Chapter 2

One particular tower in the massive castle was loudly buzzing with excitement. Not only did Ravenclaw win the first match of the year, this was also a fantastic game to remind Gryffindor who won last year's House Cup.

With everyone's coursework atypically left untouched, the warm October afternoon was spent in the crowded common room, Butterbeers and the occasional Firewhiskey being passed around.

Everyone, except one.

Overwhelmed with adrenaline and pride, Regina took her rare, free hours in the Library, writing to her father in sliding ink. If she wrote quickly enough, there was a slight chance that she could share the news with her father before her mother returned home from her travels.

Her mother did not approve of Quidditch.

No, Regina thought bitterly to herself, that's not it.

She just does not approve of me.

Ever since Cora Mills heard news that her only daughter – only child – was sorted into Ravenclaw, she never wanted to hear the word Hogwarts uttered in her home ever again. Whether it was out of fear or respect, Regina and her father obliged, and kept their chats hidden.

A shivering wind came from the window as Regina folded her arms and set down the quill, pensively staring out at the green terrain. As the sky began to set, Regina signed off her letter and stared around the nearly empty library.

"Privatus dissimulari."

The obsidian ink melted off the page at once, and a blank thick piece of parchment was the only thing the naked eye could see. Lucky enough, Regina had managed to tell her father the counter curse as he dropped her off at the train station.

Thank you Bookworm, Regina mentally noted, sealing the letter and quickly left a hostile, overly curious Madam Pince to her books. Passing by the riddling door with as much ease as ever, Regina managed her way up to the Girl's dormitories. Even though she may have won the match, her fellow pupils of all ages knew far better than to expect her to begin handing out hugs.

Half way up the winding staircase, she was halted by a tall, lanky figure.

"Going somewhere Mills?"

"When one goes up this route, they are typically on their way to the dormitories Jefferson."

He scoffed, allowing her to graciously pass, sneakily wrenching her bag over her shoulder and into his melding hands.

"Jefferson!" Regina snarled, attempting to grab any part of her book bag. "I don't have time for this - "

"I know Regina," He mused, finding her secret treasure and slipping the sealed parchment out of its confines. "But I hardly think it would be best if we used Harley for this task. "

What?

"Harley?" Regina snapped, feeling her skin heat from a mixture of irritation and fury. "I happen to have my own owl, and have no need for yours."

"I just thought," He responded in a whisper, grabbing Regina's flailing hands in his own larger ones, "Cora may not recognize Harley if she were to come home early."

She stopped, dropping her hands and staring up at her friend. "I, well, thank you Jefferson."

"Don't mention it Mills." He shrugged, a look of horror forming in his features. "Trust me, after meeting your mother once, the sympathy I never thought I had actually burns for you."

He wasn't kidding either. Jefferson had the most unfortunate experience when he met her mother. Not only did Cora Mills find him far too alternative for her daughter, she made the horrible mistake of mocking his hat.

"I'll meet you at dinner, as I better get my bird on his way." He told her, walking up to the Boy's Dormitories and leaving Regina speechless, but pleasingly grateful.

The darkened sky and quieting of the Common Room were two clear indications that the evening's feast was about to be served. As Regina left the Ravenclaw Tower, she felt the sudden presence of someone lurking behind her.

Not that she even needed a second to guess.

"Sydney," Regina stormed, picking up her pace as she stalked down the corridor, "Come out of the shadows, if you must."

"Oh dear!" The boy stammered, rushing to Regina's side and joining her at the pace. "I didn't mean to startle you Regina."

"You didn't, so there's no need to worry." Regina muttered without tone. "What are you doing on this side of the castle anyways?"

The Slytherin scratched his arm. "I thought there would be a chance I could run in to you I suppose."

Creepy, even for you Glass.

"How did the enchantment work Regina?" His animated voice said with animation. "It seemed to do quite the trick."

"Yes, and I have been meaning to thank you," Regina interrupted, tossing him a winning smile. "If it weren't for you, we would not have been able to see through the storm."

"I knew a de-fogging spell was the trick!" He exclaimed holding the last door open for Regina as they both heard the raised sounds from the Great Hall. "A trick the Gryffindor team would have surely not known."

Regina smirked, and saw a hand wave for her from her house's table. "Well, Ravenclaw will forever be in your debt Sydney, as usual."

With that, she left him swooning in her dust as Regina saw her blonde friend snickering beside an empty place.

"Do you ever tire of leading that poor boy on Regina?" Kathryn asked, the innocence in her tone meant to be mocking. "Or are you still eager to hear more of "Mills is Our Queen?"

"It's always been a childish and completely unnecessary chant." Regina hissed in defense, tossing her thick mane of black curls over her shoulder. "Besides, Swan is not even that bad of a player."

"Well, that's rather generous of you Gina." A male voice came from beside Kathryn. "But seriously, did you really expected maturity from Slytherin?"

"Kathryn, do you recall what we had discussed this week in Potions?" Regina replied through gritted teeth. "Please remind your dearly beloved here just how much I despise said nickname."

The blonde snorted. "I'd remind him, but I don't think you'd get the result you'd be hoping for."

No she most certainly would not, Regina thought, watching Frederick lay a kiss to the top of the blonde's head.

Ergh.

The table erupted with sudden applause as Professor Flitwick entered the Hall and sat at the high table. He gave a bow, and smiled widely at the students – particularly his House, and Professor McGonagall. Once Dumbledore came into the room, and walked to his podium, the room stilled with immediate silence.