Chapter 5

                                    

                                          
The wind tugged at Bella's hair as she soared through the air, her broomstick gripped tightly beneath her. Gryffindor's Quidditch team was in full swing, and the adrenaline of the game ran through her veins. As a Chaser, Bella was responsible for weaving through the air, dodging Bludgers, and scoring goals. She loved the rush of it all — the fast-paced, chaotic nature of the game that allowed her to forget everything except the sharpness of her focus.
The Gryffindor pitch was alive with the sound of brooms zooming past, the occasional roar of the crowd echoing from the stands. Fred and George Weasley were flying circles around the opposing team's Beaters, pulling off moves that were as spectacular as they were reckless.
Bella, on the other hand, had a different rhythm. She was quick and precise, dodging the Bludgers with sharp movements and passing the Quaffle with lightning speed. She wasn't the fastest on the team, but she had the kind of agility that made it almost impossible for the other team to keep up with her.
"Pass!" Fred called from behind as she raced down the pitch.
She didn't hesitate. With a quick flick of her wrist, she sent the Quaffle soaring toward him, where he caught it mid-air and sent it zooming toward the goalposts.
"Nice assist!" Fred shouted as he scored a goal, sending the Quaffle through the hoop with a clean shot.
Bella offered him a thumbs-up and moved back into position, keeping an eye on the opposition and the approaching Bludger. The team worked together like a well-oiled machine, passing the Quaffle between them, and just when Bella felt she was truly in sync with the others, she spotted the familiar figure of Harry Potter — flying high above, his dark hair barely visible as he darted after the Snitch.
"Focus, Bella!" Angelina Johnson called from the front, waving her arms to catch her attention. 
Bella snapped back into the game, her heart still racing from the thrill of it all. She'd been playing Quidditch for years, and it always gave her the same exhilarating feeling. It was one of the few things that allowed her to leave behind all the weight of her life. For a few hours, she could forget about the rumors, her father in Azkaban, the looming shadow of the Dementors. Quidditch was freedom.
The practice wrapped up a short time later, with the Gryffindor team victorious, as always. Bella landed on the pitch, her legs a little unsteady but her smile wide. She loved the game. She felt alive in a way that nothing else could give her.
"Great game, Bella!" George called as he landed beside her, his broomstick almost shaking with the force of his landing. He grinned at her, eyes gleaming with the same rush that she felt.
Bella grinned back, but there was a slight knot in her stomach. It was hard to shake off the feeling that George had been looking at her a little differently recently. She couldn't quite explain it, but there was a tenderness in his gaze that hadn't been there before. It was confusing, to say the least. She pushed the thought aside as Fred and George began bickering over their broomsticks.
"Hey, Bella, you coming to watch the Hufflepuff practice tomorrow?" a voice asked from behind her, cutting through the chatter. Bella turned to see Cedric Diggory walking over, broom in hand, a warm smile on his face.
"Cedric!" she greeted him, feeling a pleasant warmth spread through her chest. "Yeah, I was planning on it. Thought it might be nice to see how they're shaping up this year. They've been practicing hard."
He nodded, his grin widening. "You should come. We've got some new drills to try out. I think it'll be fun. You'll get to see what we've been working on." His gaze shifted to her broom. "You're pretty good yourself, you know. That pass to Fred was spot on."
Bella felt a blush rise to her cheeks. "Thanks. You know, I don't plan on going easy on you guys this year."
Cedric laughed, his eyes sparkling with good-natured challenge. "I wouldn't expect anything less. Looking forward to it."
"Same here." She smiled, but as she glanced around the pitch, she saw George out of the corner of her eye. He was standing there, watching them quietly, his expression unreadable. There was something about the way he stood that made Bella feel as though the conversation had shifted — like there was something hanging in the air between them that she couldn't quite explain.
Cedric didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary, his attention still on Bella. "You coming by tomorrow, then?" he asked again, his tone light.
"Yeah, I'll be there," Bella said, nodding. "It'll be good to watch the Hufflepuff team for a bit."
"Great," Cedric replied, his smile still in place. He waved as he walked back toward the Hufflepuff side of the pitch. "See you later, Bella."
She watched him go, feeling a soft warmth in her chest. There was something easy about Cedric's company, something she found herself enjoying more with each passing day. He was kind, confident, and genuinely fun to be around. And he didn't seem to expect anything from her except friendship — something that she appreciated more than she could say.
"Hey, Bella." A voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned to see George standing next to her, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He had a small, distant look in his eyes, like he was caught up in something he didn't want to talk about.
"Hey, George," she said, offering him a smile. "You headed back to the castle?"
He glanced over at her, then back at the pitch where Cedric had just left. "Yeah. Fred's already gone ahead. Thought I'd wait for you."
Bella raised an eyebrow, not quite sure how to interpret his tone. "You didn't have to, you know. I'm sure you've got better things to do."
George shrugged, his gaze lingering on her for just a moment longer than usual before he gave her a small, almost invisible smile. "Not really. It's not like there's anyone waiting for me."
There was something strange in his voice, something she couldn't quite place. He wasn't angry or upset — just... distant. There was a pause, and Bella felt the weight of the unspoken words between them.
"Come on, let's go," she said finally, gesturing toward the castle. She couldn't explain it, but the air between them felt heavy. George was her best friend, but lately, there was something else underneath it all, something that made her uncomfortable. She pushed the thought away, deciding to focus on the task ahead.
As they walked back to the castle, Fred's latest prank plans filling the air, Bella kept catching glimpses of George's side profile. He seemed distant — not like himself, and certainly not like the George who used to tease her without hesitation. It was as if there was something he wasn't saying.
The next evening, when she found herself standing on the edge of the Hufflepuff pitch, watching their practice, the cool evening air biting at her skin, Bella's thoughts kept drifting back to George. She knew that something was changing between them, but she wasn't sure what. All she could do was wait and see if things would eventually fall into place.
She turned her attention back to the pitch, where Cedric was leading the Hufflepuff team through their drills. He moved smoothly through the air, his broom a natural extension of his body, and Bella found herself smiling at the sight. She liked being around him. It was easy and comfortable. For the first time in weeks, she felt like she was starting to find a little bit of peace amid the chaos of her life.