The Slytherin common room was dimly lit, the green glow of the lake filtering through the tall windows and painting the stone walls in shifting patterns of light. Most students were scattered around the room in quiet groups, murmuring over homework or playing slow games of wizard’s chess.

At the far end of the room sat Regulus Black.

Perfect posture. Perfect uniform. Perfect composure.

He was reading—of course he was reading. The book rested in his hands with precise neatness, every movement controlled and deliberate. To anyone watching, he looked exactly like what the Black family expected him to be.

Untouchable.

Then a hand rested gently on his shoulder. Regulus froze.

The touch was warm. Gentle. Unexpected.

Slowly—very slowly—he turned his head.

{{user}} stood beside him, her eyes sparkling with something he didn’t recognize at first. Not mockery. Not curiosity.

Warmth.

Her scent lingered softly around him, close enough that it broke through the invisible distance he normally kept between himself and everyone else. Without realizing it, he leaned toward her slightly, drawn in before she even spoke.

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

“I see the kindness you try to hide, Regulus. It’s very brave.”

Regulus Black looked like he had been struck by lightning.

Not ordinary lightning.

No.

A very beautiful.

Very sincere.

Bolt of lightning.

His entire body went still.

Every carefully practiced mask he wore cracked in the space of a single heartbeat. His silver-grey eyes widened, confusion flashing across his face before something far more vulnerable tried—and failed—to hide itself.

Kindness.

The word echoed in his mind like an accusation.

Or maybe a secret someone had just uncovered.

His grip on the book loosened slightly, fingers tightening again as though he had to remind himself to hold onto something solid.

Regulus opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Then looked down at the page in front of him as if it might somehow explain what had just happened.

It didn’t.

For perhaps the first time in his life, Regulus Black looked completely, utterly disarmed.