A Seeker's Troubles
Of insufferable boyfriends and sadly, hot Nazi Captains
I gripped each side of the sink with trembling fingers, breathing quickly in ragged breaths. Raising my gaze I could see a girl with bright blue eyes staring back at me, looking perfectly panic-stricken.
Never before had I been so nervous. The match against Hufflepuff was the Saturday two days from now. I didn't on a normal basis get nervous before matches, heck, I hadn't even been nervous about the one against Slytherin a few weeks ago. But I couldn't help it: in two days I was going to be up against the best Seeker this school had to offer and also, in two days I would finally find out it I was going to be Captain. Or if I would go on a date with Wood. Which also included – needless to say- the end of my relationship with Cedric.
"Stop it, Elle," I commanded myself loudly, not caring if there was anyone else in this bathroom I was currently hiding in who would overhear the insane girl talking to herself. "You'll only get yourself more worked up."
I narrowed my gaze at the girl in the mirror. "Now, you can do this. You. Are. Just. Going. For. Lunch." But even so, it was terrifying. Because I knew the minute I – or anyone else in either the Gryffindor team or Hufflepuff team – entered the Great Hall where all the other students currently resided, we would endear either taunts or cheers. And not to mention, we would be exposed to the various sorts of banners or flags with either the colours of Hufflepuff or Gryffindor upon them, hanging around the walls in the entire school. Both of them where equally unbearable to see, since they only served the purpose to increase the nerves I already had too much of. And then, it that wasn't enough, there were always the assorted buttons fastened on people's clothes which sported all sorts of insults or praises, depending on which team you cheered for. And did I even have to mention all the songs?
Normally this wouldn't affect me at all, but now I was so nervous to the point that I briefly considered hiding in one of the stalls and only come out after the match. What's worse, this whole business had gotten completely out-of-hand. Just mere minutes I had been walking towards the Great Hall with the girls, chattering away of God knows what when a group of Hufflepuff third-years – completely clad in black and yellow from top to toe had walked past us, leering "You're going down on Saturday" at us. The girls all laughed at this and on any other day I would have too, but this time I completely froze up and started sweating. Seriously, it was a full-on panic attack. Which was why I was currently cowering in the bathroom, staring at the pathetic image of myself in the mirror.
"You are an excellent Seeker, the best this school has ever seen. You could beat Diggory in your sleep if you would let yourself."
I don't know why I remembered Wood's words in that moment. I suddenly saw his face again as he had said those words to me and his honest expression. I paused for a moment, considering his words. He had been telling the truth; he wasn't that a good liar. But his words was exactly what I needed right now.
I leaned down, turning on the water and proceeded to splash my face with the cold liquid. Maybe Wood was right. Maybe I coulddo this. And when I looked up in the mirror again I could see that my expression had regained some of the confidence it usually radiated.
So I stuck out my chin determinably and shot open the door to the bathroom, steering my steps towards the Great Hall. It was alright. I could do this.
Only as I came closer and closer to the Great Hall I began to hear the loud humming of students chattering away animatedly of various topics (mainly the upcoming match) and suddenly the knot in my stomach – which had on later days grown to the size of the Atlantic Ocean (well, give or take an inch or two) made its presence known again. But I drew a breath – yoga style – and repeated to myself You can do this, it's just a bloody lunch! And then I thrust open the great oak doors.
I wasn't quite sure as to what I had expected. Maybe that the whole crowd in the hall would fall dead silent and turn to stare at me in open mockery. The room would fall silent and they would watch me every step towards the Gryffindor table. Then the taunts would begin.
Well, what really happened… was quite the opposite.
Hardlyanyone realized I had even entered the Great Hall, let alone looked up watch me. I had to admit that sort of disappointed me. I didn't even get onetaunt…?
Huffily I then began walking down the room towards the girls and dumped into my seat with a sigh and started loading up food on my plate, then proceeding to stuff it into my mouth.
The girls all stopped talking as I entered and they all sent me curious glances. A few moments later, I stopped chewing and looked at them.
"…what?" I asked gracefully. …as gracefully as you can with about a ton of pasta in your mouth.
"What is with you?" Angelina finally asked.
Well, I was sort of taken aback by that. After all, I was just eating my lunch. Alright, maybe I was a little savage about it but still-
"You have never been nervous about a match and now you suddenly jump out of your skin as soon as someone as much as mentions Hufflepuff?" Alice demanded, her bright eyes flaring accusingly. I blinked at her.
Oh.
"Don't try do deny it," she continued, "we've seen you."
Gulping down the Caspian sea-sized bite of pasta I gave them my most serious face and said with as much honesty as I could, "I am not nervous."
"Oh,really?" Alicia asked me and narrowed her eyes dangerously towards me. "Then prove it." And then I saw what was coming. I braced myself as she opened parted her lips to speak: "Hufflepuff."
Only she said it really slowly so that it ended up having multiple syllables and sounding more like Huuuuuuuffflleeeeppppppuuufffffffff.
I couldn't help it. My eye kind of twitched at that; it was just so weird.
"A-ha!" Alicia cried triumphantly and jumped back in her seat, causing everyone who heard her – try the whole bloody room – to turn and to look at us. Even Angelina and Katie stared at her then, and I dared to roll my eyes at her.
"Paranoid much?" I asked her, hoping the interrogation was over. It wasn't.
"Seriously though, Elle," Katie said a little quieter, leaning towards me over the table and eyed me with large worried brown eyes, "you've been acting a little weird lately. Is everything okay?"
I wanted to tell them, I really did. Only I couldn't, because if I told them what I had to with Wood if I lost, then they would start assuming things. And jump to conclusions. And seeming as I already was ready to jump out of my skin I did sonot need any jumping-to-conclusions-ness now.
So I bit back the confession I had been working up. Then I smiled. Sweetly. "I'm fine. I am. I just want this match to be over, that's all."
The girls seemed to accept my lie and soon went back to their lunch. I watched them as I considered my own words. To think that it all would be over in just two days. Then I would know if I was going to be captain… or a public fool.
Suddenly not so hungry anymore, I flicked my gaze away from my plate and towards the teacher's table. I momentarily locked eyes with uncle Remus who winked at me and smiled. I sent him a little wave before my gaze continued its journey across the room, eventually landing on a tiny Professor Flitwick using his wand to adjust a few hollies above a doorway. I frowned for a moment before I realized he was decorating the Great Hall for the Christmas Ball. A little exited jolt went through my stomach – yes, in all its girly giddy-ish glory – as I was reminded of this. It was already the Saturday next weekend! A smile slowly crept forth on my lips since I waslooking forward to it; already me and the girls had gone shopping for dresses, where even Angelina – who's supposedly opposed to everything even remotely girly – squealed with excitement as she found her perfect dress. And the thought of dancing with a handsome cavalier all night… I sighed dreamily, and I wasn't even ashamed about it.
Speaking of handsome cavalier… I scanned the Hufflepuff table in search of Cedric. Finally my eyes landed on a mop of familiar dark brown hair, bopping up and down as he was talking animatedly with a friend. It didn't take long for him to notice me and his striking grey eyes found mine. I cocked my head to the side, sending him a wink and a smile. The whole being-rivals thing hadn't proven to be as hard as I had first predicted; we were just as perfect together as we usually were…
Or so I thought, as Cedric simply looked away, without acknowledging my wink. Or my smile. I snapped my head straight up again, my features plummeting into a frown. What was that all about?
I narrowed my eyes at my boyfriend, willing him to look at me again so that I could raise my eyebrows in a–what's-the-matter-kind of way, but he was deliberately avoiding me. By now a scowl had replaced the frown and I resolved to glaring at the Hufflepuff… until something broke my view of him and instead a pair of soft brown eyes loomed before my eyes.
"Why the sour face, Belle?" Wood asked airily, after I had suppressed a startled squeal. He swiftly slid into his seat opposite me and started chunking up food on his plate. I was a little surprised at his presence, since I had desperately tried to avoid him after our last encounter in the common room, where we nearly -
"Nothing," I replied, though I adjusted my head so that I could peek at Cedric over the Scot's shoulder. He still refused to look at me, so I grudgingly let it go.
"Alright then, don't tell me," he grinned and proceeded to munch on his toast.
I suddenly forgot about Cedric and instead raised my eyebrow's at Wood's cheery comment. He was looking as handsome as ever – I had long ago given up trying to deny it – wearing his bone white shirt unbuttoned at the top with his tie loosely fastened around his neck. His slightly curly hair was an untidy mess though it managed to make him look… I didn't dare finish the though. There was a smile on his lips, showing off a perfect set of white teeth.
"You seem awfully cheery," I remarked, though his sunny mood had the opposite effect on me and I didn't bother to hide my scowl. I couldn't help it; the morning's events hadn't exactly helped to brighten my mood.
"Do I?" he noted airily. I narrowed my eyes. Tooairily.
"What did you do?" I asked suspiciously. Mind you, I wasn't taking any chances. After all, I knew Wood. He was up to something.
His eyes briefly met mine. "I didn't do anything," he said, a hint of bitterness to his secretive voice.
My pasta had briefly regained some of my attention but at his words I looked up again.
"What? What do you mean you didn't do anything?"
"Hey, you know what I just remembered? The match is two days away," he said briskly in a very bad attempt to change the subject but also in a very good attempt to throw me off. It almostworked.
"Oh, no," I laughed with incredulity, "you don't get to wiggle your way out of this one."
But the Scot didn't reply at once, and in our silence I suddenly felt someone's eyes on me.
I shifted my gaze and saw that finally the pair of turbulent grey eyes had found me. I instantly lighted up – ignoring how I no longer felt the flutter of butterflies as an effect – but my grin soon faded since his gaze was hard as rock and his well-sculptured face just as stony. By now Wood had realized my attention had abandoned him and he shifted in his seat to follow my gaze.
"What's his trouble?" he asked casually, sending off a cheeky wave at his rival knowing full well it would set him off. And of course it did.
With the scrape of his chair Cedric stood up and with one last look at me he started striding out the Great Hall.
I fluttered my eyes over to Wood. "Did you haveto?"
He shrugged innocently. Really, it was long time since I saw him in such high spirits. "For once, I don't think I'm the one he's got the issue with."
I frowned, but knew he had hit a point. It was myeyes Cedric had refused to meet.
Without a word I stood up and followed the Hufflepuff.
"Cedric!" I cried as I opened one of the great oak doors with my hand. I scanned the nearly-crowded corridor quickly, using my Seeker-skills, and spotted the back of his robes as he strode up the stairs.
"Cedric!" I gasped as I threw myself up the stairs in pursuit. He didn't appear to hear me and kept going… until I missed one step. With a graceful yelp I lost my balance and tumbled right into a group of third-years. They shrieked as I managed to drag them with me as we all tumbled down the entire set of stairs I had justgalloped up until we came to a stop by the floor. Which was hard, mind you. ThenCedric noticed me. Well, everyone kind of did.
I, however, did not care; instead I managed to raise one hand to make my presence known beneath the mass of complaining thirteen-year olds that had managed to bury me and asked in a muffled voice. "Cedric?"
I waved my arm around frantically, willing for someone to help me up – and my palm finally made contact with another hand that yanked me up, allowing me to burst through the limbs of students like a diver resurfacing from deep sea.
It was Cedric who had helped me, but he didn't look any happier now, so I put one of my hands on his arm, and knitted my eyebrows together in a frown (and ignoring that I was still standing on a pile of kids).
"Hey," I said, doing my best to sound like a loyal girlfriend, "what's the matter?"
He didn't reply at once, instead he looked at me for a moment, and then he shrugged and muttered something along the lines off "it doesn't matter," and started walking off again.
Well, unlucky for him I wasn't someone who liked being ignored.
"Hey!" I barked, running to keep up with him (damn these short legs of mine) and positioned myself in front of him and blocking his march with my determined frame, arms crossed demandingly and everything. "Tell me."
"Did you hear that Wood and his girlfriend broke up?" The question suddenly tumbled out of him, like he hadn't really willed to say it, but he said it with a small grim smile which led me to the assumption that he wasn't just gossiping. I blinked at him, about to open my mouth to say that I did know that but they got together again… something I have been painfully aware of the last few weeks. But he saw what I was thinking and hastily added. "No, again."
Again, I blinked at him. "Um, no, I didn't know," I replied bewildered, because a) I hadn't heard about it and b) what did that have to do with me and Cedric? I tried desperately ignoring the voice in my head going They broke up? Why didn't Wood tell me? …and if they did, why was he in such a good mood?
Then – if possible – I deepened my frown. "What does that have to do with-"
But he beat me to it. "Did you hear why?"
Again, no. Since WHEN do I miss everything going on in this school?? I guess he figured this out by me expression since he continued with force.
"Apparently his girlfriend walked in on Wood and another girl…being busy."
I'm sorry to say this raised quite a few emotions in me. Mostly shock.What!? With who??? was what the little voice was practically screaming inside me, and my heart rate sped up with quite a few hundred beats a minute. A thought I also detected a hint of rage and …jealousy? But instead of showing the sea of emotions running through me I cleared my throat and asked in a very collected manner, "Really?" in a so? kind of voice. Then, sounding verycasual, added "with who?"
At this Cedric's eyes landed directly on me, looking angry. "You."
I almost choked on my breath, and then started laughing. So Sarah broke up with Wood after that moment in the common room with me and Wood? Figure then she would spread something like that out!
"She's exaggerating," I chuckled with relief, waiving it away airily.
"Exaggerating?"Cedric echoed, and my laugh quickly faded away as I realized that was so not the right thing to say.
"No, we weren't doing anything!" I quickly blurted, but it didn't seem to reassure him.
"When we first met, you couldn't stand the sight of Wood but now every time I see he's always within three feet of you!" Cedric suddenly said, and my spirits fell with every word. Oh.So that'swhat this is about.
I stared at him, completely at loss of words. How the ruddy hell did I explain this? I couldn't, I realized. Well, without walking away from here single, that is.
"Are... are you jealous?" I finally opted for asking, going for the old offence is the best defence- tactic.
He didn't so much as grace me with an answer as he merely glared at me accusingly, and suddenly my patience had come to an end. I was full aware that some of the students in the corridor had stopped to look – the it-couple's first argument – but I didn't care. Technically I wasinnocent.
"You seriously think I would go behind your back? With Wood?"
"I don't know, you tell me," he retorted.
Oh, that was just it.
"I can't believe you would trust Wood's revenge-seeking exinstead of me,"I spat and turned on my heel and strode away, fuming mad.
He didn't follow me.
-------------------------------
With a frustrated cry I moved to slam the portrait shut behind me. Only it was too heavy so it ended up only creaking slightly as it moved barely an inch on its hinges. This only served to fuel my foul mood as I stalked into the common room. I was too angry to go to the afternoon's classes; I wouldn't be able to concentrate anyway.
The argument was on constant repeat in my mind and I grew angrier with each time it played. Cedric's attitude had me practically boiling with rage; the fact that he blindly trusted Sarah ruddy Therald's words and not even listening to mine made was insufferable.
But the worst part of it all – what practically had me crying with furious tears – was that… was that he was right.
Who knows what would've happened if Sarah hadn't walked into the common room at that moment? I didn't even dare to think about it. And the last six months with Wood we had exchanged more friendly words to each other than during the past six years!
"My, my, Fred, isn't this lovely? Just what we needed – sweet little Elle, spreading the love around with her jolliness."
It came to my attention that I wasn't alone. The twins were barracking the couches with books and potions covering the table in front of them. Apparently I wasn't the only one cutting Herbology. On the other hand, it almost looked as if – as if -
"Are you studying?" I asked incredulously.
George's eyes widened. "God, no."
Fred raised me an eyebrow. "And here I thought you knew us. Tut tut." Then he added, after giving my anger-flushed face a glance. "What about you? I thought you were the one who – and I quote – don't do brooding?"
I heaved a tremendous sigh, reaching up to release my hair from the tight bun I had it in – mostly because I recalled Cedric telling me I looked beautiful with my hair up and I just wanted to cross him every way possible at the moment – and dumped into the couch opposite them.
"Well, that was before finding out I had an arse for a boyfriend," I admitted, and they both nodded in that Ohway.
George pouted ever so lightly in sympathy. "Aw, poor you. Seeming as the room lack your girlfriends you want us to have a go at it?"
"Oh, I can be Alicia!" Fred announced with delight and then crossed his legs and started twinning one of his longish red strands in what was actually a good impression of the tiny girl. "Ugh, men," he spat in a high-pitched voice.
I couldn't help to laugh but firmly shook my head at the same time. "No, no talking. He doesn't even deserve that."
George snorted. "Yeah, you show him, girl."
I threw a cushion at his grinning face. "Shut up." Then I frowned after taking time to actually look at what they were occupying themselves with. George was gently tapping the boiling cauldron in front of him with his wand, while Fred seemed to study a spell from a book.
"If you're not studying… then what areyou doing?" I asked, moving all thoughts of Cedric away to give the twins my unwavering attention.
"Well, unlike you, we are skipping class for something more important," Fred remarked and I sent him a glare before George continued.
"It's a prototype," he informed me.
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, right. For your fancy future joke-shop?"
Fred glared at me. "Why this unprovoked sarcasm?"
"Blame Cedric," I quickly said, but curiosity had won me over. "Whatkind of prototype?"
George had just finished boiling the green-like substance in the cauldron and tapped it into a small bottle. "It's a potion that gives you instant hiccup. Perfect to get out of class!" Then he eyed me and it was hard not to detect the mischief in his expression. "Care to try?"
I snorted. "I think not. So hiccups were more important than class, eh?"
"Well," Fred shrugged, looking a me smugly, "it beats sitting there and worry about the match, doesn't it?"
Apparently he had heard about my tendency to freak out about the match. It so worked. For almost a good hour my mind had been off the match but now the nerves returned with force, tidal-wave style.
"Aaaaargh!" I cried, flinging myself down on the couch in misery, "why did you have to say that!?"
----------------------------------
Tick. Tock.
The longest arrow kept moving over the numbers in a steady pace. Tick. Tock.
With every tick I could feel my heart trying to speed up but with every tockI drew a deep breath to steady myself. Needless to say, the whole process was exhausting.
Finally I drew my eyes away from the clock – which I had been staring at for a good hour by now – and instead looked to Memphis, who was sleeping on the armrest of the couch, not a care in the world. Unwillingly I glanced at the clock. Half past one. In nine hours I would be on the Quidditch pitch, against Cedric.
Tick. Tock.
With a frustrated groan I got to my feet, going over to the window. Like usual I couldn't sleep before the match, but now I was excruciatingly nervous about the whole thing which made it a thousand times worse. If this went on the whole night, I would be exhausted in time for the match. Just wonderful.
I could just picture it: Cedric catching the snitch while I snore away on my broom.
Tick. Tock.
With a huffy sigh I leant my elbows onto the window frame, looking out over the fantastic view of the Hogwarts grounds. In perfect view was also – typically – the pitch. I glared at it, deciding to blame it for all my troubles.
Knock knock.
I blinked, turning to the clock. It kept tickingand tockinginnocently and I realized the sound hadn't come from it.
Knock knock.
I turned to the portrait, frowning. Someone was knocking. But whowould it be at this hour? And had forgotten the password, nonetheless?
I stalked over to it, my dad's old boxers gently brushing against my thighs as I did. Grabbing the portrait I yanked it open, raising my eyebrows as I went, "Lucky for you I was up, or else you would have been standing here all-"
My expression fell as I saw who it was. "What are you doing here?" I demanded, crossing my arms and glared at Cedric.
"Elle," he began, sounding apologetic. I noted that I couldn't see any of the stony expression he had been wearing the last time I had seen it. "I couldn't sleep, I… I just want to talk to you. Can I come in?"
I looked at him for another moment. True, it appeared as if he had just gotten out of bed, since he was wearing nothing but boxers and a white t-shirt, with this hair more unruly than usual, sticking up slightly at the back. Sadly I caught myself thinking he didn't look as cute as Wood did after sleep.
Giving in with a sigh I stepped away from the portrait, allowing him passage.
He gently stepped in, taking in his surroundings and I knew what he was thinking: So thisis how the Gryffindor common room looks like.
"Cosy, isn't it?" I asked, forgetting to put the edge into my voice as I had originally intended.
He seemed to remember I was there and turned around to face me. "Elle… I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since yesterday. It's just… it's been tearing at me ever since." He looked helpless, triggering my maternal instincts.
I softened. "Well… ditto."
He saw his chance and walked up to me, gently reaching out to touch my hair – which probably looked a mess, I hadn't even bothered to drag a brush though it today.
"I'm sorry I said those things to you," he continued. "It was not my business to trust Wood's ex. After all, youare mygirlfriend."
"Cedric, listen…" I began, guilt filling me. I couldn't take him standing there apologizing when he had actually hit a point. "About Wood…"
But he held up a hand to silence me. "No. You know what? Why is it my business if you hang around with Wood? You're on the same team. He's your captain. You have the same friends, even!" He eyes me softly, his grey eyes filled with that warm kindness I first fallen for. "It's none of my business."
Suddenly the tears were pressing against my eyes. "I'm sorry I gave you any impression that there was something going on between us."
He wrapped his strong arms around me and pulled me into a hug. "I'm sorry," he said, but the fact that he was apologizing kept tugging on my conscience.
Knowing full well that it was because I felt guilty I pulled away and stood on my toes to kiss him. It was just a light kiss, but then I pulled away. I smiled smugly, glad that the tension had fled the scene. "That's all you're getting," I said with my eyebrow raised, "from now on we are rivals."
"Oh, really?" he countered, but showing no signs of letting go of my waist. "There are still nine hours left," he murmured and met my lips again. I didn't exactly struggle. Instead I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
"Well, that gives us all the time in the world then…"
I pushed him forward, yet never ceased the intense kissing. Finally he hit the couch, but with a firm grip around me he tipped backwards, and we both fell down on the couch together…
A/N: I cannot even begin to apologize for the wait. As you probably figured out, it wasn't just that school was a pain in the --- but also I suffered from major writer's block. Hopefully I'm back on track! Also, this chapter was kind of hard to write, since nothing really happenedthat was important for the plot, but on the other hand it leads up to some major incidents. Stay tuned for the next chapter: Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff!
