A/N: thanks for all the great reviews from you all. Chapter 8 is here and its far from over. Although I'm trying to keep it under 15 chapters. Ideas just keep popping into my head. Sorry for all the spelling mistakes. Bear with me for a little while more!
Disclaimer: sorry that this was not up for my other chapters. The characters are not mine except for Paige, Hayden and the plot. The other stuff belongs to JK Rowling, Warner Bros and who ever else who owns them.
On with the story.
Chapter 8 : A New Chaser.
The week had passed quickly for Clarissa. Each day passed almost exactly the same, breakfast, classes, lunch, classes and finally dinner. After dinner, her flying lessons with Draco would resume. Flying lessons were usually the same. First, they start off by doing laps around the Qudditch Pitch. Then they practiced the passing of the Quaffle. Draco did not need to coach her much as she was a natural player. Clarissa could not believe that she had progressed so quickly. Paige was right., it was in her blood. Clarissa could not believe that she hated Qudditch for six years in Hogwarts, now she was really enjoying the sport. Friday night was no different, Clarissa and Draco were having their final lesson before the try outs tomorrow. They were currently doing speed sprints on their brooms. It was almost nearing the end of the lesson for the night.
" Rissa?" It was Draco's way of calling her cause he was tired of calling the whole name.
" Yes Draco?" She answered almost immediately.
" I think we should head back now." Draco told her. " We have patrols tonight, we shouldn't be late." Clarissa nodded and flew back to the ground with Draco landing shortly after her. Clarissa called out to Draco as he was picking up his broom.
" How are the try outs like?"
" It depends on the captain, or co-captains in your case. Paige and Hayden are really determined to win the House Cup this year. So I guess they would set up something really tough this year." Draco explained.
" Well, its not very comforting to know. I mean, I just mastered the sport not long ago and now I have to go for try outs. What if I don't make it?" Clarissa started to panic. " What if I screw up and not make it into the team? And Paige would be so-" Clarissa got cut off by Draco when he placed his lips on hers
" You will be just fine." Draco assured her as he led her back to the common room.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Paige placed the package on the Head's common room couch,
" Do you think she will see this?" Paige asked Hayden who was sitting on the armchair next to the fireplace.
" Pet, its so obvious that even the blind can see." Hayden replied with sarcasm dripping from his voice, earning him a smack on the side of his forehead. " What the fuck was that for?"
" For being a fucking bastard and calling me Pet. Come on, we better go before they get back."
" Pet is your name isn't it? It is Petrina Paige Riddle right? So its not wrong to call you Pet. Its better than calling you princess." Hayden spat the last word out.
" No, its just that my mum used to call me Pet. I always thought that this name should be saved for that special someone."
" Well, you better get used to it. Cause I'm not going to stop calling you Pet after I win the bet." Hayden said as he reached their common room.
" We'll see about the bet. Goodnight." Paige kissed him on the cheek and went up to her room.
-
Draco and Clarissa were walking towards their common room, dragging their brooms behind them. Draco said the password and entered the dormitory with Clarissa right behind him. The first thing they set their sights on was the big package on the common room couch.
" What do you think this is?" Clarissa asked as she approached the package.
" Beats me, why don't you check the card on the package?" He said pointing to the package. Clarissa turned around and saw the black card in the middle of the gift. The card had a neat font that read Clarissa, curious, she opened the card and read it.
Clarissa,
Hayden and I got this broom for you. After realizing that you don't seem to have one. Its custom made for you after seeing your lessons with Draco. Your name is engraved on it. All you have to do is to name it and the name will be on the broom. Don't worry about tomorrow, it will turn out just fine. All the best!
Love, Paige and Hayden
Clarissa threw the card aside and moved on to her gift. She pulled off the string that held the wrapping paper together and started tearing everything until nothing was left except the broom. She gasp in surprise while Draco stared wide eyed at the broom. It was a deep mahogany and the stick was smooth yet firm. At the beginning of the broom, a gold cursive Clarissa was engraved on the broom.
" Wow..." That was all Clarissa could muster. She had to name her broom but she was at a loss. She had no idea what to name it. She had to consult the only person with her, Draco.
" Erm, Draco? What is the name of Paige's broom?"
" I'm not sure, its either Stardust or Starstorm. I always mix the name of her broom and her owl." Draco was trying hard to remember the name of Paige's broom, he was at the brink of banging his head against the wall.
" Iris."
" Huh?" Draco was not sure what she just muttered.
" Iris, thats the name of the broom." The moment she said Iris, the broom began to glow so bright that both of them had to shut their eyes to prevent from getting blind. Slowly, the glow began to dissipate and the same cursive writing appeared on the other side of the broom that read Iris. A huge grin appeared on Paige's face. She finally has her own broom and its beautiful. This sure beats being a muggleborn. She was really tired, she wanted to sleep but cursed under breath when she saw the time.
" Come on, we're late for patrols."
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
She was lying on the floor after being pulled away from her mother. He was standing there with her mother. All she could do was to watch in horror. Her vision was coming true. Her mother was going to die tonight. Just when her father had gone for a raid. He was standing there, kissing and sucking her mother's neck while pushing the straps of her night gown away and started kissing her mother's shoulder. A moan came from deep within her mother's throat. She could not believe her eyes, how could her mother become so intimate with someone she did not know? Someone who was not her father? Then, his face changed in front of hers, his teeth turned into fangs and he dug his fangs into her mother's flesh, earning a scream from both her mother and herself. He was a vampire. After he was done, he threw her mother down to the floor and looked at the terrified little girl. She saw blood, on her mother and his lips.
" You're next." He smiled, with blood sticking to his teeth.
That smile haunted her for years.
She was crying and shaking really hard.
Paige woke with a start and Hayden was sitting in front of her. Tears started to pour from her eyes as she thrust her self towards Hayden's chest. He held her like the other nights when she had the same nightmare but somehow, he felt that this dream was different from the others. She was shaking violently in his arms. She began chanting, she was breaking right in front of him.
" He's coming. He's coming. He's coming to get me." She started chanting. It was true, she was breaking. It did not happen often for her, the last time she broke down was when her mother died, right before her eyes when she was only three. She became as hard as stone after that, never crying, never showing that she was in pain, never showing weakness. She never showed emotion when she went for her mother's funeral, she just sat there, staring into space. She channeled all these feelings into her studies, Qudditch and other things. Hayden was the only who saw her show her true feelings. This time she could not take it anymore, she just cried and cried.
" Who is coming to get you?" He asked after she showed signs of weariness.
" He, the one who killed my mother. He's a vampire, from what I know, he has been going after my family for centuries."
" The Halliwells?"
" Yes, this time, he said that I was next." Paige's voice Quivered a little. Hayden pulled her into another hug.
" I would have asked you to go back to sleep but its already morning. We have to set up the Qudditch field." Hayden told her. " Go take a shower."
-
Draco and Clarissa went to the Great Hall early to have a good breakfast before the game. They sat at their usual place, waiting for the food to arrive when Paige and Hayden arrived, dressed in their Qudditch robes and they sat at their usual place, waiting for their food to arrive. To Draco and Clarissa's surprise, no food appeared. Only apples, green apples and red apples.
" Why are they only apples?" Clarissa asked, after taking one herself.
" So you won't puke while flying in the air. We an accident once, with Crabbe and Goyle." Paige shuddered as she recalled those moments. Looking at Paige now, you would never have though that she was crying just a few moments before.
" Oh, then I guess I won't eat." Putting the apple back but Paige placed the apple back into her hand.
" You have to eat it, or else you'll have no energy to fly after wards. And besides, an apple has acids to keep you awake better than coffee. So you have to eat it." Paige ordered. Clarissa nodded and ate her apple.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
It was eight in the morning when the try outs started. There were about twenty people trying out for a position in the team. It was about five minutes later when the team arrived with their co-captains Paige and Hayden.
" Ok. Can I see a clear row for those who are trying out for chaser and another row for those who are trying out for beater." Hayden asserted his role as co-captain. " Now!" Two row were quickly formed one was visibly longer than the other. " Alright. Chasers, follow Paige and beaters follow me." Each row did what they were ordered to do.
Paige led the chasers to one side of the Qudditch field. They started out with laps around the field. The team were situated all over the field to see who was good enough to go to the next round. The players went to Hayden and Paige one by one to tell them who was fit to do the next round. While doing laps, Paige and Hayden called out names and they landed, leaving about a few chasers and about five beaters. Those who were flying were chosen to go through the next round of try outs. They next thing they did were speed sprints, chasers under the instructions of Paige and the beaters under the instructions of Hayden. They were doing fine until Pansy Parkinson flew next to Paige.
" What the hell do you think you are doing? Not telling me about the try outs? And why are you trying out for another chaser?"" Pansy demanded.
" Cause the rest of the team think that you're not up to the position." Paige replied coolly.
" What do you mean not up to the position?" Pansy on the other hand, was losing her cool.
Paige turned to face her and told Draco to take over her place. " You were never up to the position of chaser. You were always late for training, even absent for matches that we have to find a replacement for you in the last minute. You can't even sprint on that lousy broom on yours, you can't catch the Quaffle without it slipping away from your hands. So do you think you are a good chaser?" Pansy was taken aback by what Paige said.
" I am a good chaser! Why did you think Marcus Flint let me into the team?" Pansy argued.
" Because you slept with him."
" But but... Draco will miss me! He cannot stand not having me around. The rest of the team will miss me too. Don't kick me out. Please." Pansy pleaded.
" Let me tell you the truth straight in your face. I did not kick you out. The team did and Draco was the one who suggested it in the first place. Ask him if you don't believe me." Paige went back and took her position while Pansy rushed over to Draco. Paige could hear what was going on. Draco was telling Pansy exactly what Paige told her. Pansy broke into tears and went hysterical and left the field.
Paige called the team together to discuss who could be part of the Qudditch Team. After a few minutes, the students trying out for chasers and beaters were called.
"Theodore Nott, Thomas Nott and Clarissa Riddle. Please step forward. The rest, I am sorry, you did not make it to the team. Although you did well, it was not good enough. Maybe you could try again next year."After Hayden was done, those whose name was not called, went back to their common rooms.
" Training next week will be on Wednesday at eight. Is that alright with everyone?" the team's heads nodded and were dismissed.
Clarissa was so happy. She was literally jumping for joy. Every member on the team came over to her and said congratulations and that she deserved it more than Pansy. Paige gave her a little hug while Hayden gave her a simple handshake and told her that she was really good. Clarissa was left in the field with Draco. He gave her a big hug.
" You must be happy." Draco stated.
" Happy? Happy is just an understatement. I'm completely elated." Clarissa said hugging him once again.
" Go get changed. We have a date."
" We do?" Clarissa suddenly confused.
" In exchange for your flying lesson. You do." Clarissa's eyes brightened up.
" Oh! I almost forgot. We better go!" She ran back into the school pulling Draco behind her.
A/N: like it? Well. Please review. I am trying to update a soon as possible. So please bear with me. Thanks. Love you all. Esp Slyswn for being such a loyal reader.
GothicendinG.