Chapter 29: And So He Watched
He saw her fall, her trajectory remarkably similar to a bird shot in midair. His hand twitched, and the word was at the tip of his tongue, but his company prevented him from flying up. If he moved, his reputation among the Slytherins would crash just like how she was falling. He held his breath as he focused on her form, the alarmed screams of his classmates beside him fading into the distance. Unknowingly, he tightened his grip on his broom until his knuckles were white.
Still he watched.
A gust of wind blew overhead, and another form flew above him to intercept her fallen figure before she hit the ground. It was a Gryffindor first year who had enough sense to fly instead of staring. Miraculously, the Gryffindor actually caught her, and the two quickly descended onto the ground. Immediately, students swarmed to the two students. He stood back and observed instead of going forward to check if she was alright. He felt … strange. It was an uncomfortable feeling as if a rock was stuck in his throat. He watched as Madam Hooch pushed her way through the noisy crowd, and he watched as she was carried back into the castle by the Gryffindor and the Hufflepuff who hit the stray bludger, he watched until they were gone and he was the only one left staring at the place on the ground where she fell.
"Tom, are you alright?" Abraxas walked up to him, concerned.
He shifted his gaze from the ground.
"Yes. I'm fine."