Family Feud Solo Finished

Dungeon halls, after Potions class.

Second year students poured into the halls after their Potions Professor had dismissed them for the day, chattering animatedly and filling the usually cold and desolate Dungeons with booming noise--some bragging about their successful brewing during the lesson, others lamenting about being assigned with a long essay due for next class. Regina, for her part, did not stick close to the other Lions nor interacted with any of them, choosing to linger behind as she preferred to walk alone. It was the last period of the day, but she wasn't worried about running late to dinner, and she did not rush as she leisurely strolled down the hall in the direction of the stairs leading up to the ground floor. Her preceptor had always engrained into her mind about the importance of punctuality as a young Pureblood heiress, but Regina wasn't home at the moment, and she was allowed a moment of respite, a moment of pretending she wasn't an aristocrat bound to strict mannerisms and public image. She was allowed a moment to find peace in solitude.

But of course, the calm never lasted long before the first signs of a storm appeared.

The Gryffindor faltered in her steps as a familiar silhouette came into view, brows furrowing out of instinct at the impending tension growing instantly the second orchid eyes met with striking cobalt--a colour that viciously burned in the darkest corners of her nightmares. Regina would, dreadfully, recognize the person anywhere. There was no mistaking in the haughty way the figure sauntered and the beginning of a malicious grin on red plump lips.

The other Miller heiress, her contemptible sister Rebecca, flanked by equally despicable little Slytherin minions.

The thorn in my side. She's no doubt aiming to goad me into an unsightly argument again.

Regina could barely hold back a sneer at the thought. As Pureblood heirs, they were very rigorously taught to never air out dirty laundry. Memories of Father's harsh scolding for giving in to her sister's taunting--resulting into her getting caught trying to break the rules by dueling in the corridors during Regina's first year at Hogwarts--flooded her mind and stir up a dangerous amount of hatred inside her chest. Regina's magic reacted at once, spreading into menacing tendrils and turning the atmosphere glacial cold, colder than the dungeons already were. It was a curse of being a Gryffindor at heart despite of her lineage--she hadn't yet mastered to control how her magic respond to emotions, and it was one of the things that Rebecca no doubt took great pleasure in prodding the dragon with.

As expected, the younger aristocrat found her path instantly blocked from all sides by one of her sister's followers, leaving no room to escape what was about to transpire. Rebecca's magic was just as responsive, and the air became suffocating when their respective tendrils threatened to strangle each other out.

"A Lion in the Snakes' den," The blue-eyed Slytherin drawled, mocking smirk edged on her face. "You're quite far from your tower, sister mine. So small, so alone. So weak."

If looks could kill, Regina's glare would have Avada Kedavraed her sister hundreds time over without mercy.

"Quite ironic that you would dare to call me weak, sister mine," The Gryffindor spat, purple eyes glinting sharply though her tone was carefully kept neutral. "I certainly do not require anyone else to stand-off against my enemy to feel proud of myself."

Regina felt a vindictive glee surging instantly at the contorted expression on the Snake's face as the other black-haired witch bristled. She knew exactly how to push people's buttons and manipulate strong feelings out of them just as well as Rebecca could, and her sister was anything but a coward. The Lion knew a direct attack to her inflated ego would work marvelously, and as a result, Rebecca immediately snarled at her minions to leave with poisonous rage swirling behind azure irises. They didn't hesitate to scurry away as quick as possible, too afraid of being caught in the crossfire of one of the Miller sisters' infamous arguments.

Once they were alone, the Snake wasted no time in schooling her expression, clearly trying to concede the upper hand.

"I see you are learning well in the art of inciting reactions out of others. Well done. But you cannot hope to outsmart me, dear sister. I'm sure you have yet to forget Yule dinner?"

Regina's posture went rigid at the reminder of losing her temper back at the Miller manor during their Yule holidays, all because she had allowed her anger to control her actions prompted by Rebecca's subtle antagonising in the presence of their entire family. The temperature seemed to drop impossibly lower as the younger heiress' aspen wand fell from under the sleeve of her robe and into her hand--unintentionally proving her sister right about being unable to keep on an indifferent mask. Regina wondered if it was the conditioned response to being Rebecca's target of emotional abuse, or--her heart hammered with barely disguised fear and insecurity--simply because deep down she was a Gryffindor through and through, and her family heritage would never be able to quell the instinctual impulsiveness as a Lion.

Rebecca's menacing grin grew wide at the challenge, her own wand raised and ready to duel it out despite the risk of being caught, Slytherin self-preservation forgotten. A Miller never backed down in the face of a battle, and they both knew this.

The Knockback Jinx incantation was on the tip of Regina's tongue when a loud shout echoed through the dungeon corridors, startling both witches and instantly breaking the unresolved tension.

"Stop! What do you think you're doing?!" It was the unmistakable voice of their eldest brother, Rupert Miller, who was running towards them with an irate expression. His twin, Harold, was hot on his heels and looking no less annoyed, if not exasperated.

Regina, wanting nothing more to escape the embarrassment and the inevitable scolding from the Miller twins, immediately shoved her aspen wand into her robe pocket and slinked away before they could catch up. She would let her older siblings deal with each other and retreat to the Gryffindor Tower to lick her figurative wound. The Lion couldn't believe she had been so close to giving into her rage--the following consequence should Father hear of the almost-duel would have been unforgiving. Alfred Miller was a strict parent and he'd never tolerate his children sullying their family name by breaking the rules.

The punishment during Yule was already enough. I have to stop letting her goad me into this pathetic feud.

Ignoring the stern calls of the oldest Miller heir, Regina rushed towards the stairs and out of sight. She wouldn't allow her sister to shatter her mask again.

(If only it was that easy.)

WC: 1140