December 1997

"Mat are you going to stop being a git a come watch me today?" I stood in front of the couch where Mat and Draco were sitting and ignoring me like they have been all week. 

"Fine."

"You can't be pissy with me forever, just please get over whatever was bothering you." He smiled a little so bent down and hugged him.

"Thank you, I missed you all week." Then I straightened and turned to Draco.

"Can you stop being a git so we can play together today?"

"Only because I want to win." I knew they would both get over it. They probably think it was a one time thing anyways. Jokes on them. 

"Fine with me. Let's go have breakfast." 

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As we sat, multiple people were hyping up the quidditch team. I, however, was left with what has been looping in my mind since last week. No one in Slytherin talks about Cedric so its helped, but when Michael spoke about him the other day, it surfaced some very traumatic memories. I haven't slept because of the nightmares; I thought I was done with them. And sleeping in my dorm with the girls isn't helping. 

I had finished playing with my toast and hurried out, hoping that Mat or Draco were too distracted to notice. Although someone did.

"Feeling tense, I would be. They killed us last week." I turned, seeing his charismatic smirk.

"A little but I actually have been thinking about other stuff."

"You look... not yourself, are you okay? I noticed it this week but I didn-" Well that's done it now. The tears welled up in my eyes and I hurried into a closet so no one saw me. Michael came in after me.

"Hey, hey I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, I just, I don't know I've been thinking about Cedric lately and its taken a toll. I'm fine, I don't even know why I'm crying. I don't cry."

"Everyone cries. Here, come." He open his arms and I let him hug me. I nestled into him, grateful I can share things without judgment. "Are you going to be okay playing against Hufflepuff?" 

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Just distracted." 

As we looked at one another we both realised how little space there was between us. After our Sunday activities, I guess we got used to doing it and so it happened again on Monday, Wednesday (because Tuesday, I had to study with my partner on this potions task, it was some annoying Gryffindor), Thursday and yesterday was just a quick little sesh and we didn't get to go all the way because it was in this cupboard and people were walking past. I had made a small pact with myself to not do it that many times. One, because I didn't get much homework done, and two my pelvis has been in pain all week. 

"Um, so-"

"Don't speak, whispering is worse. Let's just get out before-" The stupid idiot kissed me. Obviously I was enjoying it but I held onto that last shred of self-control and I pulled away.

"You idiot."

"I wasn't gonna have sex with you right now, it was just a pre-game encouragement. It was also just me wanting to kiss you, but that's all."

"Fine, but I need to get out of here."

"Just wait for a second."

"What?"

"Are you sure you're, okay?"

"Yes. Mat and Draco are talking to me again, so I have them too. Just stop talking about me, I don't have problems I'm as happy has the sorting hat, now say good luck like you would to everyone else and we can go about the day like nothing is wrong."

"Before I say good luck, I just want to point out that everything you just said was the definition of bottling things up. You also need to understand that you are worth being listened to so you can vent and share your problems with me because I know you have them. I can be your friend too without the benefits. Now good luck."

He kissed my forehead, and then he walked out. I followed shortly after and saw Draco. He seemed tense.

"Didn't that Ravenclaw just come out of there?" He already knew the answer, he was just calling me out. Asshole.

"Yes, but we were only talking so get that look off your face. While you and Mat were on strike from being my friend, Michael was the only friend I had. He has been comforting me this week (well comforting my horny-ness) which you failed to do." Ignoring my attempt to guilt-trip he stepped closer and gently rubbed his thumb under my eye.

"Were you crying?"

"No."

"But you don't cry," he said not believing me. 

"I know, precisely what I'm saying. You weren't talking to me this week." My voice was slightly raised, and the look of realisation flashed in his eyes that he stuffed up.

"I didn't think it would affect you this much. I didn't know it would upset you this much." That was his form of an apology, which I accepted, and he wrapped his arms around me protectively. "Just don't get comfort from that mudblood, I promise I will be available for you to cry to."

"I don't cry, and why can't you just say half-blood, or not point out his blood status at all."

"Shh, let's go to the change rooms."

We all stood with our brooms ready to fly out. I could hear everyone's shouts and I saw Draco smiling, ready to win. He turned to everyone, as captain – although I give him all his material – and he put on his murderous voice, which I hope doesn't play out to its name.

"This is Hufflepuff, they're too afraid to even hit us with bludgers." Few people laughed and then everyone watched Draco intently as he went serious, like he does every time we're about to fly out. "WE PLAY TO WIN!" Our team was announced, and the gate opened, and Draco let everyone else through. Before I left, he winked like always and I flew out, leaving him, our seeker, the last one.

As we formed positions, the Hufflepuff team was announced, and they exited. The commentator announced the seeker and when he came out my mind flashed back to when Cedric would fly out. He would wink at me too because people couldn't see.

"Woah Davina!" Draco came next to me and had balanced me after I was leaning off my broom. "You, okay? Do you need to go to Madam Pomfrey?"

"No, I'm fine, go be a seeker, I'm good." I assured him and after a few moments he obliged and raised higher to prepare for the snitch.

The game began and I, along with Montague and Flint went for the Quaffle. Flint got it first so Montague and I spread out so he could pass it to us. I went closer to the goals and while Flint was passing to Montague a bludger was heading straight to my face. I flew down and avoided it last second and then the Quaffle was coming my way. I caught it and threw it ahead of me and I used my broom to aim it into the goals. The Slytherin crown cheered and Flint and Montague high-fived me.

Our plays continued but Hufflepuff gained advantage, and they rose to 170 points, while we stayed at 30, so we were all pissed. I saw Draco eyeing around for the snitch but couldn't find it. But he dove down from 50 feet anyway to trick the Hufflepuff seeker. He does it all the time and they always fall for it.

Me and the other chasers rose higher to about 70 feet to try and score a goal but due to the snitch threatening to be caught a Hufflepuff chaser stole the Quaffle, and it went to their advantage. Again.

I got distracted and joined the crowd in watching them dive down, knocking each other along the way. Draco lifted last second and the Hufflepuff seeker crashed into the ground. I chuckled as Draco rose higher and then I looked as the Hufflepuff seeker got back on his broom, and he had glanced at me. I once again starting thinking to our games with Cedric, and I only saw the bludger half a second before it knocked the back of my broom. I tried my hardest to stay on my broom, but I couldn't. I heard Mat yell out and I saw Draco try and fly to me, but he was on the other side of the pitch.

Next second I was falling, and I kept going quicker and quicker. I couldn't think or move, and I knew I was going to die once I connected with the ground. I was midway and then all I could see was black.

"A student has died, please be silent." Mat stood up to try and see who it was.

"I think that's Cedric Diggory."

"Davina, are you okay? Breathe Davina!"

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"If it wasn't for Dumbledore, she would be dead."

"Malfoy don't think like that."

"Be quiet boys, she's waking up." I faintly saw two blurry figures come to either side of what I assume was a hospital bed and as I blinked, I saw more clearly.

"Hey, boys". I mimicked Madam Pomfrey and they both smiled with relief.

"How are you feeling?" Both Mat and Draco spoke at the same time with the same concerned voices. I knew that it wasn't the time to be pissed off that people were concerned about me, but I still was. I didn't like that both of them were worried and had probably been the ones to get me here. Draco was still in his quidditch uniform as well.

"I'm fine, it wasn't that big of a deal, you can leave if you want and enjoy your Saturday."

"What are you talking about? You just woke up we're not leaving," Draco said.

"Also love, Saturday is almost over, actually I think it's midnight."

"I've been out all day?!" I looked and saw black outside the windows then I leaned back on the headboard.

"Yeah."

"So, what happened?"

"You fell off your broom from around 70 feet and you almost died. You also fainted from the pressure, but you should've woken up hours ago, but Madam Pomfrey thinks your mind needed rest". I was having a nightmare, I wouldn't call that rest. 

"No, I mean what happened with the game?" Mat shook his head in disbelief and Draco looked down at me.

"Once you fell, everyone went completely silent, and I heard the snitch behind me, so I grabbed it."

"Yeah, the git caught the snitch instead of helping you get to the hospital."

"I still carried her with you," he protested.

"I was doing most of the lifting."

"I'm not that heavy, jeez." Hufflepuff were at 170 and we were 30, but Draco caught the snitch which gets us to 180. "Wait, that means we won right, oh my god, Draco we won the cup!" I jumped out of the bed and hugged him.

"I actually forgot about that." What occured to me, was that Draco wasn't able to celebrate because of me. 

"Miss Claire, you need to rest, I will trust that you will make sure she stays in her bed." She looked at Draco and then to Mat before she hurried off. 

"We won," I said again, smiling. Mat was smiling but then it dropped and he walked toward the hospital entrance.

"I don't think so, she needs to rest, go away." I leaned over and saw Michael.

"Hey, Mat let him be." Michael ignored him and came over to where Mat had been standing next to my bed. He put his hand on mine and I saw Draco eyeing him. 

"Hey guys, I'm tired why don't you head back to the dungeons and I'll say goodnight to Michael." They both didn't move and they looked at one another, their jaws tense. "Go, thank you for today, I'm fine." Draco exhaled and mat grabbed his arm to follow him out. I turned back to Michael. "Don't touch my hand in front of them, they have no idea, and I thought we were keeping this a secret."

"I know, I'm sorry, I was just worried. I knew you didn't just fall. I came as soon as you were admitted but I was kicked out by your guards," He said, meaning Mat and Draco.

"Sorry, if I was awake I would've-"

"I know, don't worry. What made you lose balance, other than the bludger. It kind of looked like you were ready to fall."

"I just, I don't know, it was too much. Cedric's been on my mind and that brought back a lot of memories and I just sort of couldn't handle it anymore. The nightmares are back and I want them to go away." I moved over on my bed and I gestured for him to lie next to me. He did and I covered us with the blanket and I leaned on him.

"You shouldn't of played today."

"I scored two of the 3 goals we got, so technically I was needed otherwise we would've lost."

"You know that's not what I meant. Just close your eyes, get some sleep, I'm not going anywhere."