The Story of Regulus Black - Years 1-4

LXIII. Hagrid's Hut

Chapter Notes: hi!! i know that i don't normally do chapter notes aside from CW's, but i just thought i would let all of you know that for the past few days i've been working on a one shot AU where voldemort attacks hogwarts instead of going directly for james and lily on halloween of 1981 during my free time. i finished it, and it's up on my page if you would like to read it (it's called The Battle of Halloween 1981 - A Marauders Era AU) if you just want a little extra of my writing (i say little, it is very, very long)!! it has nothing to do with this fic whatsoever, they aren't connected, but i am very proud of it and i personally think it's pretty good, so if you'd like to read something else of mine, that's up!! anyways, i hope you enjoy this chapter, and have a very nice day!! :)

The three Gryffindor third years returned to their dorm room after witnessing the fight between the two brothers. The trek up to the common room had been a long, awkward, and silent one. Deacon and Francesco were walking on opposite sides of Benji, and they were purposefully keeping their gazes averted from one another.

So, when they reached the dorm room, Benji was less than surprised when they immediately split off and went to their own beds. Benji moved to his own bed and sat down on the edge, watching the dynamic of his two friends.

When they had gone ten whole minutes without even looking at one another, Benji decided that he needed to know what the hell was going on with them.

"What is going on with you two?" He demanded.

"What?" Deacon asked, looking up from the book that he had picked up.

"You two aren't even looking at each other! What is going on?" Benji asked again.

Francesco kept his eyes carefully trained on the History of Magic essay in front of him. "Nothing."

Benji scoffed. "There's obviously something! What, did you two get into a fight or something?"

"You could say that," muttered Deacon.

It was Francesco's turn to scoff. "Yeah, something like that."

"Ok, about what?" They were silent. "Guys, come on. I don't want to see you guys fighting! It sucks! So, come on. Let's work through it."

Francesco and Deacon glanced at one another, and Deacon was the first to stop what he was doing. He dog-eared the page of his book and shut the front cover, turning his sitting position so that he was facing Benji. Francesco sighed and dropped his quill, also turning to face Benji.

"Alright. Now, come on. Why were you fighting?" Benji pressed.

"Francesco seemed to think that I can't handle being by myself for more than five minutes without telling him where I am," began Deacon; Benji noted the use of Francesco's full name, and he knew that whatever they were fighting about, it had to have been serious.

"Deacon seemed to think that it was alright to disappear for nearly eleven hours without giving me the slightest clue as to where he was," continued Francesco.

"Francesco seemed to think that I need constant babysitting, because to him, I'm just some sort of child."

"Deacon seemed to think that me trying to protect him from things makes me a bad person."

"Francesco seemed to think that he's being forced to be my friend."

"I NEVER SAID THAT!"

"YOU DID!"

"I DID NOT!"

Benji's eyes were darting between the two of them helplessly. They entered yet another screaming match, and Benji didn't know what to do.