HOLD ME CLOSE AND TIGHT

Regulus walked briskly, leaving his parents waving behind him on the platform.

They were so disgustingly proud.
Proud of their perfect little boy, with his perfect set of values, who always followed the rules and their directions perfectly.

He's given his life to their cause.
A cause he doesn't even believe in.

He waited till he knew they were gone from the platform. Of course, they didn't stay long, even their son wasn't important enough to keep them from their bigger love for their Lord.

He sought out his friends, not that he could call them that, but it seemed they were all on the train already.

"Regulus!"

He heard her voice and he turned, smiling, his mood and face brightening. And there she was, running as fast as she could, barreling towards him.

She ran straight into his open arms, her arms flinging over his shoulders to clasp behind his neck as she beamed up at him. She threw all her weight into him. He wanted to stay there, and hold her there forever, close and tight. As usual, she gave him her all. Her everything.

Juliana was like that. She was bright as the sun and didn't know when to stop giving.
It was good that Regulus was a giver as well because all the boys before only knew how to take.
He was there to protect her.

"Regulus, I'm so glad you're here! My summer was so boring without you. You must tell me about yours."

He smiled down at her excited face, amused.

"Of course. But it would be best to continue our conversation on the train before it leaves us."

Her face twisted into surprise and she got a very hurried expression.

"I'd forgotten when I saw you, we have to hurry or we won't get a carriage to ourselves. Come on! Don't dally any longer, we'll be left behind!"

She pulled him along, and he let her guide him through the smaller children all the way to board the train. All the first years were so small and, well, they were children. He couldn't imagine ever being that small, he was a fifth year now, after all.

They stank of an innocence and an obliviousness he envied them for.
If only he knew then, what he knew now.

There was always something so warm about Juliana. It seeped into his pale skin, breaching those carefully built walls.

Something only she could do. This was part of why Regulus adored her so.

She seemed to have this effect on everyone, that would be why she was so popular, with a maternal air around her.

And he wanted to be the only one to have it. He wanted her all to himself.

Regulus was a selfish boy, and he knew it. He couldn't help it if he wanted to keep Juliana to himself, why should he have to share?

Regulus didn't think he could ever say it out loud, but he loved her deeply, and he wanted to have her by his side for the rest of his life.

The rest of his life. What a terrifying phrase.

He pulled her in closer by her waist as they walked, and she let him---burrowing into his side. Connecting their hips. She smiled up at him, a knowing look.

A Slytherin and a Gryffindor, side by side.

He found them an empty carriage, where Juliana immediately laid down, resting her head on his lap while her feet rested on the seat, chattering incessantly about her summer and that redhead and Regulus's brother's friends.

Good, let her talk.

This way Regulus could admire her and forget about his troubles and the burning on his forearm. If only he could tell her he loved her-

"Regulus! Have you heard a thing I just said?"

She shook her head at him smiling, knowing the answer.

"Of course not Jules, your stories about Lupin don't interest me."

She faked offense, pretty mouth gaping, only to defend her dear friend of course.

"Aye, pendejo! You give me grey hairs. But I'll have you know Remus is a better man than you."

She slapped his arm, laughing at his expression, and closed her eyes, and sighed contentedly as he resumed playing with her soft hair.

All was well for now because Regulus had the one person he loved the most in his arms.

Author's note
I am terribly sorry for how short all these chapters are gonna end up being. I am also disgusted by my use of Google translate for the one Spanish word Juliana says. Her mother is Cuban fyi. Anyways, please tell me what you thought!! <33