Big thanks to Raven that flies at night and Lolapiler for commenting on the last chapter. Please let me know how I'm doing!
The return to classes went smoothly but Sage could feel mounting anxiety every time she thought of her schedule. She had thought that as she was not taking any major exams that year, being in the blissful interim between O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s, she'd have an easier go of it. However, with the difficult coursework, Quidditch practices held four times a week, and the extra Apparition lessons she, along with the rest of her year, signed up for, she barely had time to breathe.
Indeed, Sage had thought of resigning from the team in an effort to free up some time for herself. However, she knew that if she even mentioned it to James, he'd likely have a coronary. The season had been, thankfully, rearranged to accommodate Sirius' healing, as it had been a serious accident and nobody dared to show up to the beater tryouts in fear of risking Sirius' wrath. Unfortunately, this meant that Gryffindor had limited time between games, as the only remaining game was Hufflepuff versus Slytherin. Gryffindor still had to face each team in turn.
So it was with a heavy heart that Sage left Kylie and Alice in Hogsmeade, who decided to have a drink after the first Apparition lesson, and made her way back to the castle with Demetrius Johnson (Chaser) and Sean McLaggen (Beater) to make it in time for practice. The three classmates chatted excitedly about their prospects against Ravenclaw the next weekend all the way back to the castle. They headed straight to the Quidditch pitch and entered the changing rooms to hear James lecturing.
He was standing in front of a chalkboard, with Sirius, Jennifer Bell (Seeker), and Derrick Spinnet (Chaser), sitting around him looking incredibly bored. James looked up at the entrance and glared at each player in turn, as if they had mortally offended him by insisting that they learn how to Apparate. "Great, now that the rest of the team is here, finally," Sage made a show of rolling her eyes at this, "out on the pitch in five!" He turned on his heel and stormed into the Captain's Office to change.
"Merlin," Sage groaned, heading to her locker and pulling out her Quidditch robes. "He been warbling long?"
"For forty-five minutes," Derrick muttered.
"He's my best mate and all, but another five minutes and I would have cursed him," Sirius growled, tossing Sage her broom, which he had brought down in order to save time. Sage snorted as she caught it and pulled on her Keeper gloves. James emerged in his own robes and led the team to the pitch, hovering the trunk full of balls in front of him.
There was a fairly large crowd in the stands, which wasn't unusual for Gryffindor practices, considering the two most popular Marauders were on the team. However, Sage was surprised to see Marlene in the stands, watching her closely. Because of this, she made sure to position herself in between Jennifer and Demetrius when James whirled around to give them instructions.
"Alright, we'll be starting with penalty shots," James said, nodding to Sage, Demetrius, and Derrick. "Sirius, Sean, release the bludgers and start aiming them at each other. Sean, I want you to work on containment." Sean nodded curtly, knowing that while he was accurate, he tended to let the bludger get away from him. "Sirius, just do what you do." Sage rolled her eyes again at Sirius' self-satisfied smirk at the lack of criticism. "Jennifer, go ahead and release the snitch, and work on some dives if you can." Sage felt Jennifer nod beside her. "Well, let's go."
The balls were released and practice began. Sage saved each penalty shot, though she nearly missed James' when he feinted to the left and aimed for the right goal. Ignoring James' shout of "Keep your head in it," she passed the quaffle to Derrick.
"Right, Derrick, Demetrius, we're going to work on the Finbourgh Flick, and-" Sage let her attention wander for a moment to the other players. Jennifer was circling the pitch up high, keeping an eye for the snitch. Sirius and Sean were moving around, chasing the bludger and attempting to unseat the other. It was common knowledge that though they despised each other, their competitiveness to be the best beater enhanced their game.
Indeed, Sage watched as Sirius took aim at Sean, who did not get his bat up in time and had to dodge to avoid being smashed. The bludger switched direction mid-air and barreled towards Sage, who ducked and looked up just in time to see the quaffle heading straight for the right hoop. Sage stretched and deflected the quaffle just in time, nearly falling off her broom to do so, and righted herself just as Demetrius dived to retrieve the Quaffle before it hit the ground.
"MCLAGGEN!" James screamed. "CONTAINMENT!" Sage heard Sirius' bark of laughter and shook her head. "Nice save Sage, but try to catch the quaffle so you can pass it to our chasers."
"Yeah, I'll try to remember to do that when I'm not nearly beheaded by a bludger or almost falling to my death to block the bloody thing," she said grumpily.
"And watch that cheek," James added, barely containing his grin at being able to boss his baby sister around in public.
"Aye, aye, Captain," Sage said with just a touch of sarcasm. James, deciding to ignore this, advised the chasers of another formation and they were off.
Hours later, the team headed up to the castle for dinner, followed closely by the remaining crowd (a group of giggling girls lagging just far enough to watch Sirius and James, and maybe McLaggen from behind). Demetrius caught up to Sage just as they walked through the entrance.
"You were brilliant today, Sage," he said, giving her a grin.
"Thanks," she said brightly. "You too. I almost missed that shot you made with the Finbourgh Flick. It was excellent."
"Thanks!" Sage thought she saw his dark cheeks redden just a tad but at that moment, they had entered the Great Hall. "Well, see you later then."
"See you," Sage said as he gave her a small wave and joined his friends at the table.
"Hmm," James hummed merrily. "Well, I like him better than Prewett, anyway."
"What are you on about now?" Sage grumbled, as they made their way to the middle of the table, where Remus and Kylie already sat.
"You were brilliant today, Sage," James mocked, imitating Demetrius' deep voice. Sage replied with a comment that made Kylie comment drily, "I don't know if he can bend that way."
"Well, if there's a will, there's a way," Sage replied brightly, plopping down in front of her. As she swung her legs over the bench, she caught sight of Sirius' face. "What's got your knickers in a twist?"
"Nothing," he replied, sitting next to her. James climbed onto the bench on Sage's other side. "McLaggen is still garbage, isn't he?"
"He's not garbage," Sage replied fairly. "He's not as good as you, but who is?" Sirius' face brightened a bit as he piled fish and chips onto his plate.
"Practice go well, then?" Remus asked.
"Yep," James said, also piling food onto his plate. "Where's Pete?"
"Off with his girlfriend," Remus said with a smirk. "You know, the fifth year Huffle? Dorcas Meadows?" James and Sirius snorted into their food.
"Oh come on," Sage said reprovingly. "It's nice that he found someone..."
"Finally," Kylie finished, nodding.
"Hark who's talking!" Sage said playfully. "Only took you two five years." Kylie blushed and Remus glared at her. "I'm just saying, lay off Pete. Just because he's not as adept with girls as you two," she glanced at Sirius and James in turn. "Or as thick as you two," she pinned Remus and Kylie with a look. "Doesn't mean that you should sneer."
"Defensive, much?" James asked. "I bet Demetrius would go out with you if you asked. I don't know why but - OUCH!" Sage had just smacked James on the back of his head.
"That's what you get for being rude."
"It's not being rude to state the facts. I mean, look at you. Maybe if it was a choice between you and the Giant Squid."
"Lay off, James," Sirius interjected as Sage opened her mouth. The siblings looked at him in shock. "You're being a prat."
Out of the corner of her eye, Sage saw Remus and Kylie exchange a smirk. Sage wasn't sure which was more surprising, the fact that Sirius told James to lay off or the fact that he called James, James.
"Sorry Sage," James muttered and Sage's head whipped around. She wasn't entirely certain she could handle any more surprises.
"It's quite alright," Sage replied in a dignified voice before turning back to Remus and Kylie. "So, what have you two been up to?" To her satisfaction, Kylie immediately turned red.
"Studying," Remus replied primly.
"Each other?" Sage asked with a cheeky grin. James and Sirius howled with laughter at the mortified look on Kylie's face.
"Oh go snog the Giant Squid," Kylie growled.
"So, Demetrius Johnson, huh?" Kylie whispered as she and Sage worked on their Herbology homework in the library that night. Sage shrugged noncommittally, tapping her wand on a misspelled word so it righted itself. "What happened with Sirius?"
"We talked and decided not to make anything of it," Sage muttered, refusing to look up. There was a long silence and finally, sensing Kylie's stare boring holes in her head, flicked her eyes up. "What?"
"Remember how you called Remus and me thick?" Sage could feel her own cheeks heating.
"Oh shut up," she hissed. "It's not the same. At all."
"And why not?"
"Because our situation is massively different, okay?"
"Not from where I'm sitting," Kylie replied stubbornly.
"Well, I suggest you change seats, then." Kylie continued to stare at Sage with that infuriatingly stubborn expression. "Demetrius is fit, though."
"Not as fit as Sirius," Kylie replied quickly and then thought better of it. "If you ever tell Remus I said that, I will hex you into next week."
"I won't, only if you promise to drop this," Sage said, grinning.
"Fine, fine, I'll drop it," Kylie said, then continued in an undertone, "For now." Sage decided to ignore this and began reading a passage on snargaluff pods without taking in more than a word at a time.
She wasn't sure what she thought of this new, possible, development with Demetrius. Sure, dating one of her teammates wasn't the best idea but what other options did she really have?
Sirius, a small voice inside her head stated.
He's not an option, she told that voice sternly. He's not interested in me.
But he stood up for you, the small voice argued. Twice in one week.
Because we're friends, she thought. Then she refocused her attention to the book in front of her, determined to push boys out of her mind once and for all.