"I did better than you because you're a stuck-up twat,"

Hatred | Regulus Black

word count: 1,249

Y/n's fingers drummed nervously on the desk as she patiently waited for Professor McGonagall to hand the students back their Transfiguration tests from the previous week. Like always, y/n had studied hard and had spent night after night shut away in the library, all in attempt to get a grade high enough to send home to her parents. Another bonus would be beating Regulus Black, who seemed to have crowned himself as her nemesis. Since fourth year, the pair had been competing for the same awards, the best OWLs results and the title of "the brightest" in their year. She glanced across the classroom to where Regulus was sitting, finding him already staring at her with a sneer. When he met her eyes, his face filled with disgust and he looked away.

In y/n's opinion, if Regulus wasn't so much of a big-headed, blood supremacist, they could have been friends. Y/n's intentions were never to hate Regulus, in fact, she didn't hate anyone. It was him who had decided to make her classes a living hell by always trying to beat her, and it was definitely him who muttered insults to her in the corridors. It would be a cold day in hell when Regulus Black stepped down from his high horse and became friends with a muggleborn Ravenclaw, y/n thought. Imagine the horror.

Y/n was brought back to reality when she felt a piece of parchment being placed down in front of her. Gingerly turning it over, she sighed in relief when she saw the large black "O" at the top of the page. All of her hard work had paid off. She was delighted. She could finally show her parents that she was learning something and doing well at "that damn school". The last thing on her mind was Regulus' grade until a large hand slammed down next to her on the table, making her jump.

"You think you're so smart, don't you, y/l/n?" Regulus scoffed down at her. Y/n continued to look down at her paper, not wanting to start another argument with him. She stayed silent.

"What? You're too good to talk to me now, are you?" He questioned again. When she didn't open her mouth again, Regulus grabbed her marked test and viciously ripped it in half. Y/n guessed that he hadn't done as well as her.

"Are you kidding me, Black. I worked so hard for that!" She stood up fast, pushing her stool back. He was still half a head taller than her. Although y/n tried, she couldn't help the few frustrated tears that escaped from her eyes. The one chance that she had had that term to make her parents proud....in pieces on the floor. Again, he scoffed and let the parchment scatter to the stone floor.

"You worked hard for it? You see, I disagree. The only reason you got an Outstanding is because McGonagall feels sorry for you," He laughed, looking at his friends to join in.

"Actually no, Regulus. I did better than you because you're a stuck-up twat, who is too used to relying on his parents for everything. I didn't see you cramming in the library. Going to cry to mummy and daddy about this one, are you Black?" She spat back at him, finally finished of complacently taking his insults.

His easy grin turned into a horrified expression, and his mouth set into a firm line. He spoke with undiluted hatred.

"Well, I mean, I could go and see them couldn't I, Lovegood. Unlike you, my parents are proud of me and they love me. I know, the concept sounds strange, doesn't it?" One of his friends clapped him on the back, and he continued. All y/n could do was stand there and stare at the ground. If she had turned her head up and looked into Regulus' eyes, she might have seen the guilt and pain behind his fury-filled expression.

"You say that I'm a stuck-up twat, and ok, that might be true. But at least I'm not a Mudblood that everyone hates. Have you seen the looks that people give you?" He chuckled bitterly.

" They all think that you're a weird, stone-cold, robot, who only cares about herself. Honestly, y/n, if I was anything like you, I'd throw myself off of the Astronomy Tower," For a single second, she felt her heart drop out of her chest. She felt nothing but the emptiness inside of her and the tears prickling her vision.

Just as he expected her to do, y/n ran from the classroom. She knew that Regulus hated her, but to go as far as...y/n was in shock.

She stumbled into a window alcove outside of the classroom and rested her head back again the cold stone wall. Did everybody really think that? Regulus was spiteful because of his test, she knew that, but y/n couldn't help but wonder if part of what he said was true.

For the second time in the space of ten minutes, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of movement. The footsteps were frantic and were pacing back and forth. Y/n peeked out of her hideaway, just as the tall, black-haired figure stopped his pacing and turned around to face her.

His tear-stained cheeks matched hers.

"R-Regulus?" She sobbed, pushing her blonde hair out of her face. His shoulders slumped in relief as he walked towards her, almost running. Y/n was caught off guard when he wrapped his long arms around her. The action was so uncharacteristically like Regulus that she had no idea what to do. Only fifteen minutes ago they were fighting and shouting insults at each other.

"Y/n, I'm so sorry. Salazar, I'm such an idiot, I'm so so sorry," He held her tightly, whimpering. She felt his tears falling onto the back of her white shirt. She was seeing a side of Regulus that she doubted many other people had seen before.

"No, Regulus, it's okay. What you said was true, I don't care about other people enough. I'm so focused on impressing my parents that I don't stop to think abou-" He cut off her rambling by letting go of the hug and putting his hands on her shoulders.

"No. I was upset about getting an Acceptable, and I took it out on you. Y/n, if your parents aren't impressed by you, then screw them, because they must be stupid," He smiled, which was another very uncharacteristically-Regulus thing to do. Now that his cover of despising her seemed to be blown, he gazed down at the shorter girl with a look that could only be described as admiration.

He threw an arm over her shoulder and smiled even more brightly once her eyes cleared and her tears were wiped away.

"And please, don't throw yourself off of the Astronomy Tower, because I'm scared that I'd jump off right after you,"

"Call me a robot again and I might, Black," She chuckled.