DANCING QUEEN ᵐᵃʳᵃᵘᵈᵉʳˢ ᵉʳᵃ

3 - screaming and astronomy

Regulus frowned when he overheard two boys talk to Cassy about an Astronomy Dive. He had only seen one, but it had been at a distance and by accident. Still, they didn't seem very safe.

At the time, he had been visiting Hagrid, but when he was coming back from his hut, he had seen two figures diving off the Astronomy tour. He knew that it was an Astronomy Dive, that was all that the kids would talk about in the dormitory (some dumbass 4th year had challenged a 7th year!), but he still felt panicked. 

They had begun to get scarily close to the ground and with nothing better to do, Regulus ran closer to get a better look. The bigger figure pulled away, but it was too late for the other flyer. Still, Regulus desperately screamed at them to pull up, for lack of anything better to do.

It hadn't helped, and the person crashed into the ground with a sickening bam. As Regulus ran to help, teachers filed out of the school, and he quickly retreated, not wanting to get caught up in the punishments.

He hoped this wouldn't be the case with the next divers.

Regulus didn't like watching Astronomy Dives. But, his curiosity had gotten the better of him, and now he stood in the astronomy tower about to watch 2 boys almost die. He knew it was a dumb decision, and he didn't really have a "but". It just was a dumb decision.

He didn't recognize anyone there, so he stood against a wall and decided to people-watch until it began. The crowd suddenly cheered as someone entered the tower, but when Regulus strained his neck to get a glimpse of who it was, he only saw Cassy. However, it seemed like the cheers were for her, and she quickly got caught up in the crowd, sharing small talk with practically every student. 

Someone threw their arm over his shoulder and he went to shove it off when he recognized Barty. "Hey, Reg,"

"Hey," He leaned into his friend, eyes still watching Cassy. She had a way with people he never really managed to understand.

"Not to be blunt, but... why are you here? This isn't exactly your scene,"

He scoffed, offended. "How do you know what's my scene?"

"Oh? So you're into astronomy, since the last time you went off against our astronomy professor about how shit the subject he spent 10 years specializing in was?" Barty smirked.

Regulus opened his mouth to debate, but no sound came out — Barty was right, he hated astronomy. "Astronomy Dives aren't about astronomy,"

"Repeat the name, but slower,"

Regulus ignored him in favour of casually walking closer to Cassy who had been pushed toward one of the divers.

"Oh, so that's why you're here," Barty's smirk grew to a shit-eating grin.

"Fuck off," Regulus said, straining to hear what Cassy was saying.

"At least she's not a diver this time,"

Regulus' head snapped to his friend. "What do you mean 'this time'?"

Barty's eyes widened. "You don't know?"

"Know what?" Fear was growing in his stomach.

He examined his face for a while before a smile broke across his face. "I'm kidding man. Cassy may be stupid, but not that stupid."

Regulus didn't fully trust that. But, gossip did travel fast, and he had never heard a rumour that Cassy was a diver, so at least that part might be true. Shrugging, he tuned back into the conversation she was having with the diver. Barty slapped him on his back and left him to his stalking.

"Hi, I'm Cassy," She beamed brightly at the kid.

The 4th year awkwardly smiled back. "Yeah, I know. You're like a legend. Is it true that your brother is a Marauder?"

"While I do appreciate the questions, I'll take them afterwards, at the moment I'm here to make sure you don't die."

"Okay," The kid nodded enthusiastically, jittering with nerves.

"Alright, that kid," She pointed at the diver, a 5th year, "His girlfriend says that he tells her funny dad jokes every day because it reminds her of her dad when she gets homesick, and he wears socks with flying pigs on them because they make his little brother laugh,"

"Why are you..."

"Telling you this? Because before everything, you have to remember he's human. Humans are beatable. He won't fly you into the ground. He's not invincible — he'll turn up."

"Cassy!" Someone called her name and with some last technical flying tips to the kid she was gone.

"Is this your first time watching?" Barty had returned and with him, he brought two cups. Regulus took one with a muttered thank you.

"No. I saw one by accident. It was the 4th year vs 7th year where the 4th year flew into the ground." He took a sip, spiked pumpkin juice.

Barty winced. "That doesn't usually happen. Just some stubborn... kid. Don't worry, you'll get the full experience tonight."

"Great," Regulus muttered but his friend ignored him.

"Cassy's hosting it so it's bound to be good," Regulus gave him a look, and he rolled his eyes, "And safe. She doesn't let anyone get hurt under her watch."

"Who even was that 4th year?" Regulus frowned.

"Hello, Hogwarts," Cassy's voice boomed across the tower easily, she was using her wand as a microphone to project her voice. Everyone cheered.

"And no teachers hear this?" He muttered, sending Barty a skeptical look.

He grinned. "Muffle charm on the tower. Brought to you by yours truly."

"Today we have 4th-year Nick Fowler vs. 5th-year Charlie Allen," The crowd cheered, and the two boys smiled proudly. "Boys, do you both have your school brooms?" They held them up for the crowd to see.

Regulus' eyebrows rose. "They don't even get good brooms?"

Barty shrugged. "Same type of broom evens the odds."

"You guys really thought everything out," He muttered.

"We do try,"

"Are you ready?" Cassy all but yelled. The crowd tripled her tone. "I said, are you ready?" They doubled their volume. "That's more like it. Alright, you all know the rules. No dirty playing. I meant it. Or else you'll have me to face. If your broom doesn't turn up, scream, and we'll come to help."

"Screaming doesn't seem like the best option," Regulus murmured to Barty.

"You got a better idea, smart boy?" He answered, unbothered. Regulus didn't, in fact, have a better idea, so he stayed quiet.

"Some new precautions have been installed because of a little incident, I think we all know what I'm talking about," Her voice lowered to a sheepish murmur at the end of her sentence. The crowd cheered louder. 

"Two of our finest charm students are at the base of the tower ready to cushion you if you end up not being able to turn up, and I, the captain of the defending championship quidditch team," She smirked, pausing purposefully, so the crowd could cheer, "Will be on a broom ready to provide any assistance necessary."