11
The next few days were rough for Anna, being forced to use one arm primarily. Pandora, Lily, and Alice quickly offered their help when they noticed her struggling with books or mundane things around the common room.
Regulus stared at Anna as she tried to eat a piece of toast between the array of Gryffindors talking to her. He watched as Potter walked over and patted the shoulder she had injured, noticing her body tense. Potter must've also noticed because he moved to patting her back.
"Little Longbottom," James greeted, "Good to finally see you out of the sling. Sorry about your shoulder, by the way."
"I mean you did it to save me, Potter," Anna shrugged, still careful with her shoulder. James shrugged, frowning slightly.
"Yeah, but I still caused you to get hurt," James mumbled.
"James, Madam Pomfrey already fixed it. The sling was to ensure it was set properly. Plus, I would rather have my arm dislocated than experience a fall like that again," Anna consoled.
Lily and Marlene quickly offered to help Anna pack for Christmas, even though her arm was already healed.
"You don't have to fuss over me, you know," Anna said with a small smile, watching as Marlene neatly folded a jumper and Lily levitated a stack of books into her trunk.
"Fuss? Please," Marlene scoffed, placing the jumper down, "I'm just making sure you don't end up with half your Quidditch gear in here or somehow at home."
Anna laughed and sat on the edge of her bed.
"Besides, you deserve a break after everything this past month and a half, Annie," Lily reasoned.
The train home was peaceful like any other train ride home for the holidays, complete with James failing to flirt and win over Lily's affection. The snow was delicate, framing the edges and any parts of the train that let it stay. Anna stepped off the train with Lily, Marlene, and Mary. She was immediately met with excited families rushing to their children. Lily and Mary quickly bid farewell, rushing happily to their Muggle families. Marlene stayed with Anna, trying to spot Frank or Alice whilst spotting her own family.
“I think I just saw my mother,” Anna mumbled, leading them in the direction she assumed her mother was in.
“I see Frank, are you all right to get your trunk over there without me?” Marlene confirmed.
“I'll be fine, Marls. Have a good holiday!” Anna responded, hugging the blonde witch.
“You as well!”
Regulus smiled as he walked to his parents. Both stood tall, their scrutinising gaze flicking across many families waiting for their children.
"Congratulations on the game against Gryffindor, dear," Walburga praised her youngest.
"Thank you, Mother," Regulus smiled before looking around.
He wasn't fully sure if he was looking for his older brother or if he was looking for a certain Gryffindor witch.
Walburga looked down, noticing her youngest looking around even as his brother walked towards them with the Potter boy. She leaned down near his ear.
"Who are you looking for dear?" She whispered, a sly smile forming. Had her youngest found a little pureblood girl that he fancied?
Walburga lifted her head back up, standing straight with her hand rubbing Regulus' shoulder. Sirius and James walked over, the latter boy growing more hesitant in his steps the closer they got.
"Hello, Sirius," Orion greeted his son.
"Sirius, James," Walburga greeted the two heirs.
"Hello," James greeted quietly, intimidated by Mr and Mrs Black.
"James!" The faint call of Fleamont Potter rang above the mumble of the crowd.
"Bye, James, owl me when you can!" Sirius waved at his friend as the messy-haired boy ran off into the crowd for his parents.
Walburga looked down at Regulus, noticing his quiet nature. He was, yet again, looking for someone. However, she wasn't the only one who saw it, as Sirius caught his little brother trying to search the crowd.
"Who are you looking for, Reggie?" Sirius taunted.
“No one,” Regulus immediately became defensive.
That evening, the Black family sat at their dinner table in silence. Regulus had lost count of the number of drinks his father had already downed by the time Kreacher apprated dinner to the table.
“Sirius, I received a letter a few days ago about some prank you and your friends caused. Professor McGonagall seemed as disappointed in it as your father and I were by the end of that letter,” Walburga broke the silence first.
“It was a mostly harmless prank, Mother. Those first and second years were being overdramatic,” Sirius shrugged off, “Besides it was funny.”
Regulus could see the look of disappointment flicker across their mother's features.
“You are the heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black!” Orion slammed his hand on the table, causing Regulus to flinch at his father's drunken outburst, “Act like it!”
He could see the look of anger morph into shock across his brother's face. Regulus brought his glass of pumpkin juice to his lips, trying to ignore the argument between his parents and brother.
“Sirius,” Walburga's tone was much gentler then her husband's as she took a sip of wine, “All we want you to quit this act you are pulling at school. You are a pureblood and we're raised as such. I will not have you disgrace our daily name in the house of our fathers.”
Regulus glanced over at Kreacher, the house-elf glaring at Sirius from the kitchen doorway. The old house-elf caught his youngest master's gaze, dipping his head and shrinking back to the kitchen. Reg lowered his head as Orion got up and left the room, grumbling to himself.
“I hear the Quidditch team has been successful so far, Regulus,” Walburga shifted the conversation to her youngest.
“Yes, Mother. Fortunately, the team works very well together. Having Mulciber as a Beater this season has been working in our favour,” Regulus answered, not wanting to talk about the most recent match against Gryffindor.
Anna Longbttom had nearly died from Mulciber hitting a rather rough Bludger to her shoulder. Something about Anna had captivated him and playing against her was going to destroy him.
“Really? Because he injured one of our star chasers and I know you saw it, Regulus,” Sirius shot a look at his brother.
“Quidditch is a dangerous game, Sirius, and your brother knew that the moment he tried out. As does everyone else who plays that sport,” Walburga cut a piece of her roasted duck, not catching Sirius’ smug smirk at his little brother.
“Yes, I saw it, Sirius, but that doesn't mean I knew Longbottom was going to get hit. As far as I'm aware, my team doesn't plot who the Beaters will hit a Quaffle to. Besides, I had been doing my role, finding and catching the Snitch,” Regulus defended.