Juno Falling (a Harry Potter Fan Fiction)

The First Match

Ravenclaw was a skilled quidditch team, Juno knew this. Despite that fact the girl couldn't help feeling that Gryffindor would win. Juno was ecstatic, exuberant and undeniably happy - she could smell the victory already. As she swaggered into the great hall, all eyes were locked on her graceful physique. She was Queen.. for now.

Wolfing down her breakfast, Juno began talking to her closest, perhaps even wisest friend Anastasia Butler (affectionately called Ana). The five foot three petite seventh year with stunning golden blonde hair, carefully cropped into an asymmetrical pixie cut.Naturally, athletic six foot Juno towered over her, fortunately not in attitude. Anastasia was rambunctious, strong-willed and brave- a true Gryffindor.

Talking between the two, for today was restrained to quidditch strategies whilst they shoved spoonfuls of sloppy cream coloured porridge down their throats in which minuscule raisins (that looked suspiciously like flies) were scattered. "Listen to me Juno, I'm telling you- bludger comes at you while you have the ball- pass!"

"But what happens if I'm really close to the goal and James is behind me?"

Ana continued arguing - "You cannot risk getting injured, the Holyhead game is tomorrow! Besides, you have less chance of getting eradicated and more chance of survival if you don't have that stupid quaffle to worry about!". Juno's face was laced with guilt as she rolled her eyes, fiddling with her long graceful fingers before the utterly stubborn girl gave in.

"Alright Ana, I won't take too many risks,"

"Good, you must heed my words for I am the almighty Anastasia!" Joked the shorter girl as Juno choked on a limp raisin. "I have another rule,"

Recovering quickly, Juno remarked "Really, you thought of two things in one day?!" The two girls laughed at Juno's ridiculous humour- Ana was the smartest of all current seventh years.

"Quit kidding around! This is serious stuff. The last game against Slytherin you obtained a broken wrist."

"Fine, so, tell me, what's this 'rule'?" Queried Juno.

"It's quite simple, and ties in with the whole bludger thing. Don't fall."

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The frosty November air placed soft, sharp kisses on Juno's freezing cheeks like an ancient prune-faced aunt. Her feet crunched the red, orange and yellow leaves under them, creating a delightfully fulfilling crackling noise that just made you feel the need to stomp on as many as you could find. Which was exactly what the seventeen year old chaser was presently doing. It distracted Juno; from the match in two hours, from the Holyhead Harpies game tomorrow and from her future. If the Holyhead Harpies decided they didn't want her after all what was she to do then? Leave her decrepit body aged eighty one, a spinster, surrounded by dozens of cats, with no qualifications to her name? Probably. She was no academic, nor was she artistic. Juno was just Juno.

Reaching the quidditch pitch, Juno inhaled the crisp, delicate autumn air. It tasted of sadness, the loss of the pleasantly bright summer, the coming of a winter full of gloomy cold. For Juno that meant quidditch, and a fine day for it too. Her other team mates were present also. James Potter, whom she high-fived upon reaching was one of Juno's fellow chasers. The son of famed chosen one, Harry Potter. The other chaser Lila Harrell stood beside him. James' brother Albus was seeker, Briar Garson and Fred Weasley beaters and Henry Wood captain, seventh year and keeper. He was muscled and strong. You knew even when he ordered "Go and change into your uniforms," he meant business.

Juno's backbone rattled as the chilled air inhabited her body parasitically. Stepping out onto the lush green grass of the pitch her very being shivered, and not just because she was only wearing thin, limp quidditch shorts. Excitement, nerves and exhilaration outweighed the cold. Commentary by Lorcan Scamander was underway. His soft yet assertive voice announced the arrival of the Gryffindor team, before proceeding to tell the crowd that the Ravenclaw team had turned up aswell. Harding, Tang, Sherrock, Williams, Grant, Lysander Scamander - and of course, the seeker, Weasley. Brooms at the ready, both teams studied each other with beady eyes, taking in much needed air. Madam Bell's whistle rang out, piercing the air. Let the game begin.

Juno, James and Lila made score after score. Each one gained a loud, roaring cheer from half the crowd that beat inside Juno's eardrums and coursed through her veins spurring her onwards. Before long Gryffindor were up 170-90. Lila had the quaffle and sped towards the goals, James and Juno following her every move.

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Lila passed the quaffle to Juno, the momentum between the two was contagious. Gripping the leathery ball tight in one hand Juno steadily became faster, the brutal wind whistling around her. Swerving, she turned with her right side exposed to the hoops, a determined grin on her face, ready to shoot then... wham! An almighty crunch was heard as a bludger collided with Juno's neck. Onlookers gasped in horror while the beloved chaser cascaded through the air, her mass of black hair flailing wildly. In what could have been one of the worst quidditch accidents in the history of the game, a frantic yell was heard.

"Arresto Momentum!"

In the confusion of the fall, someone's voice rang out louder than any other. It was impossible to tell whom so for all Juno knew (while in a state of unconsciousness) it could have been anyone between the Headmistress and Hagrid.

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The match was called off immediately. Juno herself was abruptly whisked off to the immaculate and white hospital wing, decorated with rows of white cabinets and white sheets. Amongst all the pale things, was a pale girl- her neck positioned at an odd angle. Juno was surrounded by her team mates and friends as she lay in the bed peacefully unconscious, awaiting her future.

In the corner of the large white room were Headmistress McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor house Professor Longbottom, potions master Professor Malfoy and newly appointed nurse, Madam Patil. They were talking in hushed tones, glancing over at the injured student. Professor Longbottom leant forward. "Will Juno be okay?"

"It's hard to know," Madame Patil replied, her voice filled with sorrow. "Her neck was badly damaged and I'm afraid I won't have any more skelegro until Draco finishes this batch,"

"Do you know when it will be ready?" interjected the Headmistress.

"Hard to say Minervra, probably by the end of term, but even then..."

"...skelegro only has a mere sixty-percent chance of working on spinal injuries and even if it does succeed it's highly unlikely Miss Anderson will be able to play quidditch ever again, let alone any other sport." Madame Pail finished the potions masters sentence as an awful sense of sadness washed over the group.

A letter must be sent to the Holyhead Harpies.

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Chapter one. I know I said this would be posted two weekends after the first vote (thanks AndSheWrites), so I apologise for it being 'what I call' a month. Comment and vote if you liked it and want to see more. I am open to absolutely any critiques given.

-C