pushed my way up to the bar.

The bartender was a younger guy, who I could've sworn I've met before. Curly brown hair, blue eyes, tall. I couldn't place how exactly I knew him.

"What can I get for you?" He asked, noticing my staring.

"Uh, I'll have three shots of firewhiskey," I answered.

He nodded and pulled out three shot glasses, filling them with the amber alcohol.

"This might sound weird, but you look so familiar," I said, peering at him.

The guy laughed, "I get that a lot, you go to Hogwarts, right? Or used to go?"

"Yeah, I do."

"I graduated two years ago, Gryffindor," He continued on.

I grinned, "That's how I know you, same house. I'm Meredith."

The curly-haired guy smiled, "Nice to see you again, Meredith. I'm Enzo."

"Nice to see you again, Enzo. I should get going," I replied.

I grabbed the three shots of firewhiskey and gave Enzo a smile before venturing into the club to find my sister and Dorcas.

They were seated at a small table off to the side, both laughing and whispering sweet nothings to each other.

I sat down beside Marlene, distributing the shots.

"To the end of '78, and the start of a great year," Marlene toasted, the three of us cheering our shot glasses.

I downed the shot, resting the glass on the sticky table.

"Oh, I love this song!" Dorcas cheered, "Marls, come dance with me, love."

"Are you okay alone?" Marlene asked.

I nodded, "Yes, go dance, I'll be at the bar."

Marlene gave me a thumbs up and with a little bit of hesitation, she let Dorcas drag her to the dance floor.

I looked around the crowded club, seeing if there was anyone that I knew. When there was no such luck, I went back to the bar.

"Oh, back already?" Enzo teased as I took a seat on one of the barstools.

"Yeah, I'm kind of third wheeling," I said.

Enzo laughed, "So no boyfriend or girlfriend of your own?"

"No, but, I would love a gin and tonic," I replied, smiling at him.

He made my gin and tonic, sliding it across the bar to me.

I took a sip, knowing that this would be my first of many drinks tonight. I would be lucky if I made it home before blacking out.

Looking around the club, I saw a flash of curly black hair somewhere near the back corner. I furrowed my brows and brushed it off, so many people have curly black hair.

- - - - -

I was, without a doubt, absolutely hammered. I had lost count of my drinks after the fifth one, and there was less than an hour until midnight, but I was lucky if I didn't blackout by then.

Sometime within the past hour, Enzo had finished his shift and had joined me as a patron of the club. We drank, talked, danced, kissed, and flirted shamelessly.

My body felt like it was floating as we danced, bodies pressed close in the crowd of people. The world was fuzzy and my brain was moving slowly. His lips were on mine, hands grabbing at my hips, my hair, the small of my back.

I felt content.

Enzo pulled away from this kiss, his eyes dark. "Hey, come with me," Enzo yelled over the music, grabbing my hand.

I let him drag me out of the crowd of people, stumbling drunkenly as we broke out of the crowd. It was significantly cooler as he led me away from the dance floor.

"Wait, where are we going?" I slurred, my brain slowly catching up.

"Somewhere more private," Enzo answered, "Don't worry about it."

I practically tripped over my own feet as he led me out of the main room and down a hallway. There were people making out against the wall, hands grabbing at clothing. The entire hallway was filled with smoke as blunts were lit and passed.

We turned down the hallway, and were suddenly alone.

He pressed me against the wall, kissing me harshly. I kissed him back, but when his hand started to go up my dress, I pulled away.

"Stop," I slurred, "I don't want to have sex with you."

Enzo moved his hand further up my skirt. "Come on, it's no big deal," He whispered, kissing my neck.

I tried to push him off of me, but failed most likely because of my state of verging blacking out.

"Please stop," I pleaded, my eyes starting to brim with tears.

You always hear those stories about girls who get taken advantage of, but you never think that you're going to one of them.

My entire head was swimming and I was starting to accept my fate.

"Get the fuck off of her!"

Enzo was shoved off of me, his head colliding with the brick wall.

I saw a familiar black-haired boy, fists clenched.

Regulus threw a punch, his fist connecting with Enzo's nose, easily breaking it. He went again, splitting his lip this time.

"Don't you fucking touch her," Regulus raised his voice.

He turned around to meet my eyes. "Meredith, are you okay?"

I nodded, pulling my dress back down and wiping my eyes.

Regulus grabbed my shoulder, leading me out of the empty hallway. "Come on, I'll take you home. Did you come here with anyone?"

"Yeah, with my sister," I said.

Regulus nodded, "Go tell her you're going home early because you don't feel good."

I could feel myself sobering up quickly as I pushed through the crowded dance floor. I spotted Marlene and Dorcas, dancing and giggling.

"Mer, what's wrong?" Marlene asked, her words slightly slurred.

I shook my head, "Nothing's wrong, I just feel a bit sick, so I'm going to go home."

"Do you want me to take you?" Dorcas asked.

"No, I'm fine," I said, "I'll see you later."

Before there could be any more questioning, I disappeared back into the crowd. Regulus was waiting for me by the door, and held it open for me as we stepped outside.

"Where do you live?" He asked, the cold wind blowing his curls.

"Uh, Bristol," I replied, "14 Walliscote Ave, Bristol."

Regulus raised an eyebrow, "Okay, hold on."

I grabbed onto his arm as he got his wand out, preparing to apparate.

The twists and twirls of apparition overtook us, and before I knew it, we were in my front yard.

My stomach churned as I caught my balance, my head spinning.

"Sorry, one second," I said, running towards the nearest bush.

I emptied the contents of my stomach into my neighbor's rose bush, already feeling better.

When I rejoined Regulus, he had a look of concern on his face.

"You okay?"

"Just peachy," I replied, starting towards the porch.

Regulus stayed standing in the yard, his hands in the pockets of his trousers.

"You can come in," I suggested. "Plus, I'll probably need a bit of help up the stairs so that I don't wake up my mum."

"Yeah, alright," Regulus said, walking up the steps.

I unlocked the front door, quietly ushering Regulus inside. I started to loudly stumble up the stairs, but Regulus grabbed my arm and helped me to my room.

We stepped inside and I closed the bedroom door behind us.

Regulus was looking at my pink walls, shaking his head.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"Nothing," He answered, "This is exactly what I pictured your room to look like."

I took a seat on the edge of my bed, taking off my heels and throwing them into the corner.

"Thank you," I said. "I thought that-,"

Regulus shook his head. "It's no big deal, just common decency."

"Why were you there?"

"It's New Years Eve, I was with friends, I saw you visibly drunk getting dragged down a hallway," He replied.

I nodded, "Well, thank you. Sorry I wrecked your evening, it's not even midnight yet."

"No, don't be, it was quite boring actually."

"Well, have a goodnight, I'll see you tomorrow," Regulus said as he started to reach for the doorknob.

I cut him off. "You can stay," I said, "If you want."

Regulus looked back at me, raising an eyebrow.

"It's just, I know it's late, and I feel bad, and I know that you probably don't want to go home yet," I rambled.

Regulus nodded, "Sure, thank you."

I nodded, getting up to change out of my dress. Without me asking, Regulus turned around as I changed into pajama pants and a t-shirt.

Once I was dressed, Regulus kicked off his shoes, placing them neatly at the foot of my bed.

"I'll sleep on the floor, I just need a pillow and blanket," He said, glancing sideways at me.

"Don't be stupid, you kinda saved me earlier, you can sleep in my bed," I suggested. "Just stay on your own side."

"Whatever you say, princess."

I got into bed, Regulus beside me, a wall of space between us.

"You know I won't be here when you wake up?" Regulus whispered, staring at the ceiling.

I nodded, "I know."

"Goodnight, McKinnon," Regulus said, turning his back towards me.

I turned my back against him, staring at my wall. "Goodnight, Black. Thanks again."