#qualify

@wolfstarmicrofic August 27, word count 445

Remus had no idea why he agreed to follow James, Sirius and Peter down to the Quidditch pitch to watch Sirius attempt to qualify for a place on the Gryffindor team. James went to stand with the established team, Sirius with the other hopefuls, while Remus and Peter climbed the steps into the stands. 

Peter left Remus pretty quickly to go hang over the edge of the railing so he wouldn’t miss a thing. Remus relaxed back, casting a warming charm on himself as he guessed they were going to be there a while. 

The chasers went first. It was pretty boring to watch. James was so good, that they really didn’t need anyone but him on the team, but apparently, the rules said they had to have three chasers. It took a while but finally, the new chaser was picked and they moved on. 

Next up were the beater tryouts. Remus leaned forward with more interest as Sirius took to the skies.  

Sirius’s muscled arms rippled as he swung his bat at the oncoming bludger. Remus had never noticed just how big and strong those muscles had got. His mind was suddenly flooded by visions of Sirius throwing him bodily onto his bed. Of Sirius pushing him up against a wall and kissing him while those arms kept him aloft. Of Sirius grabbing his arm and tugging so hard, Remus twirled into his arms and gazed up into those stormy grey eyes. 

He was abruptly shaken from his daydreaming by yelling. 

“REMUS DUCK!!!!” Sirius screamed at him from the pitch. Remus had a split second to react as the bludger came hurtling towards him. He flung himself to the floor, landing flat on his stomach. He heard a whoosh and a crack above him. When he dared to look up, Sirius was hovering above him, his batting arm extended. 

“Oi, Aldersley, you nearly killed Moony!” He shouted angrily at the other boy who was trying out for beater as well. The captain blew her whistle and they all landed. “Are you okay Moony?” Sirius asked before he followed the rest to where the team was waiting. 

“Yeah, thanks,” Remus stammered as he got up off the floor. “Thanks for saving me,” He gave Sirius a weak smile. 

“Anytime, Moony,” Sirius winked at him and sped off towards the grass where he was welcomed to the team alongside Marlene. 

Rating: PG

Prompt: Qualify from @wolfstarmicrofic

Word count: 298

Summary: Sirius and Remus watch Regulus in his post-race interview.

I am writing a fic for each of the prompts this month. You can read all of them here.

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Sirius craned his neck to watch the screen above him. His younger brother was standing trackside, hands on his hips, chest heaving, as he spoke to a reporter.

The interview had consisted of the usual questions so far, but Sirius was holding his breath, waiting for the inevitable question.

“Now, your older brother, Sirius...” began the reporter.

And there it was.

“...was the medal favourite for the eight hundred metre race. How does it feel to qualify, knowing he didn’t?”

Sirius’s boyfriend scoffed next to him. “She’s making it sound like he beat you, never mind the fact that he retired,” Remus said, raising his voice at the last few words as if the reporter could hear him.

Sirius reached over and squeezed Remus’s hand, torn between being amused and grateful for having such a supportive partner.

He turned to the screen, and saw Regulus laughing slightly after answering a question that Sirius had not heard. No matter, no doubt Remus would have downloaded the video by the time they got home.

“The secret sauce of the Black brothers?” said Regulus. “He does make a mean scone,” he said, laughing. As he spoke, he turned to where he knew Sirius and Remus would be sat and winked.

Sirius’s mouth fell open. He knew it was a touch embarrassing that the scones from the morning before had exploded in the oven, given it was his fourth attempt over the last few months. But having Regulus come live with them after years of not speaking to him had turned Sirius surprisingly domestic.

He turned to Remus, who was fighting a smile. “I take him in, I feed him and clothe him,” he said, ignoring Remus’s scoff at this, “And what do I get?”

Don’t Get To Qualify

“He who gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes [from their want] will have many a curse.” Proverbs 28:27AMPC

Before I could even begin writing this devotional, I had to seek God’s forgiveness. Why? I have hidden my eyes from the needs of the poor, not every time, but entirely too often. My initial hope was to see something entirely different in our text than what it reads. Compelled by God to look up all the Commentaries on this verse, I found myself to be guilty— wondering— has this had anything to do with distinct times of my own needs?

In the past, I’ve had occasion to help homeless people. Most of the help I gave them was used for their drug addictions. When I became resentful for my doing without, so they could get high, I quit giving. It became necessary for me to forgive them over and over again to not hold offense. Flipping that coin over, I decided I wouldn’t give anything to anyone else. This was my ‘wall’ to keep from taking offense.

Visiting my brother in California brought me close up, face to face with a homeless population, which I never get to see or experience in Ohio. Yes, we have homeless people, but not on every other street corner, nor pushing a grocery cart with belongings close to downtown, at shopping plazas, crossing streets, under bridges, sitting alongside buildings or roads. Some of these homeless people are old, others aged by the time spent fending for themselves on the streets.

Brother’s recyclables are placed in blue trash cans set out every Wednesday evening. The ‘homeless’ walk up and down the streets searching through the recyclable trash looking for anything which might help them survive.

Many of the homeless are new to the streets, others have been there for years. Some, although working jobs, can’t meet their high rent. By not meeting the rent for two months, the renter goes out to the curb, even with children in tow. No address? The homeless can’t get even a post office box as an address for government assistance, or assistance any kind. They’re alone.

Sure we’re all skeptical about the homeless. TV has reported on some beggars working the street corner like a 9 to 5 job. After a day begging, they go around the block to a fancy Porsche bought with begging money. The TV hasn’t depicted the norm, even though it may happen.

Yahweh doesn’t ask us to give because we know the poor are good decent hardworking people. He says, “give to the poor,” those who are needy. We don’t get to qualify their need— aka judge them.

Per every Commentary on this verse— these poor people place curses upon those who don’t help, curses against us, which God hears. He must allow the curses to stand because we’ve tied His hands by not loving. Truth is I can get into enough trouble without calling down curses upon myself. Jesus said, “…’I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!” Matthew 25:40NLT Can you understand why I’ve had to repent of this? Why must I mend my ways?

Per the Commentaries: “If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD— and He will repay you!” Proverbs 19:17NLT. Lord God wants us to trust Him to meet our needs, when we meet the needs of others. Will we? It’s your choice. You choose.

LET’S PRAY: Father may I keep my heart humble before You. I know You are my Source for everything. Help me to be a conduit of Your goodness to others, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

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