MATILDA - fred weasley

Chapter 9

Matilda was woken by Angelina at six thirty the next morning for Quidditch training. Matilda had showered her friend with colourful threats and curses before eventually giving in and getting ready for Oliver's ruthless plans.

She tied her hair into a low bun as she, Alicia and Angelina made their way to the Quidditch Pitch and had only just successfully pulled her second sweater over her head by the time they reached the Gryffindor Change Rooms.

"Nice to see you ladies have finally decided to join us," said Wood, turning from the board which he had just drawn up a few new plays. "What do you call this? You're seven minutes late."

Angelina pointed at Matilda, who yawned in response.

"Diggory put up a hell of a fight to stay in her bed," Alicia said, rubbing her arm which Matilda had kicked rather aggressively in protest that morning. "It was traumatic."

Wood glared at Matilda before turning back to the board and launching back into his plans, "Okay – so this is for when we play against Slytherin. You see here? Harry, that's you. You should fly in when Angelina comes along here and throw off any opposing chasers..."

Matilda stepped back and leaned against one of the posts, trying to stay awake after last night's activities–

"Merlin's beard, Tilly..." she whispered to herself. "You say it like that and it sounds like things happened. That would be crazy."

"You sound crazy talking to yourself like a mad woman." Fred shuffled over to stand by her side, his voice just enough to reach the two of them.

Matilda rolled her eyes, "I'm not crazy."

"You sure? I mean, you wouldn't be the first one," Fred said, a smirk playing at his lips, "I tend to have that effect on the ladies."

She ignored him.

It was a gruelling practice, to say the very least. It was nearing midday when Wood finally called them down off their brooms and told them to pack away their gear. Matilda was practically waddling over to the change rooms, her back so sore from twisting and turning for hours on end.

"You right, Til?" Angelina asked, looking back to see Matilda sitting on one of the benches.

Matilda glanced up and smiled at her friend, "Yeah, just catching my breath."

Angelina nodded and followed Alicia into the lockers. Matilda leaned forward, resting her head in her hands, focusing on the ground before her and not the turning of her stomach.

Somebody sat down beside her and she looked up to see Harry, changed out of his Quidditch robes and hair damp.

"Potter," she greeted.

"Diggory," he returned. He handed something out to her and she saw it was a glass of water.

Taking it, she smiled gratefully before bringing the glass to her lips and draining it empty. Harry took the glass once she was done and placed it on the table beside them. They sat in silence for a moment. She could tell he was working up the courage to ask her something.

"Hey, Matilda?"

"Yeah?"

"Dumbledore told me to give this to you." He slid a note out of his pocket and placed it on her lap. "I don't know who it's from or anything, Dumbledore said it was to go straight to you."

Matilda took the note into her hand, "Oh, from Dumbledore?"

"I think it's from one of his contacts," Harry said, scratching his head. "I don't really know for sure. Dumbledore said that if you wanted to write back to the person you should give your letter to him and he will send it."