Chapter Text
In your basement, I grow cold
Thinking back to what I was always told
"Don't talk to strangers or you might fall in love"
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The Potter family apparated to Platform 9 ¾, ready to go through the magical barrier that brought them to the Hogwarts Express. It was just as the year before, because just like last time they had an extra member; Sirius Black, James’ best friend. Sirius narrowly escaped “The Noble House of Black” last June after his mother nearly tortured him to death. Sirius had been living with the Potter family ever since, and Y/N didn’t mind at all. She always thought of Black as her best friend as well, and he’d taken it upon himself to become a brother figure to her back in his 2nd year when Y/N first came to Hogwarts.
Sirius and James were static with excitement, as they were heading into their 7th year, while Y/N was going to be in 6th year. She was wearing bellbottoms and a low cut babydoll top that Lily Evans gave her for Christmas. When James saw that Lily gifted her something, he said, “She’s going to be a great sister-in-law one day, don’t you think?” At the time she just rolled her eyes at his antics, but in early June, at the end of the school year, James managed to make Lily his girlfriend. Y/N knows that Lily will be an amazing sister-in-law.
Euphemia and Fleamont Potter were trying extremely hard to hold back their tears. How was it that their little babies were now 16 and 17?
“Let’s go!” Y/N exclaimed, pushing her trolley with one hand and pulling James with the other. James lets out an oof and laughs as he drags Sirius along too.
As she entered the barrier, she couldn’t help but grin. Even growing up with magic, it never failed to impress her. James and Sirius came in right after her, and soon her parents.
“Alright dears, you have everything?” Euphemia double checked, “Books, quills, ink, yes?”
“Yes mum, I made sure we have everything,” Y/N smiles, “But I’ll write to you if we forgot anything, I promise.” Her mother nodded in approval.
The train let out a huff of steam, indicating it was 5 minutes to 11:00.
“You best get going,” Fleamont said, “We’ll see you at Christmas Break, alright?”
Their mother gave them all kisses on the cheek and they hugged their father. Though they would see them in December, their parents would still miss them extremely.
“Don’t get into too much trouble boys!” Euphemia exclaimed with a tearful smile. This would be her last time sending her sons off to Hogwarts, and then they’d be adults in the real world.
“Love you!” They all said as they blew kisses and ran to the train.
The trio put away their suitcases and found their usual compartment, not surprised to see ½ of the Marauders, Peter Pettigrew and Remus Lupin. They both stood up and Y/N raced to hug Remus.
“Moony!” She shouted happily as he wrapped his arms around her and spun her around. “Missed you.”
He laughs, “I could tell.” But when she jokingly slaps his arm he adds, “Missed you too.”
Y/N makes her way over to Peter, giving him a little side hug. He’s always been a bit shy, so she doesn’t mind that she has to initiate it. “Hiya Pete. Alright?” He nods and returns the hug. They all sit down but Y/N stays standing up, buzzing with excitement.
“Well I’ve got to get to my friends. See you lot at the Great Hall!” She waves bye to them and James and Sirius let out a sound of betrayal. Y/N quickly leaves before she can hear their protests, and Remus just laughs at Sirius and James antics.
She heads down the alley, looking for her friends. There was Pandora Rosier, who was in Ravenclaw. They’d been friends since the first week of 1st year, when a rude 4th year Slytherin boy tried to hex Pandora for no apparent reason. Y/N hated bullies, so she promptly punched him in the face at the time. Emmeline Vance, another Ravenclaw, saw this and applauded her for her bravery. Though Mcgonagall gave her a week in detention scrubbing cauldrons, it was worth it, for she gained two forever friendships.
Then there was Mary Mcdonald, a Gryffindor in her year. She was quick-witted and loyal, and Y/N couldn’t be luckier to have her. They’d clicked their first day at Hogwarts at dinner. Y/N was a bit nervous after she got sorted because she didn’t know where to sit, plus she didn’t want to rely on her brother and his friends. But Mary quickly waved her over and Y/N excitedly joined her, and they’ve been best friends ever since.
As Y/N daydreamed about her lovely friends, she wasn’t paying attention as she collides into someone's side, stumbling back. She was about to say sorry until she realized said “someone” was none other than Regulus Black.
Her enemy since practically 1st year. Y/N had been so excited when James told her Sirius had a brother her age, since she thought it meant she’d have an automatic friend. She was disappointed to find out that he was absolutely nothing like Sirius besides maybe their looks. Their brothers had tried acquainting each other on the train 1st year, but Regulus would not have it. Y/N introduced herself and stuck out a hand, only for him to scoff at it and leave the compartment. Sirius apologized for his brother’s behavior and at the time Y/N thought, “How could any 11 year old be this stuck up and rude?”
Even now, he turns his head in her direction and raises a judgmental eyebrow.
“Watch where you're going, Potter.”
She huffs. “Me? You're the one standing in the bloody alley! People are trying to walk here!”
At that, Regulus just rolls his eyes and steps into his compartment, making a point to shutting the door loudly. Y/N’s fist tightens but she takes a deep breath to calm herself down. No way was she going to let that broody boy get on her nerves the first day of 6th year. She peers into Regulus’ compartment to see Evan Rosier (Pandora’s twin brother) and Barty Crouch Jr. sitting down talking animatedly. Regulus is on the opposite side from them, pulling out a book. Now that Y/N’s getting a better look at him, she can tell his features are more…prominent. His wavy hair is a little longer this year and his jawline looks much sharper. And of course when she bumped into him, she noticed he grew at least 5 inches taller. But it’s not as if she cares! She would never think Regulus Black of all people is attractive, not in a million years. As if he could feel her gaze on him, he looks up to see her staring curiously at him.
Y/N quickly looks away and can feel her face heating up. She suddenly remembers why she’s here in the first place: to find her best friends. Luckily, she doesn’t have to wait too long as she spots Pandora, Emmeline, and Mary in a few booths over. Y/N sighs and thinks Finally as she opens the compartment door.
“Not gossiping without me, I hope?” She teases, surprising them. They immediately squeal and jump up to hug her and the next minute consists of “I missed you” ‘s.
“Oh I love your top Y/N!” Mary exclaims, “They make your tits look fantastic!”
Y/N winks at her, “Right?! Lily gifted it to me! Too bad I’ll have to cover up with our huge robes at dinner.” Mary laughs and nods.
“Now you know how I feel with all my muggle clothes!”
Y/N giggles along with her and they all sit down.
“So how was your summer?” Emmeline asks. “Lucky you, getting to spend it with Sirius.” She smirks as she pokes her teasingly.
At that, Y/N pushes her away, laughing.
“Gross! He’s like a brother to me Em, you know that!”
They all burst out laughing, and continue talking about their eventful summers. Emmeline went to Paris for 2 weeks, Mary visited some extended family in Liverpool, and Pandora stayed home experimenting with new potions with her brother.
As they continue reminiscing about their summers, Bertram Aubrey suddenly knocks on their compartment’s door. Bertram was a 7th year and Head Boy of Ravenclaw. In James' 2nd year, he and Sirius played a rather nasty prank on Bertram, and Y/N suspected he held that grudge for her as well.
“Potter, there’s a mandatory prefect meeting starting soon,” he said. “I expect to see you there. Oh, and go get Regulus Black while you're at it.”
Well that confirms her suspicions.
“He’s in the compartment a few down from us, why can’t you get him?” She glares at him.
“Because I have Head Boy duties,” he shrugged like it was the most obvious thing in the world, and left hurriedly.
“Wai–ugh!” Y/N grumbled. Sometimes she hated being related to James. “He’s insufferable! He can’t possibly expect me to fetch Regulus bloody Black! Pandora, can you come with me? He’s sitting with your brother.”
Pandora who was deep into hand–sewing a colorful, whimsical headband for herself looks up.
“Oh I would Y/N, but I’m almost done…” she explains.
Y/N rolls her eyes, but with a smile and stands up. No point begging, and she really didn’t want to be late to the meeting since she was already on thin ice with Aubrey. But it was alright, she could never really be angry with Pandora.
Y/N sighs, “Well wish me luck heading into the snake pit.” She hisses jokingly slithering her hand to Mary like a python.
“Always so dramatic, Y/N,” Mary smiles.
Y/N sticks her tongue out and she can hear Emmeline laugh as she leaves.
As she makes her way to Regulus’ compartment, she finds herself flattening her shirt down and combing her hair through her fingers to look presentable. But Y/N told herself it was because Regulus’ judgemental arse would’ve made fun of her if she didn’t.
She slid open their compartment door, not waiting for an invitation.
“Aubrey said there’s a prefect meeting right now. And he–uh told me to tell you,” I told Regulus. His gaze was a bit intimidating, but she stands her ground. She was a “brave” Gryffindor after all.
“Well hello to you too Potter,” Barty Crouch Jr. says as he licks his lips and stares at her chest, “Nice blouse.” She crosses her arms around her, suddenly aware of how exposing her top is, and glares at him.
Evan was a bit more civil, being Pandora’s twin, and he nodded his head at her. She gives a tight smile to him, then looks at Regulus.
“Coming, Black?” She raises an eyebrow. He seems to be looking at her top too, and realizes he’s been caught. She can feel a blush start to creep up her neck. Barty's always been sort of a womanizer, but to her knowledge Regulus has never even been on a date. If he was embarrassed at all, he didn’t show it. Instead, he nods once with an unreadable expression and gets up. We walk in uncomfortable silence to the first booth at the front, the prefect compartment.
As soon as they get there Y/N darts to Leo Thomas, the male prefect in her year of Gryffindor. They’ve always been good friends, and she greets him with a smile and a short hug. They were prefects together last year, and Y/N hoped they’d be partners for patrol this year too. Plus, he’s not bad to look at at all, so that was a plus.
As every 5th, 6th, and 7th year prefect starts coming in, Aubrey starts the meeting.
“Alright, first thing I want to address is our patrol partners. Now Dumbledore thought this year it would be best to switch things up, so your partner will not be your housemate. When I call out the pairs, sit with your partner.”
Ugh, great. Y/N thought as she mentally made a list of people in other houses she wouldn’t mind being paired up with. Maren Campbell is nice enough. And I like talking to Aishwarya Singh. I wouldn’t even mind her boyfriend Aryan Patil, he’s friends with James.
Bertram pulls out a sheet of parchment and starts listing off names.
“Otto Bagman and Aidan Chang. Xenophilius Lovegood and Rabastan Lestrange. Leo Thomas and Ameila Bones.” Lucky bastard, she thinks to herself silently.
“Regulus Black and Y/N Potter.”