the story of us — taylor swift

"i would lay my armour down

if you said you'd rather love than fight."

Sirius did not come around over the next couple of weeks.

Sofia had given him that first week to cool off and think about things, but after that, she had tried and tried to talk to him. But he wouldn't talk to her.

Every time she even came near him in the common room, or the Great Hall, he'd make a beeline out of the room. Everyone in their House had even realised and people had started taking guesses at whatever they might have been fighting about.

The only person who had even an inkling as to what was going on was Chloe. Because she was the only person who knew Sofia had something going on with Regulus, and although she didn't know exactly what had happened, she knew enough.

Sofia hadn't been sure at first if Sirius had told at least James, but it seemed like he hadn't. James had asked her during Quidditch practice one day, he'd said Sirius refused to tell him what they had fought about. Sofia didn't tell James, obviously.

Since Sirius was pretty much Sofia's only close friend at Hogwarts, she had been taken in by Chloe's group of friends during meals. Sofia had tried to sit alone at first but Chloe had been determined. It wasn't so bad, really. Chloe was great, and Evans was cool too. But god, she missed Sirius.

Sofia knew that she needed to do something before the school year ended because once they were out of school, it would be a hell of a lot easier for Sirius to avoid her if he wanted to. And after that, they would never go to school together again and Sirius could very well avoid her for the rest of his life but Sofia tried not to think about that because it made her actually feel physically ill.

She told herself after the Quidditch Cup final, she wouldn't relent until they made up.

It was a month almost to the day after The Incident, that the final between Gryffindor and Slytherin would be taking place. Sirius wasn't commentating. He hadn't commentated the last few games either. Sofia tried not to dwell on it.

Sofia stood on the Quidditch pitch batting a few baseballs the night before. It was almost curfew but she didn't care that much.

"Are you supposed to be out here?"

Sofia turned around with a yelp. "You scared the fuck out of me!"

Regulus grinned. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Sofia settled her hands over his arms. "Are you alright, love?"

"Why wouldn't I be alright?"

"You haven't really been alright for the past month."

"Then why are you asking?" Sofia's voice came out a little too snappy. She leaned her head against his chest. "I'm sorry. I just... I thought he'd come around by now. Or at least start to. But it seems like he hates me more every day."

Regulus snorted. "He doesn't hate you. He couldn't if he wanted to."

Sofia took a breath, her throat straining. "You know he... he told me that he fancies me."

Regulus tensed slightly. "I mean... yeah that's pretty obvious."

Sofia pulled out of Regulus's embrace and faced him. "It wasn't obvious to me! If I had known before I wouldn't have..."

A dark look fell over Regulus's face. "What? You wouldn't have agreed to be with me?"

Sofia sighed. "I already knew when this happened."

Regulus seemed surprised but pleased. "Oh."

She shrugged. "Plus, I already liked you when he told me so it was too late either way."

Regulus's brows raised. "And when was this exactly?"

Sofia gave him a look. "I'm not gonna tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because I probably started liking you way before you did me."

Regulus let out a laugh. "I can assure you there is absolutely no way that is true."

Sofia crossed her arms over her chest. "When did you start liking me then?"

He took a breath. "The day you were looking at doxy wings on your microscope. You got mad at me for staring and told me to just go over there so you could show me what you were doing."

Sofia thought back. "Wasn't that... like one of the first proper conversations we ever had?"

He nodded. "It was." He was completely serious.

Sofia's eyes narrowed. "You did not like me back then."

"I tried not to. But I did. I remember how excited you were looking at those doxy wings and how annoyed you were that I kept staring... I found it... endearing."

Sofia held her breath involuntarily. "Someone should've told past me you're such a smooth talker."

He rolled his eyes. "See? Before you liked me."

Sofia's nose crinkled. "Fine. You liked me before."

"You were saying though... what would you have done differently if you knew Sirius liked you before?"

Sofia bit her lip. "Honestly... I don't know. I'm just saying things."

"And you... you've never fancied him? Even a little?"

Sofia gave him a look. "Come on. Of course I don't fancy him."

Regulus shrugged weakly. "I just..." he looked away from her, something painfully vulnerable in his eyes. "Sometimes I wonder... if one of these days you'll miss him enough to give him a chance."

Sofia's eyes widened. "Regulus. No, what the hell?"

"He's been your best friend for a long time and he's clearly been into you for a while. It didn't seem like such a far-fetched idea."

Sofia pulled her arms around Regulus's neck and looked him in the eye, her nose inches from his. "Listen to me Regulus Arcturus Black, whatever happens between Sirius and I has nothing to do with how I feel about you. I want you. Only you."

"You know my middle name?"

Sofia ignored the question and kissed him.

They pulled away after a long minute.

"There's something I should probably tell you," he said.

His tone made Sofia tense up but she nodded.

"Just as a... warning I guess. My parents are coming to the game tomorrow."

Sofia had thought they might but she hadn't been sure. "Oh."

"Is your family coming?"

They had wanted to, but Sofia had dissuaded them. "No... I'd just rather not risk it. I told them to stay at home."

"I doubt with Dumbledore here—"

"I know... but I like being overly cautious with them."

He nodded, accepting her answer. "I'm just telling you since... I'd rather not risk them realising we... have something going on. I think I might tell them about not joining You-Know-Who this summer and... I'd just rather not drop this bomb on them right now too. It might not go over well. So... no sneaking around tomorrow."

Sofia nodded, she didn't feel great about it, but she understood. "Then we better get it all out of our system now, right?"

Regulus smiled and leaned down to kiss her.

Sofia actually thought it was a good idea for her and Regulus to completely ignore the other's existence on game day. It allowed her to focus with no distractions.

James came up behind Sofia, grabbed her by the shoulders and squeezed as she warmed up. "You ready?"

Sofia rolled her neck. "Always."

James moved on to Carter, who stood beside Sofia, and slapped him on the back. "How about you kid? You excited?"

Sofia's Beater partner looked slightly pale but he nodded intently.

James grinned. "Great!" He put a hand on Sofia's back and pushed her aside. "Listen... whatever is going on with you and Sirius—"

Sofia groaned. "I will throw a Bludger in your face, James."

"Hey, come on. Just listen," he tried to appease her. "I just think that you should know that he does miss you, even if he acts all cold tough guy around you. You shouldn't worry about him... he physically cannot stay away from you for much longer. So, don't dwell on it. Just focus on the game."

Sofia sighed harshly. "Is that all?"

James smiled. "Yes. Now let's go."

Sofia didn't listen to the alternate announcer, it would only make her think of what Sirius would have said. She spotted the Russian Rocket banner in the crowd and smiled. She'd spotted Regulus's parents sitting in the stands along with some other parents too.

She shook her head and focused. The whistle blew and they were off.

Carter and Sofia got into a good rhythm, his nerves about being in the final started dissipating.

Gryffindor was up by twenty less than thirty minutes in. Things were going well. Until Sofia spotted Travers.

She hadn't been paying much attention to the other Beaters but she paid attention then. He seemed to be on a warpath. Towards her. The look on his face reminded Sofia of a wild animal.

She focused on passing to Carter while trying to brace herself to move out of the way if needed. But it happened way too quickly.

Travers swung and the thump that his bat made when it came in contact with the Bludger was almost as sickening as the crack that resounded when the Bludger hit Sofia on the side. Then she realised what that noise had been. It had been her ribs breaking.

The force of the Bludger threw her back and she slipped off her broom. She held her breath as she saw her broom hovering above her. The pain seared through her body and she could do nothing but fall.

She landed on the ground with a thump and she couldn't move. Her body wouldn't respond.

She heard yelling.

It couldn't have been more than a few seconds when she saw Regulus's face in front of her. Was she hallucinating?

He looked frantic. "Sofia? Love, can you move?"

"Regulus," Sofia whispered.

His hand cupped her cheek and she wanted to lean into his touch but her body still wasn't responding.

He looked up from her and yelled at someone Sofia couldn't see. "She hit her head! Get help!"

"Regulus," she repeated in a whimpering whisper, just saying his name calmed her down. "Regulus. Please don't go."

He looked at her softly. "I won't leave you, I promise."

She held tightly onto his hand as the world around her went dark.

She didn't pass out completely. She could still more or less tell what was going on around her. She heard muted conversations and worried words. She could feel Regulus's hand in hers. She didn't know how long it had been when he finally removed it. Then she did pass out completely.

She didn't know where she was when she woke up. It smelled like the infirmary at Hogwarts but it was easy to see that it wasn't. She put it together pretty quickly. St Mungo's.

She turned to find Sirius sitting on the chair next to her bed. She must've made a noise because he startled and looked up at her. He'd been dozing off.

"Hi," she said tentatively.

He smiled at her. Sofia felt like part of her heart healed. "Hey yourself."

"What happened?"

"Travers knocked you off your broom, cracked a few ribs, then you fell and hit your head on the ground," he said.

Sofia remembered that. "And after?"

"Coach took you to the Hospital Wing but Pomfrey said head wounds like yours were very delicate and it was best to bring you to Saint Mungo's."

Sofia hummed.

Sirius took a resigned breath. "He's outside."

Sofia frowned. "What? Who?"

"Regulus."

Her frown deepened. "Why would your brother be outside? He hates me."

Sirius's eyes almost bulged out of his head. "What?"

Sofia couldn't keep a straight face anymore. She burst out into stomach-clenching laughter.

The colour came back into Sirius's face. He stood up. "Okay, you're fine. I'm gonna get the Healer to discharge you."

Tears came out of Sofia's eyes. "No, come on. I'm sorry. I had to! I know you're mad at me and stuff but when am I gonna wake from a grave head injury again and have the opportunity to make that joke? I literally had to!"

Sirius rolled his eyes and sat back down.

"Would you not have done the same?"

"Of course I would've done the same," he admitted reluctantly. "I missed you."

Sofia's laughter finally died down completely. "Have you forgiven me then?"

Sirius made a face, shifted in his seat. "I don't... I don't know, Sofia. I'm sorry but... seeing you with him," he shook his head. "I just know that I care too much about you to not come to your sickbed and I... I do still want to be your friend."

"I want that too. More than anything."

Sirius chuckled humourlessly. He averted his eyes. "Than anything? Really?"

Sofia didn't miss the sarcasm in his voice she didn't know what to say. "Sirius. You're my best friend and I love you. Nothing can change that. My relationship with you isn't less important than my relationship with Regulus, not at all."

His jaw set, he didn't look at her. "So, you'd break up with him?"

Sofia sighed. She definitely did not like this path of conversation, but Sirius was as stubborn as they came. "If it came down to it, yes, I would. But I don't think you'll try to make me do that. Because you're my best friend and I'm yours and I know you want me to be happy. And deep down you want the same for your brother. So, even if this isn't ideal for you, I don't think me and Regulus breaking up is what you truly want. You're just hurt right now. Which I understand."

Sirius said nothing for a long minute. Then, "Does he really make you happy, Sonya?"

Sofia started feeling like she could breathe again. "He does."

There was a sadness in his eyes Sofia knew she couldn't reach. "I don't... I don't know how to deal with this, Sofia. It's just... it's a lot. I think I could've dealt with you being in love with someone else, but I just can't reconcile the fact that it's him you want. So... I love you and I'm here for you, but I can't make any promises."

Sofia nodded in understanding. "That's okay, Sirius." She reached out to lay her hand over his but thought better of it. "I'm sorry."

His lips quirked upwards. "Yeah, you've said... can we not talk about this anymore right now?"

Sofia nodded.

"I'll... I'll go get him."

Sofia wanted to tell him to wait, wanted to say something to make him at least look at her, but he was out of the room in a flash.

Regulus walked in. He smiled upon seeing Sofia, but it didn't reach his eyes. "How are you?"

"Okay, I think."

Regulus nodded. "Good. That's good."

"How are you?"

Surprise flashed in Regulus's eyes. "Me? I'm fine, love."

Sofia smiled. "Good."

"I don't know if Sirius told you, but he hexed Travers into next week before Pomfrey brought you here."

Sofia's brows raised. "He didn't tell me."

"I would've helped him but you wouldn't let go of me."

A blush overtook Sofia's cheeks. She vaguely remembered that. Regulus went quiet and Sofia could tell there was something on his mind. "Are you sure everything's okay with you?"

"Sofia, you're the one who fell twenty feet off the ground. You don't have to worry about me," he said. Sofia couldn't help but notice he hadn't actually answered her question. Regulus cleared his throat. "I'm really sorry, love. But I actually have to go."

Sofia frowned. "Oh?"

He didn't look at her face. "There's some business I have to take care of urgently. I've asked and it seems like you'll be back at the castle in the morning. I'll see you then."

Sofia was too shocked to say anything. "Okay," she managed, weakly.

He was at her side in two strides and he leaned down. He placed a feather-light kiss on her lips as if worried he'd break her. He moved his lips towards her ear. "I... Get well soon, love."

Then he left.