She Traitor

The sun shone into the large windows of Hogwarts, creating a shimmering image on the stone floor of the corridor outside the Great Hall.  It was after lunch and the students were slowly leaving for their classes.  Sarah was standing in one of the quieter spots, leaning against a pillar, when she noticed an elegant figure coming her way.

Bianca Zabini, a Slytherin girl with a reputation for having one of the sharpest tongues in her year, walked with the look of a cat ready to attack.  Her dark hair was perfectly sleek and her emerald green eyes shone with mischief. Sarah hated her.

"Potter," Bianca addressed her in a velvety voice that didn't hide the sarcasm. "I hear you've finally ended the tragi-comedy with Fenwick. It's about time, don't you think?"

Sarah, who had originally wanted to enjoy a few minutes of peace, froze.  Anger was rising in her, but she tried to suppress it.  “What do you want, Zabini?” she asked coldly, turning to her.

Bianca smiled slightly, folded her arms over her chest and tilted her head to the side.  "Nothing special.  I was just wondering how long it would take you to realize that Benji Fenwick was too good for you.  Seriously Sarah, someone like you?  Relationships require a certain... delicacy, and that's not exactly your forte, is it?”

"Stay away from him," Sarah hissed, her voice low but warning.

Bianca laughed, short and sharp, as if Sarah's words were just a bad joke.  "Oh, don't worry.  I don't need to feel sorry for him.  I think Benji has already figured out what your problem is.  Perhaps I should advise him to stay away—for his own safety.”

Sarah balled her hands into fists.  "I told you to leave it."

But Bianca had no plans to stop.  She took a step closer until she was almost at Sarah's face.  "And what will you do?  Are you cursing me?  That's how you solved your problem in defense class, right?  After all, you and Rosier had a great time when you both ended up in the infirmary.”

Sarah was shaking with rage.  "That was something else."

"Sure," Bianca continued sweetly, "It's different when it comes to Sarah Potter. Maybe you should focus on someone who can tame you. But that's probably no one who can handle your endless outbursts of anger."

Sarah felt heat rise to her face.  Her heart was pounding and her self-control began to break.

“Are you really not going to leave me alone?” she whispered, her voice strained.

Bianca shrugged like she was having fun.  "I have a feeling that you can never be talked to in peace.  Benji learned that too, see?  I feel a little sorry for him - maybe he should be with me.  You know, someone with a… level.”

Sarah finally couldn't hold back.  “Expulso!” she shouted, not realizing what she was doing.

The spell hit Bianca right in the chest.  She was thrown backwards, hitting a stone wall and collapsing to the ground.

The corridor was suddenly filled with silent shock.  A group of students began to gather around, their eyes alternately looking at Sarah and Bianca.  Bianca, still on the ground, slowly got up.  Her face was contorted with pain and rage.

"You...crazy..." Bianca began, but a sharp voice cut her off.

"What's going on here?" cried Professor McGonagall as she appeared at the end of the corridor, her gaze swept over the situation and she quickly understood what had happened.

Sarah immediately felt the weight of guilt but knew there was no point in making excuses.  "It's my fault, Professor," she admitted quietly.

McGonagall measured her sternly.  “There will be consequences, Miss Potter.  Come with me.  And you," she turned to Bianca, "go to the miss Pomfrey.

•••

Quiet footsteps echoed through the stone corridors of Hogwarts.  Sarah Potter trudged down the hall, her eyes fixed on the floor as she struggled to overcome the weariness that consumed her entire being.  Her eyes were heavy, burning as if she had been crying for hours, even though she didn't shed any tears.

It was the third night that sleep had remained a distant dream.  She spent the first two nights of her sentence in the Forbidden Forest, which she did not recover from.  The ominous darkness, the smell of the acromantles, and Rosier's eternal grumbling kept appearing in her memories.  And tonight capped off the professorial punishment from McGonagall.  Hours of copying parchments as punishment for the incident with Bianca Zabini.

Sarah wiped her forehead with her sleeve and paused to rub her temples.  What was the point of rewriting wizard duels?  Was it something like an attempt to show her that next time she should think before she starts casting spells on a classmate who pissed her off to the limit of reason?

But her thoughts were lost, circling in confusion and returning to the clash with Bianca.  Was Bianca right when she told her in front of the whole class that she was acting like a crazy witch, what did she think she was going to fix everything with a spell?  Sarah felt her cheeks burn just at the memory.  She couldn't control herself then - she sent Bianca across the hall.

She let out a heavy breath and was about to step forward when a familiar voice stopped her.

“Potter, are you sure you're going in the right direction?  You look like you're going to fall at any moment."

She stopped in her tracks, unable to believe what she was hearing.  No.  Not today.  Please, not today.

She slowly turned her head and her suspicions were confirmed.  At the end of the corridor, leaning against the wall, stood Regulus Black.  With his arms folded across his chest and an expression that was a mixture of amusement and condescending disdain.  His eyes slid over her body like an x-ray until she felt like he could see right through her tired soul.

“What do you want, Black?” she snapped, though her voice sounded dull and lifeless.

"A patrol," he replied casually. "Prefect duties. But seeing you here...I thought you looked unusual...lost. After all, it's my duty to help the students who are wandering the halls aimlessly."

Sarah stared at him in disbelief.  What was he up to?  Did he want to make her mad?  Have fun at her expense?

"I'm on my way to the tower," she snapped wearily. "Leave me alone."

Regulus raised an eyebrow as if to lecture her on something she had just missed.  "After dinner?  Given your reputation, I would expect that I wouldn't bump into you when you walk down the hall."

He was right about that, if he had been walking down the corridor on any other day, he wouldn't have really come across her.

"Let me go Black."

"Really?" his voice came from behind her again, quieter this time, but all the more unpleasant. "That's it? Two nights in the Forbidden Forest and now a punishment from McGonagall. Are you breaking down now?"

"Leave me alone," she repeated quietly without turning around.

"That's not in my schedule right now.  Has Bianca calmed down or does she still rage when she hears your name?" he continued. "They said the incident was pretty explosive."

Sarah froze.  She felt her chest tighten.  She wasn't in the mood for memories of Bianca flying down the hall when her nerves just gave way.

"Don't you want to admit she was right?" Regulus added. "Bianca probably got on your overpriced nerves enough."

"Shut up," she gritted her teeth, but her tone lacked force.

"Shut up?  That's all?" Regulus stepped even closer. His presence was unrelenting, as if he wanted to draw her into his icy arrogance. "Usually, your answers are at least entertaining. It's barely worth talking about today.  Sarah felt her headache rising.  His every word seemed to press against her temples.

“Do you have any energy at all, or are you on the verge of a breakdown?” he asked, tilting his head. “There's no point even provoking you like this.”

"I've got better things to do than talk to you," she retorted and strode off again. Her head began to spin. She wanted to say something to him, something real, but at that moment all her thoughts melted into a hazy mess.

"Come on, be careful," Regulus said as he saw her falter. He took a step towards her and grabbed her arm as she staggered.

"I don't understand you," she mumbled as his hand tightened around her elbow.

Suddenly the world seemed to lose its colors.  Regulus was close, too close, and her tired brain focused on the strange details—how firm his hand was, how clean he smelled, even though his presence always irritated her.

He has long fingers.  They look almost artistic.  Why am I noticing this?  And why does he have such a nicely cut robe?  Her thoughts flowed one after the other, without any order.

"You should get some sleep, Potter," he said softly as he helped her balance.

"What?" she blurted out.

"Sleep," he repeated. "You know, that thing that normal people practice. When I look at you, I think you've already forgotten what a pillow looks like."

A pillow, Sarah thought.  Soft, white, like a cloud.  Not like Black.  He is more...

She quickly suppressed the thought as it seemed completely pointless.

"Shut up, Black," she said through gritted teeth, but it didn't sound as sharp as she intended either.

“Is that all you got? You have already said that before." Regulus retorted, still holding her as his voice filled with quiet amusement. "Honestly, Potter, I'm getting disappointed.

"Leave me alone," she repeated, weaker this time.

"Why should I?" he whispered. "It's interesting to watch you in this state. Usually you're a storm—fierce, destructive. Today you're…human. Maybe even…cute."

Sarah stared at him as if he had just spoken another language.  Cute?  What is it supposed to be?  Is that an insult?  Is that a compliment?  Is this just another way to screw me over?

She felt her head start to spin.  His hand holding her was too firm, his presence too close.  She staggered again and this time he caught her completely.

Regulus held her close to him so she wouldn't fall.  "Potter," he said quietly, "maybe you should go to the infirmary."

Her mind was completely clouded at that moment.  All she could feel was his body pressed against hers, holding her firmly but gently.  And her brain, through the tiredness and confusion, began to focus on things it shouldn't have - on his scent, on how calmly he was breathing.

Regulus Black, Sarah thought, the cocky idiot who irritates me every now and then... Why does he have such a steady hand?

“Sarah?” he addressed her softly, this time without mocking.

Sarah looked at him in confusion.  Her head was spinning even more and everything around her was a blur.  "I need..." she began, but didn't finish the sentence.

"Come," he said, leading her gently to the nearest staircase. "I'll escort you to the tower. You've had too many...adventures tonight."

Too exhausted to fight back, she let herself be led.  Her head was full of blurry images and vague feelings.  And his voice, which sounded like an echo to her from afar, was suddenly strangely… comforting.

•••

Regulus Black looked at Potter who was barely able to stay on her feet in his hands.  Her head dropped and her step was heavy and uncoordinated.  Is this really Potter?  The girl who is always ready to argue, fight and set the world on fire?

For once he didn't feel the need to throw something poisonous at her.  Instead, he supported her and guided her quietly through the corridors of Hogwarts, aware of how light she really was.  It was strange - this vulnerability in someone he only knew as an unyielding adversary.

The moonlight fell on her face as they passed the arched windows.  She gave him a confused look, her eyes unfocused as if she wasn't sure who he was.  Maybe she even forgot where she was.

"Just a few more steps," he murmured quietly, more to himself than to her.

But her steps were slowing.  Her body was giving out, as if it couldn't even pretend it had the strength to go on.  He felt her collapse on his shoulder and quickly caught her before she slid to the ground.

"Potter," he addressed her sharply, but without the usual sneer.

She didn't answer.  Her eyes were half closed, her breathing quiet and irregular.

This is no longer worth it, he thought.  Without further protest, he swung her into his arms as if she were a rag doll.  She really wasn't heavy, which surprised him.

His footsteps echoed through the hollow corridor as he carried her towards the Gryffindor tower.  Sarah squirmed slightly in his arms, her head falling to his shoulder but still remaining in a faint state.

"At least once I have you speechless," he muttered softly, the corner of his mouth forming a hint of a smile.

When he reached the image of the Fat Lady, he raised his hand and knocked.

“Password?” said a sleepy voice of the Fat lady

"There will be no need," Regulus stated coldly, his tone not allowing for discussion.

With a reluctant grunt, the painting opened, but instead of the empty entrance to the Gryffindor tower, Frank Longbottom appeared in the doorway.  He looked erect, authoritative in his robes, and his expression instantly changed when he saw Sarah in Regulus' arms.

“What happened?” Frank asked, his voice an octave higher than he wanted.

Regulus stopped in front of the threshold.  His demeanor was still calm, but something unreadable sparkled in his eyes.

"I found her in the hallway.  She looked like she was going to pass out at any moment," he said curtly. "It didn't seem right to leave her lying there."

Frank's gaze swept over Sarah's limp body, and when he returned it to Regulus, his face was filled with worry.  "Thank you," he said softly, with sincerity in his voice.

Regulus eyed him as if considering whether to entrust Sarah to him.  Finally, however, he nodded slightly and moved her in his arms so that he could hand her over to Frank.

"Take care of her," he said curtly.

Frank took her gently, his face tense with worry.  Sarah muttered something into his hands, but it couldn't be heard.

As Regulus turned to leave, Frank called out once more, "Black!"

Regulus turned, his face still expressionless but his gaze piercing.

"Thank you, for not leaving her there." Frank repeated more firmly, as if he felt the need to emphasize his thanks.

Regulus didn't answer.  He merely nodded and disappeared into the shadows of the corridor, his footsteps fading into the sound of distant castle life.