Chapter 14

- Quidditch Match and Match Makers -

"Oh, no." Teddy sighed, his arm still wrapped around Arkie's waist as she leaned on him. It was Saturday, and the first Quidditch match of the season. Ron had just entered the Great Hall looking almost terrified as he sat down opposite Hermione.

"You okay, Ron?" He asked, noticing how for probably the first time in his life Ron was staring down at his food unappetizing. "You look paler than I do on full moons." He said, trying to cheer him up. Ron just ignored him.

"So how was it?" he asked.

Hermione looked up from her newspaper the words 'Muggles Dropping Like Flies' written across the front, along with numerous missing people ads. "How was what?"

"Your dinner party?" Jealousy was plain in his voice.

She looked back down at her newspaper. "Pretty boring actually. But I think Harry enjoyed dessert." Ron stared back at his untouched breakfast as Hermione continued. "Slughorn's having Christmas party before the holidays."

"Great." Arkie groaned from beside Teddy, he smiled kissing her forehead lightly.

Hermione ignored her groans. "I'm about to bring someone."

Ron shifted in his seat. "I expect you'll be bringing McLaggen. He's in the Slug Club, isn't he?"

The frizzy haired girl set down her paper, looking offended. "Actually, I was going to ask you." Ron looked surprised. A veil of silence fell upon the table. Arkie continued to rest her head on Teddy's shoulder and he made a mental note to ask her to the party when the awkward moment had finished.

Suddenly, a short girl, with long curly blonde hair and a way too much make up on tapped Ron's shoulder. Ron looked up in surpised. "Good luck today, Ron." She said with a shy giggle. "I know you'll be brilliant." She trotted off and Teddy tried his best to conceal his smile as Ron went even paler.

"I'm resigning." He declared, looking sick. "After today's match, McLaggen can have my spot."

Harry seemed surprisingly calm as he pushed a cup of orange juice towards Ron. "Juice?"

"Sure."

"Hello, everyone." Luna sat down beside Ron, wearing an enormous hat in the shape of a lion.

Teddy brightened at the sight of it. He too had grabbed a Gryffindor scarf and Arkie had put together a sign saying 'Go! Go Gryffindor!'. "Hey, Luna." He beamed. "Nice hat."

"Thank you." She suddenly noticed Ron, holding to cup of juice in front of him. "You look dreadful, Ron. Is that why Harry put something in his cup?" Everyone's eyes turned to Harry who didn't shun away. "Is it a tonic?"

Suddenly, the shaggy haired boy pushed something into his pocket, a small glass vial.

Hermione gasped. "Liquid luck." She whispered. Ron's eyes widened as he stared down at his cup in awe. "Don't drink it, Ron!" But Ron didn't listen, in a few seconds he had downed the whole thing. "You could be expelled for that!" She glared at Harry.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He replied. Colour returned to Ron's face and a determined shine glinted in his eye.

"Come on, Harry, we've got a game to win." The two boys nudged each other roughly before walking out of the Great Hall. Teddy shook his head, smiling. He was happy Ron was more confident, but in the end it was very much cheating.

The icy air cast a thick fog over the school's Quidditch pitch but the brightly colored Gryffindor uniforms made it easy for Teddy to spot the players. The commentator was having a field day, talking so fast that even Teddy couldn't understand him. The game had only just begun and so far Ron had unsurprisingly blocked every goal the Slytherin's tried to score.

The Gryffindors had begun to chant loudly in time. "Weasley! Weasley! Weasley!" Luna's hat let out a mighty roar as Ron blocked yet another goal. So far Slytherin had not scored a single point and lots of outraged cries and yells were coming from the Slytherin stand. "Weasley! Weasley! Weasley! Weasley!"

The crowd was getting louder and Ron was beginning to pump his fist in the air triumphantly. "Go Ron!" Arkie shouted between Teddy and Hermione, who was clapping politely and rolling her eyes, yet still wearing a smile. "Woo hoo!"

By the end of the game the score were two hundred and fifty to zero. Everyone was wet, tired and extremely excited. "Party in the Gryffindor house!" Someone yelled as the crowd of cheering Gryffindors ran back up to the castle, leaving behind deep footprints in the snow.

"Good game, Harry." Teddy congradulated.

"You coming to the Gryffindor common room? You're both invited." He said to Teddy and Arkie.

"Course we are!"

The fat lady looked very shocked to see so many Gryffindor's arriving at once. They were still chanting loudly making all the paintings cover their ears. Once in the common room, Ron was lifted off the ground by Seamus and Dean. "Weasley! Weasley!" Teddy clapped in the corner, laughing at Ron's expression.

"You shouldn't have done it." Hermione said to Harry unimpressed.

Harry leaned against the wall next to Teddy. "I know. I supposed I could have just used the Confundus charm like you did." Teddy looked at them confused.

Hermione crossed her arms. "That was different. That was try-outs, this was a natural game." but she stopped when Harry pulled something out of his pocket. The small glass vial, still full of Liquid Luck. "You didn't put in? Ron only thought you did." Harry nodded and Teddy whistled as Ron was put down and at the same time Lavender Brown, the same blonde haired girl who'd wished him luck in the Great Hall, kissed him eagerly. Ron didn't push away but leaned into the kiss which last an uncomfortably long time.

The Gryffindors roared loudly and Teddy turned to look at the others, only to realize Hermione was gone. He caught sight of the fat lady painting opening and closing in the distance. Harry too had noticed it and was glancing at Teddy. "I'll go." He said, walking out of the common room. He found Hermione sitting on the stairs of one of the many towers.

She was slumped over, tears seeping down her cheeks yet she didn't make more sound than a sniffle. "Hermione?" He said, his voice echoing. She looked over her shoulder and quickly wiped away her tears. There was a soft tweeting sound and Teddy looked at the tiny birds circling around Hermione.

"Charm spell. Just practising." She said, her breath wavering.

"It's good. Are you okay?" He asked, sitting down next to her. She was silent, wiping more tears from her eyes and sniffing softly.

"How do you think Harry feels? When he sees Dean with Ginny." Teddy finally understood what was wrong and put his hand on her shoulder comfortingly. "I see the way he looks at her."

"I'm really sorry, Hermione." He said truthfully, opening his mouth but was cut off when two giggling students came running down the stairs. Lavender and Ron came to a sudden stop when they saw the two.

"Oops!" lavender said in a giggle before whispering loudly to Ron. "I think this room's taken."

Teddy felt uncomfortable, but he didn't remove his hand from Hermione's shoulder. He could sense the anger in Hermione and he too had a confusing hatred towards the blonde girl. Lavender walked down the stairs and Ron stayed behind. "What's with the birds?" He asked with a smile.

Hermione stood up, pointing her wand at Ron. "Oppugno." The bird, like missiles, flew towards Ron who ducked out of the way. The birds collided with the wall and Ron looked at Hermione, his mouth open. Then he ran after Lavender, Hermione sat back down on the floor, weeping.