salvation - f.weasley

Gryffindor VS Slytherin

steady as she goes - the raconteurs

• • •

The atmosphere in the stands of the Quidditch stadium has never been heavier. Grace, sitting among the Ravenclaws, looks at the Gryffindors, dressed in red from head to toe, literally roaring for their team.

She rolls her eyes at the sight.

She feels Ania nudging her. "Stop G, you do the same when the Harpies play."

"What? Bullshit, I-"

"You want me to pull out the photo of you from the match two years ago? The one where you literally painted on your cheek-"

"Fine, we got it" Grace cuts her off to prevent her from finishing her sentence and she looks around to make sure people were not listening to this story.

Ania gives her a victorious smile and Grace returns her attention to the stands. Each house sings for their team and everyone plays to whoever can shout the loudest. Grace wonders if the mood is normal, due to the first match of the season and always the most anticipated one, Gryffindor against Slytherin, or if it is due to the fact that just a few days ago, quidditch teams were still banned from playing by Umbridge.

Grace remembers the morning when, on her way to the Great Hall, she came across the poster that Filch was nailing to the wall, perched on his ladder. She had rushed to run towards the Gryffindor common room, the password of which she knew thanks to her being HeadGirl, and to go find Wood in his dormitory.

Once she crossed the door, she came face to face with Fred Weasley, coming out of the shower with only a towel to cover his lower body.

She remembers being stuck on his still smoking body, the droplets of water tracing the lines of his muscles, his hair wet. She doesn't know how long she was looking at him without saying anything, but obviously long enough for Fred to point it out to her.

"I'm going to have to ask for money every time you stare at me, Colten," he said half teasingly, half irritated.

Grace turned her face away and crossed her arms. "I'm looking for Wood."

He nodded towards the bathroom before casually placing his towel on his bed before getting dressed.

Grace's eyes widened and she suddenly turned around, her heart racing. "What are you bloody doing?"

"Getting dressed" he replied and she swears she can hear him smile.

"You don't mind, I hope?" he added, clearly playing with her.

Grace had sighed without answering, her feet tapping the floor nervously as she waited for him to get dressed. She heard the sound of fabrics rubbing together. Despite the anger she felt for him, she couldn't help but picture his body behind her and the feeling of her hands on his skin.

Wood, finally coming out of the bathroom, had saved her life. "Colten? What are you bloody doing here?"

After talking with him, she learned that he was too unaware of the ban on all clubs, including quidditch ones, and he became extremely angry.

The following days until today's match, Grace and Oliver spent them harassing the teachers and especially Umbridge, trying to convince them to reinstate the quidditch teams, until Umbridge ends up accepting, particularly reluctantly for the Gryffindor team.

But here they are, Oliver on the field and Grace in the stands, for the most anticipated match of the year.

Roger places his hands on Grace's shoulders, smiling. "Your first season as captain. How do you feel?"