Chapter Text
You’ll be marrying Regulus Black.
The moment that your ex-best friend’s name left your mother’s mouth; you couldn't help but be shocked. You sat staring at your mother in shock for a few moments.
“What?”
Your mother smiled.
“You heard me. Walburga and I made the arrangements. Everything is settled. After graduation, you will be having a nice summer wedding.”
You walked back into the Slytherin common room with your best friend Melinda at your side. She was eagerly talking about her Easter holiday eagerly. You had stopped listening after she started. There were other pressing matters on your mind.
Regulus sat near the fireplace talking to Barty Crouch Jr. Your heart pounded looking at him. It had been ages since the two of you had spoken to each other and now the two of you were engaged to be married. Had you forgotten how adorable he was? There he sat with his curly shaggy hair all messed up looking, in your mind, adorable.
You couldn’t remember how the downfall of your friendship began. It had been over a year in the making. After he started making “bad” friends, Regulus no longer had time for you. He was no longer the sensitive boy that used to read you French poetry. Instead, Regulus was ditching you more and more until the two of you stopped speaking altogether.
“Y/n? Y/n, did you hear me?”
Your head snapped up as Melinda said your name for the third time. Melinda was looking at you with a frown.
“What’s with you? You have been vacant since we met up on the train?”
Your eyes flickered over to Regulus, who was looking at you now. The two of you locked eyes for a moment. It wasn’t until he gave you a small smile was you able to look away.
“I’m sorry, Melinda. I need to tell you something.”
“Hello, Y/n.”
Both Melinda and yourself froze the moment that Regulus’ smooth voice came from behind you. You took a breath before turning. Regulus looked down at you with another sweet soul-stealing smile.
“Regulus, hi.”
It felt so foreign saying his name; foreign and heavenly at the same time.
“Can we talk?”
Melinda gave you a smile then went to search for another friend to talk to. Regulus, meanwhile, motioned to the doorway to the common room.
“Sure.”
You said before following Regulus out of the common room and into an abandoned hallway.
Regulus stood illuminated by the moonlight as he looked down at you.
“Did your mother talk to you?”
You nodded, feeling the stubborn begin to wash over you. Did Regulus expect you to just jump in his arms and play the loving fiance for the last term of school?
“She did. Why me, Regulus?”
“Why not you? You’ve always been a beautiful girl.”
You rolled your eyes, trying not to feel guilty at the expression on Regulus’ face.
“Is beautiful all that you see? I don’t see why you aren’t interested in one of those girls who support the dark lord, like you?”
“Y/n…”
“Don’t Y/n me, Regulus! I know that you’re a death eater now. I have none for a long time so don’t you dare lie to me!”
You crossed your arms over your chest and turned a little more dramatically than planned. Regulus didn’t say anything for a few moments. He had seen how your eyes had flickered down to his covered arm.
He was too busy staring at you. Describing how he felt was a little harder than Regulus could have ever dreamed. He knew that you were still angry at him over the seeming abandonment of your friendship.
Was he wrong to tell you that you were beautiful? Regulus didn’t think so. You had always been pleasing to look at. Those bright eyes would always make Regulus’ heart pound. If he had to spend the rest of his natural life telling just how beautiful you were...that could be arranged.
Regulus was fine with the prospect of an arranged marriage. That was one less thing that he had to worry about! Regulus had enough stress on himself without having to find a wife that would appease his mother.
“I have never lied to you, Y/n. I want to marry you because you are the first girl that I fell in love with. Can’t that be enough for you? You wouldn’t have to want for anything for the rest of your life.”
You turned.
“I get it, Reggie. Your family has money. That’s nice but money won’t bring you back if you get killed. I have missed having you in my life so much for the past few months and if you die...I won’t have a second chance.”
You quickly turned away. Never in a million years did you plan on confessing your feelings to him. You also wanted to tell Regulus that you still could see the little curly-headed boy that he used to be. The boy that used to make you smile with funny little jokes (that probably were made up by his older brother) or the little boy who could make you swoon with one smile.
Regulus stood silently for a moment before quickly turning your body back to his.
“Y/n, I never meant to hurt you. I thought if...if I kept you away….you wouldn’t be exposed to what I’m apart of. That never meant that I stopped being in love with you.”
He was relieved when your eyes fluttered up to his face.
“Oh, Reggie.”
Regulus smiled, knowing that he was winning. As much as he hated people calling him “Reggie” he would put up with it from you. He would simply look the other way. Just like you did the time in 2nd year when Sirius dared him to slap you on the behind.
“Let me make these past few months up to you. We still have sometime before the wedding. Let me win you over?”
Regulus’ long fingers were cupping your right cheek. You melted into his touch. Regulus was right about one thing. It would only be a few months until the wedding and there would be no getting yourself out of this one. You were going to be Regulus’ wife whether you liked it or not. Maybe you could make the best of a difficult situation.
“Okay.”
You said, softly. Regulus smiled before kissing your forehead.
“I have something for you.”
He reached into his pocket and took your hand in his. Regulus’ eyes fluttered to yours before he slid a ring onto your finger.
“This was my mother’s engagement ring. I thought that you would enjoy it.”
You looked down at the emerald placed stone with a smile. This ring. You had seen it on Walburga’s hand before. Now it was yours.
“I love it. What about your mum? You didn’t just take this off of her hand did you.”
Regulus laughed.
“No. My dad bought her a new ring. Evidently, that was the plan all along. I promise to make you happy. How about an actual date tomorrow? Just us...alone.”
“That would be nice. I want to see what you have up your sleeve”.”
You said with a smile before reaching up and kissing his cheek.
“We should head back before our weird friends come to find us.”
Regulus nodded and put an arm around your waist. He made a mental note to write his mother the next day and let Walburga know that her master plan was working so well...