Chapter 18: By the Law
Andrews had been utterly enraged when James informed him that he was no longer required to attend training. He clearly got the message that meant he wasn't welcome at the games either. And despite Cressida's un-involvement with any part of the Quidditch schemes this year besides being a victim, his fiery glare set on her. It had been so intense that even from a few meters away, she started gripping her wand tightly. Her instincts prove to be right when Andrews lifted his wand, but it didn't get higher than his stomach when James raised his own with swiftness and hovered the tip between them. A threat with no words needed. James would defeat him in a duel without a doubt.
But as she soars back through the air, fitted back in training clothes, Cressida really couldn't care less what rumours he has already begun whispering to their classmates. She even suspects that they already have a whiff of the truth.
As training begins to come to an end, Cressida slowly flies towards James who is hovering just to the side of the pitch, resting his feet in the air instead of on the footholds.
"Admiring your work?" she calls, doing the same and letting her legs hang freely. The two remaining chasers are flying around, practising their passes. They'd replaced Braxton's position with a Gryffindor a year below them who'd done better than almost everyone else bar those already on the team.
"I'm doing alright, yeah?" James questions back, a slight crease in his forehead as he watches them zoom around the chasers who are acting as opponents. Cressida flies closer, tipping her head down and to the side to emphasise her baffled expression. James swallows, looking between her and the pitch with growing intensity. "Cress," he drawls, "is something wrong?"
Her laugh bellows out, head dropping between her arms. Once she looks back up, the unease has dropped from his features, replaced with a tired smile as he waits for her to calm down. "I never thought I'd see the day where James Potter questions his abilities. What was it you said in second year? Something about being the world's best chaser? You weren't even on the team yet. I'm surprised your broom can even keep you up here with how big your head is."
"And I'm shocked that you're not yet green with envy," he wittily quips back. "You've always been jealous of how naturally talented I am."
Cressida rolls her eyes teasingly, beginning to inch her broom forward. "Please. I made you eat dirt last Summer. And I'm not the one who broke their broom by flying into a brick shed. Or the one who-"
Her voice is cut off by her own squeal as James is suddenly heading straight towards her with an outstretched hand. Chaser vs Keeper; they zip through the air. Her swiftness matches his speed and tailing abilities, but his faster broom becomes her downfall.
With training clearly over, the rest of the team settles down into their own little groups, chatting and watching.
The grin never leaves her face, but each time she checks over her shoulder, he's flying closers and closer. She begins questioning what he would do when he reaches her. One thing to remember about James Potter is that he's predictably unpredictable.
With all the scenarios running through her head, the only one she hadn't thought of, was his shoulder barging into hers. The impact is enough to knock her off to the left and in an instinctive attempt to balance, she makes the mistake of letting go of the broom's handle.
It slips out from under her, replacing the space with nothing but air and the ground many feet below. Cressida doesn't even feel the scream build-up, but it surely comes. Facing the ground, the green pitch slowly takes over her vision, the team and the stands disappearing. Her wand is tucked safely in her bag, preventing her from even casting a spell to slow her fall.
Less than a second after her eyes close in true fear, a strong grip latches onto her forearm, and her momentum is sent horizontally instead of straight down. As she and her saviour begin to slow, Cressida is finally able to look up. Her saviour is of course the one that nearly damned her to begin with.
He stops mid-air, simply holding on to her just above her wrists. Cressida grips his own back. "James, get me on the ground." She's careful with her words, knowing if she said to let her go, he would, purely for entertainment. And she doesn't doubt that he has no intention to harm her, but as they all know, accidents on the pitch can happen.
"I thought you like flying."
"James!" Her hard pants nearly rack sobs in her chest. Her legs feel weak and her grip on his arm is quivering. "Please!"
He leans forward on his broom which slowly dives down. His grip stays firm and unwavering despite her shaky one.
Fear can become crippling. It's one thing to be in the air with something to keep you there that can't falter. It's not human. But to trust your life in something that is human – that can slip, that can make a mistake. It makes her whole body faint.
As soon as her feet touch the ground, they falter at the knees, sending Cressida into a small lump. She bends forward, resting her head between her knees, shaking her hands off to the side.
"You alright?" Cressida lifts her head, nodding at James. She's not mad at him – only shaken by the events. "Do you want some water?"
"No," she breathes. "Just letting feeling return to my legs." She attempts a small laugh, but her lungs are still breathless. "Fuck James. You scared the shit out of me."
He sits down, facing opposite her with his shoulders aligned with her knees. His mouth is drawn up in a smirk that's meant to amuse rather than taunt her. "That was kinda the point," he says. "Sirius has your broom too."
Cressida nods again, focusing on her breathing and stretching her neck out from side to side. James places a hand on her calf, rubbing up and down in an odd version of a massage.
People start landing around them, training now well over. James gives her a quick smile. Then he leans forward, pressing a kiss against her temple and then walks away to address the team. Cressida stays in spot, now out of tire than shaken legs. Sirius appears soon enough, carrying both their brooms, not interested in whatever James has to say to the team.
Like James, he sits down next to her and she thanks him for catching her broom before it could go off and smash into something. Sirius waves her off, crossing his legs and smiling. But the smile isn't warm or charming. It's devious. "What was that?"
Cressida cocks her head to the side. "That was James being a dick and knocking me off my broom," she laughs unsurely. "Why? Is he telling you that I just accidentally fell?"
Sirius presses his lips together, shaking his head slowly. "No, I saw it all. I just mean- you know what, don't worry about it."
Cressida swallows, brows pinching together and mimics Sirius as he rises to his feet. "No," she denies. "You can't say don't worry about it. The laws state that now I'm going to worry about it." She marches behind him, broom in hand as Sirius strides towards their belongings stashed near the stands. "Sirius?" He spins around with a cheeky grin but keeps walking backwards. "Sirius!"
Xx
Snow crunches underneath their boots, small balls of warm air meeting cold forming in front of their mouths. Both Sirius and Cressida had failed to foresee, when they selected their elective of Care of Magical Creatures together through the summer, that the class would run through winter…outside. James, Peter and Remus are all enjoying themselves inside, warmed by the castle's magical heating.
But it's a small bitterness that they endure for the sake of an enjoyable class. The snow isn't deep enough to be neither visually endearing nor useful for any typical winter activities. But it's barely begun, with Christmas still two weeks away.
They stomp the snow off their shoes and brush it off their bags once they finally reach the main doors into the castle. They head directly to the Great Hall, passing by Hagrid and Flitwick who are working together to put together an oversized Christmas tree. Care of Magical Creatures was their last class for the next few weeks, until they return in January.
James and Peter are already in the Hall, playing a game of Wizard's chess but the seats around them remain empty. It is odd, considering Remus is typically there first, with his classroom being the closest of all theirs.
Before she can even sit properly in her chair next to Peter, Sirius is already blabbering, "Cress is staying at Hogwarts for Christmas." She snaps her head to the side, sending him a blithering glare with wide eyes. Sirius retaliates her glaze with a huff. "It's not like they won't find out when you don't get on the train with us on Sunday."
"Why aren't you going home?" James questions. "And you always come over Boxing day and stay until school goes back."
Cressida shrugs, scratching the side of her face. "I just don't think Christmas at home is all that special, really. Besides, Marlene is staying so I can keep her company."
"If you don't want to spend it at home, spend it with Sirius and me. My mother adores you." He scrunches his nose, resting his chin on interlocked fingers. "Thinks having a female presence is a positive influence. And-" he raises a pointed finger as though speaking on the most important matter, "-I can give you your present on Christmas day this year."
Cressida sighs, biting the inside of her cheek. It's always hard to argue with James. There's just something so compelling about him that makes her want to fold any and each way to make him happy. It's the same reason she can never stay mad at him. It makes her doubt whether she does want to stay at Hogwarts or not, despite the past month being confident in the decision. "It's only three weeks," she argues feebly. Why is she even arguing? James seems more than content to have her over.
Peter sits forward, licking his lips before speaking. "It's the full moon next week. Shouldn't we all be together for it? I mean, besides Remus." Remus. He still has no idea of their plan. He would spend the full moon at home where he assures them he's safe. Safer than at Hogwarts. "I can come over for the night then go back home before Christmas. My mother won't think twice."
James nods authoritatively at Peter then turns his pointed look back to Cressida. "He has a very good point. We should do this potion together. Imagine if something does go wrong and we're not there."
Damn, Cressida thinks. She hadn't thought of that. "I don't know," is her last attempt in protest.
Sirius sighs, shaking his head. "You're so difficult, you know that?" Cressida can't hold her smile at his faux tiredness and the action becomes her breaking point.
"I'm aware. Fine," she laughs. "Fine. But I'm telling your mother that you threatened me."
James eagerly accepts her terms and reminds her to inform McGonagall of her changing circumstances before they leave that night. He and Peter go back to their chess match, and it takes another ten minutes before Remus finally enters the Great Hall. Sirius and Cressida look up, but their brows furrow in synch as he walks in with non-other than Lily Evans. Cressida looks at Sirius and he only looks back at her before they subtly glance at James. He hasn't taken any notice so far, only looking up once Remus sits down with them, and Lily is back with her friends.