Quidditch
James Potter awoke to the sound of shouting. It wasn’t the usual ruckus of his friends—no, this was something more chaotic. He squinted at the sunlight filtering through the curtains, feeling as if he’d been hit by a rogue Bludger.
“—are you serious, Peter? You can’t just take his side!” came Sirius’s voice, followed by a loud crash that rattled the dormitory.
James groaned, throwing his pillow over his head. He was usually a morning person, eager to seize the day, but today was different. He felt the weight of yesterday’s events pressing down on him, especially the encounter with Regulus. He tossed the pillow aside and climbed out of bed, his heart heavy with guilt.
As he stepped into the common room, he found Peter in the middle of a heated argument between Sirius and Remus, their voices rising in frustration. “You can’t expect me to just ignore it! He’s my brother!” Sirius shouted, pacing back and forth.
James sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “What’s going on?”
Peter looked relieved to see him. “Sirius is mad because Regulus is being a git again.”
“Isn’t he always?” James muttered, shaking his head. “Listen, I’m not ready for this. I need to clear my head.”
He headed for the showers, hoping that the water would wash away the lingering doubts about his failure to help Regulus. Under the hot spray, he found a moment of peace, but his mind drifted back to Regulus on the Quidditch pitch yesterday, soaring through the air like a dark angel. He had looked so majestic, the wind ruffling his dark hair, and James’s heart had skipped a beat at the sight.
“No, not now,” James muttered to himself, shaking his head. “Focus on Quidditch.”
After showering, he quickly dressed and made his way to the Quidditch pitch for practice. As he flew through the air, he lost himself in the rhythm of the game, the rush of wind against his face. But there he was again—Regulus Black, practicing on the adjacent pitch, his every movement fluid and powerful.
James’s heart raced, and he pushed himself harder, determined to block out the feelings swirling within him. But it was impossible. With each flick of Regulus’s broom, the ache of wanting to help him gnawed at James. He wanted to reach out, to break through the barriers between them, but how could he when Regulus was so closed off?
An hour later, both teams finished practice, and James found himself drifting toward the changing rooms, his mind still occupied with thoughts of Regulus. He entered to find the space empty except for one figure—Regulus, who stood shirtless in front of the mirror.
The sight took James’s breath away. Regulus’s back was marked with bruises and faint scars, evidence of the life he led under his family’s oppressive control. A new wave of guilt washed over James, and he felt his heart constrict as he realized the toll it was taking on Regulus.
He quickly turned away, trying to give Regulus privacy. But before he could slip out, he heard the sound of water running as Regulus stepped into the shower. James bit his lip, torn between wanting to give him space and the urge to say something, to reach out.
After taking a cold shower of his own, James dressed quickly, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in his stomach. As he made his way to the Great Hall, he forced a sunny poker face, hoping his friends wouldn’t see through the façade.
Sitting at the Gryffindor table, he couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt that hovered over him like a dark cloud. His friends chatted animatedly about classes and Quidditch strategies, but James felt detached, his thoughts lingering on Regulus.
“James? You in there?” Remus nudged him gently. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
James plastered on a smile. “Just tired, I guess. Too much excitement yesterday.”
Sirius raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Or too much thinking about your crush?”
James nearly choked on his pumpkin juice. “I don’t have a crush!” he protested, though his cheeks flushed. “I just… I worry about Regulus, that’s all.”
“Regulus Black?” Peter scoffed. “Why would you waste your thoughts on him? He’s a Slytherin, James!”
“Because he’s still Sirius’s brother,” Remus interjected calmly, his brow furrowed in thought. “And no one deserves to be unhappy, regardless of their house.”
James nodded, grateful for Remus’s support. “Exactly. I just wish I knew how to help him.”
“You can’t save everyone, James,” Sirius said, his voice softer now. “Sometimes, they have to want it for themselves.”
“Yeah, I know,” James replied, his thoughts heavy with regret. “But I feel like I should at least try.”
Classes flew by, each lesson a blur as James struggled to focus. In Potions, Snape’s sneering remarks only heightened his irritation, and by the time he found himself in Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall, he felt utterly drained.
During a particularly dull lecture, James caught sight of Regulus across the room. The Slytherin was engrossed in his notes, his brow furrowed in concentration. James’s heart ached again, a mixture of admiration and frustration. If only Regulus could see how much he mattered, how he didn’t have to fight his battles alone.
When the class ended, James took a deep breath, mustering his courage. He walked out of the classroom and caught up with Regulus just as he exited.
“Regulus!” James called, his voice firm.
Regulus turned, surprise flickering across his features. “What do you want, Potter?”
“I just… wanted to see how you were doing,” James stammered, suddenly feeling foolish.
Regulus crossed his arms, a defensive posture. “Why do you care? You’re not my friend.”
“Maybe not, but I want to be,” James replied, stepping closer. “You don’t have to go through everything alone.”
Regulus’s expression softened for a moment, but he quickly masked it with indifference. “I don’t need your pity, Potter.”
“It’s not pity!” James insisted, frustration bubbling to the surface. “I see you, Regulus. I see what you’re going through, and I want to help.”
Regulus’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, James thought he saw something—fear? Vulnerability? But then it was gone, replaced by the familiar mask of defiance.
“I don’t need your help,” Regulus said flatly. “Just leave me alone.”
James felt the sting of rejection but refused to back down. “Fine, but I’ll be here if you ever change your mind.”
As he walked away, his heart heavy, James wondered if he was fighting a losing battle. But deep down, he knew he couldn’t give up on Regulus. He wouldn’t let the darkness consume him without a fight.
Returning to the Gryffindor common room, James felt a mix of frustration and determination. He might not have been able to save Regulus today, but he wouldn’t stop trying. Love and friendship were worth the struggle, even if it meant facing the darkness that lingered between them.
Regulus pov:
Regulus felt a wave of annoyance wash over him as he walked away from James Potter. The Gryffindor had saved Sirius, and there was something admirable in that, but Regulus couldn’t shake the feeling of irritation. He didn’t hate James; it was more complicated than that. Love and hate had never been so clear-cut in his world.
He pushed the thoughts aside as he walked back to the Slytherin dormitory, his mind racing with a mixture of confusion and frustration. Unlike Sirius, who had managed to escape their family’s clutches, Regulus felt trapped. His parents hadn’t subjected him to the Cruciatus Curse, but their expectations loomed over him like a dark cloud, suffocating his every thought.
As he entered the dorm, a burst of childish laughter greeted him. Dorcas Meadowes jumped out from behind a curtain, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Reggie! Help usss!”
“What?” Regulus raised an eyebrow, already dreading what was about to unfold.
He stepped into the boys’ dormitory, only to find Evan Rosier and Barty Crouch locked in a heated argument. Evan’s cheek was flushed, a stark red mark from a slap clearly visible on his face.
“AND WHY DO YOU CARE IF SHE IS GOOD FOR ME?” Evan yelled, his voice echoing in the small space.
“BC I’M YOUR BSF, AND I WANT THE BEST FOR YOU! WHY ARE YOU DUMB?” Barty retorted, throwing his hands up in exasperation.
“REG IS MY BSF TOO, AND HE THINKS SHE IS GOOD!” Evan shot back, pointing an accusatory finger at Regulus.
Regulus felt his patience fraying as he clutched his wand tightly. “Silencio!” he cast, and suddenly, the room was enveloped in an awkward silence. The chaos faded into nothingness, and Regulus let out a heavy sigh, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. He glanced at Pandora, who looked about ready to burst with anxiety.
“Okay, shut up, all of you!” Regulus commanded, glancing between the three of them. “Dora? What’s going on between them?”
Pandora stepped forward, her voice low. “It’s about the girl Evan is dating. Barty thinks she’s no good for him.”
Regulus frowned, trying to piece together the situation. He didn’t know much about Evan’s girlfriend, a Hufflepuff named Odessa. In his limited observations, she seemed decent enough. But why was Barty so adamant about this?
A thought flickered in his mind, and suddenly, it hit him like a Bludger to the chest. Barty had a crush on Evan. The connection between the two had always been there, a silent bond that neither of them seemed to acknowledge.
Regulus exhaled slowly, letting the realization settle. “Okay, I’m going to unsilence you,” he said, his voice steady. “Barty, Evan knows what he’s doing and who to date. You don’t get to decide that for him.”
Barty opened his mouth to protest, but Regulus cut him off. “And Evan, stop being a baby and yelling back. It’s embarrassing.”
Dorcas’s giggle broke through the tension, and Regulus felt a flicker of amusement despite the chaos. “Dora and Dorcas, let’s all go to lunch now,” he declared, motioning for them to follow him.
As they left the dormitory, Regulus couldn’t shake the lingering thoughts of James Potter. He had offered help—something Regulus knew he didn’t want but desperately needed. He hated the way it made him feel, like a weight on his chest that he couldn’t push away.
“Hey, Reggie,” Dorcas chirped, snapping him out of his thoughts. “You okay?”
“Just peachy,” he replied, forcing a smile. “Just got caught up in all this nonsense.”
Evan walked alongside him, his expression still sulky. “I don’t see why Barty cares so much. Odessa’s great.”
Regulus nodded absently, his mind still swirling. “Maybe it’s not about her. Maybe it’s about something else entirely.”
Evan paused, looking at Regulus with a mix of confusion and understanding. “What do you mean?”
Regulus shrugged, unsure if he wanted to delve into the mess of feelings swirling around them. “Just… people can be complicated, Evan. Sometimes they care more than they let on.”
As they made their way to the Great Hall, the din of laughter and chatter enveloped them, but Regulus felt a distinct separation from it all. He couldn’t shake the shadow of James Potter and the weight of his brother’s legacy. No matter how much he tried to push it away, the world outside felt distant and unwelcoming.
He took a deep breath as they entered the Great Hall, a wave of warmth and familiarity washing over him. But as he scanned the room, his eyes fell on James, who was surrounded by his friends. The sight stirred a chaotic mixture of annoyance and intrigue within him.
Regulus didn’t hate James, and maybe he didn’t love him either. He was simply trying to navigate a world filled with expectations and shadows. And as long as that world remained unchanged, Regulus would continue walking his own path, even if it was filled with uncertainty.