"Glad to see everyone had a good weekend," Cyrus said to the class, Ricky avoided looking at his sad brown eyes.
He still hadn't figured out how Cyrus knew his mother, "If he gets any closer to mum," Ricky let that thought trail off, "I have to stop him." He didn't know if Minnie knew, he didn't know if he should write to his father, he didn't know anything. Added onto the stress of helping Anna and Beth cope with their parents acting like thirteen year olds, Ricky was having a hard time keeping his emotions in check. On more than one occasion he'd sent sparks through his finger tips when he touched another person. Ricky blamed it on the colder weather approaching, "all the static and humidity, you know?" he'd told Anna when he had accidentally shocked her.
Ricky constantly felt sick, he couldn't go to his mother, she had enough to worry about with this Cyrus guy trailing after her like a lost dog. He refused to go to Madam Pomfrey, she always made a comment on how much like his mother he was whenever he went to the hospital wing. In the past month alone, Ricky had been in the room of requirement more times than he could count. The calm room Allie had shown him had become a sanctuary, he let all his pent up emotions out in the room, sometimes leaving the room soaking wet, sometimes leaving with his hair sticking up at odd angles.
"This isn't good for you, you know?" Neo whispered next to him, flipping through the Healer's book slowly.
"What isn't?" Ricky whispered back, looking at the dummy that laid on their table face-up.
"Bottling it all up, obviously if your mum doesn't talk about him, he's not important." Neo said nodding his head towards Cyrus.
"But he's trying to be." Ricky grumbled stubbornly, a Malfoy scowl twisting his pale lips downward. Ricky let Neo do most of the work, both of them agreeing that burning their dummy to a crisp would probably result in a low grade.
"You go on," Ricky said at the end of the class period, "I'll catch up."
"You sure?" Neo asked, "You've been skipping meals a lot lately."
Ricky wanted to tell him he'd been helping Anna and Beth, he wanted to tell Neo that he was doing all he could to keep everyone from falling apart, he wanted to tell him that everything would be okay. But Ricky just nodded and watched as Neo ran out to catch up with Beth.
"Mr. Weasley?" Cyrus asked shocked, "Is there any reason you're not going to supper?" he asked gently.
Ricky packed up his bag slowly, "I had a question." He said, not looking up at him. His heart was drumming in his throat. Taking a shaky breath, Ricky only briefly noted the frost that clung in the air as he exhaled.
"Well," Cyrus seemed weary, "I'm here to help."
Ricky nodded, he wondered if he should ask right out what he wanted from his mother, as he slipped his bag on his shoulder he raised his head to look at Cyrus, "How is it you know my mother?" he asked gently. So much for planning. Ricky kept one hand on his bag strap, clenching the fabric tightly.
Cyrus's sad brown eyes suddenly hardened, he frowned, his lower lip trembling, "What are you talking about?" he asked, playing oblivious.
"I've heard you both talking," Ricky said carefully, trying to not let his anger stir up the wind outside, "In the hallways." He blinked rapidly, trying to ignore the pain around his eyes.
Cyrus nodded, he turned on his heel and walked back to his desk, "And has your mother ever mentioned me?" he inquired, he sounded as though he wasn't sure if he wanted to hear the answer.
"No." Ricky answered honestly, he jumped back when Cyrus slammed his fist onto his desk.
"So all you know about us is from what you've overheard." Cyrus was speaking more to himself than to Ricky. Cyrus sighed and walked around to his chair, he slumped down and buried his head in his hands. Ricky didn't say a word as Cyrus chewed on his bottom lip. "I was," Cyrus paused, he sighed and leaned back, tossing his head onto the back on his chair, "Romantically involved," he said carefully, "with your mother when we were younger, much younger." Ricky wasn't sure what to expect, he had to have figured such, but still the thought being confirmed was suffocating. He stayed silent though, afraid that if he talked Cyrus would not tell him anymore.
"Romantically involved?" Ricky choked out.
"Your mother," Cyrus sighed and closed his eyes, "We met in Egypt. She was with your father and his family on vacation," Cyrus spat out as though he were choking on something venomous, "I had taken a liking to her, she was quiet, sweet," Cyrus took a breath and sighed as though he were in a happy thought, his eyes remained closed,
"Beautiful, even for being four years younger." Ricky was thankful Cyrus's eyes were closed, Ricky's body heaved as though he were going to be sick.
Cyrus continued on, "And she took a liking to me." Ricky felt like he were going to be sick, silently he gripped a desk and hunched over, his body heaving with dry bile. He refused to believe what he was hearing. "For the time she spent there we were entranced with each other." Cyrus sighed dreamily, "Then, she had to leave." His voice grew sad, Ricky took a few deep breaths, "I met a woman my age, she told me I was dangerous. She said I had no right to ruin a young girls life like I had with Phoenix. She eventually convinced me to cut it off with Phoenix, the worst mistake I could have possibly made." Cyrus sighed and opened his eyes, Ricky stood up again, the feeling of nausea passing. "I married her, and when my daughter was born, she realized I would only ever love Phoenix."
"Shut up." Ricky wanted to shout, instead the tingling feeling of electricity stirred in his body. His focus from early was draining, the wind picking up outside as the pain behind Ricky's eyes increased.
"My wife left, and I was alone with my daughter. I tried finding Phoenix Malfoy, but no one knew a Phoenix Malfoy." Cyrus gave a sad laughed, "Turned out for a while now she'd been Phoenix Weasley, and she had little ones of her own running around."
Ricky held up a hand to stop Cyrus from talking, "Stop, stop." Ricky felt a heave and turned tail, running out of the health classroom. He ran to the Gryffindor common room, ignoring the feast in the Great Hall as he ran up the stairs. What was he expecting when he asked Cyrus about his mother? All those dodgy meetings in the hallways, and how frightened his mother was, Cyrus was trying to ruin his family.
Ricky ran his fingers through his hair, kicking his bed in the dormitory. The other boys were still at supper, he could throw a fit if he pleased. But Ricky only threw his body down on his bed hard enough he was surprised the ancient wood didn't succumb to his fit. Drawing the curtains around his bed, he clawed at his head, dying to let his emotions out but fearing the outcome.
The following morning, Ricky barely registered Neo waking him. "You alright? You missed supper yesterday. Allie was worried."
Ricky felt a twinge of guilt, but realized he shouldn't and shook his bed head out, "Just, wasn't hungry." And he didn't have an appetite as he sat up and looked around the barely lit dormitory.
Neo must have noticed the stress on his brow because he hesitated tying his tie, "Did something happen last night?" he asked, Ricky glanced up at him wearily, "Natalia wasn't at supper either," Neo turned to a small bedside mirror to straighten his tie, "We all just kind of figured," Neo trailed off. Ricky didn't want to hear anything about Natalia Brand, he threw the covers off him and slouched to his trunk. "Look, you can tell me if something happened, you know that," Neo tried to comfort him.
"In all honesty, Neo, you're way off the mark on this one." Ricky snapped.
"Oh." Neo sounded a little hurt at Ricky's sharp tone. Ricky hung his head, his shoulders tense, "Well, if you do every need to talk, you know where to find me." And with that, Neo threw on his cloak and left. Ricky sighed sadly, he hadn't meant to snap at Neo, and after getting dressed he made his way out to Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Classes began to wear on Ricky as October slipped by. Ricky and Anna kept an eye on Professor Smith, and Ricky was busy looking up to see if there were any long distance support groups for people between countries. Phoenix was busy teaching simple transfiguration spells, but her essays on their usefulness were wearing down on the Hogwarts and foreign students. Endurance was murder on Ricky and Neo, they were wobbly kneed and energy deprived by the time they made it to Quidditch practice after supper. Allie and the Imperatrix bonded day by day, and she was spending most of her time researching the foreign creatures as their professor ushered the class onto another creature called a Gwarthzi. Cyrus was making Health class unbearably uncomfortable, pointing out nearly everything Ricky did, and occasionally making snide remarks about his father. He hadn't expected the Health teacher to stoop to such a low, considering all he had done was ask him about his mother.
November brought several surprises, George Weasley showing up for a "surprise" inspection of the Hogsmeade location, Mr. Stacey taking a temporary leave, Allie being able to train the Imperatrix she'd befriended on their first day, and a rivalry between Phoenix Genio and Ricky Weasley blossoming. Among the surprises was an announcement in the Gryffindors common room that all fourth years and above had to meet in an unused classroom the eighteenth of November.
"But that's the day before our game against Slytherin." Neo protested to Phoenix, "It'll be our last chance to practice."
"Irrelevant." Phoenix had told the boys, "That day, every head of house and school will be making an announcement, it will only take an hour, and it will be before lunch."
Ricky wanted to roll his eyes, "Then why can't it be made at lunch?"
"I am not discussing this with you two," Phoenix sighed, "You two and the whole Quidditch team better be there or there weren't be a match."
"But, professor," Neo wanted to argue, but Phoenix simply held up a hand, signaling that if he talked again he would get a detention.
So on the eighteenth of November, Neo and Ricky dragged themselves to the unused classroom with the rest of the Gryffindors fourth year and up. Phoenix separated the boys from the girls upon entering, she waited till everyone was in and then walked to the middle of the room.
Ricky watched as slowly the students quieted down, "As you all should know," his mother started, "We are having a winter ball." the girls instantly began to whisper, "Every student fourth year and above is requested to attend." His mother got an infectious smile on her face, "It will take place Sunday, December twenty-fourth, starting from seven that night to midnight. Now as tradition, when a ball is held at Hogwarts the name of Gryffindor is on the line and I want you each to put your best foot forward." A few boys snickered, but Ricky was bouncing to get to the pitch and practice, sitting in a stuffy room was not how he wanted to spend his Saturday. "Which is why from here on till the ball, every other day will have a time allotted between last class and supper to come practice dancing."
"You've got to be kidding me." Neo whispered to Ricky as the boys groaned, "We've already got enough on our plates as it is." Ricky nodded sympathetically, but he was too in his own thoughts to answer.
"Mr. Selwyn, perhaps you would like to volunteer as the first pair, and demonstrate to the boys how it's done?" Phoenix asked teasingly. A knowing smirk on her face, Ricky relaxed slightly to see his mother wasn't so frightened.
"No ma'am, I'm fine." Neo insisted.
"Oh please," Phoenix insisted, "Miss Weasley needs a practice partner, don't you Dominique?" Ricky glanced across the room to his cousin who had gone as scarlet as her hair. Dominique's lips dropped to a scowl as she marched to the center of the room and Neo trudged up as slowly as he could.
"Now, Mr. Selwyn, place your right hand on Miss Weasley's waist." Phoenix instructed.
"With all due respect ma'am, I'd rather take my chances in a dragon pen." Neo almost whimpered. Dominique let out something resembling a growl as her aunt pushed them together and positioned their hands just so. Someone let out a wolf whistle and Neo turned to show his favorite finger till Phoenix stopped him distractedly and pushed him even closer to Dominique.
Ricky had to admit, watching his best mate and cousin flustered and stiff around each other when on the pitch their so carefree and joking made him want to laugh. However, he held back on the hysterics as his mother was now pairing up people.
Later that night after a long, hard Quidditch practice, Neo and Ricky slouched over their golden plates tiredly. Cli joined them asking how practice went to which both boys replied with tired groans. "You shouldn't push yourselves too hard, what with Endurance being a class this year and all." Cli pointed out, pushing his glasses up on his nose. "Professor Genio says too much endurance can strain-"
"I really don't care what "professor Genio" has to say." Ricky spat out, taking a sip of water from his goblet. Ricky glanced around for Anna and Beth, only to find them down the table by Dominique who looked just as tired as Neo and Ricky.
"So," Allie appeared from seemingly nowhere, "who are you three going to the ball with?" She asked as she slid down the bench at the Gryffindor table to sit next to Cli. "I heard Neo had a wonderful afternoon with Dominique." Allie gave a sly grin.
"Piss off." Neo stuffed a roll into his mouth.
"As it were," Cli ignored his brothers rude attitude, "I am attending the ball with Beth." He smiled.
"You should go with Anna." Ricky nudged Neo who only shoveled more food into his mouth, his already pink cheeks staining an even darker hue.
"Twin on twin action, cute." Allie grinned mischievously.
"If it will get you three off my backs." Neo grumped.
"What about you?" Allie asked Ricky. Ricky became interested in the roast beef on his plate as he pretended to think on answering Allie. In reality he had planned to ask Allie to go-as friends! But he couldn't help but remember their close call in the Room of Requirement nearly a month ago. What if he had actually kissed her? Ricky glanced through his shaggy hair at Allie who was looking at him interestingly, picking out a few things from the Gryffindor table to eat.
"I haven't given much thought into going." He finally answered indifferently.
"Oh?" Allie asked, Cli and Neo shared a look, "Why's that? Aren't you supposed to go or something?"
"Don't really want to go with anyone." Ricky wanted to know if she was going, and if so with who? Secretly he hoped she said no one so he could suggest going as friends.
"Too bad," Allie grinned, "Seeing my boys all dressed up would have been funny," Allie laughed to herself, "But if there's nothing in it for me, I won't be going."
"It's a great chance to hear another cultures music and," Cli began to ramble till Allie stuffed a spoonful of pudding into his mouth.
"Put a cork in it, bookworm." Allie teased, she smiled coyly, "As it is, Ricky." Ricky looked back up at her, "I heard your dad was in Hogsmeade, apparently he's staying till the ball."
"Where'd you hear that?" Ricky asked.
"My mom was in Hogsmeade visiting a friend and she stopped to talk to your dad." Allie suggested as though she was mentioning the weather. "And daddy dearest insists on you going." Allie pulled a letter out of her sweater making Cli and Neo overdramatically shield their eyes. Allie rolled her jeweled eyes and handed the letter to Ricky. He took the folded slip of parchment, it still warm from being tucked against Allie's heart.
He skimmed over the familiarities of the letter taking note of the quotes at the bottom, "Mr. Weasley asks you tell his son he expects him to be at the ball. Says he wants to talk and that letters would not cut it."
"Why not write a letter explaining that himself?" Allie asked no one in particular, "But there you have it." Ricky frowned as supper ended and he shuffled to Gryffindor tower with Neo and Bird, the blind little girl had recently taken to following the older boys to breakfast in the morning and back to the common room after supper. Once they had gotten the little girl to the common room she wished them luck on their Quidditch game the following day, and carefully made her way up to her dormitory.
Ricky fought sleep that night. Thoughts of Cyrus and his daughter swirling in his head. No wonder Phoenix Genio hated him, his father was always pinning after a girl, probably comparing his daughter to Ricky's mother. Then finding out this great woman her father loved was married to some other guy, it was a miracle the young Phoenix didn't explode from anger.
He wasn't sympathizing with her anytime soon though, she was still proud and rude. Acting as though the world should bow to her, Ricky could have rolled his eyes to oblivion at the thought. However, he couldn't help but frown, thinking of his own slightly similar situation. Looking like the Uncle he was named after but never met, occasionally getting the far off look from his father or the trembling frown from his mother. "She doesn't deserve my sympathy though," Ricky rolled over in his bed and closed his eyes forcing out thoughts of Phoenix Genio.
A dreamless, yet fitful night left Ricky dark eyed and slumped as he looked at his breakfast blearily. "Com'on Ricky," Roxanne bumped his arm with her shoulder. She was trying to lift the spirits of the team as the cloudy sky left overcast expressions on them. "You need your strength for today," She glanced at the rest of the team, "All of you." she added. Ricky glanced across the hall at the Slytherin table. Marcus Stonebridge and his team were huddled around the table, glancing at the Gryffindors occasionally.
"I'm going to the pitch early." Ricky pushed away from the table, "I need some air." As he left his team behind he could almost feel the air suffocating him.
"Ricky!" Ricky opened his stormy eyes, he looked around then he looked down, his sister beamed up at him. "Good luck today!" she smiled.
"Not to sound mean," Ricky coughed out something between a scoff and a laugh, "But shouldn't you wish your house good luck?"
Minnie scowled, "They're a bunch of butts." Ricky blinked pleasantly surprised. "Besides, you're my brother." Minnie hugged him and Ricky wrapped his arms around her instinctively. "I hope you win today." She mumbled into his chest.
Ricky smiled and pulled away from her, "Thanks, Minnie." Ricky patted her head and gave her cheeks a quick pinch before be stepped around her and walked out of the Great Hall. Ricky practically ran to the changing rooms at the stadium, glancing around he noticed he was completely alone. Everyone was still up at the castle, which gave Ricky the perfect opportunity to clear his mind. He made quick work of getting his Quidditch robes on, going to the broom closet, Ricky pulled out the Firebolt Supreme his uncle had bought him for his first Quidditch game.
He was thirteen, Destiny Wood, Quidditch Captain at the time, had told him the previous year that if he worked hard and practiced he could easily make the team the next year. He'd taken her advice to heart and practiced all summer on his father's old Cleansweep 5 at his grandparents house. His mother had never been fond of flying, but his father claimed he was a natural.
"Not a beater, that's for sure, but a natural." George had thumped Ricky on the back after an apple Teddy and him had bewitched to fly around like bludgers whacked Ricky off his broom.
"He could be injured, you remember what happened to Harry third year?" Phoenix asked, one arm hugging herself, the other placed worriedly on her cheek. "And how can you say he's a natural if he fell off his broom?"
"Because he got back up, Aunt Nix," Teddy reasoned, "If you can't get up after a simply knock on the noggin by an apple-" Teddy trailed off as Phoenix didn't seem to be relaxing any by their words.
"Mum, I'm fine. Honestly." Ricky had reasoned. He was more than fine, he felt great. After school started, Ricky was the first to sign up for Quidditch tryouts. He had blocked every Quaffle thrown at him, Destiny was impressed.
"Take my advice, did you?" She asked after announcing him as the new Keeper. Ricky had been on cloud nine that night, he quickly woke Violet in the owlery and sent a letter back home to his parents, hoping his parents would be proud. It took a week before any response came, but when it did, Violet made a big show of crying around the Great Hall before dropping off his broom shaped gift.
Ricky ran his gloved hand over the slightly worn handle of the Firebolt Supreme, his father and uncles were all so proud of him, even his Uncle Draco had sent a letter explaining how proud he was. Ricky smiled fondly remembering the letters clearly as though he were reading them again. Putting his broom down made the memories and warmth fade. Ricky wandered down the short hallway leading to the pitch. He opened the door to the overcast sky and empty stadium.
Walking to the middle of the pitch, Ricky took a few deep breaths. Each breath becoming more panicked and deeper till finally Ricky let out a scream of frustration. The whirlwind from his pent up rage blew dead leaves and dirt every which way, watching the chaos around him, Ricky felt a rush of adrenaline. Before he realized it, he was calming down, dropping to his knees Ricky hung his head wanting to do nothing more than drop of into slumber.
An echoed breath of fear caught his attention and Ricky glanced up at the stands. Phoenix Genio sat looking down at him horrified. Ricky's heart twisted at the sight of her wide, scared, eyes. His mouth moved to make an excuse, she wasn't there earlier, how long had she been there? "Phoenix," He moved to stand.
"Stay down!" Phoenix screamed, whipping her wand out of her coat, the leftover wind from his anger blowing her silky hair around.
"Phoenix, please, let me explain." Ricky tried to reason, "Explain what?" he asked himself, "That I'm a freak? That I have unnatural powers that cause me to space out and become emotionless?" Phoenix began to back towards the stairs in one of the towers to leave.
"Just stay away from me!" Phoenix ran, her wand still clutched in her hand.
"Phoenix!" Ricky ran after her, he couldn't afford her telling anyone, especially his mother or her father. Luckily for him he knew the stadium inside and out. Running to the tower she had ran to, Ricky pulled the Slytherin colored flap open and caught Phoenix as she jumped down the final steps and was beginning to turn to go to the castle. Phoenix screamed as Ricky pressed her against one of the support beams.
"Just let me explain!" Ricky pleaded over her screams for help.
"Someone! Help!" Phoenix screamed, she tried to raise her wand to him, but he grabbed her wrist, easily pinning it above her head. "Get off me, you freak!"
The words were hurtful, he knew he was a freak, but Phoenix Genio had no right to call him that. For a few slow moments, Ricky took in Phoenix's appearance. Her chocolate covered eyes were caught somewhere between looking at him in wide eyed fear, and clenching them shut in fear. Her hair was blown every which way, he now knew that to be his fault. Pushing further against her he snapped, "Sit still and just listen to me, you brat!"
Phoenix snapped her mouth shut and looked up at him fearfully. "What all did you see?" he demanded.
"You went pazzo, scendere! Aiuto! Papa! Someone!" Phoenix began to scream again.
"Genio!" Ricky gripped her wrist tighter, Phoenix cried out and dropped her wand. "What did you see!?" He was beginning to get angry again, students would be piling down in less than twenty minutes and the last thing he wanted was to be seen with Phoenix.
"You're a Weather Wizard! Now let me go!" Phoenix fought against him consequentially pushing them closer together after giving Ricky a kick to the knee. He was now leaning over her, their hips pushed together and his shoulders encasing her. Phoenix gave out something between a whimper and a groan. Ricky looked down at her, his adrenaline from earlier running low. He took notice of how close they were and how hot the area seemed to become, Phoenix must have noticed too because she looked anywhere but at him.
"Why do you spend so much caring what I think?" Phoenix demanded, looking up at him through her dark bangs. She was struggling to catch her breath and Ricky could almost feel her heartbeat through her coat and his uniform. He looked over her face, and she looked over his.
Briefly, Ricky wondered what she thought of their closeness. Then, scowling, Ricky snipped, "Don't tell anyone what you saw."
"Why shouldn't I?" Phoenix demanded.
Ricky let out something resembling a growl as he tightened the grip on Phoenix's wrist, she let out a small cry,
"Don't. Tell. Anyone." He repeated. Ricky glanced out the open door to the path leading back to the castle, he spotted the first of students coming down and released Phoenix, "If you tell anyone, I will hear about it, and if you thought that out there was scary-"
"I get it!" Phoenix snapped picking up her wand, "Just stay away from me, and we'll be fine." She turned on her heel and walked out of the tower back towards the castle. Ricky hurried back out to the pitch and to the changing room where the rest of the team was sitting.
"Ricky, where've you been?" Neo asked standing up.
"We saw the wind storm," Dominique said, looking over Ricky carefully, "Everything okay?"
"Yeah." Ricky nodded, "I'd just gone out to look at the pitch." he lied. He grabbed his broom, "Everyone remember the play?" he asked. No one said anything as they grabbed their brooms, "We stick to it as best as we can, we all know how the Slytherin's play." They began walking back to the pitch, "Dominique," His cousin looked at him, her bright red hair was pulled out of her face, and her dark blue eyes looked determined at him. "Find the Snitch as quickly as you can. James and Lucy are going to keep the Bludgers going at Terrio as long as they can." Dominique nodded.
The roar of the schools greeted Ricky, looking up at the towers, Ricky spotted a familiar set of platinum blonde hair and fiery red hair. "Mount your brooms." Madam Hooch instructed. The ancient Flying teacher stayed rooted on the ground as she watched both teams fly up and around the stadium before getting into positions. Ricky glanced at his parents while Hooch gave her "clean match" speech. Mikey was seated between their mother and father, he cheered and waved at Ricky. However, before he could wave back, Hooch whistled once, signaling him and Stonebridge to their posts. Ricky took off, his broom flying as smoothly and clean as they day he first flew her.
"The Snitch is out," the announcer spoke, "Bludgers released, Quaffle up, and the game begins!" Immediately Slytherin had the Quaffle, Grimm was flying at him, ball tucked in his arm. Grimm reared back on his broom, black hair swirling around his gaunt face as he hurled the Quaffle at him. "Slytherin throws!"
Ricky saw the Quaffle headed towards the middle goal, he quickly readied his body, arm crossed over his chest. The ball was within touching distance, throwing his arm out he knocked the Quaffle away. Gryffindor cheered below,
"And a quick block by Keeper, Weasley!" Neo had been circling below him and snatched up the Quaffle as it fell to the earth below. "Sneaky catch made by Selwyn," Ricky glanced at Dominique who was hunched low on her broom as she surveyed the pitch and sky. Looking down the pitch, Ricky caught James giving a good whack to a bludger, sending it flying towards Terrio who was circling the pitch looking for the Snitch.
"Potter sends bludger at Terrio who easily dodges." The announcer said. "Selwyn passes to Johnson, Johnson passes it to the Selwyn Sister but it's intercepted by Powell!" Slytherin cheered. Powell sped back towards the goals. "Powell's going for the goal-ooh!" Ricky winced as a rogue bludger whacked Powell's broom and sent the other boy in a downward spiral, and knocking the Quaffle from his arms.
"Sister Selwyn has the Quaffle, she's going for the goal. She's going. She's going! Ah," Ricky scowled as Marcus Stonebridge swung low to block the goal. "Blocked by Stonebridge."
"Johnson has the Quaffle, Grimm and Graham following closely behind. Powell's back up in the air." Ricky watched as Roxanne circled low over the pitch, she made a one-eighty turn quickly, quick enough that as Grimm and Graham tried to follow they nearly lost control of their brooms.
"Yes!" Ricky cheered as Roxanne headed back towards the goal.
"Johnson going for the goal!" The announcer cheered, "She's makes it past Stonebridge! Ten points for Gryffindor!" Red and gold eagerly flashed below as the crowd cheered. "What's this?" Ricky looked back on the field, trying to see what the announcer saw, "Terrio seems to be chasing something! Could this be the snitch? So early in the game?" Ricky tried to call Dominique off, knowing full well it was probably a trap, but Dominique was already speeding off on her broom after Terrio. This distraction nearly cost a point as Ricky just saw the Quaffle flying through the air towards the lowest goal. Ricky swung his broom low, gripping the handle his hung from his broom. He brought his knees to his chest and kicked against the Quaffle sending it flying.
"An impressive block by Weasley!" Ricky hooked his legs around his broom and pulled himself upright. As soon as he had righted himself however he heard a crack from his right.
"Stamper hit's a bludger headed for teammate Graham, and it-" Ricky suddenly felt the bludger whack the right side of his head. His broom rocked under him and his hands slipped from the handle. The pad on his right ankle ripped and got caught on his crossbars. Ricky could only dully note the collective groans and gasps from the crowd as he screamed out in pain. It felt as if his foot had just been violently ripped off his body.
"Terrio pulls out of a dive, Weasley follows. It was a trick, naughty Slytherin's!" Ricky tuned out the announcer. He curled up, his abdomen burning as he tried to grab onto his broom and pull himself back up. His ankle screamed in protest at the weight and his broom dropped in altitude.
"Hooch is looking between Stonebridge and Weasley for a time out." The announcer's voice echoed.
"No!" Ricky screamed over his shoulder. "Go on!" The game continued. "Grimm's trying again while Keeper Weasley is down." Ricky twisted his body one way, then the other, trying to find the skeletal looking boy. He was going for the upper goal. Ricky let his body swing limp till Grimm reeled his arm back. Throwing his body up and over his broom as if he were pole vaulting over it, Ricky hit the Quaffle away. However as his body fell and hung limp again, Ricky heard a snap and screamed as his body twisted over his broom. However, he had managed to grab onto the end of his broom, his arm getting caught on the other crossbar. The broom dropped again, Ricky pulled himself up and untwisted himself, his right leg looked as though he'd sent it through a meat grinder. Gritting his teeth he called out, "Roxanne! Over here!" Roxanne abandoned chasing Trainor off the bludgers and flew over. "Any scores?" He asked.
"We're up by two." Roxanne answered, "How's your leg?"
He ignored her, "Tell Dominique anytime now would be great."
"Beaters Stamper and Trainor tag teaming, look at the speed on that bludger!" The announcer called, "Johnson and the Selwyn's better be careful with those buggers in the air." Roxanne flew off as Ricky shook off the pain in his leg. He let it hang limp, leaving him perched precariously on his broom, only one leg and his hands holding him upright.
"Seeker Weasley is diving low on the pitch, does she see something?" Ricky couldn't afford to glance at his cousin as he spun his broom around to block another goal. Powell, Grimm, and Graham weren't letting up this game. "Yes! Dominique Weasley has caught the Snitch! Gryffindor wins!" Ricky let the crowd cheer, his broom descended till he was a few feet from the pitch and he collapsed off his broom, it falling down inanimate next to him. He looked dully at the sky as it grew darker and darker.
Ricky blinked weakly as he was laid down on a bed in the hospital wing.
"Ricky!" his mother was kneeling over him immediately, "Oh my word," she helped him sit up, "What happened up there?" she demanded. Ricky glanced at the foot of his bed, his father was standing there, and Mikey was sitting in the chair by his bed.
"I'm fine." Ricky insisted.
"You broke your ankle." George said simply, nudging Ricky's broken ankle with his hand. Ricky bit his tongue to keep foul words from spilling out of his mouth. "Phoenix, relax." George reassured his wife.
"Phoenix, Mr. Weasley, is Ricky alright?" Headmistress McGonagall hurrying into the Hospital wing. "Broken ankle." Phoenix answered for Ricky.
"I'm fine, really." Ricky looked up at McGonagall. Cyrus, and Madam Pomfrey were also gathered around him. Neo, Cli, Allie, Phoenix Genio, Anna, and Beth were standing behind George awkwardly, Minnie stood next to George, clinging tightly to his arm.
Cyrus kneeled by his right side, Ricky instinctively leaned closer to his mother on his left, "Broken ankle," he looked at Ricky's foot, he gently reached over and began to undo the straps to his brace that had caught on his crossbars when George grabbed the other mans wrists.
"Don't touch him, Genio." Cyrus didn't look up at George. Ricky could see a vein in Cyrus's neck stick out as he took a breath.
"I'm trying to help your son." He finally snapped his head up to glare at George.
"Madam Pomfrey is all the help he needs." George hissed, Cyrus stood up, yanking his hands from George. Ricky paled, his father may have had a few inches on Cyrus, but his lanky build looked incredibly weak against the foreign man.
"I could easily fix his leg up right here, right now." Cyrus snapped.
"He doesn't even know you-"
"Mister Weasley, I assure you, Cyrus is very much capable of helping Ricky." Madam Pomfrey tried to assure George.
"Ricky." Ricky focused back on his mother, who's cool hands were on his cheeks and jaw. "Your eye, dear." Phoenix didn't look at Madam Pomfrey or Cyrus, "What's it mean when his pupils are dilated differently?"
"He has a concussion." The arguing between adult settled down. Phoenix looked at the end of the bed at Phoenix Genio.
"Phoenix?" Cyrus asked gently. Phoenix Genio shifted uncomfortably under her fathers gaze.
"She asked why his pupils were dilated differently…" she waved at him, "He's got a concussion."
"Y-yes." Cyrus nodded, "That's correct." Phoenix Genio walked over and kneeled down where her father was just kneeling.
No one said a word as Phoenix Genio undid the straps to his ankle brace, George didn't stop her, Cyrus didn't say a word, Madam Pomfrey didn't shoo anyone away. "Bruising," she motioned to the darkening skin around his ankle,
"Most likely from when you flipped over your broom." Phoenix Genio stood up and circled around to his other side, kneeling next to Phoenix, "Does your arm hurt?" she asked gently.
This Phoenix Genio was much different than the one he was pressed against an hour ago by the stairs. He coughed to clear his throat, "I-no."
"Can I check it?" she asked, her cheeks stained a dark color-it reminded Ricky of raspberry tea- "I just…want to see if it bruised when you caught yourself on the broom-"
"Crossbars." Ricky corrected, he looked around at everyone else, not sure how he felt about taking off his uniform in front of everyone.
"Alright, everyone but family and the Genio's out." Madam Pomfrey shoo'd everyone out of the Hospital wing leaving him, his parents, his siblings, and Cyrus and Phoenix Genio left.
Cyrus assisted Madam Pomfrey in pulling over a privacy screen, Ricky helped his mother and Phoenix take off his Quidditch robes, and his sweater. "You pulled your shoulder landing like that." Phoenix Genio gently touched the his swelled and bruised shoulder. He hissed half in pain and shock at her cold fingers on his skin, a shiver running down his spin and a shock running from his skin to her fingers. Phoenix Genio pulled her fingers back quickly and his mother gave them both an odd look.
"What should we do to remedy that?" Cyrus asked. Phoenix Genio nearly jumped out of her skin, "Uhm, Madam Pomfrey should have some "Bon-E-Z-Fix around here, that's fix his ankle, a sling and some time should heal the pulled shoulder and bruising. And," Phoenix Genio looked as if she were reciting lines, "Some sleep and a cautious step should handle the concussion."
"Here," Madam Pomfrey handed him a glass of something. Phoenix stepped back and stood by George, looking at Phoenix Genio and Cyrus fearfully. "Drink." Ricky put the glass to his lips and threw his head back. It felt like the world was throwing him around and he nearly spat out the drink Madam Pomfrey gave him, the vertigo and taste making him feel sick. He clenched his eyes shut and puckered his mouth, he knew the longer the drink sat in his mouth the worse it would get but he didn't want the vile drink in the rest of his body.
"You have to swallow it to get better." Cyrus said, "As it were there are a few simple spells to help put his shoulder back in place and send the bruising and swelling down-Phoenix pay attention." Ricky swallowed and looked through squinted eyes at Phoenix who stood at attention to her father. "Now," Cyrus waited, it felt as if the drink was swimming up and down in his body till his ankle began to tingle. A loud crack resonating in the hospital wing and Ricky grabbed at his leg in pain, his mouth open in a silent scream. He barely registered Cyrus tapping his leg and shoulder with his wand and his body felt as though it was being picked apart and put back together.
Ricky had to spend the night in the hospital wing, his brother and sister had both given him long hugs hoping he'd get well soon. His father had messed up his hair and said he was proud of him for gritting his teeth and pushing through to the end of the game. His mother had scolded him for pushing through to the end, but she was relieved he was okay. Phoenix Genio apologized after everyone else had left.
"I'm sorry for calling you a freak." she took the chair next to his bed, due to his healing arm both Madam Pomfrey and Cyrus recommended he not worry about putting his sweater back on. Phoenix was looking at everything but him, she played with her hands, looking at her lap. "I was…scared…"
"A lot of people are when they meet a…" Ricky bit his tongue, "someone like me." he looked at his feet.
"Well," Phoenix sighed, "I'm sorry." Ricky said nothing, "For everything." He looked at her, she was looking at him.
"Treating you like dragon dung, calling you a freak…I'm sorry."
"I get why you did though." Ricky explained. Phoenix looked at him her chocolate eyes shining with tears.
"That doesn't excuse my behavior." Phoenix sighed, "I just…I was always told I was named after some foreign beauty, and that's why my parents split…and…then to learn the woman my dad loves is actually married to someone else and she long forgot about dad…and the fact that you're her son and I shouldn't even," Phoenix sighed, "I'm sorry."
The two sat in silence, Ricky wondered what she was going to say before she apologized again. He thought back to earlier how she seemed to react when their body were flushed against each other. Ricky kept his eyes on his lap as he thought before he looked at Phoenix when she sighed and stood up, "Hope you feel better by tomorrow." she nodded to herself, "You should." She added.
Ricky grabbed her hand before she could leave, he wanted to tell her it was okay, and that no matter what she was feeling it was okay for her to feel that way. He worried she might not have understood though, that she'd think he was pitying her. He tugged a little at her hand, and her body seemed to move on its own accord as her face was brought to level with his. Raising his other hand to cup her face, Ricky pushed every protesting emotion to the back of his head as he looked into Phoenix's eyes. He wasn't going to push this onto her, he wasn't going to do this to show pity. He saw how she was around her father, always the student, never the daughter. And she felt bad for feeling…something…for him. Her eyes looked fiery as he tried to calm her, he wanted her to know it was okay to be herself around him, that no matter what she was feeling it would never be her fault. He put all his effort into pulling her emotions to his. His hand slipped from her cheek to the nape of her neck, and she shivered as his fingers tangled in her soft hair. He gently pressed her forward till their foreheads were pressed together. Her emotions were like a frightened cat, dodging any attempt at being picked up and stroked. However he had more experience in pushing and pulling emotions and he quickly calmed his confused emotions and wrapped them around her. Phoenix's eyes were closed as the calm relief washed over her, Ricky closed his eyes seeing the tangled fog of their emotions washing over them.
"I shouldn't feel this way for you," Phoenix whispered, he kept his eyes closed, "I should hate you." He couldn't put into words how she shouldn't worry, how it was okay for her to feel that way. Instead his emotions, glowing red and warming them, pushed him to sit up and tilt Phoenix's head down, pressing his lips to hers.
I did not mean to write that much. But okay so I started this as soon as I left off at the last chapter but I had no idea where to go between introductions and the first School Fair event (The ball) and I just blaaah. I wrote one chapter, but I didn't like where it ended so I scraped half of it and then I wrote this and I like it but ugh I just don't know.
Who should Ricky be with? I know who he will be with in the end but not everyone can have a "perfect" relationship like George and Phoenix.
So don't forget to vote on the poll and comment and like and blah blah thanks!
