Pastel pink

Kidnapping

Chapter 6: Kidnapping

October 6th, 1975

"That's it! I'm going in!" Abellina landed swiftly, throwing her bat to the ground and glaring at Damien over her shoulder who was looking down at her in loss. She hadn't thought he'd meant it quite so literally when he said that they would be practising in all weathers but Abellina guessed she should have known better. Her fingers had turned blue only 10 minutes into the practice, she was unable to see two feet in front of her due to the hail which had lead to her almost, accidentally, knocking James out with the Bludger and not-quite-so accidentally, almost knocking out Damien. There was a thick mist on the ground that made the grass turn white with frost and her breath crystallise in the air. What Damien hadn't realised was that, as the smallest member of the team by far, Abellina was now shivering violently and on the verge on pneumonia.

"I love Quidditch just as much as the next person but you must be out of you're goddam mind if you think I'm staying out in this!" Marlene yelled, landing next to Abellina and shooting a particularly un-lady-like hand gesture in Damien's direction. Soon the two girls were followed by the rest of the team. They had to admit that they did quite enjoy it when Jeremy Nicols, the other beater, told Damien that he would rather do something incredibly inappropriate with his bat than play in this weather. Soon enough all seven of them had cast warming charms on their hands and dried their robes in the doorway of the castle.

"I can already feel a cold coming on," Abellina grumbled to Marlene and James, her throat was slightly croaky and she sniffled slightly as she said this, wiping her nose so that the tip of it turned pink. Marlene glared accusingly at their much-loved captain before wrapping an arm around her friend.

"Come on sweetie, let's get you some hot chocolate- I'll show you the kitchens." James looked about to follow them but just as he opened his mouth the tall blonde girl turned around, her eyes narrowed as she looked at him with a mixture of disgust and...well...disgust. "Not you Potter. Girls only."

"Bu-bu-"

"Fuck off Potter."

"But my lovely, sweet, darling Ave-"

"Go to hell." The venom that Abellina attempted to put into her voice was somewhat less effective as she sneezed loudly, causing snot to dribble from her nose and colour to rise in her cheeks. She tried to glare at him but just ended up looking like a petulant five-year-old and he could hardly contain his laughter.

"I love you, Avery, I really do."

"Oh? And here I thought you had eyes only for Lily?" The rest of the team had left for the common room at this point and they had hardly even begun their journey to the kitchens when Slughorn rounded the corner.

"Professor." Abellina sniffled, they'd been out way past curfew and Slughorn was known for either being particularly harsh or completely unfazed by rulebreaking depending solely on his mood.

"Ah! Avery, I haven't seen you at any of my little Slug Club meetings so far this term." He stated, clapping her on the back heartily and completely ignoring both Marlene and James, the former of which was particularly despised by Slughorn and attempting to sneak out of sight.

"I'm so sorry Professor, quidditch, you know?" In truth, Abellina had purposefully asked Damien to schedule practices on Monday evenings. Her voice was still thick with cold and her professor's eyes softened as he saw that her hair had frozen and she was still shivering slightly.

"Oh well, no matter, no matter. You must tell me when you're next available- I would simply love to see you there. And Mr Potter!" Slughorn laughed, clapping his hands together as his eyes fell on James who he was currently very pleased with as he had been brewing well that week.