The Disgraced of the House of Black - A Multi-Character Fanfiction - Part One

28. Unintentional Harm

November 1976

While James and Sirius worked out their plan, Amara put all her focus back into Quidditch. The upcoming match was scheduled for November second, only ten days after her meeting with James and Sirius. She believed her team was ready, but whether or not they would defeat Gryffindor was entirely up to chance.

At the last practice before the match, Amara led her team back into the locker room, each of them numb with hours on their brooms in the cold. After she had gotten everyone to sit, Amara began the speech she had roughly sketched in her mind.

"Listen," she said, leaning forward slightly on the bench as she looked at them all, "the match tomorrow isn't going to be an easy one. I won't lie to you all, but I believe in each of you. Whether we win or lose tomorrow, we are the best team Hufflepuff has seen in years. I don't care whether we win or not tomorrow, so long as we do our best as a team. So tonight, I want you all to rest up, and get ready for possibly the hardest match we've ever had to play." Getting to her feet, she began to leave before she turned back around and added, "And if any of you don't eat breakfast tomorrow, I'll shove food down your throats."

In the midst of their chuckles, she wished them goodnight and left them for her office. After she had changed, Amara entered the changing room again, surprised to find Eliana was not waiting for her. Frowning, she left the changing room. As the door swung shut silently behind her, two hushed voices reached her in the darkness.

"Are you sure?" the first whispered. She could tell by the tone it was Eliana.

"Positive," the second replied. It was Sirius.

Eliana sighed. "What's your plan? You're not going to be home until December, and that's assuming you completely break character and actually go home for Christmas."

"I'm spending Christmas with James," Sirius explained. "While I'm staying at the Potters, I'll wait until my parents are out, sneak into the house, get all my things, and bring them back there."

"And you're sure about this?" Eliana asked gently. "I know they've done nothing but make you hate your life, Sirius, but...if you do this, you'll be losing everything, not just them."

"If you're talking about the inheritance, I couldn't care less," Sirius replied bitterly.

"No," Eliana said. "I just mean, anyone else in the family you actually like."

"Like who?" Sirius retorted. "I'm assuming you're not talking about yourself?"

"Of course not," Eliana snapped. "But like..." She struggled a moment before finally coming up with, "Andromeda?"

"Oh, please," Sirius said with a laugh. "She's totally in love with Ted Tonks, that muggle-born from her year. Once she tells everyone they're together, she's out for sure."

"Yes, you're probably right," Eliana admitted, chuckling. "Well, then, if you're sure, then I'm happy for you."

"Thanks, Ellie," he replied, and Amara could tell by the sounds of rustling fabric that he had embraced her. "I should get back to James before he starts wondering where I've been."

"I need to find Amara," Eliana admitted. "She's taking longer than usual."

"Hey, Ellie," Sirius said suddenly.

"Yeah?"

"Don't tell her about any of this," he asked, his voice gentler than Amara had ever heard it before.

In confusion, Eliana asked, "Why? I mean, I won't if you don't want me to, but why? She wouldn't think any differently about you for it. In fact, I'd think she'd probably think more highly of you."

"Just, please don't," Sirius requested, a hint of pleading in his tone. "I can handle anyone's pity but hers."

Eliana was silent a moment before she finally sighed, "All right, have it your way."

Then, under cover of the noise from Sirius' movements, Amara dashed back inside, rushing toward her office so as to be able to pretend she was just coming out of it, all the while a singular question was bouncing around in her head. Why did Sirius care?

.

The day dawned bright and cold, almost so bright it would impede the players during the match. Amara woke before the sun, wakened by a sudden jolt. The dream was more vivid today, making it seem far more real than ever before. However, as the reoccurring dream revealed nothing new, she quickly forgot it as she got to her feet, dressing in her Quidditch robes before grabbing her broom. After grabbing breakfast from the kitchens, Amara mounted her broom, flying out onto the pitch, allowing her broom to hover as she worked her way through her breakfast.

As she was eating, another figure appeared on the pitch, broom in hand. Amused, Amara glanced down to watch as Sirius mounted, flying up to join her with his own breakfast.

"Fancy seeing you here," he remarked, leaning back comfortably as he began to eat. "Ready for the match?"

"Only if you're ready to be completely decimated," Amara replied confidently.

"You wish," Sirius retorted playfully, moving his long hair out of his face.

Taking a final bite of her food, Amara leaned forward to lie on her broom, her arms crossed in front of her as she watched the sun make its steady climb into the bright morning air.

Glancing over at her, Sirius remarked, "You know, Amara, you're not really the kind of person I would have pegged as a rule-breaker. Why are you so desperate to become an animagus?"

Amara sighed, her expression one of such serenity Sirius almost believed she hadn't heard him until she said, "I've spent my entire life worrying about my brother. Even when we were children, he was always so shy, so antisocial, and people always judged him for it. You'd probably know more about that than anyone else. I guess I've just always seen protecting him as the one job I'm not allowed to screw up. Now that he's so involved with Lucius, I just...I need to know the things he's not telling me."

Sirius was quiet a moment, thinking back to his own little brother, Regulus.

Hesitating a moment, he finally said, "Have you considered, and please don't knock me off my broom for this, but maybe you should start living for more than just protecting your brother. If you make your entire life about him, there's nothing left if he slips out of reach. I know what it's like to watch someone you love slip into groups, activities, whatever that aren't good for them and you don't agree with, but at some point, you have to realize that he's just as old as you. He is just as capable of making his own decisions for his own life as you are. Your entire life can't just be about him, Amara."

"So, what, I'm supposed to just let him join Voldemort?" Amara snapped, sitting up and turning to face him, her cheeks flushed.

"No, that's not what I-" Sirius began in surprise.

"You know what, Sirius, maybe we should both focus on the match today," Amara interrupted before, without a word, she left him hovering over the pitch, his expression one of hurt confusion.