Hey, Dad..

Wow, I really don't have one ounce of self-respect, do I? Fine, let's get straight to the point.

It's almost been a year.. Why are you doing this to me? If you don't want to keep any contact, just say so.. I'll stop writing to you. Don't build my hopes up, please!

I just wanted to know where it went wrong.

I've been trying so hard to make up for whatever it is..

Just tell me why.. and I'll leave you alone.
Asteria.

After another successful meeting in a long while, Harry pulled out the Marauder's Map again and checked it carefully for signs of teachers on the seventh floor, just like he always did on previous meetings.

The recent meetings had got harder to organise as the first Quidditch match of the season, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, had drawn nearer. They were put on hold because of Asteria and Angelina insisting on almost daily practices. And one could see the rivalrous tension they held while practising defence.

The fact that the Quidditch Cup had not been held for a year added considerably to the interest and excitement surrounding the forthcoming game.

The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were taking a lively interest in the outcome, for they, of course, would be playing both teams over the coming year; and the Heads of House of the competing teams, though they attempted to disguise it under a decent pretence of sportsmanship, were determined to see their side's victory.

Harry and Ria had never seen Professor McGonagall so conflicted before. There was no doubt that she wanted Gryffindor to win, but she also didn't want to see Ria lose her first match as a Captain.

He let the students leave in threes and fours, watching their tiny dots anxiously to see that they returned safely to their dormitories.

"No, no! But seriously, where'd you get that bloody brain of yours?" said Ron, when he, Hermione, Harry and Ria had left the room.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I've already explained, Ronald. There's no secret." She replied unenthusiastically, as they watched the door melt back into stone behind them. "You've asked me that many times now.."

"Only once," said Ron, then he turned towards Harry and Ria. "By the way, did you see me outsmart Hermione while using that jinx?"

Harry was almost grateful that Ron had forgotten for a moment about the fact that the first match was merely hours away. The boy's anxiety about the match had been heightening day by day.

"You did what now?" Hermione chuckled in disbelief. "Oh, yeah, if you mean that one time when you tripped over your own feet and accidentally aimed your wand at me, then.."

Harry didn't listen to them. He had his eyes on the Marauders map, but he also glanced towards Ria once in a while.

She was looking out towards the sky, almost desperately. He could tell she wanted to go to the Astronomy tower badly. He knew she was anxious about the first match of the season. But he could also see her tucked away in a corner many times, all by herself, scribbling in her little journal that she used for writing about her magic.

She looked excited most of the days, thrilled, as if things were starting to make sense to her. And Harry could do nothing but admire from afar. Atleast, she was happy..

"Harry!" Hermione snapped him out of his thoughts, and she had a hint of a smile on her face. "Why don't you drop Ria off?"

"I can't just leave you two be.." Harry justified. He couldn't risk having Ron and Hermione get caught, of course.

Ron scoffed. "Come on, mate! We are Prefects! Nothing can harm us!" Hermione chuckled, but agreed with his statement for this while.

"Sure you'd be okay?" asked Ria. Hermione and Ron nodded confidently, separating paths with the pair.

As soon as they began walking again, Ria plopped her head against Harry's shoulder.

As much as she was happy, she was stressed too. All this research, these secret DA meetings, then the first Quidditch match of the season being the next day... It was getting hard. She had also written her father a letter the day before, out of frustration.

And not to mention the constant bad feeling that was nagging her. Lord, it was annoying being a Seer; just living in constant fear because you know nine out of ten times your instinct is right.

Sometimes you just don't want it to be, just for the sake of your own sanity.

Ria sighed, wrapping her arms around Harry's torso and melting into his warmth. She wanted a break. Harry chuckled, pulling her closer. "You waited to do that, didn't you?" He asked, making her face go slightly red.

"No.." she discreetly lied.

"Okay." replied Harry, dropping his hand off her shoulder. She gasped, offended, and placed his arm around her shoulder again.

"Alright! I waited because I couldn't do that in front of them! Happy?" Ria justified herself, wrapping her hands around his torso. "They wouldn't have stopped teasing me for the rest of the week, then."

Harry kissed her head with another chuckle. "Stressed about tomorrow's match?" He asked, and she quickly nodded.

"That's why I kept quiet.." she answered. "If I would've uttered one word about Quidditch, Ron would've gone back to worrying."

Harry nodded. "True." Ron was genuinely good at keeping. All he needed was a little nudge of confidence. He then looked at her again. "Want to go to the Astronomy tower? It's a beautiful night." He asked.

Asteria pulled her lips in a line, conflicted. "Nah.. I'm good." She answered half-heartedly.

Harry instantly pulled away from her. "Where's my Ria? What did you do to her?" She chuckled, pulling him back to her side, and they continued walking.

"I just don't want us to get caught.." she answered honestly, reaching for his hand that was over her shoulder. She could feel the scar etched on the back of his hand.

"Well, who cares?" Harry shrugged. "Do you want to go?" He asked.

"We should probably go back before Umbridge, or Filch, or Mrs. Norris come by snooping for us—"

"Oh, shut it!" Harry rolled his eyes and halted. "Do you want to go?" He asked again, looking down at her. Ria pursed her lips helplessly. "If you want to go, we go. No matter what." He answered.

Ria sighed. "I don't want us to get in trouble.." she whispered, her eyes filled with a mix of worry and thrill.

"Since when did Asteria 'Sunshine' Edwards start worrying about getting into trouble?" He joked, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Since—"

"What are you two doing out here after curfew?" A voice said, that made the two simultaneously roll their eyes.

Since this bitch arrived in Hogwarts.. Ria completed the sentence in her head.

The two faced Umbridge, their mind running through distinct possibilities to find a solution as her face held the same damn annoying smile. "It looks like you two have a special urge to always find your way back into detention." She commented with a small giggle.

Harry clutched the Map and his wand tighter in his right hand. Then a hypothetical light bulb glowed above his head. Good thing he had thought of taking it with him.

"Do you not know that according to the Educational decree..."

Ria was looking down, trying to contain her irritation. Harry took the chance and stared somewhere behind Umbridge, pretending that there was something behind her.

"That's all good and well, Professor." He interrupted her. "But do you happen to know that man behind you?"

Umbridge stopped in confusion and turned around, while Harry clutched his wand tight in his hand.

"Confundo!" Ria looked at Harry in shock, but he wasted no time in grabbing her hand and running the other way as Umbridge stood in her place, dazed.

Once they turned around the corner, Harry took something out of his jacket. "Harry—" her sentence was cut off when she was gently pushed back against the wall.

Harry shushed her and hid them both under his Invisibility Cloak. Ria just stared at him as they both breathed heavily, and thanked the stars that he had finally got that spell right.

"You're—" Harry instantly shut her up by crashing his lips on hers. And despite kissing him back straight away, Ria was really surprised and flustered.

Through the silence, A pair of footsteps entered the corridor. "I heard them running here.. right here!" Umbridge said. "It is beyond curfew and someone is out here. I just can't remember who I saw."

Harry smirked into the kiss and gently bit on Ria's lower lip, not at all caring about the risk of getting caught. Asteria gave out a surprised squeak, and Harry kissed her more passionately, making her heart hammer against her chest uncontrollably.

"Did you hear that, Madam?" asked Filch.

Ria pushed him back slightly, not because she didn't like it, but because it was simply not the time. She glared at Harry; her cheeks red, while the boy stared at her as if she was a dream he was willing to chase all his life.

"No. But whoever that was. Find them." Umbridge ordered, not being able to remember, as now her memory was foggy.

Soon, their footsteps indicated that Harry and Ria were left alone in the corridor. She looked up at her boyfriend, trying hard to refrain herself from smiling but not being able to. "What was that?" She simply asked.

Harry shrugged. "I wanted to use my hands to shut you up, trust me.. they were just busy holding the Cloak." He answered smugly. "But I see you liked it. We should do this often, what do you say?"

Ria looked away for a moment, trying to hide the fact that she was melting away at everything he had done. She looked back at him again. "Harry Potter. You are absolutely mad." She whispered through her smile.

"But you love it." Harry replied in an obvious tone.

"I never denied."

Ria sighed in her sleep, feeling too eased and relieved for some reason. Some unfamiliar, rhythmic beat was helping to her comfort. Merlin, she didn't remember the last time she had slept so well.

"What is it? Where—"

"Shh."

Then there was a gasp. "Oh. My... What the fuck?"

Then. Silence.

"Did they do it?"

Theodore? Ria's subconscious asked. And she became slightly conscious of her surroundings.

"Shush!"

"How am I supposed to shush? Zabini?" He asked. Hey! That is Theo!

"Can you like— not? For a second? Calm the fuck down, maybe?"

"Look at them!" Someone whispered. "Adorable."

No, I don't wanna get up. Ria snuggled her face into her pillow. Then, multiple chuckles triggered her, and lifted her head up in annoyance, her eyes still closed.

"You do know I don't get enough sleep, right? So, maybe don't be a douche when I do get some?" She grumbled in her sleep.

"See? I told you!" whispered Blaise. "Sorry, Ri. You go back to sleep.

Asteria merely nodded. "Thank you." She plopped her head back onto the pillow.

But then her eyes suddenly opened. "Wait— how the fuck did you get in the girls' dorm—" She looked down at her 'pillow'.

"—WHAT THE FU—" She toppled down on the floor, taking Harry, who was under her and had a tight grip around her waist, with her.

The audience broke out into laughter and Asteria groaned, while Harry was still on top of her, sleeping still like a rock.

So.. That's why my pillow had a heartbeat. Ria thought. She had forgotten running into the Gryffindor common room after that encounter with Umbridge.

"Hush.. I'm here, love." Harry said in his sleep, his voice a bit deep and raspy. And as if she wasn't already flustered enough, he hid his face in the crook of her neck, his lips barely touching her skin. For heaven's sake, Harry, not now!

"I thought we were to tumble on the Quidditch field.." Fred commented. "Looks like you two have other tumbling plans."

She looked up at the group that was chuckling at them; Hermione, Ron, Theodore, Blaise, Sophie, Fred and George, Lee and Amelia, Ginny, Lavender, Parvati and Dean.

Oh God. She panicked, trying to get up, but Harry was making it hard to. "Harry!" Ria whisper-yelled. "Harry! Get up!"

"No."

"That wasn't a question!"

"Salazar.. Ria, please tell me you used protection."

"No! Lord no! Blaise!" She scolded, and Theodore gasped.

"You didn't?" He asked in disbelief. "Merlin's balls, I thought I told you already! I'm too young to become an uncle!"

"Theodore!" Ria warned, going redder while the audience just laughed.

Ria huffed under the frame of her boyfriend. "Harry!" She yelled in her strict, Captain voice, and he sat up in his place, awake. The laughter increased.

"Ria!" Amelia exclaimed, looking at her in concern while also trying to hold her smile back. "Ria, it's the first match today! Please tell me you aren't compromised!"

"No!" Asteria whined, still kind of sleepy. "Why would I be compromised?"

Amelia shrugged. "I don't know! I mean, yeah— he's your boyfriend, but he's still from the opposite team!"

"Wait—" said George, looking at Harry. "You didn't melt into her charms, did you?"

"Yeah.. Did you?" asked Fred.

"What?" Harry questioned, still confused as to what the fuck was happening. He was just peacefully sleeping with his girlfriend.

"Merlin.." Ron's voice quivered dramatically. "She's wiped off his memories!" The Gryffindors gave out mock cries of misery, while the couple just stared at them in pure confusion.

Ria shook her head. "I'm so done with this." She muttered under her breath and looked at Harry. But soon her cheeks went red as she noticed something she wasn't supposed to.

She cleared her throat and placed a nearby cushion on Harry's lap.

Harry put on his glasses, looked down at the cushion, and then looked back at her. "Er.. what happened?" He asked.

"You've— um— you've got a.." She trailed off awkwardly, hoping no one else had noticed, "a morning.. condition."

Harry's senses jumped wide awake, and he gripped the cushion.

"Erm— See you on the field." She answered hurriedly and walked away, while he watched her leave with his face turned hot.

He briskly nodded, then looked around to see all of them having conversations within themselves. He sighed in relief. I don't think anyone noticed.

But then his eyes turned towards Fred and George, and he slightly flinched in surprise after finding them looking towards him. He looked away, holding the cushion awkwardly. 

George was barely holding his amused smirk back, but on the other hand, Fred was looking at Harry like a proud mother. "Aww.. would you look at him?" He said fondly, wiping a fake tear away. "Wittle Hawwy is finally blooming."

And that was enough for Harry to look dramatically at the ceiling and mentally cry for help.

Asteria sat on the bench, her eyes fixated on the ground. The first match.. My first match as a Captain. Holy shit, that came quicker than I thought it would.

The awkward start of her morning pushed aside, her day had gone by quite well. Her fellow Slytherins had encouraged her to get her first win. She almost felt belonged in her House for a moment until she remembered this behaviour wasn't going to last long.

Then the first thing after getting ready and getting her breakfast, she had met with Ron. She had given him a friendly talk and encouraging shakes, which didn't prove to be useful at all, but Ron knew she meant well.

It was almost as if the Gryffindor team had decided to not let Ria meet Harry. They still were firm on the thought that she might enchant Harry and make him change his mind or something like that.

The two had just ended up shouting their 'good luck' to each other from across the Great Hall.

Two hands massaged her forearm fiercely, and Ria finally looked at the boy. Though he paid no mind and kept massaging.

"Theo.. I'm not going to a wrestling match. You can stop massaging— oh.. Ahh.." She groaned.

"No, don't stop. Don't stop. Right there—" She pointed towards a spot right behind her shoulder, and Theo quickly caught on it. "Yeah, that was sore yesterday— Oh! That feels so good!" Theodore smiled.

Beside Ria, Blaise sniggered. "I know what I'm going to tell Potter after the match.." He said, smirking.

"Oww— what?" She asked.

"That Theodore made you moan before he did." He replied, and Nott snorted.

"Oh, Helga, no!" said Sophie, in disgust. "Get your head out of the gutter, Zabini!"

Theo finally stopped and Asteria thanked him, cracking her neck for a quick moment before her eyes travelled to Amelia. "'Melia?" She called her out. The girl came out of her trance and looked at her. "Do you need something?"

Amelia shook her head quickly. "No. No. I'm fine." She smiled with a nod. "Just— er— just can't wait for the game to start." She replied, appearing slightly excited. Ria nodded.

"Alright. We'll leave now." said Theo, and grabbed her by her shoulders. "Go get 'em, my fierce little snake!" He shook her like an encouraging coach, but she couldn't take him seriously with his green and silver painted face.

"And listen, take care." Blaise added. "Watch out for Crabbe's Bludgers!" He said that part a little loudly as he looked at the boy, making sure he heard it. Ria just chuckled at them.

They pulled her into a tight group hug, and Ria felt a rush of warmth run through her body. Oh, how she loved their group hugs even though they were awkward sometimes.

"And yeah.." said Sophie as they let go of each other. "You'll do absolutely amazing, champ!" She said with a huge smile.

"How sentimental." A voice said sarcastically, and the three turned to look at none other than Snape.

"All the best." Sophie said one last time as they left the changing room. Ria looked up at her godfather anxiously.

"So.. your first match as a Captain," he started, his tone slow as usual. "I know—" He halted in surprise as Ria briskly hugged him.

"I'm nervous, I'm scared, and I have a bad feeling. The voices in my head won't stop screaming and I don't know if it's Carrow or just me. I want Mum and Dad to be here. I want Uncle Amos to be here. I wish Cedric was here to watch this match, but I know it can't happen, so I'm upset, and I don't know what's happening to me." She backed away quickly and looked up at him. "But I'm fine."

Then she added an afterthought, "Don't tell Mum that I said all that."

Severus looked at her goddaughter in concern. And after a bit of hesitation, he took her in a short and awkward embrace, but surprisingly, it gave Ria a familiar feeling of comfort.

When he let go, he had a tight smile on his face. "You'll do well, Asteria. I.. believe in you." He tried encouraging her. Of course, he had never done that before, but he also hated children before his goddaughter, so that made sense.

"Did anyone tell you that you're shit at encouraging talks?" She said with an amused smile. But she didn't care. At least he cared.. unlike some people that didn't even bother to answer her letters.

He nodded. "Your mother and—" He stopped himself before he could utter Lily's name, "Your mother tells me that quite often.. ever since we were young."

She nodded. "But thank you." Ria answered sincerely, and as he began walking to leave, she added, "I hope I don't disappoint you."

"You could never." Snape answered, but then said, "except for the time you chose Potter."

"Ha ha ha. Very funny." Ria mocked a laugh, but he continued to leave. She rolled her eyes and turned to look at her team members. Adrian was gawking at the entrance of the changing room. "What happened Adrian?"

He looked back at her in shock. "First.. Did Snape just visit us before the match, for the first time in forever? And second.. Did that man just hug you?!"

Ria stood in her place awkwardly. "You do know he's my godfather, right?"

"Yes." Adrian nodded. "But I also know that Snape's an emotionless robot." Ria rolled her eyes. She couldn't blame him, since she had thought the same at first.

"Alright! Slytherins! A word please!" she clapped, gaining everyone's attention. "And where on earth is our Seeker— Ah, there you are! Why are you always late? And why are you wearing a badge?" She asked in annoyance, looking at a silver crown-shaped badge pinned to his Quidditch gear.

"I am not late!" Malfoy defended himself, "and uh— this? This is for.. team integrity!" He answered, and Ria looked around at the team. Everyone was wearing it.

He handed one to Ria, and she wore it mindlessly with a small smile. "Alright.. now pay attention, please." She said again, and all the members looked at her.

"Our first match of the season is finally here, and we all waited for it, in all honesty, because of who our opponent was.." the team chuckled, and so did she.

"Now.. I'm not going to give you an encouraging talk. I've given that plenty of times, during tryouts, practices, and during breakfast today, too. Right now.. what I'm giving is more of a warning." Asteria clarified, and the team became a little more attentive.

"I know. We all want to win, badly. Trust me, I do too. But.. again.. remember, we don't want to be shat on, because of how we performed." She said firmly, taking a glaring look at all of them.

"When you all first tried out, I made it pretty clear that I don't want disgusting foul play on my team." she stated, and Malfoy exchanged looks with Crabbe and Goyle. "If you are coming into my team to win a bad reputation for the rest of us, I suggested you to leave on the first day itself. But seeing as none of you left, I am counting on you to not break my trust."

"And more than trust.." she looked at Crabbe, knowing well he wasn't going to listen. "I'm counting on you to not test my patience.. if you all know what I mean." They nodded. "I can't tell you the consequences.. Because, do I know what they are? No. Do I want to know what they are? Also, no."

"Now.. back to the game.." She looked at the rest of them. "If you are going to help us win by playing a shitty game, full of cheating, I would rather never play Quidditch for the rest of my life than play with you again."

"And that doesn't mean I quit. That means you get your arse kicked out. Am I clear?" Ria stated, loud and clear. And after a loud, clear response of 'yes', she smiled. "Good. Now, buckle up."

The team scattered, and she started wearing her additional gear, when Malfoy approached her, a little nervous, but he didn't show it on his face. "That was quite a speech." he quietly complimented.

"Was it impressive? Or was it scary?" Ria asked with a little smirk.

Malfoy shrugged. "A bit of both." and she nodded.

But then, she looked at him again. "Please, don't disappoint me." she asked sincerely, and at the tone her voice held.. his smile disheartened, just a little bit.

Doesn't matter. She'll be happy when we win.

Draco nodded briskly, but then a brown owl came flying in and perched on Ria's arm. She grinned. "Hey, Jude!" she scratched the owl's head fondly, and then offered him crumbs of the almonds she was eating earlier.

"That looks like it's going to take a while.." Adrian commented as he saw the letter in Ria's hand. He was ready with his broomstick, just like the rest of the team.

"Oh, no worries!" Amelia said quickly. "You're all ready and there's still some time. Go ahead, you'll be done reading by the time the game starts." She said with a smile as she left the room, and Adrian followed her. Malfoy awkwardly stood alone in the room with Ria for some moments before leaving too.

Asteria watched him leave, a little doubtful of his behaviour, but then shrugged. She turned her eyes towards the letter, and her heart took a leap at the name of the person who had written it.

Ria hurriedly ripped the envelope and unfolded the letter with curiosity, excitement, anxiety, and everything else crammed up in the pit of her stomach. But once her brain registered the words on the letter, her heart dropped.

The Gryffindor team waited impatiently at the other end of the pitch, ready to take off. It was ten minutes past the actual time of the game, and it hadn't started yet.

"What is taking them so long?" whispered Angelina anxiously while George talked to someone from the stands.

Even Harry had an anxious feeling in his stomach. He could see the entire Slytherin team at the other end of the pitch, but he couldn't spot Ria.

"They're still waiting for a team member." George clarified to his team.

"See? I told you Ria wasn't there!" Harry justified himself. "You said I couldn't see her because I just had bad eyesight."

"That's true though.." Katie muttered under her breath, and Harry gave her a small glare.

"Well, the thing is, mate," answered Ron, looking through the crowd nervously. "Not all of us have a magical vision that could spot our girlfriends from literal miles away— Oh, see! There's Hermione!" He said, pointing towards a faraway point in the crowd, and Harry gave him a look of disbelief, but chose not to say anything.

"Oh, thank Godric." Angelina said as a figure emerged into the Slytherin team, who she assumed was Ria.

Madam Hooch blew her whistle. All the players mounted their brooms and took off in the air to circle the pitch. Harry tried many times to encounter Ria, but she just brushed past him every time they crossed paths.

They finally stopped in the middle of the pitch, and Angelina's eyes widened a little when she took a good look at Asteria's face. And she forgot about their little rivalry for a moment. "Captains shake hands," ordered Hooch. And Angelina and Ria did so.

When they let go, Angelina hesitantly asked, "Are you.. Are you alright?"

Ria looked up at her, eyes bloodshot red and mascara slightly smeared from her bottom lashes, and one could easily tell that Quidditch stress was definitely not the reason. It was something else.

She nodded with a sniffle. "Better than alright. Why'd you ask?"

"Mount your brooms..." Madam Hooch placed her whistle in her mouth and blew. The balls were released and the fourteen players shot upward; Ria streaked her way towards her hoops and saw Ron do the same.

She could feel the anger radiate off her body. Her mind was going to stay on that crumbled letter in her pocket the entire time. I shouldn't have opened it.

But I am going to win this match.. and prove that I am better than what he considers me to be.

"And it's Johnson, Johnson with the Quaffle, what a player that girl is, I've been saying it for years but she still won't go out with me—"

"JORDAN!" yelled Professor McGonagall.

"Just a fun fact, Professor, adds a bit of interest— and she's ducked Amelia Henry— also my favourite girl— she's passed Montague, she's— ouch— been hit from behind by a Bludger from Crabbe... Montague catches the Quaffle, Montague heading back up the pitch and- nice Bludger there from George Weasley, that's a Bludger to the head for Montague, he drops the Quaffle, caught by Katie Bell, Katie Bell of Gryffindor reverse passes to Alicia Spinnet and Spinnet's away—"

Lee Jordan's commentary rang through the stadium and Ria tried to listen and focus as hard as she could through the wind whistling in his ears, the thoughts in her mind, the words on the letter being played like a tape, and the noise of the crowd, all yelling and booing.. and singing..

"—dodges Pucey, avoids a Bludger— close call, Alicia— and the crowd are loving this, just listen to them, what's that they're singing?"

And as Lee paused to listen, the song rose loud and clear from the sea of green and silver in the Slytherin section of the stands:

Weasley cannot save a thing,
He cannot block a single ring,
That's why Slytherins all sing:
Weasley is our King.

Ria's heart dropped again. No.. no, this is not how I wanted it to go..

Weasley was born in a bin,
He always lets the Quaffle in,
Weasley will make sure we win,
Weasley is our King.

"—and Alicia passes back to Angelina!" Lee shouted, and as Ria's blood went on boiling as she heard what the song said. Lee was clearly trying to speak over the song, but he wasn't very successful. "Come on now, Angelina— looks like she's got just the Keeper to beat! Oh shit, it's Ria Edwards, the new Captain— ANGELINA SHOOTS— SHE— aaaah..."

Ria had saved the goal; she threw the Quaffle to Amelia, who sped off with it, zigzagging in between Alicia and Katie; the singing from below grew louder and louder as Henry drew nearer and nearer to Ron—

Weasley is our King,
Weasley is our King,
He always lets the Quaffle in,
Weasley is our King.

Ria now had the burning desire to find out who was behind all this. Her soul was at peace, knowing she had finally found someone to take her wrath out on.

And the bad thing about it? For once, she didn't feel regret about having violent thoughts.

"—and it's Henry with the Quaffle, Henry heading for goal, she's out of Bludger range with just the Keeper ahead—" A great swell of song rose from the Slytherin stands below:

Weasley cannot save a thing,
He cannot block a single ring...

"—so it's the first test for new Gryffindor Keeper, Weasley, brother of Beaters, Fred and George, and a promising new talent on the team— come on, Ron!"

But the scream of delight came from the Slytherin end: Ron had dived wildly, his arms wide, and the Quaffle had soared between them, straight through Ron's central hoop.

"Slytherin score!" came Lee's voice amid the cheering and booing from the crowds below. "So that's ten-nil to Slytherin— bad luck, Ron.."

The Slytherins sang even louder:
WEASLEY WAS BORN IN A BIN,
HE ALWAYS LETS THE QUAFFLE IN...

"—and Gryffindor back in possession and it's Katie Bell tanking up the pitch—" cried Lee valiantly, though the singing was now so deafening that he could hardly make himself heard above it.

WEASLEY WILL MAKE SURE WE WIN,
WEASLEY IS OUR KING...

"Never going to listen to me, I see.." Asteria muttered under her breath, her eyes locking onto the blonde boy who was singing the song with all his chest.

"Harry, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" screamed Angelina, soaring past him to keep up with Katie. "GET GOING!"

Harry realised ‌he had been stationary in midair for more than a minute, watching the progress of the match without sparing a thought for the whereabouts of the Snitch; horrified, he went into a dive and started circling the pitch again, staring around, trying to ignore the enraging chorus now thundering through the stadium:

WEASLEY IS OUR KING,
WEASLEY IS OUR KING...

There was no sign of the Snitch anywhere he looked; Malfoy was still circling the stadium, just like Harry. They passed midway around the pitch going in opposite directions and Harry heard Malfoy singing loudly too,

WEASLEY WAS BORN IN A BIN...

"— it's 'Melia again," bellowed Lee, "who passes to Pucey, Pucey's off past Spinnet, come on now Angelina, you can take him— turns out you can't— but nice Bludger from Fred Weasley, I mean, George Weasley, oh who cares, one of them anyway, and Henry drops the Quaffle and Katie Bell— er— drops it too— so that's Montague with the Quaffle, and he's off up the pitch, come on now Gryffindor, block him!"

Harry zoomed around the end of the stadium behind the Slytherin goal hoops, willing himself not to look at what was going on at Ron's end; as he sped past Asteria. But all he could see was Ria stone-still in her place. Concerned, he flew beside her; she looked like she was having trouble breathing.

WEASLEY CANNOT SAVE A THING...

"—and Pucey's dodged Alicia again, and he's heading straight for goal, stop it, Ron!"

Harry did not have to look to see what had happened: There was a terrible groan from the Gryffindor end, coupled with fresh screams and applause from the Slytherins. Looking down, Harry saw the pug-faced Pansy Parkinson right at the front of the stands, her back to the pitch as she conducted the Slytherin supporters who were roaring:

THAT'S WHY SLYTHERINS ALL SING:
WEASLEY IS OUR KING.

But then, the crowd of singers suddenly stumbled, and the singing began dying down. Suddenly, everyone was silent, and the crowd of Slytherins stumbled again.

Harry turned to look at Asteria, and so did the rest of the players on the field. She was still breathing heavily, but this time, her entire neck— instead of just some veins— had turned black, and her eyes were glowing gold.

Anyone from far away could see that golden shine flickering in that dull afternoon. And as the stands slightly shook again, everyone knew who was behind that.

"EDWARDS! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Malfoy yelled. He hadn't expected that.. she didn't know how to control her magic, right?

"You want to know how I controlled my anger?" Out of envy of how her mother controlled her magic so efficiently, Ria had once asked her for a solution. "What if I tell you.. I never did?"

Ria smirked, and the stands shook a little more. "Anger isn't your enemy if you use it the right way." Her mother's answer echoed in her ears. "Aim it properly.. it will obey your commands and bow before you."

"Anger can be your most glorious weapon if you try hard enough."

"—Asteria popping off like the fucking queen she is—"

"Watch your mouth!" McGonagall warned Lee, but at the same time, she was concerned. The amount of power Ria was using was considered abnormal in the books of the Wizarding World, at least for someone her age.

"Oh.. dear, stop it." She mumbled in worry. "You'll drain yourself. Please stop it."

"Sorry— Professor— I was just saying that we respect a fair play— and Katie Bell of Gryffindor dodges Pucey, ducks Montague, nice swerve, Katie, and she throws to Johnson, Angelina Johnson takes the Quaffle, she's past Amelia, she's heading for goal, come on now Angelina— NO!"

Ria came out of her stance and swerved hard to her right, catching the Quaffle again. The earthquake in the Slytherin stands had stopped, but no one dared to utter a word. It was all a different deal when Ria tried to stay good in their books. During those times, she'd do anything to prove that she wasn't a danger to them. 

But that day, it was different.

This time, they knew she wasn't trying to be good to them.. This time, they knew she wasn't going to care.

Ria swung the Quaffle towards Adrian, but she was suddenly feeling too tired. She shook her head, trying to get herself together. "It's forty-nil to Slytherin and Pucey has the Quaffle..."

Harry could feel his heartbeat racing. He couldn't help but look back and forth between the pitch, Ria and Ron. She didn't seem to be fine. He could see the song was getting to Ron. But the match was going on too. With Ria on the defence, they weren't going to score any quicker, unless..

Harry ducked a Bludger that Crabbe had sent rocketing in his direction and resumed his frantic scouring of the pitch for the Snitch.

"—Pucey throws to Henry, Henry to Montague, Montague back to Pucey— Johnson intervenes, Johnson takes the Quaffle, Johnson to Bell, this looks good— I mean bad— Bell's hit by a Bludger from Goyle of Slytherin and it's Pucey in possession again..."

But Harry had seen it at last: The tiny fluttering Golden Snitch was hovering feet from the ground at the Slytherin end of the pitch. He dived..

In a matter of seconds, Malfoy was streaking out of the sky on Harry's left, a green-and-silver blur lying flat on his broom. The Snitch skirted the foot of one of the goal hoops and scooted off toward the other side of the stands; its change of direction suited Malfoy, who was nearer.

Harry pulled his Firebolt around. He and Malfoy were now neck and neck... Feet from the ground. Harry lifted his right hand from his broom, stretching toward the Snitch... to his right, Malfoy's arm extended too, reaching, groping...

It was over in two breathless, desperate, windswept seconds- Harry's fingers closed around the tiny, struggling ball— Malfoy's fingernails scrabbled the back of Harry's hand hopelessly. Harry pulled his broom upward, holding the struggling ball in his hand and the Gryffindor spectators screamed their approval.

They were saved. It did not matter that Ron had let in those goals, nobody would remember as long as Gryffindor had won.

Harry crashed on the ground harshly, and was winded as he landed flat on his back on the frozen pitch. He heard Madam Hooch's shrill whistle, an uproar in the stands compounded of catcalls, angry yells and jeering, a thud, then Angelina's frantic voice.

"Are you all right?"

"'Course I am," said Harry grimly, taking her hand and allowing her to pull him to his feet.

Asteria chuckled humourlessly, looking at the scene unfold in front of her eyes. They had lost..

Of course, they had lost before. But this defeat hurt more than all the others, somehow. This was the cleanest, yet the dirtiest game she had ever witnessed.

She had lost. She glared down at the ground, mind crowded with the words in that letter.

And then out of nowhere— WHAM! A Bludger collided straight to her body, and she lost the grip on her broom.

The crowd let out a collective gasp, and as Harry saw her, his heartbeat stopped for a moment. Almost all the players around rushed towards her, but it had been too late. She had crashed on the ground, head first.

Harry quickly crouched down to her half-conscious body. "Hey! Hey, hey!" He said, holding her upright as he panicked. His heart was hammering in his chest as her eyes rolled back.

"Ria.. Ria, can you hear me?" He asked desperately, tapping her cheek lightly. She groaned. "Shit." he hurriedly took the feeble helmet off her head and saw a gush of red. "SOMEONE CALL MADAM POMFREY! QUICK!" He yelled out frantically.

"You fucking dickhead!" At a distance, Amelia was screaming at Crabbe. "Are you out of your fucking mind?!" Then Theodore jumped at Crabbe, his fist colliding with his fat nose. The crack he heard was satisfying. Blaise joined in too, though no one could tell if he was helping Theo or trying to separate the two. And while everyone tried to stop that fight, Sophie, McGonagall, Snape and Pomfrey reached Asteria.

"It's like dealing with James Potter and Isabella Diggory all over again.. Why does it always have to be one of you two?" Pomfrey questioned in concern as she wetted a cloth. It was true; the two had never been admitted to the hospital wing at the same time. Though one of them was always there after every match. And when that happened, Pomfrey got attached to them.

"Just— Just quick, please—" Harry said in a rush as he snatched the cloth out of her hand and laid Ria's head on his lap. He gently cleaned the blood off her face, his hand shaking slightly. The Snitch was long forgotten where he had first caught it.

Ria groaned again, as if trying to say something. Her eyes peeled open slightly, and Harry breathed out in relief. Oh, thanks to her powers, she heals quickly.

"You should— you should lie down.." Harry instructed as she tried to get up. She shook her head, feeling as if she was in a drunken state.

The way she was feeling at the moment.. she wanted to escape to a dark void, filled with deafening silence.. somewhere she couldn't hear her own thoughts.

"I am fine." Ria breathed out, sitting still, but Harry insisted on holding her. "Harry. I am fine." she said again. "You've won... Go.. with your team."

"I'm not leaving you."

Malfoy picked the golden ball off the ground and snorted. He walked towards them; white-faced with fury, he was still managing to sneer. "Saved Weasley's neck, haven't you?" he said to Harry as he threw the Snitch beside him. "I've never seen a worse Keeper.. but then he was born in a bin... Did you like my lyrics, Potter?"

"Malfoy.." Ria warned. She already had enough of his bullshit. "Shut the fuck up..."

She looked up at the Gryffindor team that was standing around her. Hell, it hurt when other Houses cared about you, your opinions and your feelings more than your own House did. Sure, they didn't know her personally, but at least they treated her with basic respect. "Congrats on your win.. guys." she gave them a weak smile, and they returned it.

Harry did not answer Malfoy; he kept his eyes on his girlfriend. He aided Ria with all the gentleness he had, while clenching the Snitch in his other hand tightly out of anger.

Though when he took a double look at his team, there was someone missing. And when he looked back towards their changing room, he saw a gloomy Ron, with his head low, walking by.

"We wanted to write another couple of verses!" Malfoy called again, as Harry tried his best to ignore his voice. "But we couldn't find rhymes for fat and ugly— we wanted to sing about his mother, see—"

Even through the constant pounding in her head, it struck a separate nerve at how fucking low that bleached maggot could go. Ria's eyes travelled towards Sophie, and she saw her trying to control her urge to yell too. At least she was aware.

"Talk about sour grapes," said Angelina, casting Malfoy a disgusted look.

"—we couldn't fit in useless loser either— for his father, you know—"

Fred and George had realised what Malfoy was talking about. Halfway through hugging Amelia, they stiffened, looking around at Malfoy.

"Malfoy. Take the cue. Shut the fuck up." Amelia threatened. The Weasleys had treated her like their own daughter even though she came from a family of Death-eaters.

"Leave it," said Angelina at once, taking Fred by the arm. "Leave it, Fred, let him yell, he's just sore he lost, the jumped-up little—"

"—but you like the Weasleys, don't you, Potter?" said Malfoy, sneering. "Spend holidays there and everything, don't you? Can't see how you stand the stink, but I suppose when you've been dragged up by Muggles, even the Weasleys' hovel smells okay—"

Harry was quick to get up and grab hold of George; meanwhile it was taking the combined efforts of Angelina, Alicia, and Katie to stop Fred leaping on Malfoy, who was laughing openly. Amelia was far away from trying to hold any of them back. 

Why would she try to? Malfoy deserved it.

Harry looked around for Madam Hooch, but she was still berating Crabbe for his illegal Bludger attack and Blaise and Theodore for picking a fight.

"Or perhaps," said Malfoy, leering as he backed away, "you can remember what your mother's house stank like, Potter, and Weasley's pigsty reminds you of it—"

Harry was not aware of releasing George. All he knew was that a second later, both of them were sprinting towards Malfoy. He had completely forgotten the fact that all the teachers were watching: All he wanted to do was cause Malfoy as much pain as possible. With no time to draw out his wand, he merely drew back the fist clutching the Snitch and sank it as hard as he could into Malfoy's stomach.

"Harry! HARRY! GEORGE! NO!"

"I wish I could join you, honestly."

"Oh, don't worry! I'll break something of his for you—"

"STOP ENCOURAGING HIM, ASTERIA!"

He could hear girls' voices screaming, Malfoy yelling, George swearing, a whistle blowing, and the bellowing of the crowd around him, but he did not care, not until somebody in the vicinity yelled "IMPEDIMENTA!" and only when he was knocked over backward by the force of the spell did he abandon the attempt to punch every inch of Malfoy he could reach...

"What do you think you're doing?" screamed Madam Hooch, as Harry leapt to his feet again; it was she who had hit him with the Impediment Jinx. She was holding her whistle in one hand and a wand in the other. Her broom lay abandoned several feet away.

Malfoy was curled up on the ground, whimpering and moaning, his nose bloody; George was sporting a swollen lip; Fred was still being forcibly restrained by the three Gryffindor Chasers, and Crabbe, with his bruised face, was cackling in the background. "I've never seen behaviour like it— back up to the castle, both of you, and straight to your Head of House's office! Go! Now!"

Harry looked straight at Hooch. "I am not leaving—"

"Harry, go." Ria ordered, slowly getting up with Sophie's help. "Go. I'm fine." she said, as if her head wasn't just cracked open by a Bludger some seconds ago.

Harry and George marched off the pitch, both panting, neither saying a word to each other. While Sophie looked at Malfoy, who was lying on the ground, disappointed.

She looked back at Ria. "Come on.. Let's get you to the hospital wing. You're still not completely well."

Asteria shook her head like a stubborn child and freed her arm from Sophie's grip. "No.. I have some shit to take care of."

"You're not taking care of any 'shit', right now, Ria." Sophie instructed, but Ria didn't listen. She just walked towards Malfoy, still feeling dizzy and stumbling over a step or two.

He looked up at her. "You.. your friends.. Parkinson's group, and everyone actively involved in this bullshit.." she pointed at them. "I want all of you in the Slytherin changing room.. in twenty minutes." She warned. "No excuses. Try to make one, and I'll have you by your damn throat."

"Give me your wand, Amelia.."

The girl sighed, trying to calm her down. "Ria—"

"Now." Ria glared hard at her. And she only gulped, searching her robes and placing her wand in her hand. "Thank you."

"Sonorous." Ria panted hard, squinting her eyes when her own amplified sound made her head pound. "My fellow Slytherins.. this announcement is for you, and only you." The audience silenced altogether, all eyes on her.

"I'm letting it go." She said with a small laugh, as if not being able to believe that those words had left her mouth, considering just how angry she was. "But this is the last time."

"If I hear those lyrics once again.. it won't be pretty." She threatened, and it was as if a single creep shivered down the entire audience's spine. "So keep that in mind, if you will.."

With a final tired huff, Ria tossed the wand back to Amelia. She turned back towards her friends. They stood in a group; Sophie, Blaise, Theo, Amelia and Adrian. "Meanwhile, I don't want any of you.. lurking around the changing rooms until I'm done with them."

"Ria—"

"Just do as I say.." She warned, her tone low with sincerity, and the five fell silent. In all honesty, she didn't need her veins turning black, or her eyes glowing gold to appear scary. Her stance, and her piercing blue eyes that slowly darkened when she was angry were enough.

And as she looked at him again, Malfoy gulped, his face showing the slightest sign of fear that ran through him. "And make sure you show up.. Don't you fucking dare hide like the damn coward you've always been."

With one last glare, Asteria picked up her Nimbus and walked away. She tried her best to keep still, but her head felt as if it was about to fall off her neck or explode.

There was a storm brewing, and Ria was afraid she was barely holding on.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

[word count: 7884]