𝕿𝖗𝖊𝖒𝖔𝖗 - ʳᵉᵍᵘˡᵘˢ ᵇˡᵃᶜᵏ

Chapter 29: Action and Consequence

     DEAR LITTLE SISTER!!

     IM GETTING THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU CAN'T HEAR ME SO NOW I AM YELLING!!! It's been two months since you've spoken to me, so with some deductive reasoning, I've come to the conclusion that you're pissy about something.

I know you were throwing a fit about me joining the order, but please for the love of Isolt get over it!! I miss you, okay? I want to talk to you. Fighting in the war is my decision to make and mine alone and, no matter how angry you are, that's not going to change.

So please, Theo, you're the only family I have. I need you to support me. I need you to talk to me.

Love,
YOUR VERY DESPERATE BIG BROTHER

—

[ March 3rd, 1978 ]

THE THIRD to last quidditch match fell on what was supposed to be the warmest day they'd had all winter. However, Slytherin was playing, so of course it was raining like Merlin had something devastating to weep about.

Hufflepuff was officially in last place for the Quidditch Cup—which caused the Bagman brothers a great deal of grief—and it was time to see whether it would be Slytherin or Ravenclaw making it to the final against the Gryffindor team, who'd been undefeated since learning of Regulus's secret. This game would, in reality, be the fourth to last, if by some miracle Ravenclaw won against Slytherin. Chances were Slytherin would take the crown and move onto the finale, which would consist of two games if Slytherin won the first—currently they were sitting at Gryffindor 2 and Slytherin 1 in terms of won matches.

It was all really confusing, at least, that's what Mary said when Theona had explained it to her.

She was released from the hospital the day prior, ten days after her attack. Mary claimed her longer-than-average stay was because Madame Pomfrey wanted to monitor her, but when asked, the healer witch admitted that Mary had asked her to let her stay out of fear. Now, Mary was hiding out in her dorm, complaining that the weather was too bad for her to come to the game, which would've been an okay excuse if not for the fact that the sun had still been shining at that point.

Theona had been with Mary every free second she had, to the point where even Mary—who'd been more paranoid than ever before—was trying to convince her to do something 'better' with her time. Theona didn't budge, she just continued to show up after every meal with a tray in her hand and a prepared recount of everything that had happened in her day so far. As a result, she hadn't met up with Regulus even once, which the boy was clearly growing antsy about—though, he didn't say anything to her about it, knowing exactly why she'd abandoned him. Even now, she wanted to run to Mary's side, despite being otherwise preoccupied.

     "Lucinda Talkalot, number four, in possession of the quaffle!" She narrated, eyes narrowed to make out the number on her jersey through the rain, "jeez, that girl can fly. Despite her previous issues with staying upright, she seems to be pretty balanced today! She attempts a pass to Dolohov, number seventeen, and... he catches it! I hate to see him succeed, but even I have to commend that catch!"

"Miss Bell, what have I told you about bullying?" McGonagall scolded, eliciting a cheeky wink from the commentator.

     "Dolohov is clearly a one-hit wonder, given how shit that shot was! Cresswell had no issue blocking it and handing it over to Ravenclaw chaser Alaric Landom, number seven," Theona shouted, "Landom started the season as a scrawny little fifth-year, but he's been making quite the waves in the Ravenclaw team. I wouldn't be surprised if he manages captain after Cresswell finishes school. Is that nice enough for you, McGonagall?"