Disclaimer: I own nothing except my own characters.

Note: Another pretty sad chapter. I know the last one hurt SiobhanPhelps!

The Quidditch Team

I stayed silent through Care of Magical Creatures and double Herbology. I didn't know many of the Hufflepuffs; actually, as far as I was concerned I didn't know any of them period except for Cedric. I used to know the Quidditch players but it looked like they all switched out this year.

That evening I had to hurry and eat dinner, partly because I forgot about Quidditch, partly because by then everyone had found out what happened. I didn't know who—but someone—had started the rumor I dumped Fred because I was still working my way to my 'true love' through trial and error.

I thought being outside would help, I thought I could the air would clear my mind—regardless who was on my team—but the sight of Hermione and Matt reminded me I had yet to cornered by anyone decided. I slowly moved toward the field, Harry looked like he was standing off by himself, possibly saving me a spot, and I quickly moved next to him.

"Allen, it's about time you got here" Alicia said as I let the embarrassment pass through me. I just wanted today to be over. It was too long. Too painful. "…might as well quit…" I heard George mumble from distance away. It wasn't even that I had forgotten his existence it was just I had spent the entire afternoon preparing myself for his blows. But still, it did nothing.

"Did I miss anything?" I asked Harry who made a face. "What?" I whispered as I he nodded toward the twins. I unwilling followed his glance, George, Fred, Charity. I paused, my eyes going back to her. "What's she doing on the field, she should be up there watching with Hermione and Matt" I whispered.

"She's on the team…" Harry said morbidly.

"But…" I felt my chest tighten. I always knew it hurt Fred, a lot, when I carried on with Oliver but I never wanted to feel that pain myself. Didn't he get what Matt was saying? Burnner was doing this all on purpose. He wasn't helping but hurting me too. "When did she make the team?" I hissed. "I thought some chick named Nicole made the team" I said vaguely recalling the list of players on our common room bulletin board.

"She dropped out because she got into the Charms Club, apparently classes comes first to some students" he said. I knew he meant it as joke, a means to cheer me up but I was too empty to feel humor. I could still feel pain if I really tried but the happiest was sucked out, as was anger. I hated Charity, but it wasn't enough hatred to walk over and smack her with my broom.

"That sucks" I said simply as I continued staring at Charity who was chatting happily with Fred who was trying very hard—and very convincingly to look like he was enjoying it.

"Yeah…but, that's the only good news I can share" Harry said bring my attention back to him.

"What do you mean?" I asked as he sighed and nodded in the other direction, closest to Alicia. "No…" I said quietly and with great disappointment. "You're kidding me…please tell me you're kidding" I said as I stared at Ron's head nodding around nervously.

"I wish" Harry mumbled back.

"Alright, let's go, Chashers, over here, Ron—no Ron, this way" Alicia was saying as she directed us to our spots, Ron went toward the Keeper post.

"Great" I said as Harry patted my shoulder before going off to the middle. I started to move where Alicia was since she was a fellow Chaser but noticed Charity moving too so I stopped. "Er, what are you doing?" I asked stupidly.

"I'm a Chaser" she said in her snottiest voice.

"Of course you are" I said flatly as we both moved over to Alicia.

Alicia blew her whistle and we all quickly mounted our brooms and took our places, Ron made his way down to the goal posts. I let out another groan, Ron was our Keeper, the odds were slowly slipping out of our favor. "Tammie, go score, Ron, make sure you block her. Charity, try and get the Quaffle from her, Fred and George you cover Tammie, I'll watch" Alicia explained as she threw me the Quaffle. I nodded as I tried not to look over at the twins who didn't seem to be moving very quickly to cover. "Alright, go!" Alicia yelled, blowing her whistle. I was off, already halfway down the field when Charity caught up. I had to admit she was fast, and she knew what she was doing as she predicted my move to the right, blocking it, casing me to quickly shift to the left.

She moved closer, almost catching my elbow as I zoomed down and then quickly back up; Charity still on my tail. "Guys!" I shouted to the twins whom I noticed were further away than they should've been. They moved, but not far, and Charity kicked me, just as I got close enough to shoot. "What the hell!" I shouted at her, stopping my broom as she kicked me again, this time in my side.

"Time out!" Alicia called blowing her whistle repeatedly as I dodged another kick from Charity. "Stop it you two!" Alicia called, moving closer. "What is this? I told you can be on the team, but you have to be a team player. You don't kick people, didn't you read the book?" Alicia asked Charity who nodded.

"I'm sorry, I just thought it was okay since we're on the same team, I was just having a bit of fun" Charity said.

"We're playing as if it were a game, that's why it's called practice" Katie explained angrily. "And you two, what are you doing way over there? You're supposed to make sure Tammie doesn't get hurt" Katie shouted, looking toward the twins. Bad choice of wording. I thought to myself as neither of them said anything as they moved closer. "What? What's the problem—" Katie started but then looked at me, giving a loud sigh. "The rumors are true? You two broke up" she asked looking from me to Fred. "Alright, new plan. Tammie, get the ball Charity, Charity, try and score, you two, cover Charity." Katie moved back down, away from the area, but close enough to see as we started another round.

I had only just moved close enough to Charity to kick the Quaffle out of her hand but the handle of a broom, hit mine causing me to veer off of Charity's tail. I shot a look at George who gave me a smug grin and went back toward Charity. I mumbled something and hurried up, now moving in front of Charity, making her stop suddenly as I pushed the Quaffle from her arms, grabbing it and starting off toward Ron who didn't look at all ready. I felt a tug on my head, instantly making me let out a cry of pain. I dropped the Quaffle and turned into time see Charity dive for it, but I dove too, anger rushing into my body as I hit her out of the way and grabbed the Quaffle. Again, I headed toward Ron. "Accio Quaffle!" the Quaffle was out of my hands at the same time I heard Alicia's whistle.

"Okay, okay, stop. Just stop." She said; her tone between annoyed and disappointed. "We're just gonna stop for today" she continued taking the ball from Charity and shaking her head at Ron who hadn't moved since the game started. I felt a wave of guilt as I started lowered my broom to the ground; now mostly concerned there was no favor on our side. "Listen, Tammie, I'm sorry about Charity, she showed real promise, at least I thought she did" Alicia said.

"What happened to Ginny, didn't she try out?" I asked.

"Yeah, but she wanted to be a Seeker more than a Chaser so I said if anything happened to Harry she could fill in" she explained. I nodded in understanding. "I also hope you and Fred make up before the game, we can't lose because you're both being dumb. I mean, look at Melinda, she's the expert" Alicia said. I knew she meant well, I knew she meant to help but I was too numb, her words had too much meaning.

"I kinda wish he tried out…" she whispered looking in the direction of Matt as she tried not to blush. "He's probably really good." I looked over at Matt who seemed to be having some serious issue as to wether or not to come over. "I think he'd make a great Keeper" she said with a wink. "Oh god, that wasn't what I meant!" she said realizing Oliver too had been a Keeper.

"If it makes you feel better you're not the first who's said that" I told her as she shook her head.

"Yeah, that doesn't make me feel anymore" she replied as I tried to smile but knew it was half-assed.

"Well, I think at this point if you had Matt on the team we could play against ourselves" I said not meaning for it to be a joke but Alicia laughed anyway.

"Wait," she said realizing I wasn't joking.

"Fred doesn't particular care for him and George hates him" I explained as simply as I could as Alicia shook her head again.

"Tammie, please make up with Fred, you know how much you mean—" I shook my head, I already felt guilty and I didn't need one more person reassuring that guilt or telling me what I already knew. I couldn't hear one more person tell me this otherwise I'd just melt right there on the field.

"I know Katie, I'll talk to him" I said even though we both knew it was a lie.

"Why did you two break up anyway? I thought things were good?" she asked as we watched the others start to head ahead, though I was happy to see Harry walking alongside Matt. At least Harry was kind enough to be friendly.

"It's complicated Alicia" I said shifting uncomfortably as I saw Charity running toward Fred with excitement on her face but it wasn't enough to erase her overall sour looking expression. "It will be fine" I added forcing myself to look back at Alicia. She nodded, though I wondered if she believed it.

"See you then" she said with a tight squeeze of the shoulder before heading in, leaving me along to walk as slow as possible.

As I headed in I accidently walked into someone. It was Fred, with George and Lee and Charity. How did they get inside so quickly? I wondered.

"Really sorry about practice" Charity said, her tone not apologetic at all. When I turned to look at them I saw the only person who really seemed to enjoy it was Charity and George. Why didn't they understand I was sorry and I was hurt and I did care about Fred.

"It's fine" I said as she sneered.

"I'm still new to actually playing Quidditch, but Fred's been terrific at explain it and stuff" she said as she stroked his arm. I tensed at the interaction, It was all I could do from pulling out my wand and petrifying her ass.

"I—I should go" I said feeling my voice catch, unable to stop it. Charity snorted a giggle and George sneered at me. Lee took a step toward me, as if to apologize for his mates but I was gone, I was walking as quickly and subtly as I could. I had once kissed Oliver while I was dating Fred, I told Fred last year I never needed his help—for competition purposes only—and I pranced around with his best friend. I deserved everything he was doing. But if that was so, why was he so unhappy looking? Why did he look like he was coming apart? Why Charity? I asked as I found myself out the Slytherin common room.

"Get Draco, now" I told the first Slytherin I saw who was starting to come out. I reckon they were either young or knew who I was and didn't want to mess with me but regardless they went back instead. Minutes later, as I stopped pacing, Draco emerged.

"Tammie, what's—" he didn't get to finish because I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck as I laid my face in his shirt. "Tammie…" he started but we both knew there were no words. "Being a Malfoy sucks" he said anyway as he wrapped his arms around me and patted my back. I sniffed, trying so hard not to break in front of him. But it was too late. He tightened his grip, almost knowing my legs gave out, and all I heard were the sounds of my own pathetic sobbing as Draco silently hummed and rubbed my back.