Enchanted By The Thought

TWENTY TWO: UH WHAT

That's the thing about pain. It demands to be felt.

Beth mounted her broom, glaring at the Slytherins. Harry shook hands with the captain before the game and she could sense the readiness in her brother; he was prepared to win. She knew the whole team was ready to win, including she.

Madam Hooch blew her whistle and everybody kicked off the ground. Urquhart immediately took the quaffle and sped down to the hoop, his teammates guarding him. Beth desperately chased him, urging her firebolt to go faster. He heaved it at one of the hoops but Ron blocked it, his eyes narrowed. He tossed it to Beth, who held it under her arm as she did a hair-pin twist and pelted it to Dean, who caught it effortlessly with one hand.

One of the Slytherin beaters smacked a Bludger at Beth, angry about the great pass. Her heart was in her throat as she dove for the ground to shake him off her tail. She pulled her handle up at the last second and returned to the middle of the commotion, her eyes searching. 

Ginny waved her hand and Dean chucked the quaffle at her as Beth moved to intercept one of the Slytherin Chasers. Beth zoomed side by side with Ginny, her chin almost touching her handle, protecting her friend from any possible attacks. Dean joined the two and together, they fought off the Slytherins, passing the ball between the three as they maneuvered around them. Dean and Beth blocked a Slytherin chaser from ramming into their fellow chaser and Ginny scored.

Half and hour had passed and Gryffndor lead sixty to zero. Beth's eyes were wild with glee; she lived in these moments. Dean had managed to score and according to Harry, Beth's main focus was to pass to the others and block any attack from the opposite team. And in her opinion, she was doing an excellent job.

Ginny was being cornered while she had the Quaffle and Peakes smacked a bludger at the Slytherin Chasers and they swerved to avoid it, cursing loudly. Beth took the opportunity to zoom in from below.

Ginny knew this move and she dropped the quaffle. The Slytherin Chasers paused, confused at her tactic. Beth heard a few Gryffindors shout angrily, not knowing what their player was doing.  Beth shot out from under them, the Quaffle snuggled safely in her arms, and down the pitch to the other side. "And Potter has the quaffle. Excellent move she made back there... like Weasley knew what she was doing. Oh! And here comes Urquhart. He looks mad. He's going to hit-"

That's all the warning Beth needed. She twisted, coaxing her Firebolt to spin into the air.

Urquhart barreled past where Beth was, his lips drawn in a snarl. She narrowed her eyes and pressed forward. She glanced around, looking for Ginny to pass to but she was alone. A glance over her shoulder told her that Dean and Ginny were busy trying to get away from the Slytherin Beaters, who were cornering them with the bludgers. "Help them!" She shouted to their own Beaters and Croote gave a short nod, diving past her. He almost collided with one of the Beaters and it broke their defense. Ginny broke free, with the rest of the Slytherins hot on their trail. Beth tossed the Quaffle to Dean, who threw it to Ginny. She caught it but she was soon surrounded; the Quaffle was back in Beth's hands. Beth's eyes fixed on the top hoop and she dove for it, pelting the Quaffle to it.  Too late, the Keeper missed and it went through. Ginny hooted in excitement and Beth grinned widely, proud of herself. She sensed her brother's gaze and turned her head, watching the stands. Draco sat there, his arms crossed as he looked at her. She waved once and he smiled in response, lifting his hand discreetly. Her chest felt ready to burst; he'd acknowledged her in public.

Beth hovered, watching her team. Dean and Ginny were passing the ball between them, weaving around each other to confuse the enemy Chasers. She noticed how the Slytherin Chasers seemed to be adjusting to the weaving pattern and her eyes narrowed. She could already see it; next time that Ginny passed, the curly-haired boy would snatch it. Beth leaned forward and shot between the Slytherins and Gryffindors. Dean and Ginny  knew that Beth wouldn't hit them, so they pressed on. Beth scattered the Slytherin Chasers and Ginny scored. The crowd yelled in excitement and she glanced toward the commotion.

Harry and Harper were battling to get the snitch. Harper was gaining, his hand outstretched. Everyone was watching. One of the Slytherin Chasers had the quaffle, hovering in the air as her eyes were fixed on the movement.

Beth shot toward her and snatched it. "And Potter has the quaffle! She is sneaky that one... No one is paying attention to her... she scores!"

Beth smiled at the Slytherins who stared at her, dumbstruck. Harry streamed down to land, the snitch in his hand. Beth landed beside him, wrapping her arms around him as the crowd began to converge on the two. Ginny had a determined look on her face as she shot past the twins.

Beth watched her friend curiously, wondering what the bloody hell she was doing. As soon as it clicked, Ginny crashed into the podium. "Sorry Professor, I forgot to brake." Ginny said sweetly to Professor McGonagall once she had clambered from the wreckage. Professor McGonagall hmphed and shooed Ginny away.

Beth felt eyes on her and she turned, ignoring the suspicion in her brother. She sought the boy with silver eyes and found him standing in the shadow of the bleachers, watching her closely. She grinned and he slowly smiled back, beckoning her to him with his eyes. She broke free of the crowd and walked over, feeling her brother's gaze on her. She stopped a few feet in front of Draco, her eyes questioning. Draco smiled lightly and glanced at something over her shoulder. Immediately, she knew what was happening and her stomach began to rage. Was she ready? So soon?

Draco pulled her in close and lifted her face up to his, kissing her in front of everyone. Her heart stopped beating as all her worry melted away. She leaned up on her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around his neck. But then she felt the strong revulsion hit her and she broke away, holding her stomach as her brother's emotions slammed against her. It was as if she were him. Anger struck her and she stepped away from Draco, turning around quickly. Harry stood among the crowd, his burning green eyes on her. The expression on his face made her blood run cold. She faintly felt Draco's fingers against hers.

Harry's rejection hit her and she felt the shock run through her; she could see the burning string that attached her to her twin flicker and grow fainter. Harry turned away from her without a word and disappeared into the locker rooms, leaving her standing there. She grew aware to people staring at her and Draco, faintly whispering. "I should uh, I should go." She muttered and practically ripped her hand from his, fleeing from the quidditch pitch.

Draco called after her but she kept running, not sure about where she was going. She ran into Kat, sending them both to the ground. Her brother's disgust and anger was still ringing in her ears and she felt her eyes burn with unshed tears. She thought that Harry wouldn't have minded, that he would've accepted it. Kat took one look at her old friend and enveloped her into a hug, holding her as Beth broke down in her arms.