Year Three
Clarke knows this is a bad idea. A very, very bad idea. Everyone knows the Quidditch Pitch is off limits unless you are a part of a team or there for a school function. Knowing this, Clarke still finds herself riding on her broom up and over the entrance, chasing after her two best friends who keep trying to knock each other off their brooms.
She really wishes she knew how to deny her friends. They never force her to go, and yet she feels a responsibility to them.
The wind whistles around her as she finally catches up to Raven and Octavia. Octavia's grin is wider than she's ever seen, and Raven's is equally mischievous. Snow blankets the earth beneath them and the stars above provide just enough light that they can see where they're going.
"Why did we want to do this again?"
"Don't be such a stick in the mud, Clarke! This is just a little preview for when we all make our Quidditch teams next year," Raven reminds her.
Octavia, the best flyer of the three, does a loop the loop and sticks out her tongue. "Someone is afraid of getting caught and ruining her chance of becoming a prefect."
"I don't know why you're worried," Raven adds as she dips low enough to pick up a snowball. "You're up McGonagall's butt all the time."
Clarke rolls her eyes. "I am not up her butt. Excuse me for wanting to learn from arguably the greatest wizard of all time. And who says either of you will even make the team next year? You're not that good." Well, that was a lie. They were both really great with their flying after practicing all year. The only reason they didn't make it this year was because of the number of people who tried out, and the older kids who beat them out because of experience.
"Octavia just wants on the team so she can stare at Lincoln for two hours every day," Raven teases.
Clarke's nose wrinkles. Lincoln, Lexa's disgraced Hufflepuff brother, is three years older than them. "Ew."
"That's not true," Octavia says, humming a snowball at Raven for good measure and just missing her shoulder by an inch. "I want to play because it's fun…and secondly because I want to stare at Lincoln."
Raven shakes her head. "Called it!"
Clarke has to admit she enjoys watching the Slytherin matches. Lexa was the only one of them to make the team this year, and she even gets playing time at seeker when the matches run long.
Octavia hangs upside down on her broom and looks over at Clarke. "You think once you admit your big gay crush on Lexa that she'll bring Lincoln around?"
Clarke blushes, hard, and glares at Octavia. "I do not have a crush on Lexa. Why are you two picking on me today?"
Raven and Octavia look at each other for a brief moment before simultaneously flinging snowballs in Clarke's direction. Clarke lets out a scream before shifting and racing away from their attack. They chase her relentlessly, and Clarke giggles as she zig zags to avoid each blow.
She's feeling really impressed with her skills and thinks that maybe she should try out for her team next year too when she's blasted with a snowball that sends her crashing to the snow below. Her body tumbles and she can hear Raven and Octavia laughing above her.
Anger flashes through Clarke's body and so she hops back onto her broom in an instant. Raven and Octavia recognize that look and take off towards the stands. They zip around in circles and gain height, even though they had promised Clarke they wouldn't.
Her judgment is gone as she climbs higher, revenge being the only thing on her mind.
"Catch us if you can," Raven shouts over her shoulder, and Clarke leans forward for more speed.
She's almost able to grab Raven's robes when a vicious wind gust catches her by surprise. Before she can readjust, she's off her broom and plummeting towards the ground. She vaguely hears them shouting her name but all she can think about is how she's seconds away from dying or breaking every bone in her body.
And then she's suddenly not falling anymore. She opens her eyes, and sees herself inches away from the snow below, just floating there. Raven and Octavia take off, suspecting a teacher had saved Clarke and wanting to avoid detention.
Clarke is pissed, and she's going to pay them back for that the next time they need somewhere to hide after one of their many pranks. Gently, she's dropped into the snow, and even though she gets a face full of ice, she's grateful to whoever saved her.
"I don't know why you are friends with those two."
The familiar voice forces Clarke's body into a stiff sitting position as she wipes at her face. She's sure she'd be blushing if her cheeks weren't already purple from the cold. "I wonder that myself sometimes," she replies, her blue eyes finally looking up to meet Lexa's green. "Thank you. For catching me." She's pretty sure not many other third years could have reacted as quickly as Lexa had.
Lexa nods simply, and turns to leave. "Wait! What were you even doing here?"
Lexa turns back to her, though Clarke can tell she had wanted a quick getaway. "I had forgotten a book in the locker room after practice this morning."
Clarke accepts the explanation and finally stands to look around for her broom. "Well, I owe you one."
"I'm quite certain there's nothing I will ever need from you." It stings. She knows it shouldn't. It's not like her and Lexa are exactly friends. Still, she thought they had a mutual respect for one another.
"Not even a lesson in socializing?" It's meant as a joke, but it comes off harsher than she intended.
Lexa's expression barely changes, and she's not surprised. Lexa is a master in masking her emotion. Clarke can't remember the last time she'd seen her smile. What could she possibly be going through to make her that way? If only they could get close enough for her to ask. "Goodnight, Clarke."
Lexa turns again, but this time Clarke won't let her go easy. She gives up on finding her broom and packs a ball of snow until it has the perfect proportions. She whips it at Lexa's back and the older girl is so shocked she nearly topples to the ground. Clarke squeals when Lexa turns with a look of murder in her eyes, and tries to run towards the goal posts for cover. Lexa's too fast, and she uses her wand to lift up snowballs the size of Clarke's head. "Magic is cheating," she shouts as she runs. "Magic is cheating!"
Lexa takes that into consideration before dropping the levitating slush. Instead, she makes one herself with her hands and chases after Clarke. "No one challenges a Goodrum and gets away with it!" There's just enough levity to her tone that Clarke knows she's joking.
Lexa throws a few snowballs that hit the edge of the pole she's hiding behind. "I guess your aim isn't as good without your wand," she taunts. It's a mistake, because before she can even blink, Lexa is tackling her into the snow with a giggle.
Wow. Lexa Goodrum giggles, and it's the most beautiful sound she's ever heard. Clarke can see their breath intermingling in the cold and is at a loss of what to say despite frequent daydreams about what their conversations might be like.
Lexa looks her age for once in the best way, but the moment is fleeting. The light smile slips back into a calculated one, and Clarke can tell she's losing her again. Losing her to what, she still doesn't know. Lexa gets up and shakes off her robes. "I need to be back at my dorm. Try not to follow your friends into danger again, Clarke. I won't always be around."
The words are heavy. As Lexa's form disappears into the darkness, one spark of hope pushes up against her chest. The only reason Lexa is warning her to be careful is because she cares.