1 year ago

"Beaters are Lukas Bondevik and Gilbert Beilschmidt..." Thaovy sighed.

"Chasers... Taylor Phernalia, Vladimir Popescu, and Wang Yào." Cooper choked out.

"Keeper is none of other than Feliks Łukasiewicz of course." Roderich reminded them.

"And the Seeker is Arthur Kirkland." Dreamz growled.

"Well, looks like we freaking lost the House Cup- their team is stacked, there's no way we can win!" Vash shouted.

"Hey!" Thaovy and Roderich exclaimed, and Berwald shot Vash a glare.

"Well, it's true- you guys are good, but there's no way any Quaffle is getting past Feliks. He weaves in and out of those hoops like a weasel and knows how to use every one of his body parts to stop the ball." Dreamz pointed out.

"Okay, but we have Cooper!" Thaovy pointed out. "He's so fucking good it's almost stupid. None of the Slytherin shots are getting past him, I don't care how good anyone thinks they are."

"S'nds like it's a S'ker game." Berwald muttered.

"And Beaters." Cooper nodded, still blushing from Thaovy's prior comment. "Which is an issue- Gilbert and Lukas are merciless. Did everyone see the Hufflepuff game?"

Everyone in the room grimaced. "I thought Juan was going to lose that arm..." Roderich commented.

"Okay, but can we look at our Beaters for a second?" Thaovy spoke up again. "Dreamz and Vash combined have more anger issues than anyone in this entire damn school."

"I DO NOT HAVE ANGER ISSUES!" They both screamed.

"They'll serve it just as well as Gil and Lukas, IF not better." Thaovy stated as though she was selling a product with a 100% guarantee promise.

"So that'll just straight up leave it to Arthur and Shelby to duke it out." Cooper muttered thoughtfully, obviously coming to agree with Thaovy's point.

"We're screwed." Vash muttered.

"What? Shelby's an awesome Seeker!" Dreamz defended her friend.

"Against Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, yeah she's fine. But we're talking about Arthur Kirkland." Vash stated rather harshly.

"It's true. Not to be rude, but while Shelby wins with her heigh advantage as a Seeker, her weight becomes a bit of an issue- it takes the broom a bit more time to take off, and that makes her reaction time even more horrible." Roderich explained.

"She just doesn't stand a chance against Arthur, it's a simple fact." Vash shrugged.

Cooper pinched the bridge of his nose. "Then one of you will have to handle keeping Gil and Lukas off of Shelby, and the other go after Arthur."

"Done, I got that." Dreamz practically leaped forward, completely dropping any argument.

"Okay. It feels better to have a game plan. Everyone head upstairs, make sure we get some shut eye before the match tomorrow. It's going to be intense." Cooper advised, and the Ravenclaw Quidditch team lifted themselves from their seats and filed into the dormitories.

Once they were gone, Shelby stepped out behind a bookshelf near the entrance, her face red and tears staining her cheeks. On the couch near the former team meeting, Kiku looked up from his homework, and his eyes widened. "Shelby?"

"Hey." She whispered in a hoarse voice, her lip quivering.

"You... Were there the whole time." Kiku stated is realization as he recalled the entire conversation he had just heard.

Cooper ran down the stairs. "Hey, Kiku, is my book-" He paused mid-sentence as he spotted Shelby, and froze, his eyes widening. "Shelby, what happened?"

"A reality check." Shelby choked out, and Kiku looked over at Cooper, who seemed to finally realized what had occurred.

"Shel-"

"No, it's okay. It's what I get for being late." She squeaked, storming upstairs with her eyes trained on the floor.

Cooper covered his face and plopped down on the couch next to the book he had left. "I think I just lost my Seeker." He muttered to Kiku.

"Hai, I think you may have."

The Next Day

"Arthur." Hope called as the meeting in the locker room broke, and the Slytherin team began filing out onto the Quidditch pitch. "Can I talk to you, coach to Seeker?"

"Er, yes, of course." Arthur nodded, turning and walking back. He didn't know why he was surprised- he had actually expected it, being as this game decided who won the House Cup.

"We both know who your competition is today." She stated seriously. Despite her lack of aptitude for the sport, Hope loved Quidditch just as much as any player, which earned her respect among all the house teams. They all recognized her as the coach of the Slytherin team, even though it was only an honorary position.

"Shelby Ferrell." Arthur nodded. "One of the best Seekers Ravenclaw has seen in decades. Extremely dangerous."

"Yes, because once she gets moving, she's extremely fast in the air. Has trouble stopping, but is able to outfly anyone in a straight-on path." Hope recited.

"Yes, and she has a fine eye for the Snitch. She ended the Gryffindor game in 5 minutes. It was marvelous, I saw the whole thing." Arthur explained.

Hope smiled at the fact that Arthur had done his research. "Good, and guess what? She told Feliks how she did it. She finds the angle of the sun and positions herself to where the Snitch will catch the light and flashes whenever it flies into the sun."

Arthur blinked in amazement. "How-"

"I don't know how she does it, but she does, and that's how she finds the Snitch so freaking fast." Hope stated. "That is why whatever you do, I want you to shadow her. You have a better reaction time; if you can spot it first than you have a chance of getting it first."

"That... Seems like a horrible way to take the win." Arthur stated tentatively.

"Do you want to win?" Hope inquired. "I know it's not ideal, but I do not want to lose to Ravenclaw. We'll never hear the end of it from Alfred."

"... You're right." Arthur sighed. "I'll shadow Shelby, but just remember I'm doing it begrudgingly."

"I will remember. Don't leave her side."

"Mount your brooms!" Madam Hooch shouted. All 12 players mounted, tense, anxiety eating away at each of them. The Snitch was released. Arthur watched Shelby look up to the sky at the sun gleaming through parting clouds. The Bludgers were released. Gil, Vash, Dreamz, and Lukas tightened their grips on the bats. She threw the Quaffle in the air, and the game began.

Shelby took off to the side and positioned herself in between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff towers. She hung low to the ground, bobbing up and down rather than side to side. She noticed with satisfaction that Arthur was following her. Planting himself next to her, his green eyes raked the sky desperately. She tightened her grip on the broom. She would show her team she was a good Seeker.

She had to be careful with how long she waited, or Arthur might actually see the Snitch, and she might throw away her chances. The game was not breaking either way; as hard as the Chasers on either team worked, both Cooper and Feliks were too good and no Quaffles sailed through any hoops. The Seekers were hailed by Bludgers from both Gilbert and Dreamz, but none made their target. Whether Slytherin or Ravenclaw received the House Cup was to be determined by which hand the Snitch was clutched in.

She had waited long enough. Shelby leaned forward and took off into the sky, before making a sharp right. The turn allowed Arthur catch up, and they raced across the pitch. Shelby could hear the crowd screaming; three of the four houses were dressed in bronze and blue. She shot up into the air, but Arthur pulled ahead of her. Once they were about 40 feet in the air, Arthur paused, looking around. Shelby followed his lead, looking around desperately, before shooting off towards the Slytherin goals. Arthur followed her closely, pushing the broom down in a desperate attempt to keep up. She dived down. It was all or nothing now. Arthur was smart; he may realize what as going on. Shelby was banking on the adrenaline that was likely coursing through his veins right now.

He followed. The ground sped towards him quickly. She could really mess this up. She could crash. She should pull up now. But she heard Vash and Roderich's words ring in her ears and she gritted her teeth. The speed was increasing. Arthur was right next to her. She reached forward. Arthur did the same in hopes he would grab the Snitch once he saw it. This might work. It had to work. She bumped into him as if to knock him away from the Snitch. He retaliated with vigor. They were so close. 10. 5. She pulled up.

Arthur did not.

With a sickening crack, Arthur lied across the ground, the broom he had been riding splintered in pieces around him. A piece- the small part which he had been holding- appeared lodged in his abdomen. He wasn't withering in pain, however, because he was unconscious.

Madam Hooch's whistle pierced the air and Shelby frowned as all the other players landed on the pitch. She followed the lead and listened. No one in the stands was making a sound. It was completely silent except for the sound of the Slytherin's team's feet pounding the ground as they ran to their Seeker.

"Shelby!" A voice screamed, and the brunette turned in a daze to see her team marching forward. The only happy looking one was Dreamz. "What the hell have you done?" Vash shouted.

"Delivered us. She has put the world right again." Dreamz stated in an angelic voice.

"Dreamz, Shelby might've just cost us the game." Thaovy said, looking rather irritated.

Shelby crossed her arms. "The Wronski Feint is completely legal."

"Yes, but we're still on Hogwarts grounds!" Snapped Madam Hooch, causing Shelby to flinch. "This is not the World Cup, Miss Ferrell. This will not go unpunished."

"What is the meaning of this?" Demanded Professor McGonagall as the Head of Houses, including Professor Snape, Sprout, and Flitwick, ran towards the players on the pitch.

"Shelby, I think it'd be best if you made your way to my office." Professor Flitwick adviced. Shelby bit her lip, and looked to her team for some kind of sign that they were behind her, but only Dreamz gave her any kind of indication that she wasn't mad. The brunette snuck a glance over at the Slytherin group, where Madam Pomfrey was directing Yào, Gilbert, and Lukas with collecting Arthur and bringing him to the hospital wing. Hope shot Shelby a look of venom that she didn't even think was possible for the Canadian, and Vladimir and Feliks refused to meet her eyes.

Her heart fell as she turned and followed Flitwick back to the castle, her broom clutched tightly in her hands and her body beginning to shake.

"Hey ya bois!" Alfred greeted, throwing his arms around the shoulders of Vlad and Feliks. He was smiling, but it was strained.

"Hey." Feliks stated simply.

"Hello Alfred." Vlad muttered.

"Has anyone seen the Shelbaraptor?" Alfred inquired.

"No." There was a bitterness in Vladimir's tone.

"She's totally lucky I haven't." Feliks spat. "Or I would give her a little piece of my mind."

"Okay, so I see you're still mad at her." Alfred muttered to himself. "But do you have any idea where she is?"

"I'd check the owlery." Vlad mumbled, and the Slytherins turned the corner, leaving the Gryffindor to hunt for Shelby alone.

Luckily, Vladimir knew Shelby pretty well.

Alfred climbed the stairs to the owlery, and could hear Shelby sniffling before he could even reach the roost. She was leaning against a clean patch of the wall, Confiance weighing on her shoulder heavily as she scribbled sloppily on a piece of parchment.

"Hey Shelbs." Alfred greeted as cheerily as he could manage, but he still frowned.

"Go away." She hiccuped, rolling up a note and attempting to tie it to Confiance's leg.

"Whatcha doin' boo?" He asked, bending down and scooping Confiance off her shoulder. He unraveled the note, causing Shelby to groan and cover her face as he perched the owl on his shoulder. He read over the letter, his brows furrowing further and further as he read. "You're writing your parents to pick you up from Hogwarts? Did you get expelled?"

"No." She breathed. "But I ruined everything. I killed Arthur."

"Uh, dude, Arthur is not dead. He's actually all fixed up and recovering for the night. I feel like you forget a lot that we have magic even though you're extremely good at doing magic." Alfred stated.

"That doesn't stop them all from hating me." She choked out. "You're probably the only person in Hogwarts right now that doesn't hate me."

"Actually I don't think Dreamz has ever been more proud of you." Alfred smiled, but Shelby didn't return it, so it dropped quickly. "Why did you do it? You could have won. All of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff were cheering for you..."

"Because," Shelby sucked in a sharp sob, "I overheard my entire team ripping on my skills as a Seeker, and how we were basically going to lose the match because Arthur was a better Seeker."

"What?" Alfred eyes widened and his cheeks seem to flush in irritation. "But all the Seekers are awesome! Jett's the one who takes the risk, Arthur is the sly one who slips past other Seekers before they realize it, Matthew is the one that kinda just pops up out of absolutely no where and pulls the Snitch out of his ass, and you're the one who just seems to know where the Snitch is gonna be before it flies there! You all help make the Quidditch team unique; it's like you four are literally the representatives of the houses. But Shelby... You pulled a Jett." Alfred muttered. "You pulled an Australian werewolf wizard trick when you're an American genius-status witch. You shoulda stuck to your guns like you always do and given Arthur a real hard game. And whether you won or Eyebrows, it would have been a great game to watch."

Shelby stared at Alfred, her mouth hanging open slightly. "Alfred... Sometimes, you are literally the smartest human being on the planet."

"But I'm a wizard." Alfred looked at her in confusion.

"Okay but you're still... Never mind." Shelby sighed. "Anyways, even if it had been a great game for the people in the stands to watch... Slytherin would have the Cup and my team would still hate me."

"Shelby, as much as I hate to admit it, the Slytherin Quidditch team is actually pretty decent, except for Gilbert. He would rub it in your face until we leave this school in next year. But if your team blamed you for losing the match... Then honestly, they're major douches. I'm really considering giving all off them a shift kick in the ass anyway for doubting you in the first place." Said Alfred. He slid down next to Shelby, Confiance ruffling his wings at the motion as Shelby laid her head on his shoulder.

"Either way, I'm suspended for the game, whenever it's rescheduled." Shelby mumbled.

"That's okay. There's always next year."

"I'm not playing next year." Shelby almost hissed. "I don't want to play on a team singles me out as the weak link when we have a match."

"I agree. You're too awesome for them anyways." Alfred reassured her, and Shelby smiled slightly, hiding half her face in his arm.

"I love you, Jones." She whispered. "Thanks for sticking by me."

"I love you too, Ferrell." He smiled. "I'll stick to you everywhere."

"... That didn't sound right."

"Yeah that sounded way more romantic in my head, sorry dude."