Enchanted | James Potter

Chapter 19: The Rogue Beater.

Soon came the first weekend of November meaning the first Quidditch match of the year. Some changes were made in the schedule and the first match was between Gryffindor and Slytherin. 

Much to everybody's surprise, Edward had given up on his seeker position. His place was taken by Regulus Black. The truth was that Edward was too depressed now to play Quidditch. Hecould not play well and he didn't care to. He also knew he could never play against Flora ever again and so he gave up. Since Felix had graduated last year, there was no one to force him to play. 

"Longbottom, Talkalot, shake hands" instructed Madam Hooch and the match began. Maybe it was because the Slytherin's were overconfident, but they weren't as violent as last time. Regulus and Mathias were soaring around the stadium trying to find the snitch. Meanwhile, Flora was doing her best, dodging the bludger and trying to score a goal. Flora had managed to score many points before the time out.

After that, one of the Slytherin beaters was only following Flora, trying to dismount her from her broom. 

Right before Mathias caught the snitch, Flora made a sudden turn to avoid the rogue beater but in the process she lost her balance. "FLORA!" James shouted as he dived towards her but he was too late. Flora hit the ground and she saw a very concerned Potter through her blurred vision before she fainted. 

Flora could hear some voices whispering, but her head was too fuzzy to make any sense of it. Her entire body ached especially her left leg. Her eyes opened slightly and she realised she was in the Hospital Wing. 

"Look she's up" someone said. Everybody turned around. The Gryffindor Quidditch team was there along with all her friends.

"Flora! How are you feeling?" Lily asked, very concerned.

"What happened?" Flora asked, very confused.

"You fell off…about forty feet!" Mathias exclaimed. "James tried to stop you from falling but he was a little late. At Least he saved your head though."

Flora looked at James and he was already looking at her. Before she could do anything else, Frank announced very excitedly that they won the game. He was really happy and Flora laughed along with everybody else. 

Madam Pomfrey came then and kicked everybody out so Flora could have some rest. She saw some chocolates and a few cards on her bedside table. She saw a vial of potion too and picked it up to have a closer look. It had a note tied to it: 

"This is a healing potion. I recently came up with it and it works wonders. Although the taste might be a bit unpleasant. 
Get well soon!

-Edward E. Rosier"

Too much is happening Flora thought. First, James tries to save her during a Quidditch accident and then Edward gives her a healing potion. She was so conflicted about Edward.

She took the potion and went to sleep once again. She was woken the next day by Evanna who came along with her other roommates. They told her a bit about the classes she had missed, then Marlene started telling her about the incident.

"All of us saw you falling from the stands. Lily was screaming her head off"

"I though you were gonna die." Alice said.

"You should have seen James though. He screamed your name and flew towards you. He was first one to see you" Evanna said.

"Yeah! He was very concerned. Even refused to leave the Hospital Wing till you woke up" Lily said with a smile on her face.

"He was holding your hands when you fainted" 

"He was like your knight in shining armour" Lily clapped her hands. They all laughed at her.

"I guess I'll have to thank him." 

"You should. He was so worried about you…. The chocolate frogs you just ate, that was from him." 

"Yeah. Only he changed the name to Remus so you wouldn't throw it away." 

"He still thinks you are angry." Flora wondered if she was still angry. 

Later in the day the four marauders (James was not there) came to visit her. They got her a bunch of candies and silly prank materials so she didn't get bored at night. She was supposed to stay in the Hospital Wing for a week. They talked for a while after Sirius managed to sweet talk Madam Pomfrey into letting them stay for a while.  

James had intentionally not gone with them. He wanted, first to know through his friends, if she was still angry at him. Second, he wanted to visit her alone.

Edward had given her a vial of healing potion everyday and she took it religiously. It helped immensely although she still didn't forgive Edward. She wrote so in her 'thank you' note.

It was the last day in the Hospital Wing and Flora was excited to finally go to her room. She had missed her friends. In the morning, she heard someone's footsteps coming towards the Hospital Wing. Sirius had told her before leaving, the other day, that James wanted to meet her. She didn't reply to him but she was sure that it was James.

She was too tired and did not want to face him so she took the cover up and pretended to sleep. James came in and proceeded towards her bed. She was sleeping. He did not want to wake her up. He brushed a strand of hair away from her face to ger a proper look. She looked peaceful in her sleep. Ever since James had heard about her parents, during the Slug Club dinner, he had wanted to talk to her. He had talked to Mathias and even he didn't know. Apparently she had only told the girls. Marlene then told James and Mathias to not talk about it wth her until she talks first. And so he held himself and stayed away from her.

Now though, she was asleep. He put the chocolate frogs, he had brought for her, on the stand beside her bed and sat on a chair. "Will you ever forgive me?" He whispered. Flora thought she heard a sniffle. Was he crying?

 He stayed there for a while and then left.