Hide & Seek

Chapter 10 - Anticipation

Chapter 10
ANTICIPATION

anticipation
(n.) expectation or hope; restlessness in advance of a future event

THE incessant tapping of her quill against her parted lips was only the first piece of evidence of Gemma's undeniable anxiousness. The speckled feathers brushed against them in a repeated rhythm, in sync with the shaking of her right leg and fidgeting left hand.

They still had ten minutes left in Potions, but each second was seeming to last a year with Professor Snape's droning voice only adding to its slow progression.

For the past few days all anyone could talk about was the Officially Unofficial Quidditch Match that would be taking place that night, all gossip about the impending Triwizard Tournament fading into the background. Students whispered across the dining tables to each other in hushed tones, chatting about who would be playing who and how secret practices were going.

Just that morning, Seamus and Dean and been arguing about if Hufflepuff could beat Ravenclaw over breakfast.

"Justin said Hufflepuff's been practicing every day since the game was announced," Dean had said through a mouthful of porridge.

"Yea, well Goldstein said Ravenclaw's been doing some crazy new maneuvers. I mean, without Madam Hooch watching, who knows what they'll try to pull," Seamus fired back, spinning his wand wildly as if to imitate the supposedly tricky skills the Ravenclaw team had been mastering over the last month.

Gemma was sure the impending dinner conversation would solely contain more Quidditch related topics, and she couldn't lie that she was just as excited as everyone else.

Even if she didn't get to be on the pitch, it would be nice to take her mind off of her schoolwork, detention, and the swirling images of snakes and skulls that seemed to be invading her dreams more and more frequently.

The sound of the bell bouncing against the dungeon walls had everyone instantly scrambling, desperate to get to the Great Hall and up to bed, as if their hurrying would faster bring the start of the game.

Gemma cleared her cauldron with a wave of her wand, shoving her textbooks into her bag as Snape tried to recount their homework over the increasing chatter.

"I would like sixty centimeters of parchment on Chelidonium Miniscula by next class," his dreary grumble carried straight over the heads of the distracted students.

Gemma tried to make a mental note of the assignment, but she was sure she'd end up asking Hermione to remind her again before Monday.

Her mind was already focused on green grass and golden snitches.

Stumbling out of the Potions classroom, Gemma tried to find the familiar red hair and glasses of her friends, but the jostling crowd pulled her further down the corridor. Figuring she could just meet them at the Great Hall, Gemma shrugged and turned to make her way down the expansive halls along with the rest of her peers.

She'd almost reached the grand marble staircase of the Entrance Hall when she felt an arm sling itself over her shoulders. When she looked up, she was met with grey eyes and tousled brassy hair.

Cedric beamed down at her as they continued to walk, books tucked tightly under his opposite elbow.

"Excited for tonight?" he asked, grinning.

Gemma couldn't help the smile that bit into her cheeks at his enthusiasm.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" she shot back, raising her eyebrows quizzically.