Disclaimer- Harry Potter belongs to J.K.R. I only own the story/plot and all original characters presented throughout the duration of this fic.
A/N- This chapter is dedicated to My Love is for 4 Moony for being one of the most patient (or impatient, however you want to look at it :D) and devoted reviewers ever, and for making me get off my lazy ass and write this chapter up. Also for not letting me forget that I still have this story, and not just my original works that I have to work on. Because really, I do love to write this story.
No More Miss Nice Girl
Chapter 22
Lily sat at the table, eyes wide.
Oh my God…She couldn't believe it. No, this couldn't be happening. Dumbledore did not just announce that. But even if he did, it didn't necessarily affect her. She just wouldn't go, wouldn't attend, wouldn't watch, wouldn't do anything that involved that stupid sport. Honestly, let the students play their game. Why have all the graduates play against each other on their respectable teams? But she knew that she was being idiotic, and that before even coming here somewhere in the back of her mind, she had known that Dumbledore would do something like this. She sighed heavily, messaged her temple with her index and pointer finger. Stopped when she noticed Kristi looking at her, a gleam of curiosity sparkling in her dark eyes. And she couldn't but to curse; she knew that she would have to go and watch it now, unless she could find someone else to take and explain the game to Kristi.
"What's Quidditch?" asked Kristi.
Lily sighed, slumped down in her seat. She had known that was coming. Rubbing her eyes tiredly, she answered Kristi in a defeated voice that it was just some "stupid game that used balls, and kind of reminded you of football and basketball". Maybe she could get Arabella to be Kristi's "chaperone" to the impending game that would take place in only a few hours. Arabella and Kristi were getting along remarkably well. She was sure that Arabella wouldn't mind explaining the game to Kristi. Besides even if Lily did go and attempted to explain the game to Kristi, she wouldn't be able to. Not really. She hadn't played Quidditch in school, had hardly ever even gone and watched a game. She didn't really understand it, and therefore couldn't possibly give Kristi sufficient enough information about it to understand the concept of it.
Lily almost smiled. There it was, the excuse that she needed. If she explained to Kristi that she herself didn't understand and properly know the rules of the game, then Kristi couldn't possibly badger her into going with her to watch it. Lily frowned, though, a sudden thought becoming present in her thoughts. What if Kristi insisted that she go anyways so they could both learn the rules to Quidditch together? Lily sent a glare upward, knowing already that that would be what Kristi did. She knew her friend just a little too well, and knew how she operated.
Lily sighed yet once again and started to massage her temples. Well damn…
"So I take it you aren't playing then huh?" Kristi asked.
Lily glanced at her; saw her amusement in her eyes. "No."
Kristi shrugged and smiled, leaning so she could rest her arms on the table. "Figured as much. You're going to go watch, though, right?"
Lily sighed yet once again. Here was the part that she was most dreading. Did she want to go watch some stupid game played by over competitive people that she didn't even remotely like? No, she really didn't. Would Kristi really give her a choice in the matter even though she was asking her whether or not she wanted to go? No, Kristi really wouldn't.
"Do I really have a choice in the matter?" asked Lily.
Kristi quirked an eyebrow, and smirked. "No, not really," she said.
Lily half sighed half groaned. "Didn't think so," she said just as Arabella walked over to them, sitting down across from Lily and beside of Kristi.
Lily looked at Arabella, raised an eyebrow. Since when did Arabella eat breakfast with her, or them meaning Kristi and Lily? She didn't remember Arabella, though, they had always been on relatively "friendly" terms, ever choosing to eat or sit with her instead of Arabella's friends. She could see from the corner of her eye, Arabella's friends looking at them and whispering. Yes, it must be a right shocker. Seeing the wonderful and once popular Arabella Figg associating with the likes of her and her "muggle" friend. Lily almost snorted, remembered that Arabella pretty much did what she wanted without the consent of her friends. Not that it mattered to her, of course.
"Are you playing in the Quidditch game?" Kristi asked the chestnut-haired girl.
Arabella snorted, and Lily raised both of her eyebrows. Arabella Figg play in the Quidditch game? Arabella Figg play Quidditch or any other type of sport period? That was funny. Lily was almost tempted to laugh. Arabella, she knew, hated sports. Oh sure she watched them, albeit without enthusiasm, and even understood the rules and plays down to near perfection, but she didn't like them. Lily knew this, hell almost everyone knew this. Knew that Arabella only watched them for the sake of having something to do, and because Arabella didn't like to be the person out of the loop. Lily wasn't sure if that just made Arabella just a tad bit weird, but shrugged it off. She didn't really care.
Kristi raised an eyebrow. "I'll take that as a no."
"Smart girl," was Arabella dry reply.
Lily couldn't but grin a little as Kristi rolled her eyes and sent an almost sour look at Arabella. Arabella only raised an eyebrow at her before turning her attention back to Lily.
"What are you doing over here?" Lily asked.
Arabella blinked once. "What do you mean?"
"Why aren't you sitting with your little friends, they're looking at you," clarified Lily.
Arabella didn't even bother to look at her friends, instead watched Lily intensely. "I'm quite entitled to sit with whomever I want."
Lily shrugged, but let it go. "Are you going to the game?"
Arabella flicked her hair over her shoulder. "Are you?"
Lily looked at Kristi. Kristi only grinned and stuck her fork full of food in her mouth. "Gotta."
Arabella frowned and glanced between Lily and Kristi. "I suppose then I'll go as well. I know you aren't the most… knowledgeable person when it comes to Quidditch, and no doubt your going to explain it to your friend. "
Lily looked at Arabella and said dryly, "Thanks, Arabella."
Arabella shrugged, and small smile gracing her lips. "Your quite welcome, Lily."
Lily shook her head; she could already tell that the day was going to be extremely long. She couldn't help but to sigh, slumping down in her seat even more.
xXx
It was all coming back to her now, the reason why she hated going to games. Why she hated Quidditch. The screaming, the booing, the jeering… it all gave her a headache, and being squashed up against people... This just wasn't her idea of fun. Nope, not at all. She glanced at where Kristi was. She seemed to be enjoying the game, though she didn't understand it all yet even though Arabella was explaining every detail of it her. With them two engrossed in their conversation, though, that left her bored and irritated. Though not because they weren't paying her any attention, but because she didn't want to be at the game. She grumbled under her breath and crossed her arms tightly over her chest, refocusing her attention on the players.
Today it was Gryffindor vs. Slytherin; the two opposing teams that got everyone (except for her and a few other select people) in an enthused frenzy. Everyone that had been on the Quidditch teams when she was in Hogwarts had taken up all their old Quidditch positions, and even some that hadn't been on the Quidditch team was playing now. People like Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, though Pettigrew couldn't play if his life depended on it. She snorted. Severus Snape could probably play Quidditch better then Pettigrew could. Not that she would know, of course. She had never seen Severus Snape play Quidditch before, he wasn't even helping out his Slytherin mates today, not that she could blame him though.
Lily sighed, shivering as another gust of cold wind whipped at her, blowing her red locks about her head. She knew she should have pulled her hair back today and worn something a bit warmer. Her dark blue jeans, red silk/lace shirt, and leather jacket just weren't all that sufficient when it came to being warm. Sniffling, her nose threatening to run, and her cheeks and lip chapped Lily had had enough. She wasn't having fun, and the knees that kept getting shoved in her back weren't helping better her mood. She poked Arabella. Arabella turned and looked at Lily questioningly.
"I'm going to go. See you guys back at the castle," Lily said.
Arabella nodded. "Okay, I might be in shortly if I can get Kristi away from the game."
Lily snorted. "Good luck, chica. That girl's a sportoholic."
With that said, Lily stood up from her spot on the bench and began to push her way through the people, not even apologizing when she stepped on somebody's foot or got in their way of viewing the game. In just a few minutes she would be warm, and surrounded by peaceful quiet. Maybe she could go down to the kitchen and have the house elves fix her up a cup of cocoa. She wasn't sure what is was about the elves cocoa, but it always tasted so much better than her own. And in Hawaii, she had never really wanted to drink cocoa, instead always wanting something cold to drink. Lily let her lips twitch upward, reached the steps. However, just as she was stepping forward to descend the stairs, she heard Kristi unmistakably scream her name. Lily spun around, and caught sight of the bludger right before it made contact with her head.
Pain was the last thing she was aware of before darkness overcame her.
A/N- Wow, I'm amazed. This chapter has got to be one of the fastest that I've ever typed. Short and kind of crappy. However, if you want faster updates then most of the chapters will probably be short. Anyways, I'm not sure how much updating I'll get down this summer because my sister is getting married and we only have a little less then five weeks to plan everything. Yeah, she sprung it on us. Anyways review. I'll try to update faster.
ZombieGurl98