AU! MUGGLE. CRICKET.

Quick information dump:

A cricket team has 11 players, which consists of batsmen and bowlers.

One team, which is batting, tries to score runs, while the other team is fielding and tries to prevent this.

Runs are scored by hitting the ball, which is thrown by a player from the fielding team to a player from the batting team, across the boundary, or by the batting team's players running between two areas of the pitch as many times as possible before the fielding team successfully hits a wicket (set of sticks) in either of the grounds with the ball to get them out.

Runs are scored in 1s, 2s, sometimes 3s, 4s and 6s. The 1s are called singles, 2s are called doubles. A 4 is scored when the ball goes over the boundary after it either rolls or bounces out. A 6 is scored when the ball leaves the field without bouncing.


WRITTEN FOR QLFC, COMPETITION: CELEBRATING GOOD TIMES

Position: Chaser 1 (winning a game)

Prompts:

(pairing) Regulus/Barty Crouch Jr

(genre) friendship

Word Count: 1661


Barty's back was turned towards Kingsley, fingers wrapped firmly around his bat. He tapped it on the ground a couple of times and looked over his shoulder at Kingsley, who stood a few feet away with the ball in his hand.

Sweat dripped down the back of his neck, his heart thumping so loud that he could hear it. Just twelve runs needed from four balls. I can do this. For my team. I can do this.

The commentator's voice echoed throughout the large cricket stadium. "That's incredible. I've never seen that stance in my life."

A soft chuckle from somewhere to Barty's left almost made him lose his concentration, but he refused to look away from Kingsley. The remaining balls were crucial for their team, and Barty did not want to let them down. They'd come so far already.

He tapped the bat again, squatted down and prepared himself to face the next ball.

Kingsley ran forward, swung his arm and launched the ball at Barty.

Barty whirled around and smacked the face of his bat against the ball, letting it soar over Kingsley's head and through the air.

"He's going down the ground! I think it's massive! Powerful! Think this will go all the way?" the commentator asked just as the ball landed into the packed stands. "He has cleared it! That is a phenomenal hit from Crouch! He has timed it to perfection! Unbelievable cricket! Really unbelievable. He's so powerful in the arms, and that one—it's gone to the long boundary down the ground. Now that has changed things. And Crouch's fiftieth hundred comes up. What a magnificent player! What a beauty!"

The crowd went wild, screaming Barty's name over and over again. He smirked as he walked to the middle of the pitch and raised his bat in the air, eliciting the crowd to holler even louder. Scoring a hundred runs for his team was a big accomplishment, but his job wasn't done yet. He needed to win the game for his team; they were all counting on him—and Regulus.

After he had garnered the reaction he wanted, he walked back to his previous spot and waited to face the next ball. Again, he turned his back towards Kingsley, tapped his bat on the surface of the pitch and waited.

"They're all laughing as well," the commentator said, still chuckling at Barty's unusual batting stance. "James Potter there is like what is going on?"

At the mention of his cousin's name, who was playing for the opposite team, Barty glanced at him. He was standing to Barty's left, his legs wide apart, his arm crossed over his chest and a hand covering his mouth. James caught his eye, his shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter.

"Crouch is standing like he's facing a ball from third man." The fielder, Remus Lupin, who stood on the boundary line directly in Barty's line of sight, heard the comment about him and waved cheekily, pretending to throw a ball at Barty. "It works—it works for him, so you don't always have to have the same technique. He's going to have a sore neck, though. His stance can only be described as… cheeky, to be frank, because that's what he's serving up."

James grinned as he squatted, readying himself to catch the ball if it came in his direction.

But now was not the time for distractions. Barty swivelled his head around and watched Kingsley like a hawk, his heart pounding in his chest. There was a tenseness to his muscles that made him feel like a mannequin, but he attempted to shove through it. His team only needed six more runs to win, and if they did, they would head straight to the finals. They only had three more balls to go, but Barty wanted to finish the match early just to keep the opposition on its toes.

Kingsley ran faster than he had earlier and stepped on the painted line as he flung the ball hard. Barty's bat struck the ball, and without hesitation, he ran towards Regulus, who stood on the other end of the pitch. "Run!"

The players watched as the ball flew to the left side of the field and landed straight into the waiting hands of Peter Pettigrew, who stood on the edge of the boundary line. Barty and Regulus sprinted across the pitch again, trying to score one more run.

"Oh, no, Crouch is out!" the commentator screamed as the crowd began roaring once again. But then, the umpire extended one arm out to the side. "No, wait! He's not! It's a no-ball! They're coming back for two! It's all happening here at Lords! No-ball on height. It was a full toss—the ball was too high above the waist. That's why the arm is out."

Barty panted as he placed the bat in between his legs and pulled off his gloves to wipe the sweat off his brow. Regulus walked on over to him and thumped Barty's shoulder, a huge grin on his face.

"Just four more runs, Barty," Regulus said, his voice almost muffled behind his helmet. The people were still on their feet, screaming and cheering themselves hoarse. "We've still got three balls left."

"Yeah, we can do this," Barty said, smirking at Regulus, his captain and best friend. They bumped fists before resuming their original positions. Barty turned his back on Kingsley once again, looked over his shoulder and waited, his heart thumping furiously against his ribcage.

When the ball flew at him, Barty directed all his thoughts into smacking the ball as far away as possible. It immediately took flight, flying over the field and stands and disappearing over the stadium's dome for a massive six. Instantly, happiness glowed inside him and he raised his arms along with the bat in the air, his muscles flexing with the effort, and the crowd's ear-splitting screams turned absolutely deafening.

"And he's put it away! That's huge! That is a biggie! It's out of here! Barty Crouch Jr finishes things off in style! Look at that! Middlesex wins by three wickets and two balls remaining and head into the finals! Everyone's on their feet! I don't believe it! I've seen hitting—but nothing like this! Massive! Absolutely massive!"

His arms still in the air, Barty screamed in exhilaration and strode towards Regulus, who ran halfway down the pitch to meet him. There was an explosion in his brain, and he couldn't hear anything except for the roaring screams of the thousands of fans in the stands. Barty wound his arms around Regulus' torso, dropping his helmet-clad head onto the black-haired man's shoulder.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Regulus screamed in his ear. "We won! We fucking won!"

"Finals, baby, here we come!" Barty screamed back, pulling away from Regulus and whipping off his helmet. He felt as if his feet barely touched the ground, happiness streaking through him like a comet. The stadium was in a complete uproar as fireworks lit the night sky to signal the team's valiant win over Sussex.

"What an innings! What a win! Absolutely magnificent!" the commentator screamed, but Barty didn't even hear it. His heartbeat thumped in his ears, his arms were clammy with sweat, and his hair stuck to his forehead.

Regulus laughed as he grabbed Barty into another fierce hug, ruffling the latter's hair. Just then, the rest of their team came running over, screaming and laughing as they jumped onto Regulus and Barty, the two men who had won the match for them.

"I'm so proud of you!" Regulus yelled in Barty's ear as their teammates surrounded them with their hearty hugs. Tears pooled in his eyes and he sniffled. "We made it! I can't believe we made it!"

"Please, don't start crying," Barty said with a laugh, elbowing Regulus' ribs. "You can cry at the finals!"

"The finals! You're in!" James cheered as he ran over and shook Barty's hand with a huge grin on his face. Everyone knew James was always a good sport when his team lost a game, and Barty was grateful it never affected their relationship. "Good job, mates!"

"Thanks, Potter," Regulus said, beaming at James, his arm wrapped firmly around Barty's shoulders. As the teams began to make their way off the field, Kingsley ran over to them. Regulus continued talking, "You weren't too bad yourself—that catch you took for your team? Brilliant bit of fielding!"

"It was great, wasn't it?" James preened at Regulus' compliment, making them all laugh.

Kingsley slapped Regulus' shoulder and grumbled, "I can't believe you're in the finals! Damn it! Still… you two were wonderful out there—though, Barty, what was up with that batting stance? You trying to set up a new trend?"

To their surprise, Regulus burst into laughter, and Barty groaned, attempting to shut him up. Motioning to Barty's groin, Regulus smirked and explained, "He forgot his box."

"Oof! I don't want to imagine if someone had hit you down there," Kingsley said, grimacing at the thought. The other men all shivered with fear, instinctively reaching down to cup themselves. One time or the other, they all had been hit by a ball down there and knew the importance of the protective equipment.

"That's why you were using that unusual stance?" James guffawed and clapped Barty's back. "I thought you were waiting for Pete to bowl to you instead of Kings."

"I forgot I was batting on number nine. I was in a hurry to come out on the field," Barty protested, but the other men simply laughed and continued teasing him for his absentmindedness.

He didn't care, though. The grins on his teammates' faces—especially Regulus'—made his unfortunate situation much more tolerable.

For the first time since Regulus had become their team's captain, they had reached the finals. And Barty had done his best to take them there. Gratitude flowed through him, and he knew if he dropped dead, he would still be a happy man.


Please read and review. Thanks!