Forever... Always

Year 3 - Gryffindor vs. Slytherin

I adore the fact that the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin matches are almost always the first in the quidditch season. This match always has the most tension and it sets the mood for the entire season. Cedric and I got up earlier than usual to make sure we'd be able to wish Fred and George luck before their match. Lately, they haven't stopped talking about how they'll be unstoppable this season because Harry is their Seeker. I don't doubt that Harry is excellent on a broom. After all, he's the youngest player in about a century. I really can't wait to see what he's got.
I really wanted to wear a skirt, despite the fact that it is the beginning of November and it will be chilly out. I know my nylons won't do much, but at least they act as a small layer from the wind. I went to grab my jumper from Aunt Molly because that will keep me warm. When I lifted the jumper up out of my trunk, a large yellow G stared back at me. I'd forgotten to exchange jumpers with Georgie. I put it on anyway and tucked a bit of it into the front of my skirt. I quickly braided my hair and left my dorm to meet Cedric in the common room.
We got to the Great Hall for breakfast as Slytherin and Gryffindor teams were leaving. I bumped into George, winked at him and slipped a note into his pocket, just as he'd done last year.
'Jelly bean,
Tell Freddie this as well: The best of luck to the both of you. Please crush Slytherin, not only for the win or for Gryffindor, but for Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw as well. Maybe you could hit Sage with a Bludger for me.
This part is just for you Georgie: Thank you, for everything Jelly bean. I have no clue if you feel this way as well, but despite this feeling that we're drifting apart a little, you've assured me that you're still there. I get anxious and lonely when we're apart, which might actually make our time together even better. I'm sorry this was sappy, especially before a match, I just felt like I needed to get it off my chest. Either way, I'll be cheering for you in the stands today. Have fun and do your best.
                                    -Winnie :P'
Cedric and I ate fairly quickly and took a piece or two of bacon for our walk to the pitch. We arrived just as the two teams were going into their changing rooms. We saw Hermoine and Ron talking with Harry, so we figured it'd be alright to call Fred and George out for a moment.
"I can get them." Harry told us.
I turned to Hermione and Ron together and I just couldn't stop myself from asking about them.
"Didn't you two dislike each other?" I asked curiously.
"I suppose that after an event like what happened on Halloween, you just can't ignore or dislike each other." Hermoine said, turning to Ron looking a little embarrassed.
"What happened? If I can ask, that is." Cedric said. "The rumors become rather odd once they get to our table."
"Harry and I saved Hermione from the troll." Ron said pridefully.
"Harry did most of the work and I took the blame for it all." Hermione corrected.
"We've arrived." Fred said, appearing from the change room and bowing.
I rolled my eyes at his comment and giggled.
"Good luck you two." Cedric told them, giving each a fist bump.
"Winnie, you're wearing my jumper?" Georgie asked with a grin.
"Well, you'd never given mine back and besides, I'm cheering for you so I basically have my own fan apparel." I joked.
"I guess I'll have to wear your jumper at your matches then." Georgie teased.
Wood called the boys back in and Cedric and I went to get a good seat in the stands. It seemed that the match was just about to start when our team showed up. Marvolo sat on Cedric's other side, Linden sat next to me and Vale, Lora and Thornton sat right behind us. As soon as the game started, cheers began. Each of us couldn't help but watch those on the pitch who were playing in the same position that we do. There were little exceptions, like Cedric and I watching George and Fred and of course, people couldn't help but watch Harry. I was watching Harry diligently, I mean, I'd have to face him eventually. I noticed that something odd was going on.
"What in the world? What is he doing?" I said louder than I'd expected.
Everyone around me turned their attention to Harry.
"His broom!" Vale exclaimed.
"Someone's jinxed it!" Marvolo added.
"Dirty Slytherins!" Linden said snarkily.
"Doesn't seem like a student is doing it." Thornton proclaimed.
"Harry, get back on the broom!" Cedric said in a loud whisper.
"Look! Snape's on fire!" Lora exclaimed, pointing towards the stands across the pitch.
"Harry's getting back on his broom!" I added, diverting everyone's attention back to Harry.
Harry obviously caught sight of the snitch because he bolted out of nowhere after something. I could easily use a Wronski Feint on him. Harry's very light on his broom, as am I, but I have a little more weight to me. He's agile, until he gets too close to another player. I started to get worried when both him and the Slytherin Seeker doove after the snitch. They got lower, lower, lower... then the Slytherin Seeker pulled up with Harry pulling up only a moment or two later. Harry was following the snitch closely near the bottom of the pitch. He shakily stood on his broom... then he basically face planted into the pitch. I couldn't tell if he'd caught the snitch or not. Our team stood up, trying to get a closer view as Harry started coughing. Something was caught in his throat, could it be...? Just then, this kid coughed up the snitch. I stood there silently unable to comprehend that he'd caught the snitch, in his mouth no less.
"I guess you do what you need to do to win." Cedric said, turning to me.
I nodded and looked for George on the pitch. Somehow he saw me looking and he gave me a hand signal to meet him outside the change room.
We cleared the stands. I told Cedric I'd met him in the common room later and headed towards the Gryffindor change room. Their team came out soon after I arrived and George came skipping over to me.
"I know you just won, but what's with the skipping?" I teased.
"Look over at Cassowary. She won't be bothering you again." He said, chuckling.
"Got her good George." Fred said, patting him on the back.
I turned to the Slytherin team, there in their mists, Sage had an ice pack on her eye. Draguar was blabbing away to her, she removed the ice pack and revealed a massive blue and purple bruised eye.
"When did you hit her with a Bludger?! I was only joking, you know!"
"Aw, you missed it?" Fred said, ignoring that I'd been joking about the whole thing.
"It was a partial accident, ok? It happened while Harry was falling off his broom. I didn't mean for it to hit her in the face." George said apologetically.
"You know what, serves her right. I don't agree with how you went about this because violence is a last resort, but she did deserve it. It was a partial accident, yes? Let's call it karma." I told them.
"See, I knew you'd come around darling." Georgie said, turning red and giving me a kiss on the cheek.
"Yeah, uh- I should head back." I said anxiously. "I'll see you guys around. Enjoy the celebration."
I left, completely red. Georgie kissed me on the cheek. My mom had been right, Georgie fancies me. He called me darling and kissed me, on the cheek, but still. He was blushing a ton too. He'd teased me about wearing his jumper and told me he'd wear mine at my matches.
I got back to the common room and just dropped myself on a couch that Cedric was sitting on. Amber and Ash came over quickly. They all begged me to tell them what had happened because I was still bright red. This caught Vale, Lora, Thornton and Linden's attention as well.
"I'm pretty sure someone fancies me. I can't tell you who because I don't want things to get weird." I said sitting up properly finally.
"My advice kid, don't let it get to your head. Be careful, they could change in an instant. Don't put your heart on the line yet. You're still so young Rayne. Wouldn't want to see you get hurt." Marvolo said and then disappeared into the boys dorms.
"Are we sure he's ok?" Thornton asked.
"Of course he's not. He really loved Jen, with all of him. She tore him up." Vale said sadly.
"It's ok Vale, he'll turn to you eventually." Lora said and then covered her mouth with her hands, realizing that she wasn't supposed to say that.
"Vale, you fancy Marvolo?" Linden asked.
"For how long?" I asked.
"It's no secret now sugars. Yes, I fancy Marvolo. I have for a long time, probably since my third or fourth year."
"Three to four years? Bloody hell Vale!" Thornton said. "Why haven't you said anything?"
"I've tried to make moves and none have worked. Once he got with Jen, I realized I wasn't tough enough for his taste in girls." She said, turning to look at the boys dorm entrance. "Either way, it's getting late, we need to head to bed. Goodnight sugars."
I feel bad for both of them. Maybe I shouldn't let myself fall. It just doesn't seem worth it. Then again, Thornton and Lora are together and have been happy for seven months now. I'll think about it later on.