8
Anna was stunned by Regulus' question. "Is it or have people just made you feel this way?" He had struck her inner debate perfectly, in a way she couldn't begin to put into words. It was as if he had pulled the tangled mess of her feelings into the open, giving shape to something she hadn’t quite been able to articulate herself. Had she really grown to dislike her birthday because of how everyone around her seemed to inflate its importance? Their excitement, their endless planning—it made her feel like she was supposed to care more than she did. Or was it simpler than that? Maybe she didn’t feel like celebrating at all, and all the fuss only made it worse.
She glanced at Regulus, trying to gauge his expression, but his face remained impassive, his grey eyes still fixed on the lake. There was no mockery in his tone, no arrogance. He had asked the question as if it were the most natural thing to wonder. And yet, it felt unnervingly personal.
"I... I don't know," Anna murmured, letting her guard fall.
It was odd, someone that she thought hated her, knew her better than her loved ones. He could see through her better than her brother, who had been around her since she was born. Her mind wandered to Frank and then to her friends; they had always known her as competitive, kind, and hard-working. They saw her as part of the group, a miniature piece of the larger puzzle, not an unsolved puzzle of her own. Anna Longbottom was a complex puzzle she wasn't sure how to solve. Yet, Regulus, her competitor on the pitch and in the classroom, was solving it with a small conversation.
Regulus looked at her, his expression unreadable, the cool wind tugging at the edges of his dark robes. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world seemed still. The usual noise of Hogwarts—the faint hum of distant voices, the creak of the castle’s old stones—faded into the background.
A sudden tension hung in the air of the Astronomy Tower, thick and palpable. It wasn’t the typical tension that came from their rivalry in class or from the old animosity between Gryffindor and Slytherin. This was different. More intimate. It felt as though they were standing on the edge of something neither of them understood but neither could pull away from. Anna’s breath caught in her throat, her heart beating faster for reasons she couldn’t fully explain. The familiar distance between them—the one she had always assumed was born out of dislike—seemed to blur, leaving something else in its place. Something unspoken but undeniably present.
“Let's just hope that your birthday doesn't interfere with the upcoming Quidditch game, Longbottom,” Regulus must've felt a growing tension, seeing as he reverted to his typical behaviour towards her. Anna blinked, caught off guard.
"It won't, Black," Anna's voice shook.
Merlin, did Anna hate how her voice shook. She hated how easily he threw her off balance.
Regulus smirked and leaned into her ear.
"You should run so you aren't late for practice," Regulus whispered, his breath hot against her ear. You don't want your team raising questions, do you?"
A shiver danced up her spine. Before she could react further, Regulus had already adjusted to lean against the railing. Anna tried to push down the fluttering feeling of butterflies in her stomach, hating that her academic rival was making her nervous.
"They won't," Anna forced her voice to steady, "And since when did you memorise Gryffindor Quidditch practise?"
"You ask too many questions, little Longbottom."
"And you're to vague, little Black," Anna retorted, turning around and heading towards the staircase.
Anna walked onto the pitch, the tingle of butterflies slowly dying in her stomach. She tied her hair back, not wanting to get whipped with it later. Marlene waved at her, motioning her over to the fourth-year. Anna complied, a small smile gracing her face.
“Where were you? Potter was getting ready to get a new chaser,” Marlene whispered.
“I just needed some air before practice, studying and talking about my birthday was getting overwhelming,” Anna easily lied.
“Little Longbottom! McKinnon! Come on!” James yelled, already on his broom and in the air.
The girls quickly mounted their brooms and kicked off the grass, joining their team in the air. Frank split the team, wanting his chasers to practise against their Keepers. The familiar rush of flying dissipated Anna's earlier tension and nerves. Anna looked over, noticing a few scattered observers in the stands. A brunette boy sat with a familiar redhead, who pumped her fist. Anna smiled at the encouragement Lily and Remus were giving them. Anna looked away from the stands, flying by James.
“Hey Potter! How's it feel that your crush is cheering me on?” Anna called out, taunting him.
“Huh? Lily's here?” James looked around the stands before he noticed his best friend and crush together, watching.
Anna laughed, as James proceeded to make a fool of himself, trying to impress the ginger witch. He wobbled, fumbling the Quaffle. Marlene quickly caught the ball, proceeding to score.
“Potter! Mess up again and I'll make you stay after practice!” Frank called out. Anna grinned, watching as James mumbled something under his breath.
She glanced over at the stands once more, noticing a familiar figure watching her. Why was Regulus watching Gryffindor practise? Anna rolled her eyes, turning her attention away from her fellow third-year, the sense of butterflies filling her stomach once more. She internally fought to keep the rising heat from her cheeks. It was her turn to practise getting the Quaffle through the goal hoops.
"Annie! Your turn!" Frank called out as Marlene tossed her a Quaffle.
Regulus leaned against the bench behind him, watching Anna Longbottom closely. He had seen her look directly at him earlier, yet she seemingly hadn't told any of her teammates as they hadn't scared him off. Though he would rather hex himself than admit it, he knew Anna Longbottom possessed the potential to be a phenomenal professional Chaser, Gryffindor or not.
As she executed a perfect pass to the blonde fourth-year on her team, Regulus began second-guessing the rivalry between them. Sure, he had been the one to start it, but she always added to whatever petty argument they had in the corridors. They had both tried everything in their power to outdo the other in classes. And yet, there he was, watching her with admiration at her Quidditch practise.
It was like a moth to a flame, and unfortunately, Regulus Arcturus Black couldn't pull away from the flame that was Anna Longbottom.
Anna groaned, lying on the pitch, heaving for air. Her broom lay a few feet away, where she'd dropped it. She felt her back relax against the prickly ground, relieving some of the pain. She stared at the sky, where fluffy white clouds scattered against the blue tapestry. She squinted, before flopping her arm over her eyes. Frank walked over to his little sister, kicking her foot.
“What?” She whined.
“Go change and come join us in the common room,” Frank ordered.
“I will in a moment. I swear James tried to push me off my broom for embarrassing him,” Anna said, lifting her arm slightly. Squinting up at her big brother, she saw a smile cross his face.
“Good thing he didn't, I don't feel like writing to Mum and Dad that you got injured over a petty disagreement during practise,” Frank joked.
“Dad would likely be disappointed it wasn't during a match,” Anna smiled with a playful tone to her words, “Go on ahead of me. I'll join up in a bit, the sun feels good.”
"Sounds good, Annie," Frank smiled at his sister before walking off the pitch.
Anna dropped her arm back over her eyes, shutting them, as she was basking in the warmth of the sunlight. It was a moment of peace- not having to worry about her birthday, schoolwork, or her rivalry with Regulus. However, she was still confused about their interaction earlier and the fact he watched her Quidditch practise. She could hear the faint rustle of clothes approach her.
"What is it now?" Anna hummed, assuming it was one of her teammates.
When there was no answer, she lifted her arm slightly; no one was standing over her. She looked over, Regulus Black was lying in the grass beside her. He had his arms behind his head, eyes shut as he basked in the sunlight beside her. Anna turned onto her side, propping her head up with her arm.
"What are you doing here, Regulus?" Anna questioned, observing him.
"What? Can I not enjoy the sunshine?" Regulus smirked, keeping his eyes shut and head facing the sky.
"You had the whole pitch and the entire grounds, and yet you picked right beside me," Anna pointed out, causing Regulus to lull his head towards her, looking her in the eyes.
"What can I say, Anna , you're a rare exception of tolerable Gryffindors," Regulus mused.
"A rare exception, hm? And how rare am I?" A smile tugged on her lips.
Regulus rolled his eyes, looking back at the sky. Anna let her smile fall, still staring at his side profile. For a moment, she saw why the Black family was considered so attractive. Regulus had a strong side profile, with curly black hair that softened the sharpness of his nose and his icy, grey stare.
"The sun feels good. I see why you stayed out here when everyone else left," Regulus admitted.
"I bet it feels better than the cold dungeons," Anna hummed, letting her guard down to stare at him again.
Regulus turned his head and stared at her. He raised his brow, silently questioning her. Her hazel eyes met his grey, for once his gaze was soft.
"Why do you hate me, Black? It couldn't simply have been when we bumped into each other during first year, otherwise multiple people would hate each other," Anna questioned.
"I don't hate you, Anna," Regulus admitted. Anna furrowed her brows, scanning his face for any evidence that he was lying.
"You don't?"
"I could never hate you, Anna. Sure, you Gryffindors are loud and a little too courageous for your own good, but you as a person, I don't hate you," Regulus broke his stare, focusing back on the sky. Anna grinned, softly chuckling.
"And there's the normal Gryffindor and Slytherin rivalry," Anna rolled back onto her back, watching as the clouds moved across the sky slowly.
"Don't spoil this moment, Longbottom," Regulus teased.
"I always saw us as the same coin- both spares to wealthy, pureblooded families," Anna commented, "A love for Quidditch, and a hidden need for academic valedation to break the constant comparison to our brothers. And I feel like that was the cause for our constant rivalry in class."
Regulus didn't say anything, instead looking back at Anna. She had hit the nail on the head perfectly.