Chapter 5
"Aaand it's Black! Of course it's Black, the motherfucking Black with the quaffle on his way to the- yes of course, sorry Professor, I mean Sirius Black and he's trying to- and he scores! He scores!! What a madman he is, in the best possible way of course, and there is Potter congratulating his teammate, oh what am I saying, his almost-brother. But the game goes on and-"
Regulus scowled and focused on the pitch in front of him. The game already had been going on for a good while and he hadn't seen the snitch once.
That was the problem with playing seeker. He was basically useless most of the game and then all the pressure was on him for a few agonising, thrilling moments.
The atmosphere was tense, even more so than on regular matches they played against Gryffindor. Somehow everyone had gotten wind of the Black brother's fight a few days ago.
Regulus had managed to half-convince Evan and Barty that the picture had been of Lupin in a rather 'compromising' situation, but ever since he'd been living with his heart constantly beating in his throat. Just a millisecond too fast.
He hadn't heard any rumours yet. No one had called him a girl, or tried to watch him as he undressed. Yet.
In turn he had put his plans to go to Dumbledore, or the Ministry, or Walburga herself, on ice. It wasn't like he wanted to ruin Lupin's life, but he had also learned a long time ago not to waste time considering other people's feelings too much.
Still, for some reason the Gryffindor's were angry. Maybe Potter had riled them up. More likely Sirius had been a moody git and now everyone was blaming the Slytherin's, or more specifically; Regulus. But all of that didn't matter when he saw a golden speck fluttering near the stance.
Potter hadn't spotted it yet, but he was closer, much closer. Regulus dove. He dropped several feet, making sure to stay out of Potter's vision and sped up even more.
By the time someone had seen him and started yelling at James, he was way past, the little thing darting around, up and down and then; gone. Cursing Regulus flew through and around the stands, closely followed by Potter, but he'd lost sight of the snitch.
It was only because of their proximity that he even heard the lowly hint of 'Potter!', thrown into Potter's direction before he turned sharply; there was the snitch, Potter on its tail and Regulus was too far away.
He sped up, knowing he would be too late, saw Potter get closer and closer to the snitch, until, with a sickening crunch Barty crashed into Potter. Potter screamed, toppled over, spun and then hung at his hovering broom with one hand, his face a mask of pain and shock.
For a moment Regulus couldn't focus on
anything but that pained face, the tight grip on the broom. Then his instincts kicked in as the snitch flew right into his field of vision, just swirling around Potter's head. A cruel taunt. As if the game itself was mocking him.
Regulus pulled up, flew a direct angle at Potter, at the snitch. Thirty feet, then twenty. Regulus stretched out his hand. He was moments away. In the last possible moment his eyes snapped towards a tiny detail; Potter's fingers. Loose, slipping from the broom.
Regulus grabbed, his hand closing securely and then he pulled, pulled Potter back onto his broom.
Then he closed off his ears to the deafening cries of outrage by his teammates, his house, the entire world.
The snitch was gone, and Regulus shot into the sky, trying to escape the questions, the accusations, the 'what the fuck's. But most of all he was trying to escape James' half shocked, half grateful expression.
~~~
An hour later Regulus wasn't trying to get away anymore. Not in the slightest. He was fuming, working himself up more and more as he stomped through the grounds and towards the changing rooms. Evan startled as he burst through the door.
"Where is he?"
"Where is who?"
"Where is Potter?"
"Dunno," shrugged Evan, pulling on his shirt.
"Think he left already," someone else said and at that Regulus was already back out the door.
With mud still in his hair and his broom still in his hand he hurried up towards the castle and spotted a few people in red ahead of him.
"Potter!" One of them turned, a girl, then nudged the brown haired guy beside her.
"Potter!" James turned to him, his face breaking into a smile. A smile.
He sauntered down the hill towards Regulus, calling something over his shoulder and causing the rest of his group to shrug and then continue on their way.
"Hey Reggie, just wanted to say thanks for-"
As Regulus was finally at James's height he slammed both his hands into the red clad shoulders and pushed. "Did you slow down?"
Potter, who had barely caught himself from falling, spluttered.
"You were slower! You were slower than before and you were right beside me and your arms are longer than mine, but I caught the snitch and the only explanation for that is that you slowed down!" Regulus was breathing heavily. James blinked.
"Umm-"
"Did you let me win?" Regulus asked again and hated the vulnerability in his voice.
James slowly shook his head, as if trying to sort his thoughts.
Then he suddenly stuck out his hand and they both just looked at it for a moment.
James cleared his throat, "I sprained it, I think. Or Barty did, but, well, it hurts," he extended his hand slightly, then winced, "especially when I do this."
Regulus stared. The wrist was a bit swollen, probably painful. "Which, um, is kind of the exact movement you need to do to catch a snitch and I pulled back when it hurt," Potter went on and let his arm drop. "I was actually on my way to the infirmary just now."
"Oh."
James laughed, "yeah, oh."
Regulus felt ... something. He wasn't sure what, he often wasn't when it came to feelings, but this time he wasn't even sure how to categorise this.
Was he glad? Disappointed? Angry maybe? As he caught Potter's eye he couldn't help but think he might be reading the same question there.
"Well alright then." He turned on his heel, started walking away when James touched his arm.
"Why would it have been so awful of me to let you win?" There was a genuine curiosity in Potter's voice and Regulus turned back around, snatched his arm back.
"Because," he let ice seep into his voice, "I want fairness Potter. No matter how hard that may be for you to understand."
Potter ignored the jab, shook his head lightly. "Then maybe I should've slowed down. You could have caught the snitch before instead of saving my ass."
"I made a choice."
"Yeah and I saw your face when you flew away; you regretted it."
Regulus glanced down and James' voice softened, "I'm not saying I did go slower, but ... it seems almost cruel now."
"I'll take cruelty over novelty any day."
"Why?"
"Because. Because how am I supposed to know fairness otherwise? Because it's the only thing that never lies. People think you owe them for kindness."
Potter's eyebrows rose, "I don't think fairness has to be cruel."
"Maybe it doesn't, but it is more often than not. Better to be prepared. I don't need fucking hand outs Potter. I don't need your charity or your pity or your fucking help."
"Is that why you did it? Why you tried to expose Remus ... For fairness, for justice?" That question knocked the breath out of Regulus.
"That's none of your business," he bit, but Potter grinned a little carelessly. "Ohh, you know, your business, my business, Sirius's business ... they're pretty tangled somehow. And well, let's just say; your brother is a talker ..."
Regulus almost snorted at that, but caught himself in the last moment, "well fuck off Potter," he said, and then huffed and turned as Potters grin broadened.
Before he could finally leave however James called, "oh and Reg?" and he looked back, exasperated.
"You can keep the other drawing."