The glint of gold was all that I needed to see it. I laid nearly flat on my broom as I sped towards the area of the pitch that I saw it. I could hear the cheers surround me, my house chanted "GO GO GRYFFINDOR!"

There it was, in front of me, figures that just as I was about to grasp it out of the air, that damn Regulus Black had to knock into me, throwing me enough out of line that my hand grasped only air. It went back and forth between us, our brooms knocking into each other, both reaching as far as possible to grab the snitch. It upturned sharply and I was able to gain an edge on Regulus, whose reflexes were just a little slower than mine, the consequence of such a move was the loss of my flower headband I have fastened to my hair, my fringe now flew wildly across my goggles.

Just a little bit closer, my finger tips were touching the snitch, so close, almost there

WHAM!

Regulus had caught up to me again and rammed me severely off course and over the crowd, I think I may have nicked someone in the head with my boot... oh well, it was the Slytherin stand after all. I lost the snitch and it appeared Regulus had as well because he was looking around frantically. There was no use, it was gone.

I was so close and that damn Black, why must he be such a pain in my arse?

I took my position atop the pitch and watched the game, my cousin had scored the team another ten points, the score was 80 to 140 Gryffindor. We were ahead but not enough for me to not catch the snitch. I spied Regulus a little below me, and I glared at him. Pig headed, arrogant cockroach that he was, I was so close to it, I felt the snitch in my hand, and he had to go and mess that up. I cant believe I even had a civil conversation with that prick on the train my first year. How could I not have seen the arrogant self he was!

My knuckles had whitened from the grasp I had on my broom, and I was sure I was burning a hole through Regulus's head.

As that thought passed through my head, the cockroach himself turned to look at me, a smug smile on his face. He knew he had ruined it for me, and bought Slytherin more time. Foul, snobby, good for nothing- wait was that? No, but... it was! I realized with a jolt as I sped towards him. His eyes widened as he froze, thinking I was going to run into him, if I hadn't been so concentrated I might've found his reaction amusing. Surely it would be the smarter idea to move when one is on a speeding broomstick aim straight at you, what does he do? Stare, doesn't even look around to figure out why I was speeding towards him! A fact I was glad of because moments before imminent impact I down turned and snatched the hovering snitch out from underneath him, quite literally.

The stands erupted in cheers as I smirked cheekily at Regulus, his face flushed red. "Next time you should try looking for the snitch, and not me" I blew him a kiss before descending to my celebrating team.

Another game won, another day lived with Regulus Black being humiliated by me.

After I showered and changed into school robes I met my cousin and his band of merry troublemakers outside, where Sirius handed me the flower headband I had lost. "That was cool, what you did to my brother." he said after I thanked him, "I try" was all I could respond. What else could I say, I really do try to humiliate Regulus Black at every turn I got.

Call us rivals but I hated Regulus Black with every ounce of my being. He was nothing but an arrogant, spineless, snake. I unfortunately have every class with him it seemed, I think he was stalking me when I signed up for my classes, he must have had in mind some grand plan that only ended in my pain and irritation when he copied my schedule. Him and his stupid friends think they are so high and mighty because they are purebloods and Slytherins. They think everybody outside their group are beneath them, and they get away with absolutely everything. He was always trying to show me up, as if that would show his superiority to me, he was no better than his family. I mean what sort of family would nearly disown someone because they got into a different house! Sirius had his 'Black' moments, where his upbringing became apparent, (I tortured him constantly for it, but ill admit it must be hard in Gryffindor with a Black mentality, no matter how skewed it became).

Myself and Regulus were complete opposites in every way, and I wasn't sure when it would hammer into his thick head that I was equal or better than him in every way. Just because I was a girl with not completely pureblood didn't mean I couldn't fly a broom or perform magic!

Arrogant sod.

There was a party in the common room, as was usual after a quidditch win. "Hey man, today, that performance man, was far out" A seventh year told me. I smiled and thanked him "Yeah it was cool" The girl who hung on his arm said with a kind smile, "Hey you're a fourth year yeah?" I nodded "Far out, hey a few of us were going outside you know" she leaned forward and smiled "for a trip, you cool?" Was she asking me what I thought she was? Of course I knew people who went on 'trips', I mean my best friend went on them all the time, always she invited me but I denied and just sat with her, talking and creating clothes and art. But well I am a little curious, but what if James found out, would he be angry? Did he go on trips? Where was he anyways? "Maybe next time" I smiled at them, she nodded "Cool, fer sure next time" she flashed the peace sign at me before leaving the common room with a group of people. The rest of the night I spent wondering what I would be doing if I had gone with the 7th years.

My cousin and his friends appeared a little while later with crates of butterbeer, and the party really got into full swing. "You look thirsty" Sirius approached me with two bottles of butterbeer, was I thirsty? "Yeah I guess I am" I replied while taking one of the drinks from him. We stood in silence next to each other for a while, before I saw James signal to Sirius, he nodded and hesitated. "Go on, I know you've got trouble to make." He shrugged, "what can I say? Duty calls, don't want to disappoint." He hesitated again, "hey, Marty, you're reasonably fun yeah?"

Reasonably fun? I thought I was higher than that in their books. "I suppose? How do I answer that? Surely that is a question best left for people whom I hang around rather than me?" he paused for a moment and I could almost hear it brain processing. James was getting impatient.

"you want to come and have your first irresponsible teenage experiences?" Twice in one night? Surely something was trying to tell me something. "I can dig, just give me a second to grab my coat, its cold" He nodded and smiled.

We walked through the halls of Hogwarts undetected, listening to James every command as we rounded corners. Soon we found ourselves on the astronomy tower, I saw the couple who invited me before sitting and staring at the stars, their pupils dilated, faces filled with bliss. James gave me a hard look "if you tell anyone about this, its your head." I nodded my understanding as he pulled a small bag out of his robes and handed it to Sirius who began to roll the fag. Grass as my friend called it, how exciting. "That the stuff I gave you" the two seventh years sat up and looked at us, "sweetest stuff around man, that stuff is quality" he smiled. The girl took a drag of the joint before nodding her approval, "its beautiful"

My stomach clenched as the drug made its way around the circle they created, it was only James, Sirius, the two seventh years, Peter Pettigrew, and me. Finally Sirius passed it to me, "its not hard, just inhale and hold it in" I did as he told and choked on the hot smoke. It took a few more time for me to get the hang of smoking.

The night was a strangely good one, we talked about politics, life, quidditch, and beauty. Many revelations were made and I felt as if my mind was opened to new concepts, new ideas. The night was beautiful for all of those who took part in it, (peter hadn't said a word, instead just leaned against the wall and smiled his creepy little smile, beady eyes closed), and it seemed as if it would have gone on forever if it wasn't for our stomachs giving loud and hungry growls. We danced and giggled through the empty halls down to the kitchens to feast for good fortune and quidditch victories. It was the best food has ever tasted, everything was magnificent, and I ate more than I ever have in my life I think! By the time we made it back into bed we were exhausted, stuffed, and happy. It had been a good night.

If only the next day had been as good. In potions class we were paired with someone from another house, and low and behold, I was paired with the snake king himself, Regulus Black. It was a competition in the class to see who could correctly guess and brew a potion from only a few clues. This project was to take up most of the next month, and majority of it was to be done outside of class time, as we had other potions to learn too.

Thoroughly disheartened I left the class in a huff, without even bothering to make plans to meet up later with Regulus. I would do the research myself, hell I would do the whole thing myself if it wasn't so large. Stupid Black, why did I have to be paired with him of all people? He probably planned it all, requested it of Slughorn, and knowing that walrus he would do anything for his precious Regulus. He probably did it just to torture me! Maybe he was planning on messing the whole thing up and then blaming it on me to bring down my grade! That sneaky dirtbag of him...

In my seething I wasn't really paying attention to where I was walking and walked straight into someone resulting in me dropping all my things in surprise. "I'm so sor-" I started before I noticed grey eyes and silky black hair "oh its you." He handed me my things "yes it me, you should really watch where you're walking, your are going to brain someone someday"

"well maybe you should pay more attention to your surroundings and avoid people who are obviously fuming." I retorted.

He raised his eyebrows in disbelief "you ran into me and then tell me to watch my surroundings? Are you crazy?"

I glared at him, and his logic. Why did he have to be smart and perceptive. "Look Black i'm not in the mood right now so if you will kindly move." Of course he didn't move. "Black move or I will make you move" I readjusted my bag on my shoulder.

"Not until you say sorry Regulus for not paying attention to where I was walking, because I was too busy with my own life that I could not possibly bother to watch where I was walking"

Arrogant prick

"Black this is your last warning"

He didn't move. Fine I warned him, I pulled my wand about to make him move out of my way "Miss Sinclair, you wouldn't be attacking Mr. Black here would you?" Damn, Professor McGonagall was quiet when she moved. Sneaky witch. "Of course not professor, I was just showing him my wand" I replied nicely. She did not look to pleased, "really? And the threat" I ground my teeth "If you are referring to making him move" she nodded "A warning professor, of the future you see, we are learning it in divination. She rolled her eyes "Detention tonight Miss Sinclair, my office 8 o'clock sharp, don't be late," She continued on her way oblivious to the glare I was trying to burn through her back.

I hate Regulus Black.