CHAPTER 48: LIVING AGAIN

Robert O’Bannon exited the castle, clutching his broom tightly, and stared up at the gray December sky. A cold wind shrieked across the school grounds, whipping the falling snowflakes into a white, frenzied swarm.

Perfect weather for the first Quidditch game of the year.

He drew a deep breath, the cold air stinging his lungs. At times, he believed this day would never come. Shortly after everyone had returned from the impromptu break following the battle, Headmistress Sprout had called a meeting of all students, faculty and staff in the Great Hall. She talked about canceling the Quidditch season, even closing the school for the rest of the year.

That’s when James Potter stood up on the Gryffindor table, ignoring the shouts of several teachers to sit back down, and addressed the student body.

“Are we going to let them do this? Let the Stacyx and Umbridge and Bianca Fahring rob us of every aspect of our lives? Yes, we lost friends, family. Yeah, it hurts. But do we just stop living? Do we spend the rest of our lives grieving? We do that, then the Stacyx really would have defeated the Wizarding World. We do that, then everyone who died fighting those bastards will have died in vain.”

Robert looked over his shoulder at James, remembering the standing ovation his friend received after that speech. Just when it looked like he’d never break out of that shell of grief he erected around himself after Cynthia’s death, James surprised them all, doing what needed to be done.

A hand clamped down on Robert’s shoulder. He turned to find team captain Norton Fudge beside him.

“Weather not going to be a problem for you, O’Bannon, is it?”

He smirked at him. “I don’t know. I’ve never played in conditions like these, given how balmy Massachusetts is in December.”

Fudge threw his head back and laughed. Robert also chuckled at his own joke. Why not? A month-and-a-half ago he never expected to laugh again.

They entered the Gryffindor Quidditch tent, so wonderfully warm. Robert headed into boys’ changing room, followed by James, Fudge and Chester Gaffney. He grinned when he saw Albus already there, pulling on his gloves.

“Jeez, is someone just a wee bit anxious for this game today?” said James.

Albus made a face at his brother, then smiled.

Robert thumped him on the arm, glad they’d all be playing together; him, James, Albus and Rose. Following the battle, more than a few parents pulled their children out of Hogwarts in a panic. One of those children happened to be the guy who’d taken Albus’ spot as Chaser.

When Robert, James and Albus finished putting on their Quidditch robes, they headed into the team room, just as Tara Wood and Rose exited from the girls’ changing room.

“Sure you can find the Snitch in all this snow?” Robert gave Rose a wry grin.

She matched that grin with one of her own. “Sure you can fly through this mess without crashing into the stands?”

“Ha ha.” He gave her a playful shove. She shoved back and laughed.

His chest swelled as his eyes flickered up and down Rose’s body. Inwardly, he sighed. Things had been going well for them, albeit slow. Very, very slow. Yeah they talked a lot, spent much of the first Hogsmeade weekend since the battle together. But they hadn’t progressed beyond the peck on the cheek stage. He felt ready to get more serious with her, but he didn’t sense those signals from Rose. It was a constant battle to not force the issue with her. When she was ready to fully commit, Rose, he felt sure, would let him know. And he would respect that. He was not going to screw this up.

Still wish she’d hurry up and give me the signal, though. Something along the lines of sparkling words hovering over Hogwarts would be nice.

“So, Al.” Rose looked over to her cousin. “Who’s Estrella going to cheer for? Her house or her boyfriend?”

The corners of Albus’ mouth twitched. “Um, actually, I try to avoid bringing up that subject around her.”

“Oh, I see. You don’t want to jeopardize any future snogging opportunities.”

Robert chuckled. His eyes lingered on Rose, taking in the way her body shook as she laughed, how bright her face looked as she smiled. She then turned to him, catching his gaze. Her smile switched from jovial to warm.

His heart sped up. Rose continued to stare and smile at him.

Is that a sign? Tingles rippled through his body.

“James, what are you up to?”

Albus’ exclamation jerked Robert out of his reverie. He and Rose turned to James. His eyes widened when he saw a small beam of light shoot from the oldest Potter boy’s wand and into the handle of his broom.

“James!” Rose gasped. “You can’t alter your broom before a match. You’ll be thrown off the pitch.”

The beam dissipated. James spun the broom so they could all get a good view of the handle. All three of them held their collective breath when they saw the two letters inscribed in the wood.

CW.

James gave them a half-smile. “I don’t know. I mean, I know Cynthia wasn’t much into Quidditch. But . . . I just wanted to do something to make it feel like she was still here in some way, you know?”

Robert, Albus and Rose all looked at one another. Moments later they pulled out their wands and burned Cynthia Weasley’s initials into their broom handles. Tara, Chester and Fudge followed suit.

“Thanks, guys.” James took them all in. “I appreciate it.”

“Think nothing of it, James.” Fudge patted his shoulder. “I knew Cynthia ever since I came to Hogwarts. She was a good person, and I know how much she meant to you, all of you.”

Robert lowered his head, a huge hole forming in the pit of his stomach. He thought back to that horrible night, standing at Cynthia’s bedside, witnessing her last moments of life.

Dammit, she should be here. In the stands, freezing her butt off and watching us play.

Rose placed her hand over his and squeezed. He looked to her.

“I still miss her, too.”

He managed to smile and rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb.

Fifteen minutes later, they stood in the tunnel leading to the field . . . pitch. It looked like the snow was coming down harder.

“Nervous?” Rose looked up at him.

“Are you?”

“A little.” She bobbed her head back and forth. “Actually, a lot.”

Robert nodded. “Well, when my dad was playing for the Bruins, he always said that no matter if you were a rookie or a ten-year veteran, if you don’t have butterflies in your stomach on opening day, something’s wrong with you.”

“Well, nice to know that wanting to throw up makes me normal.”

They stared at one another and laughed.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Harold Thomas’ magically amplified voice resonated throughout the stadium. “Welcome to the pitch, Gryffindor!”

“Right then!” Fudge announced. “Let’s go!”

The seven players grabbed their goggles, charmed to repel snow and prevent condensation, and pulled them down over their eyes. Then they mounted their brooms and blasted out of the tunnel. Cheers erupted throughout the stadium, along with a chorus of boos from, no surprise, the Slytherin stands.

“And now . . .” Harold spoke with unabashed enthusiasm. “Here’s last year’s Quidditch Cup champions . . . Ravenclaw!”

Seconds later, the Ravenclaw squad flew out into the snow storm.

After a few warm-up laps, both teams landed in the middle of the pitch.

“Students and staff,” Headmistress Sprout’s voice echoed throughout the stadium. “Welcome to the start of the Hogwarts Quidditch season. Before we begin, I would like to ask for a moment of silence in honor of all those we lost over a month-and-a-half ago during the battle with the Stacyx.”

Robert lowered his head and closed his eyes. Cynthia’s face appeared in his mind’s eye, as did Olec’s and Mr. Finnigan’s and Mrs. Tillenfare’s. For a brief moment, he even thought about Bianca. He grunted. How could he feel even the tiniest amount of sympathy for someone responsible for so many deaths? Could it be because, for a time, he had actually been attracted to her? Did he feel sorry for her because she let all her outrages regarding the Wizarding World turn her into a hate-filled psycho?

He shook his head. His feelings should be cut and dried on this. Bianca sided with the Stacyx, tried to destroy everyone and everything he cared about. But she had only been sixteen, had few if any friends, hadn’t been close to her family. Maybe if there had been more people in her life who cared about her, maybe she would have turned out differently.

“Thank you,” Headmistress Sprout’s voice broke the silence.

Madam Linnaway, the school’s wiry, raven-haired broom instructor, and today’s referee, hovered over them.

“Now, I want a good, clean match. Are you all ready?”

The seven Gryffindors and seven Ravenclaws all nodded.

“Right then.” Madam Linnaway blew her whistle. Both teams took to the air, and the game was on.

Robert quickly forgot about the moment of silence, the battle, the deaths, how pretty Rose was. Bat at the ready, he scanned through the swirling snowflakes, searching for Bludgers and marking the position of everyone over the pitch.

To the right! He spotted one of the Ravenclaw Beaters smash a Bludger in Rose’s direction. Robert leaned forward, putting on an extra burst of speed. The Bludger screamed toward Rose, who didn’t even see it, so intent was she on finding the Snitch.

C’mon, c’mon.

The Bludger drew closer.

Robert lunged forward, clipping it with the tip of his bat. He had no chance to redirect it at any of the Ravenclaws, but at least he’d kept it from hitting Rose.

Gryffindor scored the first two goals, both courtesy of Albus. James stopped the first four shots on hoop, but let in the next three. Back and forth the scoring went.

Robert did his best to keep Rose in sight, deflecting any Bludgers that came her way. One did nail him in the side. He just clenched his teeth, fought off the stabbing pain in his side, and kept flying. Better for a Beater to get hit than the Seeker, anyway.

Forty minutes into the contest, with the score 140-120 Ravenclaw, Rose nosed her broom up and banked right. Robert noticed her head was no longer on a swivel. She stared straight ahead.

She musta found the Snitch. He shook his head, wondering how anyone could find a flittering little golden ball in this white mess.

He turned toward Rose, searching for any Bludgers. Instead he spotted the weedy-looking Hayden Petticus, Ravenclaw’s Seeker, barreling toward Rose. He soon pulled alongside her. Rose glanced at him and tried pulling ahead. Hayden stayed right with her, even giving her a little shove. Rose shoved back. Hayden whipped his head toward her, bumped her, then elbowed her in the shoulder.

“Hey!” Robert looked around, waiting to hear the ref’s whistle. Waiting. Still waiting.

How the hell is that not a foul?

He scowled at Hayden, still bumping and shoving Rose. Well, if Madam Linnaway wouldn’t do anything about it, he would.

Robert scanned the snowy sky, searching for a Bludger. None were nearby. He sneered, resisting the urge to rush off and find one.

Stay with the Seeker. Protect the Seeker.

He turned back to Rose. He felt his cheeks redden with anger as Hayden kept bumping and shoving Rose. What he wouldn’t give to just crack the little Ravenclaw dipstick over the head with his bat.

He caught movement out the corner of his eye. Something dark. He snapped his head to the right.

A Bludger streaked toward him.

Robert smiled. His eyes flickered between the Bludger and the two Seekers. Fear surged through him. If he was off by just a couple inches, he’d nail Rose instead of dipstick.

Then don’t be off.

He dropped back, watching the Bludger draw closer. He took a last look at Rose and Hayden, then drew his bat back.

Wait for it . . . wait for it . . . Now!

He swung. A sharp jolt went up his arm. The Bludger hurtled toward the two Seekers.

Please . . . please.

The Bludger struck Hayden in the right shoulder. He howled and spun away from Rose.

“Oh yeah!” Robert pumped his bat hand. “Damn, I’m good.”

He checked on Hayden, who straightened his broom and hovered in place while he rubbed his shoulder.

Robert grinned evilly. Your ass is mine.

From that point on, every Bludger he struck he sent Hayden Petticus’ way. He only hit the Ravenclaw Seeker once, but it made the boy turn his focus away from finding the Snitch and instead watching out for any Bludgers.

That’s when Robert knew they had this game.

After two hours of play, with the score Ravenclaw 260, Gryffindor 240, Rose suddenly dove toward the ground. Seconds later, she leveled out and stretched out her hand. Robert drew a rapid, excited breath. Go, Rosie! Go!

He checked the sky for any Bludgers. None came shooting toward her. But he did catch Hayden Petticus streak toward Rose.

Robert flew in front of him, trying to cut him off. Hayden cut left. So did Robert. Still he knew eventually the Ravenclaw would get ahead of him. Seekers always had the speed and maneuverability advantage over Beaters.

That didn’t worry him. Not with the idea that just popped into his head.

He twisted to the left, staring above Hayden. The Ravenclaw approached just as Robert raised his bat. He saw the panicked looked on the Seeker’s face. He dropped beneath Robert, whipping his head in all directions.

Robert smiled wide. The dumbass took the bait, thinking he’d picked up a Bludger and was getting ready to send it his way.

He spotted Rose, flying just a few feet above the ground. She practically stood up on her broom, reaching . . . reaching.

She quickly pulled in her arm, then raised her hand to the sky.

“Rose Weasley catches the Snitch. Gryffindor defeats Ravenclaw 390 to 260.” Harold Thomas made no attempt to hide the disappointment in his voice.

The Gryffindor stands went insane. Sparks shot into the air from those stands, forming a huge lion that swatted an eagle with its paws.

Robert cheered and waved his bat as he descended to the ground with the rest of his teammates.

“We did it, mate! We did it!” Albus pounded him on the back. Seconds later James and Chester bounded toward them. The four exchanged manly hugs and high-fives.

“Brilliant work, Robert!” Norton Fudge slapped him on the shoulder. “You completely took their Seeker out of the match. Well, done.”

“Thanks, Norton.”

“Robert!” Rose charged toward him, still holding up the captured Snitch. “We did it! We won!”

She launched herself at him. He hugged her tight, lifting her completely off the ground. When he set her back on the ground, he stared into her blazing, joyful face.

He leaned forward and kissed her full on the lips. The entire world vanished. Only Rose existed, her soft, moist lips, her slender body, which he pulled against him.

He had no idea how much time past when their lips parted. He drew a deep breath and looked into Rose’s face.

She stared at him in utter shock.

Uh-oh. He glanced around. Both the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw teams gawked at him. Several “wooos” went up in the stands, along with a “Go, Robert!”

He turned back to Rose, who still hadn’t recovered from the shock.

“Um, Rose. Um, I’m sorry. I got carried away and -”

She grasped the back of his head and smashed her lips against his. Robert wrapped his arms around Rose’s back, savoring every sensation from her kiss.

“Miss Weasley! Mister O’Bannon!” Madam Linnaway shouted. “Control yourselves!”

They both jumped apart, Rose’s face turning red.

Robert looked back at his teammates. Tara Wood giggled behind her hands. Next to her stood the Potter brothers. Albus smiled and shook his head.

“About bloody time, you two.”

XXXXX

Robert couldn’t remember a time he’d showered and changed so quickly. He waited at the tent exit, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet, checking his watch, wishing Rose would hurrying up and get out here.

Five excruciatingly long minutes later, Rose bounded out of the girls’ changing room. Hand-in-hand they went outside, where it appeared all of Gryffindor House awaited them. Their housemates cheered and hooted as they walked past.

“Brilliant job, you two,” exclaimed Carlton Coote.

“That Quidditch Cup is ours this year, that’s for sure,” declared Efram MacMillan-Longbottom.

“You were great, sis!” Hugo jumped up and down and hugged Rose.

Robert high-fived Edward and Arthur when he noticed a familiar redheaded girl nearby. Guilt welled up inside him as he saw Lucida Bloom staring intently at the ground. He sighed to himself. They hadn’t said a word to one another since their break-up. A couple times he thought about trying to talk to her, to apologize for this entire mess. But Lucida seemed to make it a point to ignore his existence. He hoped that one day they could move past all these hard feelings and be friends again.

“Hey!” Priya Hobstorm jumped in front of them. “Party in the Common Room.” She lowered her voice. “Unless you two have your own party planned.”

“Don’t worry.” Robert grinned at her. “We’ll be at the party . . . though we’ll be fashionably late.”

Priya squeed with delight as Robert gently yanked Rose’s hand and led her toward the castle.

They entered the first empty classroom they came across, sat on one of the desks, and snogged away. Robert gently kissed Rose’ chin, then worked his way up her cheeks, then nibbled on her ear. She giggled, running her fingers through his hair, then pecking at his cheek and neck.

“Honestly,” she whispered in his ear. “I always pictured our first kiss to be a little more . . . personal.”

He looked her in the eyes and shrugged. “I don’t know. Kissing after a Quidditch win seemed to work for Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny.”

“Only they kissed in front of everyone in Gryffindor House. We did it in front of the entire school.”

“Yeah, well . . .” He smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. I mean, I hope I didn’t ruin anything for you.”

“No, you didn’t.” She rubbed his arm. “In all honesty, lately I’ve been thinking about what James said in the Great Hall after we got back to school. About allowing ourselves to live again. It’s been almost two months since the battle. And I’ve been struggling so much, wanting to be with you, and wondering if enough time had passed to get over . . . everything.”

“Wow.”

“Wow what?” Rose’s brow crinkled.

“Well, I’ve actually been waiting for you to give me some signal saying you were ready to get serious. Glad I took the initiative here.”

Rose giggled and gently tapped his shoulder. She then drew a slow breath. “Are you over . . . everything?”

Robert worked his jaw back and forth. “Well, I’m over Lucida. As for the battle . . . I don’t know, do you ever really get over that?”

Rose lowered her head, then leaned against his chest. “I still have nightmares. So does Priya. We do talk about it from time to time. That seems to help.”

“You can talk to me about it, too.” He held her tightly and kissed the top of her head. “Besides, you’re not the only one who still has nightmares. And my dad said if things get to tough to deal with, I should talk to someone who cares about me.”

Rose pressed harder against him. “Any time you want to talk, Robert, I’ll be there.”

“Ditto.”

They looked at one another and kissed.

“So?” Rose rested her hands on his shoulders. “Should we head up to the Common Room for the big celebration?”

Robert looked up at the ceiling. “Let me think. Go to a big, wild party at Gryffindor Tower, or stay here and make out . . . er, snog, with the most beautiful Seeker in the world.” He paused. “Well, my mind’s made up.”

Rose managed to laugh for a couple seconds before Robert’s lips covered hers.

THE END

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Thanks to all of you who’ve stuck with this story. I hope you have enjoyed it. And big thanks to all those who have left reviews. Your comments have been helpful and much appreciated.