Author's note: Hello everyone! I hope you're all keeping well and safe. Apologies for the absence, it's easy to lose track of the days with work and the lead up to Christmas. So, due to the delay I'm going to be uploading the mext two chapters - I only own my OCs and plot. As always any constructive criticisms or reviews are most welcome - enjoy!
Chapter 7
The first thing Allegra became aware of was a low hum of voices. She tried to open her eyes, but that was a lot of effort, she decided to leave them closed.
'- should be expelled, absolutely disgusting..' that sounded like Phoebe.
'- I knew something like this would happen -' James?
'- they had it planned, that much was obvious -' a thick Mancunian accent that could only belong to Caradoc Dearborn.
Allegra opened her eyes slowly, her head was sore and her wrist was in excruciating pain.
'Allegra!' she was engulfed in a tight hug, her vision impaired by red hair. Lily let her go and Allegra noticed her tear-stained face.
'How are you feeling?' Phoebe sounded anxious.
'My wrist is killing me,' mumbled Allegra. She looked over to James and Dearborn, who were both very pale.
'What happened? Did we lose?'
James and Dearborn exchanged quick glances.
'Yes, but it wasn't your fault,' James rushed out.
'So I missed it?' Allegra asked quietly.
'Quinn don't you dare blame yourself! They had the whole thing planned,' growled Dearborn.
Just then, vice captain Goshawk walked into the hospital wing towards her bed.
'Oh good you're awake!' he sounded relieved, 'they're not going to overturn the result. Tiberius has even been trying for a rematch. Not happening.'
'What?!' James and Dearborn exclaimed angrily.
'Yep. Tiberius, Sirius and Eddy have been arguing with the heads of houses for the last twenty minutes. Slytherins are saying Fawley just saw the bludger before Allegra and pulled back.' Goshawk, normally soft spoken, was so angry his voice was shaking.
'They WHAT?!' James was furious.
'Shhh! Right only three visitors, everyone else out!' Madam Pomfrey had swept over to Allegra's bedside.
'We'll go,' Dearborn looked to James and Goshawk.
James was hovering, looking at Allegra anxiously. Despite her pain, she had the bizarre urge to laugh, he was like a worried mother hen.
'Potter she's in the hospital wing, she'll be looked after,' Lily said, as polite as Allegra had ever heard her address him.
'She's right. Allegra,' Dearborn placed a hand on her shoulder, 'this wasn't your fault, you played fantastically, everyone is saying it. Don't blame yourself, no one else does.'
Allegra felt her eyes well up, Dearborn wisely ignored that, offering her a small smile.
'Doc's right. You were great Allegra, don't beat yourself up,' Goshawk smiled.
James nodded. 'Feel better, and we'll see you at the next practice.'
The three boys departed.
'Are you sure you're alright Allegra? You're very pale,' Lily asked, worry lacing her voice.
'She's just had her wrist broken Lil, no wonder she's pale,' Phoebe still sounded anxious.
'What happened?' Allegra's memory was fuzzy.
'Well you spotted the snitch, shot after it, you had your arm outstretched, inches from it and Fawley was neck and neck with you. Suddenly, he dropped back and the bludger smacked into your arm. Then, idiot that you are, you tried to catch it with your left hand, nothing steering the broom - Fawley had miraculously caught up with you again and banged into you. You fainted from about thirty feet up, McGonagall managed to charm you before you hit the ground,' explained Phoebe.
'The last thing that I could remember was stretching my arm out, and then pain,' mumbled Allegra. 'Oh, and Marlene's fantastic commentary,' she grinned, turning to her blonde haired friend, who she'd just noticed hadn't said a word since Allegra had woken up.
'Marlene, are you ok?'
Marlene was sitting curled up in a chair, face down on her knees. She lifted her head, tears swimming in her blue eyes.
'I'm so sorry Allegra,' whispered Marlene.
Allegra frowned. 'What on earth are you sorry for?'
'I was talking rubbish, distracting McGonagall, if she had of been focused then she might have been able to stop you falling! O..or.. she would have seen everything that happened and agreed to a rematch!' Marlene finished with a hiccup, voice becoming more hysterical.
Allegra started to laugh, Marlene's eyes went wide. 'Oh Merlin, that fall has muddled her brain! I've broken the Gryffindor seeker!' She grabbed her hair in fistfuls.
'Marlene!' Allegra practically shouted whilst Phoebe grabbed Marlene's wrists.
'You did nothing wrong. Did you hit that bludger? No. Did you work with the Slytherins to plan that? No! You were commentating on the match, brilliantly I might add. And it doesn't matter about McGonagall, about a dozen other teachers were there and saw the whole thing, and they still decided not to have a rematch.' Allegra finished kindly.
Marlene looked up. 'Really?' she hiccuped.
Allegra nodded her head.
'Told you!' Lily exclaimed, 'I told you it wasn't your fault!'
'Our Marlene just loves some drama,' joked Phoebe.
Marlene gave a weak laugh.
'Were the rest of the team really annoyed with me? I bet they were, they just didn't want to say anything,' said Allegra quietly.
Her three friends shook their heads violently.
'Are you kidding? They were furious at the Slytherins, Black and Dearborn were practically having a shouting match with McGonagall and Slughorn. Even Hodge raised his voice, they were really worried about you,' Phoebe said.
Lily nodded her head. 'I've never seen Potter that angry before, Macmillan and Goshawk had to practically drag him from the pitch.'
Allegra puffed out and shook her head. 'I'm an idiot, I never should have joined the team. Levy was right.'
'Enough!' Lily shouted, before noticing Madam Pomfrey's stare, 'enough!' she whisper shouted. 'You have to stop feeling sorry for yourself. It wasn't your fault, the Slytherins are sneaky prats, we all know that. I thought my best friend stuck up for herself, didn't lie around moping and miserable - but gets even!' Lily finished dramatically.
Allegra, Phoebe and Marlene looked at her dumbstruck.
'Now, are you going to lie and sulk, or are you going to get practising hard to win your next match?' Lily raised her eyebrow.
'Wow Lil she's still having her wrist mended, I think demanding some Quidditch practice may be a bit too much,' deadpanned Marlene.
The other three burst out laughing.
'I didn't know Potter had died and left his personality to you in his will,' chuckled Phoebe.
Lily rolled her eyes and grinned. 'You know what I mean. Anyway, enough about that,' she lowered her voice and leaned towards Allegra's bed, 'that Caradoc Dearborn, eh?' Lily wriggled her eyebrows in what Allegra presumed she thought was a seductive way.
Allegra snorted. 'No way. Besides, I think it was Marlene that was admiring his bat.'
Lily, Phoebe and Marlene cackled.
'OUT!'
/
Madam Pomfrey kept Allegra in the hospital for two more days of observation. Although Professor McGonagall's charm had managed to cushion the worst of her fall, she'd still suffered a nasty enough concussion. After receiving a clean bill of health, Allegra headed off to first period Charms on Tuesday morning, wrist still slightly stiff and bandaged, with a promise to Madam Pomfrey she'd return to the hospital wing at lunch time for the potion she was taking for her head injury.
Allegra managed to make it into the classroom as the rest of the class were just getting settled. Professor Flitwick nodded as she sat down and gave her a small smile, which Allegra returned.
'Morning, how are you feeling?' Marlene asked as Allegra sat down.
'Like my arm has been hit by a bludger and I plummeted thirty feet to the ground?' Allegra deadpanned.
Marlene snorted. 'Dramatic. Anyway you haven't missed much, unless you count Potions yesterday morning. Snivellus's robe's magically turned luminous yellow halfway through the class and started making gagging noises. Three guesses how that happened.'
'Snape,' Allegra corrected quietly as Professor Flitwick began his lecture on the banishing charm. 'Potter and Black?' she glanced briefly towards the back of the classroom where the aforementioned Black was sitting balanced on two legs, bored, and James was doodling something on a piece of parchment.
'Got it in one,' murmured Marlene, 'anyway, Lily was furious. It seems Potter being in her good books could only last a day and a half.'
Allegra chuckled quietly. 'Any longer and I'd start to worry about her.'
'Miss McKinnon, if you please?' Professor Flitwick squeaked as he stood next to their bench.
Marlene cleared her throat. 'Depulso!' she stated firmly, cushion flying to the far side of the classroom.
'Well done Miss McKinnon, ten points to Gryffindor!'
Marlene beamed. The four friends realised early in their first year Lily and Marlene were the best at Charms, and as such, Phoebe sat with Lily and Allegra with Marlene.
'Miss Quinn?' Flitwick asked.
'Depulso!' said Allegra. Her cushion twitched slightly.
'Better luck next time Miss Quinn!' squeaked the Professor.
'I wish I was as naturally talented as you at Charms,' sighed Allegra at the end of the class, she had yet to successfully banish her cushion.
'But you're brilliant at Defence, considering what's going on right now, I'd say it's far more useful,' Marlene consoled.
'Charms is good for duelling though,' Allegra argued as they packed their books away.
Marlene merely shrugged. 'Good thing you won't be duelling then!' she winked, 'anyway I'll see you at lunch.'
Marlene headed off with Lily and Phoebe to Arithmancy as Allegra made her way to the Ancient Runes classroom.
'Oh Allegra I wasn't sure if you'd be back today!' Trish Saxon smiled as Allegra took a seat beside her.
'I think Pomfrey wanted to keep me for another day, but what good would it have done? It's bad enough missing one day of school work, the amount of homework we have,' Allegra rolled her eyes as she pulled out Magical Hieroglyphs and Logograms.
'I know. Rebecca took a bad stomach ache the week before last and missed two days, she's only caught up properly now with McGonagall's notes.' Trish giggled.
Allegra enjoyed Ancient Runes, their Professor rather liked the sound of his own voice, but eventually he would let them work on separate translations. Ten minutes before the end of class, Allegra could hear James and Remus muttering behind her, she tried to block them out.
'No James, I don't think that will work, needs to be more subtle -' Remus whispered.
'- I don't care if it's subtle, it just needs to be effective -' James was a rather louder whisperer than Remus, and it was distracting Allegra. She glanced at Trish who had also been distracted, they both rolled their eyes.
'- c'mon Remus, you can't say that isn't brilliant!' James' voice was rising. Allegra turned sharply and glared at him.
'Shut up, some of us are trying to concentrate!'
James and Remus grinned guiltily before ducking their heads back to their translation.
Trish frowned. 'Since when have they ever willingly shut up in a classroom? No doubt they're up to something.'
'No doubt. I just hope I'm not around to see it,' murmured Allegra.
/
Fortunately, Allegra was around to see it.
She had returned to the Great Hall for lunch slightly later than her classmates due to a visit to the hospital wing, by the time she took a seat beside Phoebe, her three friends had already started on stuffed chicken sandwiches, chatting casually about classes.
'- It's all well Professor Vector saying it's a short homework piece, it's not her having to fit it in with four other essays to write,' grumbled Phoebe.
'Oh don't, I still have the Transfiguration one to write for McGonagall,' Lily sighed as Allegra grabbed a flagon of pumpkin juice to pour into her goblet.
'We didn't get any homework from Ancient Runes, thankfully. But Lil I still have to do that -'
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
Allegra was cut off by a succession of loud noises coming from the Slytherin table, her head shot up just in time to see explosions of red and gold glittered paint erupt from the plates of the Slytherin Quidditch team, covering each member square in the face. Allegra looked down the Gryffindor table and saw James, Black, Remus and Peter Pettigrew grinning from ear to ear. However, the most shocking thing was seeing Lily, Marlene and Phoebe catching each other's eyes and smiling.
Professors McGonagall and Slughorn had made their way over to the Slytherin table, McGonagall at a rather more leisurely pace.
'You teamed up with that lot?' Allegra asked her friends in disbelief.
'Don't know what you're talking about, now shush, do you want to miss out on the fun?' Phoebe smirked.
' -it's those bloody Gryffindors!' Cartwright was shouting at the top of his voice.
'Mr Cartwright would you be quiet, it's paint, not a bludger,' McGonagall said pointedly, 'we should get you to the hospital wing for Madam Pomfrey,' Allegra had never heard her head of house sound so bored.
Further down the Gryffindor table James was crying with laughter as the rest of the hall joined in with the guffawing. Allegra couldn't believe it, her friends had temporarily joined forces with four people they had, at best, a fractious 'relationship' with.
Perhaps miracles were possible.