Snitches and Quaffles

Untitled Part 12

WC:1,310

*Unbetaed

It was now the dreaded Valentine's Day. She was walking to The Three Broomsticks with Joanna. She reached the pub but her date was nowhere to be seen. She hoped he wasn't coming.

"Epstein, over here!" Alastair yelled.

She turned towards him to discover that he was standing under the awning of Madame Puddifoot's. She gulped she hadn't been there since last Valentine's Day with her beloved Cedric. Joanna patted her back encouragingly. She strode over to the tea house and walked in the tea house with her date and his friends. The group sat down.

"Do you like the decor?" he asked, awkwardly.

Lisel just nodded silently. She didn't feel like talking. Alastair seemed nice enough but she wasn't really ready. She still missed Cedric terribly.

"Epstein?" Alastair asked.

She sniffled softly and said. "I'm sorry, I can't do this."

Alastair just shrugged. Lisel calmly got up and walked of the tea house. The minute she walked out she started to cry. The tears blurred her vision as she walked to a snow-covered bench.

"Lisel?" a familiar voice asked.

She looked up to see the blurred features of Alfons. What was he doing here? He was supposed to be at Quidditch with Viktor.

"Who made you cry?"

Lisel shook her head not wanting him to see her this way as she made her way towards the bench with Alfons following her like a lost puppy.

"What made you cry?" Alfons asked, carefully.

Lisel explained everything so Alfie understood. He wasn't really good with crying girls but it hurt to see her like this.

"Tell me something to cheer me up."

Alfie thought for a moment and began telling her a funny story. She began giggling madly and Alfie smiled.

"What are you doing here, I thought you had Quidditch?"

Alfie sighed and said. "You do remember that I'm only a reserve keeper. The team doesn't need me today."

"I'm sure you're talented, Alfie. Viktor tells me that you are at least."

"That's easy for the world-renowned seeker to say. I mean he's my best friend and everything but you don't understand what's it like."

"You do remember that I'm his cousin, right," Lisel chuckled.

"Oh, right."

"I'll admit that I'm thankful that we don't share a last name, but it wasn't necessarily always that way. I was stupid enough to brag about him when he first got on the team since I was so proud of him. Mainly boys would use me to get tickets to his matches."

Alfie nodded and said. "I know how that it is, even at school I was second best to him. That's why I threw myself into my studies. I became quite good at Herbology."

"I never pictured you as a plant lover," Lisel said, glancing at Alfons.

Though, now that he mentioned it she could see him on his knees digging out dead plants and carrying multiple pots with those finely toned arms. Get your mind out of the gutter, Lisel. He's your cousin's best friend and besides your heart still belongs to Cedric. Doesn't it?

"Lisel?" he asked.

"Oh, what's up?"

"I asked you a question," he said, grinning at her.