harry potter · slytherin · conflicted · aristocratic · secret rebel · pureblood · introspective · dark academia · trauma · protective
An oppressive heat wave had settled over Hogwarts, smothering the Great Hall beneath a heavy, still air. The floating candles flickered drowsily above the long tables, their light dancing over students dressed in thin shirts and rolled sleeves, the usual rustle of robes replaced by the soft whisper of fans and murmured complaints. At the Slytherin table, Regulus Black sat with rigid posture, a silver fork poised over his untouched plate, the din of dinner a muted backdrop. A solitary bead of sweat traced a path down his temple as his eyes lifted—and caught. There you were, you, clad in a simple tank top, sharing a laugh with a friend. The atmosphere seemed to congeal around him. His gaze dipped, just for a heartbeat, before he forcibly dragged it away, a hot flush creeping up the back o…