Slytherin vs Gryffindor
Regulus Black looked over his shoulder as he sauntered across the Great Hall. Spirits were always high at the Gryffindor table in the time leading up to a Gryffindor vs Slytherin match. His focus hovered for a few seconds on Sirius, as he charmed a banner to show a lion's tale asphyxiating a serpent, amongst cheers from the younger girls. Feigning disgust, he proceeded to hop to his preferred seat, only to see it occupied by a silently arguing Snape and the mudblood friend from Gryffindor. On noticing Regulus' presence, she turned back in alarm, wished him the best for the game and walked purposefully back to the Gryffindor table. Snape looked disgruntled. "Nothing serious I hope?" asked Regulus pointedly as he politely patted Snape on his arm. Snape scratched his nose absentmindedly with his fork. With butter still on his nose, he blinked rapidly as if to acquiesce that all was well.
He did not ask again, he was preoccupied with breakfast and the tiny owl that pelted towards him. After untying the satisfyingly long scroll from his leg, the owl lapped up Snape's now ignored orange juice and unfinished toast. Regulus patted the owl and hastily opened up the scroll and started reading. With a happy smile on his face, he muttered "Incendio", and jumped up to join the other Slytherins while the parchment crackled to ashes on the table. If one looked closely, they would notice the serpent seal on the parchment which resembled the Dark Mark. And closer still, they would discern the signature of the sender – Lucius Malfoy.
Meanwhile at the Gryffindor table, Eileen McLaggen was giving a quick pep talk to her team. James Potter watched lazily on, but straightened up as Lily sat by him. "Smell any Slytherin foulplay?" asked Remus quietly. "I caught Vaisey and his goons trying to trip Amelia Spinnet near the dungeons before potions. Hit them full on the face with the tongue tying curse before they got any of the words out. They're in detention right now with Professor Slughorn", smirked Lily grimly. James was staring quite open-mouthed at their conversation, now completely tuned out of Eileen's still strong speech on "team spirit" and "the moral high ground". Lily caught James' eye, feeling looking quite proud, she tucked her hair behind her ear and started reading the Daily Prophet in a matter-of-fact way. James edged closer and leaned over her to read along.
"So they haven't found out where he is, yet" said James. "Not like there's anything the Ministry can do about if they know", she replied absentminded-ly". "It does not matter where he is" muttered Remus "The fact that he is still able to garner support from clever witches and wizards..." he looked significantly at James and then over at Regulus, Macnair, Mulciber and Snape standing away from the rest of the crowd, and Mulciber looking very smug about it. "If you are calling that bunch of idiots 'clever', Remus! But I see what you mean. I'm surprised they thought Snivellus worthy of joining their stupid Death Eater club" said James angrily, not covering at Lily's glare at the slight on her dear friend. "You should know better than to hang out with the wrong sort, Evans". "I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks Potter" she sneered in response. "Good luck" she said as she pounced away, now ordering the Gryffindors to line towards their posts on the stadium. James looked at her red hair bobbing amidst the crowd with a sad longing, till Sirius smacked him on the head with his Nimbus.
"Get up, idiot".