When Quidditch Takes Over

Daisy took a deep breath and tried to center herself as she sat cross-legged on the bench in the locker room. Her headphones were on and she was trying to clear her head and calm her nerves.

It was the first match of the season and they were playing Puddlemere. The wizards and witches in the Quidditch League department really did have a sick twist of humor, often opening up the season with a rematch from the finals the season before. They were all keyed up and ready to take another swing at beating Puddlemere – none more than Daisy. However with everything that had been going on, she worried about keeping her focus. She had been struggling with that all summer.

Thankfully things had quieted down a bit since she moved in with John. The first two weeks were pure bliss. Now things had settled into normal routine, though they had tiffs here and there. But it was back to a normal level and nothing of epic magnitude – mostly mundane things about who would do the dishes and such. And at least she hadn't caused anything to explode lately, which she chalked up to getting away from Remus. Her mother had stopped asking him to come help whenever she and Jamie would work with her and Daisy was finally starting to make progress.

"She seems a bit more serious than usual," Kelly said, looking over at Daisy. "Everything alright with her?" John glanced over his shoulder at her.

"From what I can tell. She seems to have calmed down a bit more since she moved in, thank god. It was expensive to replace the TV," he said. Kelly chuckled.

"I thought Lucy and I got into a good screaming match here and there, but you two… Making the TV explode? I'd half like to have seen that," he said. John frowned slightly, looking back over at Daisy.

"Be glad you didn't It's a lot more frightening than it sounds," he said. "I'm just glad we've stopped arguing as much."

"Suppose it doesn't hurt that she's finally started feeling you," Kelly said. John nodded and smiled slightly.

"Still doesn't like to talk about it, though," he said. "But… I'll take it. At least now I don't have to remind her all the time that I love her."

"Alright, team! Huddle up!" Nilsson shouted as he walked in, interrupting their conversation. Daisy stood and took her headphones off, tossing them in her bag, then glanced at Nilsson as she pulled her gloves on. "Time to settle the score with Puddlemere…"

Dominique sat next to Lucy, Remus and Alan in the players' box, eagerly waiting for the match to start. Molly had opted to stay home, saying she'd meet them at the party later. She wasn't one for quidditch matches – saying they lasted too long for her taste – though Dominique rather enjoyed them. Even before she dated Paul.

"So… you think the Arrows will pull out an upset?" she asked, looking at Alan.

"Maybe. Merlin knows they certainly want it," he said.

"Not unless Pixie can keep her head in the game," Remus said. "She's been off all summer, according to Campbell."

"Yea, and I wonder who's fault that was," Alan muttered. Dominique stifled a laugh as she ventured a look at Remus, who was now scowling at Alan.

"Not my fault if she can't control her temper enough to stay focused on playing," he said, turning to look back out at the field. Alan sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Did I miss the kick off?" Toby asked as he rushed in, his credentials swinging from his neck. Daisy had been gifting him with season passes to the press box since her first on the Arrows and he somehow never missed a match.

"Not yet," Dominique said as he slid into a chair behind her.

"I'm excited for this rematch. Daisy said she's been working on new stuff for the last month," he said, leaning forward.

"Here's hoping she doesn't break her neck," Remus said. Alan glared at him and punched him in the shoulder.

Soon enough, the announcer came on and introduced the teams as they all flew out and took their positions.

"Are you two really looking to transfer to Puddlemere next season?" Toby asked just as the referee released the balls.

"Hopefully," Alan said, glancing back at him. "McIntosh and Truffle are ready to retire to coaching, it seems. Dad's offered them spots working with the reserve team. And he's been meeting with Diggle a lot. Suppose they're just ironing out the details."

"Might make matches against the Arrows more exciting," Toby replied with a grin as Wills sped towards Bray, a ferocious look of intensity on his face as he launched the quaffle and the keeper just missed it.

"That it would. Pix's head might explode playing against all three of us at once," Remus said with a chuckle.

"Or she just might prove once and for all that she's the better Wood," Dominique said, smirking. Toby laughed as Alan smiled and Remus frowned. Dominique leaned forward, watching her cousin streak down the field through her omnioculars. Daisy was flying through openings in the Puddlemere chasers' formation that most didn't even realize was there until she flew through them. Dominique then glanced over and saw that Jamie kept grimacing every time she got a bit too close.

"Jamie doesn't look happy at all," she commented, zooming in on his face.

"Suppose Pix is giving him heart attacks every few seconds," Alan said with a chuckle.

"Serves him right for all the trouble he gave Mum growing up," Remus said.

"As I recall, you were doing it just as much," Alan said, looking at his brother.

"As were you," he retorted. Dominique laughed and shook her head as she dropped the device in her lap.

"Yes! That's my baby!" Lucy shrieked from next to her, jumping to her feet as Kelly scored, causing all the other players in the room to laugh. Lucy sat back down, grinning. "He's on fire today."

"Isn't he always?" Dominique asked, rolling her eyes.

"Cunningham's not doing bad either," Remus said with a smile, glancing at Dominique.

"He always was good," she replied, her eyes still on the match. "Not sure why you're just now noticing." She wasn't about to give her cousins the satisfaction of taking the mickey out of her.

The match was turning into an exciting one with the first half a vicious back and forth between the two teams. Dominique had to admire what Nilsson had done with the Arrows after two seasons. The fact that they had made it to the finals against Puddlemere in just his second full season as head coach said something.

But it was obvious that his crowning glory was the ginger seeker who was currently acting more like a human bludger. How she did it and managed to keep a look out for the snitch was beyond Dominique. And apparently Remus and Alan, who both kept a running commentary. It was nice to see Remus finally admiring his younger sister again after all the snide remarks of late.

"Blimey! Did you see that? She just missed Wills by an inch," Alan said, leaning forward.

"We'll be hearing about that later," Remus said with a grin, no doubt already thinking of 20 quips to throw at the chaser at the after party.

Suddenly, Daisy shot off away from the chasers, spiraling up in the air as Ashley White struggled to catch up.

"How the bloody hell did she manage to see it while she was down among the chasers?" Alan said, nearly shooting out his chair. Dominique leaned forward, watching as her cousin edged up on the small golden ball, getting closer. Ashley was nearly on her.

The snitch suddenly changed directions and shot straight down, Daisy and Ashley diving in hot pursuit. Out of nowhere, Daisy seemed to freeze on her broomstick as her eyes widened, causing her to slow down.

"For fuck's sake, what are you doing, Pixie!" Remus shouted. Dominique watched as Daisy quickly regained control, but not in time. Ashley edged passed her and grabbed the snitch, pulling out of the dive. Daisy shot left towards Jamie, who at the very last second dodged a bludger that had been heading for his head.

The Puddlemere squad started their victory lap while Daisy hovered with the rest of her team in front of the coach's box, looking dejected. Dominique frowned.

"She's going to beat herself up for weeks for that," Alan said glumly.

"Nilsson'll probably have her head," Remus added. The two shook their heads and stood.

"Come on. Got to get set up for the party," Alan said, pulling Dominique to her feet.

Dominique stood with Lucy in the Woods' flat waiting for the teams to arrive. Everyone who had been in the players' box was at the party, as were some players from other teams that hadn't been at the match or playing their own that day. She wanted to talk to Daisy about the match - Dominique was certain that she had had another one of her connection moments with Jamie, which had caused her lose the snitch. And Nilsson still hadn't been told what was going on, so chances were that Daisy had gotten a tongue-lashing and would be in a dismal mood when she arrived.

"Hey, Dom," someone said from her right. Dominique looked over and started just a bit, seeing her ex, Paul Cunningham, walking up to her. She had been lost in thought and not realized the team had arrived. She looked around quickly, still not seeing Daisy.

"Hey Paul," she said, smiling slightly at him. Lucy gave her a look and quickly skittered off, no doubt to find and console her boyfriend. "Good match today. Except for the end, anyway."

"Yea, I'm not sure what got into Pixie," he said, rubbing the back of his neck self-consciously. "Coach laid into her pretty hard afterwards. Feel pretty bad for her."

"She'll be depressed for weeks," Dominique said with a sigh.

"Most likely," he replied. They both stood looking at their drinks a bit awkwardly for a moment. "So… how have you been?"

"Good… I've been working on a special assignment with the aurors' office," she said, looking up at him. She met his blue eyes, getting lost in them for a moment. Merlin, she forgot how much she loved staring into his eyes. She shook her head slightly, but then found herself looking at his lips and reliving some of their more heated memories. She blushed slightly and returned to looking around for Daisy.

"That's amazing. They finally chose you," he said, smiling and sounding genuinely happy for her. "I knew they would." Dominique smiled her appreciation, glancing up at him.

"Turns out I had been requested a few times, but Mr. Grifford never sent me for some reason," she said, before taking a drink.

"Probably Warlow bribed him," Paul replied. Dominique laughed.

"I wouldn't put it past him, the git," she said. Paul's expression suddenly turned serious.

"Look, Dom… we're still good together," he started. Dominique closed her eyes and took a deep breath, knowing what was coming. "I still love you and I just… I don't understand. Don't you think we could give it another go?" She opened her eyes and looked up at him. She wanted to say yes. Merlin, how badly she wanted to tell her family to fuck it with the secrets and go back to being with him.

But she knew that she couldn't keep secrets from him if they were together. She couldn't be like Daisy and Lucy. More than that, she knew that ultimately, whatever was coming, her family was intricately tied up in it and the last thing she wanted was to put Paul in danger.

"Paul… I told you… I can't," she said, feeling her eyes fill with tears. She blinked rapidly, trying to keep them from falling.

"But, why not?" he asked softly, taking her free hand in his. He rubbed his thumb against her palm. Dominique looked down at her small hand in his large, calloused one.

"I just… We've been over this. I can't. It'll never work," she said, pulling her hand from his. "Sorry, I need to go talk to Daisy." She then walked off and headed towards her cousin who she saw being consoled by her brothers and Wills by the bar. At least she hoped they were consoling her. Dominique straightened her back and tossed her white blonde hair behind her, trying to tell herself that she was strong and she could do this.

"Weasley," someone said from her left. Dominique stopped and looked over, noticing Chris walking up.

"Please tell me you didn't overhear that," she said with a sigh.

"I did," he said. Dominique glared up at him, steeling herself for whatever snide remark was coming. "Look… I… just wanted to say, I understand." Dominique looked at him, confused.

"Understand what?" she asked.

"The whole keeping secrets thing… I get it. It's easier to save them from that, though it takes its toll," he said. Dominique didn't look convinced.

"You?" she asked. "I don't think you understand this situation. It's different." She started to walk away, but Chris grabbed her arm and spun her back around to face him.

"I do. You seem to forget I've been doing this a few years. And I'm not allowed to talk about a lot of my work – not just this one project," he said, trying not to roll his eyes. "I was… look, I was with this woman for awhile. And… it was difficult not telling her things. And she tried, Merlin knows she tried, but it was hard for her to get passed all the secrecy. And then we had a case that hit too close to home and I realized that my work could put her in danger… so I broke things off."

Dominique was shocked into silence for a few moments. She just stared at him, not quite believing he had opened up to her about something so personal. She felt she was seeing a new side of Chris Abbott.

"I'm… I'm sorry about your relationship," she finally said. "I'm sure that wasn't easy for you." Chris shrugged.

"I just, well, I wanted you to know that I know how difficult it is. Everything that's going on and not being able to share with someone you love. And trying to protect them even though you know they don't understand," he said. Dominique glanced over, seeing Cunningham now talking with Bray, looking rather forlorn. She nodded and looked back at Chris, smiling slightly as she felt the tears prick at her eyes again.

"It sucks. It really does," she admitted.

"It gets easier," he said. "At least, a bit easier. But… you made the right decision." Dominique nodded and smiled at him, this one more genuine.

"Thanks," she said. "I needed that."

"Anytime, Weasley," he said, smiling at her. She nodded and started to walk off, but stopped.

"It's Dominique. Or Dom, if you prefer. That's what most of my friends and family call me anyway," she said, smiling at him. He returned it and nodded.

"Noted… Dom," he said. She grinned and turned and walked over to her cousins. In just the few minutes she had been talking to Chris, Daisy's face had turned from depressed and woebegone to furious. Dominique had a sinking feeling in her stomach that Remus was the reason why.

"Can't keep his bloody mouth shut for five minutes, can he?" she muttered as she quickened her pace.

"Really, Remus. Why don't you tell me how you really feel?" Dominique heard Daisy snap.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Didn't realize you couldn't handle a bit of criticism," Remus snapped back.

"Must you do this now, Remus?" Jamie said, frowning at his brother and then looking around the room, no doubt checking the glassware.

"No, no, let him get it all out, Jamie. I want to hear this," Daisy said, crossing her arms in front of her.

"All I said is that you're losing your edge and you need to focus," he said. "And forgive me if it's a bit refreshing to see that you can fail just like the rest of us."

"I'm not failing and I'm still just as good – if not better – than you," Daisy said, stepping up to him, though she had to crane her neck back to see him. Remus laughed coldly.

"So you do think you're better than us, what with all your fancy new gifts and all," he said.

"Maybe I do," Daisy shot back.

"Remus, Daisy – knock it off," Alan said, looking worried, though he didn't dare step in between them. Even before Daisy had turned into an unintentional pyrotechnic maniac, you didn't want to get in between her and a potential jinxing victim.

"No, he's obviously been holding some things in. Let him have it out," Daisy said, her eyes still locked with her older brother. Remus laughed bitterly.

"Just thinking it's nice to see you struggle with something for a change. Instead of everyone worshipin' the bloody ground you walk on or coddlin' you," he said. Daisy raised her eyebrows.

"No one does that," she said.

"Oh, but they do. You're the press' little quidditch darlin'. Oliver Wood's little princess," he said, his voice growing louder. He knew there was nothing Daisy hated more than being called princess.

"I'm no princess, Remus Albert Wood, and you know it. You know I've worked for everything I've gotten," she said, her voice in a dangerous whisper.

"Oh, is that so?" he asked. "Couldn't tell with all the arse-kissing everyone does around you."

"Bloody hell, Remus. Why are you being such a twat right now?" Daisy shouted.

"At least I'm not a walking disaster waiting to happen. How is that going, by the way? Broken anymore TVs?" Remus asked, tilting his head to the side.

"No. Since I moved out of here I no longer see the reason to fight. Wonder why that is? Maybe because I got away from you," Daisy spat. Remus' eyes widened and Dominique could tell it hurt more than he wanted to admit, though he quickly covered it up. He glared down at Daisy, stepping closer and leaning down over her.

"Can't stand the sight of me, eh? That's fine, why don't you just run along with your Yank and get to work on a gaggle of mudbloods," Remus shouted.

Every single person who heard him was immediately shocked into silence. Dominique had never heard Remus say something so insensitive in her entire life. She knew for a fact that Oliver and Iris had raised all their children with the utmost respect for others – whether muggle or another race or whatever. For Merlin's sake, their own mother was muggleborn.

Daisy started shaking, as did all the glasses on the counter behind her.

"You take that back, Remus," she whispered furiously, her eyes flashing red. Dominique looked over to Remus, who was finally starting to look a little afraid. "You can say what you want about me, but you do not say such things about John."

"Or what? You going to make the windows explode again?" he said, recovering some of his bravado.

Immediately, Wills stepped in between them, looking down at Daisy. Dominique felt her heart drop, thinking in between those two was the last place she'd want to be at that moment.

"Pixie, come on, look at me. You need to calm down," he said, gripping her upper arms firmly.

"Wills get out of the way so I can give my brother the hexin' he deserves!" she shouted, starting to fight against him. If it hadn't been such a tense situation, Dominique almost would have found it comical, watching the tiny seeker attempt to leap over the large chaser, her eyes flashing as she glared at her brother. Despite having height and mass on her, Wills looked as though he was struggling a bit, wrapping his arms around her waist while she kicked and wriggled. John looked over from where he was standing with Kelly and Lucy – appearing as though he had been clueless to the entire exchange up until that point - and started to walk over to her, a concerned look on his face.

"Yea, Wills. Come on, let her have her best shot," Remus said over the blonde chaser's shoulder, getting dangerously close to her. Alan immediately grabbed him and started to pull him away.

"You've done enough," he spat at him, his face clearly displaying his anger. "Come on." He started dragging Remus towards the balcony. Jamie and Dominique locked eyes for a moment, both unsure of what to do. Reason told her it might be safer with Remus and Alan - at least neither of them would make the windows explode. And she really wanted to hear what Alan was about to yell at him – arguments among the triplets were few and far between but when they did happen, they were epic. However, for whatever reason, she stayed put, now looking at her fuming, magically unstable cousin and wondering if she should back up.

"Come on now, Pix, you need to calm down," Wills said, gritting his teeth slightly to keep a hold of her.

"I'll calm down when I'm good and ready," Daisy shouted, glaring up at him though she was still struggling.

"Are you going to going to be like this at our wedding? Because if that's the case, then I'll be sure to order plastic cups," he said. Daisy stopped struggling and looked up at him, confused. Her mouth fell open as the glasses stopped shaking. She took a step back.

"Plastic cups?" she asked.

"Yea. Wouldn't want to shower our guests in glass shards, would we? Come for the wedding, stay for the first aid," he said, smiling down at her. Daisy shook her head. Finally, a smile peeked out, as did a short laugh. Dominique looked at Jamie as they both smiled in relief.

"There's my Pixie," Wills said as he pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. Daisy seemed to relax in his arms, losing her fight. Jamie had an amused look on his face as he watched the two, which intrigued Dominique. Once he glanced up at her, she gave him a quizzical look, raising her eyebrows.

"Just thinking that I find it interesting that Wills seems to be the only person who can talk her down," she heard his voice say in her head. Dominique snorted slightly and looked at him.

"Aren't you supposed to be Team Kingfisher?" she thought. Jamie just shrugged.

"Wasn't saying anything like that… just find it interesting, is all."

"What's going on?" John asked as he stepped up, his brow furrowed. Daisy sighed and let go of Wills, turning to her boyfriend.

"Just had a bit of a sibling spat, but we've got it under control," Wills said, smiling. "No broken windows, glasses or TVs this time."

"I see," John said, looking from Daisy to Wills, causing Daisy to roll her eyes.

"I'm fine, John," she said.

"Why were you that upset to begin with?" he said. Dominique looked out to the balcony and saw Alan laying into Remus, motioning wildly. Remus tried to yell back but an odd look came over his face and he reached for his throat and then glared at Alan. Dominique would have been 1,000 galleons that Alan had put a silencing charm on him.

"Remus said some things he'll likely regret once he's calmed down," Jamie said. Daisy started stewing again.

"You bet your arse he will. I'll make him regret it," she said as she looked towards the balcony, seeming as though she was about to stomp out there and give him a piece of her mind.

"Daisy," Wills said in warning. She sighed as John studied him, not used to hearing him use her actual name.

"Fine," she said, relenting.

"Just deep, calming breaths, Pixie," Wills said, causing Daisy to stare at him incredulously. "Don't look at me like that. It works!"

"So… you stopped her from throwing another of her tan-" John stopped as he saw Daisy glaring at him. "I mean, you calmed her down."

"Distracted her is more like it," Wills said, glancing down at her. "Wasn't that hard." John nodded as he looked back and forth between the two, his eyes narrowing.

"Right. Got it." He then turned and walked away, moving towards the corridor that led to the front door. Daisy threw her head back and looked towards the ceiling.

"Why do you do this to me, Merlin?" she moaned before taking after him. Dominique and Wills both looked at Jamie, questioning expressions on their faces. Jamie sighed.

"Apparently John still hasn't gotten over his jealousy of Wills," he said.

"But why? She's got the connection with him," Wills countered, though Dominique didn't miss the hint of hurt there. She also caught Jamie looking down at the floor, as though he knew something that he didn't want to say. "How long is it going to take him to get over himself? I'm rather sick of him constantly thinking there's something between me and Daisy when there's not." Jamie shook his head and shrugged.

"At this point, even I want to stay out of Daisy's life, it's become so dramatic," he said before walking off. Wills was still looking towards the door, a worried look on his face.

"Don't worry, they'll sort things out," Dominique said. Wills looked down at her.

"You think?" he asked. She nodded and smiled.

"Don't worry so much about Daisy," she said encouragingly. Wills nodded, seemingly in a daze and then wandered off. She stared off after him, wondering what had gotten into the usually boisterous chaser.

"There you are!" Molly exclaimed as she walked up. "This place turns into a bloody nightmare to find people." She looked around at the scores of people now filling the flat. She then looked down at Dominique's nearly empty drink. "Come on, I need a drink and you look like you could use a refill."

"You've no idea," Dominique said, rolling her eyes slightly.

"What happened?" Molly asked, leading them over to the drink table. Dominique downed hers and reached for a bottle of something called moonshine. She recalled that it was one of Daisy's favorites and poured herself a generous helping.

"Remus and Daisy got into it again," she said before taking a large drink and deciding she liked it. She poured a bit more and put the bottle down. Molly watched her, eyebrows raised, as she made herself a more practical cocktail.

"What was it this time?" she asked.

"I'm not sure what started it, but I walked in about midway and just in time to hear Remus spout some pretty despicable shite about John," Dominique said. Molly's eyes widened.

"What did he say?" she asked, leaning closer.

"Called him a mudblood," Dominique said, glaring towards the balcony where Remus and Alan were still arguing. Or well, Remus attempted to at least, gesticulating wildly as he still couldn't speak. Finally, though, Alan yelled something at him that had him starting to look shamed. "I mean seriously? Who even uses that word anymore? Not to mention, they're all bloody part muggle."

"Merlin's ball sack, why would he say such a thing? I thought he liked Kingfisher?" Molly gasped. Dominique shrugged.

"I think he was just trying to get at her, you know," she said, glancing at her cousin. "Jamie says he's been jealous towards Daisy ever since the whole thing started." Molly nodded.

"Probably not easy being the older brother with a little sister capable of doing some spectacular things," she said before taking a sip. "And this must be hard on Daisy. Dealing with her new gifts and not being able to control them. Then having your boyfriend on your back about it. And then dealing with your bloody older brother. I feel for her."

Dominique nodded. She did as well. After her talk with Iris, she felt her heart go out to her younger cousin. She was dealing with a lot – so much that Dominique couldn't even fathom how she held it together as well as she did.

It was then that Dominique got the idea. She smiled and looked at Molly.

"I know what we need to do," she said. Molly looked at her confused.

"What?"

"Let's have a girls' night at our place. Next weekend. You, me, Lucy, Victoire and Daisy. Just like the old days," she said. Molly thought it over and then smiled.

"I think that's perfect," she said. Dominique nodded.

"Then it's settled."

And the sibling spat gets a bit more intense. Seriously, even I want to smack Remus. I need to speed up my posting/writing so I can get to the part where the Woods are alright again. Really hate writing tension between Remus and Daisy, but for whatever reason, that was the way the plot gods led me... But don't worry, good times are coming...

AleenaBean: I have some things in mind for the professor. But as you'll see, Daisy's got a lot more to go through before she gets a handle on things.

As always, thanks for reading, following and reviewing!