Nyctophobia - Sirius Black

Chapter 13

Ruby made sure Sev was wrapped up in his coat and Slytherin scarf before they went outside to play in the snow. The extra money their father had left when he died had gone to get them winter coats. Ruby zipped up her coat, leaving her scarf in her dorms, deciding she didn't need it. The others were bundled up in coats, hats, boots, scarves and mittens. They all went happily out into the snow.

Christina, Stanley and Jasper were already outside waiting. Christina squealed happily when she saw them, practically jumping up and down.

"Do you guys know how to play?" Stanley asked.

"We explained it to them last night." Amaris grinned. "So are we going free for all, or are we in teams?"

"We should probably go in teams." Ruby said. "They're a lot smaller than us. Two teams or three?"

"Let's do three teams!!" Christina said. Lucius shrugged.

"That works. So Christina, Rabastan, Narcissa and I will be the first team." Lucius said, "Stanley, Amaris, Severus, and Evan will be the second team."

"That leaves Jasper, Regulus, Ruby and I for the third." Jana smirking.

"Ooh!" Stanley said suddenly. "We can build forts too." Amaris cracked her knuckles with a wide grin.

"Very well. Let's begin." Lucius said. The teams scrambled in different directions. The first ran to the base of a large oak. The second chose an area between two evergreens. The third team chose a hill. Ruby found that with little magic they could easily put the snow into a three walled structure they could hide behind.

Jasper quickly rolled snow into balls, and handed them to Regulus.

"My aim is horrible, and I can't throw that far." He said, peaking over the icy walls of their makeshift castle. "You're a chaser. You should be able to make it."

"Good idea." Jana grinned. "We're going to win this." Regulus stood up from his crouched position and threw a snowball towards Rabastan who was also standing. They heard a yell as Regulus ducked down grinning, and knew that he had hit him.

"I've already made loads. Fire away." Jasper handed the chaser two more snow balls. "Carrow. You any good at throwing?"

"I'm not horrible. And Jana's fine."

"Here you go. Ruby?"

"I'll do my best. I can make the distance. Not sure if I'll hit."

"Well, do your best." He put a snowball in her outstretched hands.

"We're going to win this." Ruby said confidently. Jana gasped suddenly, ducking down. Several snow balls whizzed over her head, and she blinked furiously. Her face was wet, the snow that had hit her in the face now melted. Ruby stood, ducking a snowball, and threw it at Evan who was more focused on the first year peaking over the walls of the first fort than the snowball that promptly hit him in the ear.

A snowball hit Ruby in the shoulder as she ducked down behind the safety of the walls.

"I've got an idea." Ruby said suddenly. "Cover my retreat, and try to distract." She slid down the other side of the hill, and ran crouched down behind a snow bank until she was behind Lucius's fort. She made several snowballs, and threw them at the backs of her opponents. The distance was much smaller, and it was much easier to hit her targets, who either yelled or squealed. Lucius whirled around, cursing loudly.

"Language." Ruby heard Christina squeak as she ran back to the cover of their fort, Lucius hot on her heels. She ran into the fort, quickly forming a snowy wall with her magic. She had been hit several times in her retreat, and was painfully aware of snow that had slid down her back inside her shirt.