UNDER THE MOON, Remus Lupin

xxviii.

QUICK QUIDDITCH QUARRELS

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As Alice and the Slytherin quidditch team discussed tomorrow's game, Clint was lying down on the Great Hall floor, staring at the ceiling. Cedric stood over him with his eyebrows furrowed. Clint had been like this for days. For some reason. He would just lay down at the most random of opportunities and wouldn't say anything.

"Clint... what's wrong, mate?"

"I'm contemplating life after Hogwarts. I don't have any goals," he said, still refusing to look directly at Cedric.

Cedric sighed. "Do you know how dirty this floor is? I've literally had sex on it before, get up." He offered his hand to Clint, who took it immediately.

As soon as Clint was up, brushing himself off, he got pushed back a step by Fred Weasley, walking toward his table with frustration. Clint flopped his arms and scoffed. They'd never had much respect for each other. But now that Alice wasn't with Fred, you'd think he'd stop hating Clint so much. Apparently not.

Though Clint didn't fully blame Fred for his attitude today. The Slytherin match was against Gryffindor. Their first game opposing each other. Previously, Slytherin had played Hufflepuff, then Ravenclaw, then Hufflepuff again. And today was the day Slytherin was devising a plan to defeat Gryffindor.

Which Fred clearly wasn't happy about.

He didn't want to play against his ex-girlfriend's team. The girl he still loved so much. Yet at the same time, he hated her so much. Because she left him for obvious reasons: being in love with Remus. Something about playing against her still intrigued him. Before, when they were utterly in love, their games against each other would be filled with such deep, passionate tension that what happened afterward was a time to hold close to your heart. Depending on who's team won the game, they had angry sex either way. Now that was all gone... memories being swept away by the wind of a teacher breezing into the classroom.

Maybe she forgot, but Fred didn't.

"I really hope you can outfly Harry Potter, Adrian. That kid works magic with his broom and the snitch," Alice said, looking Adrian dead in the eyes. She was serious. But he couldn't bear to hold the eye contact, simply because of the fact he had overwhelming feelings for her.

"Pucey can't do shit," Malfoy commented under his breath.

Alice rose her eyebrow at him as everyone fell silent. "And I suppose you think you could do better? You didn't do crap for 3 years straight. That's why you were replaced."

"Like you're one to talk!" He spat.

"What's that mean?" Zephyr butted in, jaw clenched at Malfoy.

Malfoy laughed silently, an eerie grin being drawn to his face. He leaned into the group, staring at Alice. "The only reason you got the position of Captain was because you fucked Flint in the locker room."

"You dirty fucking-," Alice lunged at him, but was held back by Adrian. His hands gripped her arms tightly and he pressed her against his chest.

Fortunately, Zephyr was not held back. He swung his fist at Malfoy's jaw, sending him stumbling several feet away. But he didn't stop there, Zephyr clambered over him, non-stop swinging. Until his knuckles were bloody and bruised. Until Malfoy was in no position to play later. Why had no one stopped him? Malfoy deserved it. And you couldn't stop Zephyr when he was mad. "Go tell your daddy, you fucking cunt."

He turned to Alice and everyone else in the Great Hall who was staring at him. "Expel me, see if I give a fuck. Are you alright, Alice?"

She pushed Adrian off and hugged Zephyr. He rubbed her lower back and grunted. "You shouldn't have done that."