Almost everyone in the Gryffindor Tower was enthusiastically talking about the Quidditch match that would take place after lunch. It wold be Gryffindor versus ravenclaw, and if we won this match, our house would have won the Quidditch cup.
"Hey, Lily, are you going to the match today?" Neil asked, who was sitting next to me, hanging upside down from an armchair.
I hesitated. Quidditch wasn't my favorite thing to watch, but since Neil was on the team, I would have to go. "Of course," I replied, smiling slightly. "It'll be fun."
He grinned. "Are you sure you want to go, though? You usually don't go to the matches."
I shrugged. "It's fine; I want to see you play." Silently I put my notebook away, having just finished an essay for History of Magic class.
Neil sat up straight, absentmindedly running a hand through his hair. "Thanks," he murmured, watching me gaze through the window. "You wanna go for a walk?"
I nodded, liking the idea of leaving the common room. "Sure," I replied, getting up and stretching. "Where're Will and Jake, anyway?" I asked as we were leaving the common room; I hadn't seen them all day.
Neil rolled his eyes. "They've been practicing Quidditch since dawn. Want to make sure we win..." They were chasers on the team, and Neil was a beater.
I couldn't help but smile. "They're going to be tired during the game," I laughed.
He laughed too. "That's what I said," he replied, putting his arm around me. "And plus, I wanted to spend time with you."
I blushed slightly, liking how he would always do that. "I'm glad," I murmured. "I love spending time with you." It was true; being him was when I was happiest.
Neil laughed, kissing my forehead briefly. He opened his mouth to say something, but he was cut off by a glare. I looked up, and saw Scorpius glaring at us.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Neil spat, removing his arm from around me. I hadn't told him that Scorpius liked me, yet I think he knew, as he had been being fowl towards him whenever they met in hallways.
"Nothing with you, Griffith." Scorpius glared at him.
"Then leave." Neil's voice was a dangerous whisper.
"No- don't fight," I said, stepping in front of him. "What is it, Scorpius?"
Scorpius didn't look at me, just continued glaring at Neil. "I'd wipe that smug look off your face, Neil." He smirked. "You won't be so complacent after Ravenclaw beats you today." I had never heard Scorpius talk like this, and I had a hunch that he wasn't only being hostile towards Neil because of Quidditch.
Neil narrowed his eyes. "I'm sure won't be so keen to get in my way after I clobber you," he threatened, pulling out his wand.
Scorpius rolled his eyes. "You scare me so much," he said sarcastically. He swept a freezing look over me, then left.
Neil angrily put his wand back in his robes again, and hit his head against the wall. "That Malfoy thinks he's so great," he muttered.
I stayed silent. The two were always looking for excuses to fight with each other, and I felt slightly guilty, being the reason why. "Shall we go to the grounds, then?" I asked quietly, glancing over at him.
He nodded, still scowling. I sighed, hating that he was angry.
OoOoO
Neil and I ended up spending the afternoon together, and his mood lightened after a while. It was beautiful out; sunny, yet cool in the shade.
"Hey Lily..." Neil murmured, stroking my hair. I had my head on his shoulder.
"Yes?" I asked, looking up at him.
"Do you think I'm... being unfair to Mal- Scorpius?" he asked quietly.
I sat up straight, and looked into his blue eyes. "Yes," I said finally, my voice quiet. "You both are being... quite immature."
Neil angrily ran a hand through his hair. "What am I supposed to do? He wants to steal you from me."
My heart sank. "No he doesn't," I murmured. "And I'm not an object to be 'stolen'."
He smiled slightly. "I know," he muttered. "Sorry for saying it like that..." He trailed off. "But he does like you, and I'm just..." He struggled for the right words. "I'm just worried that he'll get you."
I patted his leg. "Scorpius is my friend, but you're much more than that to me."
"You mean you don't feel anything towards him but friendship?" he asked in a muffled voice, staring at the ground.
I nodded solemnly. "Nothing," I replied. Was that the truth, though?
"Do you think he likes you?" Neil asked suddenly, looking up at me.
His eyes were locked on mine. "Well..." I trailed off, not sure if I should tell him what I knew. "I think... I think he does like me."
Neil narrowed his eyes. "I knew it," he said bitterly. "Can't he just get with someone else?"
I grimaced. "My cousin would be thrilled if he liked her back," I said, trying to lighten his mood.
It didn't work. He seemed very mad at this news. "I won't let him get you... you mean too much to me." He stood up, and I did too. He was scowling.
"I have to go prepare for the match," he said quietly, his eyes still narrowed. Briefly he kissed me, then left. "See you there?"
I waved, then sank to the ground. What if he did something stupid? I wished I hadn't told him.
OoOoOoO
The Quidditch pitch was full, and I had trouble finding a seat. Normally, I would have sat with Neil, Will and Jake, but now, since they were playing, I sat on my own. I didn't mind, however, as I listened to others talking animatedly.
"Do you think Gryffindor will win?" a first-year asked her friend eagerly.
"Of course! We're the best team ever."
I smiled slightly, looking down at the pitch. The two teams were coming out onto the field.
ravenclaw came out first, sporting their normal blue and black robes. I saw Scorpius near the front of the team; he was the seeker. The Ravenclaw team only had one girl on it, the rest were boys.
The Gryffindor team came out shortly as well, led by my cousin, Albus. He was the Quidditch captain of the team. I saw Neil near the back, and though I was up high, I could see that he was still upset. He held his beater's club in one hand, broomstick in the other.
A loud bang sounded, and the bludgers and the snitch were released. The two teams rose into the air, and the quaffel was thrown up.
"And they're off!" Erica Smith, a Hufflepuff said, being the one to commentate that day. "Gryffindor in possession! Will shoots- HE SCORES! Gryffindor in the lead! Ten to zero!"
I watched as Will took a lap of honor around the field, coming feet away from the stand I was sitting in. Neil flew towards Albus, hitting a bludger away with his bat. He was close enough for me to see him scowling in Malfoy's direction.
"Jake of Gryffindor has the quaffel- THAT WAS DELIBERATE! PENALTY FOR Ravenclaw!" Erica yelled. One of the Ravenclaw beaters had hit a bludger towards Jake, making him almost fall off his broom.
It soon became a tie; 50 to 50. I saw Albus flying around, searching for the snitch. Scorpius was doing the same.
I couldn't make out where Neil was. The last time I had seen him was about five minutes ago. He must be on the other side of the pitch, I thought to myself.
I glanced over at the other people in my stand, then quickly back to the game. Gryffindor scored... then Ravenclaw. They were tied again.
All of a sudden, a strong gust of wind swept through the pitch. I narrowed my eyes, pushing my hair out of my face. Then I saw it.
Scorpius was holding a beater's bat; his fellow team-mate had lent it to him. I opened my mouth to scream a warning to Neil, who was looking the other way, about to take off after the other bludger.
It all happened so fast... Scorpius hit the fast-moving bludger at the back of his head, and Neil fell his broomstick hurtling after him.
"No!" I screamed, jumping up. He was laying on the ground, and I saw blood pooling out around him.
"THAT WAS DELIBERATE!" Erica yelled, and there were outbursts all over the pitch. "Malfoy just hit Griffith with a bludger! SOMEONE GET A HEALER!"
The Gryffindor team all descended towards him, and I saw Will and Jake in the lead. As I saw Madam Pomfrey rush towards them, I couldn't help but notice the look of horror on her face. She normally stayed calm.
OoOoO
I sat, shaking, on the edge of my chair in the Hospital Wing. Most of the team, and many Gryffindors were there. The match had been suspended, but Gryffindor had caught the snitch just as Neil had been injured.
Tears rolled down my cheek. Madam Pomfrey didn't emerge until half an hour later. She was instantly mobbed with questions.
"Is he all right?"
"Will he die?"
She put her hand up for silence. "Lily Potter, are you here?" she asked, peering through the crowd.
I stood up quickly, my eyes wide. "I'm here," I whispered.
She nodded for me to come, telling Jake and Will to accompany me. We were led into a wing that was closed off. Neil was laying on a bed, unconscious. His wounds looked bad.
"Is... is he all right?" I whispered, staring at him with blurry eyes due to my tears.
Madam Pomfrey met our gaze. "I... I'm not sure if he'll make it," she said quietly.
I felt as if my world had ended.
Author's Note:
You asked for a cliff-hanger, so here you go. :P No, Neil didn't die. Yet. You will see what happened in the next chapter.
I am very busy with schoolwork, as it is the end of the school year. I'll finish the fic over the summer, probably :)
~Cloudsong
