Hey guys! Here's the next chapter. I think I'm going to start updating more regularly, so keep on the lookout:) I hope everyone is safe and healthy and not feeling too bad about quarantine and COVID-19.
Chapter 16
November, Saturday 23
Two weekends later it was time for the Hufflepuff verse Ravenclaw match. Xinia and Kimmy had been stressing about it all week, much to Ciena's annoyance although she had learned from last time and mostly kept her mouth shut.
When we walked into the Great Hall, the welcome of the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff teams took over the crowd. Xinia and Kimmy were swept away, and I spotted Bailey amongst the Hufflepuffs.
I joined in the cheers of the rest of the school.
Eventually, the crowd died down, and we rejoined the group for breakfast.
"If we win today," Xinia was saying as Anica and I joined her at the Ravenclaw table. "Ravenclaw will be in the lead."
"And if you don't, you'll still be third," I grin, stealing a piece of bacon from Xinia's plate.
"At least you're not losing," George complains.
"And who's fault is that?" I raise my eyebrows.
George mutters a curse. Last week he got on the wrong side of Parkinson and his group and George had punched Scott in the face and broke his nose and gave him a black eye. George had lost Gryffindor 50 points, and they had already only been five points ahead of Ravenclaw. Suffice to say, Gryffindor had not been happy with George. It also didn't help that Nick and Dylan had backed George up and lost 20 points each for hitting Parkinson's mates Nunica Pucey and Lucas Zabini.
"Shut up," Nick grumbles. "Just cause Slytherin's still winning - "
"Not for long," Kimmy pipes in. "We'll be 50 points ahead of them at the end of the day."
"Only if you win," Anica challenges.
Xinia scoffs.
"You really think Hufflepuff is going to beat us?"
"Hey," Hailey chimes in from her spot next to Ciena. "When we win today, we'll be over a hundred points ahead of all of you."
"Speak for yourself," Xinia grins.
When the two girls have finished their breakfast, they stand up from the table and get ready to head down to the pitch. Before they leave, we wish them good luck. I give Xinia and grin and two thumbs up.
"Good luck. I know you'll be awesome today."
"Thanks," she smiles, but I can see a little bit of nervousness on her face.
I give her a small smile as Anica speaks up.
"We'll be cheering you on the whole time. Good luck."
I give Kimmy a thumbs up before the two head off.
"They're so going to lose," Hailey mutters as we return to our food.
I can't help but be a little worried, but I know they'll be fine.
Finally, the students and staff begin to move down to the field. Our group quickly dart through the bodies to get the best spot in the stands. Hailey left to find her Hufflepuff friends, and we hadn't seen Owen all morning, so it was just Anica, Ciena, George, Dylan, Nick and me.
As everyone calms down, I see Coach Wood walk out onto the middle of the pitch. The stands erupt in cheers as he calls for the teams to join him.
William and Harry shake hands before everyone mounts their brooms. Wood holds his arm up and counts down before blowing his whistle and signalling the start of the game.
Everyone kicks off, and the game begins.
"Hufflepuff Chaser Yvonne Napel catches the Quaffle. She's off!" I hear Viper start commentating. "The Quaffle is passed to Vivian Long, who quickly passes to Sasha Day. Day speeds down the pitch and passes to Napel - and first-year Ravenclaw Chaser Xinia Ren intercepts the pass."
"GO XINIA!" our group cheers loudly.
Viper chuckles.
"Ren's got some supporters amongst the crowd. She passes off to fellow first-year Chaser Kimmy Jones - another cheer from the crowd there - who races off."
As I watch, I notice the two Hufflepuff beaters lining up a shot at Kimmy. Wendy nods at Flynn, and they swing, hitting the Bludgers. Kimmy dives out of the way, but Yvonne had caught up to her and snatched the Quaffle off her. Xinia raced off after the fifth-year as she sped down the pitch.
"Long approaches Ravenclaw Keeper and Captain William Zachary. Will she get it through his defence?"
We watch as Vivian throws the Quaffle. William races to defend his goal - but just falls short.
A mixture of groans and cheers fill the stands.
"Long scores! Ten points to Hufflepuff!"
I spot Kimmy's mouth drop, and William's head falls into his hands. Vivian flies past him, pretending to blow a kiss at him. He glares at her as she throws her head back; presumably laughing.
"Oh, but what is this?" Viper starts up again. "Looks like Ren has the Quaffle and is racing down towards the hoops."
Vivian looks startled at Viper's words and quickly flies off. Yvonne and Sasha are ahead of her, attempting to intercept Xinia and Kimmy, who look like they are in sync with each other. Dean flies ahead of them to clear a path.
Peter and Cohen fly around the trio, holding their bats just in case. Wendy and Flynn try to get a hold of the Bludgers, but the Ravenclaw beaters keep them away.
"Ren passes off to Jones who passes to Taylor. Taylor passes back to Ren, who lines up a shot. Hufflepuff Captain and Keeper Harry Muply gets ready to defend. Ren throws...she scores! Ten points to Ravenclaw!"
"YES!" I cheer.
"Go, Xinia!" Anica yells.
The boys whoop as Harry throws the Quaffle back into play.
The game continues, but neither team seems to be able to hold the lead. Every time one team scores, the other gets the next one.
"Jones scores another goal. That brings Ravenclaw to sixty to fifty."
"Go, Kimmy!" George cheers.
"Ravenclaw has to - " I begin to say to Anica before being cut off by Viper.
"Another ten points to Hufflepuff."
"What the? When did Hufflepuff get so good?!" I hear some Ravenclaw complain.
A few Hufflepuffs around us glare at the group.
The game continues in the same pattern for almost an hour.
"Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are now tied at one hundred and ninety points," Viper starts to sound bored.
I hear some students begin to complain because no one has spotted the Snitch yet.
"Come on, Bailey!" I yell. "Get the damn Snitch already!"
"Xin's gonna kill you if she hears you," Anica comments.
"She can try," I laugh.
Everyone had stopped paying attention to the points being in favour of watching the Seekers. Yet neither Bailey nor Tyrene makes a move.
Xinia took the opportunity to try and score another goal, but the Hufflepuff Chasers kept her and Kimmy at bay.
Finally, when everyone is about to leave the stands in boredom, I hear someone shout.
"Behind you, Hooker!" I hear a Ravenclaw from my year yell.
"Who's that?" I ask Ciena, not taking my eyes off the game as Tyrene follows the boy's instructions.
"Fred Muply. One of Xandler's brothers."
"Oh yeah, I remember Xandler saying something about him once."
"Isn't he the guy Kimmy and Xinia said almost got Seeker?"
"Yeah," I agree. "That'll be why he yelled at Tyrene."
"Oi, shut up!" George shushes us.
Ciena returns to her book, and I snap my eyes back to Tyrene and Bailey, who are now chasing after the Snitch.
Everyone is on their feet now, cheering for one or the other. Wendy and Flynn fly around, trying to round up the Bludgers, while Peter and Cohen try to do the same.
My heart pounds as I watch, not sure who I want to win. On the one hand, Xinia and Kimmy are my friends, but Bailey is my brother, and I want him to catch the Snitch. If only the scores weren't practically even.
Just then, a Bludger flies towards Tyrene. Above him, Flynn yells something to Wendy who hits the other one.
"Hufflepuff Beaters Wendy Howe and Flynn Pucker hit the Bludgers at Ravenclaw Seeker Tyrene Hooker - Hooker just manages to dive out of the way, but Hufflepuff Seeker Bailey Dinnick pulls ahead. Dinnick reaches out - Ouch, that would have hurt."
Several gasps come from the crowd, me amongst them.
"Ravenclaw Beaters Peter Dean and Cohen Finix hit the Bludgers at Dinnick, hitting his broom and arm. Hooker and Dinnick are even - who will get the Snitch?"
"I'm really starting to hate that Cohen dude," I mutter, remembering what he had done to Xinia in her tryouts.
"That's the game," Anica grimaces, having heard me.
I choose to ignore her, instead watching Bailey and Tyrene. Bailey's holding his right arm to his chest, meaning he has to steer and try and catch the Snitch with his left hand. Thank God he's left-handed.
"Come on, Bailey!" I shout.
Everyone else around us is yelling and shouting - cheering the Seekers on. They're both still right next to each other; the Snitch just inches away from them. Tyrene reaches out, and my heart skips a beat. He has the advantage of reach; being a good few inches taller than Bailey, who can't reach out until the Snitch is within arms reach.
Flynn seems to notice this as he speeds off to get a Bludger into position. Every second he spends flying around is another second Tyrene draws closer to getting the Snitch. I can see the panic on Flynn's face from here, blatantly obvious as he finally readies his bat.
The shot looks almost impossible, but if anyone can pull it off, it's him.
My eyes dart between Flynn and the Seekers, and my heart speeds up. Flynn has to take the shot now, or Tyrene will win.
He swings.
The Bludger soars through the air, heading straight for Tyrene. The crowd goes silent. Tyrene, too focused on the Snitch, hasn't noticed. His fingertips are millimetres away from the Snitch.
Ravenclaws start yelling out to him, but it's too late.
Flynn's Bludger hits his broom, spinning him out of the way. Bailey pulls ahead, getting as close as he can before he reaches out.
His fingers close around the Snitch just as Tyrene catches up to him and pushes him out of the way.
Bailey topples, not having an arm to steady him. Everyone gasps as he slips from his broom. He falls for a second before Tyrene reacts and flies beneath him to catch him.
Unfortunately, he grabs Bailey's right arm to stop him from falling, and a cry escapes Bailey's lips. I wince as Tyrene doesn't let go, trying to pull him onto his broom. Peter races up to Tyrene and helps him, and they manage to get Bailey on Tyrene's broom.
I breathe a sigh of relief as they slowly return to the ground where the matron - Madame Cheri - rushes froward to tend to him.
"Bailey Dinnick has caught the Snitch!" Viper announces. "Hufflepuff win!"
A few cheers follow her, but most of the Huffleuffs are too worried about Bailey to react.
I find myself racing out of the stands and onto the pitch, my feet drawing me to Bailey. I rush over to him, only stopping when Madame Cheri asks me to stay back.
"Are you okay?" I ask worriedly.
"Fine, especially because Hufflepuff finally won!" he grins.
I chuckle, noticing Xander, Wyrene and Xandler coming up to Bailey. They all look a little concerned, but it disappears when they spot him laughing.
"You had us worried for a moment there big bro," Wyrene laughs.
He smiles.
"Just a scratch."
Next to him, Madame Cheri huffs.
"I beg to differ. Your arm is almost completely broken. You're going to need to stay in the Hospital Wing for a little bit to get it healed properly."
"See? Not even fully broken!" Bailey winces a little as Madame Cheri lifts his arm.
The matron mumbles something under her breath, shaking her head.
"Only the smallest fragment of bone is keeping it from being completely broken, Mr Dinnick," she scolds him.
He gives her a guilty smile.
"I'm going to kill you, Flynn!" Xinia suddenly yells at the top of her voice. "And Cohen! You broke Bailey's arm! You two are ridiculous!"
I turn to see her being held back by Anica and Ciena.
"Let me go! I'm not a dog who needs to be kept on a leash!" she complains.
"Yeah, what'll happen if we let go?" Anica challenges.
"Calm down, Xinia," William tries to diffuse the situation. "Flynn was just doing his job. Cohen too."
"Don't tell me to calm down!" Xinia fires back. "He made us lose, and he broke my spiritual brother's arm."
"Aw thanks, Xin," Bailey speaks up.
We all break into laughter, Xinia even smiling. The girls let go of her, although a little tentatively.
"I'm still mad at you two," Xinia points at Flynn and Cohen.
With that, she walks up to our little crowd around Bailey, followed by the others.
"Are you okay?" Xinia asks.
Bailey nods.
"I -"
Madame Cheri interrupts him.
"Sorry, but I'm going to have to bring you to the Hospital Wing."
With that, she stands and gently grabs Bailey's left arm to haul him up.
"We'll visit you later," Xander tells him as they walk away.
We watch him walk away for a moment before turning to Xinia. I notice Kimmy had come up next to her.
"You guys played really well," Anica says. "Too bad you didn't win."
"What do you mean we played well? We lost to Hufflepuff!" Kimmy jokes.
Hailey, who had joined us as she said that, looks a little upset.
"That's kind of mean. Just because we're not as 'cool' as you guys, doesn't mean we're any worse at Quidditch and school in general."
"It's okay Hailes," Xinia defends her. "You're just as cool; we just want to win every game."
"I would have said the same thing if we lost to Slytherin or Gryffindor," Kimmy says.
Hailey smiles at her, accepting their apology.
We continue talking as we walk back up to the castle. As we do, Wyrene's friends catch up to us. Before she breaks off, however, she suggests something.
"I feel bad if we celebrated without Bailey, considering he won the whole game. Do you reckon we could go visit him in the Hospital Wing later on?"
Xander nods.
"That's a good idea. We'll find you and anyone else later. See you," he calls as she walks away.
She nods and gives him a thumbs up.
We continue walking up to the castle, chatter moving to plans.
"So what should we do?" Xandler asks.
"We could get some food and stuff from the kitchens and just get close friends together, so Cheri doesn't throw a fit," Xander suggests.
"That's a good idea," I agree. "When do visiting hours close?"
"Uh," Xander looks at Xinia and Ciena for help.
"Do you guys know nothing?" Ciena rolls her eyes.
"Eight o'clock," Xinia answers. "Half an hour before curfew."
"Yeah, cause everyone follows that," I whisper to Anica.
She laughs, causing the others to look at us.
"Nothing," I mutter at their questioning looks.
"Right, so we'll meet up around seven?" Xander asks us.
We nod. Just then, something occurs to me.
"Will we all be allowed in? Something tells me Madame Cheri wouldn't be too happy letting more than ten people visit. That's if we're lucky."
"Oh, me and Ciena don't need to come," Hailey says immediately. "We can visit him another time if we need to. Plus, we don't care much for Quidditch, no offence."
I smile at her gratefully.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, it's fine," she waves me off.
"As much as I wouldn't mind a celebration, I don't mind missing out," Kimmy speaks up. "I'm not overly close with Bailey anyway, plus it wasn't my win. I'll hang out with these two."
"That still leaves nine," I point out.
"We can leave you guys to it," George speaks for himself, Nick and Dylan. "As Kimmy said, it wasn't our win."
"That leaves six of us then," Xinia counts. "That'll be fine."
"All sorted then," Xandler grins. "We'll see you guys later. Don't worry about bringing anything; we'll handle it."
"Sounds good," I wave goodbye as they head off.
We then make our way to the Great Hall for lunch.
The rest of the day goes by quickly as students celebrate Hufflepuff's victory. Ravenclaw isn't nearly as happy, but it doesn't cause any problems.
We stay in the Great Hall, as does mostly everyone else, where people float between tables and friend groups.
At one point, a commotion occurs at the Staff Table. Everyone turns to look at the spectacle. I only have to shift slightly in my seat because we were sitting close to the table.
"We made a bet!" I hear one of the Professors say.
I realise Professor Lupin was the one to talk.
"I made the bet because I thought there was no way you would win," a woman responds.
The woman has long blonde hair and startling features. She's sitting next to Lupin, and the two of them seem to be engaged in some sort of fight, except neither of them looks particularly mad.
"You still made the bet," Lupin says.
He holds his hand out expectedly, but the woman doesn't move. Beside Lupin, Professor Potter rolls his eyes.
"She'll never give in, you know that right Ted?" he says to Lupin.
The rest of the staff look highly amused, and I spot even McGonagall smiling. On the other side of the woman, Professor Longbottom watches the exchange in amusement.
"Come on, Vic," Lupin continues. "It's only five galleons."
"Only five galleons?" the woman repeats incredulously. Then, "No."
"Of all the Weasley women you could have picked, you chose the most stubborn one," I hear Potter mutter to Lupin.
"Shut up Albus," Lupin mutters back.
Malfoy sniggers next to Potter, who hits him lightly.
A small smile forms on my face as I watch the interaction between the five. They were obviously all close, including Longbottom. Going off what Malfoy said, I gathered the woman was Lupin's wife and a previous Weasley.
I remembered the story he told me about his wife's family, and judging from her appearance, the woman had to be one of the children of Bill and Fleur Weasley.
"We've never lost to Hufflepuff!" she persisted with Lupin. "That's not a fair bet."
Lupin laughs.
"It's a bet, what did you expect? Come on, just give me the money. We won fair and square."
"It was not fair," the woman mutters, but hands over a few coins anyway.
Lupin grins while the others look extremely surprised. Only then do they notice that almost everyone in the Great Hall was watching them. They both look embarrassed, but Lupin clears his throat.
"Entertainment's over now," he grins.
A few people laugh, then we all return to our conversations. I see the others looking confused.
"Who's that woman?" Anica asks.
"Lupin's wife would be my guess," I say. "He told me a little about her one time, but I didn't realise she was a teacher here. I don't even know her name."
"What did Lupin tell you?" George asks with an odd voice, his eyes still on the woman.
"Oi, she's a Professor!" Xinia scolds, noticing his look. "And married," she adds.
George shrugs. I roll my eyes.
"He told me her father was attacked by a werewolf," I answer his question. "Potter just said she was a Weasley, and considering her looks, I'd say she's Bill and Fleur Weasley's daughter."
"That explains it," Xinia rolls her eyes.
I look at her in confusion.
"Her mother, Fleur, is a quarter Veela. They're beautiful, seductive beings. That's why George," she then notices Nick and Dylan. "And those two idiots are eyeing her. She wouldn't be anywhere near as powerful, being only a sixteenth-veela, but she would still be charming."
George snorted.
"Charming is one way to put," he comments.
Kimmy slaps him.
"Stop being a perv," she berates him.
"What does she teach?" Ciena asks, ignoring the twins.
"No idea."
At that moment, Wyrene had come over to the table we were at. I called out to her, and she looked a little annoyed but came over anyway.
"What?" she asks.
"Who's the woman?" I point at her up at the Staff Table.
"Professor Weasley. She's Lupin's wife."
"What does she teach?" Xinia asks.
"Care of Magical Creatures," Wyrene answers.
"Oh, okay. Thanks."
"Can I go now?" Wyrene asks me sarcastically.
I roll my eyes and nod.
"I can't wait till third year where we can pick our subjects," Xinia says excitedly.
"Same," I chime in.
"What do you reckon you guys are gonna choose?" Kimmy asks.
"I haven't really thought about it," Anica says. "What do we get to choose from?"
"Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy and Muggle Studies," Ciena rattles off. "I want to do Ancient Runes, Arithmancy and Muggle Studies."
"Same!" Kimmy smiles.
"Why would you want to do Ancient Runes and Arithmancy?" Dylan asks.
"What do you want to do then?" Ciena retorts.
"Divination and Care of Magical Creatures," he answers.
"Guessing you're doing the same," I look at Nick.
"Of course," Nick grins. "What about you three?" he asks us.
"Divination's such a pointless class," Kimmy rolls her eyes.
"Hey!" Xinia exclaims. "I was thinking of taking it."
"You are the last person I thought would do Divination," I look at her in surprise.
"Well, I want to try a bit of everything. I want to do Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures and Divination."
"Is that all?." Anica jokes. "I think Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies will be enough for me."
"Yeah, I agree," George says.
"How about you Gena?" Ciena asks.
"Probably Care of Magical Creatures, Muggle Studies and Ancient Runes," I answer.
"What with the obsession with Care of Magical Creatures?" Kimmy asks.
"It's easy," Nick shrugs.
"Although some of us actually think animals and creatures are amazing," Xinia adds.
We continue our conversation for a while before Ciena and Kimmy decide to go to the Library.
"What do you guys want to do?" George asks all of us.
I shrug, leaving the decision up to the others. While they throw suggestions out and bicker, I look up at the Staff table.
A few Professors I don't know sit at the far end of the table, then Professors Malfoy, Potter, Lupin, Weasley and Longbottom sit next to each with Professor McGonagall in the middle. On the other side of her, Professors Patil, Karl and Numen - the History of Magic and Astronomy professors - sit. A few more I don't know finish the table off.
As always, my eyes are drawn to the centre where Lupin and the others talk. Except, this time, I notice the woman - Professor Weasley. I think I'd seen her around a few times, but I had never really paid attention to her before.
Her long hair almost shone from the blonde of it, and her blue eyes stood out a mile. She was undeniably beautiful, that was obvious. She also seemed to shine a little if you weren't paying much attention to her.
She was talking to Lupin, and they looked lost in their own little world. Every now and then she would laugh at something Lupin said or play distractedly with the ring on her left hand.
Lupin was head over heels for her, that much was obvious. He never took her eyes off her, and he seemed to hang on to her every word.
I noticed Malfoy and Potter a bit the same beside them. Both couples looked utterly content and happy.
I was broken out of my thoughts by Anica nudging me.
"You coming?"
I blink, shaking my head a little.
"What?"
"Community Hall, you coming?" she repeats.
"Oh, okay. Yeah," I say, standing up with the rest of the group.
We make our way out of the Great Hall and into the Community Hall. Surprisingly, no one else is there. We go and sit at our couches, and I notice Xinia pull out a book.
"Would you like to socialise Xinia?" Anica asks her.
"I would not."
"Then why'd you come?"
"I was not putting up with Kimmy's complaining, not today."
"Why not?" I ask, amused.
"To your surprise, some people like to read in quiet," Xinia quips.
"If you want quiet here is not the place to be," I laugh.
"At least I have practise blocking you out."
"Gee, thanks," I grin. "Right, so, miss antisocial here is out of anything. What should we do now?"
"Want to play a game?" George asks.
"Sure, what should we play?" Anica answers.
"Truth or dare?" Nick suggests.
"Why not?" George shrugs. "I'll go first. Truth or Dare, Xinia?"
"What?" Xinia looks up, "Who said my name?"
Anica rolls her eyes before answering.
"We're playing truth or dare, George asked you."
"I don't want to play," she protests. "Choose someone else."
"Nah," George insists. "Truth or Dare."
Xinia glares at him before sighing dramatically.
"Truth."
"Who do you like?" George asks immediately.
I see her face turn a little red, and her hand reaches for her necklace. I let out a small gasp and Anica hits me, having noticed Xinia's reaction as well.
"I don't like anyone."
I'm tempted to say something, but Anica hits me again. I huff and cross my arms over my chest.
"I don't believe you," George says.
"It's the truth," Xinia insists. "Anica, Truth or Dare."
"Tru -"
"No, she can't go until you answer truthfully," George interrupts.
"I am telling the truth!" Xinia says hotly.
"Then why is Gena laughing?"
I immediately stop laughing. I hadn't realised how obvious I was being.
"I w-wasn't laughing," I lie, forcing back a smile.
"I'm going to the library," Xinia announces.
"You didn't give me a Truth," Anica protests.
"Fine. What's your favourite colour?"
With that, she stands up and leaves.
"That was a bit dramatic," Dylan laughs.
I try not to glare at him, knowing he doesn't understand why she got upset.
"Right, well, my favourite colour is black. Nick, Truth or Dare?" Anica moves the subject on.
"Dare."
"Stop being an idiot," I mutter under my breath.
Anica laughs.
"No, that's impossible. Uh, at breakfast tomorrow sing a song loud enough for people to hear. Like, do a performance."
"Easy," Nick smiles. "Gena, truth or dare."
"Truth."
"Hm, do you have any idea who your real parents are?"
"NICK!" Anica shouts.
"It's fine," I reassure her. "Uh, no, I have no idea."
There is an awkward silence before I speak up again.
"Dylan, Truth or Dare."
"Dare," he answers immediately.
"Do an encore to Nick's performance tomorrow."
"What's an encore?" Nick asks.
"Well, an encore is a performance that comes after the first original performance, it closes the concert," Anica explains to Nick as if he was a baby.
"Oh, that makes sense."
I roll my eyes at Anica.
"So you'll do it?"
"Of course."
The game continues until we decide to head to the Great Hall for an early dinner so we can maximise our time with Bailey. Anica and I eat quickly, rushing Xinia when she joins us. By twenty past seven she finally finishes and I all but drag her out of the Hall. We arrive at the Hospital Wing a few minutes later, where the other three are talking to Madame Cheri.
"Please, ma'am," Xandler's saying. "It'll just be the six of us. All we want is to have a small celebration. I promise there won't be any parties going on," he grins a little.
She gives him a stern look and Xinia decides to interrupt.
"We'll be out before visiting hours are over, that's less than half an hour," she points out. "Please?"
Cheri looks over us for a few moments then sighs and lets us in. We cheer quietly as she leads us to Bailey's bed. I rush over to him and give him a hug before the others follow suit.
"How are you feeling?" I ask as everyone moves to make a circle around the bed.
"Great! I don't know why I need to be here," Bailey glances at the matron.
"Because you have a broken arm Mr Dinnick," Cheri chides as she walks away.
"How long do you have to stay here?" Xander asks.
"Cheri said I could leave tomorrow morning. I'll be at breakfast."
"Brilliant!" I grin.
The older four look at me in confusion.
"Oh, there'll be a bit of entertainment tomorrow," I smile. "Wouldn't want you to miss it."
"I thought you didn't have a celebration?" Bailey asks. "Harry said you guys didn't when the team visited me early."
"We didn't," Wyrene says.
"Our group were just playing a game before dinner," Anica explains.
"That reminds me!" I say suddenly. "We are going to have a chat later," I point at Xinia.
"About what?"
"You know what," Anica puts in.
Xinia blushes a little.
"What is it?" Xander butts in.
"Nothing."
"Clearly," Xandler joins.
"Now look what you've started!" Xinia glares at me.
I shrug.
"So anyway, Bailey, congratulations on your win today," I change the subject.
"Thanks, Gena," he smiles.
The others congratulate him as well.
"Sorry about beating you," Bailey apologises to Xinia.
I scoff.
"Only a Hufflepuff would apologise for winning after the other team broke their arm."
Everyone but Bailey laughs.
"Hey! It's common courtesy."
"Sorry," I say, trying not to laugh. "You're just such a typical Hufflepuff."
He looks slightly miffed but doesn't say anything.
"You guys didn't have to visit me, you know," he says.
Xandler shrugs before dropping everything in his arms onto the bedside table.
He and Xander had gathered a variety of sweets and snacks presumably from the kitchens. Wyrene immediately grabs a few pumpkin pasties. I scrunch my nose up at her choice and take a few treacle tarts.
"We had to visit the person who made Ravenclaw lose to Hufflepuff," Anica grins.
"Everyone says that like it's so surprising," Bailey complains. "You're all just jealous cause now we're a hundred points ahead of Slytherin."
"Well we wouldn't be losing if it wasn't for someone," Xander glares at Anica, Xinia and me.
"You say that like we can control the boys," Xinia scoffs.
"They have minds of their own," I say. "Not very good ones, but still."
"If we controlled them, they'd know what an encore is," Anica laughs.
Everyone looks at her in confusion.
"Do I even want to know?" Xinia asks.
Anica and I laugh then shake our heads.
For the next half an hour or so we just talk and joke around. When it comes time to leave, Madame Cheri allows us a couple of seconds to say goodbye before she all but pushes us out of the Hospital Wing.
We bid each other good night before retiring to our Common Rooms, calling it a night. Anica and I stay up talking or a bit before we too decide to head to bed.
As always, thank you so much for reading and don't forget to leave a review. As I said, I hope to update more regularly, so keep an eye out. Stay safe!