Oh, we made quite a mess, babe.
It's probably better off this way.
And I confess, babe,
In my dreams you're touching my face
And asking me if I wanna try again with you.
And I almost do.
And I just wanna tell you
It takes everything in me not to call you.
And I wish I could run to you.
And I hope you know that every time I don't
I almost do,
I almost do.
-Taylor Swift
Sienna closed her eyes. "Okay," she finally heard herself say. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
Michael beamed. He kissed her forehead. "You'll do great, baby."
"Please join me in welcoming Sienna Ellis!" Eva announced from the stage.
Sienna gulped, leaving Michael behind, as she made her way up onto the stage. Not many people were there. Most of the school was on the Quidditch Pitch, attending the Ravenclaw-Slytherin match.
In the background, the music started. Sienna searched for her friends. Victoire and Skylar were sitting together, cheering loudly. Teddy was with Grace at the entrance, searching for seats. He shot Sienna a thumb's up. Sienna gave him a small smile. She figured Luke and Finn were probably at the game.
There's only a few people here. You can do this.
It's just the judges and a few students that came to support their friends.
Everybody's at the game. You can do this.
Sienna tried to encourage herself. She took a deep breath, glancing at Michael backstage. He gave her an encouraging nod, and Sienna relaxed. Her part in the song was about to begin and she opened her mouth to sing.
Finn groaned loudly, slamming his red and gold winter cap on the ground. "FUCK!" he shouted.
Luke grimaced as Slytherin sent another quaffle into the hoops.
The Gryffindors joined the Ravenclaws in their booing, while the Slytherins cheered loudly.
"SLYTHERIN IN THE LEAD WITH NINETY TO THIRTY!" Nick Jenkins, the game announcer, looked pained as he reported the score. "IT LOOKS LIKE THE RAVENCLAW SEEKER NEEDS TO FIND THAT SNITCH AND SOON!
Luke felt something in his pocket vibrate. He reached into it and pulled out his Witch Mirror. "It's Grace," he told nobody in particular as Finn was too busy cussing loudly. "Hey!" Luke said cheerfully as Grace's face popped up in the mirror.
"Teddy wants to know how the game's going," she reported, rolling her eyes.
Luke assumed that Teddy snatched the mirror away from his girlfriend, because her face blurred and a second later Teddy's face came into focus. "Please tell me Slytherin is losing."
Luke shook his head. "They're in the lead. Ninety to thirty."
"Bugger," Teddy said loudly.
Grace squeezed her head into sight. "You guys, this is rude! There's a show going on right now!"
"Sorry," Teddy said, returning the mirror to Grace.
Grace checked her watch. "We'll be there soon. Save us some seats."
Luke nodded. "Sure, baby."
Finn, who had bent down to pick up his hat, looked at Luke. "Who are you talking to?" he asked.
"Grace," Luke replied, shooting his girlfriend a smile.
"How's Sienna doing?" Finn asked, turning away from the game to face Luke.
Grace, having heard him ask, replied: "She's a finalist! The top two are performing again at the end and then they choose the winner." Victoire's muffled voice said something in the background. Grace nodded at her before turning back to Luke. "Anyway, I have to go. I'll see you in a bit!"
"Okay," Luke said. "I love you."
"Love you too," Grace replied, a small smile on her lips. Her face disappeared from the mirror a second later and Luke saw his own reflection. He put the mirror back in his pocket.
Finn shook his head. "If Slytherin wins by this match, then they'll take our spot in the lead."
Luke nodded. "I know. But we can take it back by winning when we play them."
"We better," Finn muttered.
Sienna stood on the stage, stunned. She was clutching her microphone, staring at Eva in disbelief. Eva just shrugged, giving her a small smile. Her friends were screaming, running onto the stage despite the judge's protests. Sienna felt Skylar's arms wrap around her first and soon everybody had piled on top of her. Amidst her friends' cheering, Sienna laid eyes on Michael. He was watching her, a small laugh escaping him. Their eyes met for a moment and Sienna grinned at him.
"S, you won!" Teddy shouted, spinning her around.
Sienna laughed. "I know. I was there."
"You're going to perform with the Weird Sisters," Victoire said enviously.
Grace checked her watch. "Come on! We can still catch the end of the game if we hurry! Finn and Luke will be so excited for you!"
Teddy nodded vigorously. "Yeah, good idea, Gracie. Let's go to the game."
"I'll catch up with you guys in a second," Sienna said, motioning toward Michael, who was waiting for her.
Skylar nodded. "We'll be at the game," she promised.
"And we'll probably be going to Hagrid's after," Victoire added.
"Brilliant," Sienna said quickly before running toward Michael. Her friends smiled before shuffling away, talking animately about Sienna's performance and hopefully Slytherin's crushing defeat.
Michael held his arms out for Sienna, wrapping her into a tight embrace once she finally reached him. "Thank you!" she said breathlessly before giving him a long kiss.
"For what?" he said once she pulled away. "That performance was all you."
Sienna shook her head. "But I would've never done it without you." She pushed him further back, behind another set of curtains into a small, dark corner. "And I'm going to show you just how much I appreciate it," she said quietly, pushing him against the wall.
"Sienna, there's people out there!" Michael gasped. She ignored him, leaning in to give him a long and intense kiss. Slowly, she began to undo his zipper. Michael stopped, grabbing her arm.
"S, are you sure?" he asked, frowning. He'd promised her they wouldn't have to do anything until she was ready.
"I'm ready," she assured him, slipping off the dark shirt she had on to reveal a lacy pink bra.
Michael suddenly forgot all about the people shuffling out in front of the stage. He forgot that anybody could walk in, that the only thing concealing them was a red curtain. Suddenly, the only thing that mattered was Sienna and the way her lips felt against his.
"Where's Sienna?" Finn asked once all his friends appeared.
"She's with Michael," Victoire told him.
"Oh."
Teddy grinned. "She won, though," he said, a hint of pride in his voice. "Sienna won!"
Luke grinned. "That's great!"
"She won?" Finn said, his eyes widening. "Wow."
"I always knew she had a decent voice, but I'd never heard her sing like that." Skylar shook her head in disbelief. "She has a real gift."
Finn didn't say anything. He'd always been aware of Sienna's talents. Her voice had mesmerized him since they were eleven years old. "Yeah," he finally said quietly. He smiled slightly, glad that maybe now she would be aware of how special she was.
"One hundred thirty points?" Victoire shrieked, suddenly noticing the score.
Finn grimaced. "Yep."
"Looks like Slytherin's going to win, then?" Skylar asked glumly.
"That Ravenclaw seeker better find the snitch," Teddy muttered.
Victoire nodded in agreement, before remembering that she wasn't talking to Teddy.
Finn rolled his eyes. "You two are being so stupid. You'll have to talk to each other eventually if you plan on going to the Ball together!"
"Umm...I never wanted to go to the Ball with him."
Teddy snorted. "Yeah, it wasn't our idea. Besides, I talk to Vic. She's the one that doesn't talk to me. Very mature, by the way," he added to Victoire.
"Oh, that's rich, coming from an irresponsible, arrogant pile of bat droppings like you!" Victoire snapped, forgetting all about the silent treatment she had been giving Teddy for the past week.
"Ah, she speaks!" Teddy said.
Victoire gave him the finger. "Why do you have to be so annoying?"
"It's the only way to get you to talk to me."
"So, you're solution to get me to forgive you is to make me even angrier with you?"
"I never said my tactic was good."
"You're an idiot."
"Ah, but you're still speaking to me."
Victoire huffed, turning back to face the game.
"True love," Finn said, placing his hand over his heart. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
Skylar's smile waned for a second. "I don't even know why you two are even fighting anymore," she said.
"Because I'm an arrogant pile of bat droppings, remember?" Teddy said.
"COLTON HAS SEEN THE SNITCH!" Nick Jenkins shouted ecstatically.
Everybody froze for a moment before turning to watch the Ravenclaw seeker dive down after a tiny golden ball, his hands outstretched, his tongue sticking out slightly in concentration.
"HE"S GOT IT! DAVID COLTON HAS GOT THE SNITCH! RAVENCLAW WINS!"
There was a sudden thunderous amount of cheering and screaming coming from the Ravenclaws. The Hufflpuffs and Gryffindors joined them, applauding loudly to the tiny seeker, holding up the golden ball for the stadium to see.
"Hagrid's?" Finn said a moment later, his voice hoarse from shouting.
"Let's go!" Grace exclaimed, taking Luke's hand.
They all pushed their way through the stands, stopping occasionally to share their happiness at Ravenclaw's victory with some friends. As they left the stadium, Finn spotted Eva. She was decked out in all blue and silver, hugging several of her friends eagerly.
"Yeah, Eva was dying to get to the game during the competition," Teddy explained, noticing Finn watching Eva.
"I didn't know she was into Quidditch," he said, looking away from her.
"Me neither. But it's her house so..." Teddy shrugged and the two of them followed their friends down to Hagrid's hut. Victoire and Skylar were busy gushing over Sienna's performance. Grace and Luke were holding hands as Luke filled her in about the first part of the game that she had missed. Finn felt a sudden wave of inexplicable sadness as he watched his friends. He missed Sienna standing beside him. She probably would have been cussing out the Slytherins with him and Teddy.
For some strange and random reason, though, Finn suddenly missed Chris as well. He wasn't sure what made him think of Chris just then. Maybe the fact that everything was changing, that some of his friends were leaving or growing apart or growing closer...but it was all just different. It was all different without Chris.
"You okay, mate?" Teddy asked.
Finn forced a smile. "Brilliant!"
After they left Hagrid's, the group made their way back to the castle. In the Great Hall, Eva and Danielle were cleaning up the remains of the stage.
"You know," Finn said, "S never showed up to the game or to Hagrid's."
Teddy dumped Hagrid's cookies in the nearest trash bin. "She must have gone to celebrate with Michael. You know, her winning the competition and then Ravenclaw's win."
"Right."
"Dani!" Victoire called, ushering the girl with light brown hair over. "Did you hear? S won the competition!"
Danielle slowly made her way toward them. "I heard! I wish I had been there!"
Eva glanced at them, giving them a small smile before returning to her work.
"Where've you guys been?" Danielle asked.
"Hagrid's," Skylar replied.
Luke checked his watch. "Grace, we have to go."
Grace nodded, turning to the group. "Luke and I have plans. We'll see you guys tomorrow! Bye, Dani!"
Danielle waved as Grace and Luke climbed the Grand Staircase hand-in-hand. "I like them together," she said after a moment.
Victoire nodded. "Me too. Hey, I made those banners you asked me to. I left them in Slughorn's room, though. I can take you there now to go and get them."
"Oh good! We need to hang those up!" She checked her watch before turning to Eva. "Eva, do you mind finishing up on your own? I'm going to go with Vic to Slughorn's to hang up the flyers!"
Eva nodded. "It's fine! We're almost finished anyway."
"I'll go with you two," Skylar said. "I've got nothing better to do."
"That's the attitude," Danielle said, rolling her eyes. The three girls scurried away.
Teddy and Finn exchanged looks. "And then there were two," Finn muttered.
"Three, actually," Sienna said, appearing beside them.
"Hey, where've you been?" Teddy asked.
Sienna bit back a smile. "Michael. We've been...celebrating...Anyway, how was Hagrid?"
"He was all emotional. Norbert is a great grandmother." Finn shook his head, bemused with Hagrid's affection for dangerous and terrifying creatures.
Teddy snorted. "Norbertta, you should say."
"Thirty minutes until curfew, everybody." The Headmaster's voice rang through the school, warning everybody of the time.
"We should probably start heading up," Sienna muttered.
"Finn!" A group of girls were passing through the Great Hall, presumably on their way back to their House. A short girl with red hair was standing ahead of all the other girls, looking at Finn.
"Who's that?" Sienna frowned.
"Lisa," Teddy murmured as Finn went forward and hugged the girl.
"And Lisa is..."
"Finn's date to the Ball."
Sienna turned away from Teddy and looked at Finn. He and Lisa were talking, easy smiles on their faces. Behind them, Sienna noticed, Eva was sweeping. She stopped for a moment, turning to watch Finn and Lisa talk. She blinked before returning to her work. Sienna glanced back at Teddy. "Does he like her?"
"Lisa? Not really." Teddy shrugged. "I reckon he's just giving it a shot with her. They still have to go the Ball, after all."
Sienna motioned to the stairs. "You want to head up?"
Teddy shook his head. "You go ahead. I'm gonna offer Eva some help. She's cleaning it all up by herself."
Sienna nodded. She gave Teddy a quick hug before heading up to the common room. A few moments later, Finn offered to walk Lisa to her dormitory. Teddy stayed behind to help Eva, who was struggling to tear down the banners.
"Need any help?" Teddy tapped the small girl on the shoulder.
Eva looked around the messy Great Hall. "Yes," she said reluctantly. "Thank you."
"No problem," Teddy said, taking out his wand. "I say we use magic to speed this process up."
"But we're not allowed! Filch would have an aneurism."
Teddy laughed. "And that would be a bad thing?"
Eva giggled. "Fine. But only because I'm exhausted."
Once Sienna arrived in the common room, she found the Gryffindors were throwing a little party. Soft music was playing as several people mingled around the room. A few were gathered around two fourth years playing a competitive game of exploding snap. There was light laughter and an easy ambience, not the usual rages Finn liked to throw. It was a nice change, Sienna thought.
"What's the occasion?" she asked a girl standing by a table of food.
The girl shrugged. "Slytherin's defeat? The fact that it's a Saturday night? Who knows, really?"
"Good enough for me," Sienna mumbled, turning to grab a plate. She skimmed the table, spotting several of her favorite tarts and cakes. She hardly even noticed Finn make his way toward her.
"Hey," he said, startling her.
Sienna jumped. "I thought you were with that Lisa girl."
He shrugged. "I just walked her to her dormitory. Listen, I wanted to congratulate you on winning. Its about time you showed off that voice of yours."
"Thanks." She smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. There was an awkward beat. "How was the game?" she asked, attempting to make conversation.
Finn shrugged. "Not bad. I heard you were great, though. I wish I had seen you."
She laughed. "Really? That's sweet."
"Finn, come over here!"
Finn turned, nodding to a group of blokes in the corner, who were all roaring with laughter and chattering easily. He motioned toward them. "I gotta go. See you later."
Sienna nodded, watching him walk away with a sad smile on her lips. Not so long ago, she and Finn had been friends. There were no awkward pauses or lulls in the conversation. She missed that. She missed him.