Blood [Pops] and Chocolate(Mafalda)

[brett]

The familiar tinkle of bells, announcing his arrival, filled Regulus Blacks ears as he stepped into the candy shop. Breathing in deeply as the door slid closed behind. Regulus loved the smell of Honeydukes. The delicious aroma of all forms of sugar seeping through their plastic wrappers and filling the air. Reg made his way around the shop hungrily eying the sugary morsels just begging to be purchased.

Technically Reg wasn't supposed to be in Hogsmeade today, it hadn't been a scheduled trip, but he had craving for sweets that just couldn't be filled by anything short of Honeydukes chocolate. He had come on his broom, which was now sitting on the edge of forest that surround hogsmeade with a cloaking charm over it to prevent detection or theft.

The last time he had been her Reg had run into his brother Sirius. Reg had offered to pick up Sirius potion supplies so that he would have more money for candy...now his brother would hardly look at him. Stupid fight. The tinkle of the bell announced the arrival of another customer, but Reg had been too busy practically drooling over the chocolate display to notice. Another Honeydukes memory came to him, this one much older predating his days at Hogwarts. He had tripped into a girl and started a rivalry. A rivalry that a few months ago had a rather interesting development.

[britkneeboo]

The tinkle of the bell above the door of Honeydukes, seemed not only to announce the arrival of a customer, but also ordered the conditioned workers in the shop to all look over and inspect the person entering. Mafalda felt like she had been caught as soon as she saw all eyes on her, but just as quickly as they looked at the door, they went back to what they had been doing. She was always paranoid when she snuck to Hogsmeade. Luckily she hadn't been found out yet, even though she did it at least once a week. She didn't explore much though, she either went to Honeydukes during the day to browse, or she went to the pub to have a little bit of fun. The castle was so boring sometimes.

Mafalda turned around the corner of a shelf and headed straight for her favorite section - the sour candies. They were laid out, shelf upon shelf, in every color imaginable. So appetizing! Too bad she didn't have any money to spend on sweets this evening. She had already planned on making a stop by the pub after this anyway, because she hadn't had a very good week. One drink wouldn't hurt. It was four or five drinks that caused her to do things she would regret. Four or five drinks and a school library that was waaay too easy to break into after dark.

She reached out her hand to run her fingers across the second row of candies, but when she went to pull it away her sleeve got caught on a wrapper and she pulled the whole row of candies off the shelf. Her face turned bright red as she quickly bent down to pick up her mess. It was so like her to cause trouble like that. She was one of the clumsiest of the Hufflepuff's, and if she wasn't tripping, running into, or knocking over things - she was spilling, dropping, or catching things on fire? Yea, she was just that clumsy. Her face turned even redder, and she silently hoped nobody had seen her.

[brett]

Unfortunately somebody had. Strange how Regulus could ignore the bell above the shop door, but as soon as he heard candy fall he turned so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash. Regulus had been prepared for the devastation of scattered candies what he hadn't prepared was seeing who had committed the heinous act, the girl who had oddly enough, just been on his mind. Reg watched for a moment as Mafalda Hopkirk scrambled to clean up her mess.

"Fancy meeting you here," Regulus smirked bending down beside Mafalda and assisting her with the task of cleaning up. After all, he couldn't let innocent candies suffer because of his personal rivalries. Not too mention it was so much more satisfying to taunt someone when you were at there same eye level. How strange it was that Regulus should meet Mafalda here, in the candy shop where there entire rivalry began, tonight. Not that it was like th anniversary of the event, though it well could have been, it was still rather strange.

There would be many jokes made at Mafalda's expense tonight, Reg could guarantee it. That is if Mafalda decided to stay long enough to let him. Perhaps after they had bought their sweets they could head over to the three broomsticks for a few drinks. Regulus laughed to himself, remembering the last time they had gone drinking. He couldn't remember why the two had ended up drinking together that night, but he certainly remembered what happened after they did. He also knew that since he now had a girlfriend he would need to make sure it wouldn't happen again.

[britkneeboo]

Mafalda had picked up a few of the candies when she thought she was safe. Nobody had heard and she could finish putting them up and then get out of the shop as soon as possible. Nobody would ever know she had even been there. Well, Mafalda was wrong. Before a sigh of relief could even completely exit her mouth, Regulus was bending down beside her to help pick up the candies. Of all the people that could have been in the shop. Of all the people that could have heard her make a mess. Of all the people that could have decided to help her pick it up. Why him? she thought as he started to pick up the candies and place them back on the shelf.

"You almost sound happy about that," she said, referring to him meeting her there. Mafalda paused and looked at him, a faint memory of several years before coming to the front of her thoughts. "It wouldn't be nearly complete unless I managed to knock you over too, would it?" she asked, not sure if he would know what she was talking about. As far as Mafalda was concerned, Regulus just gave her a hard time because he could. She had no idea that they probably wouldn't talk at all if it hadn't been for that day in the same candy shop almost nine years earlier.

Then, Mafalda winced, as another memory took the place of the last one. "Or unless we managed a shag in the broom closet over there," she added, nodding in the direction of the broom closet on the other end of the shop. She was only kidding of course, but you wouldn't be able to tell from the lack of expression on her face. She put the last of the candies on the shelf and then stood up.

[brett]

Regulus smiled of course he was happy, getting to see and old 'friend' so unexpectedly. "You almost sound dissappointed," he commented smirking. No matter what she may claim Mafalda knew she enjoyed seeing Regulus. Well, at least that was the way Regulus saw it, but according to Regulus just about everyone was secretly happy to see him. Really though how could anyone resist the subtle charms of everyone's favorite snake?

"And then I suppose you could have a go at me just for good measure," Regulus added letting Mafalda know that he knew exactly what she was talking about. Ah, the power of a well placed look from Regulus Black. Who could have known that the one incident would turn into the complex relationship these two now had. Well, a rivalry and a one night stand wasn't exactly complicated, but it was rather fun, at least from Reg's end.

Damn, she had beaten him to a sex joke, but he could always go for the one part she had missed. "Don't you think we should stop by the broomsticks for some drinks first to set the mood?" Regulus smirked. Ah, poking fun at the past. Reg still hadn't decided if he liked the fact that Mafalda got in on the fun, he supposed it made conversations more entertaining. Of course nothing in her voice said she was kidding so perhaps she was serious...in which case...'you still have a girlfriend' he was reminded. Seriously, when did his conscience actually decide to start caring about what he did?

[britkneeboo]

Dissapointed wasn't exactly the word she would have used, because she wasn't ever really dissapointed to see him. Even if they only spent the entire time bickering, it was far more fun than sitting in her dorm, watching tiny little dust particles float around in the pools of light. Happy wouldn't have been a good choice of word either though, because ever since their little meeting a couple of months earlier she was somehow embarressed to even be in the same room as him.

"It isn't my fault you scared me. You acted like I had meant to trip into you - how dare I," she said, rolling her eyes. Mafalda hadn't meant to trip into him by any means. She just wasn't very light on her feet. When she had nearly knocked him to the ground she was more shocked that she was that close to a boy than the fact that she might be wrinkling his shirt. She obviously didn't know that years down the road she would be getting a whole lot closer to him. Of course, Mafalda didn't think of such things when she was nine.

Mafalda didn't know why she had brought up the fact that they had 'done things' before he could, but it was probably because she knew that he would and she should at least beat him to it. She was right, when right after she stood up he was adding on to what she had said. The least she could do was see how much further she could carry it. "Because everyone in Hogsmeade could tell by looking at you, that you would have to get me drunk to ever have a chance with me," she said, trying not to smirk. Her day hadn't been a good one, but she was starting to feel like it might be getting better.

[brett]

"Well if I had known you just hadn't gotten the whole walking thing down after nine years of life perhaps I would have been a bit kinder," Reg smirked. Besides it wasn't like there weren't plenty of people who would have liked nothing more than to trip into the young Regulus and cause him pain. The fact that it had been merely an accident never crossed his mind. Of course it also didn't help that nine year old Reg was far more into quidditch and candy than girls. If the incident happened today than Regulus would simply just use the incident as a spring bored to flirt with Mafalda, similar to what he was doing now.

"Please, you were the one pouring drinks down my throat," Regulus responded playfully smirking. Of course what happened that night was still a mystery, but Reg most likely hadn't been trying to get her drunk. Though Reg may have offered to buy her a drink to make up for something mean he did, or perhaps just to get her to stop yelling at him. Or maybe he had already been in the bar, he couldn't quite remember. But he remembered lots of drinking, and then the library. Somehow Regulus assumed that was his drunken idea. He could almost see Mafalda telling him they should go somewhere more quiet and the thought process of, where's a quiet place? The library.

On the plus side at least they hadn't been caught. It would have been all two easy for another student to have wandered off the the book shelf they had chosen. Regulus wondered if Mafalda had told anyone or if she had done anything similar before or since that night. But asking such a question might actually lead her to believe he cared about her...which he didn't...did he?

[britkneeboo]

Mafalda rolled her eyes again, something she had a feeling she would be doing a lot more of that night, when he made the comment about her taking nine years to learn to walk properly. If he was trying to get a rise out of her, that wouldn't do it. She was perfectly aware of how disoriented she came off to be. "If you made any effort to actually get to know me Regulus, you would know that it has been seventeen years and I still haven't gotten that whole walking thing down," she said, smiling a little. She wasn't smiling because of what either of them had said, but more so at the fact that she found it truely funny that her gait was hardly more balanced than that of a two year old. Mafalda was one girl that had no problem making fun of herself, if it was true.

Mafalda actually did have a fairly good memory of the night, before and after the library. She knew that she had gone in to The Three Broomsticks that night, because the girls in her dorm were having some sort of slumber-party type thing. They were all sitting around in the pajama's, gossiping about boys, and family, and what they were going to wear. It was hardly anything Mafalda was interested in, so she decided to excuse herself and sneak off to have some 'real' fun, alone. Once she arrived at the pub she had barely made it through the door when she caught sight of Regulus and couple of his 'drinking buddies.' They seemed to be having a laugh about something, but no sooner had she arrived than they all left, all but Regulus that was.

"And, if I was pouring drinks down your throat it was probably only to get you to pass out, so I wouldn't have to listen to you anymore," she said, running her hand over a row of candybars. Her fingers played over the wrappers softly this time, carefully. She was making sure not to make another mess of the store.

[brett]

"Clearly shown by elegance with which you knocked over those candies," Regulus smirked referencing the entire reason why he was even talking to her at the moment. Mafalda was certainly clumsy, but Regulus liked that about her. It made it far easier to mock her. Of course it was becoming quite clear that she was getting a little too good at mocking herself. "I did put some effort into getting to know you, just a different part of you," he added unable to resist.

"I don't blame you for that one, I get rather chatty when I'm drunk," Regulus smiled. He also tended to get rather touchy. "Why were we even drinking together anyway?" Regulus asked curious if Mafalda remembered more than he did. It wasn't like it mattered much, but Reg just rather enjoyed staying on the topic of that night.

[britkneeboo]

It wasn't uncommon for a subject to get worn out when two people talked about it enough, but the more Mafalda and Regulus talked about their encounter with eachother, the more conversation that seemed to come out of it. It was like a never ending discussion. Then again, it wasn't a very boring topic between the two either. "Pervert," she muttered at his mention of getting to know a different part of her. She knew he was good at making her uncomfortable, almost too good at it, and at the same time she sort of liked the uncomfortable feeling he gave her. It made her feel like she always had to be at full attention, because she never knew what was going to come next.

When Regulus asked her why they were drinking that night Mafalda scoffed. Part of her was disappointed that he didn't even remember, but the other part was intrigued that he cared enough to know. And all at the same time she wasn't the least bit suprised by either.

"Apparently it doesn't take much to get you drinking with someone," she said, moving her hand off the shelf of candybars. "One of the older men sitting in a booth made a pass at me. He was grabbing at my skirt and rambling on about the things he would do. I guess you saw what was going on, because I remember you got in his face and told him if he didn't keep his hands off me that you would show him what you could do. I don't know why he'd be scared fo you, but he backed down. I then proceeded to yell at you about how I could take care of myself, and then you told me obviously not - which I damn well know that I can - and you offered to buy me a drink, which I only agreed to because I left my changepurse at the castle." Mafalda looked down at her feet and then back up at Regulus. "That is basically it in a nutshell. It was apprent that you had already been drinking for awhile. I don't know what I was thinking. I should have left."

[brett]

Regulus just smiled at Mafalda's harsh words. So yes it was perverted comment, but it was also true wasn't it? In any case Regulus thought it was funny, and Mafalda hadn't hit him so clearly it wasn't that offense. Either that or she had just gotten so use to comments like that it didn't bother her anymore. Sometimes Regulus got the feeling that she liked talking about there encounter as much as he did, maybe because not only was it so ironic that it should happen, but because it was probably also about the only time they got along.

"Sounds like something I'd do..." Regulus mused thinking that it was pretty likely that he would have moved in to save Mafalda from some creep. Whether he liked her or not (which he still hadn't decided) he didn't take kindly to creepy old guys hitting people he knew. Especially people he knew would claim they could take care of themselves. "And you know just cause your not afraid of me doesn't mean other people aren't," Regulus said attempting to defend the fact that he was rather intimidating, especially when drunk and even more eager to fight. Mafalda and he really only had a relationship because she hadn't been afraid of him...but again he was 9.

"You were probably thinking 'Damn Regulus is gorgeous and now that he's drunk I can finally have my way with him,'" Regulus offered laughing. It was highly doubtful that this was anywhere close to what Mafalda was thinking, which was why it was so amusing. In reality though it was probably because a. he saved her from a creepy drunk guy and b. he offered to buy her a drink. It would have been rude to say no.

[britkneeboo]

"Oh wow. I mean oh my....merlin! You- you never told me you were psychic! I thought I had it hidden, but obviously you could see right through me!" Mafalda held an extremely realistic look of shock on her face. She had maintained her cool for long enough, and now the sarcasm was kicking in. Of course they both probably knew that Mafalda would have had to have been under mind-control for her to think such a thing as how gorgeous Regulus was, and how she wanted to have her way with him. She didn't take him for a bad looking guy, but she had never really stopped and thought he was good looking either. The thought just never took the time to cross her mind.

Regulus was one of those people that could just push Mafalda closer and closer to the edge, but it only caused her to push him back. With most other people she would just give up, surrender, and go on her way, but with a handful of people, including him, she wasn't afraid to test the waters. She stepped closer to him, and watched his expression change. "Honestly doll," she said, taking another step closer and then another. "I've got a hunch," she continued, stepping right up to him. "That I wouldn't need you drunk to have my way with you."

[brett]

Regulus may not know Mafalda all that well, but he had been playing this game it her for long enough to know that despite how realistic her look of shock was, there was no way she would ever think that. Still for just a second it made Regulus wonder, before promptly breaking out in a wide smile. How weird it would have been it that had been Mafalda's thought process.

Mafalda moved closer to him stepping up so she was right in front of him. "Well Darling," Regulus began a soft smile coming to his lips as he reached up a hand and gently brushed Mafalda's hair behind her ear. He leaned in towards her before saying softly, "Think again." Regulus smiled widened as he pulled away absolutely giddy to see how Mafalda would respond. He had been quite convincing if he said so himself.

The fact was that, were Regulus still single he would already be taking his shirt off and heading for that broom closet. "Because, you see, I don't think my girlfriend would take to kindly to the fact that I let another girl have her way with me," Reg added really only feeling the need to explain so that he could brag about the fact that he had a girlfriend. Perhaps on anyone less than Indigo, Reg wouldn't mind having a little fun with Mafalda, but what he had with Indi was far too great to be ruined by his shallow ways.

[britkneeboo]

When Regulus made a moved to brush her hair behind her ear, Mafalda wasn't exactly suprised. She dismissed the nervous feeling that shot up her spine, and stood her ground. She wasn't going to fall to pieces because of that. No, she wasn't that type of girl to let a boy make her all giddy. Mafalda had never felt giddy a day in her life. She had yet to meet the boy that could produce such feelings in her.

It was only when he mentioned the girlfriend that Mafalda took a single step back. Girlfriend? I didn't know he had a girlfriend, she thought, as a million thoughts whooshed through her head. She wondered how long he had had this girlfriend, who it was, why she didn't know, and hoped it was recent. She would hate to have been the 'other girl' in their one night stand. As if it wasn't bad enough that she had even had a one night stand in the first place.

"I- I didn't....I mean I'm..sorry," she said, biting her lip. What was she sorry for? Hadn't it been him that had started this all up again? And, if his girlfriend was oh so important to him, why did he find the need to constantly dwell on what had happened between the two of them? Mafalda was utterly confused, and this wasn't good because when she was confused she was less likely to 'strike back.'

[brett]

"Sorry for what?" Regulus asked still smiling, rather pleased with his ability to throw a curve ball like that. "I'm assuming you didn't know," he added though Mafalda had made that rather obvious herself. "I wasn't dating her when we had or special night in the library if that's what your worried about," Reg said figuring this would probably be a concern. No, Indigo was still the girl that he merely admired from a distance when Mafalda and he had their one night stand.

"To answer the next few questions you'd probably ask, her name is Indigo Grace, we've been dating officially only a few days...I hadn't even talked to her before about two weeks ago," he added realizing that the word 'officially' may have bothered her. Why Regulus cared if he bothered her he wasn't quite sure he supposed it was because he just liked torture Mafalda a little not permanently scar her into thinking she had been with another girls boyfriend. "Oh and we're going to the ball together," he added proudly, of course that was probably assumed by the fact that they were now dating.

Slowly thoughts began to creep into Reg's mind, once again that pesky conscience he had developed had him questioning if this was appropriate. Really though, why wouldn't it be? Mafalda was a beautiful girl, but Indigo was in no danger of losing Reg to her. But then more questions creeped in. Should he tell Indi about his night with Mafalda? Had Indi ever had a similar experience. Regulus suddenly found himself jealousy and angry at a person he wasn't even sure existed. How much did he really know about Indigo?