The Bluebird's Dance

8

Adrian

With the First task over with, days at Hogwarts continued normally.

I got an owl from my mother asking about the Yule ball. She is insistent that I go with Carmen, begging that I get a photograph of us so that she can parade the picture to all her friends. Show our engagement off. She's so proud that the Héry family accepted our offer, though I doubt there were many offers 5 years ago. I had never heard of the Héry name, didn't even know they existed until my mother came into my room when I was eleven. Smiling widely, making her eyes disappear. Pureblood! That was what she exclaimed. Rich! Another thing.

Of course I was going to go to the Yule ball with Carmen, it was something I had planned on doing ages ago. I was just waiting for the timing to be right, perfect. I was going to take her to the astronomy tower and ask her there, while we are looking at the stars. I had already been thinking about what robes I would wear. Mother said not to be shy and pick something grand. I know that she means something grand that matches with Carmen.

"You ready for practice tonight?" Flint nudges me in the gut, making me double over for a bit. After I recover, I look back at Flint with angry eyes.

"No use, but yeah, heard Malfoy was gonna show up."

"Don't fuck him up too badly. Last time he was in and out of the hospital for a week."

I shake my head. I wish it had been longer. He got off easy if you ask me. I mean, Carmen wouldn't even talk about it, talk about him. She would just dismiss it off and change the conversation. I had been persistent at first, but she is also very smart. Knows my weaknesses. After I wouldn't shut up and bother her a week after it happened, she pressed her lips against mine in a quick motion. Her kisses were irresistible. Clearing my mind of my thoughts, consuming me so that all that I could think about was her. Us. I feel stupid. Getting so caught up with a kiss, I should be better than that, but I'm not.

Anyways, I still wasn't over Malfoy messing with her brain. He knew that I wouldn't let that shit by. Goyle was a prime example of that. He started talking about Carmen's body in such derogatory ways, things I wouldn't even fathom. My blood was boiling, yeah, I let Goyle, the little flea, make that the big flea, get to me. I don't care. It was worth bloody knuckles and a broken thumb. Malfoy had been avoiding me ever since, smart of him. I still think about how I push him into one of the quidditch towers, making him dislocate his shoulder. And the time I flew so fast, building up immense speed just to run into him, he broke two ribs, I bust my lip and broke my wrist. Worth it all. If it was for Carmen, it was worth it all.

Flint, Montague, Nott and I headed into the locker rooms. Today was going to be fun. I was excited to see Malfoy, excited what I'd do to him. Make him fall off his broom for sure, as well as giving him a concussion, a bad one, worse than the one Carmen had. I smile at the thought of him writhing in pain. Suddenly, I bump into Malfoy who was next to Warrington and Zabini. I glare daggers into him, hoping to terrify him some more.

I was about to give a witty retort at him, when Warrington pipes in. "Pucey, I'm tired of the fighting!" He puts his hand on my shoulder and leads me away from Malfoy and Zabini. I look back at Malfoy only to see him whispering something inaudible. "Besides, we have bigger things to worry about! Diggory is now the Captain for Hufflepuff, and Potter is the new Captain for Gryffindor. We need all of us in good shape so we can beat all of them next year." Warrington drags on and on about strategy, along with Flint and Montague pitching in.

I'm left sitting there, not really paying attention to the conversation they're having. After we got all our gear on, we headed onto the field.

...