Amelia Merlin

Part Eighteen: Quidditch Match against Hufflepuff

It was the day of the big Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff match. And Amelia had endured Cedrics constant shouting in the corridors, telling her to support Hufflepuff. Although she really didn't mind him talking to her at all. She quite liked it actually.

Oliver walked past her in the Great Hall and did a double take back so he could talk to her. Leaning in he said, "Hey there, Merlin. Just wanted you to know, Hufflepuff is going to win today. Your team sucks."

"Our quidditch team is literally the best-" she started to say but Oliver shook his head.

"Oh I wasn't talking about quidditch." he looked shocked. "No, no, no. I am talking about the first ever annual Nine Quaffle Juggling Tournament that will be taking place this afternoon. I haven't even heard of a quidditch match. I literally have no idea what that is."

Amelia laughed. "Oh really? Well in that case I must admit, I think Hufflepuff might have the upper hand in the Juggling Tournament."

"Thank you, thank you." he bowed slightly and standing up, he spread his arms. "That's all I needed to hear." Oliver chuckled to himself and walked away leaving Amelia trying to stifle her giggles.

"I hope we kick their ass into next week," Seamus said a little darkly.

Lavender giggled, "It's only Quidditch, no need to get so bent about it,"

Immediately, all the boys, (including Amelia) dropped their forks and knives, Ron spat out his drink, and they all started yelling at her.

"Only Quidditch?"

"That is blasphemy and I will not have it!" Seamus banged his fist like a gavel.

"You don't understand!"

"Please get some education then you can speak,"

"Never say that again!"

"I will cut you,"

Lavender looked quite taken aback and scooted slightly away from them. "Sorry," she mumbled and averted her eyes from the angry mob she had stirred up.

"Girls," Ron shook his head knowingly. Amelia frowned and poked him with her fork, a little too forcefully.

"Don't be a pig Ronald!" She scolded and he opened his mouth to retort, but a look from Amelia silenced him.

"Hey Merlin," a voice like velvet sounded from behind her. She turned to see Cedric Diggory.

Lord have mercy. She though to herself.

"Hello there!" She tried to keep a straight face, but the smile brewing underneath, forced its way to the surface, like Cedric's presence was a magnet for happiness.

"Are you going to cheer me on this game?" His crooked grin made it nearly impossible for Amelia to refuse. Nearly.

"I'm afraid I can't! Gotta stick with my house," she lowered her voice so he had to lean in to listen.  "And they're going to destroy you," she finished with a sweet smile.

"Well can you at least wish me good luck?"

Amelia pretended to consider the matter very carefully, "yes I think I can wish you good luck."

"So?" Cedric prodded.

Amelia laughed, "I said I can! I didn't say I would,"

"Amelia Merlin! What are you doing to me? Making me totally mental!" He feigned exasperation. The gryffindors sitting around her were all oddly quiet and it was fairly obvious they were listening in. Dean had even lost so much attention, he was trying to cut his porridge.

"I happen to like mental people!" Amelia laughed gesturing to her friends around her causing Cedric to stifle a laugh.

"Well then, next time you see me, I'll be totally bonkers,"

"Oh please Diggory, you're already there!" She scoffed.

"Yeah? Why's that?"  Now he was the one suppressing a grin.

"Because you think you have a hope at beating Gryffindor," Cedric really laughed at that one.

"Alright Merlin, you got me there. I guess I'm totally mad. But as long as you like it, I'm alright," Amelia felt her heart flutter at those words.

"You better get ready for the match," she said, glancing at his watch.

"Right! Thanks!" He spun around and walked quickly.

"Good luck!" She called after him, and the look on Cedric Diggorys face could not have been brighter. He walked a little taller after that. And when he was out of earshot, the girls immediately grabbed Amelia and commenced squealing.

"He is so in love with you!" Lavender was bouncing up and down while Parvati sighed dramatically.

"Why can't I have one of those!" She whispered and Amelia rolled her eyes.

"Oh please!" She started cutting into her sausage. "Cedric is older than me, hotter than me, cooler than me and way more talented! He'd never go for me! Anyways we're just friends!"

Dean, Seamus, Ron and Neville all choked on their food slightly. Amelia narrowed her eyes at them, "What?"

"He definitely likes  you," Dean proceeded cautiously.

"You're making that up," she dismissed quickly. She really would love if Cedric liked her but there was just no possibility of that being true.

Ron raised his eyebrows, "are you actually stupid?"

"Yeah I think I am actually!" Amelia replied sarcastically.

"We better head down to the pitch if we want to get there on time!" Lavender piped in. So the Gryffindor gang got all their costs and scarves together. It was late January so it was still cold out.

They made their way down to the pitch. Throwing snowballs and chasing each other as they went. They met up with some of the Hufflepuff first years on the way and Amelia pegged Oliver in the back of the head so hard he stumbled. She had to question why he wasn't at the juggling match but much to his dismay, Oliver claimed it had been cancelled due to an over abundance of interest. When they arrived, they were all soaking wet and freezing cold but no one cared because the game was about to begin. Amelia sat beside Seamus and Ron because the three of them loved Quidditch the most.

"Go Fred and George!" She cheered on her best friends as they hurtled bludgers all over the pitch. The match was thrilling and Harry ended up catching the snitch after about an hour. They Gryffindor house charged the field to greet their winning team with shouts and congratulations. Amelia felt her heart pound when she talked to Oliver Wood and she was sure her face had never been so red. She laughed as Fred hugged her and spun her around.

"You were amazing out there!" She shouted over all the yelling.

"Of course I was!" Fred replied, as though this was totally obvious. They all made their way back to the common room and the celebrations lasted all night. Amelia went to bed feeling very happy with the day.

Unfortunately her sleep was very different. She had the same dream about her father to torturing her. Only this time, he had a long silvery beard.

She couldn't manage to wake herself up, something was keeping her in this terrible nightmare. And Amelia was forced to live the entire thing. Only after it was over,  was she able to wake. When she did, Amelia's palms were bleeding again and so was the inside of her cheek that she had obviously bitten. Her bed sheets were tangled around her and soaked in sweat. Her breath was ragged and shallow.

"Aperire animo" she whispered fervently until she finally calmed down. Then Amelia prayed to any god she could think of, please make the dreams go away.