You Only Live Once

CHAPTER 11

 The air on the Quidditch pitch was biting, a sharp reminder that the winter holidays were only days away. High above, the final echo of the whistle still seemed to vibrate against the stands. James Potter was currently being hoisted onto the shoulders of his teammates, the Golden Snitch glinting triumphantly between his fingers. He had snatched it right out of the air, inches from Regulus Black's outstretched hand, sealing a brutal victory for Gryffindor.

Down on the grass, the atmosphere was split down the middle. One side was a riot of scarlet and gold, while the other was a heavy, suffocating silence. Mira felt the weight of that silence as she walked toward the Slytherin side of the pitch with Pandora and Barty.

Pandora peeled off first, her expression dreamy but concerned as she approached Regulus, who was staring at his broom as if it had betrayed him. Barty followed, heading straight for Evan Rosier to offer a rough pat on the back and a string of curses aimed at the referee. That left Mira standing with Theodore Nott.

Theodore nudged her shoulder, his eyes flickering toward the group of Gryffindors who were shouting and leaping around James. "Go congratulate your cousin, Mira. We'll see you later"

Mira hesitated, looking at the dejected slump of the Slytherin team. "You sure?"

"Positive" Theodore gave her a small, encouraging shove. He knew the tightrope she walked better than anyone.

Mira took a breath and started across the grass. The transition was jarring. She moved from a circle of mourning into a hurricane of joy. As soon as she got close, Lily Evans spotted her. Lily's face was flushed pink from the cold and the excitement, and she immediately rushed forward, linking her arm tightly through Mira's.

"Did you see it Rosie? Did you see how he caught the snitch?" Lily asked, her voice hitching with genuine wonder. She wasn't looking at Mira; her eyes were glued to James, who was currently trying to mess up his already bird-nest hair even further while laughing. Mira couldn't help but smile at the sheer adoration on Lily's face. It was the kind of look that made the whole world seem a bit softer.

"Sure did" Mira replied. She kept her answer short, still feeling the phantom guilt of her own house's loss clinging to her robes.

"I'm so happy, I'm not even going to comment on your house's loss" Sirius Black announced, swaggering over with his usual grace. He looked windswept and arrogant, his Quidditch gear slightly scuffed. Remus Lupin, standing just behind him with a thick scarf wrapped twice around his neck, let out a long, disapproving sigh.

"Ignore him, Mira" Remus said softly.

Mira just shook her head. "I don't mind his comments, Remus. Not anymore"

Sirius grinned, but his attention was diverted as James finally disentangled himself from the crowd. James jogged over, smelling like sweat and cold air, and threw a heavy arm around Mira's shoulders. It was a classic "side-hug," performative and loud. He took his role as her protective, loving cousin very seriously—so seriously that Mira often thought he deserved an Oscar for the commitment.

"Did you see that, cousin?" James asked, beaming down at her.

Mira nodded, returning the hug to keep up the pretenses. "I saw, James. It was a good catch"

"A good catch? It was legendary!" James corrected her with a wink. "Listen, there's a party at the Gryffindor common room tonight. You'll come, right?"

Mira bit her lip, her gaze drifting back toward the Slytherin locker rooms. "I don't know" she replied, her voice trailing off. It felt like a betrayal. Her friends were currently sitting in the dark, brooding over a loss, and she was being invited to the victor's feast. "It wouldn't feel right, leaving them"