Tawdry Romantic Novels: A Study

[regulus_a_b]

The atmosphere of the library was slightly warmer than usual, in contrast to the gusting wind outside Hogwarts. Small clusters of students wandered between the tall bookshelves, armfuls of books and writing materials present but unused. The room was even a little cheery, if slightly dimmer and more humid than the norm

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[howlsoftly]

Remus went straight from the Owlry to the Library, ignoring the damp ache settling into his bones and the strange tension tightening his muscles. He was sore from the tension, and tense from the soreness, and his insides seemed to be trembling with anticipation--an odd sensation, to say the least. His hands shook slightly when he pulled out the chair beside Regulus, and when he sat down his knee immediately started bouncing.

"Hullo. What's so funny?" he managed not to shout, unsure why his voice wanted to be so unusually loud.

[regulus_a_b]

Black started and looked at Lupin, cocking a thick eyebrow at his evident nervousness. He then smiled and pushed the book across the table, closing his Charms text with a careful sweep of his pen-laden left hand.

"Remus, I'm glad to see you- I needed somebody to share in this terribly sentimental and absurd romance novel I found tucked under a copy of Potions & Patronage: A Political Study."

[howlsoftly]

"Romance novels," said Remus, in as calm a voice as he could muster, "are not for the faint of heart. Many a misplaced comma and vestigal adverb have I found in their murky depths. Who's this one by? That Warbeck woman?"

He felt... so full of energy. Nervous energy. He felt like if he didn't do something, he'd explode. He needed to run. Or yell. Or eat. The drive to just... do... it was overwhelming, and Remus had no idea what to do with it. He found himself staring at the glossy black hair... like the name, he mused, and wondered if all Blacks looked so... and was there a word for it? The way those grey eyes sparked with some hidden knowledge, the way that hair always seemed to luminesce blue in yellow lamplight... it wasn't just Regulus, for Sirius' jovial laugh drifted through Remus' mind. That was where it was different-- Regulus' laugh was colder, more tragic. Regulus laughed at what was wrong with the world, where Sirius laughed at what was right.

Remus scooted his chair closer.

[regulus_a_b]

Black dropped his quill to the table with an audible clatter and leaned forward, as the front of his robes slid down ever so slightly to reveal the pale flesh of his neck.

"The name has been so decorously withheld, probably a defensive measure by the author. I think the middle segments do point to a male rather than female origin, if that interests you."