Weasley Twins - A Fate You Can't Escape

Chapter 82 - Birthdays and Breakdowns

*Hazel has a triggered trauma response in this chapter.*

April first arrives, and with it, the twin's birthday.  I have practice, but plan to head to the Burrow for celebrations after.  It feels like I'm April's fool right now though, trying to play quidditch in a downpour. 

I fly pretty low to the ground, trying to figure out where the dang bludger went.  I saw Martin hit it, but with all the rain, I quickly lost sight of it.

"Stupid rain."  I mutter, gripping my broom as tightly as the wet handle would allow.  A particularly strong gust of wind hits me, causing my broom to dip dangerously.  "Keep it together Hazel."

I manage to correct my course, spotting the whizzing amongst the chasers.  I lean back a bit to direct my broom up, when my hand slips on the polished wood.  The handle flings back, smacking my in the face, stunning me a bit.  I fall off the back of the broom, reaching out a hand to grab it.  I manage to grip it with my right arm, saving me from a bad fall, but my shoulder cries out in pain from the force.  I try to climb back up, but my shoulder isn't letting me.

I peer down at the ground below, trying to decide if it is worth it to drop.  It's only about twenty or so feet.  I've fallen plenty further.  Plus, once I'm down, I can use my wand to retrieve my broom.

"Goodbye ankles."  I whisper, letting go of the wood.  There is a terrifying moment of free fall, and then I hit the slippery mud.  My ankle twists, and I face plant into a puddle.  I roll to my back, pulling my wand from my boot.

"Accio broom."  I groan, sopping wet and covered in mud.  My firebolt glides down and lands gently in my waiting hand.  I don't bother getting up, just laying there, in the rain, holding my broom.  After a few minutes  Vivian's whistle blows, calling all the players to the ground.  Since I'm already on the ground, I stay where I am.  The sound of boots squelching in the mod surrounds me as team lands.  

"You good Taylor?"  Vivian's face pokes into view, rain dripping from the tip of her nose.

"I'll be fine.  Probably just a pulled muscle.  Maybe a twisted ankle."  I sigh, still not getting up.

"Practice is over.  You can get out of the mud."  She smirks, crossing her arms.

"In a minute.  I don't have the will to move right now." 

"Alright then.  Have fun with that." 

The rest of the team heads to the locker room, and I lay there for another minute or two.  The rain is cold and my fingers are starting to go numb.  So, with a groan, I clamber to my feet and limp inside.

It's a bit hard showering and changing while watching both my ankle and my shoulder.  Once all the mud is scrubbed from my skin and hair, I put on a skirt and a sweatshirt.  I pull on my knee socks, and use a drying spell on my hair.  It looks a bit rough from all the weather abuse, so I pull it up into a bun.

Before I leave, I grab the two wrapped packages from my locker.  I don't fancy getting wet, so I cast a spell, using my wand as an umbrella.  Once out of the stadiums anti-apparation wards, I send myself to the Burrow.

I let myself in, as it is my home now, and vanish the umbrella charm.

"I'm back!"  I call out on my way up to put my bag away.  It takes quite a few minutes with the state of my ankle.  When I return, I find everyone in the kitchen.

"Happy birthday, Fred.  Happy birthday, George."  I give my "boyfriend" a quick kiss on the cheek, sitting down in the free seat beside him.

"Butterbeer?"  Arthur asks, and I nod gratefully.  I sip the beverage, leaning my head against Fred's shoulder.  I feel him press his lips to the top of my head, and a blush paints my cheeks.  It was such a sweet and simple gesture, but it made me smile.