The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 2: Deepening Doubts

Angelina felt terrible.

She looked down at Harry and then stared at her hand, as if it had betrayed her.  Her mouth dropped open but no sound emerged, she could only stare at the boy.

It was the end of their first team practice.  The whole thing went well.  Considering it was their first practice for the year and that they were welcoming a new team mate, it had gone very well.  The team picked up practically where they left off last year, finding their groove swiftly.

Harry was a natural on the broom.  He had plenty of room for improvement of course but he had flown far better than he should have given that he had never knew he could fly on a broom until a few days ago.  He learned the general rules of Quidditch swiftly and unlike most new players with developed bad habits, listened well.

Wood had released the Snitch in practice mode and Harry had managed to catch it, looping around Fred to grab the tiny golden winged ball.  The team had cheered loudly and sincerely.  They were all excited with their new team mate.  None of the Seekers from the last two years had shown such skills despite being much older and experienced than Harry.

Even Harry had been caught up in the excitement.  He had smiled in a way none of the players had seen before.  It was small admittedly, barely showed any teeth, but it was a smile.  It was a smile that had no undercurrent of pain.  It did not look forced.  It looked genuine.

And Angelina had somehow ruined that.

She had bounded up to the boy after they had landed.  She had cried out "Good job Potter!" and clapped him on the shoulder with what she thought was a friendly but enthusiastic pat.

It was like she had Cursed him.

He dropped his broom and spun around.  His knees buckled and he curled up into a ball, arms over his head.  He made himself as small as possible.  "I'm sorry!" he screamed.

Angelina was beyond shocked.  She was confused.  She was horrified.  She stood there frozen, as still as a statue.  She had never imagined that this would be Harry's reaction.  What was worse was the boy's expression.  He looked up at her with pure, undiluted fear.

Angelina knew she was a bit of an intimidating figure.  She was tall, solidly built with what her mother called "wiry muscles".  She had seen other players look at her with apprehension before, when she flew straight at them.  It was the fear of someone knowing someone was coming for them, to take the Quaffle, to score.  If she was being honest, she liked seeing it on the pitch.  She knew people never underestimated her.

To see this boy look up at her with such intense fear made her feel horrible.

The team had stopped when Harry cried out, their eyes flicked from between Harry and Angelina.  Most of the looks were confused and questioning.  One was the resignation one has when they saw an unfortunate truth.

George bounded up, concern with carefully applied merriment on his face.  "Oh Harry!  Guess you're really a part of the team now."

Harry looked up, fear still there but it was slowly becoming caution?  "I am?"

"Oh yeah, you're not a part of the team until you get a real pat on the back from Angelina."  He lowered his voice into an audible conspiratorial whisper.  "You have to forgive her, she doesn't know her own strength sometimes.  She gets very enthusiastic but she means well.  Right Angelina?"

She caught the cue and grinned shakily.  "Yeah!  I mean, sorry if I alarmed or hurt you Potter.  Really didn't mean it."

George winked at Harry.  "You should be honored.  She hasn't patted the back of any Seekers since my brother left years ago.  The others didn't deserve it."