That Little Slytherin Boy

He was always that little Slytherin boy in the corner of the common room, in the middle of the classroom- not cool enough for the back row nor smart enough for the front- or trying to find a way to stay inside during Quidditch games. Mother and Father had taught him much about Hogwarts. It wasn't all good, to be sure, but the place from their stories seemed above all interesting.

To Regulus, however, the majestic castle was a place to hide. In his letters to his parents, he made sure to sound as if he were having the time of his life, meeting the right people, learning the right things. If Sirius ever once let on how unhappy he was, Mother and Father didn't believe him.

At home, things were different. Mother was doting and constantly spoiled her youngest son, and Father was sure that he would grow up to make the family proud. He'd always been a happy boy, with a big smile on his face. It was a great contrast to the scowl of his older troublemaker of a brother.

Sirius's first letter home from Hogwarts had been thrown into the fire. Regulus remembered sitting around the dinner table when the OWL came. The letter had been addressed to the entire family, but Mother had ripped it open and tossed it into the flames before Regulus had a chance to read it. Disappointed as he was not to have the chance to hear from his brother, Regulus felt sure that Sirius must have done something terrible to warrant that sort of reaction.

It was not until Regulus was about to depart for his first year that the younger son found out what had been so offensive about the letter. He swore to himself that he would be thinking cunning and ambitious thoughts all day long to be sure of a place in Slytherin.

Mother would never be throwing Regulus's letters into the fire. At least that's what he hoped as she pulled him into a tight hug before throwing him off towards the train platform.

He was sorted into Slytherin and rushed excitedly back to the dormitory as soon as he could to write a letter to Mother. He would never admit how nervous he'd been.

It only took a few days for his disappointment to set in, however. The other children seemed to meet each other so fast. The rest of the Slytherins seemed to always be together, talking and laughing, before Regulus could even remember their names. As the year went on, he only felt more and more separated from his classmates. They grew closer as if he'd never been a part of the group to begin with.

He had wanted to be in Slytherin so badly, it was what was expected of him, after all. Yet there was something about the other Slytherins he didn't quite like. Something hard and selfish, something that made their little group feel so closed off to the boy who didn't quite fit in.

The older students were no better. They had their established friendships as well, and looked down at the mousy first-year with his head in a book.

It wasn't that the books were all that interesting. Most of the time, Regulus's eyes merely passed over the words, his mind retaining nothing. It was just better to look like he was occupied, that he didn't mind being off in the corner alone. Again.

There was a Quidditch match in his third year, Ravenclaw versus Hufflepuff. Regulus always hated Quidditch, probably because Sirius adored it and Mother and Father did not approve. Regulus never was an outdoors person, to be sure, and sitting alone in the cold and rain while everyone else crammed on the bleachers with friends and cheered made things especially worse. It was colder than usual that year, though, and the Professors decided to let those that wanted to return to the castle rather than brave the frigid temperatures.

Regulus noticed that the rest of his year were enthusiastically cheering on Ravenclaw (Hufflepuff was tied for the lead in the House Cup at the time). Nobody else was about to take advantage of the opportunity. Climbing down from his seat at the end of the row, Regulus returned to the Slytherin common room. He was quite glad to leave the biting cold and the shouting of his classmates for the quiet and warmth of the castle.

It was the first time he'd seen the common room empty, Regulus thought to himself. With a smile, he sat himself down on the red sofa in front of the fire place.

A few minutes later, the stone wall opened as a group of older Slytherins came in. Regulus suddenly found himself embarrassed to be sitting alone while the rest of the school was out watching the Quidditch.

"I'll go get the book and meet the rest of you down here," said a black-haired boy who was leading the group. Regulus thought he recognized him as Severus Snape, whom Sirius had often warned him about. If Sirius despised him, Regulus thought, then Mother would most certainly approve.

Severus disappeared up the stairs to the boys' dormitories while the other three boys stood waiting. Without anything to distract his attention, Regulus couldn't help but turn his eyes to the group and watch. There was something fascinating about the way their eyes darted across the room every so often, as if they were afraid of being caught.

Regulus's eyes locked with those of a tall, thin sixth-year. Regulus recognized him as the older brother of Rabastan, one of the third year boys who was always off practicing Quidditch and sneaking around. Looking into the older boy's brown eyes, however, he had a look Regulus had never noticed about Rabastan. A look of weariness and discomfort.

The boy turned and spoke to him. "Were you watching us, then?"

Regulus froze, his voice coming out very softly. "I... I'm sorry."

"Come here," the older boy said softly.

Regulus quickly stood and did as he was told, noticing that the older boy was moving apart from his two friends somewhat to speak with him.

"What's your name?"

"Regulus Black," he answered, trying to sound proud of himself for possessing such a lofty name, but unable to feel anything but his own nerves. "You're Rabastan's brother, aren't you?"

"Rodolphus Lestrange. You know my brother then?"

"I wouldn't say I know him. He's in my year, though."

One of the other boy's voices boomed out, disrupting their quiet conversation. "Enough chit-chat, Ruddy."

Rodolphus bent his knees slightly, bringing him face to face with Regulus. "What have you heard?"

It was said with kindness, yet there was a slight air of menace somewhere beneath the surface. Regulus could not even imagine not letting on the truth. "Just something about a book, really."

"Come here," Rodolphus said, leading him back into the corner with the other boys. "Can you keep a secret?"

"Of course," said Regulus. Not that there was anyone to tell.

"Good. Come with us." Rodolphus's voice hardened, and Regulus was quite sure this was not a question.

Severus returned from the stairway and made his way back to the group. Noticing their new companion, he glared at Rodolphus. "Who is this?"

Rodolphus answered long before Regulus could gather his voice to do so. "Regulus Black."

"Regulus Black," Severus sneered. "So, Regulus, what do you think of your older brother?"

Regulus looked up into the older boy's black eyes. To be honest, Sirius had always been a kind older brother, pranks and teasing aside. "I despise him."

"As well you should," Severus replied. Regulus let out his breath silently. "Follow us, you could prove quite useful."

Regulus followed the older boys through the dungeons and down a spiraling stone staircase even deeper into the bowels of the school. As soon as the door closed behind them, the older boys looked at Regulus and began to let him in on their plots. If he were to be honest, Regulus did not like the idea of learning to master the Imperius curse on each other, especially as he more often than not was the test subject. Equally honestly, however, Regulus finally felt as if he belonged. No longer did he hide alone in the corner with his unread books, but he had people with whom he could talk at meals and cheer on Slytherin at the Quidditch game-- even if he still hated the wretched sport). For the first time, Regulus felt as if he was meeting the right people and learning the right things at Hogwarts. Just like Mother always wanted.