Friday 10th December, 1976

For the rest of the week everyone talked about the dance non-stop. Whenever you passed any student in fifth year or over there would be talk about dates, dresses, dances, and anything else involving the Yule Ball.

Afternoon classes were cancelled and fifth, sixth, and seventh years were asked to meet at the Great Hall. When we arrived, we found the tables pushed to the side and a large empty space in the middle of the hall. There were also stands, where we were most likely supposed to sit.

I found the marauders on one end of the stand and sat with them, listening to them bully each other about who they were taking to the ball. Peter had been the first of them to get a date, surprisingly, and now Sirius and James were in a competition to see who would get a date first out of the two of them.

The problem with that, though, was that the girl James wanted to ask had rejected him so many times that he was scared to ask, not wanting to get rejected yet another time. Sirius on the other hand wanted to ask Remus, his best friend, but was too scared to because he didn't want to ruin their friendship and didn't think Remus would ever like him back.

So, they were both in a bit of a pickle, especially because their thoughts on the matter were completely wrong, because Lily actually liked James now, and Remus had been in love with Sirius since third year so no problem there.

"So Y/n," Sirius started. "Who will you be taking to the ball?"

The other boys looked on with interest, eager to hear my answer. I glared at all of them, not even deigning to speak.

"Will we have to scare whoever they are off, Padfoot?" James asked with a shit eating grin

"I think we will Prongs," Sirius answered solemnly.

I glared at both boys. "Don't you dare."

They grinned at one another, and McGonagall stood up, grabbing our attention. The other kids also quietened down, staring at McGonagall curiously.

"As you heard on Monday, you are all meant to attend dancing lessons for the Yule Ball," she said. "This is the lesson."

Everyone started whispering excitedly, choosing dancing partners and sending hopeful glances at their crushes. I resisted the urge to look at Regulus and stared straight ahead.

"I will be choosing your partners," McGonagall said, a collective groan coming from the students.

McGonagall paired people from their houses, careful to keep the Slytherins and Gryffindors apart, much to my disappointment. I was partnered with Remus though, which wasn't so bad.

James and Lily were paired together, something that James was ecstatic about. Lily hid her delight, but I could see a thrilled smile on her face as she followed James to the dancefloor. I couldn't help but notice that Regulus was paired with Selena Rowle, the girl Regulus had hung out with at Hogsmeade a while ago, and wondered if they were together. A stab of jealousy accompanied the thought and I quickly looked away.

When the music started Remus and I faced each other. He awkwardly put his hands on my waist, and I put my hands on his shoulder. We both smiled embarrassedly at each other, starting to sway to the beat as we watched the other students around us perform the dance perfectly.

"Ready?" I asked.

"Ready."

It only took 5 minutes for me to realise that I was a horrible dancer. I was severely uncoordinated, frighteningly so, and the height difference between Remus and I did nothing to help. We were making complete fools of ourselves while Regulus and Selena, I noted bitterly, were dancing elegantly, as if in a movie.

"I'm so sorry," I told Remus as once again I tripped over my own two feet.

Remus smiled crookedly at me. "No need to apologise. This is obviously affecting you more than me." He sent a pointed look at Regulus and Selena to cement his point.

I sighed. "I just feel so silly for caring, you know? I mean, it wasn't even their choice to be partnered together, but they just- they just look so good together. Like they belong together."

Remus's eyes were on Sirius as he answered, the sixth-year dancing with a seventh year and letting out a jubilant laugh as he twirled her around. "I know the feeling."

"You know, he really likes you," I said softly.

"Doesn't seem like it."

"It's true," I insisted.

Remus sighed, shaking his head, and tearing his gaze away from Sirius, focusing on me instead. There was sadness in his eyes, one he tried to hide but was still blatantly there.

"So then why does he always shut me down whenever I try to talk to him about it? Is he ashamed for liking me because it would be queer?" his voice cracked at the end, revealing his fear of this. It was obvious he had thought about this often.

I stayed quiet for a moment, thinking. I didn't want to say the wrong thing and make Remus distance himself from Sirius, but I also didn't want to just brush aside Remus's fears.

"I don't think it's because of that," I said slowly. "I think it's because he's scared. Sirius was raised in a pureblood family, and though he is against those beliefs, they've been drilled into him since he knew how to talk. There are certainly some remnants of that still in him somewhere, I mean, you don't just forget all of that stuff overnight."

"But he shags muggleborn girls all the time," Remus protested.

"Yeah, but the thing is, he doesn't care about them. They're just flings or passing fancies. He cares about you, and that changes things. He knows his mother wouldn't approve of you, and though that lady is a sorry excuse for a human being, she's still Sirius's mother. He would never admit it, but there is still a part of him that craves his mother's approval, as any child with a mother like that would. You've just got to be patient. He'll come to you when he's ready."

There was quiet between us as we continued dancing, or rather swaying, having given up attempting all the complex dance moves that Regulus and Selena seemed to be completing perfectly.

"When did you become an expert on all this?" Remus said jokingly once he'd had time to process my words.

I just grinned, shrugging my shoulders, and then accidently stepping on his foot. I apologised profusely, only to step on it again a few minutes later. Thankfully that was when McGonagall had decided to step in and tell everyone to sit down again.

Remus and I sat down with James and Peter, and when Sirius came over and left the Gryffindor girl to sit next to Remus I mouthed 'see?' at him. Remus just smiled, shaking his head as he looked at Sirius, his smile becoming softer, no doubt remembering my words.

"Dancing practise will continue next Friday," McGonagall said. "There will be extra lessons available if needed. That is all, you may go."

I walked out of the hall with the marauders, knowing I would need lots of practise if I didn't want to look like a fool at the ball. I also knew I'd probably have to ask Sirius for help and that he would never let me live that down.

I spent the rest of the afternoon lazing about outside with the girls, desperate to think of a solution to my problem. By dinner time I had no ideas and was dreading the moment where I'd have to ask Sirius for help.

"How did you enjoy dancing Y/n?" James teased at dinner. He, the lucky bastard, had been gifted with our mother's graceful dancing skills. I, on the other hand, danced like my father, which was to say I trampled around the room and stepped on as many feet as humanly possible. I was surprised Remus was still able to walk after today.

"You were even worse at it than I was," Peter joked.

Sirius leaned forward, eyes alight with amusement as he stared at my sour face. "Don't be sad baby Potter," he said mockingly. "I can help you."

I could already see the hell I'd get for accepting his offer, knowing it would do more bad than good, so I glared at him, stood up, and left the Great Hall, the marauders laughter echoing behind me.

I was walking along the corridor, not entirely sure where I was going, when I heard footsteps behind me and then there was Regulus, keeping pace next to me.

"Your dancing skills are appalling," he said.

"Wow, you really know how to flirt with a woman," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "I've fallen for you Regulus. Marry me, please."

For a split-second Regulus looked taken aback before he scoffed, though I spotted a small smile on his face. There was a beat of silence before Regulus spoke again.

"I suppose my brother will be teaching you?"

I snorted, shaking my head. "Definitely not. He would never let me live it down, though if I get desperate enough I guess I'll be forced to."

It was quiet before, "I could teach you."

I stared at him, surprised, though I couldn't help the thrill that went through me at the thought of dancing with him.

"Why?" I questioned.

Regulus shrugged. "I guess I just wouldn't want you to endure Sirius if you didn't have to, and besides, I'd be doing the whole of the student body a favour."

"Jerk," I muttered, elbowing him in the side. Regulus just grinned.

I thought about his offer, or pretended to rather, because there was no way I was passing up something this good.

"Okay," I agreed. "Thanks."

"No problem," Regulus replied. "Do you want to start practising now?'

I blinked. "Now, as in... now, now?"

Regulus nodded his head, amused. "Now, now," he confirmed.

"Um, okay, sure," I eventually said.

Regulus smiled and led me to a familiar place. As usual, the broom closet door appeared but when we entered it definitely wasn't a broom closet. It was our usual room, except the pillows and blankets were gone and a music player was put to the side, slow dancing songs piled up next to it.

Regulus moved towards it, shuffling through records until he found the one he wanted. He put it on, and a nice, slow song came on. He moved back to me and we stood in the centre of the room, staring at one another awkwardly.

Regulus moved closer and placed his hands on my waist, tugging me closer to him. My breath hitched as the butterflies in my stomachs had seizures and I tried my best not to melt on the spot as I placed my arms on his shoulders, feeling his warmth through my fingertips.

We started of slow, Regulus guiding me, and I found it much easier to dance with someone around my height and someone who actually knew how to dance. Sorry Remus. That didn't mean I was suddenly the best dancer in Hogwarts though; I was still very much horrendous at dancing.

It was silent between us, nothing but the music distracting us from one another, and I felt my throat go dry. He was so beautiful. I cleared my throat, eyes darting away. I needed to distract myself from him before I did something I'd regret.

"You and the girl you were dancing with, Selena, seemed to get along well," I remarked coolly.

"I mean yeah, I guess," Regulus said, shrugging.

I nodded my head, trying to push away the bitter jealousy threatening to ruin this moment. Well, if my dancing skills didn't ruin it first.

"Shit, sorry," I cursed as I stepped on Regulus's foot.

"Don't worry about," Regulus murmured. "My feet will be fine. You, on the other hand..."

I groaned, letting my head fall on Regulus's chest as I tried not to freak out about it. "Don't remind me."

"I mean, since you're dancing right now, I'm pretty sure that's a stark reminder on its own."

I moved my head back to look at him. "Shut up."

Our playful bickering continued on until the song ended. We were much closer than when we had been when we started out, so close that I could see the way his eyes seemed to look like a starry night sky.

Regulus pulled back first, looking away as he took a deep breath, as if he wasn't able to breathe when he was close to me. I wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. I didn't want to stop touching him though, so I spotted one of his rings and grabbed his hand to smoothly slip it off his finger, my touch lingering on his skin.

"Nice ring," I observed, turning the piece of jewellery around in my hands.

"Thanks," Regulus said, hands in pockets as he watched me.

I looked at the ring, noticing something engraved on the inside of it. When I looked more closely, I noticed three letters on it. R.A.B.

"What's your middle name?" I asked, looking up at the boy in front of me.

Regulus sighed. "Arcturus."

I stared at him. "Arctu-what now?"

"Arcturus," he repeated.

"Articulate?"

"Arcturus,"

"Antarctica?"

Regulus huffed, glaring at me.

"Well now I know you're fucking with me," he said.

"I'm not fucking you."

"That's not what I said- you know what, forget it. I give up. Call me Antarctica if you want, I don't care," Regulus sighed.

"I thought your name was Regulus."

Regulus threw his hands up in the air frustratedly, glaring at me. I grinned back at him, blowing a kiss.

"Jokes aside though, this is really cool," I said. "I've always found it cool when people had jewellery with their initials on them. Made them seem fancy I guess."

Regulus snorted. "Thanks."

I handed him his ring back, our fingers brushing at the action.

"So, are we going to have another lesson sometime?" I asked Regulus, trying to keep the hope from my voice.

"I'm free tomorrow," Regulus offered.

I smiled, and we sorted out times before bidding one another goodbye as we left. I arrived at the Gryffindor Tower feeling slightly more confident in my dancing abilities, knowing that I'd have a dancing partner and teacher that actually knew how to dance and would not hold my lack of coordination over my head for the rest of our lives. Hopefully.

"Hey Y/n," Remus greeted when he saw me enter the Common Room.

The other three boys' heads turned to look at me as I walked past them to my dorm room.

"Still sad because you can't dance?" Sirius called after me teasingly.

I looked over my shoulder, smirking at him.

"Just you wait, Black."

A/N:

nearly forgot to upload this chapter 🤭 whoopsies

there was some talk of abusive households and familes in this chapter, and i would just like everyone to know that this is a safe space. if you are struggling with family or anything else, you can join me and we can have our own lil family.

love you all so much <3