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The Hogwarts lawns had never looked like this before.
The long green stretch between the castle and the lake had been transformed overnight into something halfway between a festival and a professional race paddock. Metal barriers lined winding dirt tracks carved through the grass. Wooden ramps rose like jagged teeth from packed soil. Mud pits, narrow bridges, steep hills, and tunnels made of enchanted steel cylinders twisted across the grounds.
Bright tents flapped in the wind.
Dozens of machines stood in rows—sleek motorcycles, off-road bikes, roaring dirt racers, rugged buggies splattered with dried mud.
The air smelled like grass, petrol, and excitement.
Students filled the entire field.
Clusters of Gryffindors leaned against barriers shouting at riders. Ravenclaws were already trying to calculate how the suspension worked. Hufflepuffs clapped enthusiastically whenever anyone made it halfway through the course without falling off.
And Slytherins stood in their usual groups, pretending not to be impressed while very clearly being impressed.
At the centre of it all stood Albus Dumbledore, robes fluttering in the wind as he cheerfully explained to a group of professional riders that Hogwarts students were “quite resilient creatures.”
Nearby, the Gryffindors had taken over one stretch of railing.
James Potter leaned forward with wild enthusiasm.
“COME ON! FULL SPEED!”
The bike currently attempting the course wobbled dangerously over a dirt mound before immediately tipping sideways.
The rider fell harmlessly into the grass.
The crowd roared with laughter.
James clutched his stomach.
“Oh that was tragic—did you see the landing?”
Sirius Black barked a laugh beside him.
“That wasn’t a landing. That was surrender.”
Remus Lupin adjusted his sleeves, smiling faintly.
“To be fair,” he said calmly, “most of these people have never ridden a motorbike before today.”
Peter Pettigrew wheezed with laughter anyway.
“That bloke lasted six seconds!”
Lily Evans rolled her eyes.
“You lot are awful.”
Mary Macdonald leaned against the barrier beside her.
“Still better than the girl before him.”
Marlene McKinnon grinned wickedly.
“The one who drove straight into the hay bale?”
Alice Fortescue laughed.
“She screamed the whole way.”
Frank Longbottom clapped enthusiastically.
“I liked her spirit.”
Fabian Prewett slapped the railing.
“Next one! Next one!”
Gideon Prewett cupped his hands around his mouth.
“SHOW US A CRASH!”
Across the field, near one of the equipment tents, the Slytherins were gathered around a completely different spectacle.
The spectacle being Regulus Black.
Regulus stood very still.
Very quiet.
And very clearly staring.
His grey eyes were fixed on the bikes roaring across the obstacle course with something that looked dangerously close to awe.
Barty Crouch Jr. noticed immediately.
“Oh no,” he said slowly.
Evan Rosier followed his gaze.
“Oh yes.”
Pandora Rosier tilted her head.
“He wants to try.”
Dorcas Meadowes smirked.
“He absolutely wants to try.”
Regulus snapped his head toward them.
“I do not.”
Barty crossed his arms.
“You’ve been staring for twenty minutes.”
“I have not.”
“You have.”
Evan grinned.
“You look like a cat watching a laser pointer.”
Regulus glared.
Pandora clasped her hands together sweetly.
“You should go.”
“I am not riding one of those.”
Dorcas leaned closer.
“You’re literally vibrating with curiosity.”
Regulus turned bright red.
“I am not.”
Barty pointed across the field.
“Look. That kid just rode straight into a puddle.”
Regulus looked.
The bike slipped sideways and the rider toppled directly into mud.
The entire crowd screamed.
Regulus blinked.
Then quietly said,
“…that does look entertaining.”
Pandora clapped once.
“That’s it. Go.”
Regulus recoiled.
“No.”
Evan shoved him.
“Go.”
“I will die.”
Dorcas pushed him again.
“You will not.”
Barty physically grabbed his shoulders and spun him toward the instructors.
“Regulus Orion Black, if you do not march over there right now we will drag you.”
Regulus stared at them.
Then looked back at the bikes.
Then at the track.
Then back at them.
Slowly, awkwardly, he shuffled forward.
Across the field.
Students began noticing.
“Wait,” Peter said suddenly.
“Is that Regulus Black?”
James leaned forward.
“Oh Merlin it is.”
Sirius squinted.
“…what is he doing?”
Regulus approached the instructors.
They looked him up and down.
Then one of them grinned.
“First ride?”
Regulus nodded stiffly.
“Yes.”
“Alright then.”
Within minutes they were fitting him with gear.
Black riding jacket.
Armored trousers.
Heavy boots.
Gloves.
Helmet.
When he stepped out fully dressed, the entire field seemed to pause.
Mary blinked.
“Oh.”
Marlene grabbed her arm.
“Oh my god.”
Alice stared.
“He looks—”
Lily finished quietly,
“—ridiculously good.”
On the Slytherin side, Barty smirked.
“Told you.”
Pandora whispered dreamily,
“He looks like a villain in a racing film.”
Dorcas crossed her arms approvingly.
“Or the hero.”
Evan snorted.
“Or someone about to crash dramatically.”
Across the lawn, Sirius blinked slowly.
“…why does my brother look cool.”
James slapped his shoulder.
“Focus, Padfoot.”
The instructors wheeled a bike forward.
A sleek off-road monster with thick tires and roaring engine.
Regulus swung onto it awkwardly.
They showed him the controls.
Throttle.
Brake.
Clutch.
He practiced.
Slowly.
Carefully.
The instructors nodded.
Then rolled him to the start line.
The massive obstacle course stretched ahead like a war zone.
Mud trenches.
Jumps.
Ramps.
A spiral tunnel.
Tight turns.
Regulus tightened his grip.
The countdown horn began.
Students leaned forward.
James whispered,
“He’s going to wipe out immediately.”
Sirius nodded.
“Ten seconds.”
Remus smiled faintly.
“We’ll see.”
The horn blared.
Regulus launched.
Not slowly.
Not cautiously.
He shot forward like a bullet.
The entire crowd screamed.
At that exact moment the field speakers crackled to life.
A voice blasted across the lawn:
“I've been looking for a driver who is qualified.”
Students blinked in confusion.
The voice continued,
“So if you think that you're the one step into my ride.”
Regulus tore across the first straightaway, already accelerating.
The speakers declared,
“I'm a fine-tuned supersonic speed machine.”
He launched over the first jump.
“Got a sunroof top and a gangster lean.”
He landed perfectly.
Pandora screamed.
Barty yelled,
“WHAT.”
Regulus swerved through a tight obstacle line.
The speakers continued,
“So if you feel me, let me know, know, know.”
He hopped the bike sideways between two barriers.
“Come on now, what you waiting for, for, for?”
He shot up a steep dirt ramp.
“My engine's ready to explode, explode, explode.”
He flew.
“So start me up and watch me go, go, go, go.”
The crowd lost its mind.
He tore into the mud section.
“Get you where you wanna go, if you know what I mean.”
Perfect control.
“Got a ride that's smoother than a limousine.”
He slid around a corner.
“Can you handle the curves? Can you run all the lights?”
Regulus leaned so far sideways his knee nearly hit the ground.
“If you can, baby boy, then we can go all night.”
He rocketed down a straight.
“'Cause I'm zero to sixty in 3.5.”
He blasted over another jump.
“Baby, you got the keys.”
James screamed.
“WHAT IS HAPPENING.”
The speakers roared,
“Now shut up and drive, drive, drive.”
Regulus popped a wheelie.
“Shut up and drive, drive, drive.”
He rode the entire stretch on one wheel.
The Gryffindors lost their sanity.
Peter shrieked.
“HE’S NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.”
The speakers continued,
“I got class like a '57 Cadillac.”
Regulus blasted through a narrow bridge.
“Got overdrive with a whole lot of boom in the back.”
He reversed the bike mid-turn and rode backwards.
“You look like you can handle what's under my hood.”
Students screamed.
“You keep saying that you will, boy, I wish you would.”
He jumped sideways over a mound.
“So if you feel me, let me know, know, know.”
He dodged three obstacles.
“Come on now, what you waiting for, for, for?”
He shot through a spinning barrier.
“My engine's ready to explode, explode, explode.”
He hit the massive ramp.
“So start me up and watch me go, go, go, go.”
Regulus flew.
High.
Higher than anyone had so far.
“Get you where you wanna go, if you know what I mean.”
In the air he flipped his body forward.
“Got a ride that's smoother than a limousine.”
His legs rose above his head.
“Can you handle the curves? Can you run all the lights?”
He balanced in a handstand over the handlebars.
“If you can, baby boy, then we can go all night.”
He landed crouched perfectly.
“'Cause I'm zero to sixty in 3.5.”
Students were shrieking.
“Baby, you got the keys.”
The speakers roared,
“Now shut up and drive, drive, drive.”
He sped through the tunnel.
“Shut up and drive, drive, drive.”
Inside the tunnel he rode along the curved wall.
A full circle.
Sirius grabbed James.
“DID YOU SEE THAT.”
James screamed,
“HE JUST DEFIED GRAVITY.”
The speakers blasted,
“'Cause your Maybach ain't got what I got.”
Regulus blasted out of the tunnel.
“Get it, get it, don't stop, it's a sure shot.”
He hopped the bike around a barrier.
“And your Ferrari, huh, boy, I'm sorry.”
He swerved through cones.
“I ain't even worried, so step inside.”
He hit the final jump.
“And ride, ride, ride, ride.”
The bike soared.
“Ride, ride, ride, ride.”
He landed perfectly.
“Get you where you wanna go, if you know what I mean.”
The finish line approached.
“Got a ride that's smoother than a limousine.”
He blasted across the final straight.
“Can you handle the curves? Can you run all the lights?”
The entire school was screaming.
“If you can, baby boy then we can go all night.”
Regulus crossed the finish.
“'Cause I'm zero to sixty in 3.5.”
He skidded sideways.
“Baby, you got the keys.”
The speakers concluded calmly,
“Now shut up and drive.”
The engine died.
Silence fell.
Regulus slowly lifted his visor.
Then removed the helmet.
He was grinning.
The field exploded.
James was screaming.
Sirius was yelling.
Lily was laughing.
Mary and Marlene were shrieking.
Alice clapped wildly.
Frank yelled in disbelief.
Fabian and Gideon were jumping over the barrier.
Barty looked stunned.
Evan whispered,
“What.”
Pandora looked like she might faint.
Dorcas just laughed.
And Regulus Black stood in the middle of the track, hair wind-tossed, cheeks flushed, smiling like someone who had just discovered a new kind of magic.
For a moment after the bike stopped moving, the world seemed to forget how to breathe.
The engine clicked softly as it cooled.
Dust drifted slowly through the air.
Regulus Black sat on the bike with one boot braced on the ground, helmet dangling loosely in his hand, chest rising and falling in quick breaths.
His grey eyes were wide.
Not triumphant.
Not smug.
Just… stunned.
Like someone who had accidentally opened a door and discovered an entirely different universe on the other side.
Then the silence shattered.
The entire field erupted.
Students screamed.
Hundreds of voices at once.
Gryffindors slammed against the barriers, Ravenclaws shouted in disbelief, Hufflepuffs cheered like they’d just watched a Quidditch final.
Even the Slytherins lost their composure.
“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!” Evan Rosier yelled.
Barty Crouch Jr. grabbed Pandora’s shoulders and shook her.
“HE JUST DID A WALL RIDE.”
Pandora shrieked.
“HE DID A HANDSTAND ON A MOVING MOTORBIKE.”
Dorcas Meadowes stared at the track, stunned.
“He rode backwards through a slalom.”
Across the field the Gryffindors had completely lost control.
James Potter was climbing the railing.
“THAT WAS THE COOLEST THING I’VE EVER SEEN.”
Sirius Black looked like someone had just informed him gravity was optional.
“That was my brother.”
Peter Pettigrew was bouncing up and down.
“HE DID A FLIP.”
Remus Lupin was laughing helplessly.
“I’m fairly certain half of that shouldn’t be physically possible.”
Lily Evans clapped both hands over her mouth.
“He’s never even ridden one before!”
Mary Macdonald was shrieking.
“He just INVENTED MOTORBIKES.”
Marlene McKinnon grabbed Alice’s shoulders.
“Did you see the tunnel?!”
Alice Fortescue nodded wildly.
“He went around the entire thing!”
Frank Longbottom pumped his fist.
“That was brilliant!”
Fabian Prewett shouted,
“SOMEONE GET THAT MAN ANOTHER BIKE.”
Gideon Prewett yelled,
“GET HIM TEN.”
Even the instructors along the track looked like someone had just broken reality in front of them.
One of the professional riders slowly removed his sunglasses.
“…what.”
Another whispered,
“That kid just cleared the pro jump.”
A third said faintly,
“On his first ride.”
Near the centre of the field, Albus Dumbledore had been in the middle of addressing a crowd of students gathered around the career tents.
“—and of course you are all encouraged to explore the many fascinating professions available within both the magical and Muggle worlds—”
He stopped.
Mid-sentence.
His head turned toward the track.
The old wizard blinked.
Once.
Twice.
His eyebrows rose slowly toward his hairline.
“…goodness,” Dumbledore murmured quietly.
Back on the course, Regulus still looked like he hadn’t quite returned to Earth yet.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
A grin spread slowly across his face.
Disbelieving.
Almost giddy.
His hands trembled slightly as adrenaline surged through him.
Then suddenly—
A pack of instructors came sprinting across the dirt.
“YOU ALRIGHT?!”
“DON’T MOVE YET.”
“Helmet off—let’s check you.”
They surrounded the bike instantly, voices overlapping in excited chaos.
One of them crouched beside him.
“Kid, are you hurt?”
Regulus blinked at him.
“…what?”
Another instructor grabbed the handlebars to steady the bike.
“Easy, easy—take a breath.”
A third looked the bike over quickly.
“No damage.”
The first instructor laughed incredulously.
“Of course there isn’t.”
Regulus finally slid off the bike.
His boots hit the dirt.
He swayed slightly, still buzzing with adrenaline.
“I—”
He stopped.
Looked at the track behind him.
Then back at the instructors.
“…that was amazing.”
The instructors burst out laughing.
“Yeah it was!”
One of them clapped him on the shoulder.
“Kid, where did you learn to ride like that?”
Regulus stared at him.
“I didn’t.”
Three instructors spoke at once.
“You’re joking.”
“No way.”
“You’ve ridden before.”
Regulus shook his head slowly.
“I’ve never even sat on one before today.”
Silence.
Then absolute chaos.
One instructor ran both hands through his hair.
“ARE YOU SERIOUS.”
Another pointed back toward the course.
“You just cleared the pro ramp.”
A third grabbed Regulus by both shoulders.
“Kid, listen to me.”
Regulus blinked.
“You need to start racing.”
“Immediately,” another instructor said.
“Like this season.”
A tall rider leaned in.
“You could join the junior circuit.”
“British Youth Off-Road League.”
“Supercross youth divisions.”
“Motocross development teams.”
“Trial riding leagues.”
“Flat track circuits.”
“Enduro racing.”
One of the instructors pointed emphatically.
“You’ve got balance like a trials rider.”
Another shook his head.
“No way, that’s motocross talent.”
A third cut in.
“Supercross.”
“Freestyle.”
“Freestyle!” another agreed immediately.
“You see the air control on that flip?!”
One of the riders laughed.
“You could be doing stadium events in five years.”
Another added,
“Kid, teams would fight to sign you.”
“Sponsorship deals.”
“Factory development programs.”
“You could ride for KTM.”
“Yamaha.”
“Honda.”
“Kawasaki.”
“Red Bull would throw money at you.”
“Monster Energy.”
“Alpinestars.”
“Fox Racing.”
“You could be in world championships before you’re twenty.”
Regulus stared at them.
Completely overwhelmed.
His face was flushed.
His breathing still fast.
His hair stuck messily to his forehead.
And his eyes—
His eyes were glowing.
Not with arrogance.
Not with pride.
With wonder.
Like someone who had just discovered something enormous and beautiful and terrifying all at once.
“…I can do that?” he asked quietly.
One of the instructors laughed.
“Kid.”
He gestured back at the obstacle course where students were still screaming and cheering.
“You just did.”
Across the field his friends were already sprinting toward him.
Behind them the entire school was still roaring.
The shouting around the finish line had barely begun to settle when the instructors exchanged a look.
A very specific look.
The kind professionals get when they realize they might be witnessing something rare.
One of them turned slowly toward the other stalls scattered across the Hogwarts grounds.
Then back to Regulus.
Then back to the stalls again.
His grin widened.
“Oh we are not wasting this.”
Before Regulus could even process what that meant, two instructors grabbed him by the shoulders.
“Alright kid.”
“Come with us.”
Regulus blinked.
“Where?”
But they were already dragging him across the field.
“WE NEED YOU OVER HERE.”
One instructor cupped his hands and yelled across the lawn.
“HEY! SKATE PARK!”
A cluster of helmeted professionals turned from their ramps.
“What?”
The motorbike instructor pointed dramatically at Regulus.
“WE’VE GOT A LIVE ONE.”
The skateboarding instructors looked confused.
“…what does that mean?”
“Just test him!”
Regulus was shoved toward the skate ramp.
A helmet was jammed onto his head.
Elbow pads.
Knee pads.
A skateboard was dropped into his hands.
The instructor said quickly,
“Push off, balance low, keep your centre—”
Regulus rolled down the ramp.
Immediately dropped into the halfpipe.
And came flying back up the other side.
He landed a clean kickflip.
The skateboarding instructors froze.
The entire crowd screamed.
Mary Macdonald shrieked.
“WHAT.”
Marlene McKinnon grabbed the railing.
“HE JUST DID A FLIP.”
Sirius looked violently confused.
“HE’S NEVER TOUCHED A SKATEBOARD.”
James yelled,
“DO IT AGAIN.”
Regulus did.
This time he launched higher.
Spinning the board beneath him.
Landing perfectly.
The skate instructors lost their minds.
“ARE YOU KIDDING ME.”
“WHAT.”
“WHERE DID YOU LEARN THAT.”
The motorbike instructors were already dragging him away again.
“NEXT.”
They rushed him across the grass.
“ROLLERBLADING!”
The roller derby instructors looked up.
“What’s happening?”
“JUST TEST HIM.”
Boots.
Helmet.
Pads.
Regulus stood on the rollerblades.
Wobbled once.
Then pushed off.
He shot across the track.
Weaving through cones.
Jumping a small ramp.
Spinning mid-air.
Landing perfectly.
The roller instructors screamed.
“Oh COME ON.”
“NO WAY.”
“HE JUST DID A 360.”
The crowd was losing control.
Barty Crouch Jr. was doubled over laughing.
“This is ridiculous.”
Pandora clutched Dorcas.
“He’s magic.”
Dorcas shook her head.
“This isn’t magic.”
Evan pointed.
“He’s doing it again.”
Regulus launched off another ramp.
Landing backwards.
Then spun forward again.
The instructors were already dragging him away.
“NEXT.”
“BMX.”
The BMX stall instructors looked baffled as Regulus was thrown onto a tiny bike.
“What are we—”
Regulus pedalled forward.
He hopped the bike sideways over a barrier.
Wheelie.
Spin.
Ramp jump.
Mid-air tail whip.
Perfect landing.
The BMX riders screamed.
“WHAT.”
“NO.”
“THAT’S NOT FAIR.”
James Potter was screaming with laughter.
“He’s cheating somehow.”
Remus said calmly,
“I genuinely think he isn’t.”
“PARKOUR!”
Regulus was hauled toward a massive obstacle course of walls, rails, ropes, and platforms.
The instructors shouted,
“RUN.”
Regulus ran.
He vaulted a wall.
Flipped over a railing.
Scaled a tower.
Leaped between platforms.
Flipped off the final ledge and landed in a roll.
Students were shrieking.
Peter Pettigrew yelled,
“HE’S A CAT.”
Lily stared.
“That was terrifying.”
“SNOWBOARD SIMULATOR!”
A massive magical platform covered in enchanted ice roared to life.
Boots were strapped onto Regulus.
He leaned forward.
The platform began to move.
Regulus carved across it effortlessly.
Spinning.
Jumping.
Landing.
One instructor whispered,
“…he’s never even seen snowboarding.”
Fabian Prewett shouted,
“HE JUST DID A TRICK.”
Gideon yelled,
“WHAT TRICK.”
“I DON’T KNOW BUT IT LOOKED EXPENSIVE.”
“SURFING SIMULATOR!”
Regulus was shoved onto a magically conjured wave machine.
He balanced.
Then carved along the wave.
The crowd screamed again.
“WAKEBOARDING!”
He was strapped to a rope system over a water tank.
The machine pulled.
Regulus skimmed across the surface.
Jumped.
Twisted.
Landed.
One instructor collapsed into a chair laughing hysterically.
“This kid is illegal.”
“ROCK CLIMBING!”
A massive enchanted wall rose from the ground.
Regulus grabbed the first holds.
Then he climbed.
Fast.
Effortlessly.
He reached the top in seconds.
Students screamed.
Then he pushed off.
And abseiled down.
Halfway down he spun.
“WOOOOOO!”
He landed at the bottom laughing.
Hands thrown up in the air.
The entire field exploded again.
Even the staff were losing control.
Professor McGonagall looked deeply disturbed.
Professor Flitwick was clapping excitedly.
Even Dumbledore looked amused.
“My my.”
Regulus was dragged toward yet another stall.
“TREADMILL TEST.”
A magical treadmill began accelerating.
Regulus started running.
Faster.
Faster.
Still running.
Students began chanting.
“GO REG.”
“GO REG.”
“GO REG.”
The instructor stared at the timer.
“…he’s still sprinting.”
Another said,
“That’s been four minutes.”
The crowd was roaring.
Finally the treadmill slowed.
Regulus hopped off.
Panting.
Laughing.
His hair a complete mess.
His face glowing with adrenaline.
By the time the instructors finally let him stop, he looked like a walking advertisement stand.
He carried a massive bag stuffed with free gear.
Gloves.
Caps.
Energy drinks.
Grip tape.
Protective pads.
Brand stickers.
Helmet decals.
Mini tools.
Keychains.
Patches.
His arms were full of pamphlets and flyers.
“Junior racing leagues.”
“Extreme sports academies.”
“Pro development programs.”
“Custom gear fittings.”
“Team sponsorship opportunities.”
Several instructors were still talking over each other.
“We could build you a custom board.”
“Custom suspension.”
“Personal helmet design.”
“Tailored racing boots.”
“Carbon fibre gear.”
“Custom sponsor graphics.”
“You could start training immediately.”
“We’d get you onto junior circuits.”
“Development teams.”
“Professional academies.”
“Talent scouts would fight over you.”
Regulus stood in the middle of it all.
Panting.
Grinning.
Eyes wide.
Completely overwhelmed.
Across the field the entire student body was still screaming like they had just watched the greatest sports performance of their lives.
And Regulus Black—
Covered in gear.
Holding an armful of pamphlets.
Still buzzing with adrenaline—
Looked like someone who had just discovered an entirely new future.
The noise across the Hogwarts grounds had reached a level that could probably be heard from Hogsmeade.
Students were still screaming.
Groups were shouting Regulus’s name.
Even people who had no idea who he was ten minutes ago were now yelling about “the motorbike kid.”
Regulus himself stood near the instructor tents looking like he had just sprinted through a hurricane.
His hair was a complete disaster.
His jacket hung open.
His chest rose and fell with quick breaths as adrenaline still buzzed through him.
And in his arms—
He was holding a ridiculous pile of things.
A massive drawstring gear bag slung over one shoulder.
Another tote bag from one of the sponsor stalls.
A stack of pamphlets and flyers clutched in his hands.
Regulus blinked down at the pile like he still hadn’t fully processed that any of this had actually happened.
He started digging through it.
“Oh—”
He pulled out a pair of mirrored racing goggles.
“These are brilliant.”
One of the instructors laughed.
“Anti-glare lenses.”
Regulus turned them over curiously.
“They’re polarized.”
He stuffed them back in the bag and pulled out something else.
A carbon fibre water bottle.
A portable bike multi-tool kit.
A small GoPro-style camera with a mount.
A pair of performance compression sleeves.
A custom racing cap with a logo stitched into the front.
A patch set from a motocross team.
A lanyard with pit passes for upcoming junior racing events.
A voucher for a professional gear fitting session.
And several thick glossy catalogues.
“Custom suspension components.”
“Performance riding boots.”
“Junior motocross leagues.”
“Freestyle training academies.”
He flipped through one of them, eyes wide.
“They sent me a catalogue for personal bike builds.”
One instructor laughed loudly.
“Of course they did.”
Another slapped him lightly on the shoulder.
“Kid, companies are going to be sending you stuff for years if you keep riding like that.”
Across the field the students were still screaming.
James Potter had climbed fully onto the barrier now.
“REGULUS!”
Peter Pettigrew yelled,
“DO THE HANDSTAND AGAIN!”
Marlene was shouting,
“HE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT A BIKE.”
Fabian yelled,
“GIVE HIM ANOTHER BIKE.”
The instructors exchanged another look.
One of them grinned.
“Oh we will.”
Regulus looked up.
“What?”
The instructor pointed toward the far side of the grounds.
“Later today the race car drivers arrive.”
Regulus blinked.
“…race cars?”
“Full track demo.”
“Rally cars.”
“Formula juniors.”
“Professional instructors.”
Another instructor nodded enthusiastically.
“We’re putting you in one.”
Regulus stared at him.
“You’re joking.”
“Nope.”
“If you handled that bike like that, we want to see what you do in a car.”
A third instructor laughed.
“And honestly?”
He gestured toward the field where the entire school was still going insane.
“Everyone here definitely wants to see that too.”
Regulus looked slightly dizzy again.
Then one of the riders added casually,
“And you’ll want to meet the guests arriving with them.”
Regulus blinked.
“What guests?”
“Jeremy Clarkson is coming.”
Several nearby students screamed immediately.
One instructor pointed toward the road leading up to the castle.
“Top Gear filming a short segment about unusual training environments.”
Another added,
“And there’s an extreme sports guest too.”
“Professional free runner and stunt athlete.”
“Max Cave.”
“He’s doing the parkour demonstrations later.”
Several instructors grinned at Regulus.
“We absolutely need to introduce you.”
“If you impress Clarkson he’ll put you on television.”
“If Cave sees what you did on the parkour course he might invite you to train.”
“Media exposure.”
“Sponsors.”
“Development teams.”
“Junior leagues.”
“You could have your name out there within a year.”
Regulus stared at them.
His brain was clearly struggling to keep up.
“You’re serious.”
One instructor laughed.
“Dead serious.”
Another gestured toward the screaming crowd.
“You already impressed half the school.”
Just then—
Someone slammed into him from behind.
Arms wrapped around his waist.
Regulus barely had time to gasp before he was lifted completely off the ground.
“REGULUS!”
Sirius Black spun him around in a wild circle.
Regulus burst out laughing.
“SIRIUS—”
Sirius was yelling loudly enough to compete with the crowd.
“WHAT WAS THAT.”
He spun him again.
“WHAT WAS THAT?!”
Regulus laughed helplessly.
“I don’t know!”
Sirius set him down but kept his hands on his shoulders, staring at him like he’d just discovered a completely new person.
“That was mental.”
James arrived at a sprint.
“THAT WAS BRILLIANT.”
Peter was bouncing beside him.
“You did a flip!”
Remus arrived smiling.
“You appear to have discovered a hidden talent.”
Lily crossed her arms but she was grinning.
“That was genuinely impressive.”
Mary Macdonald grabbed Regulus’s sleeve.
“Where did you learn that.”
Marlene demanded,
“Are you secretly a professional athlete.”
Alice Fortescue laughed.
“You climbed that wall faster than the instructor.”
Frank Longbottom shook his head.
“I still can’t believe the tunnel thing.”
Fabian yelled,
“THE TUNNEL.”
Gideon added,
“You rode sideways!”
Behind them the Slytherins finally reached the group.
Barty Crouch Jr. stared at Regulus.
“You are ridiculous.”
Evan Rosier shook his head.
“That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Pandora looked like she might cry from excitement.
“You flew.”
Dorcas smirked.
“You’re definitely doing the race car.”
Regulus was still glowing.
Still breathing fast.
Still holding a pile of racing catalogues.
And Sirius—
Sirius suddenly pulled him into a crushing hug.
“Mate.”
His voice was loud with disbelief and pride.
“You were bloody amazing.”
Regulus froze.
Just for a second.
Then he smiled.
A real smile.
Bright and shocked and thrilled all at once.
Because for the first time in his life—
His big brother looked at him like he was the coolest person on the field.
And around them—
The entire school was still screaming.
The afternoon had reached the point where the entire school had abandoned any attempt at behaving normally.
Students had spilled across the Hogwarts lawns in a roaring mass of energy.
Word had spread.
The kid who could ride anything.
The boy who had just cleared every extreme sport stall like he’d trained his whole life.
Now everyone was waiting for the next event.
Because the sound was coming from the castle road.
Engines.
Not bikes.
Not small machines.
Low.
Deep.
Thunderous.
Heads turned.
A convoy of transport trucks rolled slowly onto the grounds.
Painted trailers.
Sponsor logos.
Pit equipment.
Professional racing teams.
The crowd screamed.
James Potter grabbed the railing again.
“THE CARS ARE HERE.”
Peter Pettigrew was hopping up and down.
“THE CARS ARE HERE.”
Students surged forward toward the new section of track the instructors had prepared.
Several sleek race cars were already being unloaded.
One bright red.
One matte black.
A rally-spec machine with enormous suspension.
And a pair of junior circuit cars.
Professional drivers climbed out beside them.
Among them—
A tall man with wild grey hair stepped down from one of the transport vans.
Jeremy Clarkson looked across the field with open curiosity.
“Well,” he said loudly, “this is unusual.”
His camera crew was already setting up nearby.
A boom mic operator adjusted their equipment.
A producer whispered something into Clarkson’s ear.
Clarkson glanced toward the obstacle course where half the students were still shouting Regulus’s name.
“…what did I miss?”
That was when three of the extreme sports instructors ran up to him.
“Jeremy.”
Clarkson looked over.
“Yes?”
One of them gestured back toward the field.
“We have someone you need to see.”
Clarkson raised an eyebrow.
“Oh?”
The instructors immediately began talking over each other.
“He cleared the motocross ramp.”
“First try.”
“He did parkour like a professional free runner.”
“Skateboarding.”
“BMX.”
“Surf simulator.”
“Wakeboarding.”
“He sprinted five minutes at full speed.”
“He climbed the wall in under twenty seconds.”
Clarkson blinked slowly.
“…you’re joking.”
“No.”
“Where is he?”
One of the instructors turned.
“Regulus!”
The crowd parted slightly.
Regulus Black approached slowly.
Still holding his ridiculous bag of gear.
Still clutching pamphlets.
Still slightly flushed with adrenaline.
He looked very small compared to the towering race cars.
Clarkson stared down at him.
“…you?”
Regulus blinked.
“…hello.”
Clarkson chuckled and pulled a marker from his jacket.
“Well before anything else—”
He grabbed one of the pamphlets from Regulus’s hands and scribbled his signature across the cover.
“There you go.”
Regulus looked stunned.
“…thank you.”
Then Clarkson looked back at the instructors.
“…so what exactly did he do?”
The instructors started explaining again.
In detail.
Clarkson’s eyebrows slowly climbed higher and higher.
He looked back at Regulus.
Then back at the track.
Then back at Regulus again.
“…right.”
He clapped his hands.
“Get him in a car.”
Regulus blinked.
“What?”
Clarkson pointed toward the junior circuit vehicles.
“Let’s see what happens.”
The camera crew scrambled instantly.
One cameraman ran ahead to capture the car setup.
Clarkson grabbed a microphone and began pacing beside the track.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced loudly to the cameras.
“We appear to have discovered something rather unusual at Hogwarts.”
Students cheered.
Clarkson gestured dramatically toward Regulus.
“This boy—who claims to have never done any of these sports before—has just dominated every extreme sport stall on the grounds.”
The camera zoomed in on Regulus nervously being fitted with racing gear.
Clarkson continued.
“So naturally…”
He grinned.
“We’re putting him in a race car.”
The crowd exploded.
Regulus climbed into the junior circuit car.
His opponent walked over.
A professional junior driver.
Oliver Bearman.
Sixteen.
Already rising through the racing circuits.
And looking deeply unimpressed.
Bearman leaned against the door of his car.
“…so this is the miracle kid.”
Regulus glanced over awkwardly.
“…hello.”
Bearman shrugged.
“Good luck.”
Clarkson leaned toward the camera.
“We’ve paired him with Oliver Bearman—already racing professionally.”
He pointed dramatically.
“Let’s see what happens.”
Both drivers climbed into their cars.
Engines roared to life.
The crowd fell silent.
Clarkson held up his hand.
“And they’re off!”
The starting light flashed.
The cars launched forward.
Regulus’s car shot off the line with terrifying speed.
Clarkson shouted,
“OH GOOD LORD.”
The crowd screamed.
Bearman kept pace.
The two cars tore around the first bend side by side.
Clarkson laughed loudly.
“He’s actually keeping up!”
The next turn came fast.
Bearman pushed ahead slightly.
Clarkson pointed.
“Experienced driver taking the inside line there.”
Regulus cut across the next straight.
Closing the gap.
Students were screaming.
Sirius shouted,
“GO REG.”
James yelled,
“DON’T CRASH.”
Remus laughed.
“I believe he’s beyond that now.”
The cars approached a debris section.
A barrier piece had fallen from an earlier demonstration.
Bearman swerved around it.
Regulus hit the corner too fast.
The back of the car slid sideways.
Clarkson shouted into the microphone.
“OH HE’S LOST IT.”
Regulus spun the wheel.
The car whipped around.
A perfect 360 drift.
Then shot forward onto the straight again.
The crowd detonated.
Clarkson screamed.
“WHAT WAS THAT.”
The camera crew was yelling.
“He just recovered that!”
Bearman glanced in his mirror.
And froze.
Regulus’s car was right behind him again.
The final corner approached.
Bearman pushed hard.
Regulus cut inside.
They came out of the turn side by side.
The finish line rushed toward them.
Clarkson leaned forward dramatically.
“And—”
Regulus surged ahead.
“HE’S DONE IT.”
The crowd erupted.
Both cars screeched to a stop at the finish line.
Students were screaming louder than ever.
Regulus climbed out of the car.
Immediately started laughing.
“Oh my god—”
He bounced on his feet.
“That was incredible.”
He nearly stumbled.
Still buzzing from adrenaline.
Meanwhile Oliver Bearman climbed out slowly.
He stared at Regulus.
Completely stunned.
The boy was still grinning wildly.
Jumping a little.
Hair a mess.
Helmet under one arm.
Completely unaware of the chaos he had just caused.
Bearman’s face slowly turned red.
His eyes widened.
His jaw dropped slightly.
He looked at Regulus like someone who had just witnessed a miracle.
“…wow.”
Regulus didn’t even notice.
He was still laughing.
“That was amazing!”
Clarkson was still yelling into the microphone.
“I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT.”
He turned to the camera crew.
“Get this footage to the studio.”
He pulled out his phone.
“Where’s Hammond.”
The call connected.
Clarkson grinned like a madman.
“Richard, you are not going to believe the child I’ve just found.”
Across the field—
The entire school was still screaming.
And Regulus Black—
Still flushed with adrenaline—
Was bouncing excitedly beside the race car like the happiest person on earth.
The finish line had become absolute chaos.
Students were screaming so loudly the sound bounced off the stone walls of Hogwarts castle.
Regulus stood in the middle of it all.
Still buzzing.
Still vibrating with adrenaline.
He bounced on the balls of his feet like a spring that hadn’t finished unwinding.
“THAT WAS AMAZING.”
He laughed breathlessly, clutching the helmet under one arm.
“Oh my god that was amazing.”
His legs wobbled.
He nearly stumbled.
Then burst into laughter again.
“Did you see the drift?!”
He yelped suddenly when his knee buckled slightly.
“Whoa—”
He steadied himself by grabbing the side of the car and laughed again.
“Okay my legs don’t work.”
Across from him—
Oliver Bearman had not moved.
He was just standing there.
Staring.
Completely stunned.
His helmet hung loosely in his hand.
His face was bright red.
His eyes were wide.
And he was looking at Regulus like someone who had just witnessed a meteor land in front of him.
Regulus laughed again, hopping slightly as adrenaline surged through him.
“That was so cool!”
Oliver swallowed.
“…yeah.”
Regulus didn’t hear him.
He spun around, still grinning.
“That turn— I thought I’d lost it for a second!”
Oliver shifted awkwardly closer.
Just a step.
He opened his mouth.
Closed it.
“…hi.”
Regulus was still looking toward the track.
“That spin was brilliant—”
Oliver cleared his throat.
“…that was a good drift.”
Regulus nodded enthusiastically without even looking at him.
“Right?!”
Oliver looked faintly dazzled.
He shuffled another step closer.
His ears were bright red now.
He muttered under his breath,
“…say something normal.”
He tried again.
“…you’re— uh— you’re really good.”
Regulus was still bouncing slightly.
“Thanks!”
Then immediately started talking again.
“I didn’t even know if I could drive one of those.”
Oliver stared at him.
“…you beat me.”
Regulus blinked.
“Oh.”
He shrugged cheerfully.
“Beginner’s luck?”
Oliver looked like someone had just been struck by lightning.
“…right.”
He took another awkward half-step closer.
Then circled slightly like he was trying to work out how to stand near Regulus without being obvious.
He muttered quietly to himself,
“…just talk.”
Then froze again.
Meanwhile—
Jeremy Clarkson was standing a few meters away holding his phone out on speaker.
The camera crew had immediately surrounded him.
Clarkson grinned at them.
“Right.”
He lifted the phone.
“Richard, are you there?”
Richard Hammond’s voice crackled through the speaker.
“Why am I on speakerphone.”
Clarkson smirked.
“Because we’re filming.”
“Oh brilliant.”
Hammond sighed.
“What have you done now.”
Clarkson gestured toward Regulus.
“I’ve discovered the next great British racing talent.”
Hammond scoffed.
“You say that every time you see someone drive fast.”
Clarkson rolled his eyes.
“No listen.”
The camera zoomed slightly closer.
Clarkson gestured dramatically toward Regulus.
“This kid—”
Hammond interrupted.
“Is this another tractor incident.”
Clarkson shouted,
“NO.”
He pointed at Regulus again.
“He has never ridden a motorbike before today.”
Hammond paused.
“…okay.”
Clarkson continued smugly.
“He cleared a motocross ramp.”
“Did parkour.”
“Skateboarding.”
“BMX.”
“Surfing simulator.”
“Climbed a rock wall.”
“Then beat Oliver Bearman in a race.”
There was a long pause on the phone.
“…you’re lying.”
Clarkson grinned smugly.
“I’m not.”
The camera crew panned briefly toward Regulus still laughing and bouncing slightly beside the car.
Hammond’s voice returned slowly.
“…bring him on the show.”
Clarkson burst into laughter.
“I knew you’d say that.”
“I want to see this kid.”
Clarkson grinned triumphantly.
“You’re already on board.”
From somewhere behind the camera—
One of the instructors laughed.
“Red Bull will eat this up.”
Another instructor nodded proudly.
“Extreme sports.”
“Wild stunts.”
“Racing.”
“This kid’s exactly their brand.”
A third instructor crossed his arms smugly.
“He’s got the personality too.”
The camera crew was still filming everything.
But two of them had started quietly focusing on something else.
Oliver Bearman.
Still circling Regulus like a nervous satellite.
Oliver cleared his throat again.
“…so uh.”
Regulus was still glowing with excitement.
“That straight was incredible!”
Oliver tried again.
“…do you—”
Regulus bounced slightly on his heels again.
“My heart is still going!”
Oliver stared.
“…yeah.”
He muttered to himself quietly.
“…just flirt.”
He tried again.
“You were— um— really cool.”
Regulus blinked at him.
“Oh!”
Then smiled brightly.
“Thanks!”
Then immediately turned back toward the track again.
Oliver’s face went even redder.
“…right.”
The camera operator elbowed the other cameraman quietly.
“Are you seeing this.”
“Yep.”
They zoomed in slightly.
Oliver shuffled closer again.
Looking completely smitten.
Regulus laughed again loudly.
“Oh my god that was fun.”
Oliver whispered under his breath,
“…I’m doomed.”
The cameraman quietly whispered,
“This is gold.”
Meanwhile Clarkson was still arguing loudly with Hammond on speaker.
“No we’re putting him in something ridiculous.”
Hammond replied,
“I want to see him drive the reasonably priced car.”
Clarkson scoffed.
“That’s boring.”
“Put him in something dangerous.”
The crowd behind them was still screaming.
Students were chanting Regulus’s name again.
And Regulus Black—
Still wobbling slightly from adrenaline—
Was laughing in the middle of it all.
Completely unaware that Oliver Bearman had just fallen hopelessly in love about three feet away.
The noise across the Hogwarts grounds had reached a completely unreasonable level.
Students were still screaming.
Teachers had given up trying to quiet them.
Even the visiting instructors were just standing around grinning and shaking their heads.
Near the centre of the field, Jeremy Clarkson had now switched his phone to full speaker mode so the cameras could pick up the call clearly.
“Right,” Clarkson announced loudly to the microphone clipped to his jacket, “James, are you there as well?”
A second voice crackled over the phone.
James May sounded tired already.
“Yes, I’m here. Why are we on speaker again?”
Richard Hammond answered before Clarkson could.
“Because he’s filming something stupid.”
Clarkson scoffed.
“It is not stupid.”
The camera crew leaned closer.
Clarkson pointed dramatically across the field.
“I have found a prodigy.”
May sighed.
“You say that every time someone drives faster than a tractor.”
Clarkson snapped back,
“He beat Oliver Bearman.”
There was a pause.
May spoke slowly.
“…that seems unlikely.”
Hammond added,
“He claims the kid has never driven before today.”
May paused again.
“…that seems extremely unlikely.”
Clarkson grinned smugly.
“Well come down here and watch the footage.”
Meanwhile—
The camera operators had quietly shifted their focus away from Clarkson.
Because something else was happening.
Something significantly more entertaining.
Regulus Black was still buzzing with adrenaline.
He bounced in place again beside the race car.
“OH MY GOD.”
His legs wobbled again.
“Okay— nope— legs still broken—”
He stumbled sideways.
Oliver Bearman reacted instantly.
His hands shot out.
He caught Regulus by the arms.
Regulus blinked.
Then burst into laughter.
“Thanks!”
Without hesitation he grabbed Oliver’s shoulders to steady himself.
Still laughing.
Still glowing.
Oliver froze.
Completely red.
“…no problem.”
Regulus bounced again.
“Everything feels like jelly.”
Oliver nodded very seriously.
“…yes.”
Regulus was still holding onto him.
Then suddenly he grabbed Oliver properly.
Both hands gripping the taller boy’s shoulders.
“Wait.”
Oliver blinked.
“What?”
Regulus’s grin widened.
“Oh my god.”
Oliver braced himself.
“What?”
Regulus announced loudly,
“I feel like Po from Kung Fu Panda.”
Oliver stared.
“…what.”
Regulus suddenly jumped into a dramatic stance.
Then he declared loudly,
“Everybody is kung fu fightin’ Hoo! Huh!”
Oliver blinked.
Regulus struck another pose.
“Your mind becomes fast as lightning!”
Oliver looked like he might short-circuit.
But Regulus was already spinning around.
Laughing.
He continued excitedly,
“Although the future is a little bit frightenin’ it’s the book of your life that you’re writing!”
Oliver stared at him.
Then something strange happened.
He smiled.
A real one.
Regulus kicked the air dramatically.
“You’re a diamond in the rough, a brilliant ball of clay!”
Oliver chuckled nervously.
“You could be a work of art, Ha! if you just go all the way, Look out!”
Regulus jabbed the air.
“Now what would it take to break? Chee! I believe that you can bend!”
Oliver found himself joining in.
“Not only do you have to fight, Hoo! but you have got to win!”
They both spun.
Regulus shouted again,
“Everybody is kung fu fightin’!”
Oliver followed with a grin,
“Your mind becomes fast as lightning!”
Regulus continued,
“Although the future is a little bit frightenin’ it’s the book of your life that you’re writing!”
Oliver laughed and added,
“You are a natural, why is it so hard to see?”
Regulus pointed dramatically at him.
“Maybe it’s just because you keep on lookin’ at me!”
Oliver choked slightly.
Then quickly continued,
“The journey’s a lonely one, so much more than we know!”
Regulus leapt into another pose.
“But sometimes you’ve got to go, go on and be your own hero!”
They spun again.
Regulus shouted,
“Everybody is kung fu fightin’!”
Oliver joined him now without hesitation.
“Your mind becomes fast as lightning!”
Regulus continued breathlessly,
“Although the future is a little bit frightenin’ it’s the book of your life that you’re writing!”
Oliver pointed dramatically.
“You’re a diamond in the rough, a brilliant ball of clay!”
Regulus kicked the air again.
“You could be a work of art if you just go all the way!”
Oliver grinned.
“Now what would it take to break, I believe that you can bend!”
Regulus finished triumphantly,
“Not only do you have to fight, but you have got to win!”
They both yelled together,
“’Cause everybody is kung fu fightin’!”
Oliver laughed.
“Your mind becomes fast as lightning!”
Regulus finished loudly,
“Although the future is a little bit frightenin’ it’s the book of your life that you’re writing!”
They both burst into laughter.
Oliver flexed slightly in a dramatic kung fu pose.
Regulus immediately gasped.
“Oh my god you’re ripped.”
Oliver nearly died.
He tried to act cool.
He flexed again slightly.
“…uh.”
Regulus laughed again.
“You look like an action figure.”
Oliver smirked a little now.
“Maybe.”
The adrenaline still hadn’t left Regulus.
He jumped suddenly.
And threw his arms around Oliver’s shoulders.
Oliver froze again.
Then laughed.
He wrapped his arms around Regulus’s waist.
Then spun him around.
Regulus cackled loudly.
“WOOOO!”
The camera operators were barely containing themselves.
One whispered,
“This is incredible.”
Another whispered back,
“They’re adorable.”
Across the field—
Everyone else was still completely oblivious.
Clarkson was still arguing with Hammond and May.
“I’m telling you he’s a natural!”
May replied calmly through the speaker,
“Clarkson, you say that about lawnmowers.”
Hammond laughed.
“Put the kid on the show.”
Clarkson grinned triumphantly.
“I intend to.”
Nearby the Gryffindors were still yelling.
James Potter shouted,
“REG!”
Peter Pettigrew yelled,
“DO ANOTHER DRIFT!”
Remus Lupin shook his head with a small smile.
Lily Evans laughed.
Mary and Marlene were still cheering.
Fabian and Gideon were chanting again.
Meanwhile—
Right beside the race car—
Regulus Black and Oliver Bearman were still laughing and spinning in ridiculous kung fu poses.
Oliver completely smitten.
Regulus completely oblivious.
And the camera crew kept filming everything.
The chaos around the track had not slowed down.
If anything, it was getting worse.
Students were still shouting Regulus’s name. Gryffindors had climbed halfway over the barriers. Slytherins were arguing loudly about whether what they had just witnessed should even be possible. The visiting instructors were still buzzing like they’d collectively downed three litres of caffeine.
And Jeremy Clarkson was still loudly arguing on speakerphone.
“James, you are missing the point,” Clarkson declared to the microphone clipped to his jacket.
James May’s tired voice came through the phone. “The point is you are claiming a schoolboy just defeated a trained racing driver.”
Richard Hammond laughed over the line. “I believe him.”
May replied flatly, “Of course you do.”
Clarkson gestured dramatically across the field. “He did parkour!”
May sounded unimpressed. “Lots of people can run up walls.”
Clarkson scoffed. “He drifted a car to avoid debris.”
There was a pause.
“…that is mildly interesting,” May admitted.
Meanwhile—
The camera crew had almost entirely abandoned Clarkson.
Because the real show was still happening beside the race cars.
Regulus Black was laughing so hard he could barely stand upright.
His adrenaline still hadn’t burned out.
His legs wobbled again and he instinctively grabbed Oliver Bearman’s shoulders.
Oliver froze for half a second.
Then steadied him carefully.
Regulus grinned brightly.
“Okay— I’m still dizzy.”
Oliver nodded.
“…yeah.”
Regulus laughed again and didn’t let go.
Instead he leaned against Oliver and started hopping in place again like a human firecracker.
“THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER.”
Oliver’s internal thoughts immediately dissolved into panic.
He is holding onto me.
Regulus bounced again.
Oliver automatically walked a slow circle so the smaller boy could keep hopping while holding his shoulders.
Regulus cackled.
“Why am I so hyper?”
Oliver tried to act normal.
“…adrenaline.”
Regulus nodded enthusiastically.
“That makes sense.”
He bounced again.
Oliver walked another slow circle.
Regulus was still clinging to him while laughing.
Oliver’s brain was having several problems simultaneously.
Stay calm.
Be cool.
Do not scream.
Regulus hopped again.
Oliver carefully adjusted his stance so Regulus wouldn’t lose balance.
Inside his head:
Oh my god he’s adorable.
He cleared his throat.
“…you’re impressive.”
Regulus grinned.
“You too!”
Oliver blinked.
“…thanks.”
He was slowly regaining some of his usual composure now.
Normally Oliver Bearman was calm.
Confident.
A little smug.
Deadpan.
Right now he had been emotionally hit by a train.
But Regulus clinging to him seemed to be helping.
Oliver straightened slightly.
A little of that confident smirk returned.
“You know,” he said casually, “you’re pretty good at racing.”
Regulus shrugged cheerfully.
“I think I still like the motorbikes more.”
Oliver raised an eyebrow.
“Really?”
Regulus nodded.
“They feel faster.”
Oliver smirked slightly.
“We could fix that.”
Regulus tilted his head.
“What do you mean?”
Oliver glanced at the car beside them.
Then back at Regulus.
And decided to escalate.
The camera operators noticed instantly.
One whispered,
“Something’s happening.”
They zoomed in.
Oliver reached down and grabbed Regulus’s helmet.
Regulus blinked.
“What are you—”
Oliver slid the helmet back over his head.
Flipped the visor down.
Then lowered his own visor too.
Through the tinted glass he tipped Regulus’s chin upward slightly with one finger.
Regulus blinked behind the visor.
Oliver smirked.
“Come on.”
Before Regulus could process what was happening—
Oliver grabbed his hand.
Pulled him toward the race car.
Sat down in the driver’s seat.
And yanked Regulus straight onto his lap.
Regulus burst into laughter.
“WHAT.”
Oliver strapped them both in quickly.
Regulus was still laughing.
“You can’t do that!”
Oliver started the engine.
“Yes I can.”
The car roared to life.
Oliver hit the accelerator.
And shot down the track.
Across the field—
The crowd noticed the car moving again.
Students screamed instantly.
“THE CAR.”
“THE CAR.”
“WHY IS IT MOVING AGAIN?”
Clarkson turned around mid-argument.
“…what.”
The race car blasted past the stands.
Students lost their minds.
Clarkson shouted,
“WHO IS DRIVING THAT.”
Then the camera crew flipped the large broadcast screen on.
The dash camera feed appeared instantly.
The entire field saw it.
Regulus sitting sideways on Oliver’s lap.
Laughing hysterically.
Clinging to the dashboard.
Oliver driving one-handed.
The other arm wrapped around Regulus’s waist.
The crowd absolutely detonated.
James Potter screamed.
“WHAT.”
Sirius Black shouted,
“REG.”
Lily Evans covered her mouth.
Mary Macdonald shrieked.
Marlene McKinnon grabbed Alice.
“Oh my god.”
Fabian yelled,
“THIS IS ILLEGAL.”
Gideon laughed hysterically.
The Slytherins were losing their minds too.
Barty Crouch Jr. shouted,
“WHAT IS HAPPENING.”
Pandora clutched Dorcas.
“This is incredible.”
Dorcas smirked.
“He’s flirting.”
Regulus meanwhile was still laughing inside the car.
“THIS IS SO FAST.”
Oliver smirked.
“You like it?”
“Yes!”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
Oliver grinned.
“Do you like me?”
Regulus laughed.
“Yeah!”
Oliver nearly drove into a barrier.
“…really?”
“Yeah!”
Oliver perked up immediately.
“Do you want to go out with me?”
Regulus cheered as they drifted a corner.
“Yeah!”
Oliver’s smugness returned in full force.
“Date?”
“Yeah!”
“Like— properly date?”
Regulus whooped.
“YES!”
Oliver looked delighted.
“Brilliant.”
Regulus laughed again.
“This is awesome!”
He had absolutely no idea what he had just agreed to.
Oliver meanwhile looked like the happiest person alive.
The race car roared around another corner.
The entire school was screaming.
Clarkson stared at the giant screen.
“…Hammond.”
“Yes?”
Clarkson gestured at the display.
“You need to see this.”
May sighed through the phone.
“…what is it now.”
Clarkson grinned.
“The prodigy just kidnapped a professional racing driver.”
And around the track—
Regulus Black kept laughing.
Still oblivious.
While Oliver Bearman drove one-handed with a smug grin and an arm around his waist.
The race car finally slowed.
After several reckless laps of the Hogwarts track, Oliver eased the vehicle down the final straight and brought it to a smooth stop near the finish line.
The engine rumbled quietly before dying.
Dust drifted across the grass.
Outside the car—
The entire school had reached a volume that could probably shatter windows.
Students were screaming.
Teachers were shouting.
The instructors were laughing in disbelief.
Clarkson was pointing wildly at the giant screen.
But inside the car—
Neither of them had any idea the dash camera had broadcast the entire thing to the field.
Oliver reached forward first and unclipped the harness.
Then he leaned slightly to the side and unclipped Regulus’s straps too.
The moment the belts loosened—
Regulus bounced in his seat again.
“THAT WAS AMAZING!”
He was laughing breathlessly.
“Oh my god that was amazing.”
His legs wobbled as he tried to climb out of Oliver’s lap.
Oliver grabbed his helmet instead.
“Hold still.”
Regulus froze obediently.
Oliver lifted the helmet off.
Regulus’s hair fell into complete chaos.
But he was still glowing with adrenaline.
Still grinning like the happiest person alive.
Oliver took his own helmet off next.
Then he looked down at Regulus.
Really looked this time.
Regulus was still smiling.
Still breathless.
Still slightly flushed.
Still completely oblivious.
Oliver smiled slowly.
A smug one.
Then he leaned forward and cupped Regulus’s face.
Regulus blinked.
“What are—”
Oliver kissed him.
Regulus squeaked.
A tiny startled noise.
Then Oliver kissed him again.
And this time Regulus immediately grabbed his jacket.
The kiss deepened.
Oliver shifted slightly in the seat.
Regulus laughed softly against his mouth.
“Okay— wow—”
Oliver grinned.
Then kissed him again.
Outside—
The crowd completely lost their minds.
James Potter screamed.
“REGULUS.”
Sirius Black yelled louder than anyone.
“WHAT.”
Mary Macdonald shrieked.
Marlene grabbed Alice.
“Oh my god.”
Alice laughed hysterically.
“THEY’RE KISSING.”
Frank Longbottom clapped both hands over his face.
Fabian shouted,
“THIS IS MAD.”
Gideon howled with laughter.
Meanwhile the Slytherins were losing their composure entirely.
Barty Crouch Jr. doubled over laughing.
“I KNEW IT.”
Evan Rosier stared.
“HE DID IT.”
Pandora clutched Dorcas’s arm.
“This is beautiful.”
Dorcas smirked.
“I told you.”
Back in the car—
Oliver tugged the lever on the seat.
The chair dropped back flat.
Regulus yelped.
“HEY—”
Oliver laughed and shifted forward.
He turned them slightly so Regulus ended up lying back against the lowered seat.
Oliver leaned over him.
Regulus grabbed his shoulders again immediately.
The kiss resumed.
Both of them laughing softly between kisses.
Regulus clung to his jacket.
Oliver’s hand slid around his waist.
They were tangled together in the seat.
Outside—
The field had reached a new level of chaos.
Clarkson was staring at the giant screen.
“…Hammond.”
Hammond’s voice came through the speaker.
“Yes?”
Clarkson gestured dramatically at the display.
“You see that?”
Hammond burst into laughter.
“Oh this is brilliant.”
James May sighed through the phone.
“…what am I looking at.”
Clarkson replied smugly,
“The future of British motorsport.”
The instructors nearby were laughing too.
One of them nudged another.
“Well.”
“Guess he made a good impression.”
Another instructor grinned.
“Red Bull will love this story.”
The camera crew were still filming everything.
One operator whispered,
“This episode is writing itself.”
Back in the car—
Regulus finally pulled back slightly.
Still laughing.
Still glowing.
Oliver was smiling down at him.
Looking entirely pleased with himself.
Regulus blinked up at him.
“…that was unexpected.”
Oliver grinned.
“I asked.”
Regulus blinked again.
“…when?”
Oliver smirked.
“While we were driving.”
Regulus stared at him.
“…I thought you were joking.”
Oliver leaned down again.
“Kiss means yes.”
Regulus burst out laughing.
“Oh my god.”
And outside the car—
The entire school was still screaming.