18. Snitches, brothers and destinies

The Quidditch pitch, Hogwarts

Sirius' POV:

And Milton scores! Slytherin now taking a steady lead on Gryffindor at 90-60, came Moony's voice from the commentator box.

The wind whipped my hair in a million directions, even though it was tied back tightly. It was far too windy to be called ideal Quidditch conditions, but of course, that doesn't stop the game. And it was just heating up.

Get the fucking snitch Jessica, my mind screamed. I was over this game already. I spotted the Bludger coming back from wherever it had gone when Ramy hit it last, so I flew towards it, swung my bat and sent it towards the Slytherin Chaser, Stewart, who was currently in possession. She dodged it, but dropped the Quaffle and James scooped it up and zoomed to the Gryffindor hoops, the crowd going wild at the 'perfect' steal.

I was a little occupied in following James' form to see if he scores, when I heard the familiar whoosh behind me. I ducked and dodged, narrowly escaping the Bludger. I turned around to see Rosier, the Slytherin Beater. What was the asshole hitting me for?

The crowd erupted in cheer again. I turned around to see, and sure enough, Marlene had scored.

The Slytherin Keeper passed the Quaffle to Milton who, I suppose wanted to pass it to Stewart, but James swooped in again, intercepting the pass. I watched elatedly as he cleared the Slytherin players. I turned to see Rosier rush towards a Bludger. It was closer to me, so I zoomed to it and passed it to Ramy. We kept passing it back and forth till the Quaffle was in the scoring region, and then Ramy aimed it towards the Slytherin keeper. I grinned as the crowd cheered, at the Keeper who fell to the ground. The hoops were now unguarded. A second later, the Quaffle zoomed through the hoops.

Gryffindor scores again! 90-80!

I did a little victory-loop in the sky, but avoided looking out at the crowd like I normally would, or put on a show, I didn't want to see her. But I wanted to know if she was here. But I didn't want to see her.

Out the corner of my eye, I spotted Jessica fly somewhere with purpose- she must've spotted the snitch. It was now my job to make sure she caught it. I looked around for a Bludger, I saw one hanging out around the Slytherin goalposts. I made a bee-line for it, taking possession, and nodding at Ramy to indicate what I was doing.

Jessica was now smack in the middle of the pitch, in hot pursuit, Regulus now right at her tail. Shit.

I took a deep breath in, steeled my resolve, and sent the Bludger towards Regulus. He veered off-course, just as Jessica extended her hand. I could see the snitch now; it was just at her fingertips

Regulus was back on Jessica's tail again. I looked around for a second Bludger, but then the crowd gave a loud Ooohh, so I turned back round to see what was happening. Malfoy, the other Slytherin Beater, had knocked off Jessica with the second Bludger, which was headed right at me.

I dodged it, and aimed it at Regulus again. I watched with bated breadth as it made contact with the back of his broom, and he fell to the ground like a dead petal. Ouch.

Jessica was now back in pursuit of the Snitch.

Gryffindor scores! A brilliant throw by McKinnon! Moony all but screamed through the speaker. I wheeled around, and gave a thumbs up to Marlene.

I turned back around to Jessica, just in time to see her lunge forward, catch hold of the snitch, and pull off a perfect loop in the air to balance herself.

Elation unfurled in my chest as the crowd went wild, enveloped in colours of red and gold. I zoomed to her, beside myself in joy. The whole team crowded around her, hugging, screaming, laughing, as we descended to the ground.

After I showered, instead of joining the party that was already in full swing in the common room, I made my way to the hospital wing.

Regulus was just on his way out when I reached.

"Hey," I said awkwardly, residual elation from the win leaving my body.

He nodded in acknowledgement.

"How're you doing?" I asked him. He didn't look hurt at all; Madame Pomfrey had obviously already patched him up.

"I'm alright," he said in that hushed way of his.

I nodded. What now?

"How's everything at-"

"Don't act like you want to know." He cut me off sullenly.

I narrowed my eyes, "What're you mad at me for?"

"You left," he said with such aggression that it made me wonder how long he'd wanted to say that.

"I asked you to come along."

He laughed slightly, "I'm honoured."

I peered at him, "I just wanted to see if you were too hurt, that's all."

"Why?"

"Because you're my brother."

He shook his head, "You sound like Mum."

"What?"

He shook his head again, and started walking away. I clutched his hand, stopping him, "No, what?"

He sighed, not quite turning back around. "She wants you to come back home. She can't quite grasp that that's not going to happen. Didn't she tell you?"

I frowned at his weird emphasis, but said, "She was a little busy beating me up."

"No not Mum, your girlfriend. Well, ex-girlfriend now, I suppose."

I frowned, "What?"

He turned around, looking confused, "The Potter girl."

My eyes widened. "What are you talking about?" I asked, panicking now.

He took a sharp breath in at my volume. His looked around, and then pulled me into one of the more shadowy alcoves, which was hidden by a huge tapestry.

"She didn't tell you?" He whispered, his tone softer now, reminiscent of what it used to be.

"Tell me what?"

"Mum cornered her somewhere in Diagon Alley and told her to tell you to come back home. And to break up with you."

I let out a breath through my mouth. That's why she was acting so weird that day. Wait- "Regulus, you arse. We were never dating," I hissed at him.

He took a step back, eyebrows furrowed, "Mum seemed convinced you were."

"Why did you think we were broken up?" If anything, for the most part, we'd been closer than ever.

"You barely talk."

I looked away. That's why she would never even look at me in public.

"Why did she want us broken up?"

"It's none of your business. Now, you know. My job here is done." He retreated into his previous state of animosity, and started walking away, again.

"Reg," I stopped him again, pulling on his arm. He shoved me into the wall.

"You've lost your right to call me that."

I took a step forward, swallowing my impulse to shove him back. "I left them, Regulus, not you."

He stared at me, and then looked away. "She's a Blood Traitor, that's why. Mum reckons it'll fuck up our chances."

Anger flared in my chest at the way he used the word, but I pushed it aside. "Fuck up our chances? Of what?"

"Of getting into the ranks."

"What ran-"

"Death Eater ranks," he said, his voice hushed, but clear.

"She wants me to come back and join the Death Eaters?"

He nodded; his eyes pained. "But that's not going to happen, is it?"

"Of course not! Why the fuck are you thinking about joining them?"

"That's my problem, not yours. Look, she won't back off till you do something. Pick some side, or whatever. Just do what you want. Leave me alone."

I ignored everything he said. "Regulus, are you out of your mind? This is a life-time commitment. Being a Death Eater- you can't."

"Sure, I can. If I want to."

"Why do you want to? Do you even believe in that stupid pure-blood crap?"

He shrugged, "It just seems to be the next thing to do in the flow of things. It's what we were destined to do."

I narrowed my eyes, "Who's been feeding you this crap? Because it's not true. You decide your own destiny. You can't just join the Death Eaters because you've got nothing else going for you. Will you think for yourself? This isn't what you want."

He laughed dryly. "It isn't what you want. You don't believe in pure bloods. I'm not you. I don't want to be you," he whisper-shouted, wisps of hair falling into his face. "I am deciding my own destiny. It's with my family. Which you're no longer a part of. You don't get a say."

I revelled in the fact that we were standing in the dark, and that he couldn't see the look on my face. He was breaking my heart. "Do you understand what it all entails? They kill and torture for fun. Do you really want to be a part of it?"

"I want the power; I want the glory. I want to win. Don't you see? He's so much more powerful than all his opponents," he said. "I want to make my family proud- I want to be everything you never were. And I'll do what it takes." Without another look, he left, leaving me standing in the dark, with a broken heart and a lone thought- what happened to my little brother? When did he become this man, hungry for power and recognition, with his priorities all fucked up?

I was supposed to be the same. I was supposed to stick with my family, and fight for what they believed in- it should've been what I believed in. I was an aberration. But when I thought about everything I had on this side of things- James, Remus, Peter, Marlene, Emilia- it made me so sure, with every fibre of my being, that I was on the right side. I didn't want glory, or power, I didn't want to win. I wanted to do what I thought was right. I wanted to be with the people I loved.

Holy shit, she'd threatened Emilia. Before we were even thinking about dating or anything of the sort, she'd known (somehow?) and she'd threatened her to stay away. I was freaking out. What had she said to her? Where would she stop? Regulus had said I'd have to pick a side. I was obviously on this one, so how do I make it official? McGonagall could probably help; Dumbledore could definitely help. I'd have to talk to them tomorrow. About my safety, and of everyone else's.

I walked towards the Gryffindor common room, mind racing. The closer I got, the louder the music got. I grinned- the vibes of the room were infectious. After-game parties always got wild.

I gave the password, and The Fat Lady swung open, exposing me to the bursting activity of the common room.