Group Brawl

He wanted to laugh at Sirius but he had to maintain his silence since Potter was there and the head boy was not quite forgiving to those who misbehaved with his friends. He wanted to tell his brother about the exiting duel of magic he saw just now. Still, it was his house's issue he was here for and Slytherins particularly liked to handle their issues inside the dungeon.

He was also quite certain that Snape would appreciate if he maintained his distance from Potter's group as the way he saw it Snape was the only one who could have put these lions here. Not that it really mattered what Snape thought of him outside but in the Hogwarts, Snape was the leader of the house. He saw no one as skilled as his brother in his house, apart from one or two seventh years and taking that in account that even James Potter was injured, none apart from Snape was skilled to do a double whammy on these two. They couldn't have been attacked by a group as someone would have blasted such a delightful news by now in the dungeon.

"None of your business, Sirius." He replied to the earlier question of his brother. It was lucky that he was not noticed by any teacher on the way to infirmary, he was not going to start blabbering now. Also, he had a feeling that this issue will escalate but he did not wanted to be a part of it.

"This is the headboy asking you, Perfect. Give me an answer or I will deduct enough points from Slytherin for using such a vicious spell in the school."

"You forgot, twenty is the maximum point a headboy can deduct on an issue. And we don't fear that, do what you will."

James potter was used to such tone by Slytherins and so apart from a annoyed smirk he kept quiet, but Sirius seemed ready to start his right-wrong lecture. By that time, the healer had started working on Smith and he was coming back to consciousness while the rest of the injured boys were put in a healing sleep by the medi-witch with a wave of her wand.

"How dare he?" Smith burst out. Regulus sighed. He knew Smith was going to create a problem so he wanted to talk to him out of it.

"Thomas, this should be sorted out inhouse. No need to get others involved."

He saw Potter smirking and about to speak so he wanted to convince Smith even faster but surprisingly Smith was having none of it.

"He dared cut my hand, Regulus. My wand hand, a nobody from a dusty family dare lay hands on me. We invited that smelly troll in our circle and he lays a hand on me. I will let him know that some people he should never touch. My family will hear of it, I will go to Wizengamot."

Regulus knew that this matter will escalate the moment he heard Smith saying so. This issue will have been handled in Hogwarts previously but now with the war going on everyone was on frayed nerves. These type of issues would at most be called children squabble on normal days but now everyone was watching others with a vigilant eye and frayed nerves.

Firstly, Smith was from an influential family with supporters aplenty in Wizengamot moreover he was also certain that unlike what Smith said Wyllt family was low-key but not a non-entity. It was a mess as Smith was the first to attack so basically it should be his fault. But, O'Shea was too vicious in cutting the wand hand so he can't be acquitted either.

"Phew." After fixing the arm with the torn hand, the medi-witch turned to Regulus and said the thing he dreaded, "Call Headmaster, I have fixed it temporarily but this type of spell is too dangerous to use in school and should be reported to him."

Before Regulus could accept, Potter interrupted. "Don't you worry, we will be delighted to be of help. C'mon guys, let's report to headmaster."

Regulus didn't wanted to leave the injured guys with the Gryffindors but neither he wanted them telling the headmaster a made-up version of story, wondering if it could be worse than what has already transpired. He was in a fix as to either go to headmaster himself or stay here but before that the door to infirmary opened and a whole bunch of senior Slytherins strutted in.

Bulstrode, Parkinson and a bunch of seventh years came but seeing the Gryffindors they hastily took their wands out. Only then did Regulus remembered that one of the injured was Bulstrode's younger brother. Regulus didn't have to guess the purpose of them coming over for long.

"Feeling hunky, eh, Potty? Why not try someone your age." Parkinson fired a jelly leg jinx as soon as he finished.

The rest of the Gryffindors were caught napping. Even Regulus was gobsmacked by the stupidity and guts the snakes were going on with. Have they forgotten the place was Dumbledore's or were they directly under Dark lord's command ..more like dark lord's soul has possessed them. If not for the place of the situation he felt like laughing his guts out.

The moment the Gryffindors and Slytherins started the hexing and jinxing, he covered the injured with the shield.

The medi-witch looked like a fliteerfly has entered her brain and was standing with her mouth open. By the time, she started waving her wand, Lupin and Sirius has started shielding and counterattacking. Regulus hurriedly pulled the flustered witch back in the corner of the room with the patients.

Regulus thought about going along with the other housemates but reined that burning desire to start flinging spells. He saw that apart from the moment when a stray spell caught his brother and his friends unprepared, now it was the opposite.

James Potter was a git and a menace overall but there was a reason for his popularity. He was firing jinxes and handling nearly three or four opponents. His brother was too good for schoolkids even for sixth years or seventh years. Half of the dozen Slytherins were kept on tenterhooks by him alone. Remus Lupin usually kept to himself but Regulus was surprised by the ferocious display he was putting in front of him. Lily Potter and the rat faced boy were assisting the Lions well by shielding and handling the stray curses.

On one hand, the best Gryffindors were firing some quality magic and keeping their defence strong. On the other hand, Slytherins were trying their newly learnt dark arts with little success. But what they lacked in quality they made up in quantity. Pity that there was no Snape or there might have been a reverse. Even though no one was winning, he was quite certain that Gryffindors will cone out on top as time passed.

The medi-witch was shielding her charges while Regulus was shielding her, though he was confused himself why he was doing so. He should be with his housemates against the lions but there was also his brother standing. Regardless his blood was boiling and he was itching for action. Smith on the other hand was confounded,

"Merlin's beard, why are they fighting?"

"Prolly because they think Gryffindors did it."

"But, I was attacked by ..."

Regulus cut him off before he spoke O'Shea was the one who injured him. He doubted that O'Shea will not get involved now that such loud and effing drama was unfolding right now, but he tried nonetheless.

"Doesn't matter what happened. Does it look like anyone will listen?"

"Slanderous behaviour. Albus will not let it go. How disrespectful and uncivilized to treat the infirmary as battleground. Do they not care about injured? Are these still school students? What exactly are they fighting for?" The medi-witch was fuming but the last statement stunned Regulus.

Before Regulus could think of the it the next second as if summoned, a loud bang echoed and the infirmary doors exploded inwards. Albus Dumbledore walked in followed by Professor Flitwick and Argus Filch. Both the groups fighting were separated with the wave of a wand and had their hands behind their backs like little kids. They were no longer looking like dragons and tiger but rather as a quail shaking in the wind against the legend himself, all bluster forgotten.