The Snow Fox

Rogue Bludger

Quidditch season finally dawned in November and Willow was beside herself with excitement for Hufflepuff tryouts. Her house was the last one to have tryouts which would take place after the Gryffindor-Slytherin game that Saturday. Venus - being a good friend - allowed her friend to reluctantly drag her out of the library to attend the game.
It was a bland game, although there was a concerning detail that made Venus put her book down to observe closer.
“Will, do bludgers normally only target one player?”
“What no they’re rogue as it comes, I remember one time-”
“THEN WHY IS THAT ONE FOLLOWING HARRY?!” she cried, running quickly to the bleacher stairs. The enchanted ball had nearly decapitated the Gryffindor Seeker and rebounded back to hit him again.
Venus sprinted as fast as her legs would allow her to, wishing she could apparate. Willow was at her heels by the time she reached the pitch and Harry was on the ground about to be slammed by the bludger.
“BOMBARDA GLACIA!” She cried, waving her wand, causing the bludger to explode into a pile of snow that began to trickle onto Harry. Her hair turned white as snow when she cast the spell, although she didn’t bother to notice as she caught her breath from running. Quickly, the boy was swarmed with students and teachers, and to Venus’ horror the one helping him was Lockheart. She looked around for the Slytherin Seeker, whom the other boy had been neck and neck with for the snitch. The ravenette saw him hunched over on the ground, clutching his knees.
Without another thought she ran towards him, rolling him over when she reached the blonde.
“Ice Princess? What are you-”
“Shut up and stay still.” Venus commanded, feeling her way around the boy’s knees. “Torn ACL and a fracture. Do your ribs hurt?”
“Everything hurts.” He replied sheepishly.
“Be serious now your pelvic bone might be forcing your ribs to crush your lungs.”
“No.”
“Ok. I need you to stay still ok?”
“Yes ma’am.” Draco replied without thinking. He stared at the girl as she muttered healing spells and incantations. Her hair was slowly returning to it’s black color, white streaks fading away. He reached out to play with a loose strand when she bat his hand away.
“I said don’t move.”
“Sorry.”
She sighed as she blew the strand away from her field of sight and waved her arm for someone to come take the boy to Madam Pomfrey. Draco looked down and saw his once distorted looking legs, appear to be healed. He pushed up off the ground but was quickly tugged down by Venus.
“Don’t move! Geez do you ever listen?!”
“Only if it’s you.” He teased. Venus felt her face heat up but it quickly cooled once Snape arrived to take his student to the infirmary. It was clear whenever the Slytherin Head of House walked anywhere, those near him could only be Slytherin, or else be subject to an unprovoked detention. However, there was Venus Snow, walked besides the Potion Master as he carried Draco towards the infirmary.
No words were spoken until they arrived and Madam Pomfrey broke the silence. She had just finished tending to Harry who was on the cot across the room, presumably regrowing bones.
“What did you do?” she asked her second year prodigy. “Prognosis?”
“Fracture and torn ACL, I mended the ligament together again so it’ll re stretch over time as he flexes and for the fracture I refused the bone since it was only a minor crack.”
The nurse looked at her and then at her patient, feeling around his knees and ribs.
“Do your ribs hurt?” she asked him and Draco looked at the ravenette girl who asked him the same question earlier.
“No. She asked me that too.” he added, aware to make the girl’s skills known.
“Everything looks together and on the mend, well done Ms.Snow, 20 points to Ravenclaw, I am very proud of you.”
Venus beamed at the woman’s compliment and exited with Draco towards the Great Hall. They walked in silence, the incident being the first they had spoken since the words they had exchanged about Hermione.
The boy looked at her as they reached the hall and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Listen Venus I-”
“OH DRAKEY!” a shrill voice echoed from the corridor behind the couple, cutting him off.
Pansy Parkinson slyly ran up to the boy and grasped his arm tightly.
“I’m so glad your okay sweetness, I saw what happened, I know that horrid Potter deserved to be squished by that bludger and-” Her eyes met Venus’ who was standing beside Draco. “What are you doing here? Is she bothering you Drakey? I could always hex her and her fr-
“Don’t mind me, I was just leaving.” Venus said curtly, spinning on her heel and running to the Ravenclaw tower.
Draco began to go after her but was dragged back by the fierce grip of the girl clinging onto him. Her nails digging into his robes.
Venus spent that night crying into her pillow, and reading an old Latin book her mother had sent through Crystal.