✷ Chapter Seven, The Devil And I
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CAPELLA AND REGULUS.

The soft glow of morning light crept into the Head Boy dormitory, revealing Regulus Black and Capella Lestrange tangled in the sheets. A gentle winter breeze whispered through the window, carrying the echoes of the enchanting night before. Regulus stirred, the warmth of the shared space and the remnants of dreams lingering on his face.

Capella shifted, her eyes fluttering open to meet the daylight. In that moment, the crystalline memory of their kiss painted a delicate smile on her lips. The chill in the room seemed to dissipate with the memories of a night that defied the boundaries they both meticulously crafted.

"Morning," Regulus mumbled, a hesitant smile playing on his lips as he looked at Capella.

Capella's walls immediately went up, a practiced defense mechanism honed through years of navigating the intricacies of her tumultuous life. "Let's not make a big deal out of it, Black. It was a moment. Nothing more."

Regulus, still half-draped in the sheets, sighed. "Capella, it was more than a moment for me. I've never felt... well, I've never felt like that before."

Her eyes flickered with a mixture of apprehension and defiance. "Don't expect me to suddenly open up and spill my soul to you. That's not how I operate."

Regulus, ever the awkward romantic, fumbled with words. "I'm not asking you to change, Capella. I just want you to know that I'm here, even if you decide to keep those walls up. We can figure this out, together."

Capella scoffed, her demeanor laced with attitude. "Oh, spare me the melodrama, Black. This doesn't mean you get free access to my life. You might be the Head Boy, but that doesn't grant you VIP entry to the complexities of being a Lestrange."

Regulus, undeterred, sat up, attempting to bridge the gap. "I'm not expecting you to lay your entire life out for me. I just thought... last night meant something."

A flicker of vulnerability crossed Capella's eyes, quickly replaced by her signature defiance. "Look, Black, life isn't a fairy tale. I've got responsibilities, family expectations, and a history that doesn't scream 'easy.' Don't mistake a moment of connection for unraveling my entire existence."

Regulus, grappling with his own inexperience in matters of the heart, responded awkwardly, "I'm not asking you to change, and I don't pretend to understand everything about your life. But I want to be a part of it, whatever that means."

Capella rolled her eyes, but there was a subtle softening in her expression. "Well, don't say I didn't warn you. Lestrange baggage isn't for the faint of heart."

Regulus, with a half-smile, quipped, "Good thing I've got a strong heart, then."

As they bantered, the morning light continued to dance across the room, casting a warmth that seemed to echo the fragile connection forming between two individuals from divergent worlds.

As the sun rose, and Capella gathered her socks and loafers, she realized that her wand was gone.

"Regulus, where is my wand?" Capella asked, eyes lowering on him. He crawled out of bed, his half naked torso redirected her eyes to his abs. Capella gulped and looked up at his face. His hair was messy, and parted in a wave. It was awesome. It was wavy and reminded her of the waves in the lake that Astra took her to a couple summers ago in France. When they visited the Lestrange Mausoleum which had been destroyed years before in 1927.

Regulus scratched his head, glancing around the room. "Wand, wand... ah, here it is." He held up Capella's wand, dangling it between his fingers.

Capella arched an eyebrow, "Care to explain why my wand ended up in your possession, Black?"

A sheepish grin crossed Regulus's face. "Well, last night got a bit, um, adventurous, and somehow our wands got mixed up. Don't worry, I didn't cast any spells, at least not with your wand."

Capella snatched her wand from him, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Merlin's beard, Black, keep your hands off my wand. It's not some sort of enchanted accessory."

Regulus chuckled, "Noted. And for the record, it was a rather memorable night, wand mix-up aside."

Capella rolled her eyes, but a faint smirk played on her lips. "Let's just get to breakfast before our 'memorable night' becomes the next gossip topic at Hogwarts."

Regulus nodded, gesturing towards the door. "Lead the way, Lestrange. We wouldn't want to keep the castle buzzing with our enchanting tales."

"Technically, it wasn't even an 'enchanting tale,' just a sequence of events – we kissed, went to class, found ourselves in the Ravenclaw Tower, flew to the Head Boy dorm on your broom, kissed again, and then fell asleep," Capella recounted, a playful glint in her eyes, and Regulus nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"But whatever happened yesterday can't be forgotten or shared with anyone, meaning no Penny or Maisie in on this," Regulus reminded her as Capella skillfully cast a Bantecole spell. Her hair smoothed out, and her clothes unwrinkled.

As they strolled into the hallway, Capella smirked, "Black, don't worry. I'm not about to spill our thrilling saga to the whole castle. Some secrets are better kept."

Regulus chuckled, "Indeed, especially when the story involves wand mix-ups and midnight escapades."

Capella arched an eyebrow, "Just be grateful I didn't hex you for the wand mishap. Now, let's get to breakfast before the day's adventures begin anew."

Capella took her seat next to Vienna Zabini, and Yelena Yaxley. The two girls were absorbed in their conversation and themselves – it was Capella's best interest to avoid involvement. She picked up a powdered pastry, and some jam. Over the summer, Capella stole a muggle cookbook from her father's ministry confiscations and learned to make Jam in the Hole. It was amazing.

Regulus sat across from Capella, Evan to his left and Barty to his right. Barty and Rabastan were mixed up in some death water thing and Regulus didn't want to be involved – so he ignored them. It was in his best interest. So he decided to bug Evan.

Capella smiled at Regulus, but only for a minuscule second before someone could use it against her.

Regulus looked up into her eyes but she lowered her head down and his eyes met Melissa Ackerman's in a distinct confusion.

He turns his eyes onto Evan, who's making eyes at his new side piece for the week, a half-blood ravenclaw girl who's been unbuttoning her shirt and raising her skirt for weeks before he noticed her. Now she rarely pays attention to him, while he falls hopelessly after her.

Evan was only doing this to anger his arranged marriage partner. Alecto Carrow was scary as a devil. Her eyes could almost get fully red when she was angry. Her brother shuddered behind her, she protected him and was the scariest creature at the school.

Regulus's owl, Octavia landed on his shoulder and dropped him a letter. It was addressed from his mother in her sprawling, and spidery handwriting.

He thanked Octavia with some owl biscuits and allowed her to fly back to the owlery. Regulus named Octavia after the character from Antony and Cleopatra.

Regulus Arcturus Black,
I hope you are well. You are the sole heir to our most noble family and must stay well. Your wellbeing determines our future. We cannot just allow our family to carry from Narcissa or Bellatrix's unborn children. I have been thinking of a bride for you. My original plan was for you to marry Pandora Lestrange, but that plan has been foiled. Her sister, Capella is still available and your father is going to force Lord Lestrange into giving her to us. I hope you like her. Or don't. I do not care. Maybe we will send Lord Malfoy or Bellatrix.

Have a nice day.
Walburga I. Black.

Regulus widened his eyes. He looked at Capella. Capella was to be his future bride. They had just slept together. Why, oh why. How clever of the higher power. To thrust them together.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE━━━━━━━
i twist , you turn , who's the first to burn?

hope  this chapter was good ! it was a little rushed cause i wanted to finish this before christmas so i could take a break. i'll probably edit this a little in febuary, but most likely ill forget.