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Chapter 8
Summer Story
Cara's POV
So it's the end of August and the summer has been, well mad. I spent most of the summer in Florida training for the World Championships. I missed home, it was so hard over there. I was training everyday and my knee was giving me a bit of bother, which had everyone stressed and my hands were all blisters! I dreaded the championships, I've never been more unprepared for a competition.
The championships didn't go too well to say the least… They were held in Sheffield and all my Hogwarts friends came to see me, including Charlie as the entire Weasleys had come. I loved seeing them again. Well anyway, I started on beam and won a gold on the first day, I hadn't any other apparatus that day as the mens competition was starting.
I didn't sleep well that night, my knee was bothering me a bit. We arrived at the venue and immediately I began to feel better. Competition just has that effect on me, it's the crowd cheering and of course that I am competing against the worlds best gymnasts. Before we went inside I had to do a press conference, it was mainly asking about my previous knee injury, which was all better now.
I walked into the arena and got that old familiar feeling, my heart jumped into my throat and shivers went down my spine. I felt like I had finally come home! First up was floor, in which I won a silver medal. I was really happy with that as Catalina Ponor took gold and her routine was brilliant, I was sure Carly Patterson would take silver, as I hadn't done enough training this year. I moved to vault after floor, Svetlana Khorkina was on vault when my name was called. I was next. She is an amazing gymnast, really tall and elegant, I think she is to retire this year though. She finished with a 8.9. I stepped up to the plate, my heart was pounding. I could hear the Weasley twins chanting in the background. I vanished the noise from my head. All I could see was the vault. I got the green light and began to run. I reached the vault at high speed and sprung my body in the air twisting and turning myself as fast as I could. My hands reached the vault. Something was wrong. I hadn't enough time to spring off it properly. I could hear silence in the arena. I made my body back flip in order to prevent me falling on my head. I landed in my feet. Pain soared through my right leg. My body dropped to the ground as I screamed. I couldn't hear a pin drop. Then I saw my coach and physiotherapist running towards me. All I could say to my coach was,
"Vault, too high." The tears were rolling down my face as my knee was inspected. Officials were inspecting the vault as I was carried off in a stretcher. I was brought to the nearby hospital and went through a few scans. My family arrived a few minutes after I did and my friends a few minutes after them. Charlie apologised for being a prat and we were on speaking terms again! The twins were doing a good job of cheering me up when the doctor came back to talk to me. Everyone left the room except my parents and my coach. He told me it wasn't as bad as they had previously thought, but I wouldn't be able to train for the next month. I was so relieved, I was thinking I would never be able to compete again! Shane even reminded me that I would be better for the first quidditch match at the beginning of November, I had to laugh.
I was allowed leave the hospital so we decided to head back to the arena. As I entered with my crutches, I was applauded by the crowd. The competition had just ended and I was in time for the medal ceremony, I still had my silver medal to collect after all! As I was waiting for the ceremony to begin, some officials and judges came over to me and apologised, as the vault hadn't been lowered after Khorkina, who was at least six foot, whereas I am only 5'5". They explained that there would be further contact made with me after the they discussed what had happened.
It was so amazing when I hobbled up to take my medal. Ponor and Patterson helped me onto the platform and I have to say it was my best moment receiving a medal.
So that was the summer up till now, my rehabilitation for my knee is top class as it is all paid for because it was the fault of the world championship officials. I am heading back to Hogwarts tomorrow. At the moment Jesse, Nicky and I are staying with the Weasleys. We are all about to head to Diagon Alley and Charlie and I are being civil, but I spend most my time with the twins. The twins are running riot in the house, as usual. I can't wait to get back to normal life without all the drama!
"Breakfast is ready" Mrs. Weasley called from the kitchen. I got up off the couch with the aid of my crutches and hobbled in to the kitchen to fight over the stack of scrumptious pancakes on the table. It was chaos! The twins offered to put sugar on Rons pancake, but when he bit into it he soon realised it was actually salt!
Then George secretly poured lemon juice into Percys tea. Needless to say the next few minutes were involved Percy chasing George through the house before Fred stuck his foot out making Percy trip and tumble on the ground. Mrs. Weasley was shaking her wand and shouting at them. I sat there utterly amused at the happenings, we haven't had a breakfast this exciting since we were little and the twins turned Rons teddy into a spider! After breakfast we flooed to Diagon Alley. We all went to Quality Quidditch Supplies as Mrs. Weasley got our books.
When we got there, we seperated as I went to look for new gloves. I found a pair of dragon hide gloves and made my way to the broom section where I spotted Wood. I snuck up behind him and whispered cheekily,
"You trying to buy some 'wood' there Ol?" he jumped
"Whatever are you implying Ms.Jameson?"
"Ha, wouldn't you like to know! You getting a new broom then?"
"Ya Dad is treating me!"
"Oh merlin, didn't he tell you, Percy has got the keeper this year!"
I couldn't hide the smile so soon his shocked face turned to one of madness! Tee hee I'm evil!
"Merlin, you brat!" he didn't stay mad for long as laughter is contagious! We were both in hysterics when Fred came over and tried to strangle me!
"Hey, you trying to kill me off and ruin your chances to win the cup this year!"
"Getting cocky, are we?" He said as he smiled at Wood.
"So Ol which one you getting?" he asked.
"I'm thinking of the Nimbus 99"
"Oh I have one of those, they're a great line!" I said.
"Ya, how's the knee holding up?"
"Pretty good, the rehab is really helping!"
"We better get going Jame, see you Wood."
"Ok see you tomorrow Ol!" We paid for our items and left the shop.
We all teased each other as we bought the rest of our supplies and headed towards the Leaky Cauldron where we watched the twins antics and Percy telling them off non-stop, I swear that guy is gonna be head boy one day! I loved it just sitting around having fun with all my friends. Fred and I were on one side of our booth with Jesse and her cousin Cedric, who's the seeker for Hufflepuff, he's really nice. George sat next to Nicky Percy and Oliver. Oliver and Cedric were discussing the latest league game between Puddlemere and the Tornados. Every now and then I would get things like,
"Didn't he Cara?" I'd just grunt at them as they continued the detailed description of dad's eleventh goal! I would have enjoyed it if I hadn't listened to the same discussion from Shane the whole way home from the match! After a few hours Mrs. Weasley was singing loudly so we decided it was best to get back to the Burrow. George carried me up the stairs to save me the bother of pushing myself up on my ass!
The next morning was crazy in the Burrow, we had to go back three times before we finally travelled the whole way to Kings Cross station.
I'm on the train to yet another year at Hogwarts and I don't have Shane with me anymore, it's kinda weird! He got a position on the Puddlemere reserve team, I've been teasing him all summer that he only got it because of dad! I know he didn't really, he deserves that position, plus he got two offers from the canons and tornados, so he's living it up on a broom! I'm in a compartment with Jesse, Nicky, Oliver and the twins, we really had all become closer over the last year, especially me and Ol we've gotten to know each other really well. Charlie is captain this year and I actually don't care! Tom and Mark left so there is an opening for two beaters, the twins will get it I think, Charlie knows how good they are. I've decided to forget about the past and just work on keeping the cup for Gryffindor. The twins were completely hyper. I swear the driver must be sick of them now, we had barely got going and they already visited him around ten times! Filch won't know what hit him this year, they've gotten crazier, means some entertainment for me!
The guys went off to meet some friends, which finally gave me the chance to catch up with my girlys! I was so happy to hear all their summer stories, I love hearing about normal things I should have done this summer! Turns out Nicky went out with a muggle boy in her neighbourhood but he cheated on her, and she was so mad she made his hair catch fire! Jesse met Roger Davies at a ministry family party thing and they have been going out ever since! I told them all about Florida. I told them about a cute gymnast who belonged to the local club, we were friends but nothing happened because it was still a little soon after Charlie. They were a bit disappointed though when they realised all I did was eat drink and sleep gymnastics!
"Well at least you got a good tan out of it!" Jesse remarked, "and a couple of medals!"
"Suppose so, can't wait to get playing again though!"
"You'll be back in no time!" Nicky added. I love my friends!
Think maybe I'll go for a walk about the train.
"Guys, I'm going walkies or rather hobblies!" I got a few grunts. I wandered out of our compartment and just my luck, I ran into Flint!
"Well who do we have here? See your brother isn't around to protect you anymore, can't move too quickly either with your knee, just how I like you!" Eww gross breath, shiver!
"Don't need my brother, you prick, now fuck off before your breath kills me!" Tee hee that caught him in the ego, I just walked past him! Cara-1 Flint needs a mint- zilch! I peeked into the next compartment and spotted Cedric, he smiled up at me and waved me in so I joined him in the empty compartment.
"Hey Ced!" I greeted as I plonked in the seat next to him.
"Hey, how's the knee!"
"Ready to kick Flint where it hurts. Why don't you come join us in our compartment?"
"Ya sure, looks like my friends found the food trolley anyway!" We noticed a few Hufflepuffs buying half the contents off the trolley in the next carriage.I pulled Ced by the hand into our compartment, where my friends had a new lease of life due to chocolate! They were all laughing as Jesse's face had turned blue after some loke sweet Fred gave her. They noticed me at the doorway and wecomed us in, then I got the strangest look from Oliver. He stopped laughing and was staring at my hand which was still holding Cedrics, I quickly let go, replaced my hand on my crutch and took my seat beside him with Ced sitting the other side. That was weird, I reckon he is trying to take over Shane's 'protective brother' role. He's in a mood now, merlin, boys!