thesecondhandheir

[thesecondhandheir]

“I don’t think he’s either a good guy or a bad guy. It’s up to the viewer to decide, because everyone has a different moral view...he fits into a really gray area, where some things he does are good and some things he does are bad.” -Alex Fitzalan to Cosmopolitan on Harry Bingham

Photos by Damon Baker

[thesecondhandheir]

Regulus had staggered from the main room and into the one place he knew he’d always been able to find solace in the house, desperately hoping it would be empty. "I didn’t expect to see you here,” Regulus grumbled with slurred speech as he entered the families’ study, displeased by the presence of another but glad it wasn’t one of the many adults he was doing everything to avoid. He hated these parties, they were all the same and rarely did the topics of conversation of change. 

[thesecondhandheir]

maximacmillan‌:

“Can I put my shirt back on now?” Max asked, a little exasperated. “It’s getting rather cold now.” He added. But it wasn’t only the cold, but also the fact people were starting to stare, and that was almost more uncomfortable than the cold itself.

( @finestra-starters​ )

“I, uh,” he coughed, clearing his throat. “I don’t know, is there a reason you have it off in the first place?” 

[thesecondhandheir]

raeofdarkshine‌:

@thesecondhandheir

“Open it,” she said as she handed over the small box. It had simple wrapping on it, nothing too flashy. It had been a while since Rae had gotten gifts for anyone so she hoped that Regulus would like his. Inside was sweater that had a small pocket that was just large enough to hold a cat. “I know it’s not too practical and you’ll probably never wear, but I wanted something for the both of you.”

A puzzled expression lingered on Regulus’s features as he was handed a gift by Aurelia. The boy had few friends and out of those, even fewer that he exchanged gifts with. Not because he couldn’t or didn’t have the means, the holidays just never appealed to him. So, aside from family, he rarely went out of his way to purchase gifts. “You got me a gift?” He asked, surprise evident in his voice as he started to delicately unwrap the present. “I, thank you. It’s perfect” Regulus nodded, a rare smile tugging at his lips. “I didn’t get you anything, though.” 

[thesecondhandheir]

phinparkinson‌:

|| @finestra-starters​

Phineas wasn’t entirely sure why he’d come back for the event. It wasn’t really his thing, but he’d been desperate to escape his parents even if only for a brief amount of time. That, and a distraction was seriously needed.

Standing by the edge of the crowd, not really entirely listening to the music that the live band was playing - he found himself draining the bottle of drink he’d brought from a nearby stand. His mind wandered as his eyes scanned the area - falling on another nearby. Catching their gaze, Phin arched an eyebrow. “What? You just gonna stare at me or….?”

Regulus too was trying to escape home, more so, escape reliving the embarrassment by having to tell his father what happened. So, he was drinking instead, and he’d had a lot more than he’d care to admit. Fortunately, he’d found a bench before he stumbled into him, but as he noticed Phineas, his curiosity arose and before he had a chance to realize he was staring at him, the boy approached him and spoke. 

“I hadn’t meant to,” Regulus slurred, turning his gaze away instantly. “I was lost in thought, is all.” 

[thesecondhandheir]

thebestprewett‌:

Gideon swallowed, eyes flickering towards their hands as he laced their fingers together. “But that’s not fair,” Gideon whispered, shaking his head. “You have people that care too, Reg. Do you know how much it kills me inside to think of you going back? Of them hurting you?” Gideon almost hated the fact that Regulus was selfless. “I want you to be. Be selfish, damn it. What else am I supposed to do? It might not be easy to be together but it’s going to be just as miserable apart. Besides, we’re in the middle of a damn war Reg, I could get hurt anyway.”

Regulus felt instantaneous security as their fingers laced together, his own grip tightening beyond his control as if he was terrified to let go. “Life isn’t fair,” Regulus replied with a small shrug. “Me not going back would be more of a risk, not just to myself, but to everyone. They’ve started asking things of me, things that I fear I won’t be able to do.” He whispered the last of his words, eyes flickering from his to their hands and back up, halting momentarily as he eyed his lips. “Maybe for a little while, but you’re Gideon Prewett, if you can make a grumpy asshole like me fall madly in love, you’ll easily be able to do it again.” The words slipped, Regulus only realizing a second too late what he’d just admitted. “Why do you have to make this so difficult?” He argued, a hollow laugh escaping his lips as he rested his forehead against Gideon’s. 

[thesecondhandheir]

puermedioblack‌:

|| @thesecondhandheir​

Now that Andromeda was back home, everything seemed back to normal. The winter festivities were in full swing, and it had brought the Black’s together. A glass of wine in her hands, Andromeda could be found staring through the icy window - a distance look upon her face. Her mind was spinning after the few days that she had returned to Hogswarts, and the chaos that had ensued. People were tearing her mind in two different directions, and the girl felt as though she was all over the place. 

Hearing a voice behind her, she was startled from her thoughts, turning to face the other. “Oh, hello Reg,” A tired smile graced her lips as she gestured for him to join her. “How have you been?”

Regulus wasn't sure what to expect when Andromeda told him she was returning home, but given his uncle, Regulus was only left to imagine. Before that night, he’d had a couple brief run-ins, but not enough to notice whether or not something was off with his cousin. Despite this, Regulus did his best to keep his focus on the positives and keep their relationship as strong as possible or at least, do his best to. 

So, he was happy when he spotted Andromeda and hoped he’d be able to convince her to join him in Hogsmeade the following day. Maybe she’d have some insight on picking out a gift for a girl, even if Andromeda and Niobe couldn’t be more different. And maybe, if he was lucky, Gideon as well. But, he was hesitant to mention him again after her return home. and he certainly wasn’t going to mention him now. “I’ve been okay, my father seems to be under the impression that I can woo someone into becoming my future wife, but I don’t think he realizes I’m not like most the males in this family.” Not to mention, he had zero interest. “How about you?” He asked, raising his drink to his lips. “Finished with gifts?” 

[thesecondhandheir]

mcxkinnons‌:

@finestra-starters​

“Fuckfuckfuck” Marlene hissed under her breath as she ran quickly, dodging passersby in the crowded streets of Hogsmeade. This prank was supposed to have gone off without a hitch, but the shopkeeper at Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop had returned from his lunch break just early enough to see the rather vulgar vandalism Marlene had been committing against his place of business. And he wasn’t happy.

Marlene turned a corner around Madame Puddifoot’s, hoping to lose him but instead running into a dead end. Shit. She was sure to lose her role as a prefect if McGonagall got one more negative report on her. Spotting a classmate, she grabbed their arm.

“I’m so sorry about this.” she said quickly, before pulling them into a feverish kiss. Around all the other gooey-eyed couples waiting for their table at the romantic teashop, they blended right in, and Marlene’s pursuer walked past without noticing them.

After Regulus’ run-in with Niobe, his mood had soured, the last thing he needed was to add tension to one of the few places in his life he felt happy. But he hoped that because it was Niobe, she’d prefer to push what happened aside and forget about it entirely. That, and fortunately for him, no one else had been around to see his horrid attempt at trying to woo the poor girl. So, in hopes to clear his mind, he’d made his way to Hogsmeade to find last-minute Christmas gifts. The last thing he’d expected was another moment of utter embarrassment. 

Regulus hardly had a chance to register what was happening nor what the girl had said, as everything happened so quickly. One minute he was wandering around looking for Christmas presents and the next some Gryffindor was attacking his face. But having had only kissed Gideon, curiosity got the better of him and he returned the kiss only to INSTANTLY regret it as his entire body shuddered at the exchange. Eugh. He thought to himself, pushing himself away a couple moments later with a look of pure disgust. “What was that all about?” 

[thesecondhandheir]

niobebulstrode‌:

Niobe, surprisingly, felt little relief after leaving Benjy behind in the castle. Normally, a fight like that would’ve relieved her a little, but given the severity of what was happening… it didn’t seem likely that anything could calm her down. Not like she didn’t know this day was coming. She always knew she was going to get a match at some point, and her mother would not stop preparing her for it as she grew up. Telling her that, sometimes, sacrifices must be made to make a marriage work… but it seemed that she was the only child that got that message. Somehow, she was supposed to be primed to give up everything she was for a man her family chose for her, and the idea had never sat right with her. She knew she wasn’t what any pureblood boy would dream of. She was brass, vulgar, swore too much, and was prone to anger over much else. And maybe she’d fallen a little too hard into the dream that, maybe, she could just keep playing Quidditch and soar high enough that any expectations of her didn’t matter. But, as she made her way out of the castle and towards her pitch, a sobering thought occurred to her–the future was coming, and she, as per usual, had no control or say over what she would do with her life.

Approaching the pitch, she caught sight of Regulus Black, and her mood instantly soured. Not that Black was a horrible sight, but she’d expected to be alone on the pitch, given that it was the holidays. “Well, if it isn’t my star seeker,” she sneered, not much in the mood to play nice. “You waitin’ for somebody?” She wondered if he could wait elsewhere, given that she needed the pitch alone for a while.

Hearing the crunch of the grass, Regulus turned instantly on his heel to face the source, RELIEVED to see that it was Niobe. If she hadn’t shown up just then, he likely would’ve given up and gone back to the castle before heading home, but alas. “Yes, actually.” He admitted, swallowing his bad thoughts as he chewed on his bottom lip, able to see that Niobe was in a foul mood or at least, it seemed that way. He couldn’t always tell as she seemed to often wear a scowl on her face. 

“I was actually looking for you, seemed like the best place to start.” He shrugged, holding up a perfectly wrapped gift and card. “I know you might not be much of a Christmas person, but I wanted to get you something to show you how much I admire you as a captain.”This was true, he did admire her as a captain and a quidditch player, but nothing beyond that. Regulus, for once was pleased by how dark it was at this hour as it made it easier for him to speak freely. “And a person, really. I feel as though I fail to express that, so I wanted to get you a little something, even though it’s not much.” 

[thesecondhandheir]

bertiebertaubrey‌:

Bertram had… a few friends, if he could call them that. Mostly just people he enjoyed doing specific activities with. But Regulus? That was different. It didn’t matter what they were doing, he was never annoyed by the other. Sometimes he’d watch some of those Muggle movies and think they had the same type of friendship girls had in those. “You’re right there. Where could I find another pureblood to hide from responsibilities with?” 

Regulus smile curved into a slightly bigger smirk, amusement now crept onto his features. “Certainly not anyone I know, most people these days seem to have sticks way too far up their arses. How have you been, mate?” He hadn’t meant to distance himself from Bertram, but with everything going on, he hadn’t been as available to sit around and do nothing. 

[thesecondhandheir]

puermedioblack‌:

“It was a selfish path,” She murmured, shaking her head. It had been, she’d left her family and it had gotten her nowhere, hadn’t it? Just heartbreak and loneliness. “I will, one day.” She hoped.

“Never apologise to me,” Andromeda spoke softly, shaking her head.  “Why won’t-” She began, before cutting herself off as he explained. “Gideon Prewett?” A soft smile graced her lips as she wiped away his tears. “Gideon is well, mostly a menace, but he’s a good guy and he means well. You both deserve to be happy.”

“No, it wasn’t. I think it was courageous of you.” Regulus admitted but said no further. He, like the rest of the family, was stubborn, so he knew that if Andromeda had made up her mind about something, there was little to do about it. 

“He’s very much a menace,” Regulus agreed with a quick nod, shaking his head at Andromeda. “And even more so because I can’t get him out of my head, I don’t think I’ve ever spent so much time thinking about someone else than I have now and it’s infuriating, I want to scream at him, but at the same time, I just want..to be with him.” He admitted, swallowing as he looked up. “Happiness is not attainable, you as well as anyone know that me letting him is putting him at real risk. I can’t let him get hurt because of me.” 

[thesecondhandheir]

Regulus wasn’t in the mood to head home, so instead, he’d made himself comfortable in the library and allowed himself to get lost in some of the muggle literature he was rarely able to get his hands on while the place was crowded. Though he’d never admit it, Regulus was envious of muggles as it seemed despite them having troubles of their own, they had far less than what he seemed to face. “Maybe one day I’ll crack my wand in half and run away to become a muggle, that’d be one way to piss them off.” He grumbled to himself as he turned the page. 

@opheliarowle​

[thesecondhandheir]

puermedioblack‌:

“Wait, did you make this?” Andromeda’s face lit up. Unwrapping it slowly, the grin never left her lips as she held the jumper up. “Oh Reg, this is so sweet.” Gently placing it down, the girl threw her arms around her cousin, pulling him in for a hug. “It might not fit me, but I’m keeping it. Who knows, maybe it’ll fit my future children.” She was mostly certainly keeping it, there was no way she was ever throwing it away. At his last words, her face softened slightly. “I actually have something to tell you. I’m coming back home, Reg.”

“I, uh, I mean, yeah. I did.” Regulus mumbled with a soft smile, cheeks turning a slight shade of pink in embarrassment. He wasn’t used to attention, especially the good kind but he’d always wanted to make a point to go out of his way for his family on holidays. “Maybe, though I don’t want them to hate me for it.” He admitted with a quiet, embarrassed chuckle. His smile, however, dropped entirely as Andromeda mentioned home, face now paled. “You, what?” 

[thesecondhandheir]

Regulus’ entire being was shaken up and not from the cold, but from his run in with Niobe. The last thing he wanted to do now was head home, he knew his father wouldn’t be pleased. Sure, Regulus could lie, but that would only worsen things. He was petrified, embarassed and lost in knowing what to do or where to go next. He didn’t expect the response from Niobe to be great, nor did he care if she accepted his gift, but he did care about how his father would react, how much of a disappointment he’d be seen as. Regulus was a Black, after all, he had no reason to behave like such a fool or let a girl walk all over him or at least, those were the words he pictured his father using. 

After, he made his way towards the lake, the scent of fire reeking off his clothing accompanied by a defeated boy. How could he have messed up so badly? Sighing, he plopped down onto the grass, falling back into the cold and wet ground. So lost in his own thoughts, Regulus hadn’t even bothered to ensure he was alone. 

@thebestprewett​

[thesecondhandheir]

If you play your cards right, you’ll have the lot to choose from, the words from his father rang through his ears, his mind a mess as he tried to replay the entirety of the conversation. He was not his sibling, nor was he alike any of the other males’ in his house. So, the idea that he was expected to attempt to woo someone into fancying him was ridiculous and had he been in any other state of mind, it would’ve been amusing even. But Regulus’ heart was pounding and his feet traced the field back and forth as he waited. He knew if she were at Hogwarts, eventually, Niobe would show her face on the pitch. He had hoped sooner than later, as he really did not want to write an owl. 

So, after spending FAR too much time doing one of the things he hates most of all and picking out the right gift, he’d finally landed on what he thought would be just perfect. After all, it was her favorite team, right? Merlin, he fucking hoped so. 

@niobebulstrode​

[thesecondhandheir]

[thesecondhandheir]

ofmaledicta‌:

“Funnily enough, she didn’t,” Bella smirked at the realization that she wasn’t the only family member who thought he could become something more. “Good to know aunt Walburga and I are on the same page though. Besides, if it is by request of your mother, I would be more than happy to tutor you in dueling spells you might be…struggling with,” she emphasized in case anyone was listening in. “I’m sure you know I was taught by the best.”

"December tends to be a busy time for the family with the number of appearances expected, I imagine she just hasn’t had a chance to get around to it,” Regulus noted with a nonchalant shrug. “I would appreciate that I’m not the worst at dueling spells, but I certainly am out of practice. Do you have time now?” Though he was curious about darker magic, he knew here wasn’t the place to mention that aloud. “I would expect nothing less from the best.”