Hey! Here's another chapter! It's not an eventful one but it's ok I guess.
Thanks for reading
L x
Chapter 22: Quidditch
Lily looked out of the window a of the Gryffindor tower. It was a Saturday in early June and summer was fast approaching. She only wore thin jumpers and there was no need for her thick wool black school robes. Her health had improved throughout the year. She had slept much better, her appetite was small but she had put on more weight and her face had gained colour and the eye bags had disappeared. Cho had finally allowed her to train for Quidditch again and unfortunately Rose was no longer seeker. But this pleased Rose, for as she had the knowledge and tactics of Quiditch, she didn't have the speed or skill Lily had and she would rather have her head in a book.
She left the dormitory and descended one of the many staircases. "Ah Potter, off to fly?" McGonagal asked her noticing the Firebolt clasped into Lily's hand.
"Yeah, I have to get my skill back to what it was. The match is next week." Lily said.
"Yeah, I'll be expecting good results. Enjoy yourself Potter, but don't tire yourself out. Healer Chang is coming after the match to see if you've coped with it." Lily seemed shocked: "But don't worry, she's says it's your last appointment."
"Ok." She smiled and McGonagal continued climbing the staircase. Lily rushed out the castle and took off on her broom. She practiced her corners and changing direction, making sure she swerved round in a clean sweep that did not damage her speed. Then she swooped downwards and practised changing height. After about an hour, Lily felt it was enough and landed next to the lake. She knew she wasn't as good as what she would have been if she had been training all year but it felt good and she could at least try to win.
A week later it was the final match between Slytherin bad Gryfindor. Both teams had beaten Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff so it looked like it could go either way. James sat them down in the changing room. Albus was keeper, James, Abigail Clearwater and Hugo was chasers and Tom Jordan and Jack Thomas were beaters. "Ok so we need to win this match. I thought when we beat Ravenclaw we had an advantage, but then Slytherin won against Hufflepuff so it's all to play for. Albus, guard the centre ring mostly, Slytherin like to score there. But you need to look like your guarding them all or else they'll just aim for sides. Abi and Hugo, always let Abi score the goal so pass to her. I know you're good Hugo, but we need to be the best so that means she's scoring. Tom and Jack, keep the bludgers towards our side of the pitch, so you can knock out chasers when they're scoring. But do not let any of them hit our team. And now we have Lily back, so our chances of catching the snitch have increased. I want you beaters to help protect her and until you spot the snitch stay visible. But anyway, I'll just let Lily work her magic and hopefully this match won't last long."
The seven players took off on their brooms and the whistle sounded to signal the match starting. Lily could see no sign of the snitch, but she could see Scorpius Malfoy. She watched her intently waiting for him to spot the snitch. Between watching him and the trying to find the snitch herself, Lily seemed to have found the perfect tactic. Slytherin had already scored but this was shorted followed by Gryffindor. She began to circle the pitch, growing impatient for any sight of the small gol ball. Her parents and Cho were in the visitors stand, followed by her Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione. Lily waved to them as she flew past.
About three hours in, she caught her first glimpse of gold. She pretended to just carry on circling, and not at all increasing her speed until she was closer to it than Malfoy so she would have an advantage. She them dived down reaching her hand out for it. Malofy had quickly followed her and but she grasped her hand around just as his hand was about to touch it. She raised the snitch up in the air and cheered. The whole Gryffindor stand was stood up yelling and screaming for joy. The team carried her off the pitch on their shoulders back to the changing room. She quickly changed out of her robes but left her jersey on for the party in the common room and added a pair a skinny jeans with her converse. They all left the room ready to head straight to the common room.
"Ah Lily, not so fast, remember you have an appointment." Professor Longbottom stopped her: "I'm sure the party can wait for you."
She turned to her team mates: "I'll see you all back in the common room." Then she followed Neville to McGonagal's office where her parents and Cho were waiting.
"Lily, oh we're so proud of you" Her mother exclaimed on arrival.
"Yeah, how did you catch it that fast, you barely had a chase." Harry asked her.
"I'm not gonna share my trade secret Dad. That took five weeks of practice."
"Damn it, you so sneaky Peach."
"Well done on the Quidditch Lily." Healer Chang smiled at her.
"Can we just get this over with?" Lily asked her.
"Yeah, I was expecting some Quidditch injuries but for once you've walked away unscarred. Ok so I'll just check your weight first." She muttered a charm and wrote it down on her clipboard: "Your weight has increased, it seems to be healthy. Maybe you could do with gaining a few more pounds." Se then checked over her ribs and other places where the previous cuts and bruises had been. Finally she checked the scar on her hand: "There's no change in her, but I guess that looks like it'll be here to stay. Does it bleed much?"
"No, the odd time when I knock it but that's it." Lily replied.
"Well that's it I think. There's nothing else to check. Harry, Ginny, she seems fine. As I said her weight is a little low and I would say she needs to gain more muscle and strength. But that will come due to training and being more active. Keep a good eye on her though, if anything is wrong you know where I am. Oh and also, I'll officially sign you off to play and train for Quidditch and I will also take you off our outpatient list." Cho smiled at her.
"Thanks Cho. It's good to know I've got my girl back." Harry shook her hand.
"It's ok Harry, I'm in a rush to see another client so I will catch you later I guess. Meet me for a coffee sometime Ginny as well?"
"Course Cho, and thanks again." Ginny smiled sweetly. Cho apparated out of the office.
"So Lily, me and your Dad might as well be going too. You've obviously got a party to go to and you're the star player." Ginny patted her on the shoulder: "I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks Mum."
"Yeah, Peach you've been through a lot this year but you've managed to regain yourself. It takes a lot to bounce back after that." Lily smiled.
"And after today, you will start work for your summer exams. I know they're a chore, but it would be great if you could have a good start on your fourth year." Ginny said.
"Ginny leave her, you just try your best and if you don't get good results then it's not the end of the world. Have fun Peach." Harry kissed her on the forehead before Ginny and him left the office.
Lily returned to the Gryffindor common room to find a party well under way. They carried her above their shoulders from the portrait hole to the centre of the room by the fire. "Let me down!" She shouted to her cousins who lowered her to the floor.
"Ok, Lils, what's the verdict on Quidditch next year? You allowed to do it?" James asked.
"Yeah!" The common room erupted with cheers: "I'm completely clear to play!" She shouted excitedly.
Hugo passed her the Quidditch Cup and she held it high for all to see. Overall, it may have a been a eventful year for Lily Potter, but it ended well and that was all that mattered to her.
So that's the end of her third year. I'm leaving for Canada at 5am tomorrow so I'm busy packing and getting ready. I'm in Calgary for two weeks then I'm home for a week before I go to Italy. But I have officially now decide that I will take a break from writing fanfiction. I'm four weeks from going back to school and these next two years are so important so I won't have much time to write. I've also realised that there isn't much demand for chapters anyway. But if there is, I may reconsider…
Thanks for everything, I may return to finally finish this story,
L x