A/N: Thanks to all who have reviewed and/or added the story to their alerts. I hope you keep liking it;) As usual, JKR owns all things Harry Potter…

Chapter 14—The One With Quidditch and Christmas

As the days dragged on, both Charlie and Maya were timid around each other. They still had not resolved what would happen the next year, but neither was really willing to talk to each other about it, both fearing the worst. They had been practicing quidditch each evening and after practice, they had prefect duties and homework to tend to. When Maya got word that she had been accepted to both schools where she had auditioned, Charlie was very sad.

One night, while they were doing rounds, Charlie asked, "Is there any chance you might get lost on your way to your dorm and end up in my bed tonight?"

"I might," Maya answered. "Is there any reason why you want me to end up in your bed tonight?"

"We haven't been to my bed in weeks," Charlie replied. "I kind of miss sharing with you." Maya was about to respond when they found a couple of fifth year Hufflepuffs in the corridor after curfew. They docked points and sent them to their common room. Then, they returned to Gryffindor tower. They did homework for another hour before it was time for bed. Maya had changed into her pajamas immediately upon their return from rounds and when Charlie was heading to his dorm, she simply followed him.

Charlie got changed while Maya climbed into his bed and cast a few silencing charms. When he returned, she said, "Why was it so important that I come to your bed tonight?"

"I just really want to hold you," Charlie said.

"You are a hopeless romantic," Maya teased. Charlie smirked and kissed her, reminding her that they hadn't really kissed in a long while. He also started to grope her, lifting her shirt to massage her breasts. He removed her shirt and put it at the foot of his bed.

He looked at her and said, "I love you, Maya."

He started to kiss her again, but Maya stopped him. "Why did you say that?" she asked.

"Because I meant it," he replied. "I love you more than I thought possible." He resumed kissing her and removed her pajama bottoms and knickers. She ran her hands through his hair and scratched her nails down his back, causing him to moan into her mouth. She pushed his pajama pants and boxers over his hips and pulled his head up to meet his eyes.

"I love you, too, Charlie," she said quietly. He smiled, nodded, and plunged himself into her. She moaned with pleasure and matched his movements. They came together, and collapsed next to each other. Charlie pulled her into his arms and snuggled close to her, falling asleep. Maya stayed awake, unable to sleep. After a few hours, she wiggled out of Charlie's grasp and put her clothes back on. Then, she returned to her own dormitory.

The next morning, Gryffindor took on Hufflepuff in the first quidditch match of the season. Maya got up early and went down to the changing rooms. Charlie was already in the Captain's office, waiting for her. "Why did you leave last night?" he asked.

"I couldn't sleep," Maya answered. "I've got to get changed for the match." Then, she went to the girls' changing rooms to put on her quidditch robes. She was trying very hard not to cry when Charlie knocked on the door and entered.

"Bloody hell, Charlie," Maya yelled. "I'm changing in here."

"And it's nothing I haven't seen before," he argued. "Are you going to talk to me again anytime soon? Because perhaps you could tell me what I've done to piss you off."

"You haven't done anything," Maya sighed. "You haven't done anything wrong at all." She was, again, trying to fight back tears. Charlie was going to start arguing when the rest of the Quidditch team entered the changing rooms.

Fred and George had started to cheek Charlie, but he yelled at them, "Shut it, you lot, or I'll tell Mum about your detentions." They let it go.

The game started 20 minutes later. Both Maya and Charlie were distracted as they flew around the pitch. Maya would have been knocked from her broom by a bludger, but George made a brilliant play and knocked the bludger into the Hufflepuff seeker. That bludger hit allowed Charlie to catch the snitch, ending the game.

After the game, Maya snuck off the pitch to change while the rest of the team were celebrating. She was heading back to the castle when Charlie caught up with her. "The Prefects' Christmas party is coming up," he said.

"I know," Maya answered.

"Would you be my date?" Charlie asked. Maya was flattered that Charlie had taken the initiative to ask her the same day the notice went out.

"Yeah, alright," Maya replied, a hint of sadness in her voice.

The day of the Christmas party dawned cold and Maya slept through breakfast. She wasn't feeling hungry, and was terribly exhausted. Ivy had woken her at noon to go to lunch. "Charlie's been annoying me to come up here and get you up for the last 2 hours," Ivy said. "What's going on with you lot anyways?"

"He said he loved me," Maya replied. "And we were in bed together, and then he gave me puppy eyes, so I said it too and I kind of regret it."

"Don't you love him?" Ivy pressed.

"Of course I love him, but I know where this is going," Maya said, wiping tears from her face. "And now we're going to the Christmas party together and I'd really rather just not go."

"Do you want me to tell him you're sick?" Ivy offered.

"No, thanks," Maya said. "I'm just going to have to face the music. Tell him I'll be down in a few minutes. I just need to get dressed." Maya got dressed and joined the rest of her friends in going to lunch. After eating, the group returned to the common room where Maya worked on homework while Charlie played Exploding Snap with his brothers.

While the rest of Gryffindor house went to dinner, Charlie and Maya stayed behind to get ready for the Christmas party. "I'll meet you here in an hour?" Charlie suggested. Maya nodded and headed up to her dormitory to get showered and dressed for the party.

As they walked to the party, Charlie turned to Maya and said, "You've been very quiet lately. Have I done something?"

"No," Maya said, trying to smile. "I've just been tired lately."

"Are you sick?" Charlie asked. Maya looked pale and tired, but otherwise healthy.

"I don't think so," Maya said. "Just tired. I probably need to put down the books and go to bed earlier."

"That's not it," Charlie accused. "For whatever reason, you don't seem to trust me enough to tell me the truth."

"That IS the truth, Charlie," Maya said, defensively. "I'm just tired."

"You haven't been sleeping well," he stated plainly. Maya didn't deny it, so Charlie continued, "Why haven't you been sleeping?"

"I don't know," Maya said. Charlie had led them into an empty classroom. "I wish I knew because then, I could figure it out and get some sleep."

"How long has this been going on?" Charlie asked.

"A couple weeks," Maya answered.

"Since just around the last quidditch match," Charlie accused. Maya nodded. "It's because I said I love you, isn't it?" Maya said nothing; she simply shrugged her shoulders and stared at the floor. "I've told you that before and it never bothered you. Why now?" Again, Maya answered in silence. "Why don't you trust me?"

"I do trust you, Charlie," Maya replied, tears now streaming down both faces. "I just don't know how to talk to you anymore. I miss those nights when it was just you and me in the common room until 3 or 4 in the morning."

"There's no reason we can't still do that, Maya," Charlie said. "You have a terrible habit of shutting people out when you need us most and if it's something I've done at least talk to Ivy or Jenna."

"We're late for the party," Maya said after a long while.

"I don't care about the fucking party," Charlie answered. Maya started wavering and Charlie asked, "Are you sure you're o.k.?"

"No," Maya whispered as she passed out.

Why did Maya pass out? Next chapter is coming up soon!