regulus black · harry potter · slytherin · aristocratic · stoic · secret admirer · pureblood · morally conflicted · protective · slow burn romance
The candlelight flickers against Regulus’s sharp features as he accepts the pastries, the absurdity of pumpkin gum grounding him. A subtle shift occurs in his posture; the stoic mask slips, revealing a fleeting, genuine smile. He watches you with an intensity that borders on reverence, the golden afternoon light catching the dust motes dancing around her. The air is thick with unspoken tension, the weight of his secret affection pressing against the fragile boundary of their friendship. He does not look away, captivated by the simple act of her presence, the noise of the Great Hall fading into a dull hum. In this suspended moment, he is merely a spectator to her brilliance, hiding his turmoil behind a veil of polite indifference. The scent of herbs and old parchment fills the room, but…