Forever Young
Happy Friday! I had a snow day yesterday and a teacher in-service today so your welcome! Today and yesterday have been literally so boring! I would also like to apologize for the shortness of the quidditch game portion of this story. I didn't really know what to write so I just made it as simple as I possibly could. So please enjoy!
Chapter 37: What's the Name of the Game?
Cassidy's POV:
"What do you mean I can't play quidditch tomorrow?!"
Sirius and I gave each other a look before entering the hospital wing. James was sitting up in bed with Lily sitting to his right and Madam Pomfrey standing to his left giving him medicine.
"Mr. Potter I won't be taking any risks with you," she said sternly. "If you fall and hurt yourself again or if you get hit your injuries won't be as easy to fix. I've run it by the headmaster and your house head and they think it's a good idea. They'd rather you be safe. I'm sure your parents would say the same."
"It's not fair! It's the quidditch finals, I'm the captain and it's my last game! I deserve to play," James whined.
"James listen to Madam Pomfrey," Lily said sharply. "Do you want to be in more pain than you are already in?" He mumbled some nonsense before reluctantly taking the medicine and shutting up.
"What do you want me to do Prongs?" Sirius asked sitting at the end of his bed. "I can probably get Hufflepuff to push the game until you get better. Or at least until Sunday so we can get another player ready. Anyone in particular you want to play for you?" He sighed and looked at the ceiling before nodding at me.
"Cassidy," he stated. "You're going in for me tomorrow. Go work with Sirius on drills."
"What!?" I screamed earning a glare from Madam Pomfrey. "You can't be serious!"
"He's not I am," Sirius said with a (A/N pun not intended) serious face. "Let's go." He grabbed my arm and started to pull me away. I stood my ground and looked at James.
"You've got to be kidding James. I'm awful at quidditch and you know that," I complained.
"Cassidy you just played perfectly fine during Easter break," James defended. "You're the only person I trust to take my place. Plus the other team won't suspect you being good so you guys have a sure fire chance to win."
"James I can't do this," I said putting my foot down. "I can't and I won't."
"Yes you will," he said confidently. "If you don't then I'll tell Sirius about when we were 9. Remember that?"
My eyes widened in terror. "You wouldn't." I challenged.
"Try me," he said. I studied his face but couldn't tell if he was bluffing. I didn't want to take my chances.
"Fine!" I groaned. "I'll do it. But you owe me big time James."
"Of course," he winked. I grabbed Sirius and got the hell out of there before James could say anything else that would get Sirius more curious than he probably was already. We headed in the direction of the common room so we could change into better clothes and get some more of the Gryffindor Quidditch team members.
"So what happened when you were nine?" Sirius asked.
"Let it go Sirius," I said patting his cheek. "Let it go."
"Cassidy you have to eat something," Marlene said nudging me. "You're going to get lighthead and pass out if you don't."
"Or I'll vomit it all up if I do," I said pushing away the plate in front of me.
"She's right love," Sirius said. "Eat a little something. Please….for me?" he said a little bit lower. I groaned and rolled my eyes. I grabbed a piece of toast and began to nibble on it.
"Why do you eat for him and not me?" Marlene grumbled.
"I'm her boyfriend McKinnon," Sirius bragged. "She likes me more." I rolled my eyes and slapped his arm.
"He's wrong Marlene," I said after I finished my toast. "If I had to pick you or him I'd pick you. You're more fun to be around."
"I reject that," Sirius said putting his hand up.
"I reject you rejection," I said kissing his cheek. I downed some orange juice and stood up. "We better get going if I'm going to get a bit more practice in before this afternoon." I held out my hand and he grabbed it. We stopped by the hospital wing to get James so he could come and watch to make sure I was doing ok.
"Just go for it Cass!" James yelled from the stands. "Throw it as hard as you can, as fast as you can!"
"This is pointless James! We're going to lose and everyone's going to blame me! Or you, I'm hoping they'll pity me and blame you," I called as I flew closer to where he was sitting.
"No one is getting blamed and no one is getting pitied," he assured me. "I promise. I've got faith in you, Sirius has faith in you. Now you have to have faith in you."
"Fine," I said. "But I'm done practicing now. People are starting to come down already. I need to get ready for the game."
"Alright," he said shooing me away. "Kick ass Cassidy."
"You got it Captain," I smiled weakly. I flew down to the ground and went into the locker room where the rest of the team was waiting and getting ready.
"James have any wise words for us Cassi?" Sirius asked as I entered the closed quarters.
"For you lot no, for me yes," I informed them. "He told me to kick ass. But I guess you guys can use that too if you want." I got a few laughs from the others. I then went and began to put on my uniform pants, shirt, and cloak.
"You've got this Cassidy," I said to myself as I pulled my hair back into a braid. "You've got this. Don't let the other team get to your head. You've got this."
"What've you got?" Sirius asked leaning against the wall.
"Nothing," I smiled. "Just giving myself a pep talk."
"You don't need it love," he said kissing my cheek.
"You have to say that you're my boyfriend," I grumbled. He let out his bark like laugh and led me back to the team.
"Alright you lot," he said looking at the team. "This is it. This is what we've been waiting for since the beginning of the year. We are going to go out there and win this. As a 7th year this is my last chance to win the cup. Cassidy's first as well as her last. Plus we have a crippled captain out there who were are going to win for, got it?" Everyone nodded and smiled. "Alright hands in team! Gryffindor on three."
We all chanted and yelled out a mighty yell as we mounted our brooms and went onto the field. The commentator introduced everyone from each team giving me a special shout out for playing for my first time. The whistle blew and everything was kind of a blur from there.
All I remember from that afternoon was shooting as hard and fast as I could and hearing the whistle blow one final time. Then hearing Professor Dumbledore announce Gryffindor as the Quidditch Cup winner for this year, our 7th year, our final year as Gryffindor's.
I flew to the ground and ran into Sirius' arms hugging him tight.
"We did it Cassidy!" he shouted. "We won! For the 7th straight year we won!"
"I'm glad I could be part of the team," I giggled. I leaned up to kiss his cheek but the sneaky bastard moved his head so I caught his lips instead. I didn't really care though and I kept kissing him until I had to come up for air.
"Congratulations Sirius," I said breathlessly. "What are you going to do next?"
"I'm going to go celebrate with my girlfriend," he whispered into my ear. I giggled and kissed him again before going to celebrate with my other friends and teammates. I gathered my things and walked with Marlene and Lily back up to the Gryffindor common room. People were beginning to set up for the party so we went upstairs to get ready.
I showered quickly and dried myself off straightening my hair and putting on light make-up. I pulled on red jeans, a cream/floral patterned sleeveless blouse, and black combat boots. I pulled my hair into a half up half down style and tied a black bow into it. After we all finished getting ready we went down stairs. The party was already in full swing by the time we got there. As soon as I stepped off the stairs I was swept away and lifted on top of a table.
"This girl right here is the reason we are here tonight celebrating our victory!" James shouted to the crowd from bellow me. Everyone screamed in approval and I laughed and screamed with them.
"Hold up!" I shouted. "Hold up the real reason is Mason Good over there for catching the snitch before the Hufflepuff could so he deserves credit as well! Get up here Mason!" Mason Good a 6th year whom I tutored in Potions the year before last ran up and hopped onto the table as well.
"To Cassidy and Mason!" James bellowed holding his cup up to us.
"To Cassidy and Mason!" Everyone cheered. Mason and I clinked glasses and took sips. I gave him a one armed hug and light peck on the cheek as we cheered and laughed with the Gryffindor common room. He jumped off the table and let me hop onto his back as he piggybacked me around the common room high fiving everyone. He dropped me off by where the drinks were and I gave him another hug and congratulated him before he went to celebrate with his friends and me with mine.
"There she is!" Marlene yelled handing me another drink. "We were beginning to think you forgot about us Miss. Superstar."
"Never in a million years could I forget about my dear friends," I chimed. "Wait what was your name again? Marilyn?" I joked. She rolled her eyes and shoved me.
"There's my celebrity," Sirius said coming behind me and kissing my cheek. "That was quite a show you put on up there."
"You aren't jealous are you?" I teased.
"Of course not," he said brushing it off. "It was a mere peck on the cheek. We've done more…X-Rated things before."
"Sirius," I hissed slapping his chest. "Must you bring that up here?"
"Regretting it love?" he challenged. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he put his on my waist.
"Never," I smiled kissing him lightly.
"Save it for the bedroom wonder-boy," James said pulling Sirius away. "We've got a few things to take care of. Be right back Miss. Celebrity." They then escaped through the crowds.
"That's your majesty to you!" I yelled after them laughing. I shaking my head and moving around the room to make conversation with more people. A good while later there was a loud whistle calling attention to everyone in the room.
"Excuse me everyone I'd like to bring to your attention that the party will now be winding down any moment now," James called from the center of the room. There were loud groans and yelling but he quieted them down eventually.
"Not my fault," he told the crowd. "You lot can blame yourselves for making too much noise that McGonagall had to come and tell us to shut it. Anyways I just wanted to congratulate my team once more and thank them for making this one hell of a year. Plus I would like to thank one of my best friends Cassidy Clark for stepping in for me when I was unable to play one last time as well. Now we have a small treat for all of you."
He looked at his fellow Marauders (sans Peter) and nodded. They all took out their wands and pointed them up the ceiling. They all muttered an incantation and there was suddenly a flash of smoke and lots of coughing. Once the smoke cleared up there was a large banner hanging up on the ceiling.
The banner read:
Quidditch Champions 1978
Captain and Co-Captain: James Potter and Sirius Black
Chasers: Abby Griffin, James Potter, Mason Good
Beaters: Charlie Marlowe, Sirius Black
Keeper: Zach Swan
Seeker: Elizabeth Chancy
Honorary Chaser: Cassidy Clark
I smiled at the fact they added my name to the end as I cheered with the rest of the house. James then told everyone to scram and the students began to move up their respective stair case. I stayed back to help clean up.
"You like the surprise?" I heard Sirius asked from behind me.
"It was very thoughtful," I said handing him a garbage bag. "Now get cleaning."
"Thoughtful," he asked shocked. "That's all I get? Thoughtful." I smiled and kiss his cheek.
"It was amazing Sirius," I spoke softly. "You're amazing."
"Not as amazing as you," he countered. I rolled my eyes and laughed.
"Get cleaning Sirius," I said going back to work.
"As you wish," he said with a slight bow. I smiled inwardly and get back to work cleaning the common room.
Did anybody get the 'As you wish' reference? It's from the Princess Bride for those of you who have read the book or watched the movie. So enjoy your fabulous weekend and please review! :)
XOXO,
SophieElizabeth630