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Rehabilitation	By : LinguaMagus Category: Harry Potter > FemSlash - Female/Female Views: 827 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not own Harry Potter or the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Rehabilitation
- 1
A story about the strength we can find in the compassion of our friends.
Ginny had flown like a charmed arrow. If it hadn’t been for Angelina and Alicia, she would have been on the Gryffindor team ages ago. Even the new girl, Demelza, was flying remarkably. Everyone was so excited that they were flying without a care in the world, and the team had never looked better. Katie heard these thoughts like accusations in her mother’s voice as she staggered into the showers after Quidditch practice.
Harry had been really sweet by not questioning whether she was ready to come back. He really should have, though. The thought ran down her spine like poison and puddled in the pit of her stomach. She had stayed on her broom, but barely. Everyone had been flying so well that no one really noticed Katie not keeping up. They don’t even need you. They’ll have a better chance without you getting in the way.
When the hot water pounded on the crown of her head, she had a moment of peace. The drumming, insistent, scalding spray washed away the voice of shame and pain that tormented her. She braced herself against the wall, feeling the twitching in her hamstrings that let her know she was standing on borrowed time. She opened her eyes, and through the streaming water, stared at her arms. They didn’t look like her arms anymore. They were pale and she could no longer see the definition of her biceps, hard-won from years of intense practices.
She heard laughter and the clatter of gear hitting the ground from the locker room. Ginny and Demelza could be heard jovially denigrating Ravenclaw’s chances in the final match of the season. A big win could get them the Quidditch Cup. Guilt clenched at Katie’s heart. If she fell apart during the match, Harry would be humiliated his first year as captain. He would take all the blame for her failure. It wasn’t fair. He deserved better. They had been teammates since the very beginning. Wood had recruited them both personally just a few days apart.
The bitterness rose in the back of her throat like bile, and finally the muscles in her legs gave way. She collapsed to the floor, just barely rolling enough to keep her knees from smacking into the hard tile. She sobbed and struggled to catch her breath. The noise in the locker room abated, and a voice called out. Ginny.
“Katie, you okay in there?” Perfunctory. Unconcerned.
She choked down her rage and pain. “Fine. I’m fine! I just slipped. Hit my funny bone.”
“Ouch! Okay, well be careful. We need everybody in tip-top shape. There’s no way we’re winning with Dean.” She hissed the name.
Katie struggled to her feet and turned the shower off. She grabbed her towel and started to squeeze out her hair. She needed a haircut, it felt too long. She had kept her hair no longer than her shoulders since she was a little girl. Wet strands tickled the backs of her arms and made her feel shaggy and unkempt. She had shaved her legs and underarms that morning, but the hair hanging on her body made her feel unshaven. She was like a creature that had wandered in from the forest and was allowed to be among the humans.
While she was standing there, toweling her face and feeling pitiful, Ginny wandered in naked and glistening with sweat. She wolf-whistled.
“Merlin’s balls, Katie! Did your tits get twice as big while you were gone? You look like a centerfold, girl.” Ginny teased, moving her hands in an hourglass.
Katie knew she was being made fun of. She knew she had gotten fat and disgusting. Ginny had the body she used to have. When the shower turned on and the hot water bounced and splashed off of her tight frame, it traced lines of shining light down her taut muscles. Even sticky with sweat, Ginny was cleaner and better than her.
She knew she was just standing there and not speaking. She couldn’t help it. The words were lodged in her throat like old bones. Katie just wanted to escape this hell. She couldn’t stand here and watch Ginny be beautiful and perfect while she was so hideous and weak. Crushing her self-loathing down deep, she forced a smile and a laugh and tried to edge past without looking at Ginny more than she absolutely had to.
Before she could make it to the door, Demelza entered and Katie was trapped. She looked down at the younger girl and her guts flooded with fear and envy. Not as muscular and athletic as Ginny, she was petite and delicate, but refined. With her big, aquamarine eyes and straw-blonde hair, she looked like Emma Woodhouse come to life. Dimples still crowned the corners of her bright smile, but a touch of worry had reached her eyes as Katie stood in her way and stared.
Demelza coughed nervously and raised her eyebrows. Ginny cupped her hands around her mouth and called out in a mock announcer tone, “Earth to Katie! I think you might be in the way, honey.”
Katie flushed in embarrassment and scrambled past Demelza and out of the bathroom. She could hear Ginny giggling behind her. She knew the girls would mock her as soon as she was out of sight. She deserved it. She snatched up her clothes and rounded a corner so the girls wouldn’t see her when they came out of the showers. She sat down hard on a bench and thumbed through her stack of clothes. She pulled out her socks and slowly and meticulously worked her hands down her leg a little at a time to try and slip one past her toes.
She pulled the sock up her calf and sagged back against the wall. The strain from that small achievement shouldn’t have anything. She was furious how much it took out of her. Shaking with frustration and disgust with herself, she fought to get the other sock on, finally pulling it up to just above her ankle before her strength departed her entirely and she had to lie down on the bench to recover.
A few minutes later, she could hear the water shutting off in the showers and a happy chatter as the girls dried themselves off. It wouldn’t be long before they came back into the locker room. If they found her like this, the humiliation would be more than she could bear. She struggled upright and grabbed her panties. She threw them on the ground and stepped into the leg holes. With her wand, she levitated them to her knees and from there she shimmied them up to her hips.
She held her bra at arm’s length and eyed it contemptuously. Ginny had been right about one thing. Much of the weight she had put on had gone directly to her breasts. She had gone up an entire cup size. She nearly sobbed out loud when she imagined the awful stretch marks that were going to show up like livid scars as soon as she got a tan. She looped the straps around her wrists and held her arms up, so the bra dropped to her chest.
“—an idiot. Still, he’s going to be better than that troll McLaggen. I know he at least can play when he’s not drowning in self-pity,” Ginny said casually as she walked into the locker room.
“Hehe, I don’t think your brother’s that bad. He’s kind of a jerk sometimes, but I don’t think he means it. It was really funny when Richie beaned him with that bludger, though. I thought he was going to wet himself.” Demelza giggled lightly, following her in.
Katie scooted into the corner, trying to be out of sight as much as possible. She wrestled with her bra, trying to get her hand around behind her to reach the clasp. She took the bra off entirely and tried to put it on backwards and spin it around, but she couldn’t get her other arm through the loop when she tried. Burning tears splashed on her cheeks as she fought helplessly with the undergarment.
“I’m going to try and grab some lunch before I head up to the common room. Want me to get anything for you?” Ginny asked Demelza.
“No thanks, I’ll just grab something for myself. I have Double Potions in an hour, so I don’t want to go all the way up to the common room just to come back down again.” Demelza replied.
“Okay. See you later, then!” Ginny mercifully left.
Katie wished silently and desperately that Demelza would go right behind her. She would just throw the damn bra out and put the rest of her clothes on. Just as she formulated this plan, a shining golden head appeared around the corner.
“Oh, Katie! I didn’t know you were still here.” Demelza paused and took in the scene. There was nothing Katie could do to hide the state she was in. “Do you, um, can I help you?”
Angry, shameful tears pooled in Katie’s eyes, and she refused to look at Demelza. She knew her face would be full of pity and contempt and she couldn’t stand to see her own heart looking back at her. “I’m fine. Just leave.” She said shortly.
She didn’t leave, however. Demelza came over and sat on the bench next to her. She didn’t look directly at Katie, just stared at her thumbs and spoke softly. “I guess everybody pretty much assumed you were back to normal, but you’re not, huh?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. There’s nothing wrong. Just go. I can take care of myself.” Katie choked out in a shaky voice.
Demelza nodded, but didn’t get up. She picked up Katie’s bra and held it out. “Here, stick out your arms.” Katie didn’t move. “Come on, just straight out.”
Katie grumbled and shifted, but stuck her arms out. Demelza slid the bra onto her arms and adjusted the straps to sit straight on her shoulders. Reaching around from both sides like she was giving Katie a hug, she fixed the clasp on the bra and ran her fingers along the side to make sure it wasn’t crooked. A smear of fallen tears wiped across Demelza’s shoulder from the older girl’s cheek. She ignored it and sat back, surveying her work. Clinically, she hooked her fingers beneath the underwire and lifted Katie’s breast more fully into the cup on each side.
“This bra is too small for you. You’re at least a B now. Maybe even a C.” Demelza said matter-of-factly.
“Thank you,” Katie mumbled.
Demelza didn’t answer right away. She just stood up and held out her hands for Katie. When Katie took them, she helped her to her feet. She unfolded Katie’s shirt and helped her into it, then buttoned it to the top. She did the same with her skirt, letting Katie brace herself against her shoulder while she stood on one leg and stepped into it. She shook loose the robe and draped it around Katie and let her slip her arms into it. “There you go. Feel better now?”
Katie nodded, staring at the ground. It was a lot harder to feel miserable and pathetic with someone guiding her through everything. She knew Demelza must think she was a wreck, but at least she was being kind. She nearly cried out in shock when two small, strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her into a warm hug. She looked into Demelza’s face and didn’t see anything that she expected. There was no contempt, no pity. Just kindness. Her expression was open and soothing. She felt Katie’s pain, it was clear, and all that was reflected back was a willingness to help.
She leaned her face onto Demelza’s shoulder and wept. She let the fear, the shame, the helplessness, the agony all pour out. Her body quaked with each heaving sob. Demelza didn’t say a word. She just held her tight and didn’t let her fall. The catharsis of exposure left Katie raw, and her muscles quivered and twitched as they fought not to betray her. For minutes, they stood there together until Katie finally buckled and had to sit back down.
Demelza let her rest for a moment, then helped her up again. “Come on. Let’s go up to the common room. You can rest there before your next class.”
Katie nodded and shuffled forward. “Not like going to class matters. I have to repeat this whole year anyway. I get to spend all of next year being the freak that doesn’t belong.”
Demelza gripped her arm firmly and guided her slowly towards the door. “Enough of that. Feeling sorry for yourself isn’t doing you any good. Think of it the other way around. You get to go into next year with a three month head-start on classes.”
Smiling weakly, Katie nodded and tried to straighten up a bit more. “Sorry, I shouldn’t bother you with my self-pity. It’s not fair to you.”
They stopped. Katie took a half-step forward and realized that the hands supporting her weren’t moving. When Demelza spoke, she did so softly and didn’t look up from the ground. “Don’t ever think you’re bothering me by needing support.” Her voice didn’t get louder, but it seemed to grew in intensity. “You are never bothering me with that. Not ever. You understand?”
Not knowing what to say, Katie just nodded, then realizing Demelza wasn’t looking at her, she said, “Ye— Umm, okay, yes. Thank you.” Her agreement came out thin and weak, but it seemed to be enough. Demelza continued forward and for all her apparent slightness, the strength of her hands felt inexhaustible.
The journey back to the Gryffindor common room took them the better part of thirty minutes. Occasionally, Katie had to stop to regain her strength before continuing. Demelza never protested. She just stood by her side, waited for a moment, then helped her back up as soon as she felt that she had rested enough. The stairs were a particular challenge, but by taking them slow and accounting for their erratic shifting, they finally reached the tower with only a few delays.
Demelza took Katie by the waist and held her steady as she climbed through the hole behind the Fat Lady. Ginny was sitting in a wingback chair with a plate of eggs and a bowl of porridge balanced on her legs. “Good grief, not you too, Demelza! Katie’s a big girl, she doesn’t need anyone to help her through the hole. She can do it herself.”
Ignoring her, Demelza walked with Katie over to a tartan Chesterfield. Katie sank into it gratefully and deliberately avoided Ginny’s eye. Then Demelza answered, “Not every situation is you and Dean, Ginny. It’s okay to keep your opinion to yourself sometimes.” With that, she checked on Katie one last time to make sure she was okay, resituated her bag across her shoulder and left for Potions.
As she was leaving, it struck Katie that Demelza had never intended to come up to the tower at all. She blushed with embarrassment and just watched Demelza climb through the portrait and jog away. She found herself suddenly very jealous of the younger girl’s strength. It was so different from how she had used to be. It’s like there was some engine churning inside that moved her.
With the late Spring warmth creeping down through the stones of the castle, there was no need for a fire in the hearth. Nevertheless, Katie stared into the grate and wondered at this new person in her life. Of course, she had known Demelza before. She had sort of just been around for years, and they had even played Quidditch a bit together before the attack. Until today, though, she had never given her any thought. She was just a friendly stranger that occasionally crossed her path.
Her reverie was interrupted when Ginny flopped down at the other end of the sofa. “What got into Demelza? She seems grumpy all of a sudden. Was a boy rude to her or something?”
“Hmm? Oh, no, I don’t think so. She seemed fine to me. Maybe you’re just reading too much into it.” Katie replied absentmindedly.
Ginny shrugged, “I guess. Maybe it’s just nerves about the match. I know I’m tied up in knots about it. Harry is really counting on us.”
Katie gave a distracted sort of shrug and said, “Yeah, probably something like that.”
Folding her legs under her and turning sideways, Ginny looked at her. “So are you excited to be back on the pitch? I can’t imagine taking six months off from Quidditch. I’ve been waiting on my chance for years now. if it got taken away, I think I’d lose it.”
The heavy feeling crept back into Katie’s stomach. “I guess so. Everybody was flying really well today. I hope I don’t hold the team back.”
Ginny laughed. “You’ve been a Chaser for years. It won’t be hard for you to get used to flying with new people at all. I’m just glad we got you back before the final match. Dean was okay, but he wasn’t at your level, not really.”
“Oh, um, thanks. Yeah, I’m sure it will be fine.” Katie said, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt. “Hey, what’s your next class?” She changed the subject abruptly.
“Charms. It’s not for another hour, though. I’m supposed to be writing ten inches for McGonagall on Switching Spells, but I’ve got until Thursday, so I’m not really worried about it. Want to play gobstones?” Ginny said casually.
“I think I’m going to just hang out for a bit, thanks. I didn’t sleep very well last night, and practice left me pretty tired,” Katie dodged.
“Sure, okay.” Ginny wandered off to look for somebody who would play with her.
Katie took a deep breath and felt the tension in her back unknit as she spread across the couch like melting ice cream. Her eyelids drooped and a few breaths later, she was asleep. She drifted in and out, shouting first years or the occasional ruckus from a game’s climax bringing her to the surface long enough to conclude that none of it had anything to do with her, and then she sank back into the pink fog again.
Some unknown eternity later, a hand was gently rocking her shoulder and bringing her back to the world. “Katie? Sorry I had to go to class before. I didn’t realize you were that tired. Do you want help up to the dorm?” Demelza was asking softly.
“Muh? Oh, sorry, I drifted off. What time is it?” Katie asked blearily.
“About eleven, I think.” Demelza answered.
Katie sat bolt upright, “I slept all day?”
Demelza giggled, “No, silly. Eleven in the morning. Practice was just a few hours ago.”
She sagged with relief. “Thank Merlin. If I wasted an entire being lazy, I would be furious with myself.”
Suddenly stern, Demelza admonished her. “Getting rest is not being lazy. Your body needs sleep as much as it needs hard work. Both are important to staying healthy. It’s no wonder you’re exhausted, you probably haven’t had a proper night’s sleep worrying about everything for months.”
“Why are you being so nice to me?” Katie asked hollowly. “It’s not like you owe me anything. I haven’t done anything for you to deserve your help.”
“That isn’t how this works,” Demelza replied sadly. “We all deserve help when we’re struggling. All of us, no matter how worthless we think we are. I’m helping you because you need help. You would do the same for me.”
Katie wanted to believe that, but looking into her heart, she wasn’t sure that she would. It took strength to help people. Even at her lowest, Demelza would still be stronger than her on the inside. There’s nothing she could do to help someone so much better than her. “Well, anyway, thank you.” She hesitated. “Could I, maybe… ask you for another favor?”
“Of course. Just tell me what I can do.” Demelza offered.
“This match is really important to everyone, and I’m not ready. I’m just going to drag everyone down. Can you talk to Harry and get him to bring Dean back on the team? I’d ask Ginny, but there’s no chance she would do it.” Katie mumbled, burying her face in shame.
“No.” Demelza said firmly.
Katie looked surprised, but despondent. “Oh, okay. That’s fine. I’ll talk to him myself, I guess.”
“No you won’t.” Demelza replied.
“I have to, though. If we lose, everyone will blame Harry, but really it will be my fault.” Katie said pathetically.
“We won’t lose because I’m going to help you. We’re going to train together until you feel strong enough to win. You feel weak now, but your muscles aren’t gone, they’re just asleep. With a little work, you’ll be back to your old self before you know it.” Demelza said so assertively that Katie wanted to believe it.
“We don’t have that much time, though. The match is in less than a month. I’ll never be ready in time.” Katie contested.
“We have eighteen days. You may not be at a hundred percent by then, but I know you’ll be good enough to play. I promise. If we get close, and you aren’t flying at least as well as Dean, I’ll go to Harry and ask him to replace you. I guarantee that won’t happen, though.” She sounded so sure of herself. A sliver of hope ran through Katie’s heart like sunshine breaking the last Winter frost.
“Do you really think so?” Katie asked, almost desperately.
“I know it. You just need someone to believe in you. You’re suffering, but it doesn’t stay this way forever.” Demelza’s tone softened, and she seemed to be looking through her.
“Thank you. I really mean it. Even if we fail, thank you. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.” Katie said soggily. Her eyes swelled with tears.
“Come on. Let’s get you up to the dormitory. You can rest today, and we’ll start tomorrow after you get some real sleep.” Demelza said warmly.
Katie nodded and got unsteadily to her feet. She didn’t feel as weak as she had after practice, but she was still very tired. “What about class, though? I have History of Magic this afternoon.”
“Binns won’t notice you missing. Besides, your recovery is more important right now. I don’t think the professors will expect much from you this close to the end of the year.” Demelza said sensibly.
“You’re probably right. I would feel better for some sleep, I expect.” Katie admitted.
She walked unevenly towards the stairs to the girls’ dormitories and Demelza kept a light hand at her waist, ready to steady her if she needed it. They climbed the stairs slowly, but she reached the top without any breaks. This little accomplishment was heartening, so with a little more confidence, she went into the Seventh Year dormitory and Demelza followed closely. When she reached her bed, she fell into it gratefully and pulled her pillow into her chest. Demelza sat at the edge of the bed and rested a hand on her shoulder.
“You get some sleep. I’ll come by later, and see how you’re doing, but I don’t want you to worry about anything right now. You’re doing really well, and I think you’ll feel miles better after a good day’s rest in your own bed.” Demelza said comfortingly.
“You’re right. My muscles are just really sore. It reminds me of when I first started training. I don’t think I’ve been this sore in years.” Katie complained.
Demelza worked her palms into the older girls shoulders and felt corded knots of tension buried deep. Katie moaned appreciatively. “That feels amazing. Goodness, I feel like beef jerky. I should soak in the tub for weeks.”
“I should have thought about it before. You’ve been stuck in a hospital bed for months, you’re carrying a ton of tension in your back. If you want, I can give you a massage? It doesn’t have to be much, I can just rub your shoulders and back a bit.” Demelza said helpfully.
“Would you? That would be incredible. I’ve only ever had one massage before. My grandma got it for me on my 14th birthday. My mom was furious. She said if I really wanted a massage, I would have asked for one.” Katie said, lost in recollection.
“Sure! It’s no problem at all. Here, take your robe off and unbutton your shirt so I can get to your shoulders.” Demelza instructed, scooting back on the bed to give her room.
Katie tossed her robe to the side and pulled her shirt out of her waistband, then fiddled with the buttons a bit before she got them all undone. Instead of just shrugging it down, she tossed it aside as well. For a moment, her shame about her body was forgotten in the comfortable intimacy of the dormitory. “It’s fine, it isn’t like you didn’t see my body literally this morning.”
“Well, in that case, unhook your bra as well. It can’t possibly be comfortable wearing it that tight.” Demelza said lightly.
“No, it’s actually pretty awful,” Katie admitted. She pulled the straps down from her shoulders and turned the bra around so she could undo the clasp.
“You’re still so pretty,” Demelza said. “It’s amazing that you can be stuck inside for six months and still look so put together.”
Katie wanted to protest. She didn’t feel put together at all. She felt like a slob. A hideous mess. But the compliment felt so honest and real that she let it warm her heart. For a brief second, she let herself believe that someone thought she was pretty. “Thank you. You’re so much prettier, though.” She said finally.
“I don’t like looking at things that way,” Demelza said firmly.
“What do you mean?” Katie asked.
“What’s prettier, a tiger lily or a parakeet?” Demelza asked.
“Oh, um, I dunno. They’re both pretty. They’re just different things, though.” Katie said.
“Right. Why should beauty be a simple sliding scale? When we say that something is pretty, what we mean is that the way it looks makes us feel good, right? Seeing you makes me happy, so doesn’t putting some sort of number on that devalue it?” Demelza expounded, suddenly passionate.
“Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Well, looking at you makes me feel good, but looking at myself doesn’t make me feel very good at all.” Katie countered.
Demelza didn’t say anything. After a moment, she just patted the bed to get Katie to lay down and then rubbed her hands together to warm them up. “Let me know if I’m pushing too hard.”
With the balls of her thumbs, Demelza worked across Katie’s shoulders and down between her shoulder blades like she was polishing rungs of a ladder. Katie hummed in contentment and occasionally groaned when a particularly stubborn knot was smoothed out. Then, scooping her back like water in her cupped hands, Demelza worked back up to her neck. With gentle pressure, she worked the muscle fibers in the neck down and down and down. Fingers tapping like a piano, Demelza went in broad sweeping arcs up each side of her spine and across to each shoulder. She didn’t speak the whole time. For nearly an hour, she just found the muscles in Katie’s back and rubbed the tension out of them, breaking apart the fibers and flooding the area with warmth.
Katie was immersed in the sensation. At some point, she had closed her eyes, and now she was just swimming in the release as her body was manipulated. She would never have guessed that she was carrying so much pain and tension around. Even though she was sore, she felt months of stress melting away from her. “Where did you learn to do this? You’re incredible. You could be a professional.”
“My— somebody I care about used to be stuck in her bed a lot. I learned how to massage so I could help her recover from her physical therapy. I didn’t know what else I could do, but I knew I could at least take away some of her pain. I owed her that much.” Demelza answered quietly.
“Oh, I’m sorry. That sounds really… I don’t know. It sounds like a lot of pressure. That’s really sweet that you wanted to help, though.” Katie said awkwardly.
“I wanted it more than anything. I would have given anything to help her. Really help her. I couldn’t, though. Not really. I was the special one, who got to go off and have magical adventures. She had to stay behind, stuck in bed. Laying in pain and fear, waiting for me to come back.” Her voice was soft and hollow, like it was coming from a long way off.
Katie couldn’t see her, but she reached back and found her hand and squeezed it tightly. “I’m sure she knew you loved her. She didn’t get better, did she? Was it your grandmother?”
Demelza gripped the hand like a lifeline. “It was my little sister.” She intoned dully. “I’m muggleborn. She never showed any magic. I asked Professor McGonagall to check, but she said Nienna never showed up on the list for Hogwarts.”
“I’m really sorry. What was wrong with her?” Katie asked.
“She had cancer. Acute myeloid leukemia. She was diagnosed when she was seven. For a year, I went with her to all her appointments, we were together all the time. Then I got my letter, and I went away from her. I left her, and she was alone for months while I got to learn magic.” Demelza said with a horrible, aching emptiness.
“But surely someone could have, I mean, with magic, couldn’t St. Mungo’s…?” Katie asked desperately.
“It is the policy of St. Mungo’s to not accept any non-magical patient the source of whose malady is neither magical, nor associated with a practitioner of magic.” Demelza said with iron hardness. “They sent a letter. I must have read it a million times. ‘The Healer Staff at St. Mungo’s sympathizes with your plight and wishes you all the best in your recovery.’” Demelza chuckled blackly.
Katie was horrified. “You mean, they knew, and they just… did nothing? They just, let her stay sick?”
“I swore I would learn how to heal her. I promised her I would do everything I could, and Hogwarts could kick me out for using magic outside of school if they had to. I studied so hard. I didn’t have any friends for years. I read every book on healing I could find.” Her voice finally cracked. “It wasn’t enough. Never enough. She was alone when she died. I wasn’t there because I was playing magic in the place she could never go.”
Droplets splashed across Katie’s back. She rolled over and Demelza hovered over her, silently weeping. Katie pulled close and Demelza clung to her. Big silver tears fell like memories of a life that could have been. They lay together and Demelza seemed to collapse in on herself. Whatever steel frame had been bracing her self-control for all the time Katie had been with her, it had vanished, and the girl she was holding now was just small and sad and alone.
In that moment, Katie knew that she was not something pathetic being saved by someone strong. They were two broken things finding each other in the dark, begging for grace. Helping her wasn’t something Demelza was doing out of pity. As much as Katie needed to believe she was worth caring about, this beautiful girl needed a chance to find out whether it was all for nothing. Whether she had any power at all, or if pain always wins.
She held on as the river of fear and pain flowed and crashed around them. If they capsized, they would do it together. Katie stroked her hair and whispered small comforts in her ear. With the need to protect something precious came strength. No muscle returned to her limbs, no color to her skin. But hope flooded her lungs. Love sang in her veins. Her heart pounded with need and purpose.
The light from the window dimmed and grew red with evening as the day wore on. They didn’t move. Laying on the bed, they just took refuge in each other and felt the encompassing shelter of another person’s compassion. When Demelza’s tears slowed and eventually dried, when her breathing grew steady and took on the rhythm of sleep, Katie pulled the blanket over them both. Never letting go, she rested her eyes and waited for morning, determined to safeguard this new treasure.
When the early Sun crept over them, Demelza woke to find that she was snuggled under an arm that was much stronger and heavier than her own. She rolled over and saw Katie snoring gently, her chest bare and smeared with Demelza’s eye makeup. A smile stole across her face and she hugged Katie and whispered, “Thank you.”
While Katie continued to sleep, Demelza snuck away to get cleaned up and ready for the day. When she returned, wrapped in a towel and feeling much more like herself, Katie was just groggily regaining consciousness. Demelza took her towel and wiped away the dark smudges from Katie’s chest while she looked down in bleary confusion.
“Good morning. Do you want to go get breakfast?” Demelza asked cheerfully.
Katie murmured a vague assent and tried to find her feet. Her skirt hung around her hips crookedly and she fought with it briefly before just discarding it. She stumbled off to the showers, and a few minutes later came strolling back in drying her hair and looking much more awake. She deposited her towel in a basket and started rooting around in her trunk for clothes to wear. Distractedly, she tossed some unmatched undergarments on her bed, a simple blouse and skirt, and a robe. She dressed methodically, realized she had her skirt on backwards and tried again, then slipped on her shoes.
Demelza looked at her proudly. Katie just gave her a stare of muzzy incomprehension before Demelza spoke up. “I suppose you must be feeling better, then?”
Katie looked bemused, looked down at herself, realized she had gotten dressed without assistance and then looked up in surprise. “Oh! I guess I must have just been really tired after practice yesterday. I feel pretty good today.”
Demelza giggled, and held out her hand.
“I don’t think I need any help getting down the stairs, but thank you.” Katie said politely.
Demelza shrugged and left her hand out. Katie took it in her own and Demelza smiled. Holding hands, they descended to the Great Hall. They sat next to each other at one of the long tables and Demelza finally released her hand so she could start plucking food onto her plate. Katie joined in, getting two large spoonfuls of eggs and some strawberries.
They munched happily and chatted about what classes they had that day. Katie mentioned, “We have evening Quidditch practice. I hope it doesn’t rain. It’s such a beautiful morning.”
“Before that, we’re going to go down to the pitch, just you and me, so we can work on getting your strength back up. Okay?” Demelza said.
“You’ve got classes and homework and all that, though. I don’t want you falling behind because of me.” Katie protested.
Demelza shook her head. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve got Potions in an hour, then Transfiguration after lunch, then we’ll have three whole hours to exercise before practice. I’m not worried about homework. It’s never bad this close to the end of the year.”
“Hmm, well I suppose that’s true,” Katie admitted reluctantly.
After breakfast, the girls took a walk around the lake in the morning sunshine. Katie started off moving a little slow, but after stretching her legs some, she settled into a nice, comfortable pace. Demelza took it easy, subconsciously matching her stride. From a distance, it almost looked silly because Demelza’s legs were so much shorter. They took a short break on the forest side of the lake to lay out in the Sun and talk about Quidditch. Soon, though, it was time to go to class. Demelza gave Katie a hug, and they walked back to the castle.
After classes, the girls met up at the Quidditch Pitch. Demelza found Katie in the locker room getting dressed and started to put on her own uniform. When she had her flight robes pulled on, she left her boots off and turned to Katie.
“Take your pads and boots off. You won’t need them yet. We’re just going to do some stretches and exercises before practice.” She said. Katie nodded and stepped out of her boots, then dropped her pads to the floor. Chaser gear was a lot lighter than what the Keepers and Beaters wore, but it was still nice to be free of it.
They walked out to the pitch and Katie worked the grass between her toes. It struck her suddenly how long it had been since she had felt fresh grass on her bare feet. It was like the Earth itself was reaching up into her heart. A bright wave of energy splashed across her and she was excited to start feeling better again.
Demelza gestured her over to the center of the pitch. She sat on the grass and spread her legs wide. “Sit across from me. Open your legs up like this. We’re going to start with a really good compound stretch. It’s going to be great for your back, your hips, and your legs.”
Katie mimicked Demelza’s position, sitting in front of her with long legs at a wide angle, but not nearly as wide as Demelza. The smaller girl nodded and scooted forward. She put her feet on the inside of Katie’s ankles. With steady pressure, she pushed her legs further and further apart, wriggling forward whenever she needed more leverage. Katie let out a strained groan and flailed around to brace herself. Demelza caught her hands and steadied her, pulling her still closer and working her hips open even more.
When Katie started struggling to stay upright, even with support, Demelza finally relented. She held her hands steady, letting Katie adjust to the stretch until she stabilized.
“Okay, now, nice and slow, breathe in on a count of three. Good, now hold for a count of three. Now, exhale, one, two, three. Now hold, one, two, three. Now breathe in again… Perfect! Just keep focusing on your breathing like that.” Demelza walked her through it slowly.
“I’m going to…die. You’re going to…break me…in half. You can’t possibly…do this for… fun, right?” Katie complained between breaths.
Demelza giggled. “Fun or not, it’s going to help you. You’re doing really well. Are you ready for the next part?”
“Next? I’m not even ready for the last part.” Katie whined.
Demelza giggled again and leaned back, pulling Katie forward until her chest was over Demelza’s hips. Katie huffed and puffed from the effort. Demelza held her there for fifteen seconds and then let her back up. “Okay, now you pull me.” She said brightly.
They went back and forth that way until Katie was fighting for every breath. When she finally had enough, Demelza lifted her feet and Katie’s legs sprung in like hedge-scissors. Dramatically, she threw her hands up and fell onto her back. “Aggh! Enough, I give up. I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
Demelza laughed and clambered on top of her, pinning her hands to the ground. “Now I’ve got you right where I want you. Do you surrender?”
With mock terror, Katie cried out, “Yes, yes, anything you want. Just please don’t hurt me anymore.”
Demelza leaned in close, “Anything, huh?”
Katie’s eyes went wide and she laughed nervously. “Umm, I think so.”
Demelza clapped a hand on the side of her thigh, “Then get up! We’re just getting started. You’ve got a lot more work to do.”
Katie groaned and struggled to her feet. Her hips rocked backwards and forwards unsteadily. Demelza trotted over to grab their brooms and then came back. She handed a broom off to Katie and then straddled her own.
“I thought we weren’t flying until practice?” Katie asked, puzzled.
“No flying,” Demelza confirmed. “But that doesn’t mean no brooms. I want you to get used to having your legs around the stick again. Your hips are stiff from being stuck in bed. Until we get you used to that again, you’re going to hurt every time you come down off the broom.”
Katie nodded glumly and straddled her broom. Demelza’s dimples twinkled like a star. “Good work. I’m proud of you. Come on, now, let’s go.”
For the next hour, Demelza marched them in circles around the pitch with the broom between their legs. First lap, high steps. Second lap, lunges. Third lap, step and squat. Then on the fourth lap, just a slow walk to recover. Over and over, Demelza put Katie through the paces. Eventually, Katie just gave out, her legs quivering and twitching.
Demelza ran over to her and found her panting on the ground. She kneeled down and took Katie’s hand. Even though she was fighting for every breath and her eyes were shut tight as oyster shells, a glittering smile stretched across her face.
“I did it. I haven’t felt like this since I was twelve, but I did it. I never could have managed it without you pushing me.” Katie panted. “Except now you’re going to have to carry me back to the locker room or bury me here in the pitch.”
Demelza grinned and pulled Katie’s arm around her shoulder. She hefted Katie to her feet and together they stumbled to the locker room. Demelza deposited her on a bench and started shrugging out of her flight robes, letting them fall in a sweaty puddle around her feet. Katie held her arms in the air and made puppy dog eyes at her until Demelza laughed and helped her get undressed.
They limped and waddled into the showers together. They ran the water as cold as it would go. Katie sat down on the tiles and let the icy spray stream down her naked form. Demelza cleaned up quickly and rinsed the suds off. Her porcelain skin was studded with goosebumps, tiny hairs raised on her arms and neck. Her nipples stood out on small breasts like little pink diamonds.
When she was clean, she hobbled over to where Katie sat on the floor and rested a hand on her head. Katie stared up at her helplessly. “I’m too tired for this. Just drown me, so I don’t have to practice more later.”
Demelza giggled. “Here, let me help you.” She squirted a little shampoo onto Katie’s head and massaged it into her scalp. Katie let out a happy little murmur and closed her eyes while Demelza’s fingers rubbed and scritched her head. After she was done rinsing out the shampoo, she soaped her up and rinsed off the sticky, salty sweat. Katie hummed with contentment as she got cleaned.
Katie cleaned her own private parts and squirmed unexpectedly at how sensitive she felt between her legs. She never really thought about sex. She was always too busy with school and Quidditch. She especially never considered any sort of attraction to girls. Still, there was something about the intimacy of being cleaned that fizzed like seltzer in her tummy. When Demelza stood up, satisfied with a job well done, Katie stared up at her and stuck out her lower lip. She held up a grass-stained foot and wiggled her green toes.
Demelza laughed and kneeled back down. She took the foot in her lap and rubbed soap into the arch. She worked the soap into a lather and kneaded it between her toes. Patiently, she scrubbed and massaged the soft little foot. Katie leaned back onto her hands and a breathy gasp slipped out from between her lips. When Demelza finished one foot, she gave the same careful treatment to the next. After she rinsed off the soap, on impulse, she held it up and planted a quick kiss on the big toe. Katie blushed furiously and Demelza smiled like a pixie.
Katie rose unsteadily and Demelza took her hand and helped her back into the locker room. Once inside, Katie barely made it to the bench before her legs gave out again. “I really hate to ask. You’ve been so sweet, and rubbing my feet in the shower felt so amazing. Do you think you could possibly give me another massage? Except on my legs this time?” Katie asked, pink with embarrassment.
Demelza knitted her eyebrows sympathetically. “Of course I will. Here, sit back. I worked you hard today. You deserve everything I can give you.”
Katie sighed with relief and lifted her legs up onto the bench. Demelza started low, rolling her ankles in gentle circles. She worked her thumbs into the long muscles beside her shins and kneaded the firm calf muscles. Back and forth, she worked the smooth legs until the tightness drained from them. With both thumbs, she massaged the sides of her knees gently, trying not to put any pressure on the delicate ligaments below.
When the lower legs were done, Demelza walked her fingers up into the powerful thigh muscles. They were rigid and lined from the hard workout. Her fingers sank deep into the tender flesh. The silky skin streaked with red hand-prints. Katie breathed out a shuddering moan and her eyes rolled back into her head. Demelza worked patiently, creeping higher along the lines of muscle, up to where they met her hips.
Mindlessly, Katie spread her legs. She shifted one leg across Demelza’s lap and rolled her hips up. The muscles of her lower abdomen formed a subtle V, a thin strip of dark hair extending from the point down to smooth pink lips. Demelza’s palm slid higher, her thumb massaging the crease where her leg joined into her hip. She cupped her hands over the rounded outside of her hips and pushed the balls of her hands into the thick muscle.
Katie moaned and lifted her bottom off the bench. Demelza pressed down into the tight muscles at the bottom of her stomach with both hands, rubbing down into the seam on the inside of each leg. Katie gyrated her hips, inhaling sharply. Her sensitive cleft brushing against Demelza’s arm. A soft whine squeaked out and her thighs clenched.
Demelza pulled back, sliding her hands back down to her knees. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to— I mean, I was just trying to help loosen up the tension in your hips, I wasn’t trying to take advantage. I don’t even…” She trailed off, anxiously. Her eyes, however, were fixed on Katie’s thin pink lower lips, a bead of nectar glistening at the bottom like a teardrop.
Katie was mortified. Both at how she reacted and how much she had secretly loved the feeling. “No! You didn’t do anything wrong. The massage was incredible. You were incredible. Thank you so much. It’s my fault for pushing into you.” Catching Demelza’s stare, she covered her nakedness with her hands, blushing with shame. Demelza probably saw that she was turned on and thought she had set this whole thing up to trick her now.
Demelza quickly looked away. “Oh, um, it was no problem, really. I’m really glad you enjoyed it. I guess we should, um, probably get dressed. There’s still a little time before practice, so let’s go grab some food.”
Silently, they both got dressed and started the trek back up to the castle. About halfway up the path, Demelza reached out her hand. Katie blushed furiously, and without looking at her, threaded their fingers together and smiled shyly.
For the next two weeks, Katie and Demelza exercised together every single day. Every single day, Demelza would massage Katie back to life after wearing her down to nothing. Neither girl commented on the fact that Katie would put her underwear on before getting the massage now. It didn’t take long before Katie was moving and walking unassisted, even on nights where they had to practice after exercising.
On Wednesday, a few days before the final match of the season, Katie flew the best she had ever flown in her entire life. She didn’t just feel physically strong, her spirit felt like it was humming in tune with the sky. Demelza would throw the Quaffle and she would find herself right where she needed to be without even feeling like she was moving through the intervening space. That’s when catastrophe struck.
Harry was out. Their captain. The greatest Gryffindor seeker in a generation. The only person on the team who had been playing as long as Katie. In detention every Saturday without exception. The whole team was devastated. Ginny especially stormed around in a furor, telling everyone who would listen that Snape was doing this on purpose to destroy Gryffindor’s chances and that Harry would never intentionally try to hurt anyone. It didn’t matter, though. The call had been made. They needed a new team member, and there was only one option.
The first practice with Dean was sloppy. Katie and Demelza could communicate with a glance, almost reading each other’s movements before they happened. Dean was over-confident, swerving into scoring positions without noticing that Ron had blocked off the ring he wanted to score on. The third time Dean took a shot that Ron swatted away without moving, Ginny game down out of her loop high above the pitch. She railed at him and told him to just stay out of the way while the real team was playing. He looked hurt, but didn’t answer.
The night before the game, Ginny called them down for a Chasers-only practice with her on as Keeper. For two hours, she put them through their paces. Demelza was fast and agile, but Katie was the real star. Where Ginny and Demelza had speed, she had experience. She played with cunning and precision, and sank six of the only eight goals scored the whole practice. After being humbled by the other three girls, Dean played competently, but without much flair. All in all, they went back to the castle feeling like they had a real shot at winning tomorrow.
When morning came, tensions were buzzing like guitar strings. Demelza nearly tripped over a first year charging around the common room and gave him such a withering stare that he ran up to his dormitory in a panic. Dean was storming around and shouting at anyone who held still long enough. Katie didn’t even want to leave her bed until it was time to play.
By the time the match started, there wasn’t a Gryffindor anywhere in the castle who wasn’t ready to get out into the stands and make some noise. When Ron marched onto the pitch, fist held in the air, there was a roar and a few bars of “Weasley is Our King”. They set into the air and it was off. The play was hard and fast. Ravenclaw was ferocious, but Gryffindor was like red lightning.
Demelza took the first goal. Then the second. Katie took the third. Gryffindor was up by fifty points before Ravenclaw took their first goal. A spinning hook throw that clipped the tips of Ron’s fingers and barely slipped through. The pace accelerated. The announcer barely had time to call out the possessions before the Quaffle was off again.
When Gryffindor was eighty points up, the stands started in singing again. This just seemed to steel Ron’s resolve. He blocked the next eight throws in a row and took the hit for a foul when one of the Ravenclaw chasers got so frustrated that they bulled into him. Dean scored the foul for Gryffindor, and Chambers from Ravenclaw barely held position for five seconds before Katie swooped up from behind and stole the ball out of his arms.
Ravenclaw staged a minor resurgence when Gryffindor was up by one hundred. They sank five goals unanswered before a rejection by Ron flew right into Bradley’s face and threw him off balance for a few minutes. That was all it took for Gryffindor to press their advantage and run away with the rest of the game. Utterly dominating the pitch, Katie and Demelza passed the Quaffle back and forth like a billiards ball bouncing off the walls. They flew like a gyre and whirled like dervishes. At one point, Bradley actually crashed into Turpin trying to keep pace with them. They sank goal after goal until finally they hit the magic number.
Gryffindor was up by one hundred and fifty points. If they caught the Snitch, it was all over, they won. Cho tore into a dive. Ginny tailed her by a single broom-length, but they were hurtling pell-mell toward the ground. All eyes were fixed on them. Dean took the opportunity to throw in another ignored goal for good measure. Then Ginny broke sharply up and shot like an arrow towards the Gryffindor goalposts. It took everyone a moment to catch up. Cho had been feinting to try and pull Ginny into an uncontrolled dive, but Ginny had seen the actual Snitch. A few seconds later, it was all over.
There was a deafening roar. The din shook the stands and clouds of dust rose from the stomping of feet and the waving of flags. Ginny dove off her broom and caught her brother around the chest. Peakes soared over Coote and grabbed him by the head, rubbing his knuckles into his scalp. Katie and Demelza joined hands and flew in circles like a red and gold whirlwind. They gathered on the ground like returning heroes and accepted the Quidditch Cup. Ron handed it to Ginny, and Ginny held it out for them all to grab together. They ambushed her and dropped her bum in the cup before holding it aloft and carrying them both back to the castle amid thundering cheers and applause.
The uproar in the common room was tremendous. Still, there was a face missing that several of them wanted to see. There was a ripple of guilt among the Gryffindors who had given their punished captain grief for ending up in detention. None of that mattered anymore, though. They just wanted to celebrate together. Dean tried to get Ginny into a corner so he could have a private word, but she ignored him completely. From the moment she set foot in the common room, her eyes were fixed on the hole behind the Fat Lady.
When, finally, the painting swung open, there was an inrush of breath as everyone balanced on the moment, and then when Harry’s head poked through, there was a cacophony of celebration. Ron charged at him, brandishing the cup and yelling. Ginny moved like a freight train. She threw her arms around him and Harry pulled her into a kiss. After a moment of silent hesitation, a few people giggled and whistled, and the tension was broken.
Demelza, watching them both closely, sagged in relief and leaned into Katie’s chest. Then, all reason fleeing from her mind, all fear beaten into submission by the incredible thrill of victory, Katie pulled Demelza into an alcove where no one else could see. She pinned her against the wall and kissed her. She kissed her with all of the frantic passion of years of loneliness. She broke away, biting her lip anxiously. Demelza stared up at her in shock, her lips still pooched out, then smiled like the sun breaking through the clouds and jumped into her arms. They sank into another kiss, and this time the world spun around them in slow motion as they disappeared into each other’s ardent lips.
Demelza held a demure finger to her lips and gestured across the room. They snuck out of the party and crept up the staircase to the dormitory while everyone was cheering and carousing. Once they were inside, Katie pushed the door shut and waved her wand to lock it. Demelza held her against the door and raised her face to just a hair from Katie’s lips and paused. Katie stared into those eyes that looked like a tropical ocean. She realized in that moment that she couldn’t hear the voice in her head anymore telling her how worthless she was. She couldn’t hear anything at all. She just looked into those eyes, and love poured out in cresting waves.
Their lips came together and the kiss carried them all the way to the bed without breaking. They tore at their clothes indiscriminately until pieces were discarded in every direction. Demelza was wrapped around her, kissing ferociously at any nearby patch of skin. Weeks of touching and caressing the muscular form underneath her had dammed up a flood of desire that was bursting forth in a cascade. Her buried worries about her sexuality, her attraction to an older girl, her betrayal of her sister’s memory, it all dissolved in an osmotic cloud. The only thing she knew was that she was in love, and she was going to saturate every second with joy until fate or wild tigers tore them apart.
Katie stared up at the small, beautiful, resilient girl sitting astride her and was dumbstruck by her good fortune. She ran her fingers down Demelza’s rib cage. She tickled her firm nipples with the tips of her thumbs. When Demelza leaned into her touch, she ran her tongue up her body from her bellybutton to the hollow at the base of her throat. Demelza’s skin was tight and smooth. The slightly salty taste of sweat filled Katie’s mind, and all she could think was that she had to clean Demelza all over.
They devoured each other, exploring each nook and crevice with tongue and lips. Katie supped at the proud ridges of Demelza’s hips. Demelza drank deeply from the scent of Katie’s long hair. Demelza tickled Katie impishly, giggling and wrestling as the taller girl tried to pin her. She danced her fingers over Katie’s underarms and across the delicate flesh of her inner thighs. Katie cackled and thrashed, finally using her weight to press Demelza against the mattress and distracting her by kissing her passionately.
Demelza wasn’t going to surrender that easily, though. Cunning fingers danced up Katie’s thigh and slipped between her legs. She stroked softly at the puffy lips and the barest hint of a fingernail brushed over the hood standing over the cleft. Katie whined and bucked forward, trying to work the finger in closer. Demelza kept her distance, letting the touch pass over aching folds with a brush like a whisper.
Katie let out a husky murmur and chewed on her lower lip. Demelza finally took pity and let a slender finger snake between hungry lips and into the warm and moist opening between. Steadily, she massaged the walls of Katie’s dripping cunt with deliberate precision. Whenever she found a movement that made her squirm and moan, she would hold back just short of the perfect spot until Katie started to let out brittle little gasps, then she would dive in and work the place vigorously until Katie shattered into a glutinous orgasmic sob.
Hooking her thumbs under her arms, Katie lifted Demelza up against the headboard and grabbed the hand that was breaking her. She licked the fingers clean and then grabbed Demelza’s ankles. She lifted them all the way to Demelza’s ears and took each of her hands and pinned them there. Demelza happily complied, bracing her ankles high in the air. Katie sank below, and with great enthusiasm, dove into her sopping folds.
What Katie lacked in experience, she more than made up for in experimentation. Licking first up and down the sweet lips, she savored the flavor and lapped at Demelza’s delicious core thirstily for several moments before exploring around. The quick pink tongue stroked in broad circles, it dipped inside, it licked widely and narrowly. She sucked the tender hood of the clit between her lips and nibbled at the chubby edges of her labia.
Demelza fought desperately to keep her ankles up. The vulnerability almost as erotic as what was being done to her. When she moaned, it rumbled up from her stomach like a furnace. She wanted to grab the face between her legs and smash it against her throbbing cunt until she came like a faucet, but she obediently held her position and let the excited ministrations fill her head with buzzing ecstasy.
Katie rested a thumb on the swollen nub of Demelza’s clitoris and massaged it with gentle, up and down pressure. She kissed the sodden lips and tasted the nectar shining on their rim. Then, daringly, she went lower still. While her thumb performed its indulgent work, her tongue reached out and danced around the puckered pink ring of her bumhole. Demelza yelped and nearly fell over. Katie waited until she steadied, then resumed. She licked in delicate circles, then a series of swishing caresses across the opening before slipping inside. Her muscular tongue pushed inside and filled Demelza from behind.
Demelza howled in rabid pleasure and finally let her legs fall. She wrapped her thighs around Katie’s head and clung to the headboard for dear life. When the savage orgasm departed, it left her legs weak and quivering. She combed her fingers through Katie’s hair and hauled her up to pull her into a vice-like hug. Katie kissed her on the cheek and giggled.
They pulled the curtains around the bed and cuddled against each other. Katie tugged the blanket over them and puffed the pillows into shape. Demelza wiggled into her arms and pulled them around her waist. Katie kissed her on the top of the head and rested her leg across her.
In the dark, in the warm, in the quiet, there was only one sound. Soft and repetitive.
“I love you. I love you. I love you.” Over and over, Demelza whispered. “I love you. I love you. I love you.” Into the night, she spoke the healing magic. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”
They slept in peace. Together.
- 1
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