Scars

Chapter Fifteen-Hodge-Podge Family

"I don't care! I could honestly care more about a single thread of hair on someone else's head more than I care about what you have to say!" Connelly bursts, turning on her heel to face my replacement. James and Sirius halt with wide eyes while the rest of the team hurriedly walks past the scene.

Our captain continues, this time with an arm extended towards me, "She knows the move, she gave Kaur time to move, and the move worked. You felt so threatened that you risked one of your teammates and one of my players! You're off the team! That's it!" Connelly shoves a hand out at Greene so she stops while the captain continues on with Kaur cradling her arm. "Hope you're ready to play, Ackley." I blink as she addresses me.

"Absolutely, yes," I answer her back as she moves on with Kaur.

"Good!" She shouts back without stopping even for a second. Awkwardly, those left behind look back at Monica. She's seething as she stares at me, especially when Sirius slides beside me and wraps an arm around my waist. For a moment I think she may be about to hex me, but she just storms past us while we jump out of the way. The tension in all of us fades and the excitement from earlier returns.

"You won. You're in the finals." I breathe, turning and grinning at Sirius. He looks to me as a grin of his own takes over his face.

"We're in the finals, love." He reiterates as his arms wrap around my waist. "And despite feeling sorry for Kaur, I'm glad it's earned me back my partner." I glow under his grey-blue eyes filled with affection and for a second, they flick to my lips.

"Don't be selfish, Pads, the whole team will be thrilled to have you back!" James tosses an arm around my shoulders and jostles me out of Sirius' arms as we all head up the path.

"No drinks in Hogsmeade this time?" I ask and both boys shake their heads.

"Never leave anyone behind. Since Kaur's hurt and Connelly won't leave her side, the team won't go without them." James explains before glancing over at Lily. "Can't be my arm candy tonight, Evans, but what about this Saturday we grab a butterbeer?" He says swaggering over to her as I shake my head and retreat towards Sirius. Lily grits her teeth as her eyes roll towards James whose Adam's apple bobs.

"I'm not sure if you could have possibly asked that in a more insulting way, but hey, your idiocy has surprised me for years." She snaps and James blinks as we pause along with him while Lily stomps away.

"Will he ever learn, do you think?" I barely whisper and Sirius smirks.

"Love is hard, love." My eyes flash to his, but the depths give nothing away. We walk back up to the common room in relative silence excepting James grumbling about women which earns him a slap or two from me. James and Sirius head to the showers while I, Remus, and Peter settle in the common room in front of the fire. People peter out before the boys arrive just in time for some hot chocolate with just a little bit of Emmaline's firewhiskey added. Once everyone is gone, I shed James's quidditch sweater and relax in my pants and tank top.

"What did Monica say to you when she flew over, love?" Sirius asks after we all went through a play by play of the game. We're leaning back against the red sofa with his arm around my shoulders, James is to my right snagging treats from Peter, then Remus is opposite them finishing a cig. Sirius has his fingers skimming a few of my scars absentmindedly and I've only just stopped blushing at the fact.

"Oh right. She told me to stop distracting a certain beater that kept looking over at me during the game." I call him out and his eyebrows pop up in surprise while his cheeks tint a light pink.

"Phew, you've got all the girls chasing after you, Pads," James says and nicks a cookie from Peter's pile while Peter cutely toasts a marshmallow over the fire.