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" storms "
✤ ✾ ✤
. . . MAY, 1976
LIGHTNING FORKED across the humid sky, illuminating their path with electric surety. Each flashed transformed the dim shadows of the courtyard with a stilted taste of daylight. Miraculously, the rain was still held at bay.
James stared up at the sky as he spoke. "I don't think she's coming."
"Just wait," Sirius insisted. Distant thunder rumbled, and he knew he was being ridiculous. But still, he was convinced every stray sound could be her footsteps. Any minute, Maeve would be running out to meet them.
"C'mon, mate," James said, uncharacteristically anxious. "The Ravenclaws just won the Cup. She's probably getting pissed off her arse while we stand here. If we don't get this finished before the lightning stops, it's over."
Sirius knew he was right.
James led the way across the bridge and down toward's Hagrids hut. There was a fire blazing inside that casted jumping shadows onto the lawn. It was entirely eerie. Any less adrenaline in his body and he might have been terrified.
He nearly jumped out of his skin when a twig snapped behind them. They came to such an abrupt stop, Sirius ran smack into Peter.
James whipped around and raised his wand. "Severus Snape, I swear to Merlin if that's you and your greasy head–"
Peter's trembling hand lifted. "Lumos."
In the light of Peter's wand, Maeve looked ridiculous. Humidity had worked its way into her braided hair and made it a frizzy mess. The base layer of her Quidditch uniform was still on, grey athletic pants and the deep blue top emblazoned with the bronze 2. She had no rain jacket, not even a sensible pair of shoes for trekking out into the forest.
"Maeve!" Peter laughed gleefully, whispering quietly to extinguish the light. "We thought you weren't coming."
The moon was obscured by the clouds, but there was just enough ambient light from the castle that Sirius could see the side of her face. Her eyes were alight as she glanced up at the sky. "Nice night for it."
James crossed his arms. It was impossible to tell if he was bitter over her almost not showing up, or her winning the Quidditch Cup. "You're late."
