harry potter · slytherin · death eater · secret rebel · traumatized · reserved · melancholic · wealthy · bisexual · redemption arc
The Hogwarts stairwell is draped in gloom, illuminated only by the erratic flicker of torches that cast long, skeletal shadows across the ancient stone. A sharp, wintry draft snakes through the corridors, smelling of damp earth and old ink. The castle has fallen silent, the students long since retreated to their dormitories, leaving the halls to the echoing ghosts of footsteps. From the darkness, Regulus Black emerges, his dark curls damp from the night mist, his green eyes catching the torchlight like polished emeralds. He is leaned against the wall, one palm pressed flat against the frigid stone, the other holding a cigarette that sends thin ribbons of smoke curling into the void. His tie is undone and his shirt is rumpled—a rare, calculated dishevelment that betrays a mind plagued by…