You had always had a thing for him. His dark hair, his hazel eyes -that sometimes were green and other times blue- his pouty lips, his perfectly shaped face and that Adam's apple of his. He did look like his brother, yet he looked nothing like him. How was that possible?
You couldn't help yourself. He gave the bad boy, troubled young man vibe that you just couldn't resist. You had to get closer. There were a few problems, though.
You were Gryffindor; he was a Slytherin. You were a half-blood; he was a pure-blood. Your brother was Remus Lupin; his brother was Sirius Black. Yes, there were some issues you had to take care of before you could say that the coast was clear.
You had found yourself wondering why did the Hat place you in Gryffindor when everyone told you that you were a true Hufflepuff-maybe because you didn't want to leave your brother alone. He wasn't alone, he had made friends but you would never leave him. You were a year younger than them but you were considered a Marauder since the moment they met you. They were amazing people; funny, clever, mischievous and above all, they truly liked your brother-they were truly great friends. You knew that Remus would never tell them that he was a werewolf and honestly, you couldn't understand why. It didn't matter- he didn't choose this. You were more worried that he will get hurt by it than anything else.
Over the years, you bonded even more and you were inseparable; they were your overprotective parents. Something that could be too sweet or too annoying. It was both most of the time. You weren't eleven anymore. You were good on your own, you could handle things without them interfering.
Something that hadn't change was that you were still the same 'Little Lupin' as they called you. You were too kind and sweet for your own good. You didn't believe that. You were simply being human, helping those in need any way you could. The house elves loved you, the professors adored you not only because you were that nice, sweet little girl, but because you were one of the smartest and hardworking students, much like your brother. Although you tend not to pull so many pranks- you were the mastermind behind them, and that was why you never served detention. It was pretty sneaky if you think about it.
Something that had changed was your relationship status. You weren't single anymore, even though no one else knew but the two of you. You were with him and you could never ask for more. You didn't really like the whole 'let's pretend that we don't even know each other' thing that was going on but you did know why it was going on. You were jealous of all the happy couples that didn't care about PDA when you couldn't even hold your own boyfriend's hand. You had to pretend that it didn't hurt a tad when you saw him in the Great Hall sitting with his friends, away from you. You had to hold your tongue when Sirius was being bitter about him. You had to force yourself not to slap the hell out of your brother when he was always agreeing with Pads and Prongs about him when no one truly knew him. To be honest, you would never believe that your brother of all people would criticize someone just because he had heard something about him. You were mad and sad at the same time. Not to mention that every time that you had tried to go out on a date, they had just tagged along like you were a five-year-old. Especially Remus. He was a pain in the ass. And that little shit enjoyed ruining your dated because the boys you liked weren't good enough as he told you every single time. The others would nod in agreement saying that you deserved more. Well, they weren't wrong about that. You had found more.
Before you could understand what happened, a pair of full, soft lips was on yours, gentle hands cupped your face, long eyelashes rested on your face. Your eyes fluttered shut and your hands flew to his soft, slightly tousled hair, fingertips getting lost. Reluctantly, he pulled away as you both caught your breaths.
He was ravishing in the dim moonlight but his big, hazel eyes were teary. You grew worried and anxious.
"What's wrong Reg? What happened?" you asked him while your eyes were searching his face for any sign of indignation or pain or anything, really. He just collapsed, letting you hold him tightly as you both sunk down, your back against the stone wall of the Astronomy Tower, his head in the crook of your neck.
"Just hold me. Hold me" he was whispering over and over again. Your heart broke. His mother. That bitch was tormenting both of her sons. You weren't the one to call someone names but that poor excuse of a mother deserved it. Sirius had run away, which meant that Regulus was on his own. You couldn't begin to imagine how hard must that be. Seeing him like that made you capable of murder. Her murder. He was so broken-he felt so empty and you could tell.
"Don't leave me, angel, please" he murmured against your neck. You could feel the tears-his tears-on your skin. You held him tighter and closer; your hands tried to soothe his pain as they roamed his back and his arms making their way to his face. Your touch was light as a feather because you didn't want to cause him any more pain or discomfort. You softly caressed his cheek with the back of your palm and your fingers went to his chin, slowly making him face you. You took his face in your hands and looked at him straight in the eyes.
"What did she do?" you simply yet fiercely asked him. You were kind and sweet but Merlin help the one who will get on your bad side. You would anything to protect your loved ones.
"She made me a monster". His voice cracked and more tears left his beautiful eyes. It hurt your soul. Your eyebrows were furrowed, you were biting your lip and your eyes were almost teary as well. You had heard those words before. You knew them all too well. Your brother used to say them too often-he still did. But Walburga would never turn her child into a werewolf. Wait. No. Nononono.
Gently, you took his arm in your hands and tugged the sleeve. You saw the hesitation in his eyes, you saw the pain, the remorse, the guilt and the fear. You saw how vulnerable he was. You knew that he hadn't his brother's self-esteem but you had never seen him like this.
He rolled up his sleeve, purposefully slow just to reveal what you had already guessed. The Dark Mark was tattooed on his flesh, forever imprinted there as a constant reminder of all the things he hated but couldn't run away from. You momentarily closed your eyes and took a deep breath. You wished to be able to turn back time and help him. He misinterpreted your brief silence for rejection, fear- maybe you were disgusted by him, he sure was. His heart broke but he could never judge you or not understand you.
"You are not a monster, Regulus" you told him, emphasizing each word. Your fingers were drawing patterns on his arm, forming words of comfort, shapes of tenderness. He was taken aback because he really believed that you wouldn't forgive something like that. He couldn't forgive himself for letting his parents convince him that it was right. He wasn't convinced but threatened. It didn't matter to them. He was just another Death Eater and he was absolutely sick of it. All of it.
"I love you" he confessed almost too scared, as his eyes found yours. He had never said those words before. He felt them, deeply, passionately, completely. You pressed a tender kiss to his forehead but moved your lips to his forearm and covered the mark with your lipstick.
"There. All set" you informed him as you tried to smile. It was too painful to last.
"I love you, Arc" you whispered. It was a habit of yours, to call him by his middle name when things got more intimate.
You stayed there, wrapped in each other's embraces all night long. You didn't know that four boys had been spying on you using that preposterous map of theirs- and they had questions, but mostly accusations.

"Are you INSANE?".
"What were you thinking?".
"Of all people, you are with him?".
"Hey, watch it. He is my brother".
"But he is a Death Eater".
"I was adopted".
"But, yes. Of all people, him?".
"No. No. And let me think, NO"
"How could you do this to us? To me? I am your brother!".
"He is going to hurt you".
"He is like his mother".
"He is bad news, trouble".
It had been like that all morning. You hadn't gone to any of your classes because you were getting lectured and reprimanded by four boys. But enough was enough.
"SHUT UP. ALL OF YOU" you kind of yelled at them, your voice firm and cold. You couldn't stand this parody. They were clearly bewildered and bamboozled. They did not expect you to raise your voice like that.
"Can't you see? I love him" you admitted, looking at them as they were losing their coolness.
"But you deserve more, little Lupin. You are so sweet and he is so cold" James tried to talk you out of it but he didn't know that you were together almost a year.
"Listen, you are my sister and I love you and I want nothing less than your happiness but he is not the person to give you what you need" your brother interrupted. You were growing sadder and sadder by the second. You couldn't understand why they hated him so much.
"He is no good, little one. You know him, what? A week? I know him my whole life" Sirius added. He thought he was helping but he wasn't.
"We've been together for over a year. And I am not letting you four, destroy that. I love him" you finally told them, leaving them speechless.
"He is a Death Eater, love" Sirius spoke in a small voice. That was enough.
"Do you know how difficult it became for him when you ran away? Do you have any idea what your mother did to him? Do you know that he is broken? That, he was harming himself? That he tried to end... this? That he misses you like crazy? That he thinks he is a monster?" you fired back all those things you have been keeping quiet the past year. Sirius paled and Remus finally understood. He knew what it felt like to believe that you were a monster. Everyone seemed to get it, slowly but steadily. You wanted nothing more than to just hold Reg and kiss him and hug him, not caring one bit about what people think. He wasn't evil, he was broken, misunderstood and pressured. All his life.
"Does he feel the same about you?" Remus asked carefully. He didn't need an answer once he saw the look on your face. He smiled faintly. He couldn't change that; as much as he didn't like the idea of Regulus and you, he had to step back.
"How did you-you know?" James asked, or tried to. You smiled at the memory. It hadn't been that easy. But it was the most wonderful thing.
"A story for another time" you answered casually but he rolled his eyes.
"Just... Just be good to him. Take care of him, please. He deserves that much" Sirius said in a small voice. Regulus was his brother and he loved him so much that hurt. But they had chosen different paths.
"I do?" a new voice questioned a bit puzzled. You quickly turned around to see a confused Regulus standing – a bit awkward – next to the door. Sirius was even paler than before.
You thought of the possibilities. Their bond meant everything to them and they needed time alone. You went over to him and kissed him lovingly, not giving a flying fuck about your friends' reactions.
"We should leave them to it" you kindly said and the three stunned boys, moved, getting your message. Regulus looked at you, thankful for everything.
"You are my light, angel" he whispered, his voice thick from Merlin knows how many feelings. You smiled and left the room along with the other, leaving the Black brothers to finally talk like civilized people. And all you could do was wish for the best.