"Other people aren't medicine"

The 1st of October marked the beginning of Kira's second month of being back at Hogwarts, but more importantly it meant that it had been a month since she had last heard from her parents.

Kira has lost her patience with her parents. She sent out a letter earlier that morning to her sister in hopes that she would check on them and discover why they were not writing to Kira and Thomas.

The cold wind that October brought nothing to soothe Kira's bad mood. Her parents could have sent a three word letter, anything really to calm her brother's nerves. They should care and know that he would be worried and stressed out.

The thought that they did not care angered Kira. They may not have shown her any care, especially her father, but they could at least do something for her younger brothers. They were still young and did not understand the cruelty of the world just yet.

She can't imagine how Thomas must feel. He's probably scared. The Rose household was used to routine, and without it, the household crumbled.

Despite the cold weather, Kira wandered outside to calm her foul mood by the Black Lake. She wore her Ravenclaw scarf proudly around her neck as it whipped in the wind. Kira loves the cold weather but with the annoyance she felt, the prickling cold only added to it.

The Black Lake glistened under the sun. Despite the brightness of the Sun it was not warm. It was cold and bare. Much like the Rose family. They smiled brightly for the reporters or other Pureblood families and even the ministry, but behind their fake smiles were eyes of dull coldness.

Regulus Black watched from afar as Kira admired the dark waters. He debated going over to talk to her.

He wanted a distraction. Needed a distraction. Studying, reading, and even quidditch were doing little to ease his mind about the Death Eaters and the war.

He felt like he was drowning in his own mind, stuck amongst his thoughts, suffocating.

He hated being a part of it. He was stuck in the middle with no way out. His mind was like a labyrinth of endless passageways and paths, one he couldn't find the exit to.

The bags under his eyes and his messier than usual hair proved that he had been getting little sleep due to his racing thoughts. He was terrified for when he would be given his first mission by the Dark Lord and hoped it to be small.

He did not think he would be able to handle a difficult task.

He made his decision to talk to Kira now. She would provide an adequate distraction for now. She was also pleasant company. When he spoke to her he was able to focus on speaking to just her. He did not think about his problems and he did not feel as if he had the world on his shoulders.

Kira has grown to identify people by the sound of their footsteps. By the gracefulness and confidence in the footsteps approaching she could only guess that it was Regulus Black.

"Rose." He greeted as he came to a stop next to her.

Kira glanced to her side to acknowledge him. "Black. What brings you down here on a lovely day like this?" She asked sarcastically. She found herself getting bored from the constant headache that was Regulus Black. The amount of stress she had continued to pile up when Regulus was added to the equation. She wanted to know why Regulus found such an interest in her.

"By lovely, I assume you mean miserable." He responded with his usual cocky smirk. His hands rested in his pockets and he stood casually looking out onto the Black Lake.

He could not be casual no matter how hard he tried, Kira thought. Regulus Black, as much as he denied it, was regal. He was graceful in every sense and held himself with purpose and pride. The boy was the epitome of elegance and charm.

"It's only miserable if you make it miserable." She replied with ease, still looking at the rippling water rather than to whom she was speaking.

"You look pretty miserable to me." Regulus mumbled under his breath but it was heard by Kira.

She turned to look at him and glowered. She analysed his current state, consisting of the bags under his eyes and messy attire. His Slytherin scarf had been thrown on half-heartedly barely hanging on. "If I look miserable then you must be devastated." She replied with her usual snark.

"Then why don't you cheer me up?" Regulus turned to her and grinned half-heartedly.

Kira resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She could use the distraction to ease her mind from the worry of her parents not answering. It was better than letting her thoughts roam free.

"Alright, Black." She nodded and turned to walk away. Regulus stood there, stunned to the spot as he had not expected her to agree. She turned back and raised an eyebrow at him. "Coming, Black?"

He broke from his stillness and caught up with her in a few steps. Being tall provided him with quite a few advantages.

"Where are we even going?" Regulus asked after following Kira across the castle.

"Do you know where the kitchens are?" Kira asked him.

Regulus ran a hand through his hair and shook his head.

"Ah. Well that's where we are going. I skipped lunch and could do with a good snack. As for you, food should cheer you up just fine," Kira answered his unasked questions.

"Where are the kitchens?" Regulus asked.

"Near the Hufflepuff common room," Kira answered shortly.

They arrived at the entrance to the kitchens. A simple portrait consisting of a fruit bowl. Kira leaned forward and tickled the pear on the portrait. Seconds later, a handle appeared and they could enter the kitchens.

They were immediately tended to by the nearest house elf.

The house elf stood before them. "Greetings Ms.Rose! Binky is happy to see Ms.Rose again! What can Binky do for Ms.Rose and Mr.Black." The house elf spoke excitedly.

"Hello Binky. Can I get a coffee; black, two sugars; and a plate of shortbread cookies?" Kira asked. She was never cruel to house elves but she knew how much they loved to serve people, especially those who were at least respectful.

"And for Mr.Black?" Binky asked, now turning her full attention to Regulus.

"Peppermint tea, is all."

Kira made a disgusted look on her face when Regulus asked for Peppermint tea. Regulus noticed this and laughed. "What? Peppermint tea is good." He shrugged trying to defend himself.

"Peppermint tea is for devil spawn," She muttered in distaste.

"Are you calling me devil spawn?" Regulus asked with a smirk.

Kira shrugged. "I don't know. Are you?" She responded swiftly. She sat down at a table and took a sip of her coffee.

Regulus followed after and took some of his tea. "I guess you'll have you to find out." He smirked into his cup as she glared at him.

"Fine. No biscuits for you then." Kira smirked in triumph as the smirk was wiped off of his face.

"Now that's just not fair." Regulus gasped barely able to hide his grin. He held a hand to his heart in feign hurt.

"It is completely fair." Kira smirked and twirled a biscuit in her fingers to mock him.

Regulus grabbed a biscuit and Kira gasped. He laughed as he jumped up to escape her hand that tried to hit him.

Kira released a laugh and ran after him. He dodged her and ran through chairs and tables and occasionally dodging a house elf. Both of them are laughing harder than they have in months.

Regulus couldn't help but think how melodic Kira's laugh was. It was almost angelic in a way. He had never heard her laughter before. Now that her thought of it, he has never really seen her interact with others in any other way than cold or respectful, the latter only towards teachers or those who respected her.

Kira jumped onto Regulus' back, startling him. He had not realised that he slowed down and was so surprised that Kira managed to jump on him that he nearly fell over but he managed to regain his balance.

Kira reached forward to grab the biscuit Regulus stole from his hand but he held it high above his head. Even on his back, Kira was still too short to reach it. Laughing, she admitted defeat and climbed off of his back.

Regulus laughed and grinned in triumph. He lowered his hand to eat the biscuit but before he could Kira grabbed it from his hand and sprinted in the opposite direction.

He gasped in shock before chasing after her. He caught up to her quickly grabbing her around the waist and picking her up with her back to his chest.

Quickly, before he could take the biscuit, Kira ate it.

Regulus laughed. "You cheater! That's not fair!" He shouted out in fits of laughter.

Kira just grinned because her mouth was still full of biscuit.

They stood there laughing, their coffee and tea long forgotten. Along with the worries and stress the two both battled with.

They basked in the moment while it lasted.