I have absolutely no excuse for this being late. I could say that I have a distracting family. I could also say that Quidditch scenes are incredibly difficult to write, which they are. But are you likely to believe any of that? I'm sorry.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, only Grace and her insane OC friends.
Updated 15/4/2014
Chapter Ten- This Moment
Even with the worries that continued to hound her, Grace couldn't help getting caught up in the frenzy of Quidditch hype. It was hard not to when your dorm-mates were the captain's girlfriend and his best chasers.
That was how Grace ended up at the Gryffindor training session instead of dinner on Thursday night.
Of course, she and Trina had brought with them a picnic basket filled with fried chicken, hot potato chips and chocolate cakes, straight from the kitchens. Half of the basket was set aside for the ever-hungry members of the Quidditch team.
"Aaaaaand there goes, Ciara!" Lee commentated, watching Ciara speed across the pitch. "She's looking extra sexy on her broom, damn girl, you really are beautiful. Just wait til tonight, baby girl."
"Lee!" Grace scolded. "Can you not give us details?"
"I don't think Ciara would appreciate you giving that speech to the entire school on Saturday either," Miranda informed him.
"Oh give him a break," Trina said. "We can't help it if Ciara and Oliver look incredibly good on their brooms."
Miranda and Grace exchanged glances.
"Well excuse us but there aren't any single guys up there for us to perve at," Miranda said.
"Fred and George are single," Lee pointed out.
"But that's like . . ." Miranda struggled to find the right words.
"Perving on Jesse," Grace supplied, nudging the boy next to her.
"I take offense to that!" Jesse exclaimed, looking up from his sketchbook.
"Don't worry, sweetie, I mean it in the nicest possible way," Grace assured him.
"Never mind that," Trina shushed. "Let's just forget about people perving about other people and enjoy the nice picnic and wonderful weather while we're up here."
"I can work with that," Miranda shrugged, grabbing another piece of chicken.
"I thought Lara was going to meet us here," Grace wondered, pulling out a handful of chips for herself.
"She had to study with Julie," Trina informed her.
"Julie, Julie," Grace pondered. "Is she the cute, little Ravenclaw from our Defense class?"
"Yeah that's the one," Trina confirmed.
A few more minutes passed with the sounds of more chewing and cheers for the players in the sky.
"So what are the odds for the game on Saturday?" Grace asked Lee.
"It's going to be a tough match," he replied. "The Slytherins have the better brooms by a high standard but its obvious Gryffindor's the better team."
"Well they do have the best Seeker in the world," Grace grinned.
"And an amazing Keeper," Trina added.
Lee opened his mouth to say more but Miranda cut across him, "Yeah, we get it, Gryffindor has a really good team and we love them all. We already know they're going to win."
Surprised stares were cast at Miranda. She shrugged her shoulders casually, making them all laugh at her hidden yet steadfast confidence in the team.
"C'mon they're finishing up," Jesse said, gathering up his bag and beginning the climb down the bleachers.
All of them made their way down to where the team was landing gently on the ground. Fred, George and Ciara automatically headed straight for Miranda, Grace and Trina while the rest of the team trudged off to the showers.
"Gracie!" George called out as they made their way closer. "Did you save some food for us?"
"Please tell me you did," Ciara pleaded. "I'm starving!"
"A whole picnic basket full," Grace informed them. "Feel free to indulge."
"You girls are life-savers," Fred praised them. His hair was slicked back with sweat and stuck there from the wind. He moved towards Miranda with his arms wide for a hug but before he could get one arm around her she cringed away.
"Ew, you're too sweaty for hugs," Miranda said, wrinkling her nose.
Fred shrugged her off and reached for the picnic basket eagerly. Grace and Miranda stood there, watching as he, his twin and Ciara swiftly demolished most of the dinner that had been left for them. Both of them were so disgusted at their friends' eating behaviours that they didn't notice Hannah returning from the showers, her wavy hair dripping with water and face clear of any trace of mud.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow. I'm going to meet Lara in the library," she waved.
"No, stay!" Ciara protested. "We can go one night without doing homework, right?"
"Yeah!" was the general reply. The loudest cheers coming from Fred and George.
"Well alright then," Hannah decided hesitantly. "I guess I could stay out here while my hair dries."
"Speaking of which, we need to go have our showers," Ciara said, having pushed Fred and George out of the way to get some food for herself.
"Good cuz those two stink," Grace remarked.
Fred, George and Ciara trooped off to the showers, munching down on chicken and chips on their way, leaving the other six alone. The peaceful silence was broken by Trina's surprised squeal. A freshly showered Oliver had grabbed her from behind and swung her in a circle until she landed, still in his arms, to face him closely.
"Young love," Grace cooed. The faked pout on Miranda's lips changed into mischievous grin, distracting Grace from Trina and Oliver.
"You're hair's messed up," Miranda laughed, flicking Grace's red tresses into her face. In retaliation Grace reached out and swiped her hand though Miranda's head.
"Oops," she giggled. "Now yours is too."
Grace ducked out of Miranda's reach, unable to stop her laughter. She ran away from her best friend, hair billowing behind her head, flicking and flying into her face when she looked back to smile at Miranda. It took her completely by surprise when Jesse crept up and flipped her hair into her face. Her scream echoed around the pitch, startling the two embracing couples right near them.
"Hey! We were having a moment," Lee complained. Ciara simply raised her eyebrows at them.
"Now the moment's ruined," Miranda shrugged.
"Yeah, thanks for that, love," Trina frowned at Grace.
"It wasn't me!" she protested. "Jesse scared me! And Miranda messed up my hair!"
"Sure, sure," Trina answered.
Grace looked between her friends, mouth gaping wide in astonishment. Each of them stared at her, smirking. Then their eyes moved past her, locking on something behind her. Laughter was visible in their eyes, no matter how hard they tried to hide it.
Slightly scared, Grace spun around on the spot, a crease appearing on her brow until it was hit dead on by a bursting water balloon.
"Look what we found in the change rooms," Fred said, pointing at a crate overflowing with water balloons. "No idea what they're for but they're definitely fun to throw at people."
"Those were meant for practise-" Oliver began. He was cut off by a water balloon to his head, lobbed by George.
"I am soo getting you back for this," Grace growled. Though she tried to look threatening it didn't work when water was dripping down her nose and chin.
"Try me," Fred challenged.
That was how a full blown water balloon fight started. One badly aimed throw by Grace hit Miranda in her stomach, causing her to throw one of her own. Nobody was hitting who they meant to and everybody was trying to get revenge on whoever hit them.
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Meanwhile, Harry had no idea what was going on outside the change rooms. He was stuffing his Quidditch robes into a bag and shaking the water out of his hair, ready to meet Ron and Hermione up in the library. Even without access to the Restricted Section, Hermione was trying to read up everything she could on the Polyjuice Potion.
Harry shouldered his bag and opened the door to the change rooms. He stopped short in his tracks at the sight before him.
Colourful scraps of balloons littered the soaking wet ground. Shouts and yells came from his team members. Each and every one of them dripped water, whether from their hair or patches on their clothes. Fred Weasley had gathered up an armful of balloons and was hurling them at anyone who came close. Oliver Wood had his girlfriend in the air, swinging her around so Hannah and Ciara could get a better shot.
Harry had every intention of sneaking out of there. There was no way that he was going to get involved. Ron and Hermione were expecting him at the library soon.
He changed his mind the second his sister tossed a balloon in his direction.
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One hour later, they had run out of water balloons and had given up on refilling them by magic. Their breath came out in pants. There wasn't a single dry person on the pitch.
"Okay, okay," Hannah gasped. "I'm going to go up to bed now."
"I don't think we helped getting your hair dry," Ciara told her, hands on her knees.
The picnic basket was picked up, the rubbish was cleared away with a wave of Oliver's wand and the all plodded up to the castle.
"That was fun," Grace breathed, flinging an arm across Harry's shoulders. "We really need something to get our minds away from that Chamber of Secrets nonsense."
Harry's grin was all Grace needed to forget everything that had happened in the past week.
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All through her Friday classes, Grace couldn't concentrate one bit. Her mind was set on the game tomorrow. At one point Professor Burbage asked her what she thought of the Muggle system of economics and she answered that they needed to catch the Snitch quickly. The whole class laughed but the Quidditch players thanked her for her enthusiasm later.
At the end of the day Grace and her non- Quidditch playing friends sat down in their dormitory, surrounded by cardboard and paint, making posters for the game. They ranged from the simple 'Go Gryffindor' to 'what's green, ugly and about to lose? Slytherin!'.
The posters took them three hours to perfect but by nine' o'clock they packed away all of their art supplies and got ready for bed. They couldn't have Ciara and Hannah tired on the pitch the next day.
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Bright and early on Saturday morning, Grace was woken up by Hannah shakily getting dressed. Ciara emerged from the bathroom a few seconds later, worried that she had left her Quidditch gloves at home. She saw sense after Miranda reminded her that she had been wearing them to training for two months.
Once they were all dressed and ready to go, they headed down to the Great Hall where Ciara and Hannah left to sit with the Gryffindor team, all of whom looked like they were about to fight in a war. They poked their food around for a bit, many of them had to be encouraged to eat by their sister, girlfriend or best friend, until eleven 'o'clock came around.
Oliver led his team down to the pitch with the rest of the school. The weather outside was muggy, threatening to rain at any moment.
Grace, Trina, Lara, Lee, Jesse and Miranda stood by the change rooms to wish the team good luck.
"Okay Harry you'll be fine," Grace assured her little brother. "Ignore Oliver's pressure and just fly. Remember you're not the youngest Seeker in a century for nothing."
"Hey Lee," Ciara called, just as they were making their way to the bleachers. "Can I get a kiss for good luck?"
Grace rolled her eyes at her friend, continuing her way up the stairs.
"Speaking of which, have you and Oliver actually kissed yet?" she asked Trina.
"No, not yet, we're waiting for the right moment," Trina answered.
"Just grab him like this," Miranda indicated, grabbing Jesse shoulders. "And plant a big snog on his lips." She leant forward and kissed Jesse on each cheek before letting him go and skipping up to their seats. Jesse watched her go, looking very startled, and Grace and Lara patted him on the shoulder, giggling.
"That's not very sweet or romantic," Trina frowned, completely oblivious to Jesse's situation.
"We could always kiss him for you," Grace suggested then laughed at the look on Trina's face. "Okay, bad idea, never mind."
They took their seats next to Professor McGonagall and the magical megaphone. Lee came running up the stairs and slid into place into front of the megaphone, just in time for Slytherin and Gryffindor to walk out onto the pitch.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, to the first game of the Hogwarts Quidditch season," Lee announced, his voice magnified to echo all around the pitch. "Led by Flint we have Slytherin," a small portion of the crowd yelled raucously. "and versing them, captained by the incredible amazing Oliver Wood, I give you Gryffindor!"
Over half of the crowd stood up, pounding their feet and cheered for their favourite team. Even Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were Gryffindor's side; neither of them wanted to see Slytherin win. To Lee's right, Professor McGonagall gave Lee a stern look for his obvious use of favouritism.
Down on the pitch, Flint and Wood crushed each other's hands under the direction of Madam Hooch. Upon her whistle, they mounted their brooms and kicked off into the air, speeding up at the sound of the roaring crowd.
"And they're off!" Lee commentated. "Ciara Archer grabs the Quaffle, straight up the pitch she goes, closer to the Slytherin hoop, no way Keeper Bletchley can get to it in time, go babe go, and she- Bletchley stops the Quaffle!"
Rumbles of discontent came from the Gryffindor supporters while the Slytherins shouted at their Keeper happily.
"Quaffle is tossed to Slytherin Chaser Pucey- who drops it- nice hit, Weasley, think that's George- Hannah Guptan takes the Quaffle- blocked by Slytherin Beaters Rockwood and Minos- Quaffle tossed to Alicia Spinnet- oh that was close- Quaffle intercepted by Pucey- can't even see him anymore- Slytherin score!"
Grace groaned.
In similar way the next three goals were scored.
"Archer in possession- getting closer- c'mon Ciara- you can do this- watch out for that Bludger!- narrow miss. Ciara Archer drops the Quaffle- back in Slytherin possession."
"Where the hell are Fred and George?" Grace hissed to Miranda, scanning the sky.
"There!" Miranda located the twins.
Both of them were hovering a few feet away from Harry, their bats held up ready and eyes on alert. Grace gasped as the other Bludger zoomed towards Harry. She exhaled in relief as George smacked it away from Harry, only to see it make a sharp turn straight back in his direction.
"Did you see that?" Grace questioned Miranda. A shocked nod was all she needed to confirm her fears. "Trina, look at Harry! I swear that Bludger is following him!"
"Don't be silly," Trina said, looking up briefly in time to see the Bludger make another turn back to Harry. "That's not normal is it?"
Grace and Miranda shook their heads. Trina and Miranda both swivelled in their seats to tell Jesse and Lara what was happening. Droplets of rain started to patter down on their heads.
"Sixty- ten to Slytherin," Lee grudgingly told the school.
"Something has happened to that Bludger," Lara said. "I don't know how though because it's been locked up since Gryffindor's last training, right? Nobody but Madam Hooch and the captains have had access to it after that."
"I'll bet it was Flint," Grace accused, narrowing her eyes up at the Slytherin captain. "He'd do anything for Slytherin to win."
"I don't think so, Grace," Lara shook her head, rain flicking off the tips of her hair. "Bludger's are pretty powerful. Flint doesn't have enough sense in his head to cast magic like that."
"Gryffindor Beater Weasley calls for time out," Lee said, bringing the girls and Jesse's attention back to the game.
"Thank Merlin for that boy," Grace whispered, eyeing George on his way to the ground.
After an angry-looking discussion between Oliver and his Beaters and a visit from Hermione, Madam Hooch blew her whistle for them to get back in the air. Grace realized with a shock that Fred and George were flying in the opposite direction to Harry.
"Damn you Harry and your stubbornness," Grace cursed.
The game commenced again, fierce as ever, helped immensely by Fred and George's determination to finish the game quickly. The Bludger continued to follow Harry around the pitch. He zigzagged, dodged, rolled, dived, and dropped, spiralled, looped and swirled.
"He would look kinda of funny if the situation wasn't so serious," Miranda muttered. Grace whacked her arm and sincerely wished she could do the same to every other laughing Slytherin.
"After that short break we return to the game. Spinnet has the Quaffle- Guptan- Spinnet- Archer- Pucey once again- Wood you can do better than that- it's just a fancy broom. Instead of trying to score Pucey is just staring at Wood. Ouch- that looked painful- Gryffindor Seeker Harry Potter has just been hit a Bludger- his arm looks broken- Potter is flying after something, whether it's the Snitch or Malfoy's face I'm not sure- he dives- close to the ground now- that was one hell of a landing, Potter. Is that-? Harry Potter has caught the Snitch! Gryffindor win!"
Grace let go of Miranda's arm, screaming, to reveal nail marks embedded into her skin.
"Thanks for that," Miranda said sarcastically.
Grace wasn't even listening. She was already halfway down the stairs, Trina right on her heels; they tumbled their way to the pitch where the rest of the Quidditch players were landing.
The team was quickly surrounding Harry in a circle. A teacher in startling blue robes rushed from the staff's seats. Grace skidded down on her knees at Harry's side. He had fainted.
"We won," Oliver croaked behind her. "You really are my lucky charm, Trina."
When Grace looked up to thank Fred and George for watching over Harry once again, she was met with the sight of Oliver wrapping Trina up in his muddy arms and pulling her closer to him. He lowered his face to hers and sealed their lips with a kiss. Rain continued to pour around them, soaking everyone including the still embracing couple. The two of them ignored the crowds pressing in on them. Finally, after what seemed like hours, they broke apart.
"Wow," Trina breathed.
A wolf-whistle came from a dreadlocked head nearby. Grace laughed at the pair of them, turning her head back to look at Harry. He was just starting to wake up.
Did you like how that turned out?