𝕋𝕠 ℍ𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕋𝕠 ℍ𝕠𝕝𝕕 [ʙᴏᴏᴋ 3]

༄ Regulus༄

16th July 1986 [Germany Quidditch World Cup Final]

"The England team have a new Seeker: Danica Black," the commentator says as the red-robed players enter the pitch. "I hear she is the best they've had for three decades - we'll see won't we?"

Regulus is in the box for the players' family members. He has Teddy and Rose on either side of him, excitedly waiting for the match to start.

"There's mummy!" Teddy says, pointing at the short woman with blonde hair.

"There she is," Regulus says, smiling widely at her.

Danica looks up at her family for a moment before steeling her face to concentrate on the task at hand: beating the Bulgarian team.

"England hasn't lost a match this year, will today be the day?"

"No!" Rose and Teddy shout at the same time.

Regulus laughs and silently agrees with them, feeling nervous flutters in his stomach. Quidditch was bad enough at Hogwarts, what must it be like to be on an international stage?

"AND THEY'RE OFF!" The commentator yells.

Danica flies high into the air. She knows their tactics, she knows what needs to be done.

The crowd explodes with excitement. Teddy and Rose only watch their mother though. They only have eyes for her, and the same can be said for Regulus.

The Bulgarian team are good, scoring within the first five minutes. But England gets possession and scores in an even faster time.

"And that's Ludovic Bagman, Beater, defending his Chaser, Edric Vosper- oof-"

The commentator goes quiet for a moment as the Bulgarian Beater attempts to remain on his broom. He does so, but in that time, the Quaffle is shot through the hoop at the end, missing the Bulgarian Keeper by inches. The English side of the stadium goes wild.

"WE'RE GONNA WIN!" Teddy yells, standing on his seat to get a better view.

Regulus keeps an eye on him, smiling madly and cheering with the rest of the crowd. Rose joins in, copying her brother.

"WE'RE GONNA WIN!"

Regulus chuckles to himself and returns his attention to his wife. They've been married seven years, their children are seven years old, and yet she is playing quidditch on an international scale. His heart swells with pride.

He watches as Danica circles above the rest of the players, her eyes wide and focussed on one thing: finding the snitch.

"It's now one hundred and fifty points to Bulgaria to one hundred and thirty points to England!" The commentator announces.

Regulus looks up at the scoreboard, thinking, hoping, he has misheard. But it confirms what he heard.

England: 130
Bulgaria: 150

"NO!" The twins shout. "COME ON MUMMY!"

Regulus takes a breath, the anticipation of the quidditch game causing his heart rate to increase.

Then Danica dives.

"And what's Black seen?" The commentator says. "She dives! She rolls! Blimey, that was a close Bludger! But she's still on! And we have Atanas, Bulgarian Seeker, close behind her! It's going to be close..."

Regulus drains out the commentary as he stands up, watching Danica plummet towards the ground in pursuit of the Snitch. The black-robed man chases her but she will always beat him. Regulus can suddenly see them racing: Danica is always a little ahead, Regulus always too far behind. She will beat any man who tries to race her. That is something that Regulus knows for sure. All he can do is wait until the Snitch has been caught.