"Buried, almost tangible secrets filled the space between them, and so, without a second to think, she closed it."
The scars of war opened more wounds than Harry Potter thought possible. As he returns to Hogwarts for his eighth and final year, he le...
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Yawning, Harry checked his watch, which was difficult to do with his broom in his hand.
It was Quidditch tryouts today; he finally succumbed to the incredibly annoying remainders everyone had been given him. One hopeful student cornered Harry and followed him around until he posted a time and place for tryouts. That student did not even show up to actually try out, lined up in a group of giggling girls, watching Harry and whispering among themselves. It reminded him of his sixth year, and did not appreciate it any more than he did then.
The tryouts had been mildly successful; Harry had found one new Chaser and Seeker to train for after Harry left Hogwarts.
Next up to try out were the Beaters, and he had seen Annabelle Boyle in their midst, who gave him one of the signature smiles that he had memorised from seeing so often. She was holding a used broom, her strawberry hair tied back.
Harry stood there watching her hair move in it's ponytail until Ron harshly yanked his ear.
"Get off me," grumbled Harry as he batted Ron's shoulder.
Ron obliged and Harry glared at him, huffing and brushing off his Quidditch robes. Ron had already successfully auditioned to be Keeper. Only one other Keeper had come to the tryouts; a weedy looking second year who had clearly never ridden a broom in his life. He had managed, after missing all seven balls, to fly all the way to the lake before Harry shepherded him back to the Quidditch fields.
Harry prayed at least one Beater would be somewhat successful as Annabelle mounted her broom, smiling again at Harry before kicking off into the air.
She was assigned to Ginny Weasley, who was expertly flying and cutting through the wind like it was second nature to her as she did a particularly impressive flip to catch the Quaffle.
Annabelle stuck by her side like glue, holding her bat with her jaw clenched and set. The smile was nowhere on her face, replaced by a steely, ready look. She was in the zone, and Harry was slightly terrified as her eyes turned icy, scanning the sky for any Bludgers.
Ginny had turned to say something to Annabelle just as a Bludger whizzed through the sky towards them. Harry thought he ought to warn her as it grew closer, but knew that he could not, and instead tensed his whole body and clutched his broomstick nervously.
The Bludger was only feet away when Annabelle whipped out her bat, smacking the Bludger with it so hard that it flew across the sky and disappeared. Harry, thoroughly impressed, scratched down only her name and watched the rest of the Beaters with only vague interest.
Two ended up in the hospital wing. One stared at Harry so intensely he did not notice the Bludger coming towards him, and dodged it by a hair when Annabelle yelled for him to move from the sidelines.
