Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Author's Note:
HELLLLLOOOOOOO. Again. Can I just say that I'm tired of adulting? Can I just go back to being a five year old with no worries other than making sure I take my breathing treatments? No? Well fuck that.
I won't bore you with what life has been throwing at me, but I will give you the basics: 45 hour weeks, Insomnia, Verizon ripping me off and shutting my phone and hotspot off, fake ass bitches, and an annoying ass dog that doesn't know the meaning of personal space and sleep.
Anyways.
READ ON!
No Promises.
Chapter T.W.E.L.V.E.
_"Fall On Your Knees"_
"If there were no mystery left to explore, life would get rather dull, wouldn't it?" -Sidney Buchman
Laughing was clearly heard from where I was sitting on an empty bed in the Hospital Wing. It was loud and obnoxious and very much trying to garner as much attention as possible. I swear I could recognize Malfoy's sneering laugh out of a crowd of laughing people and that definitely wasn't something to be proud of. Not that Pansy's barking cackle was any better.
Annoying prat. I wanted to send a good hex his way if he didn't leave the whole Quidditch team alone with him and his awful song lyrics and theatrics. According to a ranting Angelina, Ron had a hard time ignoring the taunts and jeers sent at him and it affected his playing performance pretty badly. Fred and George were debating whether or not Ron was actually related to them. So far, the answer was that Ron was adopted and had no connection to the Twins.
Ron was going to be the butt of their jokes for the rest of his life at this rate.
I had to suppress the cough that was making its way up my throat as the sterile smell of the Wing flooded my senses, shoulders shaking with the effort and lungs burning. I was not getting sick. I wasn't. But the nauseous feeling that was filling my stomach begged to differ and was making a grand appearance as it rolled unpleasantly.
I was definitely in denial.
"It's rare that you're ever in here other than for a chat, Ms. Walters," Madam Pomfrey said, her voice carrying out to me from her position in her office. She had only recently lit the candles that littered her Wing, the flames casting a warm glow as the last of the sun disappeared over the horizon and shadows flickered against the walls.
"I missed your lovely presence," I quipped, smiling even though she couldn't see it. "And because I heard from a little snake that a friend wasn't feeling well."
On the bed closest to the windows, Elliot lay slumbering underneath the white blankets. Even from across the room, I could hear him wheezing in his sleep and struggling to get the necessary air into his lungs, his breaths coming out in fast pants and cheeks flushed pink. I felt bad for him, intimately knowing the struggles of breathing problems as a younger kid with Asthma. He had definitely caught the worst of the flu going around.
"A little snake, you say?" Madam Pomfrey said distractedly, exiting her office and standing by Elliot, weathered hands fluttering over his cheeks and forehead. She gave her wand a little flourish and a mint green glow covered Elliot's chest and face. She frowned. "It's a miracle that you've managed to gain the loyalty of a Slytherin, Ms. Walters. Not very trusting, they are."
"I wouldn't call it loyalty," I muttered sheepishly. It felt like the furthest thing from loyalty, but I couldn't think of another reasoning as to why Elliot's little friend had approached me after dinner and told me he was in the Hospital Wing having breathing problems and then promptly turning on her heel and marching away as if she hadn't just spoken to me.
Slytherins were so strange.
I didn't know the girl, but I hadn't hesitated in hurrying to the Hospital Wing to check on Elliot after she had left. Anything concerning him worried me senseless and she'd sounded honest in my mind.
Madam Pomfrey huffed quietly as she straightened herself. "He's going to be in here overnight, that's for sure," She said. "He's still running a fever and the buildup in his lungs hasn't budged."
"Sounds like the beginning of Bronchitis," I mused.
"Or Pneumonia," She added, watching me wince and reassuringly saying, "but we're going to keep it from getting to that point."
Hogwarts was definitely lucky to have such a kind and wonderful Matron like her. I had no doubt that there were other and more qualified Matrons, but something about Madam Pomfrey just seemed to fit in here at Hogwarts. I wondered what it would be like if someone else had been here instead, but dismissed the blasphemy of a thought. I didn't want to jinx anyone with my bad luck.
My chest constricted all of a sudden and the cough that I had been fighting to keep in made an abrupt appearance, the Wing being filled with the shoulder-shaking, obnoxiously loud coughs that seemed to rattle my bones. It took every ounce of effort to not panic from my inability to take a breath in, knowing it would end quickly. A minute later and it was over with tears brimming in my eyes and my breath wheezing into the palm of my hand.
"Sounds like you need a night, too, Ms. Walters," Said Madam Pomfrey very disapprovingly, rubbing my back soothingly as I caught my breath.
"I'm fine," I rasped out, clearing my throat and cringing from the stabs of pain that pulled at the tender skin. Madam Pomfrey looked far from impressed, glaring at me until I caved. "Can't I just get some medicine?" I somewhat whined. "The first Quidditch game of the season is tomorrow and I was going to go with Terra!"
With October finally over and November making a grand entrance, flu season was in full swing at the school. It all started with only one little cough and the next thing you know, half the student body is dying and coughing their lungs out and being banished to the Hospital Wing to be taken care of. It had been contained better than most years, but some stubborn students were adamant they weren't sick and had only succeeded in spreading the sickness.
I couldn't deny that I was one of those stubborn students unfortunately.
"You can't just get some medicine, Ms. Walters," Madam Pomfrey lectured exasperatedly. "I can't give you something and send you on your merry way hoping for the best."
"Can I be the exception?" I asked weakly. Her eyes glinted dangerously and I knew I had said the wrong thing. Thankfully, I was saved from her wrath when the doors squeaked open.
Astoria Greengrass blinked, bewildered as she entered the Wing. Blue eyes roved over me before looking towards the Matron. "Is this a bad time, Madam?" She asked. Her blond hair swished in its ponytail, the strands catching the light and casting highlights Astoria had to know about. I found that I was jealous of such beautiful hair. I wished my hair was as flawless as hers.
"Not at all, Ms. Greengrass," Madam Pomfrey excused as she glared at me. I gave her a sheepish smile. "What can I do for you, dear? You're not coming down with the flu, too, are you?" I could imagine she was ready to contain the whole school if Astoria said she was getting sick. I'd get tired of sick students coming and going, too.
"No, ma'am," Astoria denied politely. "I'm just here for my iron supplements. Mother said she had sent you a whole new stock recently since I've run out."
Now let it be known that despite my lack of a social life and friends, I still knew everyone who was in my year in all of the Houses. Astoria was younger than me, but Daphne was in my year and while they were very similar and it was obvious they were sisters, they couldn't be any more different than Hailey and I. Daphne wasn't mean, per se, but she was definitely cold and it was plainly obvious that she was brought up with the Pureblood teachings.
Astoria was more...passive, if that could be considered the right word to describe her. She was quiet amongst the snakes and well-liked given her blood status, but I had never seen her actively partake in the bullying Pansy lead with Bulstrode and Davies despite being apart of that group. I remembered her uncomfortable laugh in Potions and how she had seemed sorry for Lavender when she had gotten that bloody nose.
I wasn't sure how to feel about all the House equality nonsense that had swimming in my mind lately, but it was becoming easier for me to look at Slytherins and not see the assholes the rest of my House saw.
Surely she couldn't be as bad as Pansy.
"Your Mother did send me an owl now that I think about it," Madam Pomfrey mused, eyebrows scrunched thoughtfully. She left my side to go look for the said supplements in her office. An uncomfortable silence sat between Astoria and I. Steeling myself, I resolved to break that awkwardness.
"Are you sick?" Oh yeah, that was a good opener. Astoria was a Slytherin and no sane Slytherin would tell a Gryffindor if they were at a weak point or not. I mentally beat myself up for my mistake. Astoria blinked blue eyes at me, suspicion clear as day as she tilted her head in my direction. She seemed to be evaluating me before she deemed me worthy of a response.
"Not exactly," Was all she offered, but in my mind, it was a good start. It helped that she wasn't insulting me or anything. She was already better than three quarters of the Slytherins. I couldn't help feeling like she was lying, though, but I couldn't fault her for it.
"My sister needs to take iron supplements, too," I said conversationally. Astoria didn't look at me, but I had the impression that she was still listening to me when she didn't move a muscle. "She's got Anemia, you see, so she relies on those pills when her blood count gets too low. She doesn't need them as often compared to when she was younger, but they're not going away anytime soon."
Speaking about Hailey seemed to hit a spot in Astoria as her eyes seemed to soften and her jaw relaxed. Astoria and I were like night and day, but we shared a common sibling despite the different ages and relief hit me when she began to relax.
"I am sorry to hear about that," Astoria said slowly. Ocean eyes met mine and the sincerity in them was true. "I wouldn't wish the constant day to day supplements on anybody. They are quite the pain."
It never failed to surprise me how well-versed and how proper Purebloods truly are. Manners were beat into Hailey and I at a young age, so I at least considered myself knowledgeable in conversation etiquette, but listening to Astoria talk made me feel like a bumbling five year old who was struggling to say a full sentence without stuttering. Granted, a lot of Purebloods were in Gryffindow, but they were far more lax compared to those in Slytherin. It was such an obvious difference and it was shocking.
Slytherin takes only the best and the most pure of blood. How true.
I waved off her apology easily. "She doesn't mind them as much anymore. She hates how big the pills are, though. They're gigantic horse pills that are difficult to swallow."
If Astoria was confused, she didn't let it show and just rolled along with me. She gave a small smile. "Magic has its perks. Mother had my pills made to dissolve instantly once I put them in my mouth."
I idly wondered what sort of deficiency Astoria had that required her to take the supplements. Looking at her now, she wasn't showing any of the symptoms Hailey did when she needed to take her pills. If anything, she looked fit as can be with an ivory complexion and alert eyes. But then again, maybe she just knew her limits and knew when it was appropriate to take a pill before she reached that stage of it being noticeable to someone who was watching.
I bemoaned for my sister, dramatically putting the back of my hand to my forehead. "Hailey would be so jealous. I'll have to write to her soon and tell her what you told me." Astoria coughed into her hand, but I could hear a muffled giggle when I heard one. I grinned crookedly at her.
"You sound close," Astoria commented softly. She sounded almost sad and, dare I say, envious.
"It took some work," I admitted, shrugging lightly. Memories of high pitched screams and angry crying brought a fond smile to my face. We had spent a good quarter of our lives fighting and just never getting along. Every little thing set one or the other off and with it came a feud of revenge that never seemed sated. I couldn't remember what it was that had brought us closer together, but I could clearly remember the day we clicked and our irritation with each other just seemed to vanish.
Judging from Astoria's tone, I was almost sad for her that she and Daphne probably didn't get along very well. Mom had always told me siblings were meant to be treasured and that we always had to look out for one another no matter what our age was. I knew Hailey had my back and she knew I had hers. The trust there was strong and the loyalty to each other even stronger.
To hear that my family of Muggles trumped something against the Pureblood Greengrass family wasn't as...satisfying as I once thought having one up against a Pureblood would be.
Astoria hesitated before quietly saying, "Daphne and I don't really have a close bond regardless of the small two years between us." That was definitely sadness in her voice. "We weren't really around each other much when we were younger since Daphne was being taught how to be the next Head of our family despite being a girl."
It was heartbreaking to me that Astoria wasn't experiencing the bond a sibling should have. I realized that there was more to being a Pureblood than what was actually being shown just then. I had really only ever known the kind of bond the Weasley family always showed day in and day out, so I had come to the conclusion that all Pureblood families were like them, ignoring their Blood Traitor status, of course.
I had never felt so wrong in my life and hated that I had judged them so quickly.
"Maybe that can be fixed," I said lowly, almost thoughtfully. Astoria, who looked surprised, didn't get another word in before Madam Pomfrey appeared with her pills in hand. Astoria gratefully tipped them back and dry swallowed them, cringing at the taste. She thanked the Matron, gave me one last glance, and then hurried from the Wing just as the chime for curfew rang.
"Why am I always late?" I groaned, hopping off the bed I was sitting on. I wandered over to Elliot, who was still sound asleep and breathing heavily. I carefully brushed back the blond bangs that stuck to his forehead, smiling when he shifted in his sleep and sighed. I ran the risk of catching what he had more so than I already did being as close as I was to him, but I didn't really care much.
"Hayden." Looking over my shoulder, I was surprised to see Harry peeking through the doorway. He beckoned me out, nodding to Madam Pomfrey, who returned the greeting as she fixed the sheets I had rumpled. I gave Elliot's bangs one more brush before gently touching his hot cheek with my cold hand.
"Get well soon, kid."
Poppy watched the long auburn hair she had grown so used to seeing over the years disappear through the door behind the young Potter boy, shaking her head fondly at the girl. She had grown onto her like leech, refusing to let go, not that Poppy minded at all. She enjoyed the girl's company and her strange quirks. She reminded her of someone long gone and it definitely wasn't in a bad way.
Poppy sighed and sat down at the Slytherin boy's feet. "How long are you going to pretend to be asleep, young man?" She asked. Blue eyes blearily opened and the boy gave her a hesitant smile that seemed to take more effort than should be strictly necessary. Poppy decided that he would be with her for at least a solid week before she even thought about releasing him. To her medical eye, he looked positively miserable and frail.
"When did you know I was awake?" His voice was scratchy and it made understanding him difficult, but not impossible. Poppy levitated a cup of water from the sink in her office, helping the boy sit up and holding the cup as he drank greedily.
"Ever since Ms. Greengrass came in," She said, Conjuring the cup away and lowering the boy back to his original position. He gave a small wheeze when his head connected with the pillow, chest heaving as he caught his breath. "I'm surprised Ms. Walters never realized you were awake. She's normally more aware."
Pale cheeks that were already pink burned even more and he ducked his head shyly. "I wasn't really being discreet," He said. Poppy almost smiled at the embarrassed boy.
While she never left the Wing as there was always something to do, Poppy had eyes and ears all around Hogwarts. She knew a lot of the student gossip and the frustration certain teachers had with some students. She wasn't left out despite what the whole body thought. She'd heard all about Hayden rescuing the boy from McLaggen and although she was hurt the boy didn't trust her to come to her for help, she was relieved Severus could be relied on. She knew how Hayden was tutoring the boy in all of his classes and how she looked out for the boy when he wasn't looking. She also knew about the little secret group Potter was leading, but she was going to pretend she didn't know anything about that.
Poppy almost chuckled when she recalled Hayden sending a seventh year Gryffindor to her after he had tricked Elliot into the trick step on the first floor staircase. The girl loved her House, but she didn't have any sort of loyalty to those who bullied the younger ones. To have the loyalty from this boy was a step in the right direction.
"You are very lucky to have someone like her as your friend, Mr. Phillips," Madam Pomfrey said, handing the boy a sleeping concoction. The bright smile she received said it all.
"I'm grateful," Was all he said before he drank the potion given to him.
Harry was agitated.
About what, I couldn't say, but he was walking heavier than normal and God damn, his footsteps were so loud on the silent staircases. Hopefully there were no teachers nearby seeing as we were out past curfew.
My stomach gave a hard lurch and I had to swallow the nauseous feeling that was rising up my throat. Oh God, please don't get sick right now. I absolutely hated throwing up in front of people. It was so embarrassing and gross and just ugh.
Maybe I should've listened to Madam Pomfrey after all.
"Did you need something, Harry?" I asked when we reached the fourth floor and he hadn't said anything. He stopped on the step above me and turned, looking conflicted and unsure and nervous.
"Your friend said you wanted to talk to me," He said. Slightly dumbfounded, I didn't know what he was talking about until it hit me and my hand very nearly connected with my forehead. A stream of curses flew from my lips.
I was going to kill Terra. I could just imagine the pleased smirk on her face and the peace sign she would give me when I caught her tomorrow.
"I did want to talk to you," I said grudgingly, cursing Terra's name mentally, "but I wanted it to be when I was ready to ask you and I was positive."
Harry tilted his head. "Positive about what?"
I hesitated in answering him. Living by what my Mom had always said when posing a yes or no question, the worst someone could say to me was no. There was no need to get hurt feelings over it, but instead to find a loophole and to go that route instead. I had other options if Harry denied Elliot a place with the group. I was confident I could teach him and with Terra in the loop now, she would be of great help, too.
If Harry said yes, it was just the matter of convincing the others that Elliot was different compared to the other Slytherins and that he was there to learn and grow just like we were. I felt like that part would be hard, but I knew convincing Harry to actually agree to this would be the most challenging part.
In all honesty, half of me wanted to lie and make up a question to ask Harry. I didn't know what Terra was thinking, forcing me into this situation sooner than I was ready for, but for her to do this, she must've known I was stalling for time and that it was quickly running out for me with the Christmas holidays only a month away.
I never was a liar to begin with anyway.
And regardless of what he says, I have a backup just in case.
"There's someone I want you to let join the group," I began, phrasing my words carefully. Seeing his interest, I continued. "He's young, but he wants to learn." Well, I want him to learn, but that information is irrelevant to Harry.
"Do I know him?" I'd be surprised if he did. Harry hardly ever paid attention to the younger students in any of the Houses. Except if they were Slytherins. He was always watching them.
"Very doubtful," I said. His eyebrows furrowed. "He's a first year, but—"
"Blimey, Hayden," Harry interrupted, green eyes wide behind his glasses. "He's younger than Nigel and Colin! You can't be serious."
"Age shouldn't matter," I retorted. "So what if he's younger than Nigel and Colin? What's one more year going to do? The sooner the better, I think."
"I don't know," Harry said, unsure. "I agree that the younger they start magical fighting, the better off they'll be in the future, but a first year..." Harry ran a hand through his messy hair. "I don't know how I feel about that."
"You let Colin's younger brother in and he's only a second year," I argued. "Harry, if you won't include Elliot, then I'm insisting you set an age limit. I understand the difference between a first and second year is vast, but that shouldn't stop you from including someone who wants to learn how to defend themselves."
Harry's lips pursed and it hit me then that I was getting him worked up. "Who is this kid?"
"His name is Elliot Phillips."
Harry made an impatient hand motion and I almost scowled. "What House is he in?"
Game point right here.
Bracing myself, I said, "He's a Slytherin."
Like he had been doused in cold water, Harry's face blanked and his lips twisted with disgust. "No, Hayden."
I hurried to explain. "Harry, please, hear me out—"
"My answer is no," Harry said shortly, looking away from me. He took a step up, preparing to leave. "We can't trust those snakes and you know it. After all they've done, you want to bring one of them into a group that isn't supposed to exist? That's asking for trouble."
"Broadcast our meetings louder, why don't you," I snarked sarcastically. "Harry, please. Listen to me for a second. Elliot isn't like the other Slytherins."
"That's what they want you to think."
"Stop interrupting me and let me finish!" Beyond the point of caring, I snapped at him and watched green eyes widen just slightly in surprise. I hated it when people interrupted me and it was high time Harry knew that and got it through his thick skull. "I have reasons just like you to not trust Slytherins, but I'm being serious, Harry. Elliot really isn't like the others."
Harry tilted his head, contemplative. He crossed his arms and said, "I'll listen, but that doesn't mean anything more."
"That's all I'm asking of you," I said, glaring at him. "I caught McLaggen terrorizing Elliot down the Defense corridor at the beginning of the year and while I'm not completely Pro-Slytherin here, I disliked McLaggen more than I disliked an unknown Slytherin kid, so I chased McLaggen off after he hurt Elliot." Just remembering Elliot's dislocated shoulder had waves of pity run through me.
"Hold on, McLaggen actually hurt him?" Harry looked shocked and so disbelieving. Underneath all that animosity and hatred, I knew Harry had a heart for those who were hurt. I hoped to Merlin or whatever God was out there that he never lost that side of him.
"He dislocated his shoulder," I stated coldly, righteous anger coursing through me. Elliot was only eleven years old. Why should a boy that age have to go through bullying as bad as that? The answer was that he shouldn't. No one should have to tolerate that no matter what their beliefs were or what House they belonged to.
I sure as hell didn't and I never would.
Harry had the sympathy to cringe and he seemed to lose some of his anger as he deflated. "I had no idea..."
"You wouldn't know because you're so sure that every single Slytherin is like Malfoy and the rest of them," I said harshly before adding, "and because it's not common knowledge. I haven't told a soul and neither has Elliot. I'm assuming Snape and McGonagall hunted McLaggen down and punished him appropriately seeing as I haven't seen him in awhile, so he hasn't been able to spread his latest achievement."
Harry looked like I had thrown him a complete one eighty, expression ashamed and just slightly remorseful. I felt bad myself for being so mean to him. He was having as hard a time as the rest of us, if not harder, and I wasn't helping him any losing my temper like I was.
"All I'm asking is for you to give him a chance," I said, lowering my voice to a gentler tone. "He's a good kid, Harry, and he deserves to be taught."
He ran a hand down his face, closing his eyes. "Let me...give me time to think about it." That was better than his first answer. I'd take it for now. I had barely climbed past Harry when his quiet voice stopped me in place. "That kid in the Hospital Wing...was that Elliot?"
My heart grew heavier in my chest imagining the sickly blond-haired boy struggling to breath. I felt like I was going to actually be sick if I didn't leave Harry any second now. "Yes," I whispered before hurrying up to Gryffindor Tower and leaving Harry back on the fourth floor with my words and his thoughts to mull over.
I was starting to grow supremely fond of a little snake and I wasn't feeling an ounce of regret. To hell with House rivalry and all of that nonsense.
"What are the rest of your Housemates like?"
A brief pause of consideration before a page of a new book was turned. "They're alright. Suspicious bunch. They have their groups and all that just like everywhere else."
"That's it?"
"What were you expecting?"
"I don't know. Certainly not that. You make them sound super boring and lame."
"They are boring and lame." Another page was turned. The book was sadly coming to an end and that was a tragedy because it really was a good read. Shame that it was so short. One couldn't unread what they have already read. They'd always remember it somewhere in the recesses of their memories.
"I don't believe that at all. Doesn't your House symbolize cunning or something like that? Doesn't that mean drama or something?"
An amused smile. "Something like that, I guess."
"You suck at explaining stuff. That doesn't answer what I asked."
"Be more specific next time, you dolt." It would never be admitted that this particular House was far from cunning. If anything, it was the total opposite. He had been completely misinformed. The poor kid didn't deserve to hear the ugly truth.
Saturday was proving to not be my day and I had just woken up from a rough night of sleep. I had forgotten to draw my curtains, so bright sunlight shone down on my face from a window with a harsh intensity that only came from the winter season approaching. Frost lined the glass and I could hear the wind rattling against the castle and creating a loud whistling that hurt my ears. Add on that I still felt nauseous as all hell and that just meant I was going to have a bad day.
I shivered as I sat up and the blankets fell around my lap. The dormitory was positively freezing despite the furnace in the center of the room still burning. I couldn't imagine how the rest of the castle would be like later on. I thought it was bad enough that I had to bundle up underneath my uniform for the past couple weeks, but I was seriously debating carrying my blanket around with me.
"Letty," I called. A small pop! was heard and Letty was right there beside my bed.
"Miss called for Letty?" She asked.
"Is there anyway you can make furnace burn a little hotter tonight?" Letty, who suddenly seemed to realize how cold it was in the room, gave a small tremble before bobbing her head enthusiastically.
"Letty will do that for you and the other students, Miss!" She snapped her fingers and then she was gone.
Bracing myself for the cold floor, I almost jumped back into bed when the pads of my feet connected to the ground. I quickly changed into my layers, being quiet as Parvati was still sleeping seeing as I had woken up a bit earlier than normal and throwing a red and gold scarf around my neck as I raced to escape the cold room.
There were only a few students and staff members in the Great Hall when I walked in behind a bunch of Hufflepuffs, though it was rapidly filling up. Seeing as the Twins and Jordan weren't at the Gryffindor table yet, I started towards the Ravenclaw table when I spotted Terra's blond hair.
"Prepared to lose today, Walters?" Malfoy called from the Slytherin table. He was leaning on the palm of his hand, smirking as Pansy hung off the silver and green sleeve of his uniform. Her lip had finally healed, I noticed. Not even a scar remained.
"Seeing as we've never lost to Slytherin yet, are you prepared to lose?" I asked instead, arching an eyebrow and openly laughing when his cheeks flushed. Pansy scowled at me.
"You better hide behind your little gang of redheads when we win, Walters!" She taunted.
"You better hide behind that big ass forehead when we win, Puginson!" Down the Slytherin table, Astoria barely caught herself from loudly choking on her cereal while Pansy sputtered around the laughter of some of the younger snakes. Elliot's friend was amongst the group who was laughing heartily, slapping her tiny hand against the table as she wheezed with laughter.
The dislike she felt for Pansy must be strong if her reaction was that uproarious.
"I'm so proud," Terra joked when I finally sat down beside her. "You didn't straight up attack her like you did last time."
"I'm learning to control my anger," I deadpanned as I pulled a plate of pancakes and a bowl of fruit closer to me. Hopefully eating something light would help ease my stomach.
"The day you learn control your temper is the day Dumbledore shaves his beard." Terra suddenly looked over her shoulder and she nudged me. "Weasley looks about ready to pass out."
True to her word, Ron looked like absolute shit. It was like he hadn't slept a wink the night before and his face was looking oddly green. He also wasn't touching any of his food, though Harry seemed to be making a valiant effort to force him to.
"Luna, what on God's green Earth are you wearing?" My jaw dropped when I finally noticed Luna about to walk past me. How I missed her, I'll never know.
She was clearly supporting Gryffindor in today's match, wearing lots of reds and golds, but what really took the cake was the very detailed, very life-size looking lion's head that was perched precariously on top of her head. She gave a dreamy smile that didn't match with all of her accessories and seemed wholly unconcerned with the people laughing and pointing at her.
"I'm supporting Gryffindor today," She said, pointing unnecessarily at her hat. "Look what it does." She reached up and tapped the hat with her wand. It opened its wide mouth and gave an extremely realistic roar that made everyone in the vicinity jump. I grinned. I was very impressed.
"It's good, isn't it?" Luna said happily. "I wanted to have it chewing up a serpent to represent Slytherin, you know, but there wasn't time..." Luna sighed sadly before waving us goodbye.
"I wonder about that girl sometimes," Terra mumbled when Luna drifted away towards Harry and Ron. "She's not always there."
"I think she's brilliant," I defended her, picking at an apple slice. "In her own special way, of course. I just wish she could've added in the dead serpent to that hat. That would be really cool, wouldn't it?"
Terra rolled her eyes. "If you say so."
Fred and George never showed up for breakfast, which kind of upset me since I wanted to wish them good luck before the match, but the feeling was dropped when Terra stood up, saying it was time for us to head down to the pitch.
The air was icy as we ventured outside, but the wind that I had heard earlier was gone and the sun was blurred behind pearly white clouds. I was no Quidditch player, but this seemed like good playing conditions to me if one just ignored the cold.
Why did I even agree to this? I hate the cold...
Oh, that's right. Because Fred and George threatened me with becoming a test subject to their new products if I didn't show up. Asses.
"Not that way," Terra said, tugging me out of the crowd of students. Some classmates looked at us in confusion before moving on with the flow of the crowd that was heading up towards the stands. I blinked, somewhat bemused. "I don't do crowds very well," Terra clarified, urging me to follow her. "There's no room to even breath up there, so I just wait for the Quidditch team to leave the locker rooms before following them out to the tunnel."
"I guess that's one way to watch a Quidditch game," I muttered, following the blond as she peeked into the locker room and pushed the door open when she saw no one was in there.
Both teams were already suspended in the air when we stopped at the edge of the tunnel, all the players sporting looks of distaste and mutual hatred. Something glittered weirdly on the green uniforms of the Slytherin team, but it was too small for me to make out. Some type of song was being sung in the student section across the field, but like the weird glittery things, I couldn't make out what was being said.
Madam Hooch's shrill whistle blowing had me jumping in place. The balls were released, the Snitch taking one little lap around the pitch before disappearing, and the game began.
Lee's commentary immediately filled the air. "And it's Johnson, Johnson with the Quaffle, what a player that girl is. I've been saying it for years, but she still won't go out with me—"
"Jordan!" That was Professor McGonagall. Terra snorted with laughter.
"Just a fun fact, Professor, adds a bit of interest—and she's ducked Warrington, she's passed Montague, she's—ouch—been hit from behind by a Bludger from Crabbe...Montague catches the Quaffle, Montague heading back up the pitch and—nice Bludger there from George Weasley, that's a Bludger to the head for Montague, he drops the Quaffle, caught by Katie Bell, KatieBell of Gryffindor reverse passes to Alicia Spinnet and Spinnet's away—"
I'd never paid much attention to Quidditch before now. I'd never been interested in the sport, but watching the game and the Twins tossing Bludgers at the Slytherins was something entirely different to what Dad watched at home. It felt like the risks were higher.
"Ron's not having a good first game," Terra pointed out, indicating the flustered redhead as another point was awarded to Slytherin. The game was sitting at twenty-nil right now, which I was assuming wasn't that awful since Terra didn't look too concerned, but I silently hoped the team would pull back.
"What the hell are they singing?" I asked, annoyed when the song I had heard from across the stands suddenly got louder. Terra tilted her head, listening for a second before she grimaced. It was then that I finally understood what was being sung.
Weasley cannot save a thing,
He cannot block a single ring,
That's why Slytherins all sing:
Weasley is our King
My vision swam red and I bared my teeth in a snarl, snatching my wand from sleeve. "I ought to jinx them straight to the bottom of the Black Lake for this," I growled furiously.
"Don't let it provoke you," Terra admonished, but her blue eyes were bright with as much anger as mine. She crossed her arms tightly, her fingers digging into her blue and bronze jacket. "That's what they want from you. Try to ignore them."
Ignoring them was proving to be a challenge when the lyrics were practically belted at the top of all of their lungs at that point. I noticed Pansy leading the Slytherin supporters as a conductor, her back to the pitch and voice joining the rest.
WEASLEY WAS BORN IN A BIN,
HE ALWAYS LETS THE QUAFFLE IN...
"—And Gryffindor back in possession and it's Katie Bell tanking up the pitch—" Lee was making a valiant effort to drown out the song, though it was practically deafening and his voice was barely heard over it anymore.
Ron let in two more goals and there was now an edge of panic to the Gryffindor team as they fought to catch up. Harry was doing laps around the pitch as he hunted for Snitch. Malfoy was close behind, head swiveling as he searched.
"Yikes, they're not doing so hot today," Terra winced when Crabbe lugged a Bludger at Alicia and nailed her in the side, the wind knocked out of her as she visibly sagged and tried to catch her breath.
"Poor Angelina," I said. "This has got to be hard on her."
It was then that Harry suddenly went into a straight nose-dive, Malfoy right there beside him as the Snitch flickered a golden light. I gasped when they got unnervingly close to the ground, Harry's hand reaching and Malfoy groping desperately alongside him. It was over in two breathless seconds. Harry's hand closed over the Snitch and held it victoriously over his head.
Only Terra and I noticed the look on Crabbe's face and the quick swing of his bat.
"POTTER, LOOK OUT!" Terra's cry was a second too late. Harry startled at her voice before the Bludger connected with the small of his back and he went careening towards the grass that was thankfully only five feet below him. Madam Hooch's shrill whistle blew as the stands cried, jeered, and shouted their outrage and Angelina dropped to the ground beside Harry and helping him sit up.
"That son of a monkey's ass," Terra cursed. "That was a low blow!"
I didn't hear her as I sprinted out of the tunnel and towards Harry and Angelina. The rest of the team had just barely touched the ground before I skidded to a stop beside Harry.
"Are you alright?" I demanded breathlessly, fearing that he may have fractured something. Harry gave a wheezed cough before accepting mine and Angelina's hands.
"'Course I am," He grumbled, wincing when he pulled something sore.
"Harry, I'm so sorry," I apologized, drawing his attention away from a happy Angelina, who was happily exclaiming that they won. He gave me a confused look. "Terra and I saw Crabbe swing at you and we were too late in warning you." He was cut off before he could even get a word in.
"Saved Weasley's neck, haven't you?" Malfoy snorted to Harry. "I've never seen a worse Keeper...but then he was born in a bin...Did you like my lyrics, Potter?"
"They were very amusing, Malfoy," I snapped at him, forcing Harry to turn away and face his team before he could rise to Malfoy's bait. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ron making his way slowly back to the changing rooms alone and made to urge Harry in that direction.
"We wanted to write another couple versus!" Malfoy called, ignoring me for once as Harry was hugged to death by Katie and Alicia. Merlin damn it, couldn't they see I was trying to get him away from an obviously sore Malfoy?
I nearly jumped out of my skin when two pairs of arms yanked me away from Harry and off the ground as they crushed me to their chests. "You came, Hayden!" Fred and George cheered, both redheads grinning down at me. I offered them a small smile, not bothering to return the hug since they had my arms trapped.
I wonder if they remember kissing my forehead all that time ago...
How long has it even been?
Merlin damn it. I hated my mind.
"Of course I did," I said, raising my voice to be heard and hoping the redness of my cheeks could be played off as me being cold. I hated how the Twins affected me and how my body seemed to warm and tingle around them. "I don't want to become a test subject to you two and Jordan."
"—we couldn't fit in useless loser either—for his father, you know—"
The Twins seemed to realize what Malfoy was talking about. Their arms stiffened around me and they slowly lowered me back to the ground, looking around at Malfoy with equally dangerous expressions. I grasped their uniform sleeves, feeling very anxious all of a sudden. The nausea that had plagued me all morning burned in my stomach, spinning circles within me. I swallowed the bile that wanted to make an appearance.
"Leave it," Angelina commanded, blocking Fred's view of Malfoy. He ignored her, staring straight through her.
"Fred," I said softly, grabbing his arm and tugging on it, doing the same to George. "Ignore him, let's go back up to the castle." Neither of them budged at my words. Malfoy was hitting a sore spot with him and George insulting Molly and Arthur like he was.
This is bad. This is really bad. What do I do? God, I need an adult. Where's McGonagall or Snape when you need them?
"—but you like the Weasleys', don't you, Potter?" Malfoy said, sneering. "Spend holidays there and everything, don't you? Can't see how you stand the stink, but I suppose when you've been dragged up by Muggles even the Weasleys' hovel smells okay—"
"Malfoy, will you shut up?!" I yelled angrily, grunting with effort when George almost tore me from my spot, but was stopped by Harry. I lost my grip on Fred and was relieved when Angelina, Alicia, and Katie stopped him from leaping at Malfoy, who was laughing openly. "You don't know what you're talking about! Take the loss and get out of here already!"
"Or perhaps," Malfoy continued, leering as he backed away, "you can remember what your mother's house stank like, Potter, and Weasleys' pigsty reminds you of it—"
George was like stone beneath my hold on him and I knew I literally only had seconds to react before he did something stupid, but if I let him go, I'd have no change of stopping him. At the same time, if I didn't do something to shut Malfoy up, it was only going to stir the fury that was no doubt burning in both Fred and George. And Harry from the look on his face.
I bit my lip harshly, unsure what to do. It turns out I didn't have to do anything. Malfoy's voice was abruptly silenced and a loud slap was heard. Blond hair billowed behind Terra as she stared coldly at Malfoy, hand still raised and fingers quickly reddening. A bright handprint that matched Terra's hand was blooming on Malfoy's cheek. He stared at her, stunned as he cradled his no doubt throbbing cheek.
"That's enough out of you, Malfoy," She said lowly, dropping her arm. "Instead of being a sore loser, take the rest of your team and leave the pitch before our Head of Houses get down here to question us." Terra turned and pointed a commanding finger in the opposite direction. "That includes you guys as well. Get going." Her tone received no arguments from us as Angelina took control and ushered the team and myself off the field.
I wrapped my arms around Fred's and George's, hanging my head as I took deep, even breaths to calm the storm inside me. Their fingers grazed my sides and I could imagine the worried looks on their faces. "You two are both idiots," I breathed.
Author's Note:
So it's currently 5 A.M. right now, but I do promise that I will do ALL of the responses in the next chapter since I have to be up in five hours to take a family member to the hospital for her follow up appointment.
Thank you all SO much for reading! And I'm so very sorry for the long wait. Your reviews fuel me and always make me smile when I read them! THANK YOU.
~OQ