[fic] grey magic [6/?]
Title: Grey Magic
Rating: T/PG
Summary: As a Slytherin Arizona Robbins knows that her crush on a Gryffindor has every chance of causing problems. But with the Triwizard Tournament again at Hogwarts and mysterious things seeming to seek out Alex Karev, her best friend, the Romeo and Juliet thing she has going with Callie Torres is the least of her issues.
{Grey's Hogwarts AU} The gang's all here, somewhere, but the focus is going to be Callie/Arizona.
Mornings before a Quidditch game were always louder in the Hall, conversations about expectations all over the room raising the volume. Callie wasn't the only one of her friends betting on Slytherin to win, which was a relief, even if Meredith claimed she was simply being practical. The Hufflepuffs had a good keeper in Jackson Avery, a promising chaser with Heather Brooks, who had recovered well from the incident with the Goblet of Fire, but their team just couldn't compete with the team Arizona ran for Slytherin.
Across the room Arizona was leaned over her breakfast with her head next to Alex's, both eating with one hand and most of their attention focused on the paper on the table between them. Maybe she was smitten, but Callie thought it was kind of cute to see her girlfriend all focused and intense on their game plan. Not cute enough that she wasn't going to do her best to defeat them on the pitch when they played each other, however.
It wasn't a game strategy that had Arizona's attention though, but an article in the Daily Prophet. “Death Eater James Karev Sighted in the UK.” Beneath it, in less massive letters, the subtitle - “Famed Auror Daniel Robbins in pursuit.” It was only a brief piece, scant on details, but they'd learned that could be a blessing and a curse. It left them in the dark more often, but the shorter the article the less likely that it would be noticed by one of their classmates. Looking up from the paper, Arizona's gaze moved instinctively toward the Gryffindor table. Tim read the entire paper every day, he always had, ever since he was young. For a while it had been the easiest way to know how and where their father was on any given day. He was already looking at her, his expression tight. Arizona could only shake her head, the movement so slight that only her brother would have detected it.
With a sigh her eyes slipped away, up the table. Callie's smile caught her and Arizona mustered an answering quirk to her lips. Her girlfriend hadn't read the paper. Let her think she was worried about the game. At least until later. Callie winked and Arizona's smile grew genuine. Alex bumped her in the side with an elbow.
“Burke is looking over here,” he muttered, leaning away and flicking the paper up to cover them somewhat.
Arizona looked swiftly toward the head table but the Headmaster of Durmstrang was pouring himself more juice. “Are you sure?”
“He was looking right at us,” Alex confirmed, growling and low. “Right at me.”
Brows dropping, Arizona gripped the sleeve of his shirt. “Let's get to the pitch” A sharp whistle drew the attention of the rest of their team, the others following more slowly, one or two still blinking sleepily. Alex set the pace, jogging out of the Hall and leaving Arizona to chase the stragglers. By the time they reached the locker room everyone was awake and alert. They reconvened after each player had their brooms in hand. A look silenced the last whispers in their huddle and Arizona cleared her throat lightly. “We've practiced this. Everyone play your assignments, keep your eyes open, and we've got them.” She met the gazes of each team member one on one, landing on Alex. “Slytherin on two.”
The cheer deafened them for a moment, mere warm up for the roars from the stands as they walked up the tunnel and mounted their brooms. Arizona did one quick pass of the Slytherin seats before meeting Jackson Avery at midfield for the handshake. He smiled perfunctorily but didn't try to crush her hand. “See you out there.” He nodded and their referee gestured for the chasers to move into the center ring for the toss. Arizona went low, eyes already scanning for the positions of the rest of the Hufflepuff defense.
The whistle marked the release of the balls, quaffle flying straight up to be snagged by Brooks, Snitch darting out of view, and the bludgers setting out on their destructive path. She knew where Alex was without looking for him, noting the movements of their counterpart beaters before she looked for the bludgers. There was one charging straight at Avery in the goal but his teammate deflected it with her bat. It shot straight away at Heather Brooks, who managed to dodge it but missed the quaffle. Slytherin took the ball and a shot on the goal. Jackson was avoiding another bludger and the score took an early Slytherin lead.
Arizona hadn't even swung her bat yet. That was strange. Sitting up straight on her broom, Arizona took a look at the motion on the pitch. Everywhere she looked was a Hufflepuff struggling with their broom or ducking a bludger. Her teammates were taking gleeful advantage of the other team's distraction but it made something cold settle in her stomach as the cheers of the crowd became cries of disbelief and jeers of dismay.
Alex was as confused as Arizona, his broom steering toward her through the chaos. “Hey!” Arizona called down to Madame Hooch. “Stop the game!”
The Quidditch mistress was as concerned as anyone but a move of her wand demonstrated her own ineffectiveness against whatever was happening.
Reaching them without having to duck once, Alex leaned over to avoid shouting. “What are we doing?” he asked. The crowd was restless, growing angry.
Arizona's eyes skated across the seething walls of color - gold, red, green, blue. The longer they sat there with the score climbing, the worse the reaction would be. “Get the bludgers. Get them on the ground.” Hufflepuff's seeker was too bombarded to look for the Snitch but Arizona spied her own seeker in hot pursuit. At the least it should end the game, if not win them any goodwill.
Alex shot off with a nod, flinging himself into the track of the nearest projectile and stretching out to reach for it.
The other bludger had wrangled the Hufflepuff chasers and their keeper against the goals and was circling like a shark, darting in to make anyone who attempted to break free regret it. It fled when Arizona dropped in from above and tried to grab it, heading down and trying to turn past her at a sharp hairpin, moving to knock Jackson Avery out of the sky as he feinted away from the goalposts. It was a good effort, using himself as a target, the bludger tearing through the air at him.
Arizona practically fell onto the thing, dropping off her broom to wrap arms and legs around the furious projectile and doing her best to send them both plummeting to the sand at the bottom of the pitch. The bludger resisted but couldn't outmatch the stubbornly clinging Slytherin, only managing to slow their descent just slightly.
The ground struck with blazing force, Arizona's vision exploding white as pain erupted through her back, her arms. It felt as if something in her side popped, painful and loud in her head, as she skidded across the dirt. The bludger bucked against her weakening grip but Arizona managed to turn and trap the ball beneath her. Her arm felt like it was on fire, her head pounding. Passing out would be a relief, she was sure, but she forced herself to muffle the bludger, gritting her teeth into her tongue to keep herself alert.
The sound of a sharp whistle was the last thing Arizona heard before she fainted.
Waking up was less noisy, just muted voices, and considerably more comfortable, the beds in the Hospital Wing a far cry from the surface of the pitch. Her head felt only cloudy instead of blinding as she started to come around. Her arm was padded though, wouldn't move as much as she felt like it should. Her side was aching but probably should have felt worse if the memories of her fall were anything to go by.
“Stop moving,” murmured a quiet voice, a hand pressing lightly against her wrist. “You're still hurt.”
Arizona did still hurt, though her arm wasn't broken anymore. Her broken ribs were still knitting, her breathing painful unless she kept it shallow. She could feel the bones healing and popping between breaths. Forcing her eyes open slowly Arizona found herself in an isolated corner of the infirmary, the far side of the room populated by several teachers. She wasn't entirely alone, Callie slumped in a seat beside her bed with a hand on her arm. Light fingers drew circles on the inside of her wrist and Arizona mustered a tired smile. “Hey, you're here.” She pushed herself up with one arm but couldn't sustain lying on her side, head dropping with a groan at the pressure on her ribs.
"Well, yeah,” Callie said as she stood up, adjusting Arizona's pillows and helping her sit up. “They wouldn't let Alex stay the night.”
Arizona looked around quickly, or as quickly as she could. Alex wasn't there. “Where - is he okay?”
Callie's lips pursed as she resumed her seat. “He's in the dorm. He's not the one who jumped off of a broom to ride a bludger into the ground.” Her tone was short and sharp and Arizona let her eyes go wide. “Don't do that!” Callie snapped. “Don't pull a cute face! You scared me, Arizona! When you fell -” She trailed off, shaking her head while her hands swiped against her legs.
“I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to scare you,” Arizona apologized, her injured arm too sore to extend. “But I had to do -”
“I know,” sighed Callie, scrubbing tired eyes with the heel of one hand while the other reached for Arizona's wrist again. “It worked, if that makes you feel good about being a hero.”
Arizona's throat felt tight as she swallowed. “Is that what I am?”
“The whole school is talking about what you did.”
She cocked her head, eyebrows rising in doubt. “Is that what they're saying?” She didn't believe that for a minute. She knew exactly what the school would think had happened out there on the pitch. It was part of the reason she'd thrown herself onto the bludger. “Alex is okay?”
There was exactly nothing Callie could say about what the rest of Hogwarts thought had happened today and she knew it. She nodded, squeezing her wrist again. “He's fine. He used his bat to knock it down.” Her tone suggested that she personally thought that was a much better idea than Arizona's physical display at the game.
“Who knew Alex is the brains of the outfit?” Arizona teased, her voice gruff with pain and sleep. “How long was I out? Is everyone else alright? The Hufflepuffs?”
“You were out for a while,” answered Callie, her reproach clear. “But you were the only one hurt badly.” Arizona was chewing on her lip and Callie's expression softened. “Arizona -”
Their private moment was interrupted by Professor Avery clearing her throat. Callie stood up from her seat swiftly and moved to give them privacy while Arizona pushed herself up straighter, biting back a groan for her efforts. “I must say that I'm proud of how quickly you reacted today, helping Jackson deal with his classmates.” Arizona bit the inside of her cheek to keep her expression from twisting, nodded dutifully. “But if you have any information about what happened -” Her eyes cut to Callie lingering close. “It would be better to talk to me now.”
Tamping down her first instinct to be defensive, Arizona shook her head stiffly. “I don't know anything.” Except that it appeared someone had been trying to deliver the game to Slytherin. Something told her that the Hufflepuff team simply didn't have that many enemies out there. But there were any number of parties interested in destroying Slytherin's hard fought credibility. To say nothing of the people in her house who might have done it themselves, trying to make a galleon on the game, or simply to humiliate the Hufflepuffs. The only thing she was sure of at the moment was that no one on her squad would have had part in something like this. Half of them weren't capable yet of the magic it would take to pull this off. And the other half were people she'd chosen, that she trusted - at least enough to be sure that none of them had done this.
Catherine Avery's eyes were sharp, flinty even on her best day. She didn't voice her disbelief but her expression said it for her perfectly without words.
“I don't even know what happened, really. Just that the bludgers went rogue and went after the other team.” Only the other team. It hadn't escaped anyone's notice and Avery was no fool. Arizona met her eyes without blinking, forcing herself to remain steady. “I was just trying to stop it before anyone got hurt.” Callie made a noise but the two Slytherins didn't break their stare. Professor Avery had been the one to choose her for prefect. She had to have some small amount of faith in her.
The Head of Slytherin blinked, finally releasing her breath and letting her head incline. Arizona didn't relax just yet though. “Very well, Miss Robbins. Get some rest and I'll see you in class first thing Monday.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
As soon as the professor was away Arizona turned her head sharply, pointedly not looking at Callie as she returned to the bedside. “Hey, what's wrong?” Arizona's head shook but she wouldn't look at her. “Hey.” Callie sat on the edge of the mattress rather than in her chair again. “Look at me?”
Arizona was wiping her teary eyes as she submitted, a sheepish smile painful on her lips. “Sorry. I have some authority issues.”
Callie was shocked for only a moment, her mouth opening just a fraction. It was sweet, really, reconciling yet another anomaly between the happy, funny, smart girl she knew as her girlfriend and the critical badass the school knew as Arizona Robbins. “Oh, sweetheart.” She couldn't help smiling, feeling very affectionate where she'd been anxious. Arizona was so many things and so many people just didn't see it.
Arizona's smile grew more natural. “No, Calliope, this is not cute. Do not find this charming.”
“I find most things you do charming,” Callie confessed, leaning over to kiss the side of her face. “I could maybe even learn to like your new superhero thing if it hadn't landed you in here.”
Breathing deep and holding it deliberately, Arizona could feel her side aching. The pain would fade, she knew from experience. “I'll be more careful next time I dive off my broom,” promised Arizona with a smirk, pleased with the narrow glare she got in response.
Callie shook her head, her smile patient. “Just try not to get hurt anymore tonight, please.”
Blue eyes went wide, Arizona forming the perfect innocent expression. “I'm in the hospital wing, Callie. What could possibly happen in here?”
“I know you and Alex better than that,” Callie answered, eyes rolling. “Just be careful.” She leaned over again, hesitating only a moment before Arizona was rising up to kiss her. It was soft contact, mostly chaste with teachers on the other side of the room. Arizona settled back into her pillows as the kiss ended, smiling and stretching. Callie released a deep breath. “Okay, well I'm going to go.” She licked her lips and mustered a smile. “Seriously - you two be careful,” she requested in a whisper.
“We will,” answered Arizona as softly without denying it. There was no point in it. Callie knew as well as she did that Alex would be there the next time she woke up, with an idea (or at least part of one) about what had happened at the game. “Hey, what happened to my broom?” she asked as it occurred to her.
It made Callie's smile grow. “Don't worry. Alex got it after we knew you were okay.” She dragged a light finger across Arizona's palm. “Good night.”
“I'll see you in the morning,” Arizona confirmed with a nod. Her arm ached as she moved to stretch out, making a show of turning onto her uninjured side and settling into the mattress to fall asleep. Aching ribs meant that she was flat on her back again as soon as Callie disappeared behind the hospital's doors. Breath came easier and with it, sleep.
It was still dark when Arizona woke to find Alex in the chair next to her, head resting in one hand, his elbow on his knee. One foot was propped against the frame of the bed. “Hey,” he said when she moved to push herself up.
“You been here long?” asked Arizona, her voice rough with sleep.
He shrugged, a pensive expression on his face. “Did Avery question you too?”
Arizona stretched cautiously, reaching for her wand and muttering an illumination spell. “She asked. I don't know anything.” Alex had an idea, she could see it on his face, but he was hesitant to speak.
“This is crazy,” he said slowly when he finally said something. “But I think it was the Durmstrangs.” Arizona's brow drew down into a frown but she didn't argue. “I saw them, before you kamikaze-d that bludger, they all had their mouths moving and weren't blinking.” He slumped sideways in his chair. “After you went under everything stopped.”
That didn't sound great any way she considered it. None of the Slytherins had been hurt but her and she'd arguably done it to herself. “What do the Durmstrangs get out of us winning the game?”
“I've got no damn clue,” grumbled Alex. “We need to watch them.” On top of classes, studying for OWLs, prefect duties, Quidditch, and dating he wanted to add surveillance of another school. Of course. “At least Burke,” Alex clarified. “I don't trust that guy.”
Arizona nodded, noting with relief that her sides were only achy now where they'd been painful. “Alright.” She'd seen enough of Professor Burke's focus on them to agree with his assessment. “We'll keep an eye on him.”
Satisfied with that resolution, Alex released his breath and stood to go. “Glad you're alright.” His arms were bared by the tank top he wore to sleep, socked feet beneath his long, dragging and faded pajama pants. Alex rarely got cold but it was still a castle in October though and Arizona could see the chill tremor down his back.
He crossed the dark hospital in silence, the muted sounds of his socks on the stones barely audible. The creak of the door was louder but Arizona was the sole person awake to hear it. The shadow that tracked Alex's route down the hall was the only one who knew she wasn't.