Slipping in More Ways Than One

Autumn had made sure to give all of her teammates encouragement and she thanked them profusely for always doing their best. Even though they had lost, Autumn still felt like a success.

She stayed at the pitch much longer than she had to. She was helping the professor get ready for the next game. And when the sun started to go down, she had said goodbye. She still had some studying to do before going to Cheval the next morning.

She had made it mostly out of the pitch when she slipped and fell. When had it started to rain? She hadn't noticed.

She pushed herself up off the ground and touched her forehead. She felt wetness that was a different consistency than the rain. She pulled her hand away and saw that it was covered in blood.

It didn't hurt, and she knew that it was probably just the rain making it look worse than it was. But she still started to panic. Should she call for help or just keep going?

Autumn didn't have to think much longer. Someone had already called out to her.

Melody had come to the pitch to watch the Quidditch game. She liked cheering on her house during the games and watching the players zoom around on their brooms. However the game had ended and Melody was alone in the stands. She wanted to just sit outside for a while and be by herself. A few hours had passed and she had been writing in her journal when suddenly a drop of rain hit her book.

Biting her lip, she quickly hurried up and packed up her belongings and rushed towards the enterance of the pitch. She was just about to make the run out into the rain when she saw a figure ahead of her suddenly fall to the ground. Melody quickly called out to the person. "Hey!! Are you alright?!" She called and ran over to them. As she arrived, she saw a girl and examined her. She quickly noticed her head had a huge gash in it. "Oh my goodness..we need to get you to the nurse."

The rain was starting to pick up. To the point where Autumn couldn't see very well. And on top of that, it was cold. Why did it have to be winter?

"It really isn't bad," Autumn said, shrugging. "There isn't any pain. But we should go inside anyway. It's very cold."

She tugged the hood of her quidditch jacket up over her head, careful not to hit the cut or scratch or whatever the source of the blood was. It didn't hurt now, but that didn't mean that it wouldn't start hurting. She needed a distraction.

"So did you come to watch the game, Melody?" Autumn asked. She wasn't quite sure if that was who she was talking to, but it was her best guess.

Melody blinked her eyes as the rain started to pick up to keep it out of her eyes. "Come on, we need to get you out of this rain." She said and helped the girl up onto her feet and pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it to her forehead. "Here, this will stop the bleeding." She said and gave her a soft smile. "We'll get you to the nurse, regardless." She said and walked with the girl out of the pitch.

As they walked the girl beside her asked her about the game. "Yes." She laughed lightheartedly. "I like coming to the games and cheering the team on." She grinned and walked quickly with her to the castle. "Except in the rain." She chuckled jokingly.

Autumn failed to see how a piece of cloth could stop the bleeding. Melody would know better than Autumn, though, since Autumn couldn't see her injured head. "Thank you," she said, anyway. She kept pressure on her forehead. It stung at first, but went away after a moment. Maybe it did need a bandage.

"Playing in the rain isn't that great, either," Autumn said, half-joking. It didn't bother her too much anymore. The only problem with rain was that your gloves didn't get as good a grip.

The pair walked in silence for a moment. "Your brother played really well today. You must be proud," Autumn commented. She was impressed with her opponents. They were truly skilled.

Melody smiled when the girl accepted the handkerchief. She was happy to helping someone else out. The girls walked quickly and she nodded. "I'm sure." She said with a small laugh. "Did you know I almost joined Quidditch my first year here?" She said and grinned. "I probably wouldn't have been very good." She said and continued to walk with the girl. Once Bo was mentioned Melody stopped and smiled.

"Yeah...he did..didn't he?" She smiled proudly. "I'm so glad he's found something that he loves to do. Bo has had a hard childhood, and I'm just so glad that he finally starting to be happy." She said and started to walk again. "He's a good kid. I don't give him enough credit." She said and held open the door for Autumn to the inside of the castle.

"I didn't want to join my first year. I found the sport terrifying. My cousin inspired me a little bit," Autumn explained. "And now I'm captain. And he hates me."

She coughed. She wondered where that statement had come from. What was with the emotion? Was it that late in the month already?

"Thanks," Autumn said when Melody opened the door for her. She stepped inside and pulled her hood off. Her hair was frizzy underneath. She attempted to smooth it, but it was hopeless. The blood was probably congealing on her face. That was probably more important. "He really did. I was impressed."

Melody smiled as the girl went on about how her cousin had been the one who had encouraged her to join Quidditch. It was sweet and it made her think of Malachi. She couldn't imagine the boy telling her that she should go and join Quidditch. He wasn't really the sporty type, and the thought of him telling her that made her giggle. However, Melody suddenly frowned as she said that her cousin now hated her.

Biting her lip, she shook her head. "I'm sure that your cousin doesn't hate you, it was probably just a heat of the moment thing." She said and smiled slightly. "Maybe you should talk to him." She said and gave a nod. "I'm sure that would do the trick." She said certainly. "Bo and I used to not get on very well, but now we are getting along so much better." She grinned. "Not to pry or anything."

Autumn didn't want to respond to the comment about Gregory. He had said what he felt. He called her a mudblood. She wasn't a muggle-born, and even if she were, it was nothing to be ashamed of. But if that was how he felt, Autumn wanted no part of that. "Talking is not a good option for us right now," she said. "He's lost his way, so to speak. He doesn't want to have a relationship with me right now."

Autumn tried to imagine not getting along with Marli or Hannah. It'd be difficult. But Beauregard was not eleven or thirteen years younger than Melody. It really wasn't the same.

Melody looked at the girl sadly as she spoke, it was a shame that she and her cousin were not on good terms. However, that wasn't Melody's place to try to change that relationship for them, it was something that they would need to do by themselves. She nodded and spoke up. "I see, I'm sorry that I asked." She said softly. "I didn't mean to intrude on your relationship with your cousin." She apologised.

She tried to envision not having a relationship with Daniel or Bo. It was would change her life for the worse. Malachi had been there for her when Daniel had disappeared and Bo, though they weren't super close when he had been first been adopted, but now their relationship had blossomed into something beautiful and bright. She was happy that she had those things and was certain that she'd be lost with out it.

"I brought the subject up. So you are not at fault."

That was the problem with telling people about your issues. They always offer advice and never just listen. Autumn didn't need help. Just... she didn't even know. Matters of the heart were not her department.

They were half way to the infirmary. She pulled the handkerchief away from her forehead. "How does it look?" Autumn asked. It stung, but for just a moment.

In the Muggle world, a shallow scratch meant just a kiss on the head before continuing on with playing or whatever the next activity was. Autumn was ready to apply that to every situation, including the one with her cousin and the one with Julie-Pierre, that she saw fit.

Mel hadn't been too sure on what to do in that situation. The problem with Autumn and her cousin seemed to stem deeper down than what she was telling her, but Mel didn't want to pry any further than she had. She could tell that it was a touchy subject for Autumn and she didn't want to make the girl any more uncomfortable that she already had. She just continued their journey down to the infirmary.

Just when they were about halfway to the nurses office, Autumn stopped and asked Melody how bad the initial cut was. Once the girl had removed her hand away from the cut she bit her lip and examined it. "Hmm..." She said looked at it. The cut was pretty bad, it was terrible, but it would warrant a little 1 stitch. "It's bad, but you'll live." She said and took the handkercheif and wiped away some of the excess blood.

Autumn winced as Melody wiped her forehead. "Please don't do that again," Autumn said.

She was starting to feel a stinging sensation spreading in her forehead. Autumn didn't want to touch it again, even though she knew it would help to have more pressure on it.

Autumn started to walk more quickly. "It's kind of funny. I used to be so convinced that I'd get an injury from Quidditch, or flying in general, but now I'm getting one purely out of my own misfortune. I suppose one can get hurt anywhere." she said, rounding the corner into the hospital wing. She had a feeling that she was about to get fussed over.

Melody apologized to the girl quickly and pulled away. She didn't want to her hurt her by wiping away the blood. Sighing, she listened to the girl as she talked about her assumptions that Quidditch would be the reason that she was injured and not by the purity of luck. She chuckled slightly. "Yes, I suppose one would think that considering the risks that come with playing Quidditch." She said softly and walked with her into the nurses office.

Once Autumn was settled, Melody smiled. "I have to go do a few things now," She started, "But I'll be back in a little bit to check on you and see how you're doing, though I'm sure you'll be out of her quickly." She finished matter-of-factly and stood to leave. "Hope you feel better soon." Melody chimed as she walked out of the infirmary.