𝐊𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍 | 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘺

Chapter 43 - A Victory and a Break-in

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"When I saw you

I fell in love

and you smiled

because you knew."

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"Bad news, Harry." Oliver Wood said one evening. Betelgeuse was sitting in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor Common Room, alone, reading Advanced Rune Translation by Yuri Blishen when she overheard the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain address their Seeker.

"I've just been to see Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt. She — er — got a bit shirty with me. Told me I'd got my priorities wrong. Seemed to think I cared more about winning the Cup than I do about you staying alive. Just because I told her I didn't care if it threw you off, as long as you caught the Snitch first." Wood shook his head in disbelief. Betelgeuse closed the book, leaning back on the comfortable armchair with a smirk.

"Honestly, the way she was yelling at me — you'd think I'd said something terrible. Then I asked her how much longer she was going to keep it —" He screwed up his face and imitated Professor McGonagall's severe voice. "'As long as necessary, Wood' —"

Betelgeuse's smirk widened, "Excellent impression, Wood. Minnie would be proud."

Oliver looked over her with an irritated glare, "We need the Firebolt, Betelgeuse!" He turned his attention again to Harry, "I reckon it's time you ordered a new broom, Harry. There's an order form at the back of Which Broomstick — you could get a Nimbus Two Thousand and One, like Malfoy's got."

"I'm not buying anything Malfoy thinks is good," Harry replied flatly.

Betelgeuse rolled her grey eyes, turning to her book. "How childish."

January faded imperceptibly into February, with no change in the bitterly cold weather. The match against Ravenclaw was drawing nearer and nearer, and Betelgeuse was once more swimming in a sea of assignments, parchments, Quidditch practises, not to mention Prefects' duties. 

She felt as if she no longer spent enough time with the twins, being cooped up in the library most of her time. With that in mind, Betelgeuse gathered her things and walked out of the magnificent room. The Black marched towards the Gryffindor Tower, finding herself facing the portrait of the bothersome Sir Cadogan.

"Oddsbodkins," Betelgeuse stated.

An enthusiastic murmur welcomed her in the hearty Gryffindor Common Room. She noticed a compact group of people around Harry Potter and immediately recognised the twins, being the tallest among the people present.

Betelgeuse met the welcoming gaze of Fred; his face held a warm smile, and his eyes gleamed at her. The tall russet-haired teen gestured for her to come closer and took her hand with his outstretched one. Betelgeuse grasped his large warm hand and intertwined their fingers, "What's up?" 

Fred grinned, surprised at her unusual colloquialism, forgetting for a moment Betelgeuse had asked him something. He was over the moon. He had truly missed her. While living in the same castle and in the same House, Fred and Betelgeuse had seen very little of each other in recent times. "My serotonin levels," Fred replied, his lips curled upwards. "Also, Harry's got his Firebolt back."