This is a place where all my fellow Hufflepuffs can come and enjoy the small moments of peace, and laugh at the rambles of the world. Here we can live among the plants and sip at our tea.
Summary: Regulus Black’s unexpected friendship with a sweet Hufflepuff is revealed when Sirius catches them together.
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The air in the castle was brisk, the cool draft weaving through the stone corridors and carrying with it the faint scent of autumn leaves and freshly lit torches. Regulus pulled his cloak a little tighter around his shoulders, his mind preoccupied with the latest round of pranks that had once again targeted Slytherin House. It wasn’t hard to guess who was responsible—his brother Sirius’s handiwork was as familiar as it was aggravating. Regulus could almost predict the moment Sirius would appear, armed with a smirk and a taunt, ready to test his patience yet again.
Sure enough, as Regulus turned the corner, Sirius was waiting there, arms crossed, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
“Ah, Regulus,” Sirius drawled, that irritatingly self-satisfied smile tugging at his lips. “How’s my favorite Slytherin?”
Regulus forced himself to remain calm, carefully keeping his expression neutral, planning to just walk right past his brother.
Sirius’s grin widened, undeterred. “I take it you noticed the common room… enhancement? Thought the emerald and silver scheme could use a bit of sparkle.”
Regulus rolled his eyes, the irritation flaring up despite his attempts to stay indifferent. “If you’re going to make yourself a nuisance, at least have the decency to make it subtle.”
“Oh, subtlety is no fun, Reg,” Sirius replied easily, leaning back against the wall, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Besides, it’s not as if you’re incapable of a bit of rule-breaking yourself. Don’t think I don’t know about those after-hours trips to the library—”
“Sirius,” Regulus interrupted sharply, his voice low but firm. “I’m not interested in discussing my nightly habits with you.”
Before Sirius could fire back, the sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor, followed by a familiar, bright voice that cut through the tension like sunlight breaking through clouds.
“Reggy!”
Both brothers turned to see you striding towards them, your Hufflepuff robes swishing as you approached, your face lighting up with a smile that was warm enough to melt even the most stubborn winter chill. Regulus’s expression softened instantly, his usual guarded look replaced by something more open, more vulnerable.
Without a second thought, you walked right up to Regulus and wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug. He stiffened for a heartbeat, caught off guard by your sudden affection, but quickly melted into the embrace, his arms coming up to hold you close.
“Hey,” you said softly, pulling back just enough to look at him, your eyes filled with warmth and a hint of concern. “How have you been?”
“I’m… good,” Regulus replied, his voice softer than usual, almost as if he were afraid of breaking the spell your presence cast. A small, genuine smile tugged at his lips, a rare sight that seemed reserved only for you.
As you finally pulled back, still standing close to him, you seemed to notice Sirius for the first time, your gaze shifting over to the older Black brother with a look of surprise. A polite, curious smile flickered across your face as you gave him a small wave.
“Oh, hi! I didn’t realize there was anyone else here. I’m Y/N,” you said, introducing yourself in that sweet, open way that Regulus had come to adore.
Sirius raised his eyebrows, looking you up and down as if trying to solve a riddle. He offered a nod, his grin softening into something more curious, though he said nothing in reply. For once, Sirius Black seemed to be at a loss for words. There was something he couldn’t quite place about you—a gentleness, a warmth—that seemed so at odds with the icy walls Regulus usually built around himself. It was strange, almost impossible to imagine someone so kind being so close to his guarded, distant brother.
After a moment, Sirius managed a slight smile, finally extending his hand to you. "Sirius Black,” he introduced himself, his tone curious, though he kept his usual charm restrained. “Regulus’s… older brother.”
You took his hand, returning his smile with a polite one of your own. “Oh! It’s nice to meet you,” you replied, a hint of surprise in your voice. You turned back to Regulus, seemingly oblivious to Sirius’s scrutiny. “I had no idea you had a brother, Reggy!” you said with a laugh, your eyes shining with amusement. “You keep him quite the secret.”
Regulus shifted, his hand instinctively tightening around your shoulder. He’d dreaded this moment for so long, the day you would meet Sirius, the brother who seemed to draw people in without effort, who everyone adored and admired. Regulus had always felt invisible in his shadow, the “other” Black brother, colder and quieter, always on the outside looking in. But you had seen him—you had seen past the walls, the carefully constructed mask, and found something worth holding onto. And he couldn’t bear the thought of sharing that with Sirius, of watching you get pulled into his brother’s orbit and realizing he could never be what Sirius was.
Sirius, still watching silently, caught the faint, possessive gesture, the way Regulus seemed to pull you closer as if trying to keep you all to himself. His expression flickered with something unreadable, a mixture of curiosity and something softer, something he hadn’t expected to feel. Seeing Regulus with you—seeing his younger brother so fiercely protective of this rare connection—stirred something in him, a strange pang of almost… respect.
The silence stretched, and you shifted slightly, glancing between the two brothers as if sensing the tension, though you didn’t seem to mind. Instead, you gave Sirius a warm, friendly smile before turning back to Regulus, your hand reaching for his as you gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Well, Reggy and I should get going,” you said softly, looking up at him. “We’ve got some homework to catch up on.”
Regulus’s gaze softened at the touch, and he nodded, his lips curving into that faint, private smile that he reserved only for you. “Yes, we should.”
With a final nod toward Sirius, Regulus gently guided you down the hallway, his arm draped protectively over your shoulders. He glanced back once, catching Sirius’s gaze, and for a fleeting moment, the brothers shared a look of understanding—a silent acknowledgment, a truce of sorts. Sirius watched as you walked away together, his brow furrowed in thought, his mind turning over the strange puzzle of his brother and his unlikely friend.
How did someone as kind, as open-hearted as you manage to find your way into the life of someone as complex and withdrawn as Regulus? Sirius couldn’t understand it, couldn’t fathom what had drawn you to his quiet, brooding brother. But as he watched the two of you disappear down the corridor, he felt a spark of hope, a rare flicker of warmth in the cold, stone-cast walls of the castle.
Maybe Regulus had found something Sirius had never truly understood—a genuine connection that didn’t rely on charm or bravado, but on something softer, something real.
I always get into that trap, when writing an essay, where I feel like it has to look perfect as soon as I begin. I have to have the introduction structure fully first go. I have to know exactly what I'm supposed to be writing, in the exact tone that the teachers will love.
This isn't helped by the fact that I see so many people at University, and also through out my high-school years, be able to do this effortlessly.
I always think 'Am I just not smart?'.
I have to keep reminding myself that this is a stupid thought process and that they are simply the exception. Three-fourths of the class will also be thinking exactly like me. It's just not practical in most regards.
You are allowed to start planning with just bullet points. You're allowed to start by just spamming random questions about the essay topic because you don't really understand what you're supposed to be doing.
It doesn't have to look perfect instantly. It can look messy. You are allowed to have multiple drafts before you even begin structuring it, or writing the introduction. Heck, you don't even need to start with the introduction. you can write that last if it helps.
Does anyone else easily read a 500 page book within a few days, but as soon as it's a few paragraphs of an assignment, or instruction manual, it feels like your brain is melting?
We’ve finally set sail! Sail of the Menagerie is now live on Kickstarter!
Sail of the Menagerie is an illustrated novel set on the high seas, featuring a lost menagerie of animals and one slightly inept ex-pirate-captain on a desperate voyage to find their way home. Exotic animals! Pirates! Drawings of exotic animals and pirates! This book has it all!* (*if what you mostly care about is exotic animals and pirates)
trying to become the kind of person who reads more.
I'm trying to become the kind of person who reads more.
The kind of person who reaches for a book without overthinking it. Who reads a few pages or a chapter in the evening before bed instead of continuously scrolling. Who keeps a book in their bag "Just in case" and actually opens it.
I become this person for short bursts of time, when motivation is high and I feel like I have life all figured out. But slowly, over time, my pace slows. I reach for my book less. "Five more minutes" of scrolling TikTok or Pinterest becomes hours. Next thing I know is my day is wasted. I've got nothing out of it. I don't even remember it passing. It is simply just over and a new day has started.
Rinse and repeat.
Loosing myself in a book for a few hours, however, feels more intentional. Time well spent.
I actually took in information. Swirled it around my mouth and tasted it. Digested it. And at the end of it, I feel like I've achieved something.
So I buy books with good intentions. Stack them by my bed, telling myself that I will read them. Tonight. Or maybe tomorrow. I suppose I could always start next week if I'm feeling inspired.
I can't just start. You see, I have to be in the right mood. When things are calmer. When I'm more focused. When I'm more of the version of myself that can sit down and just do things without getting distracted by every little thing that I could be doing. Should be doing.
That version of me feels miles away.
Maybe I just have to accept the ebbs and flows of my motivation to read. Take advantage of the days, weeks, or months in which I can spend hours tirelessly get lost in new words.
Rather than feel guilty over the months where my books remain untouched, my kindle uncharged.
I recently just graduated art school and started studying Earth Science as a bit of a change of pace. I decided to create a studyblr to motivate myself to get on with things and as a way to look back at everything. If you wanna check it out, then have looksie:
comfort-of-tea.tumblr.com
I was watching a video about the hufflepuff common room today when I suddenly remembered I have this Tumblr account that I completely forgot about. Oops. I've started following my dream of becoming an artist and I had a great thought of getting some of my posts together and hand illustrating them into zines. Would people be interested in thar?
Also if anyone wants to check out my art instagram: https://instagram.com/theartmoose?igshid=ZDdkNTZiNTM=
Feeling the anxiety creeping in as your work load gets bigger and bigger. Feeling too stressed to do it so you put it off, but it only makes you more stressed because there’s not much time left, which a snowballing affect. Taking deep breaths and trying to do it bit by bit, but losing focus over small things, or procrastinating by cleaning your room, or making yourself you sixth cuppa. Getting extensions on your homework only to put it off further. Finally going into total freak-out days before it’s due and sitting down with your fellow Hufflepuffs and a couple of your Ravenclaw friends, who all push you to get it done by helping and doing theirs with you. The Hufflepuffs take turns in bringing everyone hot drinks and snacks that they snuck from the kitchen. After of hours if teamwork and effort, your homework is finally done ...or at least more manageable. It’s now 2am and it’s time for sleep.
The Hufflepuffs that stare at the moon in wonder, contemplating life and the existence of the universe. Who feel their calmest underneath the open expanse of the night sky. The Hufflepuffs that dream of far off lands and whimsical creatures. And hope for a better life amongst the stars.
My first thought thinking of a motivated Hufflepuff was the Quidditch captain/keeper preparing for the upcoming game and just bursts out into song “I WANT TO BE THE VERY BEST! LIKE NO ONE EVER WAS!” The whole team choruses in with the “dun dun dun” “TO CATCH THEM IS MY REAL TEST, TO TRAIN THEM IS MY CAUSE!!!” And then the team all just start cheering and joining in “HUFFLEPUFF! GOTTA CATCH ‘EM ALL! IT’S YOU AND ME. I KNOW IT’S MY DESTINY! HUFFLEPUFF! OH YOU’RE MY BEST FRIEND! IN A GAME WE MUST DEFEND!” and the purebloods and most of the halfbloods outside are just watching in confusion unsure about what is happening as the Hufflepuffs continue to sing loudly and out of tune.
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