An: Longer chapter than usual, hope you eenoy it I need to say thanks to Tangerinefields for an graphology idea, and for the last name of one the Hufflepuff chasers. As always, thankyou to all reviewers and favouriters and alerters. And for those who want to know here is the full breakdown of the two Quidditch teams (those with two names are people mentioned previously in the story:
Slytherin: Lucius Malfoy – Keeper, Antonin Dolohov and Bertrand Mulciber – beaters, Avery, Carrow, Titus Greengrass (captain) – chasers, Cyril Nott – seeker.
Hufflepuff: Bane (captain) – Keeper, Ruth Spencer and McEndry – Beater, Denham, Lees, Wilson – Chasers, Hannan - Seeker
Chapter Twenty-one – Beater After Truth
It was mid-May, and the weather was glorious. With the sun shining, Andromeda had had a smile on her face from the minute she'd woken up. Of course, this had nothing to do with the weather, but for the simple fact that she would get to spend a large part of the day with Ted. It was her birthday too, but having reached seventeen last year, her eighteenth seemed rather insignificant.
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"Happy birthday." Holly smiled at Andromeda from across the table. "I hope you like your present. Titus wanted to buy you socks."
"I did not!" he protested. "Dromeda taught me that years ago. Never buy a girl socks. Not even your sister."
Andromeda laughed, as Titus proffered a gift. Wrapped in a piece of silk and tied with a dark green ribbon, it looked beautiful. She unwrapped it to discover a small jewellery box. On opening it, she smiled. "They're lovely. Thank you." They were silver earrings in the shape of snakes.
"We thought it was appropriate," Holly explained. "What with the Quidditch match today."
Andromeda nodded. "They're beautiful, thank you."
"Right, I've got to go down to the pitch." Titus nodded at Malfoy. "Don't be late."
As the Quidditch captain stood up, his girlfriend did as well. "I'll walk with you." She turned back to Andromeda, "Should I save you a space?"
Andromeda shook her head. "No. I'll come down in a bit, don't worry."
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"Good luck." Over at the Hufflepuff table, Ted ruffled Ruth's hair. "You'll be amazing."
She shrugged. "I know," she replied, flashing him a grin. "But if Slytherin are as well, then we're screwed."
"We should have put something in their drinks," Tom said darkly, glaring at the Slytherin table where the blonde keeper laughed at something the youngest Black sister said.
"C'mon," Ted protested. "We'll win on pure talent."
Ruth smiled gratefully. "Thanks. But I expect to hear you guys," – here she pointed her fork at Ted, Tom and Anna – "cheering above everyone else."
"I know Anna's got a big mouth, but she's not that loud," Tom joked, receiving a punch for his trouble. As the conversation moved on, Ted eyed the Slytherin table with unease. He hadn't told the others he wouldn't be at the match, because he couldn't think of a believable lie. He hoped Ruth wouldn't be too disappointed when she realised he wasn't there.
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When the Great Hall was empty and the stalls of the Quidditch stadium were full, there were only two people left in the main corridor; one brunette Slytherin and one blonde Hufflepuff. Andromeda giggled when he took her hand. "You're holding my hand in front of the Great Hall. It's very odd."
"Well, I was going to kiss you, but if hand holding's strange…" he teased, smiling at her.
After she'd planted a kiss on his lips, she shrugged, a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes. "I can deal with a little weirdness."
A roar from the stadium, followed by the commentator gleefully shouting, "Malfoy, Dolohov, Mulciber, Avery, Carrow, Greegrass aaaaaaaaand Nott. The Slytherin team, ladies and gentlemen. Every single one of them, with perfect hair."
Ted grinned at Andromeda. "I think were safe to go."
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The excitement in the air was palatable; every time a round of Slith-er-IN broke out, a cry of Huff-EL-puff beat it back. Gryffindor, of course, were supporting Hufflepuff; their animosity with Slytherin too much to overcome. Ravenclaw were split down the middle, trying to be tactical. Slytherin had won several times over the last few years, but Hufflepuff were having the best season in decades. Some of those who had been following scoring averages and flying speeds and broom types, and were sure of their allegiance being the right (in this case, the winning) one, were placing bets with an enterprising Gryffindor.
The hum of excitement grew as the Slytherin team did their initial lap, and then as Gideon Prewett began to shout, "Bane, Spencer, McEndry, Denham, Lees, Wilson aaaaaaaaand Hannan. The Hufflepuff team, currently proving that Hufflepuff are good at something," the crowd went wild.
Flying out onto the pitch, Ruth was grinning. It was only when she landed, waiting for the balls to be released that her euphoria disappeared. In their initial lap, she'd seen Tom and Anna, but Ted was conspicuous in his absence. Furthermore, Mulciber was mouthing insults at her, and it was all she could do not to go over and punch him till he bled.
"I want a clean game," the referee said, glaring at the two captains until they nodded. Bane and Greengrass awkwardly shook hands, each trying to crush the bones in the other's hand.
"On my whistle."
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Ted hadn't told her where they were going. She knew it had to be somewhere on the grounds, because there was no way that Ted would try and sneak off site. When he made her close her eyes, she smiled and did what he asked. Navigating only through Ted leading her, she giggled as she nearly fell over and he grabbed her. This was a date unlike any she'd ever experienced. With Lestrange it had been meetings in Hogsmeade and kissing behind trees, with Dolohov it had been holding hands in the corridor and polite distances, but with Ted… she hadn't realised it could be fun to hang out with a boyfriend.
"Ta-da." Ted let go of her hand, and with her eyes still closed she felt bereft. "You can open your eyes now."
Opening her eyes, she found herself by the lake in the glorious sunshine, with a picnic blanket on the ground. Ted smiled, handing her a bunch of tulips. "Anything Dolohov can do, I can do too. Except for play Quidditch. I have to say that he's got me beat on that score."
Andromeda beamed, and threw her arms around him. "Thankyou. They're beautiful. I love them."
Ted held her tightly. "I love being able to actually hug you outside of that stupid room."
Andromeda couldn't stop smiling; breathing in the familiar scent of him, rejoicing in the fact that she could actually be with him, outside of that stupid room.
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"Greengrass with the quaffle, narrowly missing a vicious bludger sent by McEndry. Denham's bearing down on him, Greengrass passes to Mulciber, who dodges round Lees. Mulciber's heading towards the goal. Can Bane block him? Oooh. Ten points to Slytherin! Score is seventy, eighty to Hufflepuff. In a clever move, Mulciber passed across to Greengrass who snuck it past Bane. Shame that last bludger missed Greengrass. Aimed by Spencer, only one of two girls on the Hufflepuff team. Tough, gutsy, still won't date me." There was a smattering of laughter from the crowd, and Ruth glared at Gideon, flying towards Hannan to hit a bludger away from him.
"Hannan, we could do with you catching the snitch," she yelled.
The boy looked panicky. He'd never played a full game before, except for at training, and though he was a fair seeker, it wasn't his preferred position. Helen Brooks, the injured seeker, was an excellent player, and Hufflepuff had banked on having her in the last, deciding game. To have to use their sub was a devastating blow, and the boy was feeling the full weight of the pressure.
"Ten points to Hufflepuff, a nice throw from Denham there," Gideon called, as the play continued. "Watch that bludger!"
McEndry walloped the bludger away from their chaser, but he sent it spiralling towards Hannan. Ruth dived to protect their seeker, and hit the speeding ball with all her strength.
"Oh, nasty," Gideon shouted. "Excellent hit by Spencer, straight into Nott. And Greengrass is calling for time out. It'll be interesting to see if the Slytherin seeker comes back on. They've no sub, but without a seeker only Hufflepuff can end the game."
"Nice Ruth!" Bane called, as the play was suspended. "Hope you broke his arm."
Ruth laughed, as McEndry stopped next to her and ruffled her hair. "Impressive Spencer," he grinned. "Go for the seeker. Always a solid tactic."
"And Nott's getting back on his broom!"
"What?" Ruth looked down at the ground far below her feet. It was true. One arm was wrapped in a sling, but Nott was on his broom.
"A brave move, but will it pay off?" Gideon wondered. "Nott's good, but I'm not convinced even he can fly a broom and catch a snitch with one hand."
Ruth cursed. She'd been hoping that she'd put Nott out of the game.
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"I have your present," Ted said with a smile, handing her a small, brightly wrapped box. She beamed at him, taking it and slowly taking the paper off. "You can tear it," he encouraged.
She laughed, as she removed the wrapping. "I never tear wrapping paper. Mother always hated the noise and she thought-" She stopped as she opened the box, and saw the bracelet he'd bought her. It was a charm bracelet, with four charms already on it. There was tiara, a snake, a badger and tiny castle. "Oh my go-"
"You like it?" he asked. He gently touched the castle. "Because we got together here." He touched the badger, then the snake. "Hufflepuff, and Slytherin of course." He moved on to the tiara. "And a tiara, because you're-"
"Such a princess," she murmured, echoing the note he'd written to her at Christmas. "Ted, it's beautiful. I love it." She paused, realising that the entire bracelet was silver. "How did you pay for it?"
"I robbed a bank," he teased. "No, I'm not poor, you know." He stopped, thinking for a moment. "Well, at least, my parents aren't poor. I mean, they're not in your parents' league, but they do send me money."
She kissed him, then hugged him. "It's amazing."
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"Lees passes to Wilson, who dodges an excellent bludger from Dolohov. Wilson scores! Ten points of Hufflepuff. Score a hundred and thirty, a hundred fifty to Hufflepuff. Both seekers are looking worried now. Well, Nott is looking worried and Hannan looks absolutely terrified."
Both teams were getting desperate. Neither seeker seemed to have caught any sight of the snitch, and the scores had been close for the entire game.
"Carrow with the quaffle now, passes to Avery, passes to Ca- no, intercepted by Wilson. She avoids Dolohov, passes to- wait. Nott's on the move. He's seen the snitch. Hannan's right behind him."
Ruth aimed a bludger at Nott, and prayed that Hannan would distinguish himself or at least duck in time.
"The seekers are neck and neck, closing in on the snitch. Carrow tries to score, but Bane catches it. Nott is reaching out, Hannan too. Oh, nice bludger from Spencer, knocking Nott out of the way, and yes! Hannan's done it! In his first game, Luke Hannan has-" The cheers from the crowd drowned out Gideon's voice. Ruth punched the air and joined in with the joyous chants.
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As the cheers filled the air, Ted looked at Andromeda sadly. "I guess our time's up."
Andromeda hugged him tightly. "It's been the best birthday ever."
Ted smiled, and gently stroked her hair. "It's been good. But I guess we're back to meeting in the room of requirement."
She took his hand and allowed him to lead her away from the place where she'd been happy. When they reached the crowds, they parted, mingling with their classmates.
As Andromeda caught up with Holly, the other girl turned to her. "I cannot believe we lost. Titus is going to be so angry."
"Maybe we should stay out of his way for now," Andromeda suggested. "And what was the score at the end?"
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The Hufflepuff common room had never seen such a party. With food and butterbeer stolen from the kitchens, everyone was celebrating, with Hannan in the centre of it all. He looked shellshocked, but every now and then he'd grin widely as if realising, that yes, he had won them the match.
"Did you see Nott after you hit him the second time?" Tom asked Ruth, a laugh forming on his lips. "It was beautiful. I think you broke his arm."
Ruth grinned, raising her bottle. "Here's to the stupidity of Slytherins. And to my amazing aim."
Ted laughed. "And your modesty."
"Did you not see the hit?" she asked, incredulously. "Twice. I managed to hit that boy's arm twice. Do you know how rare that is?"
"You hit his arm twice?" Ted asked, sounding impressed, then realised it was the wrong thing to say.
"Why don't you know that?" Ruth's voice dropped, and her smile started to fade. "Weren't you there?"
"Course I was," Ted blustered, but he was floundering, knowing that he was about to blow everything.
"Who nearly crashed into the teacher's stand?" Ruth asked, a frown rapidly appearing.
"Dolohov," Ted said calmly, but he winced as Ruth slammed her bottle down.
"Wrong," Ruth said angrily. "Wrong team, wrong position, wrong gender. Why weren't you there?"
"I was," Ted protested to his friends, finding even Tom was looking at him accusingly.
"I didn't see you," Tom said slowly.
"Where were you?" Ruth asked, her voice rising. "What was so important you couldn't be bothered to come and see your friend play in an important match? Everyone was there Ted. Everyone!"
"Ruth," he began, trying to placate her. He felt very vulnerable with her standing over him. There was a reason she was a beater. Those bludgers weren't light.
"No," she yelled. "You've been avoiding us for ages, and now you don't even turn up to my Quidditch match. Where were you?" The entire room had quietened and turned to watch as one of their beaters went into full meltdown mode.
"I was, I mean, I was…"
"You were fucking what?" Ruth shouted. She knew she'd been getting angry at Ted's avoidance of them, but she hadn't realised how much it had hurt her feelings until this one last transgression. And once she'd realised her feelings, she'd never been well known for keeping them in. "Dying? Studying? Raiding the Slytherin dorms? What?"
"I was with Dromeda." Even as he said it, he knew he shouldn't have, but he felt he needed to explain himself to her. But now he knew he should have lied.
"You mean Andromeda Black?" Tom asked incredulously. He'd imagined several reasons for his friend's all but disappearance, but he'd never considered the Slytherin girl.
"Yes," Ted said quietly. "We were… studying."
Ruth scoffed. "Yeah, I'm sure that's what you were doing." She shook her head "I can't believe you put her before us." She shrugged. "She's a bitch. She always has been, always will be."
"Ruth, she's not like that," Ted protested, as his friend turned away.
"Sure Ted," she said scathingly. "Because all the times she's hurt people and blackmailed people don't matter anymore." And then she walked away.