Chapter 55

For Long Haul Competition

WC: 1,323

IMPORTANT NOTE: So, I received a guest review from "shameonyou" within 24 hours of my last post saying, to paraphrase, that they knew where I lived and that they could poison my food. Also that if I didn't release who the baby daddy was within 5 hours, I would take a fun little trip through the Greek mythological Underworld the hard way.

Well. It's been over five hours, shameonyou. First of all, that's rude. Second of all, hello, there's a thing called plot. Just because you want spoilers doesn't mean everyone else wants spoilers. And thirdly, dude, that was chapter 28 you reviewed on, and there are 54 chapters. How could you have known that I hadn't already released the dad. (Which I haven't, but still). And fourthly... it's fanfiction... You want to poison me over fanfiction. Just think about that for a second, and if you still think it's a good idea, go check yourself into a mental institution.

So if anyone out there wants to criticize my story, go ahead. Tell me how to make it better and I will definitely take your criticism seriously and improve where I can. But threatening my life? Come on. I'm not even getting paid to write this shit.

Now, let's be happier and move onto the more fun reviews!

Owls

Willowspring: Poor Lily? Poor all of them! But don't worry, they can't fight for long! Things will get better. :*

FuckInTheCloset: Why, thank you very much! I'm really impressed you marathoned 54 chapters of my writing; I don't think I've even done that. Hopefully there aren't a lot of kids in your neighborhood to hear that f word. Also, I hope there weren't too many dishes to wash, because honestly, my job has made me appreciate the f word so much. :)

QueenOfAwesome: Glad to see you've caught up! And I know, but I hope you get where Lily's coming from. It's difficult to know exactly what to do if you're watching a friend make a mistake. And, even though hopefully you get why Lena's sticking with this situation, it's not a walk in the park for any of them. But you guys will see what happens :) And any tangent involving Jena adorableness is totally worth it.

THANKS TO ALL THE NICE PEOPLE WHO REVIEWED!


"Alright everyone, it's our last game of the season. For some of us, it's the last game of Quidditch we'll play at Hogwarts. So let's make it worth something. Let's go kick some Ravenclaw butt and keep that cup in Professor Thomas' office!" James said as the Gryffindor Quidditch Team gathered for their morning's pep talk. They were all dressed and ready to go, half of them looking ready to barf and the other half looking sad that it was their last game. His female chasers were glaring at each other, Caleb stuck in between.

"Go line up guys. Ashington, can you help me with this glove?" he asked as his team filed out. She moved to his side wordlessly, holding out her hand for the glove.

"Ok, spill. What happened between you and Lils?"

Lena raised an eyebrow. "Nothing. Nothing whatsoever."

"You were both aiming to kill when you were passing Quaffles during practice yesterday. I was hoping it was some little thing that would blow over in the nerves for the game, but you're both still out to get each other. So, what happened?"

"Are you worried it's going to affect my playing? Because it won't."

James cupped her face and raised her chin to meet her eyes. "I'm not just worried about your playing. You guys are best friends. I'm worried about you."

Lena sighed. "Lily's pissed because I haven't agreed to quit training yet."

"She said something to you? Dammit, I told her not to!" He cursed, shaking his head. At Lena's surprised look, he continued. "She found the note you left me yesterday morning. Then she got pissed at me because I refused to intervene, so she said she was going to help you even if you didn't think you needed help."

Lena looked down. "She's never going to accept that this is a part of me, is she? James, I've been training with them for six months! And I've learned so much, and it explains so much about me. It fills in this giant hole in me that I didn't realize affected me so much until it was filled. I'll always love you and your family for taking me in, but... they're my blood family. They can tell me things about me that no one else can. I can't lose that again."

James rested his forehead against his. "I understand that," he whispered. "It's why I've never stopped you. But I'm so scared that one day you're going to go into that forest and never come out again, and I'll have lost you for good. Just don't be naive with them, okay? Don't take everything they say at face value. Think it over first."

Lena nodded, then kissed him gently. "For now, let's play a good game of Quidditch, okay? We'll win you that cup one last time."


"And the Gryffindor team flies into the skies! Boot! Walters! Weasley! Potter! Thomas! Ashington! ANNNND Potter!" The Announcer, Kardin MacMillan, shouted out the team names as they flew into the skies, taking a lap around the pitch before landing in the center, where Professor Bell-Wood waited with the Quidditch balls. The roar of the crowd was deafening as he called out the names of the Ravenclaw team.

"Patil! Carter! Baxter! Weasley! Potter! Malfoy! ANNNND Collins!" The Ravenclaw Quidditch Team burst into the air, circled, and then they landed before the Gryffindors. Lena looked across at the team, all of whom seemed to be analyzing their every move. This was going to be an interesting finals match.

"And now, in the final match of the year, we have the most intense lineup yet. We have brother against brother, cousin against cousin, and nearly half of these players are related to each other. Who will win in this year's family feud? Let's find out!"

She rolled her eyes at the pompous tone of the Macmillan kid, and Albus smirked at her, causing her to both tense and relax at the same time. No matter what happened in this match, nothing would change. They would still have her back.

"Alright everyone, give me a good, clean match. Captains, shake hands," the professor said, and James and Isobel Collins shook hands firmly. Then the players shot into the sky, the Snitch was released, and the Quaffle thrown into the sky.

Lena shot after it, punting it to Caleb Thomas and racing down the field, Lily paralleling her on the left side of the field. It was an easy feint tactic, and all they had to do was be ready for whatever Caleb decided to throw.

But Caleb was hesitating, looking between both determined girls fearfully as he came to the realization that his choice would only add fuel to their fire. He feinted towards Lily, and then threw it in himself.

"TEN POINTS TO GRYFFINDOR! Thomas uses a little twist on a common feint tactic and takes the harder, center shot! Lucky for him, he made it! And now Rose Weasley's in possession, and the Ravenclaw Chasers are flying seamlessly down the field as one unit!"

The game continued hard, fast and rough. The Gryffindor girls only passed to each other when Caleb was otherwise occupied, and they kept him racing up and down the field to be in every position possible. When one girl made a shot, the other was soon to take one as well, and their feuding drove the energy up one notch at a time.

"And it looks like there's some conflict between the Gryffindor Chasers, they just can't seem to work together today! Ravenclaw is using that to their advantage, but the sheer defiance of these girls is proving too much!" MacMillan was yelling when James called for a break.

"Potter, Ashington!" He yelled as soon as they touched the ground. "Get your shit together and stop making Thomas do all the work. I don't care if you hate each other for all eternity after this, but please just cooperate for this one last game. For me."

Lena looked ashamed, and she and Lily glanced at each other uncomfortably. Finally, Lena stuck out a hand. "If we win, I promise I'll think about it. Honestly and truly. I'll think about it all and I'll sit down and explain my entire decision to you."

Lily nodded slowly. "Well, if we win... I'll support your decision even if I don't like it." She shook her friend's hand, and James breathed a sigh of relief.

"Okay, then, team. Let's get back in the air."


"GRYFFINDOR! GRYFFINDOR! GRYFFINDOR!" Everyone was cheering as the Quidditch cup was hoisted into the air by James Potter, and the Gryffindor team was cheering. The match had ended with a neck and neck race between the two Seekers, who were also the two Captains, but James had leaned slightly farther on his broom and spiraled with it into the air, raising it in triumph as they all cheered.

Now everyone was heading up to Gryffindor Tower, even the defeated Ravenclaw team, who, despite having lost the match, were still happy to party. Everyone had found it a good, hard match, and entertaining to watch to boot, and everyone important was happy with it. The remaining Marauders 2.0 had of course snuck in lots of food and drink from both the kitchens and from the Three Broomsticks, and everything was set up and ready for the fun.

Lily grabbed two butter beers, handing one to her friend and smiling. "Cheers to us, yeah? We'll talk tomorrow, but for today - cheers to us."

"I'll drink to that," Lena smiled, and tipped her bottle back to catch every last drop.