The Forging of the Bonds

LunaIsCool

Story Summary:
Arthur and Lucius, Ron and Draco... the enmity betweent the Weasleys and the Malfoys has not ended with the defeat of Voldemort. But as Michael Weasley and Elizabeth Malfoy are start their sixth year, they begin to learn more than they ever knew about the past and about themselves, with the aid of their new DADA teacher... a hero unseen in wizarding Britain since the war ended...

Chapter 22 - Winter Quidditch

Posted:
03/14/2007
Hits:
1,788


Chapter 22. Winter Quidditch.

As usual, Nadine slept late. Elizabeth, however, woke up very early, considering it was the morning after the Ball, and came down to the common room to open her presents. She usually didn't get many. There were four packages this time. A box of sweets from Nadine. She smiled. They would make up quickly enough. A leather sword sheath, green and silver, with several snakes entwined around it, from her father. The sheath, she realized, was tailor-made for the curved sword that Potter said had bonded to her. Potter must have told her father about it, since she'd never mentioned this in her letters, and the sword still sat in Potter's office.

She looked at the remaining two packages. They both appeared to be books. The tag on one said it was from her godfather. She expected this one, although she had never met the man. Her father said it was because he was very busy. Elizabeth wasn't sure whether to believe that. But he had never missed a Christmas or birthday gift, and the gifts were usually interesting. The last package was anonymous. She unwrapped the one from her godfather first.

A book fell out of the wrapping paper. It had a yellow and black cover, and a cartoon image of a man lifting his finger. Transfiguration for Dummies, the title read.

"Ha, ha," Elizabeth said to herself. "Very funny, whoever you are. Having a laugh from far away..." She blinked as the book transformed itself, becoming a small box, and a piece of parchment fell to the floor. Elizabeth read it.

Elizabeth:

Sorry about the joke with the book, but I couldn't help myself, after what I heard about Mr. Goyle. This box contains AnywhereString. It's a length of rope that will take up any shape and go anywhere on command. I think you will find it useful. Merry Christmas!

-Your loving godfather.

She turned to her last gift. This one was, in fact, a book. The cover had many witches flying on broomsticks and holding Beater bats. She read the title. They have won: female Beaters, world champions, 1344--2008.

A note fell out.

Elizabeth:

Maybe this will shut Goyle up, and give you a chance. Anyway, it is an interesting read. Happy Christmas!

-Michael

And I didn't think to send him a gift, she thought. I've kissed him and--

I kissed Weasley. And then ran like a coward. She really couldn't thing of a good reason why she'd run. She'd liked it. He'd probably liked it too, if 'Wow' meant what she thought it meant.

She left the common room to find Michael. He wasn't at breakfast in the Great Hall, or in the library. A younger Gryffindor told her he wasn't in their common room, either. She was about to give up when she saw him through the window.

It was him, unmistakable because of his Weasley hair. He was flying around the castle, performing aerial stunts.

Elizabeth thought of calling to him, but decided against it. Instead, she went back to the Slytherin common room (Nadine was apparently still sleeping) and got her broomstick, Beater bat, and a pair of Bludgers (her last birthday present from her father), then headed outside.

Flying up, she launched herself towards him. But he failed to notice her, and so she resorted to a more proactive measure.

"Weasley!" she shouted, releasing one of the Bludgers and hitting it towards him. "Duck!"

"What?" Michael looked up to see a Bludger hurling at him. He dodged it.

"Duck!" Elizabeth shouted, sending the other Bludger at him.

He did. "What are you doing?" he shouted.

"Getting your attention!" she replied as the first Bludger returned. "Duck!"

He dived and came back up, placing Elizabeth between himself and the Bludger that had just flown by so that she couldn't hit it his way when it came towards him.

She tried to get into the right position, but he followed her. Elizabeth got frustrated. She'd forgotten how good Michael was.

One of the Bludgers tried to attack her. She sent it away at random, not having time to aim at him.

Then the other Bludger shot towards Michael. He stopped and drew his wand. "Immobulus!" he bellowed, freezing the heavy black ball in its tracks.

Elizabeth flew higher. "Do you go anywhere without your wand?"

"Nope," he answered, freezing the other Bludger.

"Why?"

He shrugged. "A habit I got from my parents, I suppose."

"Michael, about last night--"

"I'm sorry. I didn't think--"

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have run away like that."

"Elizabeth--"

"Let's just say it was the mistletoe, and forget it happened," she suggested.

Michael looked reluctant. "I won't forget it," he said. "I don't think you will, either."

"I am not ready for this, Weasley! Can't you--"

"Sorry. Like you said, forget it." He changed the subject. "Any insight on the second task?"

"No--" She gasped.

"What? You've thought of something?"

"No," she replied. "Just remembered something."

"And?"

"I forgot to buy you a Christmas present," she said. "I'm sorry. The book you got me--"

"It's okay. I didn't expect one. I only thought about giving you something the day before. Do you think--"

"It'll change Goyle's mind? Nope. That's set in stone."

"Too bad."

"Too bad for the Slytherin team. You should be happy."

"I like challenges. But you already know that. I entered the Tournament."

She nodded. "So what is it about those staffs that makes them the key to the second task?"

"They seem to be nothing special," Michael mused aloud.

"I know. But--"

"But what?"

"What do you know about the previous tournaments?"

"How will that help? They won't repeat anything."

"Still..."

"Hey," he suddenly said.

"What?"

"Duck!" he shouted as he deactivated the charm on a Bludger.

Elizabeth avoided it, and hit the ball back at Michael. He sent it back with a spell and then reactivated the second Bludger.

"Hey!" Elizabeth shouted. "That's not fair!"

"A Slytherin wanting to play fair." Michael flew closer. "That's something."

He dodged a Bludger, sent it back, and flew up. Elizabeth gasped as both Bludgers launched themselves at her, gaining speed.

She struck one ball with all her strength, and hit it into the other. The two Bludgers collided with a loud crunch.

The recoil, however, threw Elizabeth off her broomstick. She fell into the snow.

"Elizabeth!" Michael yelled in horror. He landed and rushed over to her.

Elizabeth leaped up and pushed Michael, causing him to fall backwards.

"Why you dirty, sneaky--" A snowball hit his face.

"You--"

"Elizabeth gave an innocent-looking stare. "What?"

"Oh, nothing," Michael said, careful to conceal a flicking wand movement.

A pile of snow appeared over Elizabeth's head and fell on her.

"I'll get you for that, Weasley!" she yelled, climbing out and jumping at him. Before he could react, she knocked the wand of of his hand, and pinned him down. "What now?" she asked as she leaned over him, holding his wrists to the ground.

But he was stronger. His arms broke free of her hold, and she fell on top of him.

He kissed her.

Hey, this is nice, she thought. And before her mind could protest, she kissed him back.

They broke for air. "Michael," she said.

"Hey!" a new voice shouted. "Mike!"

David Jordan appeared over them. He looked intently.

"What were you two doing with each other? Never mind, I don't want to know," he said. "You better come to the common room, Mike. Something has come up."

"Oh, crap," Elizabeth said as Jordan departed.

Michael nodded. "I better hurry. Dave isn't a gossip monger, but as soon as this gets to Kate and Laura, the Hogwarts rumor mill will start."

"You better hurry, Weasley." She moved off him, allowing him to climb to his feet. "See you later."

"See you later, Elizabeth," Michael said, hurrying after his friend. Elizabeth sat for several minutes. Weasley obviously liked her. And she... well, he was attractive, smart, funny... and he'd saved her life in the first task. She just might like him, too. There was just one slight problem with that.

He was a Weasley.