Chapter 10

January: Baseball Pitch and Ice

Snow was falling lightly on our heads. Blooming roses were surrounding us. We were lightly talking. I asked his name. He smiled. He mouthed something very fast that I couldn't understand, and put his hands up to the strap of his mask covering his eyes. Just as it was coming off…

I jolted awake. I had the dream again; I've been having the same dream since Christmas Eve. Most of the stuff in that dream isn't even possible!

I closed my eyes again and rolled over in bed. It's Saturday, I can sleep as long as I want.

"Rosie." said a voice behind my drawn curtains.

I ignored them and didn't move.

"Come on, Rosie."

I closed my eyes tighter.

"Don't make me come in there, Rose."

She wouldn't!

"Okay, you asked for it!"

I drew the blanket over my head before my deranged cousin blinded me with sunlight.

"Rose. I'm not going to kill you." Lucy said.

"Pretty much." I said my voice muffled.

I felt the covers leave the top of my body and cold rush over me. I glared at Lucy and Gwen standing next to her.

"Ugh! What do you want?" I asked sitting up reluctantly.

"Happy New Year!" Lucy said while Gwen blew a buzzer.

"You woke me up to wish me Happy New Year?" I growled.

"Yeah." Lucy and Gwen said in unison.

"I hate you all." I said pulling my covers back.

"You know you love us." Lucy said.

"Not really." I said.

Gwen pulled my covers off again, "that's not the only reason we woke you up."

"Then what else do you want?" I asked impatiently.

"Today, I am going to teach the entire Quidditch Team-"

"And me." Lucy interjected.

"To play the Muggle sport of baseball!" Gwen said.

"In the dead of winter?" I asked.

"Mitchell and James are clearing the Quidditch Pitch right now for us." Gwen said.

"Did you get permission for this?" I asked.

"No." they said. Lucy put in, "but most of the students and teachers are out in Hogsmeade. We won't get caught."

"Why aren't we in Hogsmeade?" I asked.

"Because we're playing baseball today!" Gwen said.

I groaned and fell back on my bed.

"Come on, Rose! They can't start playing without us." Gwen pleaded.

"Alright!" I reluctantly got out of bed. "What do I wear?"

"Clothes you would wear on weekends. Plus a coat, gloves, boots, scarf… It is cold outside." Gwen said.

I got my clothes together and shut the curtains of my four-poster to change. I came out to do my hair, and then noticed that I had not taken of my necklace from yesterday, and it was still hanging around my neck. Telling it to change to the appropriate color (though it will not be seen under my coat and Gryffindor colored scarf); I followed the jerks that made me get up to the common room.

It was empty and dead silent except for the fire. It was a bit eerie.

"Where's everyone else?" I asked as I held my earmuffs to put on outside.

"At the Quidditch Pitch, getting set up." Lucy said as we exited the common room and went down the Grand Staircase.

"Do they know what to do?" I asked.

"I gave them directions. I told them where to put bases and a pitcher's mound and everything already." Gwen said,

I was a little confused on what Gwen was even talking about, but I just went along with it. I'll find out what everything is once we get there.

We went into the cold January air; surprisingly enough, it was not snowing. We walked the all-to-familiar path to the Quidditch Pitch.

Gwen stopped before the gates into the stadium. "Now, what you have to know is that I snuck a Beater's bat and I already have a ball."

"You snuck a Beater's bat out of the trunk?" I asked.

"I don't have a real baseball bat, that's the best we can do." Gwen said.

"Alright, alright. Let's just go in there." Lucy said.

I slipped my earmuffs on and Gwen opened the gate. The field was entirely free of snow, and five white things – that looked a little like pillows – were spread about. The rest Quidditch Team was in the middle around one of the five white things, Mitchell tossing a white ball in the air and catching it.

"Okay, you lot." Gwen said. "Although most of you will know her because you're all related…"

"Amen!" James pumped a fist in the air.

"This is Lucy." She gestured to her and Lucy waved. "She'll be joining us."

"Great, we can all get in trouble and sit in detention together." Meghan said.

"We won't get caught! Stop worrying, Meg." Mitchell said.

"Said the king of getting caught." said Meghan.

She was right, Mitchell gets in trouble a lot for pranks. He kind of reminds me of Uncle George… Well, Fred, too. Duh.

"Okay!" interrupted Gwen loudly, "Let's get started or we will get caught."

The team quieted down.

"The object of the game of baseball is simple: get the batter out. The pitcher – that stands on that base – throws the ball at the batter and the batter hits the ball as hard as they can. You get the batter out by tagging them with ball they just hit. There are three bases the batter runs at counter-clockwise. Got it?" Gwen said.

"I think so." said Fred.

"There are eight of us; we'll divide into two teams of four. One team gets the Seeker, the other gets the Keeper, and one Beater to each team." Gwen said. Albus and I looked at each other, not really wanting to follow Gwen's rule.

"I call Fred!" James shouted.

"I get Gwen and Rose, then." Meghan said.

"Fine! Come here, Al!" James said.

Albus shrugged and went to his brother's side of the field.

"I want to be on Al's team." Lucy said.

"Thanks, Lucy." Said Gwen, "Come on, Mitchell."

Mitchell sauntered over to our side.

"Hey, that's not fair! Gwen knows how to play!" Fred shouted.

"We'll go easy on you." Meghan said. She turned to us, "huddle up."

"Okay, ladies, what's the plan?" Mitchell asked.

"I think we need a team name." I said.

"Yeah. How about the…" Gwen trailed off in thought.

"Why not just Gryffindor?" Mitchell asked.

"We're all in Gryffindor." Meghan said.

"So?"

"How about the Lions?" said Gwen.

"Yeah! That is Gryffindor's animal." I said.

"It's settled, then, we're the Lions." Meghan said.

"Here are our positions; I'll be the pitcher, Mitchell can be outfielder, Meghan can cover first base, and Rose… Can you do second and third base?" Gwen said.

"Sure, I suppose. What do I do?" I said.

"All you'll really have to do is catch the ball and through back at me. Meghan may have to do some tagging, but the rest of you just have to catch and throw the ball. Got it?" she said.

I nodded.

"Break." Gwen said standing upright with the rest of us.

"What's your guys' team name?" Mitchell asked.

Lucy and Fred shrugged.

"Team Potter!" James and Albus shouted while high-fiving.

"How original." Meghan drawled.

"Oh yeah? What's your team name?" James asked.

"The Lions!" Gwen said.

"Don't talk about original to us, then!" Albus said nodding in emphasis.

"Who… goes first?" Lucy asked, struggling for a word.

"Here," Gwen held out her bat upside down, "hold the bottom."

"What?" Lucy looked at Gwen like she was crazy.

"Just do it." Gwen said smiling.

Lucy gripped the bottom of the bat, Gwen put her other hand on top of Lucy's.

"You keep going up the bat until someone reaches the top. That person's team bats first." Gwen said.

"Oh." Lucy said putting her other hand on top of Gwen's.

Gwen put another hand on, and then Lucy put her hand in the middle. Gwen put hers on, and then Lucy hit the top.

"Team Potter goes first." Gwen said tossing the bat to Fred.

Fred caught the bat and tossed it to James, he must be hitting first.

"So, what do I do?" he asked.

"Just swing the bat and try to hit the ball." Gwen said positioning herself at the middle base.

"Where do I stand?" Mitchell asked.

"Are you sure we can't use brooms?" Meghan asked.

"Or a bigger bat?" I asked.

Gwen sighed, "Mitchell you stand way in the back. No, and this is all we have. So shut up and play!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Mitchell said.

"This is where I stand, right?" Meghan asked from the base next to me.

"Yes. Rose, you're next to her." Gwen said as I nodded. "Alright, can we play now?" Gwen asked.

"What are you guys doing?"

We looked at the gate… a tall girl with long, curly black hair was standing there.

"Melanie? Shouldn't you be in Hogsmeade?" Gwen asked the girl.

"So should you." Melanie said.

Gwen rolled her eyes.

"Who are your friends?" Melanie asked.

"You should recognize them; it's the Gryffindor Quidditch team." Gwen gestured to us around her.

"Uh, Gwen? Who's this?" Meghan asked.

"Everyone, this is my sister, Melanie.

"Hello, Gwen's sister, Melanie!" Mitchell shouted waving.

"Hello, Gwen's sister, Melanie." James said in a dreamy-sort of voice. Meghan glared at him, James shut up.

"She's a Hufflepuff, and the Keeper for the Quidditch Team." Gwen said as Melanie smiled.

"What are you guys doing?" Melanie asked and suddenly gasped, "Are you playing baseball?!"

"So what if we are?" Gwen spat.

"Can I play?" Melanie asked.

"If she gets to play, she's on my team." James said while Meghan glared harder. "Then it's fair."

"No, then we have an odd number." Gwen said.

"I can go… Get someone." Melanie pointed behind her.

"Melanie, don't you think about it." Gwen said. I looked over at Albus, he shrugged.

"Be right back!" Melanie said tearing out of the gates.

"Melanie!" Gwen shouted before sighing, "oh, she's gonna get it."

"What's the problem?" Lucy asked.

"Melanie. She's going to get someone else to play." Gwen said.

"I don't understand, is that bad?" Fred asked.

"Yes, because she's getting my other sister." She said.

"How many sisters do you have?" Meghan asked.

"I have four other sisters." Gwen said.

"Really?" Albus asked.

"Yep. The one Melanie is going to get is the one closest to my age, Emily. She's thirteen." Gwen said.

"But, Gwen, You're fourteen." I said confused.

"Yeah, I am. I was born in July, and Emily was born in March. Nine months after me." I said.

"Your poor mother." Meghan said.

"Your poor father." James said.

Gwen shrugged.

"How old are your other sisters?" Lucy asked.

"Well, my oldest sister is Fiona and she's nineteen. Then there's Angela, she's seventeen and a seventh year. Melanie who's sixteen, and Emily is thirteen and fourth year, and me." Gwen said.

"You still don't match up with the Weasleys." Fred said.

"Hopefully, no one ever will." Albus said.

"Houses?" Mitchell asked.

"Fiona was a Gryffindor and Angela, Melanie, and Emily are all Hufflepuffs."

"Gosh, I thought families were always in the same house. Like us." Albus said as Lucy nodded.

"Not necessarily. My grandmother, father, and my sister Fiona and I were the only Gryffindors in the family. My sisters take after my mum… Hufflepuffs." Gwen explained.

"I thought your Mum was a Muggle?" I asked.

"Oh, she is. Her personality is Hufflepuff." I said. "Obviously, my Dad was a Gryffindor."

"Wait a minute!" Albus walked up to stand in between James and Gwen. "Gwen Finnigan. Is your father's name Seamus?"

"Yeah." Gwen said raising an eyebrow.

"I can't believe I never put two and two together!" I said as I realized who Gwen actually was.

"Yeah! I gotta tell my Dad! He will hit the roof!" Albus said.

"Mine too, in a good way." I said.

"What?" Gwen asked.

"Long story, I'll explain later." I said.

Melanie returned with a girl slightly smaller than Gwen with the same hair and dark brown eyes.

"Gryffindor," Melanie greeted, "this is our sister, Emily."

Emily smiled and waved, "What do I play?"

"You can be on James's team, and Melanie can be third base for my team." Gwen said.

I slid over to the second base as Melanie stood at third.

"Alright, can we start playing now?" Al asked.

"Yep… Batter up!" Gwen shouted as she stood on the middle base.

James stood there and raised the bat, with a goofy smile on his face. Gwen brought her hand back and flung the ball at him. James swung out and hit it hard. Fred dived for it, and caught it and threw it to Meghan who touched it to James.

They both looked at Gwen.

"Safe." Gwen said.

"Woohoo!" James shouted.

"Lucky." Meghan said.

Soon after three outs, we were up to bat.

"Alright, what do I do?" Albus said.

"You didn't assign outfield positions?" Gwen asked.

"I'll do it!" Emily said raising her hand.

"Go ahead." said Gwen.

"Alright, I'll pitch. So, who can catch?" Emily said.

"Me." James said.

"And me." Fred said.

"I can try." Lucy said.

"First base-" she pointed to James, "-second base-" she pointed at Fred, "-third base." She pointed to Lucy.

"Who can run, throw, and has really good eyes?" Emily said.

"Albus." They all said at once.

"Okay, Seeker, outfielder." Emily said.

Albus gave her thumbs up and took his spot in the back.

*****

"You're out!" Gwen shouted.

Our team erupted. We beat Team Potter five-four. Meghan and Mitchell stuck their tongues out at James.

When all the cheers and talking died down, I heard clapping. One person clapping. Everyone seemed confused as they listened. I turned to the stands. Guess who was standing there clapping?

"Who's that?" Emily asked.

"That's Scorpius Malfoy." Lucy said.

"Why is he here?" Meghan asked.

"Oi, Scorpius! What'cha doin?" Albus shouted.

Scorpius put his hand up to his ear and shrugged, not hearing what Albus had said.

I motioned him to come down. I jogged over to meet him at the gate.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Well, I heard you guys when I came back early from Hogsmeade. So I decided to come and watch." He said.

"You are so weird." I said.

I heard someone clear their throat behind me.

I rolled my eyes, "C'mon."

I blushed slightly and my heart rate quickened a bit as I pulled him by the hand over to the rest of the students.

"I'm sure some of you will know him, but this is Scorpius." I said.

"Hello." He said cheerfully.

"Hi," Emily walked over quickly, "I'm Emily."

"Nice to meet you." He said shaking her head.

I felt a strange pang in my stomach as Emily shook Scorpius's hand.

"So, why'd you come back from Hogsmeade so early?" I asked quickly.

"I got bored of my Slytherin friends. So, I decided to be weird-" he glanced over at me, "-and come and say hello to my Gryffindor friends."

"You're a Slytherin, that's quite interesting." Emily said twirling her hair around her finger.

Like she didn't know.

"I'm in Hufflepuff. We have Charms with you." Emily said.

"Oh right." Scorpius said.

She was totally flirting with him! Do something! said a little voce in my head.

"Hey, we don't want to get caught. People are starting to come back from Hogsmeade." I said.

"You're right! Let's get out of here!" Fred said gathering up the white bases.

"See you in Charms, Scorpius." Emily said walking away with Melanie. I glared at her back as she walked past me.

"I saw that." Gwen said.

I scoffed. "Saw what? What are you talking about?" I said in a rush.

Gwen said nothing while smiling and patting my shoulder before walking away with Lucy.

"We'll see you in the common room, Rosie." Albus said.

"You're not going to wait for me?" I asked.

"Nah. I'm going to go write to my Dad." Albus said.

I nodded. He punched Scorpius's shoulder playfully when he passed.

"So, that Hufflepuff girl… Her name was Emily, right?" Scorpius said walking with me.

"Yeah, Emily Finnigan." I said.

"Any relation too…?"

"Gwen's sister." I said.

"But they're in the same year."

"I know. Long story, ask Gwen." I said.

"Okay. Watch it!"

I hadn't noticed where I was walking, and nearly slipped on the icy stairs. I held on to his arm and he had a hold on the back of my coat.

"Whoa, thanks." I said.

"No problem. Didn't want you to fall down the stairs and break something." he said.

"Yeah. How was your Christmas?" I asked.

"My Christmas was great. I had a lot of fun." He said.

"I did too." I said smiling to myself. Should I mention to Scorpius about me and my Mystery Man dancing and talking the night away?

I decided against it. "The ball was great."

"I'm sure it was." He said.

Suddenly, one foot slid from under me. I reflexively grabbed Scorpius's arm, and he put his arm around me waist to keep me up. But his attempt to help me was feeble, for he was slipping on the ice too. We both went down on top of each other.

We lay there for a minute, and then he started laughing. I joined in, unable to keep my mouth closed.

I turned my head to his. "It's really cold."

"Yeah." He said turning his head too.

I could feel myself blushing. It was the only place on my body that was warm.

He smiled, "That's a nice color on you."

Something about that statement made me blush harder while I thought about where I had heard it before...

That's when I realized how close we really were. Our faces were about five inches apart … four… three ... two… one-

"Rose?"

I looked up. Lily was standing there, her head tilted slightly in confusion.

I sat up quickly. "Hey, Lily, we just fell on the ice. So be careful."

"Uh-huh." Lily said looking from me to Scorpius as I helped him up.

"Well, we're probably going to catch some kind of magical pneumonia being out here. Let's go inside." Scorpius said.

"What a good idea." I said as Lily nodded and followed.

I don't think she really believed me entirely. But I guess she did save me… Or held me back.

Eh? I know this took me like two months but it took a lot of thought. I was thinking about doing a sequel. Should I skip right to 5th year or write this story in Scorpius's point of view? It's up to you reviewers! The choice with the most votes wins! Ends when the story is done. Only two chapters left to write! Maybe three :). Anyway, tell me which format you want!

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