i really loved him

chapter 4

Regulus dismounted his broom, feeling overwhelmed and disorientated but also elated. Everything was chaos – the stands were a mixture of cheers and groans, the commentator was still hollering out the final scores and the Slytherin team were whooping with glee.

Emma practically skipped towards him, beaming.

"Excellent, Regulus!" she boomed, clapping him on the back. "I told you we'd be ready!"

The changing room was buzzing with the atmosphere of triumph. Regulus couldn't go more than a couple of minutes without one of his team members approaching him to offer their praise. Even Mulciber gave him a nod of approval. Not used to all the attention, Regulus showered and changed promptly, then returned to the empty castle. The halls were refreshingly quiet, since most people were still out in the stadium. He walked back to his dorm, intending to write a letter to Andromeda about the victory.

On his way to the stairs leading down to the dungeons, Regulus heard a series of clatters and shouts coming from a nearby corridor.

Confused, he turned the corner and saw Liam Miller looming over a couple of terrified-looking 1st year boys. It appeared that the clattering he'd heard was the sound of their wands and bags being thrown to the floor, where they now lay discarded.

"Nasty fucking queers," Miller snarled, and spat on the floor at their feet. "Disgusting, you are. Want to know what happens to fags like you?"

One of the boys opened his mouth and tried to speak, but Miller stepped forward and punched him in the stomach, causing him to stumble backwards onto the floor. Regulus' breath caught in his throat. He was completely still, unable to move. His presence had not yet been clocked.

Miller took out his wand and pointed right in the face of the boy who still stood. He leaned forward slightly, a menacing smile on his face, and hissed,

"They get burned."

"Miller."

Before he knew what was happening, Regulus was striding straight up to Miller with his wand drawn. Miller turned and, on recognising his challenger, gave a course, mocking laugh.

"Come to save the day, Black? Or do you want to stay and watch me teach these little fags a lesson?"

"Leave," Regulus warned. His manner was calm, but his heart hammered dangerously against his ribs.

"Make me," he taunted, taking a step towards him. "Flitwick isn't here to save you now."

Regulus swallowed. "Walk away, or I will make it so you can't," he said steadily.

Miller's face contorted. He raised his wand and began to bellow an incantation, but Regulus was ready for him.

"Petrificus Totalus!"; a stream of blue light flashed from the tip of his wand. The Body-Binding Curse. Miller's arms snapped to his sides as the spell hit him, and his whole body froze. Furious scowl still fixed upon his face, he toppled over and crashed to the floor.

Regulus turned to the 1st years and offered a hand to help up the boy who'd fallen. They both stared up at him with wide, grateful eyes. He knew he should say something, offer some sort of comfort. But a lump had formed in his throat and he didn't trust himself to speak.

"Go," he said. "Leave."

They scampered out of sight.

Heart still pounding, Regulus turned his back on Miller's petrified figure and walked hastily back to the dungeons. Upon reaching the common room, he headed straight into the dorm and slammed the door behind him. The room was empty.

Regulus sank to the floor and pulled his knees to his chest. His breath was fast and ragged, his whole body trembling with fear. And anger. And something else that he couldn't understand. A hurricane had risen in his mind, whirling, raging, threatening to consume it. He squeezed his eyes shut and struggled to keep it at bay from the darkness. He didn't know how long he sat there, but after a while when his heartrate had begun to slow, he heard voices coming from the common room. It wouldn't be long before someone tried to enter the dorm.