Shattered
By ArrA and Neveada
Katie Bell sat with her back to the wall, her shoulders hunched over her lower body. In her lap, the Daily Prophet was spread out across her legs as she read the Wanted-Ads, and in her right had was a bright, yellow highlighter with which she highlighted any job she found to interesting or that she was qualified for.
Two months ago she had thought that her dreams were starting to come true. She had had a great job and a chance at playing professional quidditch which was her dream… then one day it all collapsed on her without a moment's notice.
It had started out well, a day like any other. Katie had pushed herself out of bed at seven a.m. and pulled on the sweat pants that lay on the floor by her bed. Soon she was ready to go, a granola bar hanging out of her mouth as she hurried to get out the door, but on time for once in her life. She pulled her wand out of the bag containing her quidditch robes and extra clothing and apparated to the pitch.
When she reappeared, she was standing in the middle of the women's change rooms at Gwendolyn Morgan Pitch, named after one of Holyhead Harpies' most famous captains, Gwendolyn Morgan. Morgan Pitch was a training ground exclusively for female aspiring quidditch players to which Katie had been given the honor of training at for the last three years.
Like every other day, Katie was soon on one of the private quidditch pitch along with thirteen other girls, about to play a minor scrimmage. Katie and Ada Leofric flew to the end of the field, both on Cleansweeps 14s, and started to pass the quaffle to each other, flying in different directions in their end of the field as the rest of the chasers also practiced in pairs.
Finally a whistle was blown and the game of Quidditch began. Every girl was competitive, knowing that those who looked best would be a step closer to the major leagues but also that being a team player was also a very important part of quidditch, so they need to retain the important balance.
It was halfway through that game that Katie's life changed forever. Jessie Callon, a beater who had gone to Durmstrang, had smacked a bludger towards Katie's head while her back had been turned. Of course Callon wouldn't have purposely injured another player, even if she was from Durmstrang, but Katie didn't hear the cries of warning until late and one moment she felt a heart stopping pain in the back of her head, the next she was pitching forward, off her broom and the last thing she remembered was the sound of bones breaking as she landed on the unforgiving ground.
When Katie finally woke up, two weeks later, she was given the horrible news from her father, a man she hadn't seen since her graduation, two years before.
"You've broken that bone one to many times," Richard Bell said, trying to sound apologetic as his daughter's face turned pale. "I'm sorry Katherine, but it's not possible for you to play quidditch anymore."
Katie had felt tires stinging her eyes as she looked at her father in disbelief. "You're lying," she accused, remembering the look in his face when he had told her girls didn't play quidditch.
Sadly Richard shook his head. "Sorry Katherine, but the bones in your left leg will never heal fully and while you're lucky to not have a limp, anymore quidditch will make it useless."
"Get out," was all Katie could say as she looked her uncaring father in the eye. Richard shrugged and walked out the door before being joined by his new wife in the hall. Katie's mother had died when Katie had been twelve and after that Richard had gone through so many girlfriends and quite a few wives as well. The current one was just twenty five, a few years older than Katie herself.
The next day Katie had found out she had lost her job. She had worked for a Ministry job, complete with boring colleagues and even more boring paperwork. When she hadn't shown up for a week, the Ministry had fired her, not changing their minds after they found out what had happened to Miss Bell.
"We need someone responsible," Katie's boss had said when Katie had gone to complain. "You were always running late anyways, now you're just a thorn out of our backsides."
Swallowing her anger Katie had been forced to walk away, muttering obsenereis about the woman as she left.
And all these events led to why Miss Katie Bell was slouched against her bedroom wall, reading the wanted ads of the Daily Prophet. She had long since sold many of her belongings including clothes and furniture to make ends meet. Before at the Ministry she had just been able to afford the small apartment and pay her bills but now, with no incoming income, she was forced to barter and hack many of her possessions.
Skimming down the page she found nothing she qualified and eventually she threw down the paper in defeat, climbing to her feet and exiting the small apartment for Diagon Alley. Strolling down the street she longingly windowed shopped, taking in the newest robes before looking down at her own tattered clothes. Although they weren't actually in tatters, they were worn, faded and extremely out of fashion. Katie sighed; she would have to wait a long time before she could afford to buy new robes, fashionable or not.
Her wandering took her along the street, closer to Gringrotts when she saw it. A large signed said "Coming Soon" and flashed the many logos of the English Quidditch Teams while their National team backed the coming soon lettering. At the bottom of the sign it read, "Quality Quidditch Supplies," and there was a picture of a wizard riding a broom. In the other corner there was a help wanted sign.
Taking a deep breath Katie realized she must have that job. Just because she could no longer play quidditch professionally didn't mean she couldn't support it.
"Katie!" a voice said, interrupting her thoughts, "I knew that was you!" Spinning around Katie saw Angelina Johnson smiling at her. "How are you Kate?" she asked sympathetically.
"I could definitely be better," Katie replied, smiling slightly at her friend before motioning to QQS. "So what do you know about that new Quidditch store?" she asked curiously.
"Well," Angelina answered, an evil glint in her eyes which usually meant there was juicy gossip to be told, "word on the High Street says that it's owned by none other than Mister Flint."
"Flint? As in Marcus Flint? I'd be surprised if he could count to five, let alone handle a store."
Angelina laughed. "Well according to the latest gossip, Flint isn't as stupid as we previously expected. There was some story to why he failed the NEWTs but unfortunately I wasn't privy to it."
Katie lifted an eyebrow in doubt and linked her arm through Angelina's. "Well Angie, I guess that counts out any chance for me to get a job there."
"Well that's not entirely true. There were rumours going around that he fancied you, you know?"
Laughed and shook his head. "They were never confirmed and anyways, who said I wanted to work under the management of Marcus Flint?"
"You're desperate Katie; you'll do anything for a job."
"Yes, well maybe Flint is too far!"
"Sometimes you're a very stupid girl, Katie Bell," Angelina exclaimed.
Deciding to change the subject, Katie replied, "So, how are things with Fred?"
Angie sighed and Katie looked at her friend, sensing something was wrong. Quickly she guided the other girl to a bench that lined the alley and Angie began to talk. "Things are not well. He started working late when I tried to pressure him about marriage. George won't say anything to help the situation… actually I think he wants to make it worse. He keeps taking Fred to strip clubs… Katie, I'm not sure how long we'll last!"
Katie put a reassuring arm around Angelina's thin shoulders and replied, "You two have been together for ages. He's not going to leave you! He loves you, Angie."
"The fact that we've been together for ages is the thing that worries me. I think his eye has been roaming. I'll go to his apartment and I swear I can smell perfume, not my perfume mind you; some tart's."
"Don't be silly."
"I'm not. He doesn't look at me the same anymore either. I don't know what to do Katie… and I'm not sure I would if I did know what to do. Sometimes I wonder if I should just move on."
Katie looked at Angelina in horror. "Don't say that Ang, please don't say that."
"Sorry Katie, but life is just sucking." Katie bit back her response, knowing that her friend wouldn't appreciate at her bringing up her financial state.
"Well, well. If it isn't Bell and Johnson. How are you girls doing?" a devious voice asked. Looking up Katie's eyes meet Marcus Flint's, Devin Montague standing behind him.
"Flint," Katie replied in a greeting, "funny seeing you here."
"Not really. I'm sure you've seen my new shop," he added, pointing to Quality Quidditch. "It's going to blow away all the competition. I'm sure if you were still playing Bell, that's where you'd be shopping."
Katie found herself glaring at the large man who surprisingly look a lot more attractive, be it with age or the possibility of a job. "Well, Flint," she said icily, "I'm sure you've heard my predicament."
Flint laughed, almost a harsh sound, but not quite. "Yes, I'm sure I have. What are you looking for Bell? A job?"
"Is that such a strange thing to ask?" Katie asked as she cocked an eyebrow.
Flint just shrugged. "I guess anything's possible," he replied before adding, "Bring in a resume. I'll have my people call you."
And with an air of finality Flint walked away, leaving Katie sitting with Angelina, whose attention was else where, otherwise known as having an intense staring constant with Devin Montague.
"You know, Montague," Katie said with an air of contempt, "Flint has flown off."
Montague broke his stare with Angelina to glare at Katie before bowing slightly and striding after Flint at a comfortable pace and Katie turned back to Angelina. "Very interesting," she murmured while Angelina just glared.
A/N- Sara, aka. ArrA here! I hope you liked the first chapter and Nev will be posting the next chapter soon!
