my remorse, your release - L.S. Hogwarts AU

chapter 1

"we can tie another knot between us and some hope."

The late September sun was almost as bright as the energy occupying the wooden stands of the Quidditch arena. Every inch of the place was occupied with shouting students, waving colored flags and shouting obscenities at their opposite houses. It was the first game of the season - Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. Louis was sure that every student in the school was eagerly watching the match. He'd never heard of a Hogwarts student missing an opening game - especially between rival houses. He blinked the afternoon sun out of his eyes, observing all of his classmates, so intensely focused on the game. Louis was anxiously sitting next to a couple of friends, staring at the playing field. His narrowed eyes were scanning the energetic air for the golden snitch, and for the seekers pursuing it.

Even though he wasn't on the team, Quidditch had always been infectiously nerve-wracking for him. The first match only heightened his excitement. Since he was a kid, he'd loved the sport, and felt deeply how much it affected him. His whole family would gather on their couch, holding snacks and toys, watching a game (sometimes it was only to scream at the players they hated). Louis's passion for the sport only strengthened his friendship with his house seeker - Zayn. The two Slytherin boys had been inseparable since Louis was eleven, brand new to Hogwarts, and he'd never missed a single one of his games.

Louis smiled slightly as his alert eyes continued to scan the field for Zayn's sleek black hair and green uniform. His gaze flitted for a moment to his ankle, where Zayn had given him his first stick-and-poke tattoo - a rough, but familiar diamond. Louis laughed to himself as he remembered Zayn nervously trying to calm him right before he did the ink, when Louis burst into tears because he was worried it would hurt.

Louis snapped out of his recollection and resumed his search for his friend on the field. He was usually flying too fast to spot, leaning low onto his broomstick to be more "aerodynamic" or whatever he called it. Louis had spent hours listening to Zayn talk about flying techniques. The rest of the Slytherin team looked sweaty but determined, taking their positions floating above the sunburnt grass. Louis saw them yelling ideas to each other as the announcer began to speak.

"Gryffindor is still in the lead, a half hour into the game! Slytherin remains 2 goals behind. The score is 40-20!" Louis's gaze shifted to the left to see a familiar Ravenclaw calling out the commentary. The boy holding the microphone blinked as the sun shone directly on his glasses. Louis knew him from years of classes together, and many exhausting sessions of tutoring. His name was Liam Payne. Louis admired him enough, and was very appreciative of his help with Transfiguration. He was a kind guy. But the brunette lad was a bit of a teacher's pet, something Louis would never understand. Every professor he'd ever had branded him as the class troublemaker.

A fair assumption, Louis thought to himself as he clapped his hands at a last-second save by Slytherin. He knew he didn't pay attention as well as he should. He heard Gryffindor house groan in frustration in the section across from him, throwing their hands in the air at the missed goal.

"Ooh, close save by the Slytherin Keeper! Good try, Gryffindor, it was a good shot. Freeman passes the Quaffle over to Holloway- yes, move past that beater there, Slytherin is still in possession! Miss Amge has got it now- she's moving past a Gryffindor chaser- that's it- SHE SCORES! That's 10 points for Slytherin!" Liam shouted, eyes darting across the pitch from player to player. Louis's side of the stands erupted in victorious shouts, Louis shooting up onto his feet to cheer.

"THAT'S IT, LADS!" Louis bellowed as the Slytherin players pumped their fists and hugged each other on their broomsticks.  Among the joyful shouts and songs, and the disappointed groans from Gryffindor house, Louis heard the chiming of the scoreboard, the score now reading 40-30.