The Dark Lords Daughter 2: Slytherins Heir *completed*

Rough Bludger

For four days I limped around school looking like Igor, with my swollen and cut face. I got used to the stares and waking up each morning to find my eye half closed. My teachers showed sympathy, but I carried on in my lessons  and caught up with everything I had fallen behind with, meaning I was much less stressed. The training session were still hard, but limited to one a day. I found it difficult with my limited vision. Trying to focus on the Quaffle and dodge bludgers and other teammates was a nightmare. Fred and George joined me quite often and took to staying by my side. So that if any bludger headed my way and I couldn't see it, they could quickly whack it away, with them being Beaters. Or could yell at me to turn to avoid a collision. I was very thankful, but as my full sight began to come back, Oliver ordered them to take a back seat, claiming that they couldn't be with me the entire time during the game. So then I was back in my own and still without my full peripheral vision. Quite a few times I had had narrow misses and would be knocked, but I had never fallen off my broom. Touch wood! Hopefully I wouldn't in the match either.

    The day arrived and I couldn't help but feel nervous. I was pleased however to find most of the swelling around my eye had gone down and all that remained were scabs and bruises. I tried to remain calm as I made my way to the barn. Grace had stayed out in the field last night, so I had nothing I needed to do in there. I simply needed to soothe my fraying nerves. I opened the door at the back of the stable and the big black and white mare wandered in out of curiosity. I smiled and patted her head. I walked into the storeroom and fished out my grooming kit and a feed bucket. I added some chaff and carrots that Professor Sprout had given me. She had been extremely proud of herself for growing "Muggle" plants and gifted them to me. I walked out and let myself into the stable. Setting the bucket on the floor and allowing Gracie to eat her breakfast. I began to brush out her thickening coat, the days were growing shorter and the air was cool, despite the sunshine. I soon fell into a relaxing rhythm. Brush, brush, brush, pause, brush, brush, brush. I sighed as I worked forgetting my troubles and worries. Time passed quickly and before I knew it the barn door swung open and Harry emerged, wearing full Quidditch uniform. Over his arm folded was another set smaller with added arm and leg protectors. I could see on the back it had the name "Lockheart" printed in gold lettering. His emerald eyes met mine and he smiled.

"I knew you would be here." He greeted a kind smiled pulled at his lips.

"Sorry, I must have lost track of time." I sighed contently and replaced the brushes into their box and removed that an the empty bucket from the stable. I stood parallel to Harry and let out an anxious breath.

"Those for me?" I nodded to the uniform in his grasp and he jumped an held it out for me.

"Yes! Yes...it is." I giggled at his eager answer and took the clothing from him. We stood in an awkward silence for a few moments, I knew that there was something else he wanted to say.

"Harry?" I asked and that seemed to be the trigger for him to start talking.

"Thank you!" He blurted out, taking me aback.

"I-I mean I know it's not my place to say, but...thank you Anna. For agreeing to do this." I smiled and nodded, accepting his grateful words. However he caught me off guard with what he did next. Taking two long strides he came chest to cheat with me an wrapped his arms around my showers in a tight and desperate hug. I resisted for a moment baffled by his sudden show of emotion, but gave in and returned his embrace. We stayed like this for a few seconds when a cleared throat caught our attention ad I pulled away. Glancing to the door I gasped. Oliver stood, looking down at the floor, his whole body giving off a dejected look. His shoulders slumped and head hung.

"We need to go to the pitch." He said sullenly. Harry nodded, before turning back to me.

"You need to get changed." His voice was soft and reassuring and I simply whispered an "okay" and wandered in a daze to the storeroom. I changed quickly and when I reemerged Harry had gone but the Gryffindor captain remained. He stood leaning against the doorframe. As I neared him, he turned and walked out of the barn, without a word. We walked in silence to the wooden bridge leading to the Quidditch arena. I had to jog to keep up with his long strided steps and I was getting frustrated as my leg began to ache. It still wasn't 100% after I broke it last year. As we reached the start of the bridge, I reached breaking point.