the only place that Florence and Regulus could meet up now without raising any suspicion. The two seventh years would carry their stacks of books down to the kitchens each night just after midnight, doing as much research as they possibly could on Horcruxes and eating treacle tart as they do so.

"Thank you." Regulus blurts out randomly, a few weeks after the two returned from holiday.

"For?" Flo questions, glancing up from her book.

"For sticking by my side through this all. I know I can be... difficult, sometimes."

"Difficult? You broke two of my ribs because I said you should write to your brother, difficult Is an understatement, Black," Flo jokes, before noticing the look on Regulus' face. "You're... you're not actually difficult, you know that, right?"

Regulus shakes his head, sighing, before placing his head in his hands.

"I'm in over my head." he mumbles, not looking back up towards Flo.

Flo scoots closer to Regulus, grabbing a hold of his head and forcing him to look at her.

"You're not in over your head, you're fighting back. If fighting back means we're in over our heads, than so is everyone else fighting You Know Who. What you're doing is brave, Reg." Flo states.

Regulus lifts his right hand, placing it over Flo's left. Flo notices his eyes and how they have gone slightly glossy - she smiles at him as he squeezes her hand.

"This is all going to work out."

"Promise?" Regulus asks, his voice at breaking point.

"Promise." Flo insists.