Disclaimer: I wrote this when I was 12 to 13 in 2003. Harry Potter is hereby © to J.K. Rowling. Everything else is © to me, or its respective owners.
Chapter Thirteen: Quidditch and a Valentine's Gift
The rest of the day passed, and January faded into February, and soon it was time for the first and probably only Quidditch match of the year. Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Madam Pomfrey could constantly be seen pulling Whitney into the hospital wing for regular check ups, as it was her final month of pregnancy. Although, it irritated Whitney having to go to the hospital wing everyday, she knew she had to…so she never complained or whined, she just went without a fuss. It was soon February the 13th, the day of the Quidditch match, and everyone was in the locker rooms changing into their Quidditch robes, and the team captain discussing tactics. Madam Pomfrey was on the field with a back-up keeper and a stretcher. The nurse nervously wrung her hands as the two teams stepped out onto the field and Madam Hooch and Tai brought out the crate that held the balls.
"Now, I want a nice clean game. No cheating at all. Avoid at all costs hitting Mrs. Felton, and help her out. Madam Pomfrey, Mr. Chang, and I will be on the sidelines keeping watch on Mrs. Felton. Now, Captains, shake hands, mount your brooms, and let's begin the game!" Madam Hooch said.
Draco and Harry shook hands, then fourteen players mounted their brooms and rose into the air as Madam Hooch blew the whistle, and Tai released the bludgers, the quaffle, and the snitch. Lee Jordan had left the school, and Nick and Kira instantly volunteered to do the commentating for the Quidditch matches. Professor McGonagall agreed, and the two of them got the job.
"Alright, bludgers, quaffle, and snitch released, Granger has possession of the quaffle, approaches the goal, and takes a shot at the middle post, it's saved! Felton passes to Malfoy, Mrs. Malfoy, that is…" Nick said into the magic megaphone.
Alyssia had the quaffle and was headed right at Ron. She took a shot at the far right goal, Ron wasn't expecting it, he stretched his arm and just as the scarlet ball was two inches from going through the goal, Ron's fingertips batted it out of the way, right at Akira. She flew off and passed to Cho. Both sisters kept passing repeatedly to one another, very quickly, confusing everyone. Cho had the quaffle and threw the quaffle quick and fast. Whitney almost missed it, but she was able to save it, and passed to Tom.
"This is amazing! There have been a total of three scoring attempts, and both keepers have saved each one! If this goes on like this, the only way to determine who'll win, is which seeker catches the snitch…" Kira exclaimed.
Tom flew at Ron, and caught him off guard and was able to score.
"About time! Slytherin scores the first goal of the game after ten minutes in!" Nick said, sounding slightly annoyed.
Ron passed to Hermione, and she evened the score and threw the quaffle at the left goal post. It went in. Whitney passed the quaffle to Alyssia, and missed the goal she was trying to score at. Ron blocked it, and sent the quaffle shooting right into Cho's hand.
"'Lyss! Don't worry about it! Stay close to Whitney!" Draco yelled.
Alyssia nodded and flew towards the Slytherin goal posts.
"Hey Whitney! How's-Are you ok?" Alyssia said, concerned.
Whitney looked a little pale, and somewhat tired.
"Hm? Oh, I'm fine, really…" Whitney replied.
"Take it easy…here comes Cho…" Alyssia said.
Cho had the quaffle and tried to score, but Whitney saved it. Tom had the quaffle again, and also tried to score, but this time, Ron was ready, and saved it. Akira had the quaffle, just as she was flying across the field to get to the goal posts, Crabbe and Goyle flew onto either side of her and tried to steer her into the stands. Liam sent both bludgers at the Slytherin beaters, Akira looped them and flew higher up to avoid the collision, and smiled at Liam, then proceeded to the goal posts.
She scored a goal, breaking the ten point tie. Alyssia was watching Whitney even closer, and noticed that she was looking even more fatigued, and she also noticed rain clouds hovering above the field.
Harry was searching for a glint of gold, when droplets splattered his glasses.
"I'll never be able to see a damn thing in this…" He muttered.
As if on cue, Cho came flying over and took out her wand.
"Here, I'll make them repel water." She said.
He handed her his glasses, and she tapped them with her wand, and whispered a spell then gave them back to Harry, and flew off, and caught the quaffle.
Thanks to Cho, Harry could see. The rain had just started to pour down in sheets, and in minutes, everyone on the field was soaked. Draco came flying over, and waved. He brushed his blonde hair out of his face, then flew off, continuing to scan the field. Harry watched below as he saw Hermione, Cho, and Akira passing the quaffle between them in a triangle formation, he watched Tom curse at Crabbe and Goyle for almost hitting him with a bludger, he watched Cho score a goal, and then, he saw the snitch fluttering ten feet from very bottom of the field by the Gryffindor goal posts. He dived.
Cold gusts of wind blew at him as he made his descent. He was almost there. Then, his hand clasped the struggling snitch. He turned around and saw Whitney fall off her broom, several green and scarlet blurs speed toward her, Madam Hooch taking out her wand, using a spell to slow her down, Tai taking out his wand and making the stretcher soar over to catch Whitney, and saw Tom, Alyssia, Cho, and Hermione touch down. Ron, Alexa, Liam, and Akira wondered what was happening, and looked around, and saw several students standing up to get a good look. Harry touched down next to Cho's side.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"It's Whitney. She's going to have her baby. I'm really sorry, but I have to go with her. I'll see you when I get back." Cho replied.
Madam Pomfrey and Tai rushed Whitney to the hospital wing quickly, while Tom, Alyssia, Cho, and Hermione followed in their wake.
Ron, Alexa, Liam, and Akira had just touched down.
"What's up?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, where's everyone going? It's not like Whitney hit the ground or anything. She didn't get hurt or anything…" Alexa wondered.
"Maybe her baby…oh…I see…" Akira said suddenly.
"What?! What is it?!" Ron and Liam asked.
"Ron, you're the thickest person I've ever known…Mez, you're not thick, just confused…" Akira said, rolling her eyes.
"So what's going on?" Ron asked.
"Keyword, baby. Next keywords, final month of pregnancy. And the next keywords, final month plus baby equals birth!!!" Akira replied.
"Huh?" Ron asked, confused.
Akira slapped her forehead, and rolled her eyes again.
"Ron, you're impossible…" She muttered.
Whitney was in the hospital wing, Tom was there, but was sitting at the far side of the room. Tai also with him.
"Let the girls handle it…" Tai said quietly. "Besides, Whitney will be fine…"
-
The following day, everyone was still in the hospital wing. It was Valentine's Day, everyone was tired, and sleeping in chairs around the room. Madam Pomfrey was already up and she brought breakfast for everyone. The scent of food, woke everyone, and they all ate quietly in the bright room. There was a knock at the door, and Cho got up and opened it. Harry, Draco, Akira, Ron, and Liam were on the other side.
"Oh hi…we're all eating breakfast right now…" Cho said.
"So how's everyone?" Ron asked.
"We're all fine…" Cho replied.
"Has the baby been born yet?" Akira asked.
"No…not yet…we're still waiting…"
There was a muffled moan coming from behind Cho.
"Oh it looks like Whitney's up…well, I guess you can stay if you want, or go…do whatever…" Cho said.
Everyone decided to stay, and they all went over to Whitney. Harry put an arm around Cho's shoulders.
"You know, you look really tired…and worried." He said.
"I know…" Cho whispered.
The others started to leave, and Harry gave Cho a quick kiss before leaving. She waved goodbye, and went to check on Whitney.
"Hey…how're you holding up?" Cho asked.
"I'm fantastic!" Whitney replied sarcastically. "No, really…I'm ok, really tired…feel like I've run a million miles…"
The rest of the day went by pretty quietly…until the sun started to set, and everyone in the hospital wing was rushing around, getting prepared for what was about to happen. Tom gave Whitney's hand a squeeze, and she took a deep breath, and tried to relax.
"Ok, Mrs. Felton, I'm going to remove the pain relieving charm. When I do, you're probably going to feel a great amount of pain, so just hold your husband's hand." Madam Pomfrey instructed. "Just let me know when you're ready."
Whitney bit her lip, and made her grip on Tom's hand a little firmer. Closing her eyes, she nodded, letting Madam Pomfrey know she was ready. The nurse waved her wand, and Whitney screamed.
"Mr. Felton, you'll have to leave the room now…Chang! Malfoy! Granger! Get the supplies! Quickly!" Madam Pomfrey snapped.
In a few hours time, everyone was exhausted. And Whitney held a tiny baby girl in her arms. Tom at her side, beaming at his wife and daughter.
"What do you want to name her?" Tom asked.
"Mercadez Lynn Felton. It has a good ring to it…don't you think?" Whitney replied.
"I like it. Mercadez Lynn Felton she is!" Tom said triumphantly.
Whitney smiled at him and held Mercadez close to her, then gently handed her over to Tom to hold. Tom took little Mercadez, and kissed her forehead, loving his daughter at once.
Cho watched them.
'They're so happy…' She thought.
She continued to watch as Madam Pomfrey said that the three of them should get some rest, and came over and woke Alyssia, who was fast asleep, leaning on Cho's side. Hermione was also asleep, and on Cho's other side.
"Mrs. Malfoy, please, wake up…Miss Granger, wake up…Miss Chang, oh good to see you're awake…" Madam Pomfrey said.
"Yes well, it's pretty hard to fall asleep when you're being squished." Cho replied.
Hermione and Alyssia woke up and saw Tom holding a baby in his arms.
"Who's that?" Alyssia asked sleepily.
"That's Mercadez Lynn Felton. Whitney and Tom's newborn daughter." Cho replied.
At those words, Alyssia leapt up and rushed over to her friend and cooed over the new baby. Hermione and Cho stood up, and went over to say hello to the baby. The hospital wing door swung open, and Tai walked in, followed by Harry, Ron, Akira, Liam, and Draco.
Several days later, Whitney and Tom were finally allowed to leave…