A/N: Sorry it took so long my loyal **cough** forced **cough** readers. The musical took a lot out of me, not to mention writers block. I'm sorry this chapter is so short, but it makes up for it in pain. Poor Rachel.

Quidditch season was starting, and Lavender wouldn't talk to Rachel, or Seamus, and gave them both dirty looks whenever they were near. It was very hard to live with her, because Rachel was in constant fear that one day all her hair would have been cut off in the night or that she wouldn't have any socks in her drawer.

Fortunately, that didn't happen, but it did distract her a bit from her Quidditch playing, and the fact she couldn't openly be Seamus' girlfriend also didn't help her when she played keeper. However, even through all that, she still managed to play decently, so, when the first match of the season, Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff rolled around, Rachel was ready.

Gryffindor had gone all out for their Quidditch team in the means of supporting it. There were banners and signs. Rachel spotted a few American flags and felt instantly better. There were people rooting for her after all. She flew up to her place, and heard Lee Jordan start the commentary. She couldn't help it, but listened to hear what he said about her.

"And the line-up for Gryffindor has changed only slightly since we last had a Quidditch match. Oliver Wood has gone, now to be replaced by American fifth-year Rachel Jacobson. She's got big shoes to fill, so let's see if the Yankee can keep up."

Then he went on introducing the rest of the team. Rachel didn't hear any of it, she was still busy musing over his words. "Big Shoes to Fill." He obviously didn't mean Oliver had big feet, it's just that...could she do it? Could she be another Oliver? And then the "Yankee Can Keep Up" does that mean he doubted her? Rachel shook her head back and forth. She needed to have a clear mind. Pay attention she told herself, pay attention.

A whistle blew. The game started. Gryffindor had the quaffle. She could rest for now. She paced a bit, back and forth on her broom. Possession changed. She stared down the opposition. Those three chasers, in robes yellow like gold. A gleaming sun. She wasn't going to be swallowed by the sun. She wouldn't allow it. They split up. They were going to shoot for one of the open posts. The one she wasn't guarding. She would have to be fast and intercept it. Left. Right. Center. Right again. She saw it. The right chaser's face hardened with concentration as he threw the quaffle. It seemed to be going to the left, but it was thrown with too much force, heading toward the left post instead of the left chaser. She flew in to stop it. Catching it, feeling it in her hands. No goal.

She made several more saves, keeping the Hufflepuff's from scoring. Gryffindor had managed to score once. Defense was tight this game. Then disaster struck.

It was an onslaught. All three chasers, and the two beaters, keeping a bludger between the two of them. Rachel saw what was coming seconds before it happened. And what happened wasn't pretty. Once one of the beaters got the bludger from the other one, he shot it toward Rachel. She had no time to react. It caught her right in the stomach, pulled her down, away from the goal posts. They scored. Fred flew over as the whistle blew.

"Are you ok?"

"Mmmph" Rachel half mumbled half moaned.

"Erm...right." Fred looked around. "I was just checking. Anyway, they scored...but you're doing great."

"Argmmp" Rachel said as he flew away.

The game continued. Rachel made a few more saves, keeping the score down. Gryffindor scored twice more. She was still in pain, but it had lessened some. She hoped Harry would really catch the snitch soon, because she didn't think she would be on top of her game much longer.

Oh no. They were coming at her again. How could they? All of them. Chasers and beaters. Ready to beat her flat.

What had she done to deserve this?

WHOMP! The bludger came at her.

ZING! The quaffle was speeding towards her. Too close. To reach one she would have to be hit by the other. She reached out to get the quaffle, but no, it was slipping through her fingers. Slipping past her....somewhere in the distance she heard a whistle. People were flying toward her. The pain radiating through her was too intense. She closed her eyes.

"You really got hit hard." Rachel was leaning against something warm. Her eyelids fluttered and she opened them. Everything was spinning, but she realized she was slumped against one of the twins. "Good thing Harry got the snitch in time."

"Hmm?" Rachel didn't yet register those words.

"Hang on. Don't pass out on me again until we reach the ground."