#snitching might be bad but I did not sign up to carry your ass

[just-mostly-dead]

“How did you two meet?”

Starring: Arthur L. W. Freeman, Nanette Calhoun Description: What happens when you ask me how and why Nanette Calhoun of all people would get together with Arthur.

@pleasantprefects ((Pleasant Prefects is HPRP server))

Lightning flashed. Thunder cracked. The rain continued to pour, and the game went on. Peeling cries if the crowd roaring above the raging storm, surrounding the players as they flow through the onslaught.

Arthur reared his broom to a short pause, wiping away the rain on his goggles to inspect the field. Picking apart the teams by color. Brilliant, if soggy, uniforms of the Appleby Arrows mixed in with the shocking yellow of his own team: the Wimbourne Wasps.

A smile, despite the rain and cold, was plastered on his face. It was a match for the history books! Two rival teams in a stalemate match. Six hours into the game and they were locked 50-50. Arthur was sure he hadn't seen the Seekers in hours, the two flying circles around one another as they sought the elusive Golden Snitch.

He was about to cheer for his fellow teammate as they made another successful goal when he heard it. A whistling noise just below the wind and crying fans.

That damned Bludger again.

Swiveling his broom with ease he batted the blasted thing away and zipped across the pitch to keep the distance between them. The small moments of respite he'd gotten throughout the game, never able to breathe for but a moment before the Bludger came for him again.

Guilt bubbled in his stomach at the thought. Arthur was more focused on not being knocked from his broom than the game itself. It kept coming. Again and again. Every few moments he would be beating the damned thing away, dashing to an opposite point on the field just so he might keep watch over the team. Only for the cat and mouse game to behind again.

“The wasps have the Quaffle! Are we about to see the tie broken after an hour-long stalemate!?”

The crowd roared as another roll of thunder blazed across the sky. Grinning, Arthur, kicked off again. Aiming to keep close in case the Bludgers decided to aim at the rest of his team.

Beaten by the rain he burst across the field. Flying above his team and the rival Chasers. They were almost at the goal posts when it came again. The whistle of the Bludger. Groaning Arthur span in place to beat it away, almost a half moment too late as he got a good look at the balls texture before it was whizzed off into the distance again.

His happy smile fell a moment later when a gasp erupted from the crowd and the whistle called for a time out. Looking down again he saw his partner Beater not far from their Chaser. A failed goal.

He was the last to land for their quick meeting. A heated conversation, come and exhaustion seeping into the tones of those talking. All Arthur could think of the close call that he'd missed. Before he could remount his broom after the huddle, his coach grabbed his arm, and Arthur could already feel his ears burn.

“Head in the game, rookie.”

With a nervous swallow, he gave a thumbs up and all but jumped into the air. Anything to get away from the knitted brow of his disappointed coach.

He was trying. He was a rookie, though, and just trying didn't matter.

The next hour was just as bad as the last. His goggles fogged often, he chest heaved from the effort. And he was sure he already had bruises.

Head in the game.

Eye on the team. The Bludger was still coming. But he tried to ignore it. Keeping the offending object away moved to the back burner in favor of attempting to play more aggressively. Though, attempts to beat the fighting Bludger at the opposite team were fruitless. Just giving himself less time to maneuver before it curved back towards him.

Time drew on and he could hardly see straight anymore. Arms aching he beat the Bludger away again. Chasing after the team as they raced towards the Appleby goal. They could at least break the tie…

“Look up there! The Seekers have spotted the Snitch! Could this be it! Is the match about to be decided?!”

Arthur craned his neck behind him, spotting the twirling spiral of red and yellow that we're plunging high above the field. The crowd erupted, equal halves screaming for both teams in the volatile match.

Through his gasping breaths, he smiled. His teams Seeker seemed to be reaching higher than the Appleby's they might have a chance, they -

Then he saw it.

A little black spot rising from the darkened pitch towards the Seekers. The other Bludger. Already kicking on the back his broom to spin that direction, he looked for his fellow Beater. The other busy guarding the rest of the team as the goal attempt turned into a fight for the Quaffle.

Biting his cheek he sped after the other Bludger.

“Look at then go. The Appleby Seeker seems to be reaching for it but - No the Wasps Seeker is going for it. It's neck and neck I can't see anything, this is the game of the century for these two rivals!”

Arthur flow through the shadow beneath the Seekers. Unnoticed by all as he chased the Bludger attempting to bite at his Seekers feet. He pulled his bat back, knuckles turning white as he tightened his grip. His body held close against his broom Arthur burst up and released all the energy behind the swing.

Rocketing the Bludger back down away from the Seeker. He cried out in relief to himself as a roll for cheers echoed over the Pitch.

“One of them had it. One of them has the Snitch! Arms up come on who's done it!”

Swiping hair out of his face Arthur look up, unable to distinguish the two Seekers as they sat above the crowd. One's arms out in triumph. The Golden Snitch glistening as a flash if lightning cracked over the field.

And then he heard it - too close and too to stop it.

Arthur turned in time to see the Bludger inches before himself.

“They've done it! The -”

He didn't hear who got the Snitch. All he heard was the sickening crack of his own chest as the Bludger forced him from his broom. Cascading down while the crowd stood, all on the pitch looking to the moment of triumph that he was slowly slipping further away from.

Funny, Arthur thought. He'd never fallen off a broom before. Not once.

Moments before he hit the ground he had a final thought:

There was a first for everything.

Waking up to a splitting headache. Arthur had two thoughts.

It was good to be fucking warm again.

Who won?

That thought almost had him bursting from his bed. Only for hands to push him back down into sheets. A gloved hand.

“Coach! Where are we at? Who won?”

“Calm yourself, rookie. We're at St. Mungo's.”

“Mungo's…? Oh, that blasted bludger. I tried I really did. I couldn't keep an eye on them both, though, but who won?”

“Calm down! You yell too much I'm going to get kicked out. The team has already been banned to the waiting area.”

“Sorry…” he let himself fall against the bed, “but… coach -”

“We lost, rookie”

Arthur's heart sunk. They'd fought so hard. Trained so hard. And they still couldn't pull through. Still. He forced a smile through the pain.

“Next time… right coach?”

The man shook his head, exasperated no doubt, “Yeah… yeah. Next time Freeman.”

They sat for who knows how long before the clicking of heels announced a newcomer. Led by one of the many nurses at the hospital was Elizabeth. Arthur's smile melted into a gentle, almost boyish grin at the sight of his wife. Beautiful as always.

“Looks like Lizzie is here for you Artie, I'll see you soon. You did well today.”

“Bye coach”, he turned to Elizabeth, “hello love.”

“Arthur.”

She was picking through a packet of papers she'd carried in with her.

“Did you listen to the game love? I hope they didn't announce what happened, I would hate for Symphony to hear that.”

“You know I don't let her listen to the games, Arthur.”

“I know… but it was the rival team. Surely you could have -”

“Sign these.”

Apparently, she'd found what she was after in the packet and had thrust the bunch under his nose.

“Oh! Release papers? Great! I'm itching to see how my broom fared after that fall. The team'll want to go out but I'm sure I can convince them to let me split off. Spend some time with -”

He cut himself off. They were not release papers.

“Lizzie, what is this?”

She said nothing. Arthur felt like his heart had stopped. Or like he was falling again. The top of his paper, the paper he'd stupidly signed out of blind trust, did not read ‘St. Mungo's Release Form’.

Though his vision was suddenly not clear enough to read it all he caught the most important word.

‘Divorce’.

“Lizzie?”

“Sign the papers Arthur.”

“Lizzie, what's going on? Is this a joke?”

“It's not a joke. Just sign them.”

“What's wrong? Why do you want this? What about Symphony?”

“It's over Arthur? I'm not dealing with your half-assed career anymore. I will not be the rookie's wife the rest of my life.”

He would have to tell the nurse to close the window, the rain was getting on his face.

“But - Lizzie we've had it so good. Symphony.”

“Symphony constantly begs for a broom. I'm tired of it. Quidditch… ridiculous. Your family had the right idea. I had the right idea. You should have gone into law. But instead, you're here.” She made a gesture at him, face curling in disgust, “I’m not doing this, it was fun once but you're always going to be a damned rookie. And I don't want to be trapped when one of damn Bludgers  beat what little intelligence is left in that meathead of yours.”

“Lizzie-”

“My name is Elizabeth!”

His mouth floundered for words. After a moment he signed the final line on the papers. Elizabeth spared little time to snatch them from his hands. Already turning to leave.

“I'm going home, I'll send for the last of my things next week.”

“What do I tell Symphony?”

“I don't care. Just don't write to me about it.”

“Liz-... Elizabeth. Just tell me what I did wrong? I thought we were in love.”

She groaned two steps from the exit, “Nothing. I just don't love you anymore.”

He really needed that window to be closed. He gasped and hiccupped into his hands. Clutching his chest as every little movement aggravated the bruising there. Arthur wasn't sure how long it was that he sat there. Caught between trying to catch his breath and thinking of what exactly he was supposed to do.

Wishing for nothing more right now than his young girl, though, she was no doubt at home with her nanny. Completely oblivious to what had just transpired.

Maybe an hour later he heard the tapping sound of approaching heels. In shock he snapped his head up biting through the pain that jolted through him at the motions, looking to what he hoped was -

“Lizzie I-”

He stopped. The woman before him was not Elizabeth. She had long, reddish hair and some Ministry badge in hand. The only thing she shared right now with Elizabeth was the stern look on her face.

“I… sorry.”

“Yes… well. I'm Nanette Calhoun with the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad. Do you have a few moments for some questions about your game Mr. Freeman?”

“I… of course, what does the Magic Reversal Squad care about our game, though?”

“There is a suspicion that a Bludger at the game was hexed. The Department of Magical Games and Sports asked us to look into it. Now. If we may?”

“Hexed…”

“Mr. Freeman?”

“Yes. Yes of course.”

Arthur would do his best to give answers, but for some reason, he couldn't draw his eyes away from the divorce document sitting on his end table throughout the entire conversation.

As lovely as Nanette was… he already had a suspicion as to what her investigation would lead to.

“Last question Mr. Freeman. Is there anyone you know that would have the motivation to attack you?”

“Well…”

“Anything helps Mr. Freeman.”

He looked to the end table again, the woman's eyes followed after. She already seemed to know what he was implying.

“Alright. That's all for now. We'll be in touch, Mr. Freeman.”

“Thank you…”

All Arthur could think as the woman was leaving was that Elizabeth had always told him he was an idiot.