It seemed like they had never left. Anticipation and excitement could be smelled in the air. Many happy faces were walking to the pitch, talking animatedly or betting on their favourite team. Harry walked to the lockers room, reminiscing some of his memories about his years as a Gryffindor's seeker. He thought he would meet Teddy there and wish him luck on his last first match, only to see the back of a red haired girl who was very engaged in a snogging session with the team's keeper, whose back was against the wall and his hands were in the small back of his girlfriend. Harry cleared his throat and the young couple pulled away. The girl turned around to look at him, and that's when Harry realized who she was.
"Uncle Harry! Hi! What... What are you doing here?" A very flushed and embarrassed Belle asked him as her boyfriend, equally embarrassed, tried to wipe his red-stained lips with his hands.
"Hi, pumpkin! First game of the season? Teddy invited me to watch." He explained as Belle looked down and nodded.
"Right... Teddy... Well... Erm... I was just... I just..." Belle stammered. Harry just sighed and smiled a bit.
"You might want to go and sit with the rest of the students. Your dad's outside talking to Madame Spinet and I don't think he'll like to see you here if you don't play." Harry said. Belle nodded, still flushed, kissed Adam one more time and, without looking at her uncle in the eyes, she left to meet the rest of her classmates. Ron walked in a little while later and greeted Adam and Teddy, who had just walked out of the toilet laughing to himself.
"Alicia says Belle's doing great in flying. Doesn't know why she's not on the team. Told her she's more like Hermione and likes to stay on ground. Speaking of which, have you seen her? I thought I would pass her by on my way here." He said. Adam blushed and looked down.
"Probably in the library. You know her, uncle Ron." Teddy said, rolling his eyes mockingly.
"Don't worry. We'll see her after the match." Harry reassured him.
The two thirds of the Golden Trio sat in the teacher's stands, where they had the most amazing view of the pitch, thanks to their friend Neville who was the Herbology teacher there. The game was going great. Gryffindor was winning and the snitch was already out. Slytherin had the quaffle and they were going to Gryffindor's poles when one of the chasers threw the ball so hard that it hit Adam on the face. The 17-year-old boy slowly fell off the broom. Madame Spinet blew the whistle and Headmistress McGonagall went there just as Ron and Harry noticed another person joining them and kneeling down next to the unconscious keeper.
"Isn't that...?" Harry asked as Ron's eyes got bigger than plates.
"Belle!" He exclaimed.
As Ron and Harry were leaving the stands, Adam was taken back to the castle and to the hospital wing. When Ron and Harry got there they found Belle and Victoire standing in front of the door. Ron could notice tears in his daughter's eyes.
"Belle?" He called. At the sound of her name, the 17-year-old girl turned her head, then ran to him and held onto him as she cried. Ron held her tight and rubbed her back. It broke his heart in million pieces to see his little girl so upset.
"He... He was... He wasn't..." She stammered after pulling away a bit.
"It's alright, sweetheart. Madame Pomfrey is in there with him and she's going to help him in any way she can." He said, calmly.
"But what if... What if... the hit was too much and... and he's unconscious for Merlin knows how long? Or... Or he wakes up but... but doesn't remember a thing or... or... m-me?" She asked, her voice trembling again. Ron put his hands on her shoulders and make her to look at him in the eye.
"He's going to be fine, Belle. Madame Pomfrey is the best in what she does, and I'm more than sure that he's not going to forget about you, sweetheart." He reassured her. Belle just looked down and sobbed.
They stayed there, waiting, for what seemed like an eternity. By that time, the whole of Gryffindor team was there too. Belle looked at the door, impatiently, from time to time. She reminded Harry of Hermione when they were in sixth and Ron had been poisoned. Suddenly, the door was opened and McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey appeared. Belle nearly ran to them followed by the rest.
"Mister Weston is out of danger. He suffered a pretty hard hit on the head, which gave him a concussion. He's resting now, so I suggest you all go and do the same." McGonagall explained.
"Can I... May I see him? Please?" Belle asked, a worried look on her face.
"Miss Granger-Weasley, it is imperious that he rests and..." Madame Pomfrey started before Belle cut her in.
"Please, miss. I just... I just want to see him for 5 minutes." She said, her voice breaking. McGonagall looked at her, softly, and then looked at Madame Pomfrey.
"Alright, Miss Granger-Weasley, you have 10 minutes." She said. Belle smiled them thanks and rushed to Adam's bed. He looked sound asleep. His head was partially wrapped up in a bandage and he looked pale. Belle took a nearby chair and pulled closer to his bed. Then, she sat down and took his hand and just watched him. McGonagall and the rest of Gryffindor's team left, leaving Ron and Harry at the door of the infirmary.
"Well, it's good to know he's going to recover soon, so... I'm gonna head to the Three Broomsticks and then home. You coming?" Harry asked Ron, who couldn't take his eyes off his little girl.
"You go. I'll stay for a little while longer." Ron answered. Harry squeezed his shoulder gently.
"Give Belle my love and let me know how he's doing." He said. Ron nodded. He didn't know how long he stayed there watching the young couple. He was sure it was more than ten minutes.
"They remind me of you and Miss Granger. Every time one of you was in that bed, the other one was there holding their hand or talking or something." Madame Pomfrey said. Ron looked at her. "I remember you coming every day and talking to her when she was petrified. I remember Miss Granger arriving here first thing every morning when you were poisoned. She would sit there for hours and just hold your hand, hoping for you to wake up and see her. I remember the smile on her face when you woke up and said her name. I just looked at the two of you and thought: 'this is love at its finest.'" she continued. Ron could see a little smile on her before she disappeared to tend to another student. He sighed and went to his daughter slowly and put his hands on her shoulders.
"You should go and eat something and get some rest. There's not much we can do now except wait." He said.
"What if... What if he wakes up?" She asked, sniffing and not taking her eyes off her boyfriend.
"I'll tell Madame Pomfrey to let you know. Trust me." He said. Belle sighed and got up. She planted a kiss on the teenage boy's lips and followed her father to the door. He walked with her to the grand staircase, holding her by the shoulders.
"He's going to be fine, Belle. Trust me." He said when they stopped.
"What if he wakes up and I'm not there and he... What if he doesn't...?" She asked, worried. Ron smiled a bit.
"No one forgets the one who loves." He answered.
"How... How can you be sure?" She asked.
"Experience. Now, go and get some rest. You'll see he'll be better in the morning." He said. She nodded and hugged him one more time.
"Thanks for staying with me, dad." She said. He smiled and kissed her head.
"Anytime, sweetheart. Anytime." He said
The next morning, when Ron arrived to the hospital wing with some breakfast, he found his daughter sitting on the chair next to Adam's bed. She was smiling as she talked to the teenage boy sitting on the bed. The boy was smiling as well. Ron saw him saying something, and then Belle leaning towards him, concerned. He saw how the boy smiled and kissed his daughter, and how a surprised Belle relaxed and kissed him back. He smiled to himself. Watching the young couple was truly watching love at its finest.