Moments
First of all let me apologize for the super lateness of this chapter. I don't own any characters you may recognize.
Chapter 26:
I sprinted down the stairs. I'm going to be late. crap. Why does this place have so many stairs? And do they have to move at the most inconvenient times?
On the third floor I made a right and kept running until I made it to the infirmary. I checked my watch. 10:02, I'm only two minutes late.
"James, you're here" Ali said as I peeked behind the curtain to the cot she was laying on.
"Of course I'm here" I replied.
"Mr. Potter, this is Healer Davies, she's going to be the midwife handling the delivery" Madam Patil said. I hadn't even noticed the other two women in the room.
I shook hands with Healer Davies.
"So this is just going to be a standard check up. We're just going to check and make sure everything is going okay with the baby."
I sat down on the edge of the bed taking Ali's hand into mine.
Healer Davies waved her wand over Ali's stomach. I leaned forward. I don't know what I expected to happen. Sparks flying or glowing or something, but nothing happened. Ali and I looked at each other in confusion.
"Oh, looks like everything is going well with your little-"
"We're keeping it a secret!" Ali suddenly blurted.
Damn, I was this close. Oh, well.
"I'm sorry. I'll have to add that to my notes" Healer Davies said as she flushed.
"So what exactly did that spell you used do?" I asked.
"Checked the baby's vitals, made sure the baby is growing at the proper rate, and that there are no problems."
"But it didn't do anything."
"James!"
"What?"
Healer Davies smiled at our bantering. "It's a good sign that nothing happened. If it did, then that would mean problems. So you two have nothing to worry about."
Oh, we had plenty to worry about, but luckily, it had nothing to do with the baby.
We left the infirmary shortly afterwards, hand in hand. Neither one of us said a word as we went to our private room.
As soon as the door closed we both blurted "I'm sorry."
I scratched the back of my head and she fidgeted with something in her pocket.
"I found this" she said pulling out a wrinkled paper.
I read the first line then looked away. It was the letter from Puddlemere.
"You shouldn't have read that" I said. I wasn't angry, not at her, at least.
"You always wanted to play for Puddlemere and they rejected you because of me."
"They did no such thing" I told her. She wouldn't look at me so I grabbed her arm and turned her to face me. "I was slacking off, that's my fault. The fact that they would write me to tell me I didn't make the team is presumptuous of them. I hadn't even tried out. Their lost."
"Puddlemere is your favorite team."
"Not any more" I said. "Forget about Puddlemere. About that stupid article in the paper."
"I know you didn't cheat on me."
"I didn't and the media is always going to write about us because of our family. You can't believe everything you read. They're looking for a story and they don't care if they're printing truth or fiction."
"I know," she replied solemnly, "I didn't really believe it. I don't know why I reacted that way."
I remember reading something about pregnant women having out of control hormones, but I had a feeling she wouldn't react well if I mentioned it.
"Come on" I tossed my arm over her shoulder, "I'll walk you to class."
Ali groaned. "This school really needs to have an elevator. With all the magic that goes on, you'd think they'd develop something better than stairs. Even an escalator would be better."
I rolled my eyes. "We have magical lifts. Ever been to the ministry of magic? This castle is so old though, I doubt they'd upgrade it. Come on I'll carry you."
"What" she scoffed. "You can't carry me. I'm the size of a whale."
"Didn't I promise you that I'll always carry you? Come on. I'll give you a piggy back ride."
JAMES & ALI
"Sounds like a plan" Fred said.
I grinned. I am awesome. I don't think anyone has pulled off a prank of this scale since the Great Departure of the Weasley Twins.
"Uh oh" Rose came stomping over towards Fred and me. "I know that look, what are you two plotting?"
I leaned back against the couch. "Nothing."
"The last time I saw you smile like that Camden Zanibi ended up in the hospital wing with half his face melted off" Rose said, glaring with her hands on her hips.
I grinned evilly. That was just three days ago. I can't believe I forgot how awesome pranking people can be.
"You're not upset about your ex-boyfriend are you?" I asked.
"You used to date Zanibi? I didn't know that" Fred lied.
"Oh, sure you didn't" Rose said. "I know you guys are the ones who did that just like you two caused the owls to go crazy last week."
"Just because something odd happens doesn't mean it's our fault" Fred said.
"Yeah, ever hear of coincidences?" I added.
I saw a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth.
"Fine. Don't tell me what you're doing. Just don't let me be the one to catch you" she threatened and then stormed off.
"Don't worry, we won't" Fred and I called after her in unison.
"James!" My cousin Lucy came over to me looking distraught.
"What's wrong?" Fred and I asked at the same time.
"What's wrong? It is March, March and I'm behind on my revisions. Do you know how close to NEWTs we are?"
Fred and I looked at each other. I haven't started on my revisions, I doubt Fred has either.
"It's like three months away" I said.
"Exactly. Sorry. I'm not going to have time for the team anymore."
I think I heard her wrong. No, I'm sure I heard her wrong. She kept babbling on but I didn't hear it.
"You're not quitting the team" I stated.
"I am" she replied checking her watch.
"Not!"
"Sorry, can't talk. I'm running late, I'm supposed to be meeting Henry Goldstein in the library for revisions."
"Lucy, wait" I called after her but too late. She disappeared out of the portrait hole.
"Tough luck mate, don't worry though, you've got backup chasers."
Backup chasers. Sure, I got some of those, but I always thought it'd be me, Lucy and someone else. Merlin's Pants how am I supposed to win the cup without her.
I know one thing, she better get the best damn grades in our class for ditching our quidditch team.
I booked the Quidditch pitch for the whole day. Everyone was sad to see Lucy leave, but that just meant that Sansa was back on the team. Other than that there were no other player changes. I worked my players so hard Lorelai cried, Roxy threw the beater's bat at my head, and Jace had to be sent to the infirmary.
"So, that was a great practice" I said.
Hugo scoffed. "I can't feel my bum!"
"I've got a cream for that. You have to get used to sitting on the broom for hours on end. What if the game against Ravenclaw lasts three days?" I replied.
Hugo, Colin, and Sansa glared at me.
"What?"
"You want the match to last for that long don't you?" Sansa said.
I shrugged. I always thought it'd be cool to be in a game that lasts for days. I went to the 2020 World Cup in Japan. That match lasted two days. It was awesome.
"I don't think a Hogwarts match has gone over seven hours since 1989 when Slytherins slaughtered Gryffindor in the opening game of the season" Colin said.
I winced. I heard about that game. My Uncle Charlie was the seeker at the time.
"Rest up well guys, I booked the pitch for three hours tomorrow" I said.
Everyone groaned. I smiled. They thought they were hurting today, just wait until tomorrow.
An: I haven't updated in forever and I know that sucks, I've been moving around a lot and didn't always have a stable internet connection, I have been working on this story, and I promise I'll finish it.