Friendless » Fred Weasley

lxi. the rogue bludger

The twins tried their very best at making Tori smile. But every time it seemed like they did, she'd hear the whispers around her.

Tori couldn't escape them.

They were in the library, in the Great Hall, in her classes, everywhere she went they would follow. For once, she didn't have to think about it, that was the first quidditch game.

The team all sat in the tents, nervous. All the odds were stacked in Slytherin's favor today, and everyone knew it.

Wood stepped up, beginning his pep talk. "Slytherin has better brooms than us," He began. "No point denying it. But we've better people on our brooms. We've trained harder than they have, we've been flying in all weathers."

"Too true," George muttered. "I haven't been properly dry since August." Wood ignored him, "We're going to make them rue the day they met that little bit of slime, Malfoy, buy his way onto their team."

Chest heavy with emotion, Wood turned to Harry. "It'll be down to you, Harry, to show them that a seeker has to have something more than a rich father. Get to that Snitch before Malfoy, or die trying, Harry, because we've got to win today, we've got to."

"No pressure, Harry." Fred winked at him. Tori glanced outside, seeing the rain begun to come down. "We got this." Wood said, he was then punched by George. "What was that for?"

"Knock on Wood," George replied, strolling over to his quidditch locker. They all walked out onto the field, a roar of noise greeted them; mainly cheers, because Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were anxious to see Slytherin beaten. Hisses and boos were from the Slytherin, who made sure they were heard.

The three chasers circled around the field, soaring past the entire crowd. They met towards the middle, where Madam Hootch made Wood and Flint shake hands.

"And the game is up! Chaser Puecy grabs the quaffle and passes it right up to chaser Flint," Tori sped after him, lining up quickly. Flint snarled, shoving her downwards.

Tori nearly fell off her broom, but her leg got caught and she was able to swing herself back up. Unfortunately, Slytherin scored.

Fred and George were surrounding Harry, pushing the same bludger. Angelina passed the quaffle to Tori, who threw it to Katie. She shouted up to the twins.

"What's going on?!"

"Someone's— tampered— with— this— Bludger—" Fred grunted, swinging his bat with all his might. Tori went to say something but was nearly hit with the other bludger.

Many points scored later, Wood called a time out. Tori landed, crowding around. "What's going on?" Wood asked. "We're being flattened. Fred, George, where were you when that bludger stopped Angelina scoring?"

"We were twenty feet above her, stopping the other bludger from murdering Harry, Oliver," George snapped angrily. "Someone's fixed it— it won't leave Harry alone! It hadn't gone for anyone else all game. The Slytherins must have done something to it."

"But the bludgers have been locked in Madam Hooch's office since our last practice, and there was nothing wrong with them then..." Wood looked at his team anxiously.

Madam Hootch was walking toward them. The Slytherin crowd was booing and pointing at the Gryffindor team. "Listen," Harry said, watching her come nearer and nearer. "With you two flying around me all the time the only way I'm going to catch the Snitch is if it flies up to my sleeve. Go back to the rest of the team and let me deal with the rouge one."

"Don't be thick," Fred said. "It'll take your head off." Wood was looking between Harry and the twins. Tori stepped forward, angrily. "Oliver, this is insane! You can't let Harry deal with that thing on his own! Let's ask for an inquiry—"

"If we stop now, we'll have to forfeit the match!" Harry protested. "But you'll be alive!" Tori snapped back.

Harry looked at them, upset. "We're not losing to Slytherin because of that crazy bludger! Come on, Oliver, tell them to leave me alone!"

Wood glanced at his team to Madam Hootch. "Oliver! You can't seriously be considering this!" Tori shouted. "She's right!" Angelina crossed her arms, but Wood has made up his mind.

"Ready to resume to play?" Madam Hootch asked. Wood glanced at Harry's determined look on his face. "All right. Fred, George, you heard Harry— leave him alone and let him deal with the bludger in his own."

"Is he hearing himself?" Katie muttered.

The rain was coming down heavier now. On Madam Hooch's whistle, Tori kicked off, managing to snag the quaffle from Flint. She rushed through the team, passing to Katie.

Tor had almost forgotten Lee since she was so focused on the game. He was still announcing that Harry was still being chased by the bludger.

"Chaser Bell passes back to Chaser Silvers who winds up... and SCORES!! The Gryffindor team is ten to sixty! Seeker Potter is hit by a bludger! He's holding up his hand... is that the snitch?! POTTER'S CAUGHT THE SNITCH! POTTER'S CAUGHT THE SNITCH!"

Tori cheered landing around Harry, who laid unconscious. She kneeled down next to him, being instructed to hold his head up by Katie. "Harry. Harry! Come on, mate. Wake up!"

"Out of the way! Out of the way!" Lockhart pushed through the crowd, making Tori get up. She noticed Fred and George wrestle the rouge bludger back into its box. She wanted to help, but Lockhart grabbed Harry's arm, which seemed to be broken.

"No. Not you." Harry groaned groggily. Lockhart chuckled weakly, glancing at the crowd around him. "He's talking nonsense. Don't worry Harry, I fix your arm up right away."

"No! I'll just keep it like this... thanks..."

"Professor, he should be brought to the Hospital Wing," Tori said slowly. Wood nodded, wiping mud off his face. "She's right, Professor. Great capture, Harry, spectacular, your best yet, I'd say—"

Angelina stepped on his foot, glaring. Lockhart got up, rolling up his sleeves. "Stand back everyone," He pointed his wand, ignoring Harry's pleas and protests.

Lockhart twirled his wand, "Brackium Emendo!" Tori expected Harry's arm to fix suddenly, but instead, it slumped forward, like goop almost.

Tori flinched away. "Ah," said Lockhart. "Yes. Well, that can happen sometimes happen. But the point is, the bones are no longer broken. That's the thing to beat in mind. So, Harry, just toddle up to the hospital wing— and Madam Pomfrey will be able to— er— tidy you up a bit."

Hermione and Ron seized him up, helping him walk away. "What happened to his arm?" Fred asked once they finished taking care of the rogue bludger.

"Lockhart did something to his fix arm. Though, I think he removed it."

this entire scene is chaotic and we stan

"training for the ballet, potter?"