Chapter 8- The Almost First Kiss
"I want the twats head on a pike," Vlad bellowed as Rose and Lily restrained his thrashing limbs.
It was the last practice before the Hufflepuff vs. Ravenclaw match and tension had mounted all day. All it took to set Vlad off was one comment from George Beck about wanted Rose to handle his beaters bat. The next moment, Vlad was pummeling Gryffindor's new beater Beck. At the time Hufflepuff was relinquishing the pitch to the Gryffindor team, so the scuffle quickly became more of a brawl as the rational teammates tried to reign in the wilder ones. A few meters away Lancelot and Will echoed Vlad call.
"That peavey toe rag, come back and face us like a man," Lancelot hollered, his voice slightly muffled from Quincy's substantial restraining arm wrapped around his head.
As soon as Beck was let loose from Vlad's grasp, Beck had bolted from the pitch.
"If only he flew that fast during practice," Lily lamented at the quick speed of her fellow Gryffindor, "he could have been a chaser."
"Argh!" Vlad grunted trying to break free.
"Vlad calm down. I think Beck gets your point," Rose reasoned. It was times like this she was fairly certain that Vlad had a little giant blood in him.
"Weasley, I suppose now would not good a good time for me to ask you to Hogsmeade?" Lacroix joked, as he helped Will wipe blood from his face. His tone was light and playful but there was something in the way he said it that made Rose feel a little uncomfortable. Like he was hiding a little too much truth behind the jest. Lacroix had made a lot of these comments to her lately. She hadn't noticed it at first but she couldn't help but notice now.
Rose rolled her eyes in an effort to stave off his joke. She didn't like to think about Lacroix intentions, mostly because she didn't know how she felt about it. Thinking about Lacroix as something other than a friend made her queasy, it opened something that she wasn't quite ready to confront.
Rose had known Lacroix for ages and she respected him on the pitch. He was, by common knowledge, pretty dishy with muscular proportions, tall stature, and a toothy grin. When he was one of the lads they got along famously. He was just that, though, he was one of the lads. If this was what fancying someone felt like it was a little lack luster. She wasn't waiting for prince charming, or anything, but she thought she should feel a little more excitement, a little more interest, a little more like Vlad who committed himself whole heartedly to every whim. Including, ripping the head off the tosser who had just made a pass at her. Vlad really was a fabulous mate.
Vlad grunted again, "Okay, Okay ladies you can get off. I'll save this for our next match against Gryffindor."
"How mature," Lily consoled sarcastically. "Alright who's hurt? Anyone need a trip to the hospital wing?"
Most of the wounds were superficial and fixed with a few flicks of a wand. Quincy apologized to Albus about cutting into their pitch time. Will, Vlad, and Lancelot followed suit after a warning look from Quincy.
"As long as Beck can still play I see no reason that we need to get the professors involved," Albus declared.
"Thank you Potter," Quincy said shaking his hand and exiting the pitch.
Scorpius watch from across the great hall as the Hufflepuff team traipsed in. Scorpius liked to see Rose like this. They were mud spattered and disheveled. Vlad had a dark liquid smeared across his rob that looked remarkable like blood.
Their captain was reprimanding them about something. Scorpius could hear the inflection of his voice. The hall was too loud to catch all the words, but Scorpius caught the tail end as the captain shouting, "Tuck in to dinner and then off to beds. I want you well rested for the game tomorrow."
"Thanks, dad. You're ruining my Friday night plans," the other girl on Rose's team lamented, flopping down on Rose's right.
It was jarring the difference between the two girls. Flow was tall and spinally. Being so light an adroit she held herself in a way that seems to say she could wiggle her way out of any situation. Her hair was unnervingly dark, which made her soft features looked pointed. On one occasion Albus had told Scorpius that Flow was a real looker. Scorpius understood this in theory but in practice Flow didn't hold up, because right next to her sat Rose.
The spattering of mud looked out of place on Flow, a detriment to her clean appearance. Rose on the other hand wore the dirt like her freckles. It gave her presence; she looked like she had just gotten done doing something. Rose's sleeves were rolled up to the elbow exposing the sunburn lines of where her beaters gloves usually lay. The exposed skin made her seem undressed. Like he was glimpsing something he wasn't suppose to. He wondered where else the sunburn stopped and creamy flesh began. He wanted to trace those lines and feel the shift of the muscles under her skin.
Then he wanted to talk to her. He wanted to ask her why she didn't use a sun blocking charm. He wanted to ask her what had just occurred with the Hufflepuff team. He hated to admit it but for years now he had been drifting into these fantasies of getting to know Rose physically. They hadn't stopped, but they had changed. In the last few weeks they had grown to include dialogue. She wasn't just callused hands and bright eyes any more. She was witty banter and that deep roar of a laugh. He wanted to know every detail of her life and he wanted to tell her every detail of his life. He just didn't know how to start, or even if he should because Albus-
"Scorpius, what's on your mind?" Hugo Weasley asked dropping into the seat next to Scorpius. Scorpius jumped and colored.
"Eh-eh," he sputtered eloquently.
"I know. I've been wondering what's going on with Hufflepuff team too," Hugo said, "Why do you keep looking at my sister?"
This was bad. This is really bad.
"I'm not," was the most convincing lie that Scorpius could manage.
"You can tell me," Hugo informed Scorpius, "I'm family. Rose will tell me eventually."
"Weasley, there is nothing to tell," Scorpios said, a little more franticly than he intended, "I'm… I'm just wondering if she will be able to study this weekend. Yes. We have a huge exam on Monday in Care of Magical Creatures. That's all."
"Are you sure," Hugo questioned looking crestfallen with the lack if gossip.
"Positive," Scorpius gulped. He made a mental note that he really had to work on not staring. This was too close of a call. He was lucky that Albus was in practice.
On game morning Rose usually woke up plagued with an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach. This morning was different. She woke up feeling ready. Rose could hardly contain her need to hit the pitch. Maybe it was because she got her first full nights sleep in a week.
She stretched her limbs under the covers. Everything seemed loose and springy. She slipped out of the sheets to dress and found the air a little crisp but altogether pleasant. She grinned because it was game day.
Joining her fellow teammates for breakfast she was surprised to find most of the team was already halfway through their meals. Flow passed Rose eggs, toast, and a banana unsolicited. Rose couldn't remember a time when Flow hadn't forced her to eat a healthy breakfast before the game, even when she nearly threw it up her first match. Next to her Vlad had taken up Flows request to a fault, heaping two plates with food.
"I checked the conditions on the pitch this morning," Quincy announced, "It is a little windy but nothing we can't handle."
"Oh good," Gregory said, "I love the wind. Those chases don't stand a chance."
"We'll need to keep passes short and tight. There will be no room for long passes," Quincy agreed.
Will joined the table his face plastered in an expression halfway between a glare and grimes.
"Are you okay," Quincy asked him when he was Will's expression.
"Just peachy," Will informed the tabled, "This is my game face. I've been practicing all morning. I want to leave those Ravenclaws shaking in their boots!"
An hour later the Hufflepuff team was on the pitch. The stands were slowly filling with spectators. With only a few minuets until game time Quincy called the team to gather round.
"We have worked long and hard to get to this match," Quincy started, "No mater what happens today everyone here needs to know I am proud of you. You have done good work on this pitch. Gregory last practice you did a killer job of defending the hoops, I need you to keep that levelheaded attitude when you go into the game today. Vlad and Rose, you are far more experienced than the Ravenclaw beaters, use this to your advantage. Flow, in the last week you broke your speed training record. Keep your eyes open for that snitch because I want to see you break that record again. Chases, I know you like the back of my hand, keep the quaffle tucked into your body, use your teammates, no glory shots. I want this to be a defensive game. The Ravenclaws are quick witted but we can outwork them. You already won the match in my mind, now lets win it on the pitch!"
The Hufflepuff team whooped. Quincy slapped Gregory on the back for emphasis and Rose and Vlad thumped bats together in agreement. Then they were in the air. Rose felt light and heavenly. Listening to Quincy's pregame talk always made her feel brighter.
Soaring around the now full stands she felt a strange sensation, like she had just come home. She didn't like to think about it but this would probably be her last year of organized Quidditch. Next year she would have graduated and as much as she loved the sport she did not see herself playing professionally.
She had grown up on this pitch. She had cried, sweated, and on one incident peed on this pitch. The pitch was a part of her now. She knew she should feel jittery but she just felt ready to play. Ready to fly her body ragged. The whistle blew and she pushed her broom to pick up speed.
An hour and a half into the game the score read Hufflepuff 10, Ravenclaw 0. Commentator Thomas Badger voice filled the stands, "William Cadillac passes the quaffle to Quincy Ollivander. He catches it and faints left flanked by Lancelot Karbuncle. Ravenclaw beater Terry Price sends a bludger at the pair. Vladimir Gilbert intercepts the blugger hitting it towards beater Rose Weasley who redirects the blugger at Ravenclaw keeper Rebecca Prewett. Ollivander fakes left and shoots. Prewett recovers in time and deflects the quaffle with the tail end of her broom. "
The game was tightly played. True to form Hufflepuff was playing defensively. Slowly wearing down the Ravenclaws by a combination of well-directed bludgers, close flying chasers, and Gregory's impenetrable grasp.
A nicely hit bludger from Rose caused the Ravenclaw chaser to make a poor throw to her teammate and Lancelot was able to steal the quaffle mid air.
"There is no room for error in this game," Badger informed the onlookers, "Hufflepuff is playing the long game. They seem to be wearing down the Raveclaw chasers. I've never seen so much Quidditch with so little scoring."
Rose was physically exhausted, she could feel the strain in her body. Her face was chapped from the whipping wind. Ages ago her fingers had gone numb. Somehow she didn't feel it though. In the back of her mind there was vague sense of her bodies distress but this was overpowered by the gnawing adrenaline.
She glided past a chaser and came alongside Vlad. They joined forced and preformed a Dopplebeater Defense, jointly hitting the blunder towards Prewett. This gave Will the time he needed to score. The roar of the crowd was all consuming.
Ravenclaw took possession and play continued. They made it halfway down the pitch before the quaffle was turned over to Hufflepuff. As the two teams fought for control Rose took a second to scout for the seekers high above the game. They were flying in circles around each other clearly in a stand off about something. She turned her attention back to the rest of the pitch and hurried to defend Quincy from an onslaught of two bludgers.
Rose managed to deflect one bludger with her bat but she had to sacrifice her body for the other. It grazed her shoulder. She knew it would leave a large welt the next day but it was worth it. Quincy flew on unscathed.
"Weasley takes the hit for Ollivander. He'd better thank her when this game is over," Badger boomed, "Now that is one loyal teammate."
Her shoulder stinging, she checked to make sure that all the bones felt firm. It was just a flesh injury, she sighed thankfully, as she ignored the pain and hosted her bat. Vlad speed past her, chasing a bludger, and took a spare second to give her an once over to make sure she was still able to fly. Rose shot him a grin and took off in the opposite direction.
A hush when through the stands, Rose automatically looked up in search of the seekers. Spotting the two in a feverish flight of speed, Rose beelined her way to the closest bludger.
Flow and the Ravenclaw seeker were neck to neck. Rose lined up her swing waiting for the Ravenclaw seeker to expose himself. Then she saw the gap. Flow had moved herself just below the other seeker. Rose sent the bludger flying. It was a perfect shot. The seeker was so focused on snitch that it hit him full in the chest. He coughed and almost slides off the broom. Flow closed her hand around the snitch. The game was over.
Vlad nearly knocked Rose off her broom in a mid-air hug hollering, "Rose can not catch, she can not score, but she's the beater we adore!"
Flow and half the stands echoed the call. Rose blushed like she had not blushed in a very long time. By the time the team had made it out of the air a stamped of well wishes filled the grass. Flow was hosted onto the shoulder of some of her friends and was being paraded around the pitch.
Will grabbed Quincy and spun him around hollering, "This is the best bloody captain in the world. You can not compete with his mastermind brain!" Placing Quincy on the ground Will kissed one of the captain's cheeks and then pinched the other. He proceeded to gallivant off to perform almost the same praise on Lancelot.
Badger summed up the event for the crowd, "170 point to 0 a landslide victory for Hufflepuff! Not in all my time at Hogwarts have I seen a shutout like this. This is a historical game for Hufflepuff!"
Hugo and Lily jumped on Rose with well wishes.
"Congratulations," Hugo chorused before they were pushed out of the way by a group of Hufflepuff third years.
A half dozen other people gave Rose hugs and slaps on the back. Gryffindor team good-naturedly informed her that she was straight up dangerous. As the rest of the Gryffindors fanned out of spread the congratulations to other members of Hufflepuff, Lacroix stayed behind.
"That Dopplebeater Defense move you did with Vlad was outstanding and then that last bludger," Lacroix made a low whistle, "Rose you're a stud. I mean seriously you nearly knocked the guy off the broom and with a busted shoulder none the less."
Lacroix looked her up and down before settling his eyes on Roses mouth, "Damn, you are quite fit."
Lacroix leaned in. Rose froze. His lips moved to close the space between them. They would have kissed, his lips has hovered mere centimeters from her mouth, but at the last second something snapped in Roes's head. She turned her head to the side and Lacroix kiss landed on her cheek. In that small elapse of time something inside her had screamed not like this. Her first kiss was not supposed to be like this. She was so surprised by the whole thing that she didn't know how to react.
She silently prayed that one of her teammates would do the usual honor of decking Lacroix for getting cheeky, but they were all deeply engaged in celebrating elsewhere. She didn't want to pull back and have to face the other beater. He pulled back from the embrace instead. She couldn't bring herself to even make eye contact with Lacroix.
She gulped a confused, "Thank you?" Before melting into the crowd around her. She stood numbly for a few minutes as the people around her celebrated her triumph. She automatically received a few high fives, not really comprehending her surroundings.
It was Scorpius who brought her back to reality. He gave her a short hug and said in a low voice, "You were brilliant out there."
Rose blinked. Scorpius took her hand and place something small into it. She looked down curiously. It was a metal container.
"Bubotuber pus," he explained, "for your shoulder. It will help with the healing."
He looked in her eyes and she seemed foggy.
"Are you okay?" Scorpius asked a little alarmed.
"Oh sorry," She said, focusing more directly on Scorpius, "Thank you for the bubotuber pus."
She took her hand and pushed her robe aside to assess the damage done to her shoulder. Black and blue had already crept their way along her flesh. She opened the container and dabbed a bit of the pus on and winched.
"Would you mind," She said indicating her shoulder, "It hurts to hold it at this angle now that I am not playing."
"No problem," Scorpius confirmed taking the pus back. He gently dabbed the area before lightly rubbing it in. He felt a little guilty as he pushed her robes further down to address the lower end of the bruise.
Rose sighed, "That feels nice." She stretched her shoulder experimentally. Scorpius wanted to keep going. To mend the scrape on her elbow and work his hands down the tight, soar muscles of her back. He wanted to hear Rose tell him how nice it felt of him to be the one taking care of her. He didn't though, he drew back slowly, placed her robe back around her neck. There was a line he would not let himself cross. He closed the container and returned it to her.
"Keep the rest for later," Scorpius said, "I've got more back in the dorm."
Rose couldn't help but wonder why Scorpius had so much healing pus on hand. She wasn't sure she could stomach the answer right now so she didn't ask him.