Thursday 22nd April, 1977

The marauders were upset the holidays were ending soon, always complaining about it whenever I saw them. I was upset, but for an entirely other reason. I'd been so preoccupied with my moping and sadness that I hadn't done any of the homework I'd been assigned over the holidays, so now I was desperately trying to finish all the work in the last two days of break at the café I'd taken to going to everyday.

"Y/n, where you going?" James asked when I went downstairs fully dressed with a satchel of books.

"To study at the café," I answered, already moving towards the door.

Sirius stepped in front of me, crossing his arms and giving me a pouty face. "Stay home with us, won't you?"

I snorted. "Absolutely not."

"Please?" James asked. "Break is nearly over!"

"Yes, so I need to hurry up and finish my homework. I have O.W.L.s this year, remember?"

Sirius waved has hand airily, as if what I said was inconsequential. "You'll ace them, I already know it. Come on Y/n/n. Please?"

I sighed, trying to ignore the temptation bubbling up inside me. I could sacrifice a few hours of hanging out with the marauders, couldn't I? I'd still have plenty of time today to finish it, plus tonight and the train ride.

Just as I was about to say yes, Effie walked into the room, took one look at the scene currently unfolding and frowned. "Sirius, James. Don't stop your sister from studying. Y/n, go study."

I sighed again, knowing it was for the best but still feeling disappointed and bid goodbye to my family, starting the walk to the Muggle café. When I arrived I slid into the seat I normally sat at and took out some of my books, as well as a fresh piece of parchment and an ink and quill. I was supposed to be writing an essay on potion theory, but I wasn't too good at potion theory.

I had just let out a frustrated groan and aggressively crossed out a mistake in my essay when the bell on the shop door jingled, indicating someone had entered. I distractedly glanced up, wondering if I could pay James to do my homework for me when I stopped dead.

The person who had entered the café was none other than Regulus Black.

My heart was hammering in my chest. I felt like I was going to throw up. I wanted to run away. I wanted to hug him. I wanted to hide. I wanted to scream. I wanted, I wanted, I wanted.

I didn't do any of that. Instead, I sat frozen, watching as Regulus's eyes seemed to scan the café before they landed on me. I expected him to turn around and walk again, but instead a broad smile appeared on his face and he strode right towards me.

Shit.

He walked forward until he was in front of me and then sat in the chair opposite me. My brain wasn't working. It had just stopped. Zero thoughts raced through my mind and I just stared at him, dumbstruck. His hair was black and curly, less neat than the last time I saw him but still in acceptable form. He still had bags under his eyes, but the way his eyes seemed to be shining lessened the severity of them.

My heart leapt into my throat as I stared at him, and suddenly a thousand thoughts were going through my mind instead of none. What was he doing here? Why did he seem so happy? Why was he staring at me with fondness and not hate? Why did he look so good? What was happening? Did I do something? Did he do something? Is he there to murder me?

"Hi," Regulus greeted with a smile.

Hi? Hi?

"Hi?" I responded hesitantly back.

"How are you?"

"...What?"

Regulus let out a quiet laugh. "I asked you how you were."

I stared at him incredulously, spluttering as I tried to speak. "How am I? How- Why?"

Regulus shrugged, staring at me with an amused expression on his face as he leaned forwards, elbows planted firmly on the table as he stared at me. "Just something you ask someone, I suppose. Small talk and all that."

Small talk? Small talk? Why? What was happening? Why was he talking to me at all? And with a smile on his face? I thought he hated me. I thought he never wanted to see me again, yet here he was, sitting in front of me as if all was right in the world. What was I supposed to do? Did I go along with whatever this was, or did I stop it before it could begin and demand to know why he was here?

I already knew what my decision was going to be before I even spoke, much to my displeasure. It just proved how much I felt for Regulus Black.

"I'm doing okay I guess. Trying to finish my homework before school starts again. What about you?"

My polite tone made me wince, but Regulus seemed fine. He leaned further over the table to get a look at what I was working on and I tried not to freak out. I hadn't been this close to Regulus since the night I was drunk and fell asleep with him in our spot. I'd missed him so much, and as the comforting scent of mint and pine wrapped around me I felt like I could breathe again. Whatever was going here, I was glad it meant I could spend more time with Regulus.

"Potions," Regulus said when he found what I was working on. "I'm correct in recalling that you're bad at that?"

I scowled at him. "I'm not bad at it. I just have some trouble with the theory concept of it."

Regulus flashed me another amused grin and my heartrate sped up even more. I had no idea what was happening here, but I was enjoying it immensely. Just being able to spend time with him without feeling the familiar emotion of heartbreak hanging over us was better than anything I could have hoped for.

"So, why are you studying in this café?" Regulus asked me as he grabbed my essay and ink and quill. He started correcting my work as he waited for my answer, but suddenly I couldn't speak. I did not want to tell him why I was here. I would be forever mortified.

Regulus's eyes flicked up to me when I didn't answer. "Well?"

I shrugged. "Just liked it, I suppose."

"So it had nothing to do with spotting me here at night?"

I stared at Regulus, mouth agape. How had he known that? Had he actually been there? He must have, and the thought filled me with excitement and embarrassment in equal measure.

"So you were there," I said.

Regulus nodded his head. "I ducked under the table when I saw you though."

I snorted and Regulus rolled his eyes before continuing his assault on my essay. I swear he crossed out at least half of it and eventually just got a new piece of parchment and started writing afresh. I was insulted but kept it to myself because he was helping me.

For the rest of the day I just stared at him as he completed my homework. Occasionally I'd pick up a book or write something down, but majority of the time I was busy staring at him, my mind going a mile a minute as I tried to figure out what was going on. I wanted to ask. I desperately wanted to ask and find out why he was acting like this, but I was scared I'd ruin whatever precarious peace we were sharing together, so I kept quiet.

It was only when my homework was finished that I knew this had to end. He slid the last piece of work to me and I put it away in my satchel, staring forlorn at Regulus because I knew whatever was between us was about to end.

"I should go," I said, getting up and grabbing my satchel.

I didn't even give him time to say goodbye, walking swiftly out of the shop and down the nearly empty street. I only stopped when I felt Regulus's soft fingers curl around my wrist and tug me to a stop. I took a deep breath before turning around to face him.

"Why are you talking to me?" I asked. "Why are you pretending like everything is fine? Why are you here?"

"Because I want to be with you," Regulus answered calmly.

I scoffed, feeling irritated as I jerked my wrist out of Regulus's grasp. "You have a fiancé, Regulus."

"Not anymore."

I blinked, surprised. "What?"

Regulus took a step forward, grabbing my hands. I was too startled to move away. "Selena and I are no longer engaged."

I stared at Regulus, unable to process what he just said. It couldn't be possible, could it? And what did it mean for us? "How?"

Regulus gave me a soft smile. "I told my parents no."

He what? Why would he do that? Why? He refused to do it so many times, yet now he was just okay with defying his parents? What was going on? Why did he say no? What did this mean? What was happening? Why did he do that?" "Why?"

"Because I love you."

Because I love you.

Because I love you.

Because

                  I

                     love

                                you

"You love me?" I asked, breathless

Regulus nodded, moving his hand from mine to cup my cheek and gently stroke it with his thumb. "I smelt you in the Amortentia as well, though I didn't tell you because I was scared. When I saw you in Diagonally, I realised then that I loved you. I'm sorry I didn't do this sooner, Y/n, but I want to be with you. I hated not spending time with you. Can you forgive me?"

I stared at Regulus, a grin spreading across my face. Everything was okay. Everything was going to be fine, because Regulus loved me. And I loved him.

"I love you too," I confessed, melting into his embraced. "I love you so much."

Regulus grinned and picked me up, spinning me around. I let out a gasp and laughed, feeling so much lighter. When Regulus put me back on the ground I grabbed his neck and pulled him forward, feeling like I could finally breathe again when his lips were against mine. I'd missed him.

He loved me. He loved me. The thought gave me so much adrenaline, so much happiness I felt like I could float. He stood up to his parents for me because he didn't want to be apart. He loved me, and I loved him back, so, so much.

A part of me was nervous, wondering how Regulus's parents reacted to him defying them, but he was here and seemed okay, so I didn't ask. Maybe that was cowardice, but I didn't want anything to ruin this moment.

The moment where I found out Regulus Black loved me.

A/N:

finally they got back together

took them long enough 🙄

and they love each other!!!