I do not own any Harry Potter Characters.
Chapter 16:
September rolled around and Severus Snape was soon announced as the headmaster of Hogwarts. Each day the radio would announce wizards who had been arrested for not being pure blooded. Katie was at her dad's house. With the new bans towards muggles, Theodore had decided to end things with his long-lost love. He had only recently confided in Katie. Telling her the truth about who he had been seeing.
"So, you going to be starting in the first match?" Theodore asked her.
"Yeah, the roster just got announced yesterday." Katie said happily.
"That's impressive, you got me a seat for your game, right?" He teased her.
Katie laughed handing him his ticket, "I'll see you after the game." She kissed her father's cheek, then hugged him goodbye.
Kate felt uneasy as she stood in her Quidditch gear with the rest of the team. They were all lined up ready to run onto the pitch once they were called. "The moment you've all been waiting for, The Falmouth Falcons" Arthur shouted through the microphone. The team started to run onto the field leaping on their brooms as they went. Katie stood frozen, feeling worried. They were playing against Puddlemere in their first game, and Katie dreaded to see Brenton.
Katie was frightened to face him. Marcus turned around, seeing her stuck in place. Shaking his head he walked up toward her, placing a hand on her shoulder, and rubbing it lightly. "Let's go Bell, don't be nervous." She was startled into meeting his eyes. Nodding his head to the exit, he turned from her and ran out onto the field, soon soaring on his broom. Katie followed reluctantly, getting on her Firebolt she rocketed around the pitch.
"I know the fans are really excited between this opening match between The Falmouth Falcons and Puddlemere. I'm sure no one has forgotten their last match." Arthur stated.
"In this match we shall see whether Puddlemere can get their revenge from last season, or if The Falmouth Falcons can continue their victory for the league cup." Victoria replied.
"Let's go over a few highlights from their last match." Arthur said before reading off key points from the last match. Katie continued to fly around for a while, the referee got everything ready.
She zoned out what the announcer was saying until she heard, "something else exciting, the new starting chaser on The Falmouth Falcons is star chaser Marcus Flint's ex-girlfriend, Katie Bell." Victoria giggled. Katie did her best to hold her flinch, reminding herself that it's just gossip.
"Yikes, that's got to make practice awkward." The male announcer joked. Katie tensed up looking towards Marcus, who sat on his broom stiffly.
"Fans are loving the drama between them." Katie felt anxious as the crowd watched her, wishing the announcer would stop talking about her already. "I have a feeling that Bell seems a little nervous." Why had they picked her out from everyone else? Why couldn't they just leave her alone?
"Do you think it's because she's the only female player on the pitch right now?" Arthur inquired.
"It's possible" The female announcer replied. "Or it's because Bell is playing against her other ex-boyfriend Brenton Allen!" Katie's spine stiffened, uneasiness shooting through her veins. Marcus noticing Katie's change in demeanor, flew over to her.
"Ignore them, we're going to win this." He said encouraging her.
The Falmouth Falcons played a beautifully brutal game. As Falcon's beaters Albert Lamb and Adam Fletcher controlled the pitch. Or bludgers. Puddlemere players were lucky to leave with their bones and brooms in one piece. Puddlemere lacked harmonization between their beaters, and especially their chasers. Falcons played a solid game, Puddlemere only scored ten goals to Falcon's forty goals.
Brenton sent a savage Bludger, hitting Katie hard in left shoulder, knocking her shoulder out of place. The powerful blow sent her off her broom, gravity working against her, she fell. By the time her body hit the ground, she had fallen at least 25 feet. Katie let out a long loud groan, rolling back and forth in pain. A mediwizard came running up to her, forcing a liquid down her throat. After the medic set her shoulder, she got back on her broom returning to the game.
It wasn't long after that, that Adam and Brenton got into a Bludger blood bath with each other, the two powerful beaters hitting each other with everything they had. Only to be ended by Brian Davies catching the golden snitch and ensuring their team with a hard-earned victory for the Falcons. Vanquishing any hope that Puddlemere might have redemption.
The highlight of the game was at the end when the teams were instructed to meet in the middle of the pitch and shake hands. Whether it was the Puddlemere defending their hurt beater Brenton, or the Falcon's injured chaser Katie, no one could be sure.
When the fight started Katie was pulled away from the other team by Marcus. Making sure she was a few feet away, Marcus watched as Albert Lamb got hit by a powerful blow, sent by Brenton. Running over Marcus reared back and punched Brenton right in the face, blood spewing everywhere. Brenton went to charge Marcus resulting in him flipping him over, pinning him to the ground with a knee in the middle of his back. The fight continued for a bit before it was split apart.
A week later they were up against the Appleby Arrows. As the players flew across the pitch before the match, Jenson Barnett Appleby chaser chatted with Hardy Barnes their beater. "Did you see Bell? She's attractive." Jenson said in a thick German accent as he watched her fly past.
"Welcome everyone, to an overly exciting game. Today we have Falmouth Falcons against Appleby Arrows." Arthur greeted. "My name is Arthur Campbell, and my lovely co host is Victoria Mitchell."
"Hi everyone!" She greeted.
"Falmouth Falcons have been making quite a name for themselves recently, haven't they?" Arthur said. "That brawl after their last game was sure intense!"
"I know, but the true drama was when Falcons Chaser Marcus Flint, made sure Katie Bell was out of harm's way before punching her ex-boyfriend Brenton Allen in the face, and pinning him to the ground! Talk about embarrassing for Allen!" Victoria gossiped. Katie turned red as a tomato.
Lucius and Marcus flew over to Katie. "Calm down, Bell." Marcus said, he gave her a searching glance.
Silence descended as they waited for her answer. "Do you not think I'm trying?" Katie hissed.
Marcus looked around, his eyes falling on the announcer, then back to Katie. "Pay attention to the game, every time someone steals a Quaffle from you it's a thousand laps around the pitch. Two thousand laps if it's taken from you twice." Marcus threatened. Lucius snorted. "That goes for you too." That shut him up quick.
When the match started Marcus got possession of the Quaffle, Lucius and two of the Appleby's chasers tailing after him. Katie flew across the field, but no matter what she did Jenson Barnett would not leave her alone. Shoving into her hard, several times. Even though she didn't have the Quaffle. "What tactic is that? Have you ever seen that before?" Victoria asked.
"No, I haven't." Arthur stated, confused as well. "Falcons Marcus Flint makes the first goal for his team!"
The Appleby Arrows now in possession of the Quaffle, rocketed across the pitch. Justine McNee was in possession passing it back and forth between Scotty Moore. Marcus and Lucius hot on their heels. Katie tried to make it over to the other side of the pitch, but Jenson kept knocking, and shoving into her. Circling her, instead of helping his teammates with the Quaffle. "He's there again? Seriously?" Arthur expressed bewildered.
Katie flew off away from her team, just trying to get away from the chaser. "He's causing Bell to retreat, instead of helping her teammates. Falcon's Flint steals the Quaffle from McNee, before passing it to Paddon."
"Clearly Barnett has no intentions of playing!" Victoria exclaimed.
Katie gripped her broom tightly as Barnett shoved into her again. Marcus from the other side of the field noticed what was going on. Lucius flew next to Marcus, asking him, "What is he doing"?
"I don't know." Marcus replied before scoring.
No matter what Katie did she couldn't shake this guy. What was his problem? When he flew back towards her, Katie gripped her broom tightly. Flying towards her teammates. "Can she escape this time?" Arthur asked. Katie saw Lucius flying toward them, when he got close, he rammed right into Barnett. Barnett struggled to maintain control of his broom.
The game continued; Katie unable to get free from Jenson Barnett. She still hadn't even so much as touched the Quaffle, let alone see it. "What's wrong with Appleby's chaser today?" Arthur asked no one in particular. "The game only just started yet he hasn't left her alone for a minute."
"Jenson Barnett was a recent transfer from Germany." Victoria said. Katie tried get away from Barnett by faking him out, but it didn't work. Victoria continued, "if this keep going on Bell is going to be completely useless in the game." That's how Katie felt. Useless. Her teammates had scored all the points so far. "What kind of strategy is this?" Lucius flew to Marcus after scoring a goal.
Katie flew alongside Marcus, who passed the Quaffle to her, noticing Barnett approaching she passed it back to Marcus. Barnett moments later shoved into Katie who no longer had the Quaffle. "Barnett went after her despite Flint being right next to her!" Arthur commented.
"What the fuck, why are you following me!" Katie seethed using the opportunity to slam her right shoulder into between his ribs, causing Barnett to retreat. Katie looked over at Marcus, "He ignored the Quaffle just to attack me."
He shook his head, mildly catching her anxiety. "Stop getting mad Bell, concentrate." Marcus said in a chiding tone.
"I'm boiling with rage." Katie fumed, taking a deep breath. Marcus knew any further attempts to reassure her were likely to do the opposite. In the meantime, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
Katie flew off, staying close to Lucius who had the Quaffle and Marcus. When Barnett approached them, Marcus rammed into him hard. Barnett tried to go around Marcus to get to Katie, only to be rammed again, violently. "Barnett is having a tough time. Marcus is chasing Barnett!" Arthur cried out. There was a moment Katie felt bad for the chaser, being on the opposite team from an angry Marcus, was horrifying.
"Paddon scored for the Falcons, 110 to 30. The Appleby's are having a tough time out there." Victoria announced. "Katie finally scores for her team!"
"Flint has gone after Barnett again! That one is going to hurt tomorrow" Arthur called out. As Marcus shoved into Barnett, knocking him off his broom. Jenson crashed to the ground, at least a good fifteen feet. Mediwizards making their way to him as quickly as they could. "Looks like Flint avenged Bell!"
"Brian Davies caught the snitch! The game is over!" Victoria cried out in excitement. Katie felt relieved.
When the teams went down to shake everyone's hands, Marcus lined up behind Katie. As they went down the line Katie reached Jenson, who grasped her hand tightly. "You are very cute." He said cheerfully, Katie just looked side to side at her teammates, unable to pull her hand away.
Marcus grabbed Jenson's forearm tightly saying, "Drop her hand."
The following night after practice the team went out for dinner at a local restaurant. They sat around the table for a while chatting, when Katie noticed someone walk through the door. "Oh no." Katie groaned, sliding down in her seat. Confused the team looked around and then spotted Jenson Barnett. The team erupted in laughter catching the attention of the chaser. Spotting Katie he ran over, taking the empty seat across from her, but next to Brian. Smiling he just gazed at Katie not saying anything.
"Brian trade seats with me." Marcus called out from the other end of the table standing up. Though his voice was soft, it was a command. Brian looked up at Katie and smirked; winking at her he grabbed his plate switching seats.
"Not many girls are as beautiful and talented as you." Jenson flirted. Katie gaped at him bewildered. He gave her a charming smile.
Looking over to Lucius who was sitting next to her she whispered. "I think he's flirting with me." Katie felt awkward. This dinner was uncomfortable to say the least. Lucius patted her on the head, most likely to irritate Jenson.
Lucius whispered back not so quietly, "What was your first clue?"
Marcus had a look on his face as if he found a solution to a problem that had been troubling him. "Lass sie in Ruhe. Sie ist meine Frau." Marcus spoke in German to Jenson. Marcus gave him a look, and Jenson lowered his gaze. Since when did he speak German? What did he say? Jenson looked between Katie and Marcus with a bewildered expression.
"Ist das wahr?" Jenson asked looking back at Marcus in a softer voice.
She glanced sharply at his face. "What did you just say?" Katie asked Marcus who just shook his head, kicking him abruptly under the table with a huff. Marcus couldn't help the smile that formed on his face.
"He said he'll leave you alone." Marcus said amused with himself, smirking as he took a sip of water.
She'd taken a mouthful of food and had to swallow hurriedly to ask, "What did you say to him?" she glowered up at him, and he answered her stare.
"Does it matter? He won't bother you anymore." Marcus said giving Jenson a stern look, as if to say, 'I dare you.' Katie glanced over at Jenson who adverted his eyes. What did Marcus say? When dinner was finished Katie and the team headed out, Jensen trailing behind them.
When Marcus joined up with the team, Katie walked up to him asking, "Did you threaten him?" There was so much satisfaction on Marcus's face that Katie had to suppress her grin.
He looked at Katie. "Why would I do that?" Marcus smiled at her, a real smile, but he didn't say anymore.
Katie felt distraught, her dad had been brought in for questioning for the suspected association of a muggle. Katie had tried to go with him, but the Ministry denied her requests, saying that since she wasn't a witness, so she wasn't allowed to testify. Instead, she was in a dressing room with her team, waiting for the reporter from The Daily Prophet. Since they were on a winning streak the newspaper wanted to run an article.
"Hi everyone, my name is Sarah Willis, I'm going to be doing your interviews today. Here is a list of questions we will be asking everyone." The brunette older woman handed out papers to the team. The room was silent as they read the questions.
"Do you guys see these questions?" Lucius asked. All the questions on the list were personal ones, nothing to do with Quidditch at all. Katie looked around at her teammates bewildered.
There was a pause. "Flint, have you seen them?" Brian asked concerned.
"Let me see." Marcus grabbed the paper reading the first question aloud. "If you could snog any female Quidditch player, who would it be and why?" There was a thread of uncertainty as Marcus read the question.
"I don't feel comfortable answering any of these questions." Katie stated, tossing the paper on the table in front of her, crossing her arms over her chest in defiance.
The room went quiet, "is there any way we can change these questions?" Brian insisted.
"We already had a team come up with questions, you expect us to rewrite tons of questions on the spot?" Sarah said snidely. "It's inappropriate to suddenly want to change things last minute, don't you think?" She snapped.
"I'm sure we can change some them." Marcus said flatly. Katie couldn't tell by the sound of his voice whether he was upset by the reporter's hostility or not.
"Why can't you just ask us questions about Quidditch?" Katie persisted, doing her best to hold back her temper. She didn't sign up to be asked sexual and personal questions.
"We were all paid to work, don't act like your any better then us. Didn't know Quidditch players were so high maintenance or is it just this one?" She remarked cruelly referring to Katie. "Maybe my article should be about how pompous your chaser really is." Katie stiffened.
Katie cast a frantic glance at her team, then her stare hardened on the reporter. "Are you threatening, me?" Katie stood up from her seat, as did the reporter, both glaring at each other only a couple of feet apart.
"What if I was?" Sarah asked in a shrill voice, putting her hands, on her hips.
"Hey, why don't we calm down." Lucius stated resting a hand on the reporter's arm, trying to deescalate the situation. She slapped his hand as hard as she could, screaming "Don't you dare touch me."
"Why would you hit him!" Katie yelled before shoving the reporter to the ground.
"You just assaulted me!" Sarah shrieked from her spot on the ground. "You all saw her hit me." Her assistants attempted to help Sarah off the floor, while Marcus had pushed Katie away, trapping her in the corner of the room.
"Let me go!" Katie said fiercely at Marcus; with all the authority she could muster. It wasn't impressive. He was only standing in front of her blocking her path to the woman, he remained silent but wouldn't touch Katie. Only staring down at her and moving in the way when she tried to go past him. She met his eyes. They were a dark emerald, heavily lashed, striking beneath his dark brows, daring her to try and pass him. If she had been ten years younger, she would have stamped her foot by now.
Her assistants brought her out of the room, it was silent for a while. The team all stood around unsure of what to do, waiting for Marcus to say something. "Let's go, we aren't doing the interview."
When the article was released the next day, the headlines read. "Falcons Katie Bell Attacks Reporter." The article read that she had been brutally attacked by Katie, and then the Falcons left without even doing the interview.
When Katie arrived at the Falmouth Falcon stadium, she was directed go go to the Mangers Office. Sitting in the chair in-front of his desk, Katie did the best to push down her fear.
He was an older man, his forehead covered in deep wrinkles, bushy Grey eyebrows, which gave his face a grim expression. His rounded face was framed with short thinning hair, dressed in an expensive Grey suit.
"You're Katie Bell, correct?" He asked in a gruff voice.
"Yes." Katie replied nervously, picking at the hem of her shirt.
"We haven't met yet, I'm Barry Fletcher." He nodded his head in greeting, Katie did the same, timidly. Opening his desk drawer, he pulled out the Daily Prophet. "Falmouth Falcons Katie Bell, a diva to work with." His voice filled with anger, as he read the article aloud.
"I'm sorry sir." Katie apologized.
"You will be, I'm deducting a month's pay from your salary, and you will be benched in the next game. I expect you to make a formal apology. If you want to fight someone, then do it on the Quidditch pitch." He said sternly. "Leave my office."
"I'll be in my bedroom, making no noise and pretending I'm not there." — Harry Potter