WARNING: There is some...sensitive stuff touched in this chapter (self harming)...if you don't like it/can't handle it feel free to skip it. It's sort of essential to plot but, you can skip it, you won't be completely lost without it.
"I swear, there's more an' more of you lot showin' up each year." Hagrid greeted Ricky and Minnie at the door to his hut, "Come on in." Hagrid stood aside with a smile. James and Albus were already there, Albus and Minnie quickly made b-lines to each other to share their first week.
"Seems Al's fear of losing his family was wrong." Ricky thought plopping down in a seat by the window. Victoire was sitting prim and proper in her normal chair beside Hagrid's, Dominique on the floor next to her and Louis was sitting at the table, his eyes drooped and tired from classes. He looked back up at the castle, Allie and the others would be eating supper just about now. He wondered what she'd thought of to get the Room of Requirement to calm him. Molly was sitting prim and proper at the table across from Louis, a book titled "Magical Encyclopedia" in her hands. Lucy was sitting next to James, and when she finally looked over at Ricky her eyes lit up.
"Ricky, when's tryouts?" She asked eagerly.
"This weekend or the next," Ricky answered, "Depends on how many people can sign up and how much work is given this first week." Lily looked slightly upset, but quickly smiled again as Rose finally came bounding in.
"Sorry I'm late." Rose beamed brightly.
"It's alright." Hagrid grinned, closing the door as Rose took a seat with Al, Minnie and Louis at the table. "'ow's e'eryone's first week? Hm?" Hagrid asked, beginning to prepare tea in a metal kettle.
The first years told their stories first, Ricky listened as they eagerly shared and rambled off. "And professor Slughorn is so old." Albus went on, "He was really nice though. And then this foreign teacher named Willow has this really weird class-"
"You have it too?" Louis asked, Al nodded eagerly. Ricky tuned the first years out as Hagrid handed him a blue tea cup with white poke-a-dots. He smiled his thanks as Hagrid walked on. His sat his hot tea on his lap, he knew the tea would taste bitter and leave a dry itchy feeling in his throat so he decided he'd slowly pour some to the twitching plant by his chair every so often.
Minnie told her story about her new friends in Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. "Takin' after your brother are ye? Green red and blue. Except I don't wan' no Slytherin and Gryffindor mingling on my watch." Hagrid nodded to Ricky who felt the heat creep up his neck, a the fireplace seemed to roar with heat. "Him an' Miss Kingsley-"
"Alright, enough of that, Molly, how was your first week?" He asked his cousin who didn't seem comfortable with lifting her eyes from her book.
She spoke clearly and coolly, "Same as it's usually been, Ricky." Molly answered, "Work, work," She paused, "Work." She over emphasized the word, not lifting her eyes.
"Miss Teacher's Princess here," Lucy sighed, "Anyways, there's this really cute Mexican boy in my...Health class. What kind of class is that anyways?"
"Health class." Ricky suppressed a shiver of disgust, he'd avoided looking at the Health professor, trailing off into his own world Ricky frowned. "How did he know mum? And what did he mean to get "back" with her? Were they together before? His mother wasn't open about her childhood but he at least knew her old friends. In fact, he met his friends Neo and Cli the same way his mother had met their father-on the boats to Hogwarts. Justin Selwyn, after struggling with depression when his best friend went missing after the last wizarding war eventually married a nice young lady and had Neo and Cli.
But he never recalled a "Cyrus Genio" being brought up in conversation, he wondered if something bad had happened between his parents and Cyrus.
"An' what abou' you, Ricky?" Hagrid asked.
Ricky pulled out of his daydream lazily, as he looked at his family, "Eventful." was all he could muster, Hagrid frowned as the others began to thank him for his tea and bade good night to him.
"You lot make sure the first years get to the castle," Hagrid said, "Keep an eye on Minnie, I wan' to talk to Ricky." Ricky looked at him surprised, he hadn't even dumped his tea, he frowned and sat it aside. Standing up to move closer to Hagrid's normal chair. Hagrid waved goodbye to the others as they left, he closed the door and silently went to his chair. "Now, I wan' you to be 'onest wi' me, Ricky." Hagrid said seriously, completely awake and pulled from his daydreaming, Ricky watched Hagrid with wide eyes. "Wha' 'appened this week to make it "eventful"." Hagrid rolled his eyes at the word as though it were absurd.
Ricky chewed on the inside of his bottom lip wondering if he should tell Hagrid, "I did write to aunt Ginny and dad, I really shouldn't spread anything." But as he looked at Hagrid, he remembered that Hagrid probably sat with his mother like this when something troubled her. He looked around, quickly, briefly trying to turn back the weather to see how she'd been. He couldn't imagine her in a Gryffindor uniform and hair band as the family swore she used to wear all the time, or how when she outgrew it she kept her hair in a braid. How often did she visit Hagrid?
"Ricky?" Hagrid asked.
Ricky shook his head, "Sorry, been…day dreaming a lot lately." He apologized, Hagrid nodded sympathetically, but still looked anticipated. "Did my mother visit you often?" he blurted out.
Hagrid looked taken back by the question, "O' course." Hagrid looked at him concerned.
"Where did she sit?" Ricky asked.
"Well, the house ain't like it used to be, but righ' there." Hagrid pointed to the cushioned bench under the window by the door. "There used to be some chairs, then the hut got partially destroyed an'…well that's another story." Hagrid waved it off.
"What was she like?" Ricky asked, "I know you want an answer, and I'll give one…It's just…"
Hagrid seemed to understand because he shifted into a story telling pose, slightly poised on the edge of his chair and elbows resting on his knees. "When I first met your mother, she was about' this big." Hagrid held up his hand, had Ricky been standing it would have been just under his breastbone. Ricky was surprised at how short she was. "An' your uncle 'arry wasn't much better." Hagrid moved his hand up a little, he then set it back down, "She an' your uncle lived together with a pair of awful muggles." Hagrid looked disgusted, although the look of guilt made it seem as though he was disgusted with himself. Ricky stayed silent and didn't question however.
"I knew righ' when I saw 'er she was a Malfoy. Told 'er she was too. Knew she 'ad to be the Lost Malfoy. She just refused to acknowledge the fac'." Ricky sat for the next twenty minutes as Hagrid gave a short snippet of his mothers finest moments at Hogwarts, all the memories he had of her and his uncles and aunt. He learned on how his mother, aunt and uncles went to a forbidden part of the castle to stop a dark wizard in her first year. In her second year she and her uncles discovered a secret chamber in the castle-Hagrid refused to mention where it was though. Her third year, Hagrid mentioned, was the worst for Phoenix mentally and emotionally.
"Seem your mum an' dad 'ad some sort'a fallin' out before that year." Hagrid said recalling, "Ne'er seen her so upset…" Ricky briefly wondered if it was because of Cyrus Genio. As Hagrid recalled Phoenix's tale, Ricky felt almost as if he were being shown her life through a book. As if he were traveling through life with his mother and father when they were young.
"Did you know anyone named Cyrus Genio?" Ricky asked at the end.
"Well he's up at the feast right now." Hagrid looked confused.
"No, when my mom was younger, did she ever mention him?" He asked, Hagrid shook his head and Ricky frowned. He wasn't sure he liked the idea of not knowing when his mother knew Cyrus. Trying to ease his mind and forget about Cyrus Genio he sat up a bit straighter, "Did you ever think mum and dad would get together?" he gave a small smile as a large grin lit up Hagrid's face.
"When your mum and dad first met, I figur'd your mum would get fed up with his pranks. Well his and his brothers." Hagrid's beam faltered, "Yeah…Fred'd be proud of 'em both. And of you kids." He smiled and ruffled Ricky's hair. He glanced outside, "You should best be getting' back inside." He mentioned. Ricky felt like a nostalgic, painful line had been crossed for Hagrid.
"Can you tell me more another day?" Ricky asked cautiously as he stood up.
"Course." Hagrid nodded and smiled. Ricky thanked him for the tea and answering all his questions before he shuffled up to the castle, head down and frowning. It began to rain on him as he took the last few steps inside, he looked back out sadly at Hagrid's Hut the light still on inside.
"Why'd I have to be named after him?" Ricky thought sadly as he thought of his dead uncle who all he knew of him was his name.
Ricky hovered over the Quidditch pitch on his broom, watching those trying out for the team gather below. He could just make out his cousins James, Lucy, and Dominique, as well as Neo and his older sister Charity. In the stands he could see Allie waving at him, he smiled and waved back, Minnie, Cli and Minnie's friend Bird were sitting by her. Minnie cheered from the stands, watching Ricky intently. Anna and Beth were also sitting with Allie and the others, they were whispering something to each other and would occasionally look up to see if Ricky had started practice yet. The early October air was nippy, and Ricky was thankful to be wearing captains robes which were thicker than the other Quidditch robes.
Once Ricky was sure no other tryouts were coming to the field, he flew down to hover just above those trying out, "Alright, hi." He began. Dominique slapped James and Lucy upside the heads to get their attentions. Neo was roughhousing with a dark skinned girl-Roxanne Johnson summer had dropped her beaters build and she had gotten very slim. Ricky frowned, most of the tryouts were still roughhousing and laughing.
"Shut up, you crazy bastards!" Charity ordered, it was as if a blanket suffocated the field.
"Thanks." Ricky mouthed, Charity nodded, "Right. I'm going to split you in teams, each team will play to the best of their ability. Beaters keeping the Bludgers off the other players, chasers trying to put the Quaffle in, and seekers keeping an eye out for the snitch-"
"What about keeper?" A second year boy asked.
"I am captain, and I'm the keeper." Ricky answered, a few returning for tryouts chuckled at the question. "Separate on the position you want to play. Beaters, Seekers and Chasers." Ricky pointed to three different spots on the pitch. He tried to keep track of who was trying out for what but quickly gave up. Ricky instructed some people to sit to the side, the first team being the first to practice.
"Alright, everyone give it their best." Ricky wished them all luck as he flew to the keepers post. James was whacking at bludgers, not a single chaser was injured while he flew. His quick reflexes, and tight grip on the bat kept the bludgers back at the edge of the field. Ricky kept his eye on the second year boy who was trying out for seeker. He was busy watching the other players and not keeping an eye out for the snitch. Ricky frowned and absently blocked a Quaffle from an ex teammate Quinn Hester. The dark skinned boy was technically banned from the pitch since he beat the Slytherin seeker last year after a particularly close match. Ricky could hear Hester cursing as he circled back around, Ricky threw the Quaffle back in the air. Neo somehow had gotten the Quaffle and snaked past Ricky, scoring a "goal". Cli, Anna and Beth could be heard cheering in the stands. Ricky shook his head and glanced at the seeker tryout again, the boy was whizzing around after the snitch, but seemed to wobble around tight curves. Ricky frowned. He blocked another Quaffle, this time from Haymitch Smithson.
After watching the first team for another ten minutes, Ricky called them to a stop. So far, only James and Neo had really impressed him. The second group was much quicker, both in thinking and actions, and they were overall better. Dominique tried for seeker and was chasing the snitch before Ricky could even straighten his arm brace. Roxanne, and Charity both got in four goals within the first few minutes, easily communicating with each other and their slower partner who had awful aim. Ricky couldn't remember her name, but he didn't attempt to block her shots which were always under foot and far below the goal hoops. However Charity and Roxanne were both good sports, catching her bad throws and passing the Quaffle back to their partner to give her another shot, along with a few encouraging words. "Good sportsmanship." he thought, remembering Hester's incident last year.
Dominique was suddenly whipping past him, hand out stretched. "Bludger!" Minnie screamed below. A bludger was squelching and hurtling towards Dominique, Ricky gripped his broom already whipping forward to block the blow as much as he could. Lucy reached the hit point before Ricky, everything slowed down and Ricky watched on in amazement. Lucy whipped the bat back and swung forward, whacking the bludger out of the Quidditch field, Dominique closed her hand around the snitch and the two didn't collide though they were a mere breaths away from a crash. Ricky held his broom back in awe as the scene unfolded.
Those that had gathered in the stands to support their friends or family were cheering at the save.
"Charity, Neo, Roxanne, I want you as my chasers." The three congratulated each other, Chairty offered some kind word to her partner with no aim. The other girl didn't seem upset by Ricky's choice and even smiled at him. "James, Lucy, I want you as my beaters." The two grinned at each other. Ricky turned to Dominique, "And, of course, Dom as my seeker." he grinned as she beamed proudly.
He probably looked biased, over half the team was his family, but he couldn't just choose terrible players. He walked out of the stadium, and waited for his friends and sister. "I would say the team is good this year," Allie teased, Ricky felt his heart stagger, "But Slytherin's is pretty good too. Better, even."
"So supportive." Ricky rolled his eyes. Neo hurried out of the stadium, "At least we've all got good sportsmanship."
"You two argue a lot." Bird noted, Minnie giggled, holding her friends hand, she looked at the older students apologetically. "Are you two dating?" Minnie's giggle slowed as she seemed to take Bird under her school cloak and whisper something to her.
Allie huffed, "As if."
"Ouch." Ricky thought with a frown, it felt as though Allie had just stabbed him, shoved him to the floor and stepped on the wound.
"I mean, Ricky and I are just friends." Allie continued in her "Just drop it" tone. It began to mist on the students as they walked back to the castle.
"Yes, well…I'm going to the library, see you lot later." Cli waved his goodbye to the group.
"I'm going back to bed." Neo said proudly.
"Can you help Bird back?" Minnie asked, "I'm going to the Owlery."
"Sure," Neo smiled, "I gotcha, Bird." Neo took Bird's hand gently, Ricky watched as Bird's cheeks darkened and they climbed the stairs. Once Minnie was sure Neo was actually taking Bird to the Gryffindor common room she hurried off towards the Owlery.
Ricky had nothing to say to Allie so he walked back out to Hagrid's after giving her a curt "Goodbye". Ricky ignored the rain as it soaked his clothes.
"Sorry about the mess of bandages." Professor Smith said as she cleared the gauze off her desk, "Particular nasty spell backfired." Ricky glanced at Anna to see if she knew anything about why her mother would be practicing a dangerous spell. Anna's brown eyes held a thousand yard stare, and Ricky watched her, confused. Professor Smith rolled the sleeves of her school robes down over her bandaged arms, "Right, you've all come a long way in your hydro-kinetic spells. Today will be the last day you'll be practicing them before we move on." She dismissed them to their partners, Ricky watched as Anna dully looked at the tub of water at her feet, and walked over cautiously.
"Hancenmotu hydro." The water at Anna's feet didn't even budge. Ricky looked up from the tub to his partner. Anna was blankly staring at the tub, as if she wasn't sure what she had just tried. "Hancenmotu hydro." She whispered, Ricky paled, he'd seen his mother and father act like this. Slipping back into oneself, hiding.
"Anna?" Ricky stepped around the tub and held her shoulders, "Anna, is everything alright?" Anna didn't look up at him, her eyes looked at something far off, tears spilling over her cheeks. "Anna?" Ricky began to worry, "Anna? Please, look at me." He pleaded. Anna's lower lip trembled and she suddenly dropped, squatting low over the ground, her body as tightly curled up as she could possibly get it. "Anna!" By now Anna's mother was looking over. "Professor!" Ricky looked from Anna's crying, curled up form to Anna's mother.
Professor Smith looked ashamed as she walked over, "Could you please take Anna to your hospital wing?" she requested.
"Professor?" Ricky looked at her shocked, Anna was this woman's daughter, how could she not comfort her? Ricky glared as Smith turned her back, he fought to get Anna to stand. Her entire body was shaking with sobs as he led her back to the castle. "Anna, please, what's wrong?" Ricky asked.
"It's father!" Anna finally choked out once they got to the castle, "He's." Anna made a motion with her hands and suddenly her breathing became furious. "He's a complete asshole!" Ricky nearly tripped in surprise as Anna yanked herself out of his arms. "I cannot believe him! And how dare he accuse mother for this!"
"Whoa, whoa!" Ricky raced after her and grabbed her shoulders, "What happened?" He asked.
"He's been sleeping with another woman! And he wants mother to stayed married to him!" She spat out any word connecting to her father with as much venom she could muster. "And you want to know why? Because he doesn't want her to belong to anyone else! He wants my mother as a back up, go-to-booty call!" Anna wrenched herself from Ricky again, slamming her fists against the stonewalls, however she seemed not to notice this pain. "Mother can't even look at herself anymore she's so ashamed! But she loves father!" Anna broke down crying and slammed her fist weakly on the walls. "And father accuses mother of being the liar when father didn't even tell mother till she found out." Anna whispered.
Ricky watched Anna as she slunk to the ground and curled up on her side. He had no idea how any of this pertained to her behavior earlier, then Anna spoke, "Mother's been through this so many times…I'm scared this time she'll…she'll…" Anna couldn't spill the words.
Ricky blinked confused, then it clicked, "Your mother wasn't practicing spells before we came in…was she?" he asked as gently as he could. Anna looked up at him shocked, but slowly she nodded and curled up even more.
Before Ricky could say another word, a familiar voice echoed down the hallway, "For the last time, Cyrus, leave me alone." Ricky suddenly pushed himself against the wall and pulled Anna over to hide behind the pillars in the wall. Phoenix was storming down the hallway, it seems as though she were caught in a whirlwind.
"You're the one who left before we can work things out." Cyrus noted, walking calmly alongside Phoenix who was seething. Anna stopped crying and relaxed, she looked up at Ricky confused. Ricky couldn't look at her.
"Because you're awful at working things out." Phoenix laughed cruelly, "You want the other person to work things out on their own but if you don't cooperate and at least contribute it's not worth it!" Phoenix sounded as though she were on the verge of having a panic attack.
"I'm sorry," Cyrus said, though he didn't sound sorry. "I wanted to get back together after Kirry left. I felt so alone-"
"You wanted a rebound?" Phoenix demanded, her voice cracking. Ricky felt his heart shaking his entire body, it felt as though it were going to jump right out of his chest. "Look. Cyrus." His mother took a breath, "I trusted you, told you everything, I adored you." Ricky felt as if his world were about to crumble.
"Are mom and dad going to be like Professor Smith and Stacey?" he frowned, Anna seemed to notice his discomfort, she laid a hand on his knee and squeezed it reassuringly. He looked at her, even with her tear stained face she managed to smile to reassure him.
"But," Ricky felt like he was tottering on the edge of chaos, Phoenix stayed silent for the longest seconds in his life, "I do not love you. I do not like you," With each sentence, Ricky felt himself being pulled away from the edge. "I want nothing to do with you!" Phoenix finished, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a class to get back to."
Ricky stood, helping Anna stand as well. He noticed Anna looked suddenly much older than when he first met her. She looked exhausted, as if she'd been too strong for too long, and her reckoned he looked roughly the same. "Come on, let's go get a relax draught from Madam Pomfrey."
"Whatever you say." Anna sighed sadly, "Ricky, I'm so sorry." Ricky said nothing. Anna had no need to apologize, her parents were the embodiment of a teenage heartbreak. His parents were faithful and loving. Just because this Cyrus character was trying to ruin anything meant nothing, because Ricky knew his mother would never let Cyrus back in. Madam Pomfrey excused them from the rest of first block so they could let the potions set in and relax them both.
Hey guys, I'm sorry this was put up a week later than I intended…some personal stuff came up but I sprang back pretty quickly…This chapter is literally just a filler so you can see a bit of Quidditch Tryouts.
So, Next chapter will be skipping ahead a bit perhaps…Unless there is more of a certain class you would like to see, I dunno. It's kinda up to y'all.
Oh! That reminds me!
There is a Poll about this story on my profile. If everyone would please go and vote I would be sooooo grateful!
