Painful Redemption | T. R.

Chapter Twelve

Eric Wildsmith

The stadium exploded with colours, shouts of joy, chants. The Slytherin Quidditch team had just won their match against the Ravenclaw team, with a crushing score that proved the results of days of training dictated by Captain Leon Flint, who was running towards his teammates in the middle of the pitch with open arms, who were coming down from their brooms with triumphant smiles on their faces.

Before the match they had taken the time to paint their faces with green and white paint, prepare banners, confetti, as if they were already sure they would win, without a shadow of a doubt. That their team was strong was now a given. But Leon always said that nothing should be taken for granted and that they should train every day as if it were a matter of life and death.

However, despite the fact that no one could really stand to hear him blather on about Quidditch from morning to night, his talking and shouting had clearly received excellent results, and there was nothing more satisfying at that moment.

Anastasia, along with everyone else, headed for the changing rooms so they could wait for Penelope to come out and celebrate the great triumph with her. In the end, although it was only a game, it was still everyone's favourite pastime. In one way or another, it brought them together, and that bit of competition made it all worthwhile.

Tiernan admitted, with a very sweet and slight blush on his face, that he had promised Penelope that he would wait for her outside the changing room at the end of the game, whatever the final result.

Marcus and Xavier hadn't even reserved the pleasure of starting to laugh and whistle, teasing the boy about the new feelings that simply made him different in the eyes of everyone. Not in a bad way, clearly. Although, the others simply cared that their friends were okay. But it was still a good reason for them to be able to annoy him, and they would take advantage of every excuse and opportunity to do what they were best at with the least amount of effort necessary.

Orion had tried to defend Tiernan, who was awkwardly scratching the back of his head in an attempt to hide his blush. "Shut up, you morons," he had said, letting an arm slide around his girlfriend's neck. Walburga had rolled her eyes. "You only talk like that because at your age you have never even touched a woman."

"Huh?!" they both replied with confusion and embarrassment, their eyes going wide. Anastasia was watching them with a smile on her lips, because they looked like children. "Inform yourself better. We have made some achievements in this sad school. We are full of maidens."

"Those who don't even know your name don't count."

"Oi! Zip up your mouth!" Marcus had replied through gritted teeth. "Let's make a bet."

"Oh dear. Do you really want to bet on something so childish?", Anastasia felt compelled to intrude on their bickering, shaking her head dismissively. "You don't need to prove your charm. We're all sure you have every single girl in the school at your feet...", she had then finished in a clearly ironic tone.