Disclaimer: I own nothing except my characters.
21: That Game Called Quidditch
I zoomed up, making a B-line for the ball as it came down. I caught it just before a Ravenclaw boy did. I could hear buzzing, Lee's voice, the crowd. I didn't care, I had my ball. I quickly moved toward the goal post. I ducked as another Ravenclaw Chaser made her way toward me, just missing me. I heard a spinning sound and had barely moved when a Bludger flew pass my face, missing me by a couple of inches. I heard another voice, I knew that voice, I threw the ball and Alicia caught it. I made my way toward Katie, the idea being that Alicia would score first; being first Chaser and me second.
I took the seconds to look around, Oliver was in front of the middle goal post, I didn't see the twins, but I knew they were probably guarding Alicia. I looked around at the other team. Two of the chasers were on Alicia's tail, but one went down after his broom got slammed by a Bludger. I looked up, the girl, who tried to get the Quaffle from me was hovering above me, I didn't know how I missed her. Clearly she thought Alicia would pass the ball off that would be her moment to strike. I knew we were supposed to stay close, but I knew I'd never be able to catch up with this Chaser if she caught the ball. I move to the left, she moved too. I grumble to myself, she picked me to shadow; if I hadn't been so determined to get the ball I wouldn't be a target. I thought to myself, silently cursing Oliver. I sped up, now zooming around in wide circles as I waited to hear Lee say Alicia scored. Suddenly I spotted Melinda sitting alone, off to the corner, out of the sight. No one would recognize her over there. She seemed to be focusing on something in the opposite direction, but her head quickly went back to the commotion of the rest of the game. Had she spotted the snitch? I asked, but then noticed Harry several feet away glancing at Melinda suspiciously. Of course she spotted the snitch. I told myself feeling myself smile. She was trying to be inconspicuous about it.
I started to move toward her when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. I snapped my head in the direction, Fred had his club raised a Bludger heading straight toward him. He moved, only slightly, if he hit the Bludger it would be heading toward…I looked back at Melinda. It was just a game, it didn't matter if she got hit, what's one hit, she'll understand. She was a Seeker, I had no business worrying about her, I didn't even have to think about it. I looked up, the Chaser from Ravenclaw was still hovering, she gave me a satisfied smile. Now she was someone I had to worry about. I smiled back, then looked at the Bludger, Fred had only just hit it, it was zooming toward Melinda. She knew it was coming, but I knew at the speed it was going she wouldn't get out the way fast enough to not get any damage. Heart racing, muscles tensed I raised up, now level with the Ravenclaw Chaser; she looked a bit confused but I didn't give her time to move up because I speed forward, I figured I had maybe a four second window of opportunity. Which mean she had five. I zoomed pass Melinda and then I heard something smash and a small scream. I had only turned around to see the Chaser falling to the ground. I laughed, surprised my idea worked. I looked at Melinda, but I couldn't make out her expression, I knew she was trying to remain Ravenclaw loyal but it wouldn't kill her to show a sign of appreciation. Especially since I was going to be murdered by Oliver after the game.
I looked at the score board, looked like Alicia had managed to score, and now her and Katie were attempting to get back the Quaffle from a blonde Chaser headed toward Oliver. Both Fred and George were following the one Beater. I looked again, one beater? I furrowed my eyebrows but then about a second later I heard Melinda's voice.
"Does she look like she has the Quaffle? Go get the girl who has the Quaffle!" she hissed to someone behind me. I watched a sandy haired boy stare at me, his club perfectly aimed at my head. "Now!" Melinda shouted. The boy mumbled before reluctantly zooming off. "There, we're even. Now go play, I got this." Melinda whispered before setting off toward the opposite end of most the players. I didn't look after her; I knew that would be too suspicious. I made my way toward the blonde who had the Quaffle, anger rising as I had already proclaimed the Quaffle my possession. I dodged Katie and zoomed around Fred, almost knocking into the girl as I pulled the Quaffle away from her. I gave her a smug smile as I turned around and zoomed toward the Ravenclaw post. My ball. My turn. I moved faster and faster, the air no longer bothering me. I raised the Quaffle toward the middle post as I moved closer, the Keeper, a boy with short hair that looked black moved into position. I pretended to throw but then hugged the ball to my chest as the Ravenclaw Chaser tried to take it. My Quaffle bitch. I heard myself think as I shot her a dirty look, how did she think I missed her?
No sooner had she started to make a move did a Bludger swish her pass her. It must have caught the tail of her broom because she went spinning away from me. I couldn't help but laugh as I watched her spin. "And it seems Allen has gone into some sort of hysteria." I heard Lee say. I closed my mouth, focused on the Keeper and goals, half of my thoughts still on the image of the girl spinning. I moved closer, this time aiming at the left goal, which the boy moved to. As soon as I figured he'd be too slow to move I threw the Quaffle into the right goal, scoring a point for Gryffindor. I gave Katie and Alicia high fives as the remaining Ravenclaw Chasers covered the Quaffle. It was now Katie's turn to score. I stayed close behind.
It took a bit longer than I expected for Katie to wrestle away the Quaffle from the spinning girl. I wanted to help, but I had to remain loyal to the rest of Oliver's plan. Finally, Katie got the Quaffle and made an easy score for the team, we were now up to thirty. Although we were all happy I couldn't help but notice how the Ravenclaws didn't seem to be making much of an effort to score and how they quickly let their Chasers fall. I scanned the sky for Melinda but I couldn't find her as easily as before. Next I looked for Harry, but Katie had just shouted my name, the Quaffle leaving her hands and coming toward me. As I grabbed it I started to wonder why she was passing it off to me, but then I saw it. Both Beaters had been on her tail and one of the two remaining Chasers. I didn't have time to shot Katie the angry glare I wanted to; instead I zoomed off, trying to find Alicia. Then, it made sense, there was no Alicia anymore. They knocked her off, our second, which meant we were moving into Plan B, passing, and speeding. The point was to keep the Quaffle away from the other team's Chasers while giving Harry time to search for the snitch. We wouldn't score unless our lives depended on it. I half wondered if Oliver only meant figuratively.
Not caring I turned back toward the Ravenclaw goal post. Katie was too far for me to pass; I turned again, the sandy haired Beater was smiling at me. Shit. I thought to myself turning once more, this time the dark haired Chaser facing me. Where the hell were the twins? I asked myself, feeling panicked. I knew they were trying to keep the Bludger to themselves, if either of these Beaters got it both Katie and I would be out. The Ravenclaws had some hard hitting Beaters. Even though I knew better, I turned back toward the goal post and zoomed toward it; Katie becoming closer and closer. "Tammie!" I heard Fred's voice shout.
It was too late; I saw the other Beater, another blonde, hit the Bludger in my direction before I felt the pain. Thankfully it was left hand; the Quaffle was in my right. I had only just threw the ball when I felt a burning sensation that made my eyes water. My only thought was staying on my broom, even though I seemed to just suddenly become aware of my fear of heights. I looked down, my voice escaping me as I began making weird breathing sounds. Somebody catch the snitch already. I heard myself say as I used my right hand to grip the broom, now feeling dizzy and sweaty, my breathing even more elaborate. No sooner had I thought it that I heard Lee Jordan shout something. I couldn't make out what he said; I couldn't hear the cheering over my own gasps as I looked down again.
Fred was by my side as soon as Madame Hooch blew her whistle. "I—wanna—get—down" I told him in panicked voice.
"I know, just wait a second," he said rubbing back. I heard my hand pulsating, the pain still felt foreign. Madame Hooch called game over and we were allowed on the ground. As soon as my feet touched the ground I began shaking. Fred was lowering me to ground just as I heard Melinda's voice.
"Is she okay?" she asked, her voice full of concern. "Was I too late? I didn't have perfect view so it took a bit longer…" She said as she moved closer.
"You could've been sooner but it at least it's just her hand." Fred said as he lifted me up. "You coming?" he asked her. I couldn't help but wonder what on earth the two were talking about and why it sounded like code.
"Oh dear, another one. Quidditch is just an awful game; I don't know why they don't take more care. After all you lot are just kids!" I heard Madame Pomfrey say as Fred laid me in a bed. "What happened?" she asked.
"She had a bit of a panic attack, she's afraid of heights" Melinda's voice said. There was a pause; if I wasn't so consumed with panic and pain I would've guessed what Madame Pomfrey was thinking.
"Well, she was afraid of heights, but she got over it, until she got her hand smashed by a Bludger" Fred picked up. I could feel the panic rising again as I thought of the field, how high up I was, how far of a fall it would've been. How I only had one hand to balance myself. I let out a laugh before I could stop myself, the image of the blonde girl spinning popped into my mind. I felt tears rolling down my cheeks as the pain from my hand started throbbing again. I was taking sharp deep breathes, then choked a bit as I felt something being poured into my mouth. I started laughing again; I figured Madame Pomfrey was going to sedate me. And I was right, my laughter quieted, my breathing steadied and my focus went from half there to completely blank.