Protégée (George Weasley)

Chapter Twenty

Fred and George talked her through most of the time she had left before the game, leaving her a bit to go look for Florence. The packed crowd unexpectedly made her even more nervous. She didn't think that not having an audience versus having an audience was that much of a difference. Needless to say, she was very wrong, and very anxious.

She was in a haze as Angelina ran one last pep talk through them, the cheering of the crowds as they walked to the center of the field managing to pull her from her trance. The Ravenclaws were looking sharp in their bright blue robes. Florence definitely had a more intimidating vibe about her once she was fully cladded in uniform, her long wavy brown hair pulled up into a ponytail, the sweetness of her expressions wiped, and replaced with a seriously determined one.

She watched as the two captains shook hands in good nature, Madame Hooch letting them step back a few paces from each other before she blew her whistle.

Lisa shot up into the air with Andrew Kirke, now being able to balance herself on the broom, her bat in hand.

Andrew made a couple of gestures with his hands, prompting Lisa to take the left, where Ravenclaw had just taken possession of the Quaffle.

It was definitely harder to play when you're actually trying to hit someone with the bludgers, Lisa thought bitterly as one of her shots misses Roger Davies by more than a foot. She cursed under her breath, before pursuing the closest bludger she could find, which was headed straight towards Alicia. With a little bit more push, she was able to get her broom to speed up, batting the metal ball away in time as Alicia took possession of the Quaffle.

Lisa sent it hurtling towards Florence, who was able to jerk her shoulder back a couple of centimeters, just barely avoiding what could have caused a bad shoulder injury.

Andrew was flying beside her, a determined look set on his face, gesturing for Lisa to take the opposite direction. She nodded, tightening the grip on her bat as she hurtled forward faster, swinging the incoming Quaffle to the direction of a player in blue, cutting them off from their path.

She could hear the cheers from the Gryffindor's side of the stands. Lisa took a moment to soak it all in. Until that moment, she had no understanding as to how her parents had come to love this sport. But now, with the euphoria and the adrenaline coursing through her system, she had never felt so alive in her life.

"Branson, move!" she heard Alicia Spinnet yell as she zipped by, Lisa quickly getting her head back into the game. She swerved around, arriving just in time to bat a bludger towards Jeremy Stretton, who had the Quaffle locked in his grip. The diversion was enough for Angelina to catch up and snatch the ball from the Ravenclaw boy.

"And it's 40-30 in favor of Gryffindor!" Lee Jordan's voice rang through the stadium, along with some excited cheers, "I don't know about you, folks, but this is a pretty intense game. It's a close chase, the Ravenclaws have definitely prepared for this. Not to be a traitor to my own house but Florence, sweetie, you're doing amazing! I'm so proud."

A small smile bloomed on the face of the Ravenclaw captain, as Lisa was an arm's reach away from Florence. She was about to take a shot, speeding out of the bludger zone, "This is for you, Jordan!" she yelled, making the goal that ultimately led to yet another tie.

The teams scored point by point, until it was up to 90-60, in favor of Ravenclaw. Their chasers were slowly losing their energy, this evident as Jeremy Stretton had so easily taken possession of the Quaffle. He was close to getting out of the bludger zone, Lisa thinking fast as she sent a bludger towards the boy, which struck him square on the back. Lisa watched in horror and guilt as Jeremy went limp at an instant, before falling sideways off of his broom.

Roger Davis swooped in to catch him in mid air. Florence called for a time out

The game dragged on for what seemed like forever afterwards. She was tired, and was hoping that Angelina would call for a time out. Lisa was in desperate need of a water break.

"You okay?" Andrew flew beside him, noticing the fatigued look on her face.

"Just fine...but I wouldn't mind if Ginny wrapped this game up soon..."

"Well, just your luck," Andrew chuckled, jerking his head to the direction of the two seekers, who were shoulder to shoulder as they tried reaching for the golden ball.

"And look, bludger in coming. Do the honors, will you?"

Lisa was still shaken by the Jeremy incident, but agreed nonetheless. She got her arms into position as the ball drew nearer and nearer. She swung her bat, he force of the metal ball colliding with it making her jerk back a little. The ball hurtled straight towards Cho Chang, crashing into the back of her broom. This gave Ginny a clear shot to grab the snitch, but instead of celebrating, the sight of Cho crashing into the ground made her feel a sense of guilt.

She watched as her teammates descended to the ground to see if she was okay, the worried look on Florence's face making her even more guilty.

Lisa descended from the sky with Andrew, who tugged at her arm as he dragged her into the celebration.

"Lisa! Merlin you were great!" She swiveled around to meet the Weasley twins, both of them embracing her tightly in excitement. Noel was just as giddy, a proud look on his face, "Seriously, Lis, you kicked arse out there."

"Cho's hurt, though. And Jeremy..." She muttered, a sad look descending on her face.

"Hey, it's okay. It's part of the game." Fred said, patting her on the shoulder. "You did great, kid. You did great. We're gonna have a party after this. Gryffindor comeback. We thought we were toast when Umbridge booted George, Harry and I out of the team."

"I dunno. I still feel pretty bad."

George sighed, "Go talk to Florence. I'm sure she'll say the same thing."

"But.."

"Go, she won't be mad."

She was a bit hesitant in approaching the brunette, who was still in the middle of consoling her teammates. "Florence!" she half-yelled, catching her attention the first time.

"Florence, I, I'm sorry."

Her serious expression gave way to a smile, before she let out a brief chuckle. Florence pulled her in for a hug.

"Don't be sorry, dummy. It's part of the game. You did what you had to do, and you did it good, and I'm so proud of you."

"I..." she pulled away from the hug immediately, looking to the direction where Jeremy was being hoisted in a stretcher, Roger Davis in tow, "I just feel so bad. Is he going to be okay?"

"Jeremy's been through worse. And feeling bad is normal on your first game, just know that there will never be any hard feelings after a match, okay?"

Lisa nodded, "Thanks, Florence." She smiled, however she felt a pang in her chest as she saw her parents from the corner of her eyes. "Excuse me, there's some people I need to see."

Lisa wasted no time to marching up to her parents, who had bright, beaming looks on their faces. Mrs. Branson looked like she had been crying, charging forward to embrace Lisa in a hug, "Darling, you were fantastic. Just fantastic. Your father and I are so proud."

"What are you two doing here? How did you know I had a game?"

"Noel sent us an owl." her father explained. "Lisa, we are so sorry, your mother and I. We've apologized to the twins as well for the incident during Winter break. We wanted to see your first game, sweetie. I hope that was okay."

"Well, no use in saying it's not, since the game is over and you've clearly seen the spectacle."

"We are sorry darling. For everything."

Lisa shrugged, "I don't know what else to say, mum, dad. I'm glad you enjoyed the game." she said curtly, before heading to the direction of the castle.