Chapter 12
A cheer went up from the guests standing outside the hall of Ceremonies as Cissa stepped through the door. She looked like the perfect, shy, virginal, Pureblood bride, all dressed up in white and pale blue. I followed her, trying to stay in the background, although that wasn't easy with my bright green gown. One of Luc's cousins was recording the wedding, and I was determined to stay out of his way as much as I could.
"Eyes down, don't smile," He called, pointing his wand over my head at Cissa, trying to get a better picture. "A Pureblood bride is shy and demure – you'll ruin the recording!"
But Cissa couldn't help smiling, even though a Pureblood bride is supposed to be sad to be leaving her family, and obviously a naïve virgin, as well. She'd got what she wanted, and I could tell she was going to enjoy every minute of it. Whatever doubts I had about my own placement, the Sorting Hat had known exactly what it was doing when it made Cissa a Slytherin.
After milling around for ages, we finally filed into the Hall of Ceremonies, bowing to the Aramanthene crystal on the way past. The crystal was what all ritual ceremonies were tied into, Blessings and weddings and funerals and so on. The crystal had so many spells tied into it, you could see the magic pulsing inside it. I wasn't all that interested, though – I kept glancing at my watch. Only a couple of hours until the match began. The girls would be at the ground by now, and James would be giving them a pre-game pep talk. I wanted to be there with them so much. I noticed Mike looking at me, and quickly fixed a bright smile to my face. My jaw already ached with the effort of trying to look happy all the time, and the day wasn't even half over yet. I sat through the prayers and the blessings, trying to keep my minds on what was happening. As Lucius and Cissa got up to perform the spell ritual, I tried to picture myself in her position. Maybe one day. In about twenty years time.
After the ceremony, we came out into the sunshine, and everyone brought out their wands and started conjuring everything from flower petals, to fireworks, to tiny, living fairies to shower the newly-weds with. Great day for the match, I thought, looking up at the blue sky. Stop it, Lily. Just stop it.
Sev, who was standing next to me, gave me a concerned look. "You all right about missing the final, Lily?" he asked.
I glanced over at Kate and Mike. They were watching Cissa and Luc, and smiling proudly. I hadn't seen them look so happy for ages. I turned to Sev and nodded. What else could I do?
At the reception, back at Hogwarts, everyone got stuck into the free cocktails and snacks, while they waited for the meal to be served. There was an orchestra coming on later, and the party would probably go on all night. I glanced at my watch again. It was almost time for the match to start.
Suddenly, Sev appeared beside me. He grabbed my arm and hustled me out of the room and down a long corridor. The house elves were going up and down the corridor carrying huge pots and platters of food, and I had to lift up my gown with one hand to dodge around them.
"Sev!" I gasped, when we finally came to a standstill. "What are you doing?"
"You can still make the kick-off if we leave now," Sev said in a determined voice.
I stared at him as if he was mad. He was mad. "Kate and Mike'll go spare!" I pointed out. "You know I've got to put my family first today."
"But, Lily, there's so many people in there, they won't even notice," Sev argued.
For a moment I wavered. But however much I wanted to, I just couldn't do it. "I can't," I said, my voice shaking. "Look how happy they are, Sev. I don't want to ruin it for them."
"What are you going to ruin?"
I almost jumped out of my gown. Mike had come up behind us, and neither Sev nor I had seen him.
"Nothing," I said firmly, shooting Sev a warning glance. "It's OK."
He ignored me. "It's the final of her Quidditch tournament. We can pick up her kit, and we can floo there and back. It won't take long – "
"Stop it, Sev," I broke in. "Mike, it doesn't matter. This is much more important. I don't want to the spoil the day for Cissa, or for you and Kate."
Mike looked at me steadily. "Narcissa is so happy today," he said abruptly. "And you, you look like you're at her funeral, not her wedding."
I hung my head. "I'm sorry, Mike."
"If this is the only way I'm going to see you smiling on your cousin's wedding day, then go." I jerked my head up, hardly able to believe my ears. "But when you come back, I want to see you happy on the recording."
This time the big smile on my face was for real. I threw my arms around Mike and hugged him tightly.
"Play well, and make us proud," he whispered in my ear.
The game would have already started by the time we got there, but I wouldn't have missed much. Sev took me to the tapestry to grab my kit, I got changed at record speed, then we legged it as fast as we could to the nearest fireplace. I was surprised I got to the right fire, considering how breathless and strangled my shout came out.
I leapt out of the grate, and ran towards the pitch. My adrenaline was rocketing as I pushed my way through the crowd and vaulted over the barrier, rushing over to James who was standing shouting at the side of the pitch. His face broke into a huge smile when he saw me, but he didn't stop to ask any questions.
"Start warming up, Evans," he said, giving my shoulder a squeeze. "We're 100-30 down."
100-30 down. That was a bit of a shock. Still, there was plenty of time for us to come back – I hoped. We'd only been playing for twenty minutes or so.
I did my stretches, then flew impatiently up and down the side of the pitch, waiting for my chance to sub onto the pitch. It came when Mel fouled one of the other team, and they got a penalty. I swooped onto the field, getting patted on the back and cheered by the other Horntails as I passed. Abby had only just noticed me, and her mouth dropped open in amazement.
"I'm so glad you came!" she yelled, giving me a huge hug, quite a feat while perched on a broomstick. Relief surged through me. It was going to be OK.
They missed their penalty, which cheered me up even more, and soon Abby, Rosmerta and I were zooming up the pitch in the Hawkshead Attacking Formation, passing the Quaffle between us, and casually dodging Bludgers and players alike.
Now that Abby and I were back in business as friends and team-mates, we played better than ever. Our passes were fast and sharp and accurate, and we moved smoothly down the pitch, almost reading each other's minds as the Quaffle flew between us. We were ripping the heart out of the Raptor's defence. Now, it was only a matter of time before we caught up.
In an astonishingly short time, we'd drawn equal to the Raptor's score, and soon surpassed it. Abby and I were on fire, every play we tried worked like a charm. Soon, the score was 270-120. I thought the match was in the bag.
I was wrong. The Raptors weren't about to give up. As I reverse-passed the Quaffle to Abby, I felt one of the players blagging my broom – seizing the tail to trey and stop me scoring. Just after the ref had blown the whistle and granted me a penalty, I heard a massive roar from the crowd. That could only mean one thing. Someone had caught the Snitch. I turned frantically on my broom, hoping to see Verraine with her arm raised in triumph – but it was the Raptors' Seeker who had caught it.
With a painful gnawing in my gut, I anxiously calculated the score. Beside me, I saw the ref doing the same. We realised it simultaneously. The score was 270 all. We had drawn. Or so I thought.
Just as I was preparing to land and offer my congratulations to the other team, I heard the ref call out to me. I turned in surprise.
"Haven't you forgotten something?" she said, a mischievous grin on her face. "You've still got a penalty to take – I awarded it while the game was still in progress, and it stands even though the games finished now." She winked, and I smiled weakly back at her.
The outcome of the entire tournament rested with me. I could see the rest of my team willing me on. Heart in my throat, almost light-headed with apprehension, I took my place in front of the goalposts. I took a deep breath, and looked up at the Raptors' Keeper, and the Beaters hovering intimidatingly by the sidelines.
But in my mind, the Rochester Raptors players had vanished. Instead, hovering in front of the goal was Kate, always getting in the way of what I wanted. The Beaters became Cissa and Bubbly, shaking their heads at me and looking disapproving.
But I wasn't going to let them put me off. I blinked a few times, and they disappeared. This was it.
I swooped forward, and looped the Quaffle up in a perfect arch. It flew exactly where I wanted it to go, which was up and over the distracting Beaters, then curving sweetly past the Keeper. She flung herself backwards in a vain attempt to deflect it, but it dipped over her head and spun neatly through the centre of the hoop. I could hardly believe it.
I'd pitched it just like Pendragon. It was my best shot ever.
"We won the cup! We won the cup!"
The match was over, and the Horntails were the summer tournament champions. We were back in the changing room, after doing several victory laps round the pitch with the cup, and everyone was singing and laughing and cheering. I was joining in, but I was also trying to get out of my kit and put my gown on at the same time. I had to get back to the wedding before anyone missed me.
"We'll help you!" Abby offered, giggling, and she and the other girls began to fuss around me, helping me get the stupid thing on properly.
There was a rap on the door. "Figg, Evans, are you decent?" James called.
Abby grabbed my arm, and we rushed outside, me still fiddling with the skirt of my gown as I went. James and three strangers were waiting outside. The scouts.
Abby clutched my hand as the guys talked to us. We were great, they said, we'd really impressed him. Both of us could pick a team to play for. We could be professionals, with the chance to make loads of money…
I was sop excited, my mind was spinning. I couldn't think straight. My dreams were being handed to me on a plate, and all I had to do was grab them. Abby and I huddled together, to discuss what we wanted to do. We agreed we wanted to play for the same team – Abby was one of my best mates, and had supported me and helped me get this far – Quidditch wouldn't be the same without her. After ages of debate, we decided to sign up with the Quiberon Quafflepunchers, a French team who frequently won the League there. The only drawback was the robes – shocking pink, ugh! I'd watched a couple of Quafflepuncher matches on my Ocu-globe, and some of their plays were amazing – I couldn't wait to try them out.
I glanced at James to see if he looked happy for us. He was smiling, but his eyes were sad. I suddenly felt cold at the thought of going to France, and leaving him behind. But this was my future we were talking about…
When James took the scouts off to the bar to buy them a drink, I flung my arms round Abby and kissed her, completely overwhelmed with excitement.
"I can't believe it!" I gasped. "Both of us!"
"Yeah, that's what makes it so brilliant." Abby hugged me back, her eyes shining.
As we drew apart, I noticed that Chloe and Aaron were waiting for her a short distance away. In her flowery dress and strappy pink high heels, she looked like she was going to the theatre, not to a Quidditch match. Still, it was nice of her to come. Maybe she was getting used to the idea of Abby playing Quidditch at last. But, come to think of it, she didn't look too happy. She was staring at me and Abby in dismay. I wondered what the matter was. Maybe she was just sad because she'd realised Abby was on her way to Europe.
"Look, come over to my cousin's wedding reception when you've changed, yeah?" I said, turning to Abby. "We can celebrate properly there. You can bring Chloe and Aaron if you like."
"Ok, that'd be great." Abby looked thrilled to be invited.
I ran off to find Sev. Though I should have been exhausted after the game, I was buzzing. When I told him about the Quafflepunchers, Sev was as excited as I was, and we talked about nothing else the whole way back to Hogwarts. When we got there, the party was in full swing. The orchestra had given up, and the older generation, inclined to ballroom dancing, had given way to Zott's DJ skills – he was, for a complete oaf, surprisingly talented. Everyone was dancing – there'd even been a fight: between Wilhelmina's grandson and the guy who was recording the wedding. Apparently, the recording guy had filmed Wilhelmina's grandson snogging Bubbly in the women's loos.
No one seemed to have missed me, although Kate gave me a funny look when I ran up to Mike and gave him a big hug.
"We won," I whispered, beaming all over my face.
He nodded, but didn't say anything. I was swept up in the circle of dancers and, as I moved away, I noticed Sev dancing near a really good-looking Ravenclaw boy who was smiling at him! I grinned to myself. Maybe there were happy endings around the corner for both of us…
At last it was time for the Verwandeln Adia ceremony, and we all traipsed outside. The Verwandeln Adia is when the bride officially leaves her own family and joins her husband's, and it's always really sad. Cissa was hugging Kate and crying into a tissue, and I was even beginning to feel tearful too, when Abby and Chloe came out of the front doors to join us. I waved at them – Abby waved back, but Chloe gave me a death glare. God, what was the matter with the girl?
Suddenly Chloe shoved her way through the crowd and marched over to me, giving me a filthy look. I took a step backwards, wondering what on earth was going on. Everyone, including Cissa, stopped crying and waited to see what would happen.
Chloe stared me straight in the eye. "How could you be such a hypocrite?" she demanded in a tearful voice.
I looked at her nervously. I didn't have a clue what she was on about.
"Chloe!" hissed Abby, hovering in the background.
"How could you be here all demure and respectful with your lot – " Chloe glanced at the assembled elite of the wizarding world, who were all watching goggle-eyed to see what this mad girl would do next " – when I know you've been kissing Abigail in broad daylight?"
I gasped, and Abby turned bright red. For Merlin's sake. I'd kissed Abby earlier – but we were only celebrating! Chloe was acting like we'd had a full-on snog or something.
Chloe looked down at my feet and did a double take. For a moment I didn't understand why, but then I remembered. The shoes with diamante bows. Her shoes.
"Get your lesbian feet out of my shoes!" she snapped.
Lesbian? I nearly dropped dead on the spot. Chloe though Abby and I were lesbians? No wonder she'd been acting all upset.
"Lesbian?" I heard Sev's mum say in a puzzled voice. "Her birthday's in March. I thought she was a Pisces." I could have hugged her. For once, I was glad of her slightly addled wits and tendency to revert to Seer mode.
Cissa pushed her way forward and stared aggressively at Chloe. "Do you mind?" she snapped. "This happens to be my wedding day."
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I slipped my feet out of the shoes, and handed them to Chloe. Abby immediately grabbed her elbow and hustled her back inside, looking as if she was ready to kill her. Meanwhile, all the guests stood around, determinedly pretending they hadn't heard a word, and that in fact, lesbians didn't even exist. Then some of them remembered that this was supposed to be the Verwandeln Adia ceremony, and they all started wailing and crying again. Covering her face with her cloak, Cissa got into her carriage and pulled me in with her.
"What in Salazar's name is going on?" she demanded, her tears drying up like magic. "What was that Gryffindor on about you being a lez? I thought you fancied your coach."
"I don't know what she meant," I replied. Chloe was the least of my worries – anyway, Abby would soon put her friend straight.
"Lily." Cissa leaned towards me. "Don't you want all this?" she asked urgently, gesturing at her wedding robes and gold jewellery. "It's the best day of your life!"
"I want more than this," I said quietly. "They've offered me and Abby places on a Quidditch team in France."
"What?" Cissa was shocked. "Lily, there's no way Kate'll let you go and live abroad without getting married first!"
My dreams cracked and crumbled to dust around me. She was right. I'd been so happy that Mike had let me play today, I'd refused to face the truth. Giving me permission to play in the final had been a giant step for Mike. But asking him if I could give up a Ministry position, move to France and play Quidditch professionally?
It just wasn't going to happen.
But surely I couldn't give up my whole future without trying to persuade them… could I?