Monday 13th October, 1976

It had been three weeks since the prank, and Regulus hadn't retaliated. He'd managed to get his hair back to normal by the end of the day, to my deepest displeasure. After that, I'd been waiting in tense anticipation for him to strike back, but nothing ever came. We still bickered of course, throwing insults left and right whenever we were in range each other, yet he hadn't gotton me back for my prank, and so I'd spent the last few weeks waiting in terror.

It was our patrol night and we walked in silence, having just had a particularly nasty row with one another when movement up ahead caught my eye. I quickened my pace, hearing Regulus do the same behind me, and we turned the corner to find Mulciber lurking around.

"Students aren't supposed to be out of bed this time of night," I said, catching the Slytherin's attention as his head jerked in my direction. "There's actually a curfew, if you can believe it."

"What are you gonna do, give me detention?" he taunted, not at all worried that he'd just been caught out of bed after curfew.

"That's exactly what I'm going to do actually," I said, faking surprise. "How'd you know?"

Mulciber snorted, shaking his head as he looked me up and down.

"No you're not," he said.

"Um, yes, I am," I retorted.

I looked to Regulus, motioning for him to help me out, but he did nothing. I frowned, sending him a glare, before turning to face Mulciber. The Slytherin in question grinned at me, obviously having noticed my failed attempt to get help.

"What, baby Potter can't take me on her own?" Mulciber mocked in a childish voice.

I scoffed, ignoring the way Regulus's refusal to help grated against my skin.

"I can handle you on my own perfectly fine, unless you don't remember our last meeting?" I asked smugly.

Mulciber scowled, eyes narrowing as he stared at me. Finally he relented and pushed past me to get to his common room. I gritted my teeth, wanting to take away house points for his reluctance to follow orders but resisted.

"Thanks for the help," I hissed to Regulus as we continued helping.

"Why should I help you?" he asked haughtily, like just the idea of helping me offended him.

I took a deep breath, keeping my emotions in check and ignoring his tone.

"Because we're Prefects," I explained shortly. "It's our job, and we shouldn't let personal stuff get in the way of that."

Regulus glanced at me sidelong, seeming deep in thought from my statement before shrugging and looking forward.

I scowled.

. . .

Tuesday 14th October, 1976

Breakfast the next day was significantly better than last night. I had just walked into the Great Hall when Lily caught me just as she was leaving.

"Y/n, hey, I was looking for you," she said.

"Really? What for?" I asked.

"Me and the girls are going to Hogsmeade next week, and I was wondering if you wanted to come with us?"

I smiled, nodding my head enthusiastically and telling her I would definitely be there. I always enjoyed spending time with Lily, Marlene, and Mary. It was nice to have a break from the boys every once in a while.

I bid lily goodbye as she left the Great Hall and sat next to James, piling my plate with bacon and pouring a large glass of orange juice. Remus, who had been watching me across the table, snorted.

"You're just like your brother," he said.

I looked over to find James's plate nearly identical to mine and rolled my eyes. As I stated earlier, we were very similar. Sirius arrived at the Great Hall, making his presence known by sitting next to me and slinging his arm around my shoulder.

"You coming to Hogsmeade with us little Potter?" he asked, snatching a piece of bacon off my plate.

I scowled, swatting his hand away when he went for a second piece, shuffling away from him.

"Nope, I'm going with Lily," I answered, taking a bite of food.

"Lily? You're going to Hogsmeade with Lily?" James asked, staring at me in wonder.

I nodded my head, smiling at the look of disbelief on his face.

"Can you put in a good word for me?" he asked desperately.

I ignored his question and asked Remus about the homework we got for Defence Against the Dark Arts, and James retaliated by pushing me. I glared at him and when he poked his tongue out at me I moved my gaze elsewhere, which just so happened to be Regulus Black.

His hair looked softer than usual, and I wondered what it would feel like to stroke my hand through it. It was no longer pink, obviously, and yet from how intensely I was staring at it, you'd almost expect it to be.

I realised, with absolute horror, that I missed him. Not him as a person, but more the pranks we did on each other. It had been fun, and I couldn't help but wonder why Regulus stopped it. The thought made my heart ache more than I expected.

I'll just have to prank him again, I thought. Remind him that our prank war was not over yet. I smiled at the thought and immediately started brainstorming ideas, thoughts whirring inside my head.

That was what lead me to Regulus's room once again on Friday during lunch. I conjured the flowers, putting them under the sheets, over the sheets and pillows and draped along the side. I didn't want to do too much of a mean prank, but I knew that getting rid of these would be a pain in the ass, so that's why I decided on it.

I snuck out of the Slytherin Common Room without problem and waited until dinner so I could see his face. He'd know it was me; who else was in the middle of a prank war with him? But as I sat down at the Gryffindor Table, I realised my plan did not have the desired effect and had turned into something else completely.

Regulus's friends, Evans Rosier, Caius Avery, and Barty Crouch jr, were all teasing Regulus about a secret admire, the words flying through the Great Hall as others relayed them to each other, creating an absolute mess of rumours and half-truths.

Regulus did not have a secret admire. I had done the flower thing to annoy him, not seduce him. Any sane person would know that. Right?

I heard Sirius scoff beside me and turned to look at him. It was obvious he'd heard the rumours from the way his face was pinched and brows furrowed.

"My brother has a secret admire? Who in their right mind would admire him?"

Even though I did not admire Regulus, the flowers were from me, and I looked down embarrassed, catching Remus's gaze as I did so. He sent me a questioning look and I shook my head. The last thing I needed was for him to think I had a crush on Regulus Black. Just the thought made me shudder.

I couldn't help looking to the Slytherin table and found Regulus already looking at me. He smirked, and I couldn't help but smirk back as I realised what it meant.

The war was back on.

A/N:

regulus is a bitch. i love him so much.

lily asking y/n to go to hogsmeade with her and james being jealous. like, he's over here worrying that his own sister is gonna be the one to steal the love of his life away from him, and tbh he has a right to worry.