High Hopes {h.granger}

One

Nora flexed her arms as she held a bat steadily. Her eyes were trained on the bludger that George had released and was racing towards her at record speed. When it was within range, she pulled her arm back before hitting the bludger as hard as she could.

"Holy Merlin," Fred whistled, putting his arm on Nora's shoulder as they watched the bludger disappear into the sky. "Why aren't you a beater, Nora?"

Nora chuckled, bringing her hand up to pinch Fred's cheek. "Because I'd take your spot Freddie, and I don't think you'd be too happy about that," she teased, earning a snort from George who made his way over to them.

"You're a damn good keeper as well," George mused. "Is there anything you can't do, Nora?"

Nora pretended to think but Fred cut her off before she could respond. "Ask someone out on a date, that's for sure-OW!"

Nora hit him in the side with the bat, making Fred gasp in pain holding his stomach. "You bitch-"

"Oh shush Freddie, that's payback for that comment and for the fact that I caught you trying on my top yesterday," Nora crossed her arms, a grin on her face.

Fred's eyes widened, his ears turning red. "I didn't think you saw that,"

George and Nora grinned at each other. "You did suit it though Fred-"

"George!" Fred gasped, picking up a quaffle and chucking it at his brother who dodged it. "I didn't even know you were there."

Nora's head snapped towards the familiar sound of apparition at the edge of the Burrow. Mrs Weasley carried multiple shopping bags with someone at her side. All that Nora could make out was a head of curls that belonged to a girl who was balancing a cat in one arm and was dragging a trunk behind her.

Nora nudged George in the side. "Who's that?"

George looked at her strangely before squinting at the figure who was growing closer. "That's Hermione,"

"Really?" Both Fred and Nora asked, eyes widening as they looked at each other.

As they were distracted by Hermione's sudden appearance, only one of them saw the bludger but it was too late. The bludger had come hurtling back towards Nora and George could only call out her name before it hit her in the torso, knocking her off her feet from the force.

Nora groaned in pain, only faintly hearing Mrs Weasley's scream. The pain was overwhelming as she hugged her body, curled up into a tight ball.

"Oh my dear," Mrs Weasley fretted. She turned to her sons who were wrestling with the bludger. "Fred, George, carry Nora into the living room and I'll deal with the bludger,"

Fred and George nodded sharply, letting go of the bludger which ran free at the release. They went to each end of Nora's body and tried to lift her only for the girl to gasp in pain.

"I'll carry her, Georgie you get the doors and clear the sofa," Fred instructed, lifting Nora up gently into his arms. Nora hissed at the movement as Fred diligently brought her into the house and laid her onto the sofa.

Mrs Weasley came bustling in, discarding her shopping bags quickly in the kitchen and dishing out orders for her children who were now gathered in the living room.

"Fred, grab me the Murtlap essence from the cupboard," Fred disappeared quickly. "Hermione dear, could you grab something for her to bite on, it'll hurt quite a lot," Nora couldn't see her due to the overwhelming pain but heard shuffling of feet.

"Mum what can I do? Is Nora going to be okay?" George's voice sounded distraught from the left of Nora.

Molly Weasley seemed to pause, glancing at her son's worried face. She tapped him on the cheek. "Hold her hand, she'll need the support,"

Molly gently lifted Nora's shirt only to gasp at the sight. Nora's rib had fractured on impact and was on the brink of breaking out of her skin, blood rising to the surface of her skin and already bruising. Everyone in the vicinity winced and the twins began to panic.

"You can fix it right?" Fred whispered, passing a small potion over to his mother. "She'll be okay won't she?"

Molly nodded before she glanced around at her children and Hermione. "Everybody out!"

Nora groaned, gripping George's hand tightly. "Stay-please," she managed to choke out.

George looked up at his mother who nodded gently. "I'm here Nora, don't worry,"

It felt like hours until the Weasley's and Hermione were allowed back into the living room. Nora was fast asleep, with a bandage around her torso, hidden under George's quidditch top that he had shed when he realised Nora's own jersey was soaked in blood.

"How is she?" Hermione asked, brow creased in worry as Fred rushed to Nora's side.

Molly had started on tea and popped her head out of the kitchen to respond. "She'll be fine by tomorrow, though a bit sore and she'll have a scar,"

George shook his head, a small smile on his face. "Nora would probably wear it as a battle scar-"

"That or she'll milk it all week," Fred joined in.

Hermione gaped at them as Ginny giggled, settling herself in an armchair. "She's hurt and you're just going to make fun of her?"

The twins exchanged a look before Fred looped his arm around Hermione. "You don't know us all too well Granger, that's just how we are with each other,"

"Well I don't think that's nice," She complained, crossing her arms.

"It is funny though," Came the weak voice of Nora as she winced, pushing herself up.

"Nora!" The Weasley children gathered around her.

Nora laughed weakly, glancing at all the worried faces around her, even Hermione's. The girl had approached slower, a worried crease between her eyebrows.

"Oh look at that, you all do care about me after all," She teased, wincing from the pain. Nora swiped away the curls around her face, tucking them behind her ears, unwillingly giving her a child-like disposition.

Ginny giggled, playing with the rings on Nora's hand. "Of course we care about you, but how did you not see the bludger?"

Nora's eyes glanced over at Hermione before she grinned. "I saw an angel, Gin."

{A/N: Thank you for reading :) please vote and comment!}