Chapter 14: Year 3: If They Only Knew

Chapter Text

Regulus went into third year with a routine that he thought he'd never truly get used to. His well-crafted mask was back in place as he wore it all the time: while walking through the halls with Evan and Barty, or when he was by himself. He needed to keep up the act and have everyone convinced that he had truly gone dark. Or was well on the way to doing so, at least.

He often met with the Marauders in secret, heading to the Gryffindor dorm room in the evenings. Sometimes, James would walk him to his own dorm, under the safety of the invisibility cloak. They'd use that time to walk slowly side by side and whisper in each other's ear. Their hands almost touching, both wanting to hold each other's hand, with only one of them knowing the true reason why.

Regulus was confused about how he felt. He didn't understand his emotions or why he was different around James than when he was with anyone else. He knew there was something he was missing; he just didn't understand what. He was really getting fed up with Sirius's constant teasing when James wasn't looking. Sirius still hadn't forgotten that Regulus had called James cute.

It was halfway through September when the Ravenclaw Quidditch tryouts were held. Regulus found himself on the pitch with other Ravenclaw students, wanting a spot on the team. There were about twenty of them, and Regulus did his best not to show how nervous he was.

It didn't help that he knew James was in the audience, along with the rest of the Gryffindor team, Evan and Barty and a few Slytherins, a select number of Hufflepuffs, the remainder of the crowd were Ravenclaws on the benches.

"Alright! Listen up," the Captain said. It was the same boy that had spotted him last year, so he had a little bit of hope that he might make the team. But not much.

"The order will be as follows. Chasers first, then Keepers, followed by Beaters and then, the Seekers, got it? Chasers! Let's go."

Regulus blinked. He only recognised one boy, whom he shared his dorm room with. He nodded politely, and the boy nodded back.

An hour and a half later, Regulus was itching to be on his broom. The Beaters' tryouts had just ended, he was excited and nervous at the same time. Yes, he'd flown with James and Sirius, but that was only at practice. He didn't know what it would be like with an actual team. Would he even make it? Or would he embarrass himself? No, he thought, that wasn't an option.

"Alright, the two Seekers trying out will play with the team. Whoever gets the Golden Snitch and performs the best will most likely get the position. Understand?"

Regulus nodded; it seemed simple enough. As he hovered in the air, he glanced at James and Sirius, who were watching him, while talking to each other. He turned his gaze to Evan and Barty. Barty put his thumbs up, nodding at him supportively, while Evan just grinned.

He took a deep breath, and once the whistle was blown, he concentrated on observing the game and finding the Golden Snitch. He also kept an eye on the other Seeker, who was weaving in and out of the other players, joining in the game. Regulus's heart was beating heavily as he flew in a wide arc around the pitch, his eyes narrowing as he searched for the small winged ball.

Regulus loved the breeze in his hair; he loved that all he had to worry about was the game. He didn't have to think about his grandfather or behaving like a true Black. All he had to do was catch the Golden Snitch. He needed this. It calmed him. Some would find being a Seeker stressful, but it was the opposite for Regulus.

About a third way through the match, he noticed the other Seeker diving, and as he looked in the Seeker's direction, he didn't see the Golden Snitch. No. In fact, Regulus spotted the Golden Snitch near the Gryffindor stands, hovering where the Professors would watch. So, he thought, that means the other Seeker is trying to trick me. He smirked. Two can play at that game.

Regulus flew towards the Seeker, making a dive as he did so. He was thinking creatively as he bumped into the boy when he got close. The boy weaved out and back in, bumping him back. When they were getting closer to the ground, the boy smirked and pulled back up from the dive but frowned when Regulus had pulled up slightly earlier. Regulus gained more speed and pretended to spot the Golden Snitch by the Hufflepuff stands. Just as Regulus reached the stands, he pulled up vertically, while the other boy crashed and fell straight into the sand.

Regulus grinned, though internally grimaced, hoping the boy wasn't too badly injured, and did a backwards flip. He headed straight to the Gryffindor stand, where the Golden Snitch was still hovering. He picked up his speed, skillfully missing a Bludger that was hit in his direction. As he reached the Professors' stands, the Golden Snitch nearly within his grasp as he stretched his arm out, the small winged ball moved. Downwards. Regulus dived, his back inches away from the stand as he increased his speed. The Golden Snitch was getting dangerously close to the ground.

He held his breath as he pulled his broom up slightly, travelling along the ground, below six feet. Regulus leant forward as much as he could and felt the Golden Snitch at the tip of his fingers. He then decided to do something completely reckless, something utterly Gryffindor.

He jumped off his broom.

No, really.

He jumped off his broom, caught the Golden Snitch with his right hand, and landed on the ground after doing a couple of roly polys. Amazingly, he didn't break anything. And as he stood up, he looked down. The Golden Snitch was resting in the palm of his hand.

Cheering erupted from the stands, and Regulus grinned as the Ravenclaw Captain, along with the rest of the Ravenclaw team, ran to him.

"That was amazing!" the Captain said, out of breath as he caught up to Regulus, who flushed from the praise. "I've never seen anyone pull off a dive like that, especially the Wronski Feint. Keep going like that, and you'll be a professional player by seventh year!"

"It was nothing -" Regulus started and stopped at the way the Captain was looking at him.

He clapped and brought everyone's attention. "The results will be up by the end of the day. Thank you all for coming, and if you don't make it this year, there's always next year. Don't give up."

Regulus got changed, the last to leave the changing room as he took a long shower, not believing what he had just done. He hadn't embarrassed himself. He had actually done something for himself, something that made him happy. He couldn't help but be proud of himself.

As he left the changing room, he was pulled aside and brought into a tight hug. Familiar, strong arms wrapped around him. Regulus didn't need to ask who it was, as he hid his face into James's shoulder, hugging him back just as tightly.

"Never do that again!" James whispered in his ear, and Regulus frowned, confused.

"What do you mean, Jamie? I caught the Golden Snitch -"

"Not that, you can do that again. I meant those dives. You weren't even stopping for Merlin's sake, I thought you'd fall and hurt yourself and I -" James was speaking so quickly and his voice was so full of concern that Regulus bit his bottom lip nervously, feeling guilty that he had worried James so much.

"Jamie, I'm here. I'm not hurt, I wouldn't do that to you," Regulus replied, and this time, he didn't ignore what his instincts were telling him to do. He pressed a soft and gentle kiss on James's cheek and slowly ended the hug.

"I -" James started and Regulus smiled softly.

"Same time as usual?" he asked and James looked like he wanted to say something, but after a few moments he decided against it and simply nodded in reply.

Regulus walked away, his insides turning.

He headed the long way round to the Great Hall, going on a walk along the grounds to clear his head before joining the real world again. He had just kissed James on the cheek. What had he been thinking? And why did he wish that he had stayed, and kissed him on the lips too? Why did he want to have James to himself, why did he want to run back to James and call him his?

His eyes widened. His. His James.

Before he could make sense of his thoughts, Regulus reached the courtyard, where his eyes narrowed. A commotion was taking place, a group of Slytherins had cornered a girl with platinum blonde hair, wearing blue robes and… no shoes?

He frowned deeply as the Slytherin's laughed, and the girl screamed, crouching down in pain.

Regulus wasn't sure what had made him straighten his posture, and place his well-crafted mask back in place as he walked with purpose straight to the scene, but he did. When he spotted Lucius Malfoy, he knew he had made the right decision. He hated Lucius, and Lucius hated him equally as much, if not more so. Why? Well, a couple of pranks aimed at him went wrong, when Regulus and Sirius were younger. Lucius had never got over it - he could really hold a grudge - and always wanted to make their lives a living hell at every arranged party.

Regulus had managed to ignore him so far, but he couldn't just leave his fellow Ravenclaw alone with the group. It wasn't right. Even if he didn't know who she was, he didn't care. The Marauders were rubbing off on him.

"Look who's come to watch the show," Lucius sneered at Regulus as he made his presence known. He stood in front of the girl in a protective stance, wand out. The girl might even be in his year. He wasn't sure.

"Look who's picking on people smaller than him because he can't fight his bigger battles," Regulus retorted smoothly, and Lucius glared at him.

"You know, I thought you'd seen the light. Shared the same views as your mother and father, what would they say if they saw you now?" Lucius sneered and Regulus' lips turned upwards, not into a smile but into a smirk.

"They'd wonder why a Malfoy would stoop so low as to bully someone younger than him and who is alone, no less," Regulus replied, glaring at him, raising his wand. He didn't let Lucius speak, as he continued, "If you want to pick on someone, pick on someone your own size, Lucy."

It took a lot for Regulus not to laugh at the expression on Lucius's face. Lucius glared at him for a few moments, his head held high, and spun round, gliding away as he took the rest of the Slytherin's with him.

Regulus waited until Lucius was gone, before turning to face the girl, who was staring at him with a vacant, but grateful expression in her eyes. "Are you hurt?" he asked, willing to take her to the Hospital Wing if necessary.

She shook her head. "I'll be fine, thank you," she spoke, and added, "If they only knew."

Regulus blinked. "Knew what?" he asked, confusion clear in his voice.

"If they only knew just how much of a Lionheart you have, Regulus Black. Oh, and stop pining, he loves you too," she said, smiling before skipping away.

Regulus stared after her, blinking back the shock that was written all over his face. He knew one of two things.

One: If anyone else were to attempt to bully her, they'd have to go through him first.

Two: She shouldn't have known what she had just said.

And three… oh he had only said two things. The third thing…

He knew he was not in love with James Potter.

… Right?

Regulus gulped, blushing deeply, his insides turning, doing somersaults in his stomach.

Oh.