Hey Everyone,
So here is the next installment of the Potter's Curse! I hope y'all like it. I also want to give a shout out to Cara Lavender. I've been reading her story Nobody's Perfect lately and I absolutely love it. So please go check it out ( s/10674830/1/Nobody-s-Perfect)
Love,
A.E
Chapter Ten
The Last Straw
It was too early on a Saturday morning for most students to be awake, so the school was quiet when Maci returned. Her footsteps echoed off the stone walls as she approached Gryffindor Tower, "Bauble." Maci told the Fat Lady before she had the chance to ask for the password. The portrait swung open and Maci stepped into the common room. Taking a deep breath Maci closed her eyes, she wasn't sure if she was ready for this, ready to come back to all this yet.
"Maci?" A deep voice pulled Maci out of her thoughts. A tousled blonde head popped up from behind an arm chair.
"Louis." Maci answered her tone steely. Her boyfriend stood up and crossed the room to her. When he got two feet away from her Maci raised a hand, stopping him in his tracks.
A look of what Maci thought could have been anger flashed across Louis' his face, but it was gone the moment it came so she couldn't be sure, "I thought you were coming back today." He said his tone casual but strained.
"How?" Maci asked her tone clipped and hard.
"What?"
"How would you know I was coming back today?"
"I don't know what you mean?" Louis said frustration creeping into his voice.
Maci through her hands up in the air, "Merlin Louis, I mean how would you know? It's a simple question. How would you know because you never once wrote me? You never once checked up on me to see how I was doing? So tell me Louis how would you know?" When Maci was done she glared at him, her green eyes flashing.
For a second Louis just stood there. Any frustration that had been in Louis' face melted away. Standing there in his rumpled robes with his mussed hair he looked child-like. Maci had to fight the urge to reach out and smooth down the edges.
Finally Louis spoke up his tone quiet, "I'm sorry Mace. I'm so sorry." The he moved closer and wrapped his arms around her.
She wanted to fight him. She wanted to push him away, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. Somewhere along the line Maci had stopped caring, lost her will to fight. So Maci let him hug her and she cried for what seemed to be the thousandths time that week. But now she wasn't sure whether she was crying for, the loss of her father or the loss of her pride.
Eventually Louis pulled away and smiled down at Maci, "You wanna head down to breakfast? I have about an hour before practice?"
Maci smiled back up at him, "I have been dying for some quidditch practice. Maybe we can just grab some breakfast to go and head out to the pitch now." The smile fell from Louis' face and Maci gave him a confused look, "What is it?" She asked cautiously.
"Well," Louis began, "I didn't know when you were coming back to the team and we head a match last night, so I had to call in a sub. And I know you're back now, but she gelled well with the team and she and James worked well together. So I figured she could stay on another week, just to give you more recovery…yeah…" He trailed odd rubbing the back of his head and making his hair stand up on end.
There was a pause as Maci processed this news, "You replaced me?" She murmured quietly, her eyes downcast.
Louis seemed more shocked than if Maci had shouted, which is what he had expected, "Just while you were gone Mace. I had scouts coming I couldn't ask for-"
"Just stop talking Lou. I need some space right now." Maci interrupted him, her eyes sad and her face weary. As she turned and walked out the way she had just come a little part of her hoped that Louis would come after here and beg for forgiveness, but in reality she knew that would never happen. He was too entitled and to stubborn to see that he had been in the wrong.
As she walked down the staircase leading away from Gryffindor Tower, she caught a glimpse of James on his broom out by the quidditch pitch. Without really meaning to she found her feet moving in that direction. Stopping in the changing rooms to snag her broom Maci walked out onto the field.
Spotting James she hopped on her broom and flew up to him, "James." She called and he turned an easy smile appearing on his face.
"Hey Mace, when did you get back?"
"Just now." She told him.
"And you already looked pissed what happened?"
"Louis. Apparently he put some skank on the team in my place and wants her to play another game even though I'm back. Merlin does he just think that he can replace me that easily? You and I have been beaters together for three years, it's not like you can bond with a new person that easily. There has to be chemistry and to go and think he can just force that." Maci ranted pulling her hair up into a ponytail, "Anyways do you want to run some drills. I need something to take my mind off all of this."
"Uh actually he's already running drills with that skank that your boyfriend replaced you with." A clear high voice said from behind Mace. Slowly Maci turned around. "Sorry Jamie I ran into Vanessa on my way down and she wanted to talk for a minute." Jessica told a now very flustered James.
"That's uh fine Jess." James ran a hand through his hair nervously. Then turning to Maci he gave her an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry Mace. I just figured if she was going to play another game with us we should practice…" He trailed off staring at the ground, "But I can reschedule with her, you and I can practice."
Maci just stared at him, "Look Mace I mean it."
Unfreezing Maci waver him off, "Whatever James, practice with Jessica. Merlin knows we wouldn't want to hurt her feelings or anything." Then before James could stop her Maci flew back towards the changing rooms.
When she made it back inside, the castle was already a bustle with activity. Students were slowly beginning to wake up and go about their day. On her way to the Great Hall Maci looked for Chase or Dom but neither seemed to be in the crowd heading towards breakfast or in the group of people already there. So instead of sitting alone at the Gryffindor table Maci swiped a stack of toast from a platter and continued her search for Dom and Chase.
After a half an hour of searching Maci wound up on the fifth floor. The classrooms were all empty because it was a weekend or at least all the classrooms were supposed to be empty. Down the hall Maci heard someone giggle, a giggle she was rather familiar with. Walking down the hall way Maci tried to discern where the noise was coming from. Finally she stopped outside a classroom door. It was slightly ajar so Maci quietly peered through the gap.
Inside she saw Dom sitting on a desk, across from her Chase was sitting on a chair listening to her talk. From what Maci could see Dom looked upset about something and there were tears shingling in her eyes.
"What am I going to do? What am I going to tell Maci? And James for that matter?" Maci heard her ask, "I mean I know what I saw, but I just can't... it would destroy her…" Dom trailed off tears starting to trickle down her face.
Chase reached out and took her hand, "We'll figure it out Dom." He told her, pulling her face down to his and pressing a gentle kiss on her lips.
Maci squeaked in surprise and Chase glanced towards the door, "Did you hear that?" he asked Dom, his eyes still trained on the door way.
"Yeah," Dom said also looking in the direction of the door.
'shit' Maci mentally cursed as she scrambled away from the door, but she wasn't fast enough. Chase had already crossed the room and pushed the door open.
"Maci?" he asked, surprise and embarrassment written across his face, "What…I mean when did you get back?" He leaned against the door frame trying to look relaxed, as well as attempting to block her view of the room inside.
Maci rolled her eyes, pushing past him into the class room, "Cut the crap Chase. I've been standing here for a couple minutes. So is there something you guys want to tell me?"
Dom and Chase looked at each other, identical expressions of panic on their faces. Running a hand over his face Chase mumbled something unintelligible into his hands and Maci glared at him, "In English please?"
"Dom and I have been seeing each other since Christmas Break." He mumbled.
There was a second of silence, before Maci burst into laughter, "You should see the look on your guys' faces."
Dom looked up from her fingernails, which she had been nervously picking at, "What are you talking about?"
Maci stopped laughing and grinned at the two of them, "Oh c'mon, you guys looked like you though I was going to murder you for not telling me."
"You're not?" Chase asked relief spreading across his face.
"No I'm not." Maci told him and he grinned at her, "Now Louis might. I mean you know how protective of Dom and well... he probably won't like the idea of one of his best mates dating her."
At the mention of Louis name both Dom and Louis looked at each other and then back at the ground. Noticing the abrupt shift in mood Maci looked between her two best friends, "What? It's not that big of a deal. He'll get over it eventually."
Dom shook her head, "It's not that Mace." She muttered, not looking the other girl in the eye.
"What is it then?" Maci asked bewildered.
Again Chase and Dom glance at each other, "Should we tell her?" Chase asked.
"She's gonna find out eventually and we owe it to her." Dom pointed out, biting her lip.
"She is standing right here!" Maci exclaimed, "And she wants to know what the hell is going on."
Chase sighed, "Sit down." He told her pointing to a chair.
"Why?"
"Just trust me."
Maci sighed and plopped onto one of the chairs, "Okay. Now tell me what I am going to eventually find out."
"Louis cheated on you." Dom blurted out, and then clasped her hands over her mouth.
"Way to ease into Dom." Chase winced.
Maci looked at the blonde her eyes wide with shock, "What?" She asked slowly, not even fully comprehending what Dom had just told her.
Taking a deep breath Dom uncovered her mouth and started again, "Last night after the game Chase and I were looking for a room to celebrate in and we accidently walked into a classroom that was already occupied. At first I couldn't tell who it was but then they started talking and…Mace it was Louis."
"Oh my god." Maci gasped. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"And Mace," this time it was Chase who spoke, his voice quiet, "He was with Jessica."
Maci stared at Chase for a second before tears started pouring down her face. Her chest felt like it was collapsing in on itself and she couldn't breathe. What they were saying it couldn't be true. There was no way…Louis loved her. He wouldn't do this to her. 'Wouldn't he though? When has he ever really paid that much attention to you?' A little voice in the back of her head whispered and Maci sobbed even harder. Dom had gotten up now and wrapped her arms around her best friend stroking her hair softly. It did little to comfort Maci. It felt as if her heart and been ripped out of her chest, leaving a gaping hole where it had been.
Finally, hours or maybe minutes later, when Maci's cries had subsided, Dom stepped away a little, "You have to end it Mace." She murmured, softly stroking the other girl's hair.
"I know," Maci squeezed her eyes shut trying to keep the tears from starting again, "I just…what if it was just a mistake. Maybe I should talk to him and see." Even as the words came out of her mouth Maci hated herself for saying them. When had she lost her ability to stand up for herself? How had she let him take that from her and not even notice until it was gone?
"No." Dom said firmly, "You are done forgiving him. He has treated you like shit and I am so sorry I didn't see it sooner."
"I just…I love him." It came out sounding so much weaker than Maci had wanted it to. It sounded so pathetic hanging in the air of the classroom.
Dom reached over and took Maci's hand, "Mace in some relationships there comes a point when the damage being caused isn't worth it. No matter how much you love the Louis the memories of how good it was before aren't going to sustain you. You can't keep giving him everything, he doesn't give you anything. He doesn't deserve you."
For a long time Maci was silent, "You're right Dom. Merlin you're right." Getting to her feet Maci embraced Dominique, then Chase.
"Are you going to be okay?" Chase asked her as Maci pulled him in for a hug.
"I will be." She murmured into her shoulder before stepping away, "But I'm going to go end it now, before my heart catches up with my brain and I completely lose it."
Dom bit her lip a worried expression on her face, "Do you want me to come with you?"
"I need to do this one on my own I think." She told the blonde, "But I promise if I need you I will come find you." And with that Maci disappeared out the door.
It didn't take her long to find Louis. He was pretty much right where she had left him mere hours ago, though now it felt as if it had been an eternity since she had arrived back at Hogwarts.
Unlike this morning though the Gryffindor common room was alive with people participating various antics. Louis was off to the side in a corner near the windows facing the quidditch field. He had his head buried in a text book and a charmed quill was scribbling on the piece of parchment on the table in front of him. Maci crossed the room towards him, waiting to say anything until she was right in front of him.
"Louis. We need to talk." She said when she was standing on the other side of the little table in front of him.
Barely glancing up from his book Louis shook his head, "Maci can this wait I'm busy."
Reaching out Maci snatched the book out of his hands, "We need to talk." She repeated her tone firm and determined. She tossed the book onto the table in front of him, where it knocked over a bottle of ink. The bottle's inky black spilled over the paper Louis' quill had been scratching at.
"Merlin Maci! What the hell?" Louis exclaimed angrily, picking up the paper gingerly, "I'm trying to study."
"And I'm trying to talk to you."
Louis let out an exasperated sigh as if he was dealing with a small child and not his girlfriend. Maci marveled at how she had been so blinded to how much of an ass he was, "Well then what is it?" He snapped.
Taking a deep breath Maci steeled herself for what was coming next, "I'm done. We're over."
"Is this about Jessica Maci, because if it is it's not a big deal it's just one game." He told her in a patronizing tone.
"Yes it is about Jessica, but not about the game or the fact that she took my place on the team." Maci waited patiently until it clicked with him.
When it dawned on him Louis looking shocked, "How did you know about that?"
"That's not important. The point is you cheated on me the second I wasn't around! Merlin Louis my dad just died and you went and cheated on me, because I wasn't there." Despite her best effort tears were beginning to form in Maci's eyes, but she fought them back. She wasn't going to cry. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.
Louis' shock from initially getting caught had started to wear off and now he was going on the defensive, "I wouldn't have done anything with Jessica if you hadn't slept with James." He told her accusingly.
"What?" Maci asked, caught off guard by the ludicrous accusation.
An ugly sneer crossed Louis' face, "I know he went to see you at your house. Did you two sleep together Maci? Was it good? Because I know Jessica was." Louis' voice was rising and by now the two had drawn a crowd. The kids in the common room had stopped what they were doing and some students had even padded down from their dorms to watch the fight, but no one stepped in.
"Sleep with him!" Maci shrieked her eyes flashing with rage, "He came to comfort me about my father who had just died Louis! He was concerned about me. He wanted to be there for me, something you never cared about and you have the nerve to accuse me of cheating? Merlin you are a self-centered ass! This about what you did, do don't you dare try and pin this on me."
"I gave you a chance any other girl at Hogwarts would kill for Maci and you go and tell me it's my fault this didn't work. Merlin I knew I should have never indulged your stupid crush."
This comment stopped Maci in her tracks, "What are you talking about?" She asked her tone quiet.
"Oh c'mon you don't think I ever really loved you. Every time I kissed you I felt nauseous. Ever second I was with you I wished it was someone else." Louis's tone had gone from loud to cruel. He face twisted in a sadistic smile that made Maci want to curl up in fear.
But she didn't instead she whispered, "You're lying." Despite herself Maci let a tear slipped down her cheek, "You're lying Louis."
"No I'm not. I don't love you and I never did Maci. You were pathetic begging for my attention at every turn, trying to make me notice you. You disgust me." With that Louis turned and pushed his way past all the on looks and up the boys' staircase, shoving past all the people who stood in his way.
Maci was left standing there trying not to cry. Eventually everyone went back to what they had been doing before the fight. All Maci wanted to do was go up to her room and cry for hours, but she wasn't going to let Louis have the satisfaction. So instead she went to her room, grabbed her school bag and threw herself into an essay that was due the next Tuesday. For hours she sat there seemingly absorbed in her work, but not really focusing on anything. Her head was a tumult of thoughts that she couldn't call into order.
At some point Maci must have fallen asleep, because the next thing she knew she was waking up to a light shining through the darkness of the empty common room. Blinking blearily Maci saw James step through the portrait whole. When he turned to face the rest of the room he spotted Maci and gave her a halfhearted wave.
Picking his way through the arm chairs and sofas he made his way over to her. As he sat down next to her Maci could smell the sharp sting of alcohol clinging to him like cheap perfume, "So you heard?" She asked by way of greeting.
James looked at her and Maci saw that his eyes were blood shot. She wondered if that was a result of the whiskey or whether he had been crying, "Yeah. I heard." He croaked, his voice sounding cracked and broken, "Are you okay?"
Looking away Maci, picked at a stray thread on the sofa, "No. Are you?"
Laughing a laugh without any humor James shook his head, "No. Not at all. But the two hours at the Hogs Head certainly did help."
Biting her lip Maci looked back up at him with concern, "James…" She began but he put a finger to her lips.
"Please Maci. No lectures tonight." He begged her removing his finger and she nodded. They were silent for a moment before James said, "I'm so sorry this happened."
"It's not your fault." Maci brushed some hair out of her face and began pulling on the stray thread again.
Gently James reached over and pulled her hands away from the fabric, "Hey," He told her his dark eyes boring into hers, "It'll be okay. I promise."
This small bit of kindness while she was in such a dark place filled with alone and hurt made Maci break down. She buried her head in James' shoulder and cried and he let her. Putting his arms around her, James gently stroked Maci's hair as she cried, wishing he could put the broken pieces of her heart back together.