21 – Interference

It was a sunny day out as I was heading towards Herbology and I enjoyed the feeling of this fall's last sunrays settling on my face. I had just finished my sandwich that Hobblestone had sneaked into my backpack sometime this morning and was about to enter the greenhouse when a distressed shout made me turn around back to the direction I had come from.

A third year came to a halt before me, clutching his knees and panting from his sprint. "You're Katrina Rigby, right?" The boy I recognized as Dean Thomas asked.

I nodded and worriedly looked him up and down. "Yes, I am. Are you alright?"

He just shook his head. "I'll be fine. Draco Malfoy was attacked by a Hippogriff and they're taking him to the hospital wing right now. Harry thought you ought to know."

My eyes narrowed at this piece of news. Why would a student be attacked by a Hippogriff at Hogwarts? I hoped Hagrid wouldn't be in too much trouble. I thanked the boy charming up some water for him and rushed up to the castle.

Madame Pomfrey was already bustling around the infirmary hectically and her features visibly relaxed when she saw me. "Ah, dear, I'm happy they called you. Would you take care of the other students while I treat Mister Malfoy?" I just nodded and headed towards the next bed but not without casting a glance towards the alleged victim. The wound was hardly worth the stress and I shook my head at the young boy's whining.

I helped out Madame Pomfrey without complaining and she let me go at lunchtime when all the first years had been treated. Their first flying lessons hadn't gone quite as well and Seamus came in with burns again. Some things never changed. Madame Pomfrey let me go during lunch, telling me that I needn't have to come in again today.

I was glad for the additional time off but paused outside of the hospital wing to talk to the person waiting for me there.

"Oliver." I greeted him.

He simply nodded, his expression tortured. "Please tell me it's not the way I think it is." He pleaded.

I knit my eyebrows together and frowned at the new turn of events. I wasn't one to judge someone easily but that Malfoy boy was a snotty brat. "Madame Hooch was already been informed and has decided to postpone the match against Slytherin. You'll be facing Hufflepuff instead. I'm sorry." I told him, apologetically.

He took a quick look at my face and simply shook his head, glaring at the wall. "It's not your fault. Slytherin's unfair methods are driving me crazy. How am I suppose to change the strategy to fit Hufflepuff's play with only a week of practice left?" He muttered darkly to himself.

"I'm sure that you can do it." I offered softly, giving his arm a short, hopefully reassuring squeeze with my hand, but he shook my hand off and turned away with slumped shoulders. I watched him walk away, hurt by his sudden departure.

"Oi, Kitty!" I turned in surprise from where I stood frozen to the familiar voice of Lynn who was skippin down the hall towards me. "I was hoping to find you here. Heard of Malfoy's oh-so severe accident, what an idiot." I smiled at her clever assessment of the situation. Malfoy's wound really wasn't as brutal as he made it sound. I was astounded that the news seemed to have spread quite fast.

"I wouldn't say he's an idiot, but it is exceptionally unjust behavior." I chided her language softly. "Why are you abducting my broom?" I realized with a start. How had that girl gotten into our dormitory? I guess she was a Ravenclaw for a very good reason.

"Well, since you've worked your shift today already I assumed that you would be able to make it to practice today. I'm just making sure you'll be there." She said speeding off with a cheeky grin. I shook my head with a soft laugh as I headed towards my next class. Had I been that bold when I was her age? Probably.

I was still astounded about Lynn's sassy behavior as I headed down to the pitch. She was already waiting for me with our two brooms in her hands and a quaffle at her feet, ready to take off any minute. I gratefully took my broom from her when she offered it to me and I stroked its wooden handle tenderly.

"Oh, my love, you are safe in my arms again. Did that evil gremlin hurt you?" I murmured theatrically to my Nimbus 2000.

Lynn sighed happily and giggled. "I'm an annoying, meddling fairy at the most."

We both laughed at her prank and kicked off to practice passing the quaffle before the others came around. I was always impressed by the way she balanced her ambition to make the team and the fun she had playing the game. It was wonderful to watch her make immense progress, while still being able to laugh at the mistakes she made.

Practice went well and it was becoming clear who would be participating in our first official match. The greatest portion of the group would be content with the choices Alec would make because they were looking forward to cheering their teammates on. The peaceful atmosphere was overwhelmingly serene and I was awed by the group's dynamics and team spirit. Of course, we were harmonious in my time with the Gryffindor team as well but somehow it didn't seem as true as this feeling did. Jealousy was a factor in the official team occasionally when one chaser performed better than the other but in our group we were simply thrilled by our overall performance and had lots of fun along the way.

I still met up with Oliver occasionally although I didn't visit the team's practices anymore because I didn't want it to seem as though I was spying on their strategy and I didn't like the look George was giving me. I didn't understand what his problem was. I wasn't as open-minded as he was but that didn't mean that he had to give me a defiant stare every time I came around.

Oliver was staring a hole into the chart in front of him and I was watching him concerned about his state of mind as we sat in the common room late at night. He was fretting over quidditch plays while I studied ahead in my NEWT subjects. I usually didn't worry as much about him when we sat here late at night, but he was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice that I had abandoned my potions book and sat down beside him until I took hold of his hand. I guided his hand so that he set down the parchment in his hands onto the table and finally looked up at me, frowning at my hand. I crossed my legs on the couch and folded my hands in my lap while he pulled up one of his long legs and wrapped an arm around it to better face me.

A tired smirk pulled at his lips while he studied my face. "You look like you've just been told that someone stole your cat."

I blinked in surprise. "I look mad?"

He just shook his head. "No, it's more of a gloomy expression."

I pulled my eyebrows together and scowled at my hands. The guy before me was so frustrating at times or I was just frustrated with the fact that I couldn't deal with his obsession once in a while, although I accepted it. He tenderly lifted my chin with his finger and I glowered at him, making him pull back his hand swiftly.

"What's wrong?" He asked warily.

I thought about it for a moment. Groaning, I massaged my temples for a moment and said. "That's exactly what I would want to ask you but it seems like I'm not up to it."

He chuckled in amusement. "You're not up to asking me what's going on, why exactly?"

"I'm not sure. God, a sickle for your goddamn thoughts." I said with a sigh.

"Right now I'm thinking that you're afraid I'm overdoing things." He asked, watching my face intently.

I just nodded in surprise. "I'm sorry." I told him sheepishly. "I always tell you that I'm okay with quidditch being your top priority but it just worries me when you act like this." I explained, motioning to the parchment on the table.

He barked a short laugh and I stared at him aghast. "It's just hilarious that you're actually apologizing for worrying about me when it's me that's acting like a complete lunatic now and then." He said with a chuckle. A blush formed on my cheeks as he caressed my cheek with the side of his hand, telling me. "I'm flattered that you're worried for my safety, but I'll live."

I turned to stare at the fire when he dropped his hand with my back to him. I leaned against his shoulder and sighed. "I know that you'll survive but I would rather not have you hurt in the process."

I could feel him heave a heavy sigh through his shoulder. "Rin, you have to understand that this is my last shot at the cup. My last chance to fulfill my promise to Charlie. I know that you don't think that that's necessary." He added quickly when I was about to protest. "But it's important to me, personally."

I closed my eyes and yawned before murmuring. "I do understand. You're a great captain, Oliver. I don't see why you shouldn't win the cup to prove the point. You know that I'm not saying this to sweet-talk you, I'm telling you this because out of a fairly objective point of view I think that you deserve this." I stifled another yawn and before I mumbled incoherently. "I really hope you'll win next week."

I hadn't noticed how terribly worn-out I must have been because I fell asleep right there on Oliver's shoulder and only woke up when he gently nudged me to wake up. My head was now resting in his lap and he must have been working over my sleeping form for a while because it was even later than before I realized as I gazed at the last remaining embers of the fire.

I apologized to him several times but he just ushered me to my dormitory with a gentle smile and I gladly complied, telling him to go get some sleep as well, which he did do to my great relief.

Author's Note: I just wanted to thank everyone who has sticked around long enough to read this! Happy reading to you all.