Valentine's Day at Hogwarts

Part 6

Sarah followed her teammates across the misty lawn like a sheep in the herd. She had been up late the night before studying with Barnaby and Rowan, laughing as they came up with clever ways to help him remember the dates of all the goblin rebellions. Barnaby had troubled her slightly. He'd seemed nervous and uncomfortable around her at times. First, Charlie, then Penny, now Barnaby. Were all her friends acting odd, or was she just overthinking? She would be so glad when O.W.L.s were behind them.

Then of course, she'd had her own homework to deal with. She'd only gotten a few hours sleep when Skye shook her awake at the crack of dawn to get in a good breakfast before practice. She was too tired and bleary-eyed to pay attention to where she was going, resulting in her running straight into Charlie as the whole team came to a halt. Seven figures were headed their way.

"Is that the Ravenclaw team?"she asked, rubbing her eyes with the hand that wasn't clutching her broomstick. She couldn't believe anyone could have gotten to the pitch earlier than this.

"Looks like it," Charlie said with an enormous yawn. Judging by the dark circles under his eyes, he hadn't gotten much sleep last night either.

"Look alive, team," Skye mumbled as the Ravenclaws arrived. Sarah stood up straight and tried not to let her eyelids droop. Charlie yawned again.

"Finally up and at it, Gryffindor?" said a suave seventh year. "No problem, we're done for a while. The pitch is yours."

"This has worked out perfectly," said Orion, unphased.

As the blue clad players passed them, Sarah spotted Andre. "Up pretty early for quidditch, don't you think Andre?"

"Gotta train early and hard if I want you to eat my broom twigs, curse breaker," he said with a wink. Sarah grinned, but the grin fell instantly when she caught sight of Rath, who looked as if it took everything in her not to club them all to death then and there. She was still terrifying. After she passed, Sarah let out a breath the hadn't known she'd been holding. "I think Rath just stared into my soul," she said in a monotone to Charlie. "And found me wanting."

 He chuckled. "Wanting that quidditch cup," he said. 

She smiled. "It's gonna feel so good to take it from them." At least Rath's death stare had shaken off her sleepiness.

As they made their way to the pitch, Charlie grunted. "So...Andre."

"What about him?"

"He's pretty cool, right?"

"Right,"she said, conused.

"Would you say you, you know, fancy him?"

"Um," she wasn't sure what to say. She'd rather not say anything, especially to Charlie. She really liked Charlie, but talking about her romantic feelings was something she generally reserved for Rowan or Penny, if at all. "I mean, he's--"

"Sarah, Charlie," called Orion in his melodious way. "The team's balance is off. Please mount your brooms and join us in harmony in the sky."

"Sorry," Sarah mumbled. She shot off like a snitch, glad of an excuse to fly far away from the conversation. Charlie sped off too; oddly enough he looked equally relieved. Sarah was worried she would have to try to avoid him all practice, but thankfully he didn't bring up the matter again.

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Tonks met Charlie in the Great Hall after lunch. "I hate doing this," said Charlie as he walked over to her. "I hate doing this--"

"Shh! People will hear you."

"Sarah thinks I'm a weirdo. I don't know why I let you talk me into these things."