Chapter 16: Puddlemere United
Chanse set her suitcase by her bed, and changed into her pajamas, and crawled into her bed. She sat there staring at the ceiling, because she was to excited to fall asleep, or eat for that matter. Eventually Chanse got comfortable and fell fast asleep.
"Wake up," Rosmerta shook Chanse, "if you don't wake up right now you'll miss your train!" she shouted.
Chanse quickly sat up straight, "I'm up." Chanse laughed, as she flung off her sheet, and dove down by her suitcase and opened it, "What to wear?" Chanse laughed.
"Chanse Potter since when did you start caring about what you look like?" Rosmerta called from the kitchen.
"Well I have to look good for Puddlemere." Chanse called back.
Rosmerta walked out of the kitchen holding a tray of food, and she set it down by Chanse's bed, "Well they already want to sign you, so why are you trying to impress them now?"
"Because I'm not signed with them yet." Chanse smirked, as she tossed a pair of dark blue jeans on the bed, followed by three different shirts, and a sweatshirt, and Brandon's cloak.
"Aren't you going to be a little hot wearing all that?" Rosmerta laughed, as she sat on the edge of the bed.
"I need your help deciding on which shirt," Chanse scooted up next to the other edge of the bed, "This one?" she held up a plain black t-shirt that has a small yellow star in the middle of the chest area.
"No," Rosmerta laughed, "It's cute, but they'll think that you're only signing to be a star."
"But I just love stars," Chanse whined, "but I see your point," she laughed, "can you hold thise here with you till I get back?"
"Sure." Rosmerta gladly took the shirt, "can I wear it?"
"Yeah that's cool," Chanse laughed, "What about this one?" Chanse held up a long-sleeved black shirt, which had a v-neck.
"I like that one a lot," Rosmerta smiled, "but what else do you have?"
"My last one is this." she held up a three-quarter sleeve shirt that had black, white, and grey camouflage.
"Defiantly the second one." Rosmerta laughed.
"Ok I've got to take a shower." Chanse stood up and collected her shirt, jeans, bra, and underwear and walked into the bathroom.
Chanse took a quick shower, and dried off as quickly as possible, and then she changed into her clothes. When she was done she walked out of the bathroom, "How do I look?"
Rosmerta stood up and looked Chanse over, "Great...are you going to put on some makeup?"
"Do you think I need it?"
"Well I think you should line your eyes, very thinly, then put some mascara on, and then put some lip gloss on...that is if you want to, but I think it would make you look like you're wanting to look good for them." Rosmerta laughed.
"Ok," Chanse turned back around and went back into the bathroom, where she thinly lined her eyes in black, then she applied some black water-proof mascara, and then topped it all off with some clear lip gloss. She walked back out, "Better?"
"Yup, now come eat your breakfast." Rosmerta snapped, while pointing to the tray by Chanse's bed.
Chanse walked over to the tray, where she saw eggs, bacon, pancakes, and a tall glass of pumpkin juice, "Thanks Rosmerta....but you really didn't need to do that for me."
Rosmerta started to walk down stairs, carrying Chanse's bag, when she turned around, "Just eat." She laughed, as she walked downstairs.
Chanse quickly ate her breakfast, and then ran down the stairs, where she saw Rosmerta taking the chairs off the tables. "You ready to go?" Rosmerta smiled, as she pulled the last chair off the table.
"Yeah." Chanse slowly smiled.
"Then lets go." She set the chair on the dark floor.
Rosmerta walked over to Chanse, and started to pick up Chanse's bag but Chanse quickly grabbed it. "I got it." Chanse whispered.
Rosmerta nodded her head and led Chanse to the door, where she pulled it open and let Chanse exit the pub, and then she pulled the small wooden door shut and locked it. "Alright let's go." Rosmerta then followed behind Chanse as they headed towards the train station.
They barely made it to the train station, so they quickly loaded Chanse's bag onto the train, and then Chanse said her goodbyes to Rosmerta and thanked her for her hospitality...then she boarded the train to Puddletown.
The train came to a screeching stop in the Puddletown train station, and Chanse slightly jolted forwards when the train came to a complete stop. She slowly rose out of her seat, and felt as if her life had suddenly become like a movie; everything was moving slowly around her. She waited till everyone in her cabin exited out, and then she followed behind them, slowly sliding the door closed.
She shuffled behind the people, until she made it to the end of the isle, where she stepped off the train. When her two feet hit the cold cement of the train station, she paused and looked to her left and then to her right, and didn't see anyone she would recognize. She didn't know what she was looking for but she felt that she should look both ways before stepping forward. When she felt the it was safe to step forward she raised her leg, slightly, and walked forwards. She softly pushed her way through the crowd, down to the train manager so she could get her bags.
"Hello." A tall man with baby blue eyes, and dark brown hair that had a small black hat lying on top of it, smiled.
"Hello," Chanse smiled, "I'm here for bag," she pulled a small tab out of her pocket, "fourty-four, please."
"Ah," he nodded, "that bag was already picked up by a man."
"Wait?" Chanse gasped, "But that was my bag."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"I'm positive!" Chanse gasped loudly, "You gave away my bag!"
"Oh dear!" the manager gasped, "Well I can still see his head, we can still catch him."
Chanse nodded and followed behind the tall manager through the crowds after a mystery man that had Chanse's bags. "You there!" the manager shouted over the heads of people, "You have this young lady's bag!"
Chanse jumped up a couple of times, but couldn't see over the manger's hat, so she continued running behind him till the manager stopped. "You have her bag!" The manager barked.
"I know." The man laughed.
Chanse stepped to the side of the manager and saw Brandon Rosedale standing across from the manager, with Chanse's bag by his side. "Hello Chanse."
"Brandon?"
"You know this man?" The manager gasped.
"Yeah."
"You made me leave all those bags and go on a wild goose chase to find a man you already knew?!" he yelled.
"I...I didn't know he was picking me up." Chanse whispered.
"It's my fault," Brandon stepped forward, "I didn't tell her I was picking her up."
The manager looked one more time at Chanse then at Brandon, "I could lose my job because of you two," he huffed, as he walked away from them.
Chanse walked up next to Brandon and looked at him and laughed, "Why didn't they tell me that you were going to pick me up?"
"Because I just decided to," Brandon smiled, as he picked up Chanse's bag, "they don't know that I am."
"Oh," Chanse looked at the ground, and then looked back up at Brandon and followed behind him as he led her outside of the train station.
When Chanse walked outside of the train station the light poured onto her face as the cold breeze blew on her face. "Puddletown's so pretty." Chanse whispered to herself.
Brandon led Chanse over to a bench, by the road, and stuck his left hand, wand hand, out in the road, and then sat down "We have to wait for the Knight Bus," Brandon blushed in embarrassment that a big shot Quidditch player like himself couldn't get a descent ride to pick Chanse up in, "the Knight Bus will take us to the stadium."
"That's fine." Chanse smiled.
There was a small amount of awkward silence till Brandon looked at Chanse, "I'm happy you're signing with Puddlemere." He smiled and then thought, 'I'm happy you're signing with Puddlemere? Now how dorky does that sound? But I am happy she's signing with us.'
"I am too."
"Puddlemere just hasn't been the same without you there." He smiled, as he placed his hand on top of Chanse's.
Chanse looked down at his hand and breathed in deeply. She couldn't help but feel that this was wrong but something inside of her also told her that this was right...Chanse slowly intertwined her fingers in his.
*SPLASH*
A giant gush of water flew off the road and out from under the Knight Bus' tires, and flew up and all over Chanse and Brandon. Chanse slowly closed her eyes, and pulled her hand out from under Brandon's and wiped the water off her face, and began to laugh uncontrollably.
"Oh Merlin, are you alright?" Brandon panicked, and then quickly stopped and saw Chanse laughing, "Why are you laughing?"
"I imagined this day to be so perfect, and I'm not even at the Puddlemere Stadium and I'm covered in street water," Chanse laughed, "I just thought I couldn't be touch this day, but obviously," Chanse stood up and tried to push the water out of her jeans, "I can."
"Are you two coming aboard?" A tall young man in a bright purple suit, with protruding ears and pimples asked.
"Yes we are, Stan." Brandon slightly laughed, and then picked up Chanse's bag, "Come on Chanse."
Chanse laughed, lightly, and then stepped aboard the bus, "Hello Chanse I'm Stan Shunpike, the conductor of the Knight Bus, and this," Stan turned to show a old man with thick glasses, "is Ernie Prang, the driver of the Knight Bus."
"Nice to meet both of you."
"Stan we need to be dropped off at the Puddlemere House, please." Brandon handed Stan five sickles, and six knuts.
"Yes sir, mister Rosedale." Stan nodded, and then nodded to Ernie.
"Come on Chanse," Brandon smiled, "we'll get a bed at the front of the bus."
"A bed?" Chanse quickly asked in shock.
"On the Knight Bus they don't have seats, like Muggle buses do...they have beds, instead."
"Oh." Chanse relaxed as she followed Brandon down the isle, until they came upon an empty bed.
"You don't plan on sleeping do you?"
"No," Chanse said nervously.
"So you don't mind if we share a bed then?"
Chanse opened her mouth to say something but it just didn't come. She closed it and then reopened her mouth, "No I don't," she smiled, "just stop calling it a bed...it's too weird."
"Deal." Brandon smiled, as he pushed Chanse's bag under the bed.
Chanse slowly sat down on the bed, and then she turned back around to see that Brandon was lying down on his back, "You can lie down too, if you like."
Chanse thought about it and then shrugged her shoulder and laid down on the bed, on her stomach, "So who are all the Reserves?"
"Well," Brandon thought, "Adam Wheeler is a Reserve Chaser," Brandon thought again, "Alfonso...I don't remember his last name..."
"Quito...Alfonso Quito."
"Right he's a Reserve Seeker." Brandon thought again.
"Thank Merlin you guys didn't choose Allegra," Chanse sighed in happiness, "there would have been drama between the two of us."
Brandon laughed, "Jonathan Coyous is a Reserve Beater, and another Reserve is..."
"Jonathan?" Chanse sat up in excitement, "You guys choose Jonathan?"
"Yeah, why?"
Chanse slightly laughed, "Because Jonathan and I became really good friends, and I'm just excited I get to play on a team with him." Chanse beamed.
"Are last Reserve is Oliver Wood." Chanse's shoulders dropped at the name of Oliver Wood. "Then all the other Reserves will stay Reserves...unless, for some reason, a first-string play wants to transfer or retire." Brandon laughed.
"Yeah." Chanse tried to laugh, but she felt that she couldn't; hearing the name Oliver Wood seemed to have ruined her day.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Chanse whispered, as she looked down at her hands.
"No," Brandon placed his hand on Chanse's face and made her look up at him, "something's bothering you." Brandon became very serious, "And as your captain I think I should know." He laughed.
Chanse opened her mouth, read to tell Brandon a lie so that he would leave her alone about it, but when she looked into his eyes she knew that he could tell if she was lying, "I used to date Oliver."
"Oh." Brandon nodded.
"I broke up with him, for reasons I'd rather not say, and ever since then I just..." Chanse's voice trailed off, "it's just awkward being around him."
"Alright," Brandon nodded, "I can tell this subject is making you uncomfortable so we'll stop talking about it."
"Thank you." Chanse whispered, as she forced back her emotions. 'There's no point to dwell on the past Chanse.' Chanse told herself. "So why didn't my letter say what position I would be a Reserve for?"
"Ah, you got that?"
"That's why I asked." Chanse smirked.
"The only time someone ever gets asked to be JUST a Reserve is when Puddlemere thinks that, that person can play two or more positions in Quidditch."
"So what positions do they think I can play?"
"Well, obviously they think you can play Keeper," Brandon smiled, and he saw that his comment made Chanse smiled too, "but they told me that they think you would make a fine Beater too."
"Because I can take hits, right?"
"That," Brandon nodded, "and they saw that you had a keen eye."
"Excuse me," Chanse looked up and saw Stand standing over her, "we're at the Puddlemere house."
Brandon rolled over the side of the bed, and pulled Chanse's bag out, "Thank you Stan." Brandon nodded, as he reached in his pocket and handed Stan two silver sickles, "Thank you for everything Stan." Brandon smiled, as he walked off the bus.
Chanse stood up and pulled her shirt straight, "Thank you." She whispered to Stan as she walked by him.
"Chanse," Stan lightly grabbed Chanse's wrist, "Brandon is a good man."
"I know." Chanse nodded, and started to pull her wrist back, but Stan gripped it tighter.
"When you find someone who cares about you has much as Brandon does, don't let them go." Stand whispered.
Chanse opened her mouth to say something, but she couldn't so she closed her mouth. She thought about what Stan had said, and relaxed her arm, "I won't." She finally whispered.
Stan let Chanse's hand go, and then followed her to the end of the bus, where Chanse slowly stepped off and stood next to Brandon. They both looked up at Stan and Ernie, and waved good-bye to them, and then door closed and the Knight Bus drove away.
Chanse felt like someone was staring at her and she looked up at Brandon and he was. Stan's words ran through Chanse's head as she stared into Brandon's hazel eyes, 'But I might have to let him go.' Chanse softly whispered in her head.
"What's wrong now?" Brandon smiled.
Chanse looked away from him and whispered, "I just realized my life did a one-eighty on me."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"To be honest," Chanse took a deep breath and then looked up into Brandon's eyes, "I don't know."
"Well so far has it been a good one or a bad one?"
Chanse thought about if her life had been good or bad so far, 'Becoming a witch was good, leaving my old friend was bad, making new friends was good, knowing I couldn't be with Harry was bad, making the Quidditch team was good, fighting Voldemort was bad, Oliver going into a coma was bad, passing my tests was good, Oliver doing all those things for me was good, Oliver cheating on me was bad, making Puddlemere was good...'
"It's been equal." Chanse slightly smiled, "But my life's still playing out and when it stops or makes another one-eighty that's when I'll know if this part was a good one or a bad one."
"Fair enough," Brandon smiled, as he led Chanse towards a giant stucco house, "Chanse?"
"Yeah?" Chanse smiled, as she watched Brandon stick the key in the lock and turn it.
"I want to be the first to welcome you to the Puddlemere United House." And with that being said Brandon slowly opened the door to the giant house.
Chanse set her suitcase by her bed, and changed into her pajamas, and crawled into her bed. She sat there staring at the ceiling, because she was to excited to fall asleep, or eat for that matter. Eventually Chanse got comfortable and fell fast asleep.
"Wake up," Rosmerta shook Chanse, "if you don't wake up right now you'll miss your train!" she shouted.
Chanse quickly sat up straight, "I'm up." Chanse laughed, as she flung off her sheet, and dove down by her suitcase and opened it, "What to wear?" Chanse laughed.
"Chanse Potter since when did you start caring about what you look like?" Rosmerta called from the kitchen.
"Well I have to look good for Puddlemere." Chanse called back.
Rosmerta walked out of the kitchen holding a tray of food, and she set it down by Chanse's bed, "Well they already want to sign you, so why are you trying to impress them now?"
"Because I'm not signed with them yet." Chanse smirked, as she tossed a pair of dark blue jeans on the bed, followed by three different shirts, and a sweatshirt, and Brandon's cloak.
"Aren't you going to be a little hot wearing all that?" Rosmerta laughed, as she sat on the edge of the bed.
"I need your help deciding on which shirt," Chanse scooted up next to the other edge of the bed, "This one?" she held up a plain black t-shirt that has a small yellow star in the middle of the chest area.
"No," Rosmerta laughed, "It's cute, but they'll think that you're only signing to be a star."
"But I just love stars," Chanse whined, "but I see your point," she laughed, "can you hold thise here with you till I get back?"
"Sure." Rosmerta gladly took the shirt, "can I wear it?"
"Yeah that's cool," Chanse laughed, "What about this one?" Chanse held up a long-sleeved black shirt, which had a v-neck.
"I like that one a lot," Rosmerta smiled, "but what else do you have?"
"My last one is this." she held up a three-quarter sleeve shirt that had black, white, and grey camouflage.
"Defiantly the second one." Rosmerta laughed.
"Ok I've got to take a shower." Chanse stood up and collected her shirt, jeans, bra, and underwear and walked into the bathroom.
Chanse took a quick shower, and dried off as quickly as possible, and then she changed into her clothes. When she was done she walked out of the bathroom, "How do I look?"
Rosmerta stood up and looked Chanse over, "Great...are you going to put on some makeup?"
"Do you think I need it?"
"Well I think you should line your eyes, very thinly, then put some mascara on, and then put some lip gloss on...that is if you want to, but I think it would make you look like you're wanting to look good for them." Rosmerta laughed.
"Ok," Chanse turned back around and went back into the bathroom, where she thinly lined her eyes in black, then she applied some black water-proof mascara, and then topped it all off with some clear lip gloss. She walked back out, "Better?"
"Yup, now come eat your breakfast." Rosmerta snapped, while pointing to the tray by Chanse's bed.
Chanse walked over to the tray, where she saw eggs, bacon, pancakes, and a tall glass of pumpkin juice, "Thanks Rosmerta....but you really didn't need to do that for me."
Rosmerta started to walk down stairs, carrying Chanse's bag, when she turned around, "Just eat." She laughed, as she walked downstairs.
Chanse quickly ate her breakfast, and then ran down the stairs, where she saw Rosmerta taking the chairs off the tables. "You ready to go?" Rosmerta smiled, as she pulled the last chair off the table.
"Yeah." Chanse slowly smiled.
"Then lets go." She set the chair on the dark floor.
Rosmerta walked over to Chanse, and started to pick up Chanse's bag but Chanse quickly grabbed it. "I got it." Chanse whispered.
Rosmerta nodded her head and led Chanse to the door, where she pulled it open and let Chanse exit the pub, and then she pulled the small wooden door shut and locked it. "Alright let's go." Rosmerta then followed behind Chanse as they headed towards the train station.
They barely made it to the train station, so they quickly loaded Chanse's bag onto the train, and then Chanse said her goodbyes to Rosmerta and thanked her for her hospitality...then she boarded the train to Puddletown.
The train came to a screeching stop in the Puddletown train station, and Chanse slightly jolted forwards when the train came to a complete stop. She slowly rose out of her seat, and felt as if her life had suddenly become like a movie; everything was moving slowly around her. She waited till everyone in her cabin exited out, and then she followed behind them, slowly sliding the door closed.
She shuffled behind the people, until she made it to the end of the isle, where she stepped off the train. When her two feet hit the cold cement of the train station, she paused and looked to her left and then to her right, and didn't see anyone she would recognize. She didn't know what she was looking for but she felt that she should look both ways before stepping forward. When she felt the it was safe to step forward she raised her leg, slightly, and walked forwards. She softly pushed her way through the crowd, down to the train manager so she could get her bags.
"Hello." A tall man with baby blue eyes, and dark brown hair that had a small black hat lying on top of it, smiled.
"Hello," Chanse smiled, "I'm here for bag," she pulled a small tab out of her pocket, "fourty-four, please."
"Ah," he nodded, "that bag was already picked up by a man."
"Wait?" Chanse gasped, "But that was my bag."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"I'm positive!" Chanse gasped loudly, "You gave away my bag!"
"Oh dear!" the manager gasped, "Well I can still see his head, we can still catch him."
Chanse nodded and followed behind the tall manager through the crowds after a mystery man that had Chanse's bags. "You there!" the manager shouted over the heads of people, "You have this young lady's bag!"
Chanse jumped up a couple of times, but couldn't see over the manger's hat, so she continued running behind him till the manager stopped. "You have her bag!" The manager barked.
"I know." The man laughed.
Chanse stepped to the side of the manager and saw Brandon Rosedale standing across from the manager, with Chanse's bag by his side. "Hello Chanse."
"Brandon?"
"You know this man?" The manager gasped.
"Yeah."
"You made me leave all those bags and go on a wild goose chase to find a man you already knew?!" he yelled.
"I...I didn't know he was picking me up." Chanse whispered.
"It's my fault," Brandon stepped forward, "I didn't tell her I was picking her up."
The manager looked one more time at Chanse then at Brandon, "I could lose my job because of you two," he huffed, as he walked away from them.
Chanse walked up next to Brandon and looked at him and laughed, "Why didn't they tell me that you were going to pick me up?"
"Because I just decided to," Brandon smiled, as he picked up Chanse's bag, "they don't know that I am."
"Oh," Chanse looked at the ground, and then looked back up at Brandon and followed behind him as he led her outside of the train station.
When Chanse walked outside of the train station the light poured onto her face as the cold breeze blew on her face. "Puddletown's so pretty." Chanse whispered to herself.
Brandon led Chanse over to a bench, by the road, and stuck his left hand, wand hand, out in the road, and then sat down "We have to wait for the Knight Bus," Brandon blushed in embarrassment that a big shot Quidditch player like himself couldn't get a descent ride to pick Chanse up in, "the Knight Bus will take us to the stadium."
"That's fine." Chanse smiled.
There was a small amount of awkward silence till Brandon looked at Chanse, "I'm happy you're signing with Puddlemere." He smiled and then thought, 'I'm happy you're signing with Puddlemere? Now how dorky does that sound? But I am happy she's signing with us.'
"I am too."
"Puddlemere just hasn't been the same without you there." He smiled, as he placed his hand on top of Chanse's.
Chanse looked down at his hand and breathed in deeply. She couldn't help but feel that this was wrong but something inside of her also told her that this was right...Chanse slowly intertwined her fingers in his.
*SPLASH*
A giant gush of water flew off the road and out from under the Knight Bus' tires, and flew up and all over Chanse and Brandon. Chanse slowly closed her eyes, and pulled her hand out from under Brandon's and wiped the water off her face, and began to laugh uncontrollably.
"Oh Merlin, are you alright?" Brandon panicked, and then quickly stopped and saw Chanse laughing, "Why are you laughing?"
"I imagined this day to be so perfect, and I'm not even at the Puddlemere Stadium and I'm covered in street water," Chanse laughed, "I just thought I couldn't be touch this day, but obviously," Chanse stood up and tried to push the water out of her jeans, "I can."
"Are you two coming aboard?" A tall young man in a bright purple suit, with protruding ears and pimples asked.
"Yes we are, Stan." Brandon slightly laughed, and then picked up Chanse's bag, "Come on Chanse."
Chanse laughed, lightly, and then stepped aboard the bus, "Hello Chanse I'm Stan Shunpike, the conductor of the Knight Bus, and this," Stan turned to show a old man with thick glasses, "is Ernie Prang, the driver of the Knight Bus."
"Nice to meet both of you."
"Stan we need to be dropped off at the Puddlemere House, please." Brandon handed Stan five sickles, and six knuts.
"Yes sir, mister Rosedale." Stan nodded, and then nodded to Ernie.
"Come on Chanse," Brandon smiled, "we'll get a bed at the front of the bus."
"A bed?" Chanse quickly asked in shock.
"On the Knight Bus they don't have seats, like Muggle buses do...they have beds, instead."
"Oh." Chanse relaxed as she followed Brandon down the isle, until they came upon an empty bed.
"You don't plan on sleeping do you?"
"No," Chanse said nervously.
"So you don't mind if we share a bed then?"
Chanse opened her mouth to say something but it just didn't come. She closed it and then reopened her mouth, "No I don't," she smiled, "just stop calling it a bed...it's too weird."
"Deal." Brandon smiled, as he pushed Chanse's bag under the bed.
Chanse slowly sat down on the bed, and then she turned back around to see that Brandon was lying down on his back, "You can lie down too, if you like."
Chanse thought about it and then shrugged her shoulder and laid down on the bed, on her stomach, "So who are all the Reserves?"
"Well," Brandon thought, "Adam Wheeler is a Reserve Chaser," Brandon thought again, "Alfonso...I don't remember his last name..."
"Quito...Alfonso Quito."
"Right he's a Reserve Seeker." Brandon thought again.
"Thank Merlin you guys didn't choose Allegra," Chanse sighed in happiness, "there would have been drama between the two of us."
Brandon laughed, "Jonathan Coyous is a Reserve Beater, and another Reserve is..."
"Jonathan?" Chanse sat up in excitement, "You guys choose Jonathan?"
"Yeah, why?"
Chanse slightly laughed, "Because Jonathan and I became really good friends, and I'm just excited I get to play on a team with him." Chanse beamed.
"Are last Reserve is Oliver Wood." Chanse's shoulders dropped at the name of Oliver Wood. "Then all the other Reserves will stay Reserves...unless, for some reason, a first-string play wants to transfer or retire." Brandon laughed.
"Yeah." Chanse tried to laugh, but she felt that she couldn't; hearing the name Oliver Wood seemed to have ruined her day.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Chanse whispered, as she looked down at her hands.
"No," Brandon placed his hand on Chanse's face and made her look up at him, "something's bothering you." Brandon became very serious, "And as your captain I think I should know." He laughed.
Chanse opened her mouth, read to tell Brandon a lie so that he would leave her alone about it, but when she looked into his eyes she knew that he could tell if she was lying, "I used to date Oliver."
"Oh." Brandon nodded.
"I broke up with him, for reasons I'd rather not say, and ever since then I just..." Chanse's voice trailed off, "it's just awkward being around him."
"Alright," Brandon nodded, "I can tell this subject is making you uncomfortable so we'll stop talking about it."
"Thank you." Chanse whispered, as she forced back her emotions. 'There's no point to dwell on the past Chanse.' Chanse told herself. "So why didn't my letter say what position I would be a Reserve for?"
"Ah, you got that?"
"That's why I asked." Chanse smirked.
"The only time someone ever gets asked to be JUST a Reserve is when Puddlemere thinks that, that person can play two or more positions in Quidditch."
"So what positions do they think I can play?"
"Well, obviously they think you can play Keeper," Brandon smiled, and he saw that his comment made Chanse smiled too, "but they told me that they think you would make a fine Beater too."
"Because I can take hits, right?"
"That," Brandon nodded, "and they saw that you had a keen eye."
"Excuse me," Chanse looked up and saw Stand standing over her, "we're at the Puddlemere house."
Brandon rolled over the side of the bed, and pulled Chanse's bag out, "Thank you Stan." Brandon nodded, as he reached in his pocket and handed Stan two silver sickles, "Thank you for everything Stan." Brandon smiled, as he walked off the bus.
Chanse stood up and pulled her shirt straight, "Thank you." She whispered to Stan as she walked by him.
"Chanse," Stan lightly grabbed Chanse's wrist, "Brandon is a good man."
"I know." Chanse nodded, and started to pull her wrist back, but Stan gripped it tighter.
"When you find someone who cares about you has much as Brandon does, don't let them go." Stand whispered.
Chanse opened her mouth to say something, but she couldn't so she closed her mouth. She thought about what Stan had said, and relaxed her arm, "I won't." She finally whispered.
Stan let Chanse's hand go, and then followed her to the end of the bus, where Chanse slowly stepped off and stood next to Brandon. They both looked up at Stan and Ernie, and waved good-bye to them, and then door closed and the Knight Bus drove away.
Chanse felt like someone was staring at her and she looked up at Brandon and he was. Stan's words ran through Chanse's head as she stared into Brandon's hazel eyes, 'But I might have to let him go.' Chanse softly whispered in her head.
"What's wrong now?" Brandon smiled.
Chanse looked away from him and whispered, "I just realized my life did a one-eighty on me."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"To be honest," Chanse took a deep breath and then looked up into Brandon's eyes, "I don't know."
"Well so far has it been a good one or a bad one?"
Chanse thought about if her life had been good or bad so far, 'Becoming a witch was good, leaving my old friend was bad, making new friends was good, knowing I couldn't be with Harry was bad, making the Quidditch team was good, fighting Voldemort was bad, Oliver going into a coma was bad, passing my tests was good, Oliver doing all those things for me was good, Oliver cheating on me was bad, making Puddlemere was good...'
"It's been equal." Chanse slightly smiled, "But my life's still playing out and when it stops or makes another one-eighty that's when I'll know if this part was a good one or a bad one."
"Fair enough," Brandon smiled, as he led Chanse towards a giant stucco house, "Chanse?"
"Yeah?" Chanse smiled, as she watched Brandon stick the key in the lock and turn it.
"I want to be the first to welcome you to the Puddlemere United House." And with that being said Brandon slowly opened the door to the giant house.