Chapter 10 ~ The Game.

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The next morning, Ly still seemed to be going forward with the game. He accepted all the ''good luck''s and ignored Karil's ''We need to talk'', and decided to sit with the rest of the quidditch team at breakfast. 

Karil was at loss of what to do. He hated to fall out with his friend, previously there'd been only a few arguments, but usually after a couple of hours they made up. This one, however, seemed to be much more serious, from Ly's point of view. Karl tried not to feel angry at his friend, it wouldn't help either of them, but he still thought it was unfair to blame Maurelle's prophecy on him. However, when he finally did manage to have a word with Ly before the game, he found out why exactly it was also his fault.

''Ly.'' The quidditch team were about to head off when Karil caught Ly's attention. Ly turned round, scowling in an irritated manner.

''You go on.'' He told his team. ''I'll be there in a few.'' The team nodded and disappeared round the corner and Ly turned his attention back to Karil.

''Look, I'm sorry.'' Karil began. ''I'm just concerned that's all. And I don't understand why Maurelle's prophecy made you hate me.''

Ly raked his hand through his hair. ''You know what it's like. When you wanna blame someone.'' Karil's facial expressions lifted as he saw his friend coming round. ''I'm sorry too Karil.''

Karil grinned, happy that Ly's morning madness was over. Ly turned to go, but Karil called. ''I'm curious to know, how did you find a way to blame me?'' They often observed how people tried to find a reason to blame someone, however stupid it was.

Ly looked slightly embarrassed. ''Well, I thought; ''Karil brought her here and talked to her, therefore it's his fault.'' ''

 Karil laughed and grinned at his friend. ''I have to say, that's one of he worst reasons you have ever come up with.''

Ly grinned back. ''I should be proud of myself then.'' He checked his watch. ''Anyway, gotta go, catch you after the game.'' He turned to stride off, Karil calling after him;

''Good luck!''

Turning to head the opposite way and smiling like a fool, Karil felt relieved and happy that they'd made up. They could never stay to angry with each other for long. 

Then he froze as he saw Maurelle still sat at the table and a wave of numbness came over him. Oh god, why had he been so stupid? Seeing Maurelle had reminded him about her prophecy. And he hadn't stopped his friend.

***

''Please welcome the Griffindoor team!'' Ralph McShane, the commentator announced. ''And the Ravenclaw!'' There was thunderous applause from the watching students as the two teams shot into the stadium. As Ly appeared with his teams there were screams from the crowd, mostly from overexcited teenage girls. 

Karil would usually have laughed at this, but right now he was sweating like mad as he watched Ly in every move he took. When would the bludger come? He was going to stop it, he had to stop it, but when would it happen? 

The balls were released and the teams took their positions. The game had begun.

For the first half hour nothing happened, and slowly Karil began to stop sweating, losing the tense feeling in his body. Ly was playing well, he was confident, Ravenclaw were winning. It was a calm game, the teams were quiet and so was the crowd, watching closely.  He was probably wrong, he told himself.The teachers would stop it if any bludger went rogue, Ly was safe. What were beaters for? Maurelle must have got it wrong. 

He glanced over at her for reassurance but instead his stomach constricted. He knew the expression she wore. Expectant, hard. She was waiting for it to happen. He watched her face in panic. He had to talk to her, he had to know how he could stop it. You could change what was going to happen, right? He rose and began to slip past the people on the stalls, trying to get to her. And then came a gasp from the audience. Karil turned his eyes back onto the game and realised that he was running out of time. His friend was rising rapidly into the air, trying to get away from a manic bludger that was whizzing at a high speed. The beaters were trying to make their way up to Ly, but he was high above the stadium and the bludger was so fast both the chaser and the ball was a blur.

Ignoring the irritated yells of the people he was passing as he blocked their few, Karil made his way over to Maurelle with desperation. She looked up at him with disgust as he looked down at her. 

''What is it you want?'' She scowled. 

Karil felt a rush of anger. His friend was most likely going to be put into a coma and she wondered what he wanted, even after informing them about the incident? He suppressed a glare but couldn't help replying.

''What'd you think I want!? My friend is heading for a hospital bed and you wonder what I want!''

She glared at Karil. ''I warned him. I told him what would happen. And he ignored me.'' She turned her face away but Karil was not going to let it end like that. He turned to pleading methods.

''Maurelle please!'' He looked at the wand in his hand and then up to Ly, who was getting slower and more exhausted. The beaters still hadn't managed to do anything and the teachers were still muttering among themselves. He wouldn't be able to do anything about the bludger either. Ly was to far away and the ball and his friend were so close he would probably hit Ly if he aimed a spell at the damned ball.

Maurelle raised her eyebrows as she saw his wand. ''You can't do anything with that.''

He looked at her desperately. He just needed her to help him. He watched Maurelle's expression with a sinking feeling. Her face said it all. What were they meant to do? Was there really any way they could stop the accident from taking place?

And then, in his state of utter loss,  the idea came to his head. What she could do. 

''I may not be able to use my wand, but what about your magic?'' Karil turned his head to look her in the eyes pleadingly. She stared back. He knew what she was thinking. Why should she help Ly? 

''Look Maurelle, I know he ignored you, but do you really want to let him be injured and maybe even-'' Karil swallowed. ''And maybe even be - killed, if you don't do anything? Are you a true Ravenclaw? I thought it was Slytherins who lack compassion.''

And those last sentences did it. Eyes wide and shocked at his words, she held out her hand and focused her eyes on the bludger. The irises glowed amber and the bludger wavered slightly in it's chase. She muttered under her breath again, words which sounded like Gaelic once more. She tried again, and Karil watched both fascinated and anxious. The ball was being halted, but she hadn't destroyed it. Wildly incanting under her breath, she tried with all her strength after her first few failed attempts.

There was a blast like a gun as the bludger flew downwards and exploded next to Ly's leg. Karil jerked his head to look at Maurelle. She'd done it, but she'd still injured Ly, who was rapidly slipping off his broom. The beaters, however, supported him and it was all suddenly revealed that the seeker for Griffindoor had just caught the snitch. Ly had blacked out by now, and in a flurry, everyone was moving. Karil looked back to see Ly taken into the castle and Karil jumped up. He had to see him. 

Then he remembered Maurelle. The ball had been near Ly's head when she'd managed to destroy the ball. He may have had his lead blown up a bit, but he wasn't in a coma. He had to thank her, even if she'd completed the deed with as uncomfortably and hesitantly as possible. He turned to say his thanks, but was greeted by another empty seat. Once again, she had gone.