The Empty Chamber (Harry Potter Next Generation Fanfiction)

Chapter Seventeen: Kadence

"It says his name and everything," Kadence ran her pointer finger lightly across the top of the Sword of Gryffindor. "Godric Gryffindor," she said slowly, as if trying to make the name real. "Can you see him? Right now I'm imagining Nearly Headless Nick holding a sword, but the image doesn't really work out."

Louis choked down a laugh. The Hufflepuffs were huddled in a broom cupboard, looking at the Sword of Gryffindor by the light of Ella's wand. Ella watched her friends nervously, but Kadence smiled at her. Whatever craziness the Sword of Gryffindor was, it wasn't something to be ashamed of. It was something Kadence was a bit jealous of, if she was honest. With the ruby encrusted handle and the impossibly clean silver blade, it felt misplaced in a dim closet. It belonged in the hands of a hero, which was, Kadence supposed, the entire point of the Gyffindor house. Why Ella got to be some sort of exception was a mystery.

Kadence hated to leave her friends, but she stood up clumsily nonetheless. "I have to go to Quidditch practice," she said, brushing dust off of her knees.

"With Roxanne?" Ella asked earnestly. Her words weren't bitter, just curious.

"Yeah, with Roxanne," Kadence admitted as she walked to the door. Ella's response was a nod, and so Kadence decided it was acceptable to slip back into the hall, opening the door as little as possible. Once her eyes adjusted to the light, she rushed into the Hufflepuff common room, grabbed her broomstick, and made her way to the Quidditch pitch.

This winter was particularly cold, and over break at least two feet of snow had gathered on the ground. Kadence was at once glad that Quidditch was played entirely in the air. Roxanne wasn't there yet, so Kadence started to fly loops around the pitch to warm up. It was hard to find times to meet when an actual Quidditch team didn't have practice, but Kadence and Roxanne learned that in the winter when the sun set early, hardly any teams practiced after dinner.

Back and forth. Up and down. In tight circles.

Kadence hoped Roxanne wouldn't take much longer. Tomorrow was another Quidditch match for Kadence, and she knew she needed this last minute practice. Just by watching the Gryffindor, Kadence could improve. Roxanne flew like the Northern Lights - rippling, hypnotic, and untouchable. Just as Kadence thought she was at Roxanne's side, able to reach for the practice ball, Roxanne would be gone, disappearing so quickly that she may have Apparated somewhere else when Kadence blinked.

"Kadence!" Roxanne was on the bleachers, climbing onto her broom. Kadence smiled, knowing Roxanne wouldn't see it, but wanting Roxanne to have to come onto the pitch to her. It only took a moment before Roxanne was at her side, and then a moment more and Roxanne was far in front of her. Kadence sped to catch up, and when she did, Roxanne slowed so they could talk.

"Scared, Rye?" Roxanne teased, clearly referring to the Quidditch match the next day.

"You wish." Kadence pelted across the pitch. They raced - not their typical practice protocol, but neither girl seemed to mind. While Roxanne had by far the fastest broom, what Kadence lacked in experiential skill she made up in sheer natural speed, and in the end the girls were evenly matched.

Kadence couldn't remember loving anything as much as she loved this feeling; the feeling of wind and friendship and ecstasy. She felt herself thinking that racing with Roxanne was better than an actual Quidditch match. "Kadence!" Roxanne shouted. "Kadence, look, no hands!" And as Kadence watched, Roxanne lifted her hands from her broom and held them out to her sides, like a tightrope walker.

Kadence lifted one hand from her own broom, slowing down a bit and focusing hard. She could balance now, and so carefully, she pulled off her other hand. "Roxanne!" She shouted. "I did it too, no hands!" But just as she looked over, she saw Roxanne tumbling downwards, only a few feet below her broom, which was still shooting forwards.