Reborn as Petunia Evans with a System-Chapter 62 - 60

She gave a slight, approving nod. " A second-year in Slytherin."

I hesitated.

Of course it had to be a Slytherin.

Not that I was one to judge too harshly I knew better than most how labels and expectations could shape a person before they ever had a chance to choose for themselves. But still... Slytherin. The house of cold stares and whispered slurs. The house that looked down on people like me Muggle-born, ordinary, too curious for my own good.

"May I ask who it is?" I said softly.

Her lips thinned with something between approval and warning. "Regulus Black."

That name landed like a pebble tossed in a still lake — subtle but rippling outward

I took a breath.

Sirius Black was a whirlwind rebellious, brilliant, loud, reckless. I liked him, even when he was infuriating. But I also knew how broken he was beneath all the jokes. How angry.

What must it be like to grow up in that house?

Regulus Black. The perfect heir. The one who didn't run. The one who stayed.

"I can meet with him Friday at five," I said finally.

McGonagall offered the barest hint of a smile. "Very good. I'll let him know."

And then she swept away, leaving me staring at the empty desk in front of me.

Regulus Black.

The name echoed in my head, stirring something deep a kind of aching sympathy.

A child.

A brilliant child raised in the shadow of bloodlines and expectations.

Born into a world that was already drawing battle lines in ink and ash.

He's only seventeen when he died . Just a boy. But the world wouldn't wait for him to grow up. Voldemort's war was pulling everyone in, especially children like Regulus the kind who bore family legacies on their backs like armor, even when it cut into their skin.

I gathered my bag and headed out, just as Emmeline and Pandora came bounding down the hall.

"What did McGonagall want?" Emmeline asked immediately, brushing a loose curl from her face.

"She asked if I'd tutor a second-year student in Transfiguration," I replied.

"Ooooh, someone failing?" Pandora asked, intrigued.

"No," I said with a small smile. "She said he's gifted. Just... getting bored with second-year work."

Emmeline raised a brow. "So who is it?"

I glanced between them. "Regulus Black."

Pandora blinked. "As in Sirius's brother?"

I nodded. "Yes. That one."

"Blimey," Emmeline muttered. "Isn't he the serious one? Always looks like he's about to announce the fall of the Ministry?"

Pandora gave a thoughtful hum. "He always seems... distant. But not unkind."

"Maybe he's just trying to survive," I murmured, more to myself than them.

They exchanged a glance.

"You going to do it?" Emmeline asked softly.

I nodded. "Yes. Friday at five."

Pandora leaned against the wall beside me. "It's a good thing. You'll be helping him."

The sun had just begun to dip behind the towers of Hogwarts when the boys finally appeared — Severus, Andrew, and Felix looking far too pleased with themselves.

Severus and Felix were speaking in hushed voices, both grinning like they'd pulled off something remarkable. Andrew looked a little exasperated but amused, trailing just a step behind.

"We found a secret passage," Felix announced proudly the moment they reached us.

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "And when, exactly, did you have time to do that?"

Felix shrugged, utterly unrepentant. "When we sneak out at night to explore."

Emmeline gave an exaggerated gasp. "Scandalous. Andrew! Severus! I expected more from you."

Pandora tutted and pointed a mock-accusing finger at Felix. "You're a bad influence. Teaching Severus how to break rules."

Severus smirked faintly. "It's not rule-breaking if we never get caught."

I couldn't help but laugh. "That's not exactly how it works."

Emmeline leaned closer, eyes glinting with mischief. "Severus... Black. You've got a lot of explaining to do."

Severus winced, rolling his eyes. "Stop calling me that. It still feels strange."

"It's going to keep feeling strange unless you get used to it," Felix said, elbowing him. "So. Sirius Black is your cousin?"

"Apparently," Severus said flatly, clearly not thrilled about it.

Pandora tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "So tell us how did that even happen?"

Severus sighed, and for a moment he looked a little older than thirteen. "My mum and... my biological father had a past. Then they drifted apart before I was born. But recently — after... everything he found out. Turns out I'm his son. And now..." He gestured vaguely at the group. "Here I am."

We all stared at him. Then we laughed

"Now you know," Severus muttered. "Can we please go eat now?"

Before I could say anything, Severus reached for my hand not too quickly, not too forcefully. Just... gently. Like it was something he did every day. His fingers brushed mine, then held on.

We were walking side by side through the corridor, our footsteps echoing faintly as the rest of our friends lagged behind. Severus still hadn't let go of my hand, not that I minded. It was warm, and it felt... natural.

"That was the worst class," I groaned, swinging our joined hands slightly. "Did you see Professor Vector's face when Felix accidentally turned his parchment into a toad?"

Severus snorted. "Accidentally? Please. Felix did that on purpose. He was trying to prove a theory."

Emmeline laughed. "Did you see Vector's face when Felix's parchment ribbeted?"

"I stand by my spellwork," Felix said proudly. "It was a calculated risk."

"A calculated risk?" Andrew repeated, eyebrows raised. "You turned your homework into a toad, mate. That's not advanced Arithmancy. That's chaos."

"I was testing magical probabilities," Felix said, completely unbothered. "Like, what are the odds Professor Vector would shriek and jump onto her desk?"

"Apparently one hundred percent," Pandora said, nudging him with her elbow.

"She almost hexed him," I said, laughing. "Felix, you're going to be banned from the classroom."

"Then you'll all miss me. I'll be a tragic tale whispered through the corridors."

"You'd last two hours outside the classroom before begging to come back," Emmeline said. "You're too nosy to miss the drama."

Severus chuckled beside me. "He also can't go two days without asking someone for help with his potions."

"Oi," Felix said. "That was one time. And the cauldron only melted a little."

Andrew grinned. "He's just mad because gravity ruined his notes last week."

"Oh no," Pandora gasped, eyes wide. "Don't bring up the Gravity Incident."

I covered my mouth to hide my smile. "The trauma."

"Enough," Severus groaned dramatically. "I'm haunted."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

"I say we put Felix on academic trial," I said, playing along.

Severus nodded gravely. "Charge: crimes against parchment and ink."

"Sentence: rewriting everyone's notes," Pandora added, her eyes gleaming.

"In color-coded ink with proper margins," Emmeline declared.

"And glitter," Andrew said.

Felix clutched his chest. "You monsters."

We all burst into laughter. It was warm, the kind that filled your lungs and made your eyes water if you laughed too long. The kind of moment that made the castle feel like home.

"Honestly," Pandora said, looking between us all, "this is the best kind of class— the one after."

Severus looked down at me then, our hands still linked. "Agreed."

I met his eyes and smiled. I didn't even notice I was still holding on until Emmeline gave me a sly nudge.

"Oh, hush," I whispered.

She just wiggled her eyebrows and fell back in step with Pandora and Andrew.

I shook my head, laughing softly. And as we walked toward the Great Hall, our footsteps in sync and our jokes trailing behind us like ribbons, I thought maybe just maybe this was my favorite kind of magic.

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