Chapter 6
When Regulus first discovered quidditch, he was over the moon. Flying had been one of his favourite things ever since. So when he finally made the Slytherin quidditch team he was very pleased. He often spent time on the pitch practising alone. He felt that the act of flying through the air gave him a sense of peace that he had never known before. This of course also resulted in him being excellent at the sport, brilliant even. He enjoyed winning, because people would congratulate and praise him constantly. This was another feeling that he had never truly known before.
The great thing about quidditch was that the teams were never gendered. He had never felt out of place while playing, or like he was on the wrong team. Whatever you had between your legs, simply didn't matter on the quidditch pitch, and Regulus adored that. It had all been fine, for a long time even. But when Regulus had returned for his fifth year at Hogwarts, having transitioned as much as possible, he hadn't been aware of what that meant for him.
The start of quidditch season had always been some of the best times for him, but that was certainly over.
At the moment he was standing outside of the locker rooms, beside the quidditch pitch, getting yelled at. The second he had stepped foot inside of the boys locker rooms, he had gotten a hard push to the chest, getting sent right back out. He had gotten blindsided by the fact that his male friends had been so accepting, that he hadn't thought of the possibility that others might not be. A couple of the older guys had cornered him outside, before Evan and Barty had shown up “What exactly do you think you are doing?” Wilkes had asked him “I just wanted to change into my quidditch gear” Regulus said slightly confused “Well I figured, but I think you are aware that you are in the wrong place then. The girls locker rooms are right down there” he pointed behind Regulus “No I am definitely not in the wrong place, seeing as I am Not a girl” Regulus held his nose high, seeing as Wilkeswas much taller “Well I actually don't care what the hell you are, just as long as you stay out of our locker room. Its bloody disgusting is what it is” he pushed Regulus against the nearest wall, before going back into the locker rooms. Regulus had held back tears the entire time, but couldn't hold it back, when Barty and Evan came “Are you okay? What happened Reg?” Barty immediately looked concerned “I'm skipping practice today” Regulus cleared his throat, and simply started walking back towards the castle “I don't think you have ever skipped a practice. We were so excited to come and watch” Barty said as they followed him “Did someone say something to you? Do we need to get Slughorn?” Evan asked.
It wasn't until they were safely back in their dorm, that Regulus told them what had happened “I swear Reg, please let us do something. I'm sure that once we speak to a teacher everything will work out” Barty said “Actually I don't even wanna share a locker room with those wankers anyway. I guess I'll just have to use the girls again, or change here” He sighed “NO” Dorcas said “We are not letting some dumb seven years gaslight you into believing that you are in the wrong” she said very seriously “Well theres not much I can do is there?” he said, feeling defeated “We will figure something out, this isn't right at all reggie” Evan said.
At the next practice, Regulus was prepared for the worst. Evan had insisted on escorting him the whole way there. As they stood outside, Regulus felt like all of the confidence and the progress he had made at the start of the year had been ripped away. He stood hopeless, looking at the two doors, with a worried Evan right beside him “Confused again are we?” Wilkes had once again walked out, now standing in front of Regulus “N-No I was just about to-” he hated himself for stuttering in front of them “About to what? Not about to get in our locker room that's for sure. Didn't I already tell you? We don't want freaks like you in here. So figure something else out”
“Excuse me, what's going on here?” Regulus cringed. The Gryffindors had just finished their practice, so of course Potter just had to stop by. He wanted to crawl into a whole and never return. He turned to look at Evan. “Please dont tell him, please don't make this worse than it has to be.” He thought “Well Potter, these idiots here seem to have a problem sharing their locker room” Evan said glaring over at the older boys.
As Regulus looked at Potter, he could practically feel the anger building up as Evan told him “And why do you have a problem with that, may I ask?” Potter walked closer to the seventh years. Wilkes just chuckled “It's obvious isn't it? We don't want that freak lurking around. The poor thing doesnt even realise that She belongs with the girls. The way it has always been, and the way it should be '' he said, as if he wasn't in the wrong here “Actually, it's not obvious. There are no girls here, you lazy sod. So the only problem is the fact that you aren't letting a Boy from your own bloody house use the locker room” Potter said, and Regulus was just sort of speechless as he watched the whole thing go down.
“Always have to be the hero don't you Potter? I don't understand why you are even meddling. It's almost like you are in love. Got yourself another little girlfriend huh?” Those last few words earned him a hard punch to the jaw. He of course sent another straight back, hitting Potter across the nose.
“Mr Potter. Mr Wilks” The four of them were in Slughorn's office “I am almost afraid to ask, “but what led the two of you to react in such violence?” he asked them. Wilkes stayed quiet of course, knowing he was the dumb one “Professor. I was simply walking by as I saw Wilkes disrespecting Regulus. I wasn't just gonna stand by and let that happen was I?”
The way the Potter had used his first name without even thinking, and it being his actual name, made him soft “Well Mr. Potter. If you could explain why you were defending Mr. Black. So I can give Mr. Wilkes a proper punishment” Slughorn said, making Regulus look up. He was on their side? “Wilkes was being discriminatory against Regulus sir. He was refusing to refer to him by his correct pronouns. And the reason for all of this, was that he wouldn't let him use the boys locker rooms, though he is very much allowed to” Regulus had never heard Potter sound so angry before, it was very intimidating. But he was defending him.
“Very well, I can see why you would feel the need to react then. Seeing as there has already been made other arrangements to make Mr. black feel included. I can't see a reason one wouldnt respect that” Slughorn was now looking directly at Wilkes, who just gulped “There is of course no reason for you not to use the locker rooms as any other boy. But I will also have a talk with madam hooch, about arranging a separate space for you in case anyone makes you feel uncomfortable or unwelcome” He told Regulus, and he let out a relieved sigh “But. I do not condone any sort of violent behaviour. 50 points will be taken from Gryffindor, and Two months detention for you Mr. Wilkes.” He was about to protest, but then closed his mouth again.
“I always knew that Slughorn was a good one secretly” Potter chuckled as the three of them walked out “But you are alright with it though? And are you okay? He didn't hurt you or anything like that before I came, did he?” Potter stopped up, asking Regulus “I am alright Potter, and no he didn't hurt me. Not physically anyway” He wasn't sure how to feel. Wilkes had been sort of right about him always playing hero. Very Gryffindor of him. But this didn't feel at all like an excuse to get praise. He seemed genuinely concerned for his safety. Oh and the way he had punched Wilkes, nearly sending him to the ground by a single blow.
“Good. I am really sorry that the idiot made you feel like you were in the wrong. You tell me if he gives you any trouble okay? Any at all” Potter said, a look of worry in his eyes “You really are a hero Potter. Loads of rumours but that one is definitely true” Evan chuckled, making Potter smile modestly.
Regulus felt so protected, almost sort of safe in Potter's company. Another feeling he had never truly known before.