Chasing The Stars | Marauders | Sirius Black

31 ~ Significantly Less Love

Wind flowing through her hair, it billowing behind her like a cape as she whipped through the air. Balls whistling past her ears, narrowly missing her. Quaffles being scored through hoops. The hollow sound of a bludger being hit by a bat. The feeling of her hands going numb as she gripped onto her broom. The shouts of her brother and the captain of the team. More narrow misses...until one doesn't miss.

"ELOISE!" A scared shout. The ground coming closer. A loud thud followed by hurried footsteps.

Blackness.

Silence.

Nothing.

~~~

Five people. One girl, in a bed, unconscious, a bruise developing on her head. One messy-haired, bespectacled boy, biting his nails, sat by her legs. A third, a tall, scarred boy, pacing worriedly. Another, a handsome boy with long, black hair, his knee bobbing up and down worriedly as he sat in a chair next to the bed. The last, the eldest, a blue-eyed boy with a navy tie, leaning over the bed frame.

The girl , Eloise Potter, stirred. The four boys' heads perked up. Her eyes fluttered open, a hand immediately raising to her head. She groaned and surveyed the scene around her, her friends staring down at her worriedly, pityingly...she hated being pitied.

"Hold on" she said, her voice hoarse from lack of use. She counted the people around her, "Two, three, four. Four? I'm injured and only four people are here with me? Where are all of the other people that adore me?" Smiles broke out on the faces around her,

"Welcome back Puff" Remus grinned, putting a fond hand on her shoulder.

"So, you hit me with a bludger?" Eloise confirmed, looking at a sheepish Sirius,

"Yeaah, sorry about that Lou" he said, running a hand through his hair, "I got distracted" he told her and James scoffed, looking away. Eloise frowned at James' response,

"What do you know J?" she asked and he met her eye, before turning and glaring pointedly at Sirius,

"I know what - or should I say who distracted him" he said and Eloise gestured for him to continue, "Daisy" James said with distaste,

"Daphne?!" she repeated, looking at Sirius who looked very guilty, "You hit me with a bludger because you were distracted by Daphne? What did she do, take off her top?" Sirius choked on air,

"What? No!" he exclaimed and Eloise crossed her arms,

"What did she do then? Actually, no" she stopped herself, "I don't want to know. I don't care, I'm fine now" she said and Sirius pulled a face,

"What?!"

"Well, me getting angry isn't going to change anything, so let's not dwell on it" she said, much to the surprise of everyone around her. She turned to Cameron who smiled at her,

"Your head feeling okay Beautiful?" he asked and Eloise caught Sirius and James mock-gagging to her side,

"Yes, thanks Cam" she smiled back at him, whilst holding up her middle finger to her brother and Sirius out of the sight of the Ravenclaw.

~~~

"Eloise! I just heard what happened, are you okay?" Lily shouted as soon as Eloise walked through the portrait hole after being discharged from the Hospital Wing.

"Yep Lils, right as rain" she grinned into her friend's shoulder as Lily pulled her into a hug,

"Good" Lily smiled as she pulled away. The redhead linked arms with Eloise and pulled her to the sofa in front of the fire. The pair were swiftly followed by the four boys; James sitting on the arm next to Lily; Peter sitting in the armchair next to them; Remus on the other side of Eloise; and Sirius on the floor, leaning against Eloise's legs.