Round 9 of the Quidditch League Competition.

Team: Falmouth Falcons

Position: Chaser 2

Round Prompt: Quaffle: Write about a witch or wizard being torn between two different people or groups.

2. Defeated (Word)

10. Disappointment (emotion)

13. "Should we tell him that it's fake?" (Dialogue)

Word count: 1166

Beta's: 2DaughersOfAthena; GeekMom13

Summary: Remus struggles with his identity and family relations.

Regulus Black stared blankly out of his bedroom window overlooking the shadowed and dull garden. His gaze occasionally flickered to his brother, Sirius, who was sat up against the only tree in amidst the overgrown weeds. His older brother was a disgrace to the family name - at least, that's what his parents continually told him. Regulus knew that Sirius had been sorted into the wrong house, and that Slytherin was the best house - his family had all been in Slytherin before. But he couldn't understand why his parents were being so harsh - it's not like Sirius could have chosen his house, right?

He was starting at Hogwarts this September; another month and he'd be sorted. Of course, he was nervous about this part of attending Hogwarts. He'd been told that a snake would slither around his body to determine if he was worthy of Slytherin. For all he knew, he too wouldn't be placed in the best house - what if the snake didn't like him?

Part of him didn't care if he was hated by his parents, because his brother would still accept him for who he was.

Having waited for his parents to finally leave the house, Regulus trudged down the rickety staircases. He watched Kreacher pretending to not watch him or Sirius as he eyed up a wand. He wondered if the elf knew it was fake. Without saying a word, he walked out into the garden. Slowly, quietly, he approached his brother. "Siri."

Sirius' head whirled around, and the look of defeat quickly dropped from his face and he smiled. "Reggie, I didn't know you were up."

It was a strange statement in Regulus' opinion. However, Sirius putting on a brave face for him after being shouted out for a whole hour earlier was appreciated. "It's 11am," he told his older brother.

"Of course, I thought it was earlier than that." Sirius then let out a chuckle. "I'd have thought Kreacher would have retaliated by now."

Regulus nodded in mild realisation and sat down, mirroring his brother's position. "You gave him the fake wand?" Regulus should have known that's how their house elf obtained it. "Surely, he knows it's not real?"

Another chuckle. "It's enchanted and my friends and I charmed it as many times as we could manage. I'd hoped it would confuse him for a few minutes, but it's been over an hour now."

"Should we tell him that it's fake?" Regulus asked. He didn't get the same satisfaction pranking their elf - or anybody - like Sirius did.

"Nah."

A comfortable silence filled the space between them, but Regulus was burning to ask what happened this morning and to get more details. "Why was Mother yelling at you earlier?"

A scoff left Sirius' mouth and he let out a short humourless laugh. "Mother wanted to remind me how useless I am. It's going to be near impossible to marry me off to a worthy family now that I'm in Gryffindor. Who would want to tarnish their perfect streak of Slytherin's and risk their offspring being disappointments too?"

As a sigh left Sirius' lips, Regulus was tempted to rest a hand on his shoulder - but you didn't do those sorts of things in this family, and he knew that Kreacher was watching. He loved Sirius, but he didn't want his parents to be angry at him too. "You can't help that you were sorted into the wrong house! They can't blame you for that!"

"In their eyes, I should have been in Slytherin."

"But… If the snake didn't think you were worthy…"

"What?"

"You told me…" Regulus drifted off. He was suddenly becoming aware that his brother might not be so innocent in this wrongful action. "Did you ask to be in another house?"

The look on Sirius' face showed it all. Regulus could get over his brother lying to him - he always does, mainly to play pranks - but this was something different. "It's complicated."

"Turning your back is not complicated! It's unthinkable!" Regulus cried before scurrying up and running back into their home. He shoved past Kreacher and slammed his bedroom door closed as hard as his 10-year-old arms allowed. How could he do that! How could he choose to be in a different house! Did he not want to be a Black? Did he want to betray his family? What else would he do?

Regulus wasn't able to hold onto his anger for more than a few minutes before falling onto his bed and burying his face into his pillows. He was heartbroken that his brother was knowingly and publicly embarrassing the family. But disappointed in himself for not realising that sooner.

"Don't let your brother corrupt you."

Those six words repeated in Regulus' head like it was on a loop. Most parent's offered reassuring words when they sent their children off to Hogwarts for the first time; not his parents. They were more concerned with ensuring that Sirius knew how disappointed they were in him, and the Regulus knew that following in his brothers footsteps was forbidden.

"Relax, Reggie," Sirius whispered into his ear. Regulus looked around, taking a deep breath. The aisles seemed to stretch miles down with everybody rustling into different compartments, greeting one another. "Want to sit with me?"

Regulus stared at his brother, wanting to accept, but what if his parents found out? He couldn't look up to Sirius anymore, not now that he wasn't the favourite Black son. "I should sit with first years," he replied, quickly walking in the opposite direction down the train. He paused as it started to move and looked for a face he recognised - preferably one who would also be sorted into Slytherin. Family was important. But which family member did he choose?

As the train pulled up to Hogwarts, Regulus had decided that he didn't want to go to this school anymore. He didn't want to choose one family member over another. However, because of the hell he'd seen his brother go through at home, he was leaning towards choosing his parents. Part of him hoped he wouldn't be given a choice of a house, that way, he couldn't be blamed.

"Why do you already look defeated?" a girl his age asked. He recognised her, meaning she must have been a pureblood, or at least a halfblood.

He responded with a shrug and stood up. "Time to go."

Regulus walked out with the girl, not even bothering to ask her what her name was. He was too preoccupied with his thoughts.

The oohs and awes of his classmates were lost on him as Hogwarts came into view. He had to be in Slytherin. There was no decision to make. It was the safest options. Besides, he had known it was the best house since he was little, why should he let his brother change his mind? Sirius might be older than him, but that doesn't necessarily make him wiser.

With the decision firmly made, he finally relaxed.

END