Follow You Down

[Lily Drage]

All actions noted as belonging to Ford Harkonnen, Courtney Potter, and Xavier Snow have been pre-approved with the owners of the characters.


Game day.

Lily was a bundle of nerves. Her stomach was tumultuous as it was before every game, maybe even a bit more than normal. Today they were in France to play against the Quiberon Quafflepunchers. She had no doubt they would come out victorious, but she was still on edge. Something was off today though, but she could just not put her finger on what it was. She finished getting dressed before turning and sitting down on the bench, her elbows resting on her knees. Leaning forward into her clenched hands, she closed her eyes and just breathed. Why was her stomach turning like this? There was no reason to be nervous. It was only the Quafflepunchers. This should be an easy victory for them. At least, it would be if her stomach would stop doing flips.

 

[Sumner Drage]

Events in Sumner's posts take place in St. Mungo's Hospital. They follow the same time line as Lily's game.


Faint voices pierced the fog...

"Oh," followed by a disdainful sniff, "this one again. Well, put him over there."

Sumner was vaguely aware of being weightless and winced at the hard press of a miserly thin mattress beneath his back. A twig snapped and in irritation he tried to bellow at the idiot making all that noise. He wouldn't know until he awoke that the snapping he had heard was his collarbone fracturing the rest of the way; his voice crying out at the pain. Healers grabbed his jaw and poured potions down his gullet. The fog roared in and crashed upon his head in waves.

---

Sumner glared at the Healer as they took their ever loving time fixing up the Wireless Radio. The gits refused to release him from their blessed hospital for a few days yet. "Oh for f*%&s sake!" he roared, gnashing his straight white teeth as he jerked the radio from their hands. Pain flared down the entire left side of his body; he ignored it. He wasn't going to miss a second of his wife Lily's game. He scowled the fumbling Healer from the room as the game flared to life within the room. Once the door closed, his scowl fell from his face, head hit the pillow and pain radiated through him. It didn't matter to him; he could still close his eyes and picture Lily with each play they called.

Merlin, he loved his fiery woman.

 

[Lily Drage]

Their coach came in and gave a quick pep talk, and then they were off and into their line up to take the pitch. It bothered Lily to no end that Sumner was not there to witness her game in person. His team was holding practice and, well, watching her game was not a priority over a Falcon's practice in either of their minds. Quickly, each of their names were called. One by one, each Warrior took off into the air and circling the pitch waving and posturing for the crowd. The whistle blew and the quaffle was tossed high into the air and the game was on. Lily lunged forward to snatch the quaffle and was outreached by their chaser, Xavier Snow, by just a second.

“Drage takes off after Snow, looking for any chance to get the quaffle away from him. She makes a move and is denied!” the radio announcer said, a bit too excitedly. It seemed as though he was a fan of the former Ravenclaw, he cheered just a bit too loudly when she was able to intercept a shot on the goal and fly back up the pitch. “Drage passes to Harkonnen, covering him as he makes an attempt on the goal. Warriors score!” The quaffle was passed back out, and the Quafflepunchers had possession. The Warriors were soon able to get possession back and quickly scored again and again.

 

[Sumner Drage]

The sweetest smile passed across Sumner's, laced heavily with pride for his beautiful wife. He could imagine her clearly behind lids tinged pink with fatigue; the way she would soar like an eagle across the clear sky, azure eyes bright with excitement and challenge. "C'mon baby, show those poofsters how it's done," he murmured with a tired grin. Snow, he sneered, fingers curling into a fist. "Ow ow ow," he whimpered, grimacing at the sharp pain. "Damn...." The pain nearly made him miss the commentator's announcement that Ford had scored one on that blonde haired Veela half-breed.

The game seemed to fly by as the Warriors overtook the scoreboard; their team was tight, well timed and just plain full of brains. They'd win, no doubt was in his mind as he relaxed against the pillow, the wireless blaring the game beside him.

 

[Lily Drage]

Lily and Ford communicated well on the pitch, able to practically read each other’s thoughts. The fact that they were roommates only helped their team work on the pitch. Courtney Potter, their other roommate, was hovering nearby, blasting bludgers away as they threatened her team. Before long, the Warriors were up 50-10, Lily having scored two of the goals herself. She was pleased and as she, Ford and their fellow chaser, Brooks Carlson, worked their way back up the pitch to make another score. The game was fast paced, just the way that Lily loved it. She was having a blast in the air, the cheers of the crowd urging her forward, making yet another goal for her team.

“Drage scores again! Too bad that girl is married off already or I would try to, um, ahem, never mind…” The announcer trailed off, realizing that he had actually spoken that out loud. “Harkonnen takes off after Snow for the Quafflepunchers, making moves to steal the quaffle away. Drage joins him on the other side. Wonder how she likes playing mostly with boys on this team. Looking into her school days, she captained a team of all female chasers. Looks like not a single problem being one of the boys the way the Warriors are attempting to steal the quaffle from Snow. Snow goes for a goal shot, stolen by Drage! She flies back up the pitch towards the Quafflepunchers goal. Passes to Harkonnen, he catches easily. They fly fast and furious towards the other end. Harkonnen passes above Drage, keeping the quaffle, no wait! Drage has the quaffle! She’s going for the goal! It’s off, it’s in! Drage scores!”

 

[Sumner Drage]

The game was good, damned good. Healers came and went; he ate, he made someone sit on the bed while he used to loo so he wouldn't miss a play, he snarled at one who thought he was asleep and tried to turn off the wireless. Their stammering only incensed him further. The old war horse threatened to stupefy him; he'd only yelled at a young healer in training when they bustled in whistling...okay so he'd cursed and thrown a cup that shattered against the wall too. A plate had joined it, Sumner picturing shattering the announcers skull. Git had to grow a pair if they wanted to stay in this profession, he rolled his eyes at the thought of the shaking employee. Least the pain potion left him with a clear enough mind to pay attention.

He crowed loudly as the last goal was scored. "That's my girl!" he shouted into the empty room. How he wished he could be there to see that look of pride and joy cross her stunning face. Three days. Pfft, he blew air through his pursed lips, a touch of spittle flying. Like he wouldn't be there tonight for Lily, dinner waiting and pain potions stashed in the bedside table drawer.

 

[Lily Drage]

Lily cheered the goal for just a second before flying around and heading back up the pitch. She took off like a shot after the Quafflepuncher that had the quaffle, elbowing him as she flew next to him, trying to jostle the quaffle free from his hands. She was getting beat around as good as she was giving. She motioned to Ford indicating the next play they were going to run, and quickly they were again in possession, flying down the pitch in the direction that they had come. Ford had the quaffle, flying up next to her and passing the quaffle to her just before the goal. She flew around quickly, circling and getting ready to take a shot on the goal.

“Drage is back in possession of the quaffle. Looks like she is going in for the score. Lots of pressure on the blonde as she weaves her way between the guys, but she is doing a fantastic job of sliding her lithe body between them.” The announcer coughed, not keeping a secret as to who he was rooting for in the game. He was fully aware that she was married, having tried to put the moves on her a few times now and shot down each time. The last time he approached her was after their game against the Falcons. Unfortunately for him, he got a glimpse of her husband, and decided that it was not worth the fight. But he knew there was little the guy could do to him for his comments on the air. “Drage fires but is denied! Such a sad moment, she might need a bit of comforting after that miss. Harkonnen recovers and fires a quick shot off and scores! Rumor has it that he does pretty well off the pitch as he does on. Wonder if he and Drage ever...Snow rebounds, taking off in the opposite direction with Drage and Harkonnen fast on his tail.”

 

[Sumner Drage]

"Mr. Drage, if you don't quiet down, I shall restrain you myself!"

Sumner snarled then laid back against the pillows, his mouth snapped shut, white creases around his mouth the only indication given that he was in extreme pain. He waited until the old battle-ax left before he closed his eyes and envisioned gutting the commentator and feeding him his own entrails. "Yeah choke on it, you son of a-," a blinding, intense pain shuddered through this system. It ebbed and faded slowly until he was pale and shaking. He'd be damned if he called for those butchers again for more pain potion. He stayed perfectly still and listened as the game picked up again after the goal. He was proud of his girl and their team. He'd heal and gut that commentator next match. The thought brought a dark grin of pleasure to his handsome face.

 

[Lily Drage]

Lily flew after Xavier Snow, taking to his tail and matching him move for move. She was working to get inside and get a grasp on the quaffle. Snow started to get a bit physical with her, and Lily shoved right back. Ford was on the other side of the Quafflepuncher Chaser, working from his side to get some action going. The two Warriors roughed up the Quafflepuncher just a bit, shoving him back and forth until Ford was able to get a grasp on the quaffle and take off down the pitch.

“Harkonnen steals the quaffle and Drage is hot on his tail. I wouldn’t mind if she was hot on my tail…Harkonnen dives and weaves through traffic, Drage following in the space he created. She passes him, and, wait, she has the quaffle! Drage heading off towards the goal, moving quickly as she ducks the bludger smacked at them by the other Snow, which is smacked right back by Potter. Harkonnen pulls up next to her, the two flying in tandem as they close in on the goal. The Quafflepuncher’s keeper eyeing up the pair, ready for what they have coming at him.”

Lily nodded to Ford and they made their move. They had been practicing this pass for hours upon hours on their home pitch and had it perfected. Now it was time to try it in actual game play. Ford rose just a bit in the air, Lily dropped down below him as they flew next to each other. Reaching behind her, she changed up the grip on her broom, grabbing hold right behind her bottom and loosening her foothold on the side opposite of Ford. Leaning over, she gave the quaffle to Ford and grabbed hold of the broom right between his legs. Sliding her legs over, she swung under Ford’s broom, keeping a tight grip on her broom as she did. She pulled her Streak along and up so that she could mount it again mid-air, swinging her leg up and over it. Ford had his free hand covering hers, to make sure that she was secure, then let go when she gave him the tap with her finger. As she mounted her broom, she nodded at Ford and he readied to take off to the goal. Lily in the process had managed to take the quaffle back and was about to take off in the opposite direction, the monkey swing, as they called it, was just a distraction over who had the ugly red ball. That was when she heard it: the whizzing of the approaching bludger smashed at her by Noah Snow. She frantically moved to get herself locked into position to take the hit but it was too late.

Lily felt the quaffle smash into her stomach, crushing a few ribs in the process. She had just enough presence of mind to pass the quaffle to Carlson in time to take the hit full on. Frantically trying to grab hold of her broom, the force of the bludger shoved her backwards, tumbling into the air and off her broom. As she fell, she reached out to Ford who was trying to catch her but was not able to get close enough in time. The blonde was falling faster than he was able to fly. As she hit the ground, one word escaped her lips before she slipped into the sweet blackness of night, “Sumner...”

“Drage and Harkonnen are flying in tandem down the pitch. She is in possession but wait! Merlin! Drage just passed the quaffle to Harkonnen and swung under his broom like a monkey! I have never seen anything like it! She is back on her broom and the Warrior’s favorite duo seems to be flying off in opposite directions. What skill that little minx has! Carlson is hovering nearby, seemingly thrilled by their antics. Wait. Drage is looking around for Carlson. She has the quaffle back! She is dropping it to Carlson as she – OOOH!” A sickening thud could be heard over the radio. “Drage is hit! The bludger caught her in the stomach.” The announcer was frantic; his description of what he was seeing was coming out fast and furious. “Harkonnen and Carlson are both diving down to try to catch her. Potter is flying fast and low to try to help. Come on….COME ON!” Suddenly, the announcer groaned again as he realized they were all just a bit too late. “That is not good. Drage is down on the pitch. The medi-wizards are running out to her but she is not moving. Get up, come on, get up! This does not look good at all. The medi-wizards are moving her carefully to the stretcher, her team getting the signal to keep going. Quidditch does not stop, people, for anything. Injury, death, sleep. It keeps going no matter what. Drage is being carried off the pitch, she looks to be unconscious. That was one heck of a fall; I just hope she is able to recover from that. Carlson and Harkonnen keep watching with concern from the sky, and are getting the nudge from the referees to keep going. Harkonnen looks more determined than ever to win this game…”

 

[Sumner Drage]

"LILY!"

Heads turned, stomachs clenched, hearts pounded as Healers began to run toward the anguished roar that came from their most troublesome patient's room. From outside in the hallway, two Healers in training stood and listened to the commotion coming from inside the room. Red sparks flew and their eyes widened in astonishment as the their supervisor came flying out of the doorway to crash against the wall. One ran to check on them which shocked the other to try to come into the room. He never saw the face attached to the fist; he dropped to the floor, out cold.

"Get back in your bed!"

Sumner Drage cursed, spittle flying from his mouth, grey eyes wide and crazed as he fought his way through them. His wife...his lover...the woman he cared the most about in this world was hurt, injured...dead a voice whispered in his mind. The thought that his reason for breathing had been snuffed out while he lay helpless on a hospital bed renewed his berserker flight. Bodies crashed as they were flung off him, bones in his hands cracked on faces.

Sumner's leg, only partly healed, broke in two different places, bringing the Beater crashing to the floor. Still Healers struggled to keep the crawling, cursing madman from making it out the doorway. One tried shoving a sleeping potion down his throat. He grabbed the idiot by the neck and crashed his mouth to theirs; he spat the viscous fluid passed their lips then flung them from him. He was nearly there, tears streamed down a face flushed with exertion and pain. Sumner reached a trembling hand to the doorway then stiffened as magic bathed him. He was out, blood slowly seeping onto the once polished hospital floor around him.

The 'battle-ax', as he had termed her, stood with her wand out and looked with disgust at the commotion he had caused on her floor. "Get him to his bed, restrain him." She sneered at the Healer in training who had woken from the floor and hobbled to her side. "Clean this mess up."

 

[Lily Drage]

“We were just given an update on Lily Drage. She has been examined by the onsite medi-wizards and has been transported to St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies. She will not be returning this game and might just be out for the rest of the season after that fall. That would be a real shame. She is a tough player and the Warriors won’t be quite the same without her. Back to the action now. Snow rebounds from Harkonnen’s goal and heads back up the pitch…”