When you have it all

Chapter 12...

That evening all of Gryffindor house was on tenterhooks as the tension between Alex and Sirius thickened, and the last quidditch practice before the game against Ravenclaw approached. Alex had left the common room early, refusing to wait for the rest of the team to go to the pitch together, seeing as the team included Sirius.

The team made their way towards the pitch, and soon enough they saw a figure zooming around. Sirius huffed, and automatically the rest of the team took a step back, already aware of the violent outbursts of hate against the lady up in the sky, and were careful to not even speak her name nor look her way, as it brought on a series of hexes and curses, and nobody wanted to be the victim, or get caught in the cross-fire for that matter.

Alex flew down as she saw the rest of the team approach. If they hadn’t known about the terrible fight between her and Sirius, nobody would have been able to guess by her appearance and behaviour that it had happened. She, unlike Sirius, seemed as she was every other day. Except, of course, for the fact that she refused to acknowledge Sirius' presence or even come close enough to have to breathe the same air as him.

“Hey guys,” she said brightly. Her tone became pure business like as she turned to James with an expressionless face. “Potter, what’s on the agenda tonight?”

“Er…” James started, at first taken off-guard by her cheeriness, and then by the sudden coldness. “I had thought we should do some exercises separately between the different positions, but considering the circumstances…”

“What circumstances?” Alex asked bluntly.

Sirius scoffed. “Yeah, James, what circumstances? You make it sound like she’s pregnant…’course, I wouldn’t put it past her…”

“If I was, at least you’re not the father,” she shot back, her voice no longer passive, but dark and vicious.

James cleared his throat, “Right, so instead we’ll just all practice together, like a prep match for tomorrow. Let’s go.”

The team kicked off and quickly rose into the air, but Alex stayed behind, as did Sirius. They were both gripping their brooms tightly, and glaring daggers at each other.

“Look, Black, as much as I hate you, I hate to lose even more.”

“For once we agree, Edwards,” Sirius replied.

“So I’ve decided to try and not kill you…while we’re playing,” she spat, and kicked off into the air, followed by Sirius.

The rest of the team was shocked to see them playing so well, and even thought that they may have made up. But their patience with each other seemed to wear thin as the first hour was up. For the millionth time within that first hour, Sirius yelled more criticism and commands to her, and Alex was starting to get fed up. When a wild bludger zoomed towards her, she reflexively ducked, letting it fly right above her. But Sirius, who was right behind her, didn’t have any time to react and it hit him square in the stomach. He doubled over, muttering obscenities. Alex flew by him, a little concerned at the impact. But she didn’t get within 2 feet of him, as the quaffle he was holding hit her right on the side of her head.

“OW!” she yelled. “What the bloody hell was that for?”

“I thought you said you wouldn’t try to kill me.”

“You think I did that on purpose!?”

“Damned right I do!” he yelled back. He noticed her touch her head and slightly wince at the sight of blood on her fingers. “Oh no. You’re bleeding.”

She stared at him, and he noted she looked as evil as an angry veela. She gripped her broom tightly, and flew right into him, causing him to flip around on his broom, barely managing to hold on and not fall to a painful landing. She flew to James, who was already flying towards them, the snitch thrashing about in his hand.