The Snow Fox

The Fall

Venus was struggling to be calm. Her mental health had suffered too much the last few weeks and it was getting even more difficult for her to sleep. 2am hit and she sighed, staring at her starry ceiling. He reluctantly rose and crochet under her bed, taking out a box. She removed the top and a pair of pink pointe shoes rested inside. Her fingers grew cold as she grazed the ribbon with them. She closed her eyes at the memory that came back to her with the shoes. Dancing with her mother, she was happy. Then...her aunt visited, and gave her family the news. She cringed at the thought, but shook it out of her mind. She would dance again.

Venus began to lace up the shoes, like she had again years ago. She tested the support of her ankles, making sure she wasn't going to be unstable. Granted she was going to be rusty, not to mention sore, but as long as she didn't pop her ankle she'd be fine. She picked up her wand from her nightstand and waved it towards a small music box she had on her shelf. It began to play as she began to dance.

The music pulled her to do her basic steps and even more intermediate ones, coaxing her to dance until she was out of breath. She layed on her bed as the music slowed to an end and drifted off to sleep.

The next quidditch game fast approached with Hufflepuff and Gryffindor facing off. Willow was determined to make this a winning game and spent most of her time training on the field. Venus and Ethan as supportive friends opted to move their studying to the quidditch field. By now she had told her two friends about her class schedule and the time turner because they noticed how she would appear and disappear only to walk into a room again moments later. They would find it amusing when she would pop in and out only to pick up a conversation immediately where it was left off. They were also excited when she told them she had started dancing ballet again. Willow was over the moon about new wardrobe options and Ethan was simply happy she was overcoming something for a passion.

Game day was here and Venus was excited to see her friends face off on the field. Statistically speaking Gryffindor had a higher chance of winning, but she had shared each player's weaknesses with Willow in hopes she would prepare accordingly. It was a less than ideal day for the game as a rapid thunderstorm struck the pitch and was pouring down onto the onlookers and players like a wave. It didn't help that whenever anyone tried to open an umbrella it would break or fly away, making it dangerous for the players to fly near the stands. Not to mention, the poor Seekers that had to try and find a small flying ball in the weather.

Venus tightened the grip of her poncho, trying to keep herself covered as much as possible. A nice thing about being the current black sheep of Hogwarts, was that she got a partially empty space at Quidditch games because people didn't want to be near her. Ethan was by her side cheering for his House and best friend, just because he wore red didn't mean he couldn't support a member of the other team.

They watched as the game began and the players played under the severe weather. Everyone's breath caught in their throat when the two Seekers flew into the air battling for the snitch. A loud thunder strike broke through the air and everyone watched as Cedric Diggory, the Hufflepuff seeker, was electrocuted by a bolt of lightning, throwing him back. HIs teammate helped him down onto the field but Harry drove forward towards the snitch. Venus kneaded her hands together when she saw a dementor begin to chase after him, and another, and another. Three dementors surrounded him, beginning to drain his joy, the boy struggling to keep flying. Until he didn't anymore. He fell.

"HARRY!" she cried, feeling her blood pump through her rapidly as she watched the falling boy. She felt her hands grow colder than they ever had before and watched her hair turn white as snow in her periferal. Her mind went blank and the next thing she knew she was in the infirmary with Willow and Ethan by her side.