Chapter 4
(Days four and five)
(Hufflepuff vs. Gryffindor)

DAY 4

After last night, George and I skillfully avoided being stuck with each other for prolonged periods of time. We pretty much treated each other like a virus. Such a wonderful friendship we had.

It began early on. He had an early breakfast and had left five minutes before I arrived. "Gone to study, he said," one of the earlier students in our year told me and I knew that was complete and utter bollocks. George doesn't study in advance. He crams like we all do.

I confided my frustrations to Alicia in a very concise note during History of Magic. Her very helpful reply:

You can be dead clueless sometimes, Kates. Ha ha. Love, Alicia xoxo.

You bet your arse I haven't spoken to her since. I really should have written to Angelina, but she was too busy playing footsies with Fred under their table.

Despite my earlier burst of emotions, I was feeling more sedated by midday. All I wanted then was to sort things out with George. I miss that git. Lunch was pretty dull. The lovebirds were pretty much wrapped up in their own worlds, purposely leaving out me and George. He shoved potatoes and steak and kidney pie down his throat in rapid succession and left me alone and lonely, tossing peas and carrots around my plate.

The only positive thing that happened during meal time was Oliver brought his plate over and told me that I looked too pretty that day to eat on my own. Ha! So he took what was formerly George's seat and chatted with me like we did it everyday. He told me that a talent scout was coming over next week to watch him during our training. "You better make me look good," he warned. But he was kidding. I think. Besides, I never went soft on him when it came to Quidditch. So we talked and talked as we ate our potatoes and drank our pumpkin juice. He didn't make me laugh as much as George did. Actually, he didn't make me laugh at all. But he did make me blush several shades of red for several instances. I almost felt like a marshmallow being roasted in fire!

Alicia was throwing me dirty looks, but I completely ignored her. I was still pissed off at her for that nice little quip of hers during first period. Very insensitive, that woman.

During our afternoon classes, I tried to talk to George but couldn't find the right timing as the bloody git had been dodging my every attempt to converse with him.

In Muggle Studies, I sent him a note which he simply slipped inside his trouser pockets without so much as a peek at whatever I had written. When Snape gave us a surprise exam in Potions, I knew George just had to glance at me at some point. I was so sure he was going to copy off me as I planned to copy off him, but the boy was firm. No matter what happened, it seemed like he was determined to ignore me.

So after that, I decided to just throw in the towel. He'd come around in his own time. Whatever.

After supper, I was on my bed, reading the current issue of Witch Weekly when Angelina entered the room.

"Kates, George is uh, he's waiting for you in the commons. So go down and talk to him, quick" Angelina said, hanging her robes on one of the hooks behind our door.

"What does he want," I grumbled, eyes transfixed on the ad with a particularly gorgeous model winking at me.

"Oh, come on Kates, get up and meet him," she tossed me my cardigan. Sighing, I got out of my bed, slipped on my cardigan, and made my downstairs with Angelina applauding behind me. I rolled my eyes at her.

The common room was almost empty that night. Aside from George there were a couple of girls sitting by the window, gossiping like it was soon going out of fashion. George was wearing his favourite set of pajamas—an orange and gray pair that he has worn a million times. A gray bonnet was covering his usually unkempt red hair, the tips sticking out from the material like straw ends. He was staring rather intently at the fires, almost like he was willing it to grow bigger. It was a bit creepy, actually. I had never seen George look that serious, although he was considered the serious twin. Less boisterous would be more fitting, I reckon.

"So you wanted to talk?" I spoke with a tone of urgency in my voice, like I had more important things to do than have that conversation with him.

He gazed at me questioningly, brows furrowed, like I was disturbing him while he was doing something very productive.

"Well Angie said that you wanted to-- Oh," I nodded to myself, realizing what just happened. A set up. Typical Angelina move. "Well, I was about to doze off anyway..." With a final sidelong glance at him, I made for the stairs, quite annoyed at everything, really.

"We could, still, if you want." he called as I seized the railings and planted my foot on the first step.

I looked at him from over my shoulder, noting the way his socked feet were tapping the carpeted floor. He always did that when he was uncomfortable. Or nervous. But he was never nervous around me.

I walked over to him and flopped on the couch, sighing audibly as my body sank into the cushions.

Silence.

The discomfort I felt then from being beside him was so unfamiliar, almost alien to my senses. I started rapping my fingers on my knees, mimicking the rhythmic tapping of his toes. He resumed staring at the fires, but his stare was a bit softer now, like he just wanted something else to look at.

That was just so like him to invite me to talk then completely ignore me. But I realized then that I had to take the initiative if I wanted the weight off my shoulders.

"That Potions exam was a mind-bender, wasn't it?" A lame attempt at a conversation, I know. But I had to start somewhere.

"I'm quite sure I aced it," he replied, snorting.

"Look George," I cracked. "I can't stand that you're mad at me, but I told you, I didn't plan that meeting with Oliver and we weren't, you know..."

He finally looked at me, his chocolate brown eyes earnest. "I believe you."

"Why were you acting that way?"

"Kates, I'm not all that good with apologies but I feel really horrible about what happened."

Ok, so he didn't answer my question, but I let it pass. "How horrible?"

"Like a chicken with its head cut off," he replied. And then, he smiled that smile that meant we were best mates again and that the stupid argument was already forgotten. "I'm such a ponce for overreacting and I'm sorry."

"Good." I said smirking all smugly when he admitted it was his fault. "Because the drama was really unnecessary, George. And if anybody here has the right to do that, it's me, got it?"

"Right. So we're friends again?"

"Are you still a thickheaded git?"

"No, I don't think I am."

"Good. Then ok."

I cozied up to him, erasing the irritating void between us in the literal and figurative sense. He placed an arm around my shoulder.

"So you failed that test, right?" I looked up at him with a smile, recalling how he nervously nibbled on the tips of his quill as the test progressed.

"Most definitely got nil," he replied. "You didn't do so hot either, I reckon."

"No, I couldn't study last night," I yawned, resting my head comfortably on his shoulder.

"Why not?"

"I was thinking," I said simply, not wanting to elaborate.

"About what," he asked.

My lids were growing heavier by the second. "Oh you know, stuff…"

"Right," he replied, yawning widely afterwards.

And before long, we were both out cold.

DAY 5: Game day

"Top of the morning…" Lee's well-modulated voice blasted from each corner of the Quidditch pitch. It was the first game of the school year. The stands were bursting with students and Gryffindor pride was in full swing. The Ravenclaws were on our side, at least most of them. Cho Chang and her friends were actually wearing red and gold scarves. Not that I care, or anything. Grr.

"Ok, team. This is it." Oliver's nervous voice snapped me from my thoughts. He called a huddle.

We knew the rest of his speech, actually. He has used the same pep talk for the last three years. I looked over at Fred and George who were discreetly mimicking Oliver behind Angelina and Alicia. I nudged Harry who was beside me cracking his knuckles and we shared a knowing smile.

"Right. All in," Oliver commanded, placing a hand with his palm facing down at the center of our circle. We piled up our hands and screamed "Gryffindor" in unison. That was our battle cry and now, we were about to go to war.

"Bell! Johnson! Potter! Spinnet! Weasley! Weasley! And their captain, Wood!" Lee finished and the Gryffindor stands erupted in thunderous applause, a stark contrast to the deafening silence from the badgers.

The sky was a lovely shade of bright blue, streaked by light grey clouds that shielded the brightness from the sun. The weather was perfect. The elements were a non-factor. It was always a problem whenever the winds competed with us.

I pushed a stray lock of hair behind my ear as we stood in the middle of the pitch, watching the pre-game pleasantries commence. Alicia gave me a pat on the back, I looked over my shoulder and winked. (We made up that morning before breakfast. A pack of my favourite jelly beans was involved in the negotiations.)

After Madame Hooch released the balls, we mounted our brooms and the buzzer sounded to signify the beginning of the match.

With all my might, I made for a strong kick off, ascending the skies with my robes whipping wildly behind me. A Hufflepuff chaser had possession of the quaffle, streaking past everyone toward the goal posts and launching it on the middle hoop to Oliver's waiting arms.

Left unmarked, I waved my arms and Oliver passed the Quaffle towards me. I shot toward the other side of the pitch tucking the ball under my arm as I fended of one opponent after the other. At the corner of my eye, I saw Alicia positioned for a shot at the lowest goal post. I performed a practiced no-look pass towards her. She caught it and launched it toward the hoop and we scored our first goal.

Everything was going as planned. A Hawk's eye formation gave us our second goal. After 20 minutes, the score was 80-20, in favor of us.

"Bloody hell, Fred. Defense!" Oliver's hoarse voice screamed from the scoring end, as a bludger sent by a Hufflepuff beater almost hit Angelina. Angered by the opposing beater, Fred retaliated by whacking the bludger strongly towards Ernie Macmillan, who was marking me.

Macmillan ducked the bludger, which hit my arm and the next thing I knew I landed with a thud on the grassy field and a sharp pain shot up from my limb. I struggled to get up as I heard the whistle, but my back was sore from the impact and the throbbing pain from my arm was impairing my motor skills. I didn't want them to stop the game because of my clumsiness. I took a bludger attack back in my second year and I didn't even wince. But this time, the pain was unimaginable. I closed my eyes, hot tears flowing from them as I lay helplessly on the ground.

"Fuuuuuuuuuck," I clutched my arm as I struggled to contain my voice.

"We need to bring her to the Hospital Wing." George called out urgently.

Fred sounded worried as hell. "Kates, I'm so sorry."

"Oh my god, Kates," Angelina shrieked.

"Kates, are you ok?"

Though my vision was slightly blurred by my tears, I knew it was Oliver who was beside me, squeezing my hand. What a time for hand-holding! My teammates were circled around me, each of them looking equally nervous.

"My shoulder," I spoke hoarsely. "I think it's broken."

As if on cue, Madame Pomfrey entered the scene. She knelt beside me, mumbling angrily about girls playing such a violent game as she examined my arm and shoulder. After scolding the Gryffindor team for "crowding the injured patient," she whipped her wand out and pointed it near my elbow.

A cool, tingling sensation replaced the white-hot pain from my shoulder, arm and back. After a couple of seconds, my entire right arm went numb, hanging lifelessly on my side.

"Feel better?" Madame Pomfrey asked, helping me to sit up straight.

I nodded, releasing a sigh of relief. At least the pain was gone. "Can I play again?" I was insane.

"Oh no you're not, missy. You have spunk to want to play again after that bad fall," she said sternly, shaking her head at me.

"Spunky. That's our Katie." Fred quipped.

"We're going to have chat about this, Weasley," Oliver glared at Fred, walking over to me the same time George advanced. The two extended their hands uniformly, and I felt a strange feeling of panic as I was left to choose which hand to take since I only had one able hand. Eanie meanie…

"Oh for goodness sake, shove off," Alicia pushed the two lads aside, taking my free hand with Angie supporting my back.

"Thanks," I told my girl friends then turned to Oliver and George.

"Thanks anyway," I told the two lads who for a moment ignored me as they gazed at each other as though having a mental conversation. Err… guys?

"You gave me quite a scare for a moment there," George said smiling warmly, tapping my non-injured shoulder with his gloved hand. "I'm glad you're safe."

I could see Angie and Alicia giggling in my periphery.

"We'll drop by the Hospital wing after the match," Angie promised.

"Ok, I'll see you lot then."

Led by my loving team, all the Gryffindors applauded and with a final wave at the stands for their encouragement and support, I followed Madame Pomfrey inside the castle to nurse my injury.

A/N: Goodness! Thank you so much for all the fantastic reviews. I sent PMs to each one of the signed reviews so I hope you checked those out. Special thanks to the scout master (sorry if the language bothers you a bit) and Sarah (Thanks. I really work hard on the dialogue so I'm glad you like it). I didn't get to send personal replies to you guys because you weren't signed in.

Don't forget to leave a REVIEW, mkay? I want lots and lots :D

Next: The competition heats up as a heavily medicated Katie bunks up in the hospital wing. Fun times are ahead and you know it!