XCI. AS IF IT IS OUR LAST
31:07 ─❁────────── 31:80
◁ Ⅱ ▷
❝Illuminate, set ablaze
You make me light up like a firefly❞
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"I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M DOING this again..."
"It isn't going to be bad," said Harry optimistically. They were in the locker room, preparing for the last Quidditch practice before the match against Ravenclaw. "You did amazing last year!"
"You heard that from who exactly?" said Lucia in a frenzy. She ruffled her hair in distress, "Why oh why did you have to get detention before the match?!"
"Blame that on Snape!"
"I'm blaming it on you because of that stunt you and Malfoy pulled a few days ago!"
"Okay, fair..."
Lucia scoffed, as she fastened the knot of her scarlet bow. "I better get paid for this..."
"If you want to, I can arrange that?" said Harry, trying to make her feel better.
She slammed the locker shut, leaning forward before banging her head on it, just to feel something with the ongoing numbness she was being overwhelmed by. Harry gaped at this, but he seemingly couldn't find any words to say, speechless.
As she staggered backward, holding her red forehead, Lucia mustered up a small smile. "Okay, let's go," she said.
"Let's — what did you do that for?!"
"I was trying to feel something!" sobbed Lucia. "I can't do this! I've only gotten a few hours of practice before the real thing! This isn't like last year, Harry!"
"Okay... the circumstances are rather impractical..."
"Impractical?! More like insane! This is the stupidest thing you and Ginny could ever come up with!" she said.
"Your anger and sadness are justifiable, but I believe in you," said Harry earnestly.
"Yeah, no. Your thoughts aren't going to make me feel better about this situation," deadpanned Lucia.
Harry shrugged. "Worth a try,"
This was crazy, she thought. She was unfit for this. It was completely different than how it was last year, where she was trained non-stop by Angelina. This time, she barely had any training and enjoyed her time without sports after years of having to do gymnastics against her will. Now she was going back into being an athlete or a jock or whatever because insanely to them, she was their last hope as Seeker.
If I end up falling off my broom today, just know that it was all Merlin's fault.
Of course she wasn't afraid of flying, for she flew on a broom a couple of times before. However, helping Harry with leading the practice was much more terifying than she'd predicted the moment she came down from the locker room with him, sporting her Seeker uniform that still surprisingly fit her even after almost a year of not wearing it. She was welcomed immediately by the off eyes of the team, and it initially had put her on the spot. Luckily, Katie Bell was the one to lift the tense atmosphere as she greeted her with a beaming smile, and Ron followed her as well, welcome Lucia back to the team.
So far, it wasn't that bad. But she couldn't say it was ideal for them either, with suddenly changing Seeker a day before the match. They were unprepared unlike any other, and that was seriously worrisome for both Harry and his team.
"What're we going to do?" said Peakes, genuinely anxious for the upcoming match.
Harry sighed, "All and all, I feel like we still have a chance..."
"A dim one," said Ron, stating the obvious. "With my Keeper skills and Lucia just now being apart of the team, we need another plan, mate,"
Lucia twiddled with her broom absentmindedly, breathing out a small breath. "I'm sorry..."
"S'not your fault," assured Katie. "If anything, it's Harry's for getting himself in trouble," she shot the Quidditch Captain with a glare of annoyance. "You should be lucky that neither Angelina or Wood is here, you know?"
"You better not tell them, Katie," pleaded Harry. "Or else, they'll both want to have my head,"
"For a good reason," scoffed Ginny.
"I feel like I'm slowing you all down..." said Lucia crestfallenly.
"Don't think of that!" said Demelza, chiming in immediately to comfort the older girl. She had many great memories with her. "Your only job is to find the Snitch. Focus on that only,"
"She's right," said Harry, nodding. "Don't worry about the others, just remember the Snitch. That goes the same for you, Ron — only focus on keeping the goal," he advised in authorisation.
"I know..."
"Look, I'm sorry for leading you all into a difficult position. I really am," said Harry apologetically.
"It's all right, Harry. Nothing can be done now," said Katie, a small smile crept to her lips. "At least you didn't have any problem with finding a substitute like Angelina did..."
"Yeah, but now I got to find a way to get us to win," said Harry in a dejected manner when Lucia suddenly gasped.
They all turned to her with great interest, slightly overwhelming her as she shrunk back. Harry urged her, "What is it?"
"I-It's... uh..."
"Go on, DiFiore," said Cootes.
"Yeah, if you have a suggestion, it'll do no harm to let us hear you out!" said Ginny.
"W-Well, what if we..." They huddled together as Lucia proposed her plan of action for the upcoming day. It was something she had randomly thought, and frankly she didn't know whether it was good or not; it was an idea that could either confuse and lead the team to their demise or lead them to victory.
"It's not a bad one... but there will be many risks," said Harry thoughtfully. "What do you all think? After all, I'm not the one to play tomorrow? Chasers, how about it?"
Katie, Ginny, and Demelza looked one another, then to Harry, then to the very anxious Lucia, and back to Harry, before they gave each other a nod. Katie beamed.
"We have no problem with it. A wee bit of practice and we can memorise it!"
"Brilliant!" said Harry, clasping hands with Ron triumphantly as the rest of the team cheered.
"R-Really?" Lucia stammered, stunned. "Are we actually doing it?"
"We don't see why not?" said Ron.
"The risk..."
"This is Quidditch, Lucia!" said Ginny chirpily. "Risk are worth taken in Quidditch!"
Harry clapped his hand to gain the attention of his rowdy team, "Get back into your positions!"
With a wee bit more laughter and joy exchanged between them all, they went back to their positions in the air, leaving Lucia and Harry on the ground. Lucia gulped nervously as she gazed up at them, clutching her broom tightly.
"Is this really a good idea?" she asked, uncertain. "Since when has my plan ever gone north?"
"Trust me, Luce, your plan isn't that bad if we execute it well enough," said Harry reassuringly to his dejected girlfriend. He seized her hand and placed a chaste kiss on her knuckles, causing her to perk up in surprised.
"What was that...?"
"Just a gesture of reassurance," he grinned slyly, and she gazed at him oddly.
"Has anyone told you how weird you are?" said Lucia, quirking her head.
Harry chuckled. "Not enough,"
By the morning of the match, Lucia's anxiety had shot up through the roof as they ate breakfast in the buzzing Great Hall. She had many times in which the ugly sensation would overwhelm, but for some odd reason, this time she wanted to just stab her throat... everywhere so that she could get rid of the displeasing feeling that was flooding her so uncomfortably.
"You're going to be okay," said Harry, trying to ease Lucia's anxiety carefully spooning a porridge into her mouth to make sure she would at least eat before the anticipated game, while also trying to ignore the dozens and dozens of rosettes and hats and brandishing banners and scarves that the students were wearing to support their houses and the houses they were supporting.
Lucia had gone into total freak out. She as prepared as the others were, and she was also scared to be going up against Cho Chang yet again. And although they reminded her of their victory over the cup last year, she would tell them it was all by luck and that she was a bad Seeker. This was a terrible idea from the start.
"Angelina wouldn't have chosen you as Seeker last year if you weren't good, Lucia," said Katie, who was sitting beside Ginny, who was sitting beside Lucia.
"Luck!"
"And out of all of the people that tried out for Seeker, you were the only one that could catch it under ten minutes —"
"Luck!"
"You caught the Snitch right in front of Cho Chang —"
"Luck!"
"You —"
"Luckity luck luck!" Lucia exclaimed. "I know I said that I would substitute, but I didn't think I would have to actually have t substitute!"
"Hark we didn't even think our Captain would get himself banned from Quidditch. Again." Katie glared at Harry, who blew out a low and airy whistle. "If Wood had word of this, Harry, he wouldn't think twice to come down here and whoop your arse, you know that?"
"I'm very much aware, Katie," said Harry, feeding the frenzied Lucia a mango into her mouth. "You've been bugging me about it for the eleventh-hundredth times already,"
Lucia patted her chewing cheeks, trying to get out of this nightmare. Unfortunately, this was very much reality when she tried to pinch. "Ow — is it too late to resign, or go jump off the Astronomy Tower? I'm going to get myself killed out there —"
"Will you stop it already?" Ron snapped. "I'm nervous too, but don't see me going on a ramble about it —"
"Well you had proper training!" claimed Lucia. "I, however, had proper training too, but this year I did not!"
"It's nice to know that I can get major deja vu so easily," said Katie with a sigh, before she looked down at her watch and started rounding up on her teammates. "We have to go down."
"Already?" said Lucia in a high-pitched tone.
"Yes, already," said Ginny, gulping down the last of her milk. "Let's go team!"
"Yay..." they all said unenthusiastically.
The team, Harry, and Hermione followed them out to the Entrance Hall, where it was the furthest Harry could go as he had to go off for detention with Snape, much to his dismay. After he bade his team good luck, Hermione, and the rest of the Gyffindor Quidditch team walked down the path along with the sea of students to the Quidditch pitch, leaving Harry with Lucia, who was still panicking. Only internally.
"You'll be okay, trust me," said Harry quietly, cupping her face in his hands. "You've watched practice for a hundred of times already since the start of Quidditch season. I have faith in you."
"I know you're to make me feel better, but I think that's only making me feel like I'm under a lot of pressure," sobbed Lucia frightfully.
"Don't, don't —" he wiped her nervous tears carefully with a breathy laugh, finding this moment both endearing and wary. "You even wore your makeup; you don't want to ruin it..."
Lucia sniffled. "That's true... I got that makeup from home; it'll be such a waste..." she croaked.
Harry smiled. "Look, out of everyone in this whole universe, I trust you the most,"
"Aww —"
"...after Ron."
"There it is," Lucia laughed tearfully. "Always Ron first,"
"Can't help that he's my best friend,"
"And platonic soulmate," pointed Lucia.
"— which we will always be," he reminded her.
As he brought her into his arms, tightly holding her in his embrace, Harry took in the scent of peonies generously. "You're going to kick their arse," he said quietly for only to hear.
"And what if don't?" she asked, doubting herself. "Are you and the others going to hate me?"
"Us? No way. We believe in you, Lucia, whether we win or not. As captain, of course I prioritise us winning, but I want you guys to have fun at the same time. So," Harry pulled away in arms-length to look down at her with a smile that made her feel so certain that everything would be fine, "please have fun and kick their arses as much as you can — send them to Italy for all I care! Especially Cho's arse!"
"There' no way I'm going to kick Cho's fine arse — also, why Italy out of all places?"
"Dunno. that was the first thing that came to my mind," Harry shrugged. "I love you and do try not to get hurt and for Merlin's sake, I don't want to find you in the hospital wing all bandaged up, you got that?"
"Crystal," she smiled genuinely, feeling her soul lifted.
Harry cupped her plump cheeks, tracing his thumb over them as he leaned down, pressing a soft and encouraging kiss on her lips, leaving a lingering sensation that made her feel love and cherished. Lucia smiled into the kiss, and their lips moved with rhythm. As they pulled away, Harry could only admire every little thing about her; from the long eyelashes to the lips that were tinted with red due to the makeup she was wearing.
Truthfully, he still didn't understand why she was wearing makeup while playing Quidditch when she knew well enough that she was only going to sweat the entirety of the time, but he was content enough for the fact that she was happy when she wore them. That she enjoyed the feeling of finally being able to express herself more for once without being all self-conscious about it, and it wasn't as though she couldn't charm it to stay committed to her face anyway, she'd told him.
But he wasn't going to complain, because when she was happy, he found himself happy as well. Perhaps it was that contagious smile of hers that made him feel such way, either way he loves it.
He loves every little thing about her. Whether she chose to go natural or with makeup, he'll always find himself deeply in love with her. He didn't care what size or shape she was, he'll still love her, for his love for her was unconditional. He loves everything about her, and truthfully, words could not describe how much she meant to him. If the universe were to somehow rip her away from him like it almost did last year, he wouldn't know what to do. Perhaps he would become a villain of someone else's story and rather watch the world burn but for now? He'll relish the time he had and live a life with her. Only her.
He was so head over heels before he knew it.
"Are two really still at it?" they heard a groan coming from outside the doors and saw Ron standing there with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Bugger off, mate," mumbled Harry into the kiss.
"Stop eating her already, we're late!" Ginny yelled from over her brother's shoulder.
Lucia giggled while Harry rolled his eyes, not appreciating the interruption. Nonetheless, with one last but long kiss, they pulled away from one another.
"Have fun all right?" as he pampered her with kisses.
Lucia nodded slowly, before a determined look crossed her as she gazed up at him with those enchanting eyes of hers.
"I'll win," she said suddenly. "I'll have more trust in myself and win this like its our last year playing. I'll win the cup for you,"
Harry registered her words before he kissed her forehead, "Damn right you will,"
Finally, with one last kiss on the lips, the two parted. Lucia ran out of the doors to Ron and Ginny, who were complaining to her of how disgusting that was, but she thought of nothing of it, merely reminiscing Harry's lips. She closed her eyes, fiddling with her Nimbus 2001. She'll win. She'll win this game, and she won't take no as an answer.
"How are you feeling?" Ginny asked the hundred Galleon question when they reached the locker room to their teammates, whom were already in their Quidditch uniforms.
"Like I could vomit, but Katie," Lucia called, approaching the oldest of them all. Katie tilted her head in confusion.
"What's wrong?" Katie's face gradually faded into horror. "You're not quitting on us, right?"
"What? No!" Lucia chuckled. "It's Harry... he wanted to relay a message."
"Oh?"
Lucia cleared her throat as she made her way to Harry's locker and rummaged through his stuff. After finally reemerging from Harry's locker, she shut its door and whirled around to face Katie directly as the rest of the team rounded on them. Katie still looked quite confused. "'Since I can't be there....
...for the last match of the year, I just want to tell everyone that I'm sorry. Especially Katie, who, today's match, is her last in Hogwarts.
Katie, I've met you in my first year and I've seen you play competitively for all of my years in Hogwarts and truthfully, you have stuck by the team ever since and even through all the trouble, you stood tall with us all. So, today, I indirectly say thank you for all of your servicec to the Gryffindor Quidditch team and ask you to take the temporary title of Captain if you're up for it?
Katie choked up at the sight of the Quidditch Captain badge on the palm of Lucia' hand being handed to her. "It's temporary, but Harry wanted you to take on that position for him out of all of us."
"I — I can't possibly take it, It's Harry's..." said Katie.
"And it'll be Harry's 'till next year," said Ginny, resting an arm on Lucia's shoulders as she stood on the next behind the sixth year.
"Harry's made a lot of terrible decision, but this is one of his best," said Ron.
"Don't let him hear you," chuckled Lucia. "You don't want to find spiders on your bed,"
"He wouldn't!" said Ron in horror.
"Oh, he would," said Ginny.
"You know... us three may be new, but we've seen you play before too, Katie!" spoke Demelza, eyes twinkling. "You were amazing, and this year wasn't your best, but that wasn't your fault."
"Yeah, it's more like the curser's fault," joked Coote.
"You all already knew about this?" confirmed Katie, still in shock.
"Well, not exactly," said Peakes with a grin.
"We kind of heard Harry and Lucia talking about it in the common room last night," said Coote.
Lucia urged the badge forward. "You earned it, Katie." She said earnestly, "You've been here the longest and have been loyal to the team, thereby you are the best person to take on the position. And when I asked him, he didn't waste a second to say your name."
"B-But I thought you —"
She breathed in a hysteric laugh, as though it was the funniest joke she had ever heard. "What made you think that?"
"Well, because during practice —"
"Perhaps you didn't notice, you practically led the practice next to our captain yesterday," said Ginny.
"Yeah, I just make up the plan, but you and Harry truly led it. At one point, you even took over for him without you noticing it yourself," beamed Lucia, "Harry told us to not point it out to you because you really did make up some good points to make us better. I think I speak for all of us that we rather if not Harry, but you lead the team."
"Please, Katie, take it," They urged her.
Katie looked around the locker room to her teammates and not one had shown their disagreement with this decision. She was only met by the encouraging eyes of them all and Katie stood there in silence for a moment, relapsing the memories of all her Hogwarts years. This was the only year where she truly didn't have the chance to play for her beloved team properly...
She stared at the badge in Lucia's hand and before she knew it, a stray tear ran down from the corner of her eyes, bewildering the rest. "Sorry — it's just finally dawned on me that this is my last year at playing Quidditch for Gryffindor."
"Don't cry, Katie!" fretted the rest of them.
"I'm not!" she cried.
While Ron, Peakes, and Cootes were in a frenzy, trying to make Katie feel all better from crying, Lucia looked at her, still holding out the badge. "So, how about it?"
"Pin me up," Katie said with a small laugh. "I'll be honoured."
"That's the spirit!" Ginny grinned.
As Lucia pinned Harry's badge on Katie's uniform, she said, "Let's not celebrate now. We still have a game to win."
"Let's kick Ravenclaw's arses once and for all!" Demelza cheered.
"And everyone, don't forget the plan," said Katie, taking the position of Captain seriously. "Ginny, Demelza, don't forget, okay?"
They nodded.
They walked out onto the field to a tidal wave of noise. Two-quarters of the crowd were wearing scarlet rosettes, waving scarlet flags with the Gryffindor lion upon them, or brandishing banners with some familiar slogans like "GO GRYFFINDOR!" and "LIONS FOR THE CUP!" The other two-quarters of the crowd were sporting blue rosettes and waving flags representing the Ravenclaw mascot: Eagle, while banners were brandished all around like "WEASLEYS BELONG IN THE BIN!" and "EAGLES FOR VICTORY!".
"Here comes Gryffindor and there's Lucia right there. She's really pretty isn't she? — oh, it seems that whilst Harry of Gryffindor is out and about, our fellow commentator looks to be the one to substitute him," the voice of Luna Lovegood echoed around the stadium as she talked into her megaphone over at the commentator podium.
"Just like last year's match," scoffed Zacharias Smith beside Luna Lovegood, though he was sitting as far as he could from her. "Though, I reckon it was all luck."
"Oh, I quite disagree," said Luna with her usually tone of dreaminess. "Each one of them possesses spectacular Quidditch talent — let's give it up for the Gryffindor team!"
There was a round of thunderous cheers from one side of the stadium as they walked to the center of the field, whilst the other side booed at them. But Lucia didn't care. This was nothing new. This was nothing new, she told herself, clutching her broom tightly.
"And now, let's give it up for the Ravenclaw team filled with much more talented players than Gryffindor lined up —"
The other side of the crowd cheered supportively for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team as they walked out to the field and before they knew it, they were now coming face to face with their respected rivals; Lucia gulped harshly as she came face to face with Cho Chang, who look as beautiful as ever.
"Hi, Lucia," she greeted.
Lucia was quite surprised by this, nonetheless she smiled happily. "H-Hi!"
"I'm happy to see that I'm playing against you again," said Cho earnestly, softly smiling. "Last year's match was really wicked — playing against you I mean,"
"You are definitely as cool in Quidditch as people say you are," said Lucia.
"I'm glad you think so, but I'm not going to back down this year," she said. "I heard what happened with Malfoy and Harry..."
"Oh yeah, quite unfortunate,"
A silence fell between them both and all Lucia could think of at that moment was how awkward this was
Someone please speak up now, she pleaded privately.
"I... uh... can I ask you something?" Cho suddenly spoke up, causing Lucia to quirk her head, indicating for her to go on. "D-Don't think of this in the wrong way, but can I know how Harry's doing? Of course, you don't have to tell me, I'm in no obligation to know anything about him after what I did to him last year," she added quickly, eyes crestfallen to the grassy surface.
However, Lucia tapped her shoulder to gain back her attention, and Cho was instantly greeted by her soft gaze. "He's doing well... better. He did wish that you had ended the whole thing in a better way... I guess he's kind of sorry for how he treated you for the entirety of your 'relationship.'"
Cho's eyes widened. "What, why? I was the one that looked to him as rebound... I took of advantage of his feelings..."
"You were in still in grief and he understood that," said Lucia slowly. "But yes, it doesn't mean you should've done what you did to him. At the same time, he isn't the saint here either,"
"I'm so —"
"Don't say it to me," said Lucia at once. "Say it to him and put him in the spot to apologise for treating you badly too," she beamed.
"R-Right," Cho felt a smile twitching her lips, "Well then, no hard feelings when we win, yeah?"
At that, Lucia was reminded of last year's match, and she couldn't help but smile at this. A bit more confidently than she did last year.
"Yeah," she nodded. "No hard feelings,"
"Captains, shake hands!" said Madam Hooch.
Katie, the acting Captain for Gryffindor, approached the Captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, whom Lucia realised was Roger Davies, who unmistakably had to retake another year after failing N.E.W.T.s last year, and was also the one that had seemingly flirted with her in the train at the start of the year. They grasped tightly, both exchanging a competitive grins.
"Mount your brooms!" said Madam Hooch. "Three... two... one..."
The sound of her whistle was lost in the roar from the crowd as fourteen brooms rose into the air. Lucia felt her hair fly back off his forehead; her nerves left her in the thrill of the flight; she glanced around and saw Cho at the other side of the pitch, looking around for the Golden Snitch.
"And it's Gryffindor in possesion, Katie Bell of Gryffindor has the Quaffle. She's a nice girl, Ginny introduced her to me before the match started and all —"
"Oh, for god's sake!" Smith spoke, "— the Quaffle is heading straight to Ravenclaw's goalpost — what is this?"
From afar, Lucia could hear Katie's voice that indicated the plan to commence: "Ginny!"
A Ravenclaw Chaser headed towards Ginny; however, Katie instead tossed the Quaffle to Demelza, whom caught it effortlessly with speed as she dove from players and players before sending the Quaffle straight through the goalpost and right there and then, Ginny came swooping in, taking the Quaffle in turn.
"Ten-zero to Gryffindor," chirped Luna, clapping.
Lucia grinned. It was a very last-minute plan, and she didn't think it would work, but lo' and behold it did. Without further ado, Lucia looked flew around the pitch, searching for the familiar golden glint that she hadn't seen for so long.
"What in the bloody hell is going on?" Smith said through the megaphone. "Their confusing the hell out of me right now..." He groaned, "Come on, Ravenclaw! a hundred to twenty? — this is embarrassing!"
"Smith!" But Professor McGonagall herself couldn't stop from grinning.
"Ginny of Gryffindor is in possession — oh then Stretton of Ravenclaw — back at Ginny — this is quite a doozy if I have to say so myself..."
"Yes!" Smith cheered along with the crowd when one of the Chasers from Ravenclaw scored a goal passed Ron, who have been doing exceptionally well than before, noting his confidence was at its height. "Ten points for Ravenclaw!"
Two-quarter of the crowd began to sing the lyrics to "Weasley is Our King", attempting to discourage him, but he was already glowing like a phoenix. He no longer cared for the song, especially since the other quarter of the crowd were singing on top of their lungs a reimagined lyrics to the song, encouraging him.
"It seems that Lucia had found the Snitch," pointed Luna, causing the crowd to look at the player, who was speeding around with her arms out. Cho, the moment she noticed, leant forward on her broom and was now on Lucia's tail.
Truthfully, Lucia hadn't found the Snitch yet. It was all bluff. However, now she was in trouble thanks to her terrible choice. She tried to hurry away when she zoomed her broom downwards, narrowly missing from getting hit by a Bludger. But just as she thought she was in a safe zone, she found herself getting chased by a series of Bludgers that were making a beeline her way.
"Why me?!" she cried as she pulled her Nimbus all around, trying to confuse the Bludgers away.
"Katie!" Demelza called and tossed it mockingly at Katie, but instead it was tossed over to Ginny, who caught it swiftly and scored another point for Gryffindor. They had been changing names to over and over in a cycle to confuse the opposing Chasers and were doing quite well.
"Peakes, Cootes!" Katie called, indicating it was their time to finally shine.
They separated from each other and as Lucia was crying for help, she heard a couple sounds of smacks before she heard a series of groans. Lucia wheeled her head around and saw that Stretton of Ravenclaw had been hit by a Bludger while Cho was now attempting to not getting hit by the Bludgers that Peakes and Cootes had hit towards her.
Lucia grinned before setting off with double the speed on her broom. She then saw it. She saw the little ball of glow that was shining at her; It flew away from her, and Lucia dove her broom with top speed, trying to catch it with her arms held out. It was just inches away.
"Lucia of Gryffindor has finally found the Snitch the second time — Cho's in her tail now —"
She ignored Luna's and Smith's cross-commentary, focusing on the Snitch and only the Snitch. The warm wind of summer blew through her face. She could just feel the wind sticking to her lip gloss — she was quite grateful that she had decided to put a charm on herself just for her makeup now. In her determine pursuit, a Bludger came approaching her. Once again, she missed it. But because of that, the Snitch was now gone from sight — or so she thought.
It was hiding behind Ron.
Biting her lip, she pulled her Nimbus up again, cancelling the cheering and boos and sounds all around her. She cancelled out the cheers from Gryffindor and their supporters when Ginny once again scored so effortlessly as she raced directly at Ron, who was having the time of his life, but have yet to noticed her and apparently, Cho. Although she had no idea where the Snitch was, she was still going to follow Lucia, seeing as her eyes already caught the Snitch.
"I keep saying this, but what in the fuck is happening?" said Smith.
"Smith!"
"Sorry, Professor, but you have to agree with me here!" he said. "They're going to crashed into Weasel!"
It was then Ron decided to look up, and he was instantly horrified to see not only Lucia, but also Cho diving at him. He braced himself for impact, however it never happened, for Cho had quickly pulled her broom up whilst Lucia narrowly went pass beside him and suddenly shot up, following after the Snitch that was being especially hard to catch.
A Bludger went toward her, causing her to lose balance and without proper compression, she felt herself almost slipping off her broom before she immediately grasped her hand around her broom, dangling in mid-air. She could hear gasps animating around the stadium.
"Lucia!" exclaimed Ron, who was the nearest to her, in worry.
"I'm okay!" she yelled with great strain. "Just focus!"
"But —"
"RON, SHUT UP AND FOCUS ON GOALKEEPING!" she growled, gripping her broom tightly in her hand, not looking down.
Not sure if he could further engage her in another conversation to calm her down from the situation she was, Ron disengaged himself and got back to keeping the goal away from the upcoming Quaffles that were being sent his way. But not before occasionally stealing glances down at her warily.
Lucia gulped, hands slowly going clammy, arms growing tired. She didn't know how long she could keepthis up, and she didn't think she had much time for this either. Sometimes she really did wish there was a rule where they could pause the match whenever a player were to fall off their broom, but she guessed that was just too much to ask.
She really couldn't afford wasting time right now, but at least it seemed that Cho was still frantically searching for the Snitch, which meant that she still had time to spare. All she needed to do was find a way to get back up to her broom without falling to her death, or have her teammates waste their time helping her... How was she supposed to do that again?
Then, an epiphany struck her. Wait...
"As you all are still beginners, we will start with level one bar skill. Today, I will introduce you to how to do a Pullover, a Back hip cicle, and..."
Perhaps all that training wasn't going to be for nothing. But could she, do it? It was only a level one skill; any child could do it if they learn... but she was never a pro at doing the bars. Hell, she's been doing rhythmic gymnastics for years only. Sure, she could do bars decently, but not all that cleanly. She was only able to pass barely, so could she even do it in these circumstances?
She was really starting to doubt herself....
"I'll win the cup for you,"
Nonono, she can't doubt herself now. Not when they haven't won the cup yet. She could just doubt herself later, but now... Her teammates were relying on her... Gryffindor was relying on her... Harry was relying on her...
She needed to win.
Gripping the broom tightly in her hand, Lucia fluttered her eyes open and imagined herself back in that familiar gym that she once loved before it became her hell. She remembered her first instructor, Instructor Isabella, a woman with good heart, kind, and honest... She imagined the broom she was holding for dear life was just that bar she once played with when she was eight. She blissfully envisioned herself to be that little, naive girl that had felt so happy whenever she was to learn a skill...
"Essentially, the pullover is simply having enough strength to elevate center mass above and over the bar. You must get to know your approach, do not lay your head back and focus on your feet as a guideline!" said Instructor Isabella to her students, "Hands on the bar!"
Hands on the bar... jump up in a chin up position... legs pointed... bodyline straight... pull hips down on the bar... come back up...
It was as easy as that, right? Was that how it even went?
Either way, she needs to hurry up. I'll make you proud, Instructor!
She felt herself dangling on thin air, body swaying slightly as she attempted to find a surface for her feet before using all her strength, jumping up into position with her legs pointed. The crowd and players — including Cho, who had caught sight of her helpless state and was ready to catch her — gasped, quickly thinking that she was going to fall and her body splat on the ground bloodily.
Many hid their eyes behind their hands, frightened of what they were going to see next before they changed into another gasp. Only, this time, was out of bewilderment instead as Lucia expertly pulled herself into a position that oddly reminded them of the pose: Pike, before she began to pull her hips down on her broom, coming back up like a snake wrapping its body around a bar. She lifted her legs on her broom and before they knew it, she at mounting it.
"I... I did it!" Lucia breathed, mystified by her own abilities. "I actually did it... I hope you're proud, Mrs. Isabella!"
Now, she was back in business.
Though her arms were sore, Lucia couldn't quite think of herself much as all she could think off was the Snitch that still was flying around the stadium so irritatingly.
She wrapped her fingers around her broom and leant forward. Let's end this now, shall we?
"Lucia is back from her near-death experience as she continued with rounding the stadium — Cho Chang is following in her lead, it seems." Luna noted through the megaphone as the match continued as it was before.
"Hold on a minute, Loony," said Smith, speaking into his own megaphone. "I think both of them found the Snitch!"
All eyes instantly snapped at the two blurred figures that were dashing around the pitch in equal speed, hand outstretched. Not far ahead was the well-anticipated Golden Snitch. Cheers began to erupt from all sides of the stadium, booming to support their team.
"LUCIA, DON'T YOU DARE COME BACK TO THE COMMON ROOM WITHOUT THAT DAMN SNITCH!" yelled Seamus Finnigan. "I HAVE A BET ON YOU!"
"Oh, honestly, Seamus! A bet?!" Hermione turned to chastised.
"Well — uh — it was all Dean's idea!"
"No it wasn't, you prat!" Dean scoffed. "It was Neville's!"
"Me?!" said Neville in disbelief. "I would never bet on or against my friend unlike you lot!"
"A bit brave coming from you, don't you think?" said Seamus.
"Wanna go, Finnigan?!" said Neville, uncharacteristically haughty.
"Will you two shut up and focused on the match!" yelled Parvati in annoyance, before she and Lavender turned their attention back to their team. "GO LUCIA!"
"Catch the Snitch... Catch the Snitch..." prayed Astoria silently from her part of the stands, squeezing her eyes, not bearing the suspense.
Lucia scooched a little bit more forward, tying to grasp the Snitch, but Cho daunted her slightly, causing her to fallback a little.
"No hard feelings right, Lucia?" said Cho loudly through the wind, looking back at Lucia as her hand was searching for the Snitch.
Slowing down in her flight, Lucia smiled. "Can't exactly have hard feelings over something that's not there, can't I?"
At that, Cho snapped her head back forward, only to see the Snitch gone.
"Well, toodles," said Lucia.
"Wha —" However, before Cho could say anything more, Lucia leant sideways and fell deliberately off of her broom. "LUCIA!"
Her heartbeat rapidly against her chest as she gripped the wand in her pocket tightly. People must've thought she was insane or something, but that wouldn't be the first. She didn't care, for all she cared for was the Snitch that she was seemingly nearing... as well as the ground...
She heard her ears ringing with the sounds of yells and screams for her, but Lucia merely tuned out, outstretching her hand as the wind blew through her face harshly, gravity taking its course on her. Almost there... almost there...
"YES!"
Her fingers wrapped around the small golden flying ball.
Feeling victory was in her reach, Lucia turned her back from the ground and was immediately greeted by her teammates and some of the opposing team's players diving down to catch her, Ron in the lead. She waved at them jubilantly.
"I CAUGHT IT!"
"Yes, well, let's catch you first before we celebrate!" yelled Katie.
"I don't know if you've noticed, Lucia, BUT YOU'RE FALLING DOWN TO YOUR DEATH!" Ron yelled, desperate to catch her.
Oh yeah, she thought as she turned to the ground that was nearing her little-by-little. She almost forgotten she had deliberately fell off her broom...
"I'm falling!"
"WELL, ISN'T THAT THE OBVIOUS?!" yelled Davies.
"Shut up, Roger!" snapped Cho in his lead.
Lucia clutched the Snitch in her hand and whipped her wand out before she yelled out, "Accio Daffodil!" And before anyone could react what she was calling for, speeding through the air from behind them, a Nimbus 2001 was hurtling pass them and toward Lucia, soaring as fast as lightning, stopping dead in midair beside her, waiting for her to mount as she was a couple of feet from the ground.
"YOU NAMED YOUR BROOM?!"
"Forget about that, Weasley! Lucia, get on it! Hurry!" urged Cho.
She quickly swung her leg around it before she hit the ground andflew to the center of the stadium, hitting her feet on the ground with a thud. Ron, Ginny, Katie, and Cho let out a sigh of relief.
Silence befell the stadium as everyone peered; Lucia slowly unwrapped her finger, and there it was shining like sun: the Golden Snitch.
"GRYFFINDOR WIN THE INTER-HOUSE QUIDDITCH CUP!"
Lucia's hand was in the air, and the stadium exploded into a trillion of cheers. She jumped up and down with the tiny golden ball held tightly in her fist, beating its wings hopelessly against her fingers.
"YES!" she yelled. "I DID — "
The Gryffindor team crashed into Lucia with a loud "Oof" pulling her into some cheerful hugs as they sank down to back to earth, still tangled together in a many-armed hug. "We've won the Cup! We've won the Cup, again!"
"Ron! Ron! I did it!" Lucia chirped jubilantly, gripping the Snitch.
Ron, who was hugging Lucia for dear life, grinned weakly. "You did... but you can't do that again," he said. "You really scared us, you know? First the Bludger and then that?"
"Sorry..." she mumbled against his jersey. "You really did great, Ron,"
"You too," he sighed blissfully.
"Let's not tell Harry what I did and happened to me in the middle of the match, yeah?"
"Agree,"
Confetti was shot over them, the Gryffindor House scrambled to round on them, cheering. Katie was given the Cup and they were all pulled into one another yet again in a giant team hug.
Throughout the whole year was nothing but bad luck for their team, but after all that they finally won. They had never been so happy; Katie was crying into Demelza's, who was singing with Peakes and Cootes, arms. Ginny had been graced immediately with Luna's lips, and Ron and Lucia were bouncing with joy, holding one another while their other hand was holding the cup. They couldn't wait to tell Harry.
༻❁༺
Harry's stomach started rumbling when the clock showed half past twelve. Snape, who had not spoken at all since setting Harry his task, finally looked up at ten past one.
"I think that will do," he said coldly. "Mark the place you have reached. You will continue at ten o'clock next Saturday."
"Yes, sir."
Harry stuffed a bent card into the box at random and hurried out of the door before Snape could change his mind, racing back up the stone steps, straining his ears to hear a sound from the pitch, but all was quiet... It was over, then...
He hesitated outside the crowded Great Hall, then ran up the marble staircase; whether Gryffindor had won or lost, the team usually celebrated or commiserated in their own common room.
"Quid agis?" he said tentatively to the Fat Lady, wondering what he would find inside.
Her expression was unreadable as she replied, "You'll see."
And she swung forward.
A roar of celebration erupted from the hole behind her. Harry gaped as people began to scream at the sight of him; several hands pulled him into the room.
"We won!" yelled Ron, bounding into sight and brandishing the silver Cup at Harry. "We won! Four hundred and fifty to a hundred and forty! We won!"
"Harry!"
He spun around and there she was, in the center of the masterpiece, glowing with all her glory.
"See! I told you I would win for you!" Lucia said, running up to him and immediately went into a ramble: "It was a pretty harsh match, you know? Ravenclaw was once again a great adversary, so you probably have to be on top of your game by next year. The team was incre —"
"Calm down," laughed Harry, feeling the positive energy that was surging throughout the common room slowly catching him. He squeezed her arm, as her enticing eyes batted at him. "Calm... calm down... I hear you,"
"But why? I am calm!" said Lucia eagerly. "Everyone was incredible —"
"And you were too,"
"I... I don't know about that," she suddenly faded into a faux laugh, that made him quirked a brow. "I had the most trouble between all of us,"
"But you caught the Snitch?"
"Yeah, but..."
"Then that's already enough,"
"But —"
Harry didn't let her further disregard her abilities as he reached for her and kissed her. He let her red lips painted his as he kissed her like they were alone in front of the fireplace in the middle of the night, like there was no tomorrow as adrenaline filled his veins, her voice from hours prior filling his mind like a dream, "I'll win the cup for you," And she did not go back on her word.
She was proud of that and wanted to show it. He didn't even care if they had an audience now.
Her mind went blank as all she could think of was Harry's lips being on hers so heartfeltly. Her body felt like it was being set in ardent flames, deepening the kiss. It felt great, it really did, she admits. She had fulfilled her words of winning, and it all felt perfect. And the kiss felt as if it was her long-awaited trophy she had worked hard to get and wanted more of, in which Harry was delivering. The eagerness in their veins urging them for more and more. They craved each other. They wanted each other. They love each other. And what better way to describe it than to show it?
They didn't like being the center of attention, but for each other they no longer cared. Whether they were in front of a crowd or was in a deserted area. Because everything felt so right, so secure, so safe, and so pleasant. The stars aligned for them, and that was vital. The earth would be nothing but discord and darkness without his moon, as well as the moon being without her earth to shed her overwhelming light to.
After several long moments — or it might have been half an hour — or possibly several illuminating days — they broke apart. The room had gone very quiet. Then several people wolf-whistled and there was an outbreak of nervous giggling, never seen the two kissed so passionately before. They couple looked around awkwardly and it wasn't until Ron had snapped out of his trance did the awkwardness in the room died down; he cheered on for their victory, and that seemed to snap them all out too as they continued to party.
Lucia and Harry turned to look at one another once more, both were smiling.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She played with the heart locket that stood on his collarbone.
"Well, I hope you're thinking what I'm thingking" said Harry playfully, closing in on her.
"Hmm... I think we're thinking the same thing," smiled Lucia in an enticing manner.
"Oh yeah?" Harry smirked.
"Celebratory forest gazing!"
Harry laughed weakly; that wasn't what he was thinking at all.
Nonetheless, he didn't disagree with that option. A nice peace and quiet at the Astronomy Tower... looking out toward the Forbidden Forest with the stars looking over them... just the two of them... talking about some magical creature she had possibly randomly talked to during lessons with Hagrid... and maybe if they had any time, talk about the match...
She beamed, in which he grinned at as they both slipped out through the portrait hole. "They said what I did was cool, but I barely remember what I did honestly," she said as she led them both up the stairs.
"You know, I can't wait to update the photo album," said Harry once they reached the top of the tower. "Did the Creeveys caught any?"
"Well, Hermione told me they did took a lot of pictures — plus, I saw a lot of flashing," she breathed a chuckle, "You still have that ridiculous photo album?"
Harry's eyes softened as she stood in front of him, the evening sun created a golden halo around her. His heart had been in a better place since she came along.
"Never left my grasp."