Friendless » Fred Weasley

xxxiii. losing the quidditch cup

"SLYTHERIN WINS THE HOUSE CUP! TWO HUNDRED AND NINE POINTS TO SEVENTY TWO." Lee's announced felt like a punch to the gut. They had lost.

Tori looked at her teammates, seeing the disappointment on everyone's faces. They all knew this would happen, without Charlie, the team wasn't the same. Of course, Tori didn't blame Charlie at all. He did what was best for him and his dream.

There was very little talking in the dressing room. Tori put her broom on one of the racks, tracing her name above it. The season was over, now she had to go back to work on school stuff. Gross.

Mae didn't seem to take the silence well. She stood up on one of the benches, looking at her teammates. "Okay. Yeah, we lost. It sucks. I was hoping for a win for my last year here but that didn't happen. I'm just as disappointed as you are. But guys, it happens. Oliver and I have gotten lucky to be able to win the cup multiple times, so I'm hoping that passes on to you guys.

"So even though we didn't win, we still are having a celebration tonight in the common room. It's a tradition! There I will be passing on the crown as captain and mention our achievements during this year. It's going to be a good way to end quidditch, I think."

Mae was right.

That night the common room was once again decorated in red and gold. Most of the house had actually come, sitting around talking about the match from earlier today. Tori was talking to a group of third years with Alicia when Mae called everyone's attention.

"Alright. Hi, uh. Thank you all for coming, but I don't know what else you'd be doing really. But we've decided to end this season on a good note. With endings comes beginning, so I think I'll start off by revealing our new Captain. He has been working hard for three years on this team, basically dedicating his entire life, yes his entire life, to quidditch. He was the voice of reason with Me and Charlie and had the best ideas in what's right for the team. So please come up and join me, our new Gryffindor Captain Oliver Wood!"

Tori clapped loudly, watching Oliver excitedly shake Mae's hand. "I know you'll do amazing." She told him, stepping up again. "Now is the time to recognize the rest of our team. So can this year's quidditch team please come up?"

Tori and Angelina left their group, coming over to Mae, who shook their hands. A loud round of applause filled the common room, it was really nice especially after losing. "First I would like to recognize our chasers. Angelina Johnson and Victoria Silvers! These two girls work fantastically together and I was very glad to be able to work with them. Tori scored our first points of the season while Angelina scored the most points in about three games!

"Next up, our beaters. Fred and George Weasley! While there were accidents, these two saved us a lot of time from the hospital wing. They also used their strengths to advantage when it came to another team. Last but not least, Oliver who again, is going to be a great captain next year and I can't wait to be able to come back and watch the games. As for the rest of you! Let's celebrate!"

The common room once again turned into a loud commotion as many people got back to their conversations. Mae turned to her teammates, congratulating them all. "I'm really proud of you guys, and you should be too. Now enjoy yourself. You all earned it."

She turned away to go talk to a couple of other students while a couple of older years cranked up the radio. "Don't you think it's sad? We're all finishing quidditch, soon we'll be finishing school. It's weird." They sat at a table with a ton of books on it. Tori took a stack of them and placed it against the table's leg to make room.

"It kind of is," Angelina admitted, watching a game of Exploding Snaps being played. Fred say next to Tori and handed her a box of Bertie Bird's Every Flavour Beans. She took one and passed it to George.

"In a couple of weeks, Freddie and I will be thirteen." Tori looked around at her friends and sighed. "I hate being the youngest."

"Ha!" Alicia laughed as Tori pretend to pout. "Hey! You're only a couple weeks older than me!" Tori protested. "I'm still older."

"Oh shut up." Tori shook her head, talking towards Lee. "Are you disappointed about ending commentary?" Lee shrugged, popping a bean in his mouth.

"A bit. I mean, how am I supposed to flirt with Angelina now?" Angelina rolled her eyes, her cheeks heating up. "It's so embarrassing, and distracting! But definitely embarrassing."

"Well... I think it's charming." Tori replied, winking at Lee. "Then let Lee flirt with you in front of an audience," Angelina replied. She shook her head at the boy in front of her, who looked very amused at the idea.

"Eh. I don't think Fred would like that very much- Ow! My foot!" Lee reached under the table, clutching his foot that Fred had smashed with his own. "Merlin's beard, we might as well discuss the Erumpent in the room." He muttered.

Tori raised an eyebrow at the twins but Fred wouldn't look at her. The group continued talking about pure nonsense, and Tori was pretty sure Alicia and Angelina made a bet about who would win the Exploding Snap game. Angelina won.

Tori and Fred were talking to a group of first-year girls who was seated at another table. "Is it hard to get on the team?" One of the girls, Katie Bell, asked Tori. Tori thought about this for a moment before replying.

"A little bit. You have got to practice a lot over the summer." Katie nodded taking this in. "I'll practice then." Tori smiled. "That's good, I hope to see you next year then."

Later Tori walked up to her dormitory alone. She opened her door to see Athena sit on her perch. "Hi," She whispered, petting the owl's head. "I really need to start paying attention to you, huh?"

Athena hooted almost as in agreement. Tori chuckled to herself, continuing to pet her owl as she stared out of the window and into the dark sky decorated with twinkling stars.

i'm wrapping up year two okay
i'm sort of bored and i really don't what to lose interest in this story!

so one or two more chapters!

also, i seriously need to remember tori's owl