• Camille Malfoy •

"He touched me
and it felt as if
stars were dancing
across my skin."

Camille could hardly hide her smile throughout the day. It had started at breakfast, because there had been pancakes. How else could a perfect Saturday begin? A Saturday when the sun was shining too, making the sparkling ice crystals outside on the windows glisten. A Saturday on which she was to have a date with Regulus.

Beaming, she turned in front of the mirror in her dormitory. The lilac cape blew around her legs as light as a feather. Floral patterns in pastel shades twined up the hem, covered the wide sleeves and finally met at the high-necked collar. The soft tones made Camille's turquoise eyes sparkle and made her skin look healthier and more even. Her blonde hair fell down her spine in a braided plait. She felt a little like she had always imagined the elves in Peter Pan.

"Hmm...," Lorraine made thoughtfully, squatting on her bed behind Camille and examining her critically with her big blue eyes. "Bold colour for a first date."

Camille furrowed her brow and now looked at herself from the side. The cape flattered her in just the right places and brought out curves she didn't really possess. Should it really be down to the colour? She braced both hands on her hips, a little disappointed that the outfit she had been getting ready for a week was not earning the goodwill she had expected. "What's wrong with the colour?"

"I think it might be off-putting to boys. You know, I think they prefer darker, more muted colours," she replied, cocking her head to one side. "Then again, it is Regulus."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Lorraine merely shrugged and smiled saccharine and innocent at the same time. Like a kettle pie that you didn't want to think was making you fat. "Well, Regulus is kind of not like the other boys."

No, indeed he wasn't. Maybe that was just what Camille liked about him. Lorraine started to grin and added, "Besides, he'd probably stare at you like the most beautiful creature in the world even if you wore a potato sack."

Camille could no longer hide a broad smile either. Her heart began to leap wildly in her chest and her hands became a little sweaty. Her long, slender fingers trembled as she pushed a lost strand of hair behind her ear. "Merlin, I'm so excited!"

"You always are," Lorraine sighed, rolling her eyes playfully. "Until you think the person you're talking to must be under a Babbeling Curse, with the bullshit they're spouting."

"Not with Regulus," the young Malfoy objected. In fact, it would probably be just the opposite with their date. For Regulus had always been rather quiet in nature. With his thoughts always elsewhere and everywhere except in the present. Lorraine began to nod in agreement. This was a fact that even she had to realise. Then she frowned. "Have you seen Emma today?"

Camille shook her head. In fact, she hadn't run into her very often over the last few days. It had been going on since the end of the Christmas holidays. It was probably because of her cousin who had fallen victim to the Death Eaters. Camille felt her heart, which had been doing leaps and bounds just a moment before, getting heavier and heavier. Was Emma avoiding her because of this incident?

"I think she still has to come to terms with what happened with Dorcas," Camille finally replied quietly, but she couldn't stop the uneasy feeling growing in the pit of her stomach. She was worried. Worried that their friendship might not survive it. Worried that Emma would do something stupid.

Camille felt helpless. How could she possibly help her friend when it was her own family who were behind the Dark Lord's views that were responsible for what had happened to her cousin? Emma would not be able to understand how Camille could do nothing about it. That she turned a blind eye to what they had done. Yes, it was cruel. But it was her family she loved above all else. It had been drummed into her from an early age that this was the way things were in her life. The strongest won.

In the end, Dorcas and her family had had a choice. In doing so, they had betrayed their blood and opened the fight to themselves. Eat or be eaten. That was the way it was. As sorry as Camille was. Maybe she would see it differently if she were at the other end of the food chain, but she was not.

"I'll try to talk to her later," Lorraine said with a weak smile. Camille nodded and startled when she glanced at her tinny alarm clock. She only had ten minutes left! Like a niffler looking for gold, she hastily began to pick out her family ring and a matching necklace.

Lorraine had to laugh as she noticed her rising rush to begin tracing her light pink lipstick. "I hope Regulus appreciates how much work you're putting into your appearance today just for him."

One last time, Camille looked at herself in the mirror, not paying attention to her friend's bell-like laughter and statements. At that moment, it was she who was completely in her own world. Mentally, she was already in Regulus' company, running every possible scenario in her head. After all, she had to be prepared for any eventuality.

She expelled a deep breath. "Wish me luck."

"Every little bit in the world," Lorraine replied. There was a proud smile on her full lips, as if she had been looking forward to this moment for years. Had it been so obvious that this was what Camille had always wanted? A future with Regulus that now seemed within her grasp.

At last, heart pounding, the blonde made her way out the door. The long corridor that separated the different girls' dormitories seemed endless and at the same time shorter than normal to her. The long emerald carpet muffled her steps as she pulled on the long white fur coat she had quickly grabbed from the wardrobe.

Regulus was already waiting for her in the Slytherin common room. He wore an elegant pitch black cloak that matched his surname. It was tight at his waist and made his torso, as well as his shoulders, look stronger than they normally appeared. His equally black hair had been brushed out of his striking face with some gel, making him look all the more like his brother.

A dark coat had been draped over his forearm, suggesting to Camille that they were probably indeed leaving the castle. With a bright smile on her face, she joined him. She saw his eyes darting over her figure, overwhelmed, and his Adam's apple bouncing. But before he could say anything, Camille's excitement beat her to it. "You look very elegant," she breathed, running her fingertips reverently over the expensive fabric of his collar

"So do you," he said in a husky voice, clearing his throat sheepishly. "I-I mean, you look very pretty. Not that you're not usually beautiful, but today..."

Camille's smile intensified as she saw the blush creeping onto his flawless skin. Merlin, he was simply scrumptious. Embarrassed, he lowered his head and pressed both lips together as if to stop himself from saying something stupid. "You know what I mean."

He then extended his arm somewhat awkwardly and cleared his throat again. "Shall we then?"

"Gladly," Camille replied, hooking her arm around him. A pleasant warmth spread to where they touched through the far too thick fabric of their clothes. At that moment, the coat, as well as her cloak, seemed bothersome to her. "Where are we going, anyway?"

A mysterious smile appeared on Regulus' lips. "You'll find out soon enough."

"All right," a little offended, Camille thrust her chin forward. She hated surprises. She preferred to be prepared for what was coming. Nevertheless, she played along and let the young Black lead her into the entrance hall of the castle and finally through the portal. Regulus had meanwhile put on his woollen coat, because it was freezing cold outside.

The frost slept on the grasses and made them look as old and grey as the sky, over which a thick layer of gloomy clouds had meanwhile appeared. Camille's arm, which had been tangled with his before Regulus had put on his coat, felt empty and cold. As if she had lost something that belonged to her, like her little finger.

Regulus plodded along beside her, making no move to hold his arm out to her again. Somewhat disappointed, Camille fixed her turquoise eyes on the little clouds of mist they were both exuding. Then she felt a warm hand reach for hers and her heart leapt. Their fingers intertwined as if they fitted together like the gears of a clock.

At that moment she felt like the luckiest girl in the world. She willingly let Regulus lead her down to the frozen lake and finally to a huge weeping willow on its shore. Curious, Camille watched as the young Black pushed the long branches aside to reveal a large spread of light blue blanket.

It was covered with cushions, more blankets, tall glasses and the most delicious food that was usually only available at Hogwarts' parties. Camille marvelled, especially when she stepped behind the curtain of branches and it was as comfortably warm as her dormitory. Regulus reached for the hem of her fur cloak to pull it off her shoulders. "I used an extended warmth spell," he explained before slipping out of his jacket himself.

"When did you organise all this?" asked Camille, still completely dumbfounded. This was even so much better than she had imagined. Even if Regulus often thought that he could never live up to expectations of him, he had surpassed hers every time.

"This morning," he replied. "Alaric and Evan helped me organise the food from the kitchen. Without them, we'd probably just have the old cauldron cakes Evan always hides in his cupboard."

Camille had to laugh. "Well, give them both my thanks."

"Will do," Regulus promised with a grin, gesturing for her to sit down with an inviting wave of his hand. But Camille reached for his hand once more. She simply could not resist. A shiver ran through her as their skin touched. Would she ever get used to the feeling? "But thank you too for inviting me."

"And I thank you for your company," he breathed. His silver-grey eyes locked with her turquoise ones and Camille found it hard to turn away from them again. But dinner was waiting and it smelled too heavenly to put it off any longer. They sat down a little later, leaning back against the thick trunk of the willow, and feasted on the delicacies.

There was pumpkin pies, roast beef and for dessert sultana pudding and treacle tart. All the things Camille liked to eat and, she thought, ate far too rarely. But eventually it would no longer be anything special if she ate it every day. Unobtrusively, she watched Regulus out of the corner of her eye. He had been so different in the last few days. So full of hope. As if there was actually something he dared to dream about in these times.

But at the same time he had become quieter. Camille had seen him secretly drawing the Dark Mark in the corner of his parchment in class. It was starting to worry her a little. She had seen how upset Lucius had been after his first assignment. Camille didn't like to imagine all that was demanded of them. If you refused, you were the target of the next attack.

But she had seen the gleam in Regulus' eyes when she had discovered all the newspaper clippings in his room. He would not be dissuaded. He was too much like Sirius for that. Stubborn as an old horse.

She noticed how he now turned his grey eyes on her. A frown appeared on his forehead and uneasily he slid around on one of the cushions. His silver fork, packed with dessert, hung in the air in front of his mouth. "Don't you like it or..."

"I do," Camille interjected hastily. "It's great! You're great! I mean... But..."

"The big but," Regulus breathed, lowering his fork. His Adam's apple bounced as he swallowed. Camille shook her head vehemently and turned to him. She wanted to say something, to placate him, that there were no buts, but that would be a lie to herself.

"Camille," he whispered, taking her hand in his again. With the tingling running through her entire body and the roaring in her ears, she found it hard to keep her concentration on his words. At the same time, she couldn't help but hang on his perfect lips. "I promise you that I will never cause you or your family any trouble."

Camille would so much like to believe him, but unfortunately she knew how unpredictable life could be. Back then, with her childishly naïve oath to be friends with him and his brother forever, she hadn't known that. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Regulus Black."

"When I promise something, I keep it," he vowed. He looked at her so intensely that Camille lost herself in the silver grey with the dark speckles. They were so close at that moment that the warmth she felt could only come from him, rather than the warmth spell.

Regulus lowered his gaze. His dark lashes fluttered briefly on his high cheekbones like a fan before he looked at her again with a determined expression. The grip with which he held her hand in his tightened. "I think I've fallen in love with you, Camille Malfoy."

Camille drew in a barely audible breath. It was the most beautiful confession she had ever heard. Her heart fluttered. Did leaps in the air. She was so close to her very own happy ending. "I've fallen in love with you too, Regulus Black."

"Honestly?" His eyes widened and he stared at her, completely flabbergasted. Camille had to stifle a laugh, as helpless and confused as he looked at that moment. Her growing grin, however, seemed to unnerve him even more. "I knew it was..."

"Kiss me already, Regulus Black," Camille breathed impatiently, which should have been answer enough for him. But while her counterpart was still merely staring at her in indecision, she began to take the initiative. With both hands, she pulled him towards her by the hem of his cloak and locked her lips with his.

Regulus touched her as gently as if she were made of porcelain. His soft hands wrapped around her face as his lips opened slightly. They still tasted of the vanilla flavour of the sultana pudding. Camille buried her hands in his dark hair and sighed into the kiss. She never wanted to do anything else ever again.

The tingling in the pit of her stomach grew. Butterflies, as Lorraine would say. If that were so, she would have a whole swarm in her belly by now.

When Camille re-entered her dormitory late that afternoon, she was still buoyant from her date with Regulus. A little dazed, she staggered onto her bed and threw herself backwards onto her soft blanket, her arms stretched out as if to form wings. She felt as if she had drunk a little too much elf wine over her thirst. Who would have thought that love and alcohol could have the same effect?

Suddenly the door of the small adjoining bathroom was pushed open. Emma's dark hair looked as if she hadn't brushed it for days. There were dark circles under her eyes and her expression looked sad, even desperate. Like in a trance, her gaze was directed forward, as if her thoughts were completely elsewhere. Camille was on her feet in an instant. Her good mood was wiped away. "What's wrong?"

For the first time, Emma was now looking directly at her. Her voice trembled as she said the words that, in her circumstances, were tantamount to disinheritance in Camille's circles. "I think I'm pregnant."