Leap of a Golden Snitch (Harry Potter Fanfic)

Leap of a Golden Snitch

"You have something of mine. I'd like it back."

James Potter looked up from where he lounged in one of the foyers at the Slytherin, holding his hand out as if James would simply give him back whatever he purloined. A smirk played out across his face as he pushed himself up into a sitting position on the thick wall that separated the garden part of the foyer from the pathways between classes, his legs swinging down. "Why, hello, Baby Black."

"Don't call me that. And, I'd like it back now," Regulus said, his ordinarily emotionless face having a slight give; the corner of his mouth twitched, and there was confusion in his gray eyes. Most would mistake him for Sirius if it weren't for the Slytherin robes, yet James instantly recognized the paler face and thinner frame.

"And what do you mean by it?" James said, watching anger flash through Regulus' eyes. "Ah. So even he has the famous Black temper, though, unlike Sirius, he's able to control it."

"My Golden Snitch. You know, the one from my first game. It's not as if you need it, Potter, and I can't figure out why you would take it."

"You can't?" James let one of his eyebrows lift, not noticing a third person.

"No, so give it back."

"First things first," James said, having the moment Regulus approached him tucked the Golden Snitch he'd snitched into his pocket. "How are you doing?"

"Excuse me?" Regulus stared at him, emotionless, still holding out his hand.

"Look, I'm asking because Sirius is too daft to approach you and ask. How are you taking his running away from home?"

"He'll come back."

Which wasn't what James was expecting.

"He always does."

James frowned, his concern growing. "Regulus, you know when Sirius came back, it was always within days, but not this time. So, how are you doing? How do you feel about it?"

"How I feel doesn't matter, but why do you care?" Regulus still held his hand out and was still emotionless.

"Little prick," James thought but went ahead and answered Regulus' question. "Because I'm jealous."

And there was a look of confusion on Regulus' face, in his gray eyes and the way the corner of his mouth twitched. He said as he lowered his hand, "I'm confused."

"By what?"

"Sirius thinks of you as his brother."

James flinched, his anger suddenly flaring.

"Well, it's true."

"How can you not be angry at that, Regulus? Jealous even?"

"Because he's happy?"

"Sirius, you don't know how lucky you are." James let out a sigh. "And that's why I'm jealous of him."

There was a wave of emotion on Regulus' face. "Of Sirius?"

"Of Sirius," James replied back.

"So, I normally get why someone would be jealous of Sirius, but—I don't get it this time."

James frowned. He rubbed the back of his head, not noticing the third person get closer to him. "Because he has something I don't."

"Obviously, or you wouldn't be jealous. But what..."

"Regulus, it's you." And there was that look of confusion again, making James realize he needed to explain. "See, I'm an only child. And while Sirius is like a brother to me, he's definitively not that younger brother I always wanted."