I do not own the Harry Potter series or any of its characters. They belong to J.K Rowling

The Rothern Legacy

Chapter 8 – Injury and Heart to Hearts

Coal black eyes twinkled in delight as Rachel clutched at her side in agony while still holding onto her broomstick. The spell he had placed on the bludger had worked perfectly. As the young witch sat hunched forward on her broomstick only his keen vision caught the drops of blood that dripped out of her mouth and onto the grass beneath her. A small smile stretched across his mouth, pride rising within him at the success of his plan. Rachel grimaced in pain as she kept her arm firmly wrapped around her torso, tilting her head upwards she caught sight of the bludger shooting back towards her. The force of the initial blow had knocked her into a different angle and now she was facing the infuriating object. She pulled her broom to the side; attempting to avoid another encounter but at the last minute Hermione's voice shouted

"Finite Incantarum!" and the rogue bludger burst into flames and spark in mid-air. Hermione lowered her wand with an angry frown on her face but the anger bled into concern as she approached with Harry, Ron, Professors McGonagall and Pomphrey. The Gryffindor Chaser lowered herself to the ground and struggled to get off her broom. As she stood upright she forced her face to show indifference.

"Oh my dear that bludger really hit you. Are you in pain?" asked the Hogwarts nurse as she reached out for the young teen. Rachel shifted away from the nurse's hand and smiled,

"I'm fine. It looked worse than it actually was" how she managed to keep her face from showing the agony she was in was a mystery to her.

"Still you should come with me and get checked out. You might have cracked or even broken ribs" Rachel shook her head,

"It's really not necessary" Liar. Her entire left side was flaring dangerously and pain stabbed at her chest every time she inhaled but she wouldn't show it. While both of the Professors tried to make Rachel go to the infirmary to be checked out Hermione watched Rachel with concern in her eyes, her friend was horribly tense and was breathing deeply, as if she were concentrating on something. After various attempts to convince her, Rachel sighed before walking away from everyone,

"I'm fine" she threw over her shoulder before walking towards the changing rooms.

"Do any of you know who's responsible for this?" asked the elderly Gryffindor Head as she turned her attention to the trio on the pitch.

"No Professor" Harry answered. Ron nodded his head in agreement with Harry and when McGonagall looked at Hermione the bushy brunette answered quietly,

"No Professor". The elderly woman nodded slowly in acceptance before turning and departing from the pitch "I'm going to check on Rachel" stated Hermione and before either of the boys could say anything she was storming towards the female changing rooms.

Rachel grunted in pain as she lifted her Gryffindor robe over her head, as soon as the red and gold robe was off of her she collapsed against one of the changing room walls clutching her torso. Her black tank top clung to her chest and stomach like a second skin. Sweat dripped from her forehead as she breathed heavily.

"Rachel?" the ebony haired witch cursed under her breath.

"Rachel you need to see Madame Pomphrey" stated Hermione as she walked around the injured teen so she could stand in front of her. Rachel began to breathe harder as the colour drained from her already pale face.

"No...I need to lie down" Hermione barely caught the taller girl as she fell forward, Rachel cried out in pain as her ribs were jarred painfully as Hermione's arms wrapped themselves around her waist.

"You need help" pleaded Hermione as she helped ease Rachel onto one of the changing room's wooden benches. Rachel shook her head as she leaned against the wall.

"Can you...get me my wand...please" Hermione nodded slowly before leaving to retrieve the wand that Rachel always kept in her bag. Rachel clutched at her side while frowning,

"Stupid prick" she muttered underneath her breath, damning the person she knew was behind the rogue bludger. Hermione approached with Rachel's black wand held firmly in her right hand. Sitting next to Rachel on the bench Hermione handed over the wand.

"Thank you" whispered Rachel before smiling at the brunette in gratitude. Closing her eyes she pointed her wand towards her ribs.

"Repairo" she whispered and the sound of bones cracking and realigning themselves forced Hermione to cringe at the sound and Rachel to grunt in pain as she felt her bones shifting beneath her skin. Realising a breath she didn't even know she was holding onto Rachel turned her sweat drenched face towards Hermione.

"Sorry about that" her apology was met with a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her neck. Rachel's heart skipped a beat as she felt soft lips brush against her pulse as Hermione buried her face against her.

"Hermione?" whispered Rachel in concern. The young Rothern felt her neck grow damp, guilt immediately formed within her heart since she was responsible for Hermione's tears,

"Don't cry. Please don't cry" pleaded Rachel as she turned and wrapped her arms around her friend. She ignored the stinging sensation in her ribs as she held onto Hermione.

"I'm sorry" she whispered into Hermione's hair.

Her apology seemed to stir something within the brunette as she pulled away and almost glared at Rachel with an emotion that Rachel was more than familiar with.

"Sorry? You're sorry? Do you have any idea how frightened you made me?" upon receiving only guilty blue eyes Hermione continued her rant,

"I watched that bludger hit you Rachel. I saw you in so much pain and you just passed it off as nothing. How could you lie to us? Do you think we're incapable of helping you? Do we mean so little to you?" the last accusation clawed at her heart,

"No. Oh God no you all mean everything to me" argued Rachel. The sarcastic chuckle that parted from Hermione's lips brought Rachel's heart to a near stop "Then why did you leave us in the lurch to go and collapse in pain somewhere alone?" the question sparked a panic within Rachel. She had to be honest or she risked losing Hermione's friendship. God she hated being backed into a corner.

"Well Rachel?" the blue eyed Rothern frowned as she struggled to find the right words, would it be better to lose Hermione's friendship than admit to something she would rather keep hidden? Looking up at Hermione, the tears that stained her face as she waited for an answer made Rachel doubt herself. Looking away Rachel sighed in defeat,

"I...I don't know how to handle it" Hermione's expression turned to one of confusion

"Excuse me?" Rachel closed her eyes and sighed once again.

"I don't know how to...how to handle people actually caring about me" Shit. Now Hermione was going to think her a complete idiot.

"I've always been the outcast so I don't know what to do or how to act when people get worried about me. I've always had to look after myself so..." Her heart was pounding against her ribs.

"I'm sorry for scaring you. Please don't think I think you're incapable of helping me. You're all amazing and I'm...I'm not worth all of this concern and tears" Rachel rubbed her forehead in frustration. Great now Hermione was definitely going to run a mile and brand her a lunatic.

"I know how you feel" Rachel stilled and turned her full attention to Hermione, confusion and shock apparent in her eyes and face. Hermione sighed before smiling softly.

"I know what it's like to feel like an outcast amongst your peers. I still get picked on you know for being too brainy" a thoughtful look came over her features,

"Even though I have Ron and Harry I still don't share in everything with them. We're quite different actually. They'll go gallivanting off getting into all sorts of trouble but personally I prefer peace and quiet to adventuring" Rachel smiled at that.

"But sometimes it hurts. Knowing that they've connected in a way I'll never be able to with them." The hurt look on her face compelled Rachel to say something to take the pain away

"You've got me" Rachel offered.

And with that simple statement the hurt vanished from Hermione's kind brown eyes and a smile of gratitude formed on her tanned face.

"Thank you" whispered Hermione softly before a teasing sternness entered her eyes.

"Though next time you're hurt you better listen to me or I'll put you in hospital myself" Rachel's eyes widened and mouth dropped open in mock horror

"You wouldn't" the evil glint in Hermione's eyes however made her seriously doubt it.