Nicki's POV: I was still a bit dizzy and swayed when Wood helped me to my feet. My leg didn't hurt anymore. Not really, it just felt a bit sore and numb but I guess that was normal when you just had it broken.
"You okay?", Oliver asked. I merely nodded and gripped his arm in support. I looked after the Slytherins who were already halfway up to the castle.
"What happened?", I asked but Oliver shook his head.
"Not now, I'll tell you when we're in the common room."
I didn't like this but I could also see the sense in it. I really craved a nice, warm cuppa and probably a few biscuits from the kitchens. None of us spoke as we walked uphill to the castle and then took the sheer endless stairs to the Gryffindor tower. My leg protested with each step but it was not too bad, so it was easy to ignore. We reached the common room which was already filled with students of all ages. When they saw us, the questions immediately started. What happened? Are you alright? What's wrong? Can I do anything? Was it the Slytherins? What happens now? Angelina waved them all away with a glare. Hermione and Ron had saved a spot for Harry on the sofa in front of the fireplace. Hermione stood up immediately and offered me her space.
"Thanks", I said gratefully and let myself flop into the soft, warm cushions. I sighed. Wood sat down next to me and accidentally sat half onto Ron's lap to which he protested and finally gave up his space too. I turned to Wood and I didn't even need to ask again, he just said: "Hatchet healed you. She healed all of us."
What? She had done what? And why? Hatchet had healed all of us? Even my team?
"I... what?", was what I finally said. Wow, the most articulate words I've ever said.
"Yeah, my thoughts exactly", Wood agreed with a dark look on his face. "It feels like being indebted to Salazar personally or something."
"Why did she do it?", I asked, not sure I was actually expecting an answer.
Wood didn't reply, he just shrugged his shoulders. "She said she wanted to protect the Slytherin team and that included healing us as well."
"We would have all gotten detention if she hadn't", Angelina suddenly said from where she was lounging in one of the armchairs.
"She's already in four weeks of detention with Lupin, maybe she just wanted to save her own hide", I mused.
"But she wasn't even a part of..." Oliver made a vague gesture that involved all of the Gryffindor team. I nodded. He was right, of course. Then why had she done it?
We were quiet for a moment, then Fred suddenly said: "So what was it with you and Flint?" His eyebrow was raised in question and he looked directly at me.
"Me and Flint?", I repeated. "Those are two words that shouldn't be used in one sentence together."
"But you two came to the field together and you should have seen how he was sitting beside you, out of his mind with worry", Alicia butted in.
"He did what now?", I asked and could feel my eyes go round. Fred wiggled his eyebrows and George smirked knowingly.
"No. No. Just. No. That is awful and I do not want to hear any more about it", I said and shook my head. "Go look for non-existent things somewhere else. If I hear anything about this ever again, it won't be Flint who gets the end of my punches." I stood up. "Thanks for walking me up here, but I'm going to bed." And with that, I stomped as gracefully as I could into my dormitory.
Lexie's POV: We entered the Slytherin common room and all at once everyone turned silent. Malfoy instantly took the stage and explained how heroically the team played when the Gryffindors out of nowhere suddenly attacked them and they fought like their life depended on it.
"Okay, that's enough." I interrupted. "Thank you for this glorious recap, but we will not speak about this ever again, okay? If the teachers get wind of what happened tonight, we risk getting disqualified for the Quidditch Tournament. That being said, I'm going to bed now. Good night." I left the common room behind and walked into my dorm and straight to bed.
Was it still the same day that I conjured my Patronus in the first class? God, that already felt like ages ago. Thankfully, my body was heavy and stiff from healing two Quidditch teams and as I laid down in bed, I immediately drifted into sleep.
The next morning, I woke up early and made my way to the Great Hall to eat my breakfast in peace. I still had not really digested yesterday's events, which lead to me mostly poking around in my porridge listlessly. I sighed and shoved my food away. This wouldn't get any better, so I made my way to my Charms class. Marcus strolled in just before the lesson started and sat down next to me.
"Be honest, did you get up early so you would not have to see the Gryffindor team in the Great Hall?"
"Be honest, did you get up late so that you can see Shelley in the Great Hall?" I shot backed.
His eyebrows twitched. "So how do you plan on avoiding them in our Potions class later?" He asked.
"So, how do you plan on getting over your astronomy class with Shelley this evening?"
Marcus sighed. "Let's just focus on charms maybe."
I mumbled an agreement as Professor Flitwick walked into class and started his lesson.
Nicki's POV: I sat with the other quidditch girls at breakfast and while the three of them chatted, I sat there and just shovelled food into my mouth. When was the last time I had been so hungry? It also prevented me from talking which was something I really didn't want to do now, not after last evening.
Angelina finally turned towards me: "You can talk to us, you know. We won't ask you any questions about Flint."
I stopped chewing for a second to look at her. I slightly narrowed my eyes, then resumed eating.
"Seriously, we won't ask", Alicia said and then added with a grin: "We'll wait until you tell us yourself."
She received an elbow in the ribs from Katie for that. I rolled my eyes and swallowed the bite I had in my mouth. Then I said: "I know you're all dying to know what's going on between us and let me make this clear this one time: there is no us. There is no Flint and I. We arrived together because he was walking out of the castle at the same time I did and the only thing we did was argue about the Quidditch field. And then he thought he killed me or something and who wants to be a killer? Nobody, not even that troll. And that's everything there is and I do not want his name in the same sentence as mine ever again." After saying all this very fast and in a single breath, I stopped and took a deep breath.
They stared at me for a few moments, then Angelina shrugged.
"Ok, if you say so", she said and suddenly the atmosphere was much lighter. Even though my speech had left a weird taste in my mouth, a feeling I couldn't describe properly but left me somewhat tense. After breakfast, we made our way to transfiguration. We took our places and Professor McGonagall began with her lesson which needed all my concentration, so I could get my mind off... other things.
Lexie's POV: Professor Flitwick looked over the broken pieces of the vase I just destroyed with a nonverbal Reducto spell.
"I must say Miss Hatchet you are probably one of the most talented witches that I've ever had the pleasure of teaching here in Hogwarts. Most witches and wizards greatly reduce the power of a spell when using it nonverbal," he looked at the thousands of pieces on the floor, "but apparently that's not the case for you. Well done. Five points to Slytherin."
I gave him a quick smile and nodded.
"Funny how two of the most talented witches I ever taught are in the same year."
My smile vanished.
"You know yesterday Miss Shelley produced a perfect Water-Making-spell." He chimed on.
"Yes, very funny, sir." Shelley was the last person I wanted to think about right now. With a movement of my wand, the vase flew back together and the floor cleaned itself. Well, maybe the 2nd last person I thought as my mind wandered off to the events of my detention last night. I was torn from my thoughts when Marcus poked me in the ribs. I was about to give him a piece of my mind when I saw him nodding his head towards Professor Flitwick. I turned around to see Flitwick giving me a questioning look.
"Excuse me, Sir? What was the question?" I asked, putting on a polite smile.
"How did you do that?" Now it was my time to give him a questioning look.
"You just performed a nonverbal repair and cleaning spell."
"Erm, well yes, sir."
"I haven't taught you the cleaning spell, yet," he said.
"Oh well, I already read a little further in our textbook, Sir."
He gave me a stern look before answering: "Well, as long as you don't practice outside of class. I don't think I have to remind you that magic is not allowed outside of class."
"Oh no, sir, of course not," I lied.
My hidden place to practice was a secret not even Marcus knew about. Flitwick gave me another stern look before shrugging with his shoulders and putting on his smile again.
"Ah well, nevertheless, it was great work. Another ten points to Slytherin." I thanked him and turned around to Marcus again, who gave me a short smile before focusing on his vase again.
When the class ended Marcus and I made our way down to our potions class. Already the thought of spending two hours with the Gryffindors lowered my mood below the freezing point.
"I really thought I seriously injured her or something." Marcus finally said.
I looked over at him and nodded. "Not going to lie, when I saw her lying there I thought she fell off her broom or something like that."
"Anyways, thank you, Lexie. I don't know what we would have done without you." He gave me a short smile, which I returned.
"Well, you know, I thought a student who already has "bringing Professors to tears" marked on his record probably could not afford another strike." I tried to brighten the mood.
"God, you never going to let this go, will you?" He said, flinging his hands over his head.
"He cried like a baby! I mean, we're talking waterfalls coming down his face! How could I ever forget that?", I laughed.
Marcus shook his head but smiled as well. It did not last long, though. I looked up to see Shelley already waiting in front of the Potions classroom.