February 1944
After five weeks of lying like an invalid in bed, getting back on her broomstick felt to Ro like a dream come true. She couldn't remember a time in her life when she had ever felt that miserable; she'd always been a healthy child able to shake off illnesses within a day or two, so to be incapacitated for so long was practically unheard of. Routines had kicked back off fairly quickly after the rest of the students and teachers returned from the extra long Christmas break, the most exciting event being the next Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw.
While Fleamont and Alastor was speaking to the other players during their last practise before the match, Ro took the opportunity to make up for the lost time on her Silver Arrow. She twisted and flipped through the air, flinging the snitch out in front of her and catching it seconds later. So caught up in staying on her broomstick as she hung upside down, she completely failed to hear the rest of the team shouting at her from below.
"OI! GRIFFINDOR TO ROLANDA! WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE A GROUP TALK DOWN HERE!"
Finally realising she was being called, she leaned forward and swooped at an alarming speed back towards the ground. "Sorry Fleamont." She said as she jumped off a couple of feet above the grass, brushing her hair from her face. "What'd I miss?"
Fleamont rolled his eyes exasperatedly. "We were saying that we can't let this next match go the same way as the Slytherin match did. Their Captain, Marvin Russell, is in seventh year now and he hasn't once won the cup, so he'll have sheer want behind every move. A positive factor is that they won their last match whereas we lost hugely, so with any luck they'll underestimate us. Though what we really need-" at this point the gazes of everyone else in the team came to rest on her, "-is the snitch to be caught quickly."
Ro squirmed slightly as her mind worked for an answer. "You can count on it." She promised, knowing she had to do better than in the previous match. It had taken her an age to find that snitch between keeping an eye on the Slytherins and her fellow Gryffindors, and even once she'd gone in for the catch it had been snatched out of her fingertips.
"Good." Fleamont nodded. "Right then team, I think we're done for the day. Get a good night's sleep for the next two days, and we'll meet here at 11 on Saturday morning. You're all dismissed."
Ro and Minerva changed quickly back into their casual clothes before walking back to Gryffindor Tower to meet Poppy. She was in the Common Room working on the essay that Professor Slughorn had set them earlier that day, though she put her quill down with a smile when they clambered through the portrait hole. "How did it go?" she asked as they collapsed down on the settee either side of her.
"Put it this way, I hope Septima isn't a sore loser!" Ro laughed.
Septima didn't seem to be overly competitive when she and Millicent joined Poppy, Ro and Minerva at the Gryffindor table on the morning of the match. The Great Hall was awash with activity, with excited chatter coming from everywhere and house scarves around the necks of nearly every student and staff member. Even Godric the puffskein was wearing a tiny red and gold hat, which Augusta had magically knitted for the team mascot who was currently sat merrily on Poppy's shoulder. The Gryffindor Quidditch Team had already donned their scarlet uniforms, and the Ravenclaw Team could be picked out easily by the blue and bronze robes.
"Excited?" Septima asked with a grin as she slid into the seat next to Ro. "I don't think Marvin Russell will be pleased to see us over here, but I wanted to make sure that us playing against each other doesn't change us being friends." A worried look crossed her face, and Ro couldn't help but smile.
"Of course it doesn't, you fruitcake." Septima returned Ro's grin as Ro punched her arm lightly with a gloved fist. "You two mean more than who wins this match."
A creaking sound announced Irma's arrival, as she sat down next to Minerva on the other side of the table. "I wish that the members of my House had the same opinion." She said, glancing contemptuously down at the green and silver scarf around her neck. "How long is it until the match starts?"
Millicent glanced at her watch. "We've got half an hour until Spinnet blows the whistle, but we'll probably have to get to the pitch before."
"Right then." Poppy said brightly, taking one of the untouched porridge bowls from the middle of the table and reaching across Ro to put it in front of Septima. The House Elves had a habit of putting too much food on all the House tables, but it came in handy during times when not everyone sat at their own table. "I will not have any of you three," she motioned to Ro, Minerva and Septima, "not eating enough this morning. You've got a big match and you need plenty of energy, so eat up and just mind for any puffskein hairs!"
The laughter that ensued made Poppy roll her eyes, though it was easy to see the smile on her face. "Thanks Poppy." Septima said, picking up a spoon and making a start on the bowl. As Poppy turned a sharp eye on her, Ro hastily shoved another spoonful of porridge into her mouth and smiled sweetly.
"Have you had enough breakfast?" Irma leaned away slightly in surprise when Poppy rounded on her. "I haven't forgotten how you were over Christmas, you're thinner than a rake and need to eat properly!"
"I can tell there's no getting out of this one." Irma commented good humouredly as Millicent passed her another bowl and spoon
When Ro finished the last of her porridge, she looked up to see everyone still eating. Except for Minerva; she was merely using her spoon to poke at the porridge with a disinterested expression. Her black hair had been pulled into a plait that extended over halfway down her back, revealing a pale face and unfocused green eyes. Trying to keep quiet enough that Poppy wouldn't hear her, she reached across the table to touch Minerva's wrist and asked "What's the matter."
Minerva shook her head, pushing her glasses back up her nose. "I feel sick," she said dully, causing everyone else to raise their heads in alarm.
"Is is the dragon pox again?" Poppy demanded with intense concern in her voice.
"No, it's different than that," Minerva said slowly, "I'm not cold or aching, it's just my stomach."
"It might just be nerves." Ro pointed out after a moment's thought. "I remember Tavin always got really nervous before any big event, and he usually felt sick. You've got nothing to worry about though, the sky's clear and there's no sign of wind according to Alastor."
"You said that to me last time though." Minerva pointed out with the tiniest of smiles as Irma patted her shoulder comfortingly. "So it's not really helping."
Ro shrugged. "Eh, I guess so," she said with a grin.
"Well you've got much less chance of being knocked off your broomstick this time." Septima suggested, "No offence Irma, but our team tactic is winning by getting more points rather than sending the opposition to the Hospital Wing
"No offence taken." Irma reassured her before turning back to Minerva. "You'll probably feel better when the game gets started. If I were you I'd eat afterwards, as long as Poppy doesn't want to hex me for suggesting - are those owls flying towards us?"
The owl post had just arrived, only adding to the chaos of the Great Hall, and there were indeed a pair of owls carrying a box between them heading towards where they were sat. Ro moved her empty bowl away just in time for the box to be placed in front of her, but Millicent wasn't quick enough and one of the owls stuck a foot into her porridge. She grimaced as the owls flew away, splattering drops of porridge all down the Gryffindor table as it soared through the Hall.
"I think I'm done with this." She said with a faintly amused expression, pushing her bowl away and wiping her hands on a napkin.
Ro turned her attention to the package sat in front of her. Seeing a note tapped to the top of the box, she peeled it away and read out loud: "Ro, sorry to ask but I really need you to look after this little guy. My friend (you remember Johnnie Proudfoot from my graduation party?) and I found a huge puffskein breeding operation and we can't find homes for them all! I had persuaded Mallory to have this little one but he chewed on the curtains in his apartment and his girlfriend made him give him back. Thanks a bunch, Erika." She sighed as she looked down at the box, before peering through one of the air holes to see a tiny puffskein with enormous blue eyes looking back at her.
"Let's take him up to our dormitory," Poppy suggested, "it probably wouldn't be a good idea to get him out down here and I can give Minerva something for her stomach too."
Millicent looked at her watch again. "I don't think we've got time, it looks like the teachers are getting up from their table." Sure enough, Professor Dippet and the House Heads had risen out of their seats and were heading towards their respective tables to gather their students. "Poppy, Irma and I could take him up there though, while you three get ready for the match?"
Poppy and Irma both nodded, so Ro handed the box to Millicent as she got up from the table. "His name is Gerald- we need to keep our theme going!" Millicent laughed as she took Gerald's box and followed Poppy and Irma towards the Hall's huge doors.
Septima rejoined the Ravenclaw team who were gathered around Professor Merrythought, leaving just Ro and Minerva to make their way to the changing rooms. Fleamont wasn't the sort to make unrealistically positive speeches before each match, so as usual the Gryffindor team were to meet up in the area below the stands.
"Feeling any better?" Ro asked as she pulled her goggles down over her eyes and picked up her Silver Arrow.
Minerva nodded, her Comet in hand. "Much better, Irma was probably right about it just being nerves." A pause, and then "Be careful, won't you? I don't want to have to meet you in the Hospital Wing after the match."
Ro chuckled "I'll do my best!" They both fell silent as they joined the other Gryffindors, Ro taking her usual place at the rear of the team as they marched out onto the pitch. She could just about see Septima among the Ravenclaw team, but her attention was mainly focused on the Ravenclaw's Seeker. Nina Hilliard was a year older than she was, and had a reputation for being an incredibly agile flyer. Fleamont shook hands with Marvin Russell, then the two teams both mounted their brooms and started to rise above the ground. Ro and Nina both lifted a few feet above the rest of the players, watching the Snitch intently as Mr Spinnet released it into the air.
The moment the Quaffle was thrown they were off, Ro soaring upwards to follow the Snitch with Nina hard on her tail. She didn't dare to look away from the Snitch until enthusiastic applause caught her attention; she glanced downwards to see Minerva lobbying the Quaffle through the goal hoop right over Marvin's head. Ro joined in with the cheering for a moment before resuming her pursuit of the Snitch, having lost track of it while watching Minerva score. She kept half an eye on Nina as she scanned the pitch for any sign of the Snitch, watching in case the Ravenclaw seeker caught of it before she did.
Nina suddenly dived, prompting Ro to lean forward on her broomstick and zoom downwards after her. She could see the Snitch glimmering half a foot in front of Nina's fingers and cursed for letting herself lose the game so quickly, but a Bludger flying just in front of Nina's face meant she had to turn sharply sideways to avoid getting hit in the face. Ro high-fived a triumphant looking Nancy Campbell who had been responsible for shooting the Bludger, but not risking a repeat of her previous mistake she wasted no time in going back after the Snitch.
As she flew around the pitch with her eyes peeled, she relied solely on Fillius Flitwick's commentary to keep her updated on what was going on around her. Fleamont had scored the second goal of the match, but a penalty was awarded to the Ravenclaw team after Larry Spencer-Moon accidentally flew into the scoring area at the same time as Fleamont and committed the foul of Stooging. Peggy Gilbert of the Ravenclaw team took the penalty and scored, and it wasn't long afterwards that Septima scored too (Ro couldn't help cheering for her friend), bringing the two teams to an equal position.
After watching Larry score, Ro finally caught sight of the Snitch again. It was flitting very near the ground around the Gryffindor end of the pitch, which was currently very empty due to most of the players being down the Ravenclaw end while the goal was scored. Ro could see Nina out of the corner of her eye, and by the way she was slowly gliding around the pitch she hadn't yet seen the Snitch. Not wanting to risk taking Nina on in a direct race for the Snitch, Ro knew she had to try and keep it that way.
Her opportunity came after few moments of circling several feet above the Snitch, when her attention was caught by Ravenclaw beater Brutus Scrimegeour raising his bat in her direction. The Bludger narrowly missed her head but she pretended she had been struck, feinting sideways while gripping the handle of her broomstick between her knees. Ro plummeted towards the ground to the background noise of cries and shouts from both her teammates and the watching crowd, but she remained totally calm as the distance between her and the Snitch decreased rapidly. At the last moment she leaned backwards to halt her twisting fall, shooting out her right hand and closing her fingers over the golden ball.
"The match is ended with a score of 180-20, won by Gryffindor in an incredibly display of skill by Seeker Hooch!" Flitwick's voice squeaked through the magical megaphone as an astounding cheer rose in the stadium. Ro lifted her right hand into the air to reveal the still-fluttering Snitch, grinning wildly as she faced the roaring crowd, and before she knew it the whole of the Gryffindor team had descended upon her.
"You certainly took my advice about catching the Snitch quickly to heart." Fleamont said joyfully, the Quaffle still tucked under his arm. "We were only on the pitch for just under 10 minutes. And that fall when you caught the Snitch... Merlin's Beard, you frightened me for a moment. I don't think even Marilyn could have bested that- you've reminded me exactly why I had an easy choice in picking you to be my Seeker." Hearing her Captain's words, Ro didn't think she'd ever felt so happy. Marilyn Douglas had been Gryffindor's Seeker and Quidditch Captain until her graduation at the end of the previous school year, and as Ro had admired her enormously she felt honoured to be compared to her.
Once the team had disbanded, Poppy, Millicent and Irma all joined Ro and Minerva on the pitch. "That was incredible!" Millicent grinned to Ro before running off to find Septima.
"That was terrifying!" Poppy snapped, her Gryffindor scarf gripped between both hands. "I thought you'd been hit again! I thought you were done for! I thought-"
"Pops," Ro interrupted her, laying a hand on Poppy's shoulder. "I knew exactly what I was doing. I wouldn't deliberately let myself get hurt."
Poppy huffed in response, but then her face softened. "It was pretty impressive." She admitted with a smile, before turning to Minerva. "How are you feeling."
"Absolutely great." Minerva nodded, her face flushed and smile bright. "Though I could really do with some food right now. Can we go down to the kitchens after we've been back up to the dormitory?"
Poppy's smile faltered, and she exchanged an uneasy expression with Irma. "About that," she started slowly.
"There's been a slight... incident in your dormitory." Irma continued for her, causing Ro to frown in concern. "You'd better come and see."
Neither Ro or Minerva bothered changing from their Quidditch uniforms before they went up to Gryffindor Tower, trying not to trip up the stairs or run into too many ghosts on their way in their haste to see what the problem was. The Fat Lady expressed distaste in allowing a Slytherin student into the Gryffindor Common Room, but relented when they pointed out that Irma had lived in the Gryffindor Tower all Christmas and she was with three Gryffindors now.
As Ro turned the door handle of the second-year girls' dormitory and peered inside, she felt her mouth drop open in shock. "It seems," Irma said slowly, "that Gabriel has become a Gabriella."
"Yeah, I think you might be right." Ro agreed after a moment. Nestled in the covers of Poppy's bed were Georg and Gabriel - definitely Gabriella now - and with them were five tiny baby puffskeins.
Author's Note:
Sorry for the long wait, but I'm on Christmas break for the next two weeks so expect some slightly quicker updates!
This was a fun chapter. I loved that breakfast scene- our main six have such different personalities it's great to write them all together. As you can see, since Poppy's accepting of Irma at the very end of first-year she's become much more open with her friends. I don't think she'd ever have come to sit with them during first-year.
Remember Marilyn Douglas? She appeared very briefly in the chapter 8, both announcing that Ernest Lawrence was missing and later getting petrified herself. She'll be making a comeback to the story in a few chapters time. The Johnnie Proudfoot who I mentioned won't be terribly important, I just took the surname of a canonical Auror and stuck a first name on there. We may meet him at some point in the future, same goes for Mallory's girlfriend who is a canonical character I found on the wiki and thought would be a good match for dull old Mallory xD
As for the puffskein problem, well, things are about to get very fun, very interesting and very hairy!