Hey guys thanks for your patience!

Elsa paced up and down the hallway anxiously as she waited. Unable to keep her hands still, the girl pulled her fingers through her hair, hissing in pain when she touched a small bump. The second Anna fell from her broom, Elsa had stood up so fast that she'd cracked her head on a wooden beam above her. Until now, she'd successfully ignored the pain while following – from a distance – the rest the Gryffindor Quidditch team as they escorted a whimpering Anna to Madam Pomfrey. But now that her shock had worn off a little, the throbbing in her head hit her in full force, and not just from her skull's acquaintance with a solid object, but from her magic as well. Elsa was sure that if she hadn't been wearing her gloves at the time the entire stadium would have been covered in ice or swallowed by a blizzard, or both.

The Slytherin prefect had been standing outside the hospital wing for almost an hour now, waging a silent war with herself. She wanted so badly to go to Anna, to make sure she was okay, but something held Elsa back. She was afraid. She was always afraid.

Elsa knew how it would go, everyone would stare at her with their disapproving looks, and Anna would expect her to say - or do - something, anything to make her feel better, but Elsa didn't know how. In the end she would just make it worse, Elsa was good at that, wrecking things. She sighed gustily as she fiddled with the pendant of her necklace. Anna was already in enough pain; she didn't need her pathetic older sister hurting her further.

The sound of laughter snapped Elsa back to the present as Ginny and three of her brothers - the twins and a scowling Ron - emerged from the hospital wing, with Anna close behind them. Elsa almost sobbed in relief when she saw that her sister appeared to be perfectly fine aside from the sling that cradled her left arm and a scratch on her forehead that looked like it might have been a gash before Madam Pomfrey had got to it.

"Shove off it, George!" Ron hollered, an angry flush creeping up his neck.

"Uh oh, ickle prefect is going to have you thrown in detention for talking out of turn," Fred said grinning maliciously.

"Now, now, Ronnie-boy no need to get agitated. We were only commenting on the lovely shade of green your face turned when you caught sight of Anna's little injury," George teased. "I think she was the one consoling you for a while there hmm?"

Elsa couldn't help but smile at that. The image of someone nursing a broken arm while simultaneously comforting someone else because they found it disturbing was just so Anna it was laughable.

"I was not gr-"

Ron's retort was quickly interrupted by the sound of someone running towards them from the hallway opposite the one Elsa was currently hiding in. Everyone looked toward the noise just as a winded Angelina rounded the corner, black braids bouncing on her shoulders as she waved them down.

"I thought I might've missed you guys," she said sounding a little breathless. "How's the arm, Anna?"

Anna's smile faded and she shrugged. "It feels fine but Madam Pomfry says I'm not allowed to fly for a whole month because I broke it too close to the stupid elbow," she grumbled. "So now the bone is weaker or something, I dunno."

Angelina gave younger girl a sympathetic smile. "That's rough. I'm sure she's just being overly cautious; you'll be back to normal in no time. I've never known you to stay grounded for very long."

Elsa had to physically stop herself from hurling a snowball at the Gryffindor Quidditch captain's head. Anna had a hard time listening to orders – medical or otherwise – on a good day, add the fact that flying was her passion and some friendly encouragement to the equation and you might as well place her on the damn broom yourself.

Anna beamed up at Angelina and opened her mouth to say something but the other girl lifted a hand to silence her.

"But I still want you to do what Madam Pomfry says because I will need you in top form when you can fly again."

Anna's face fell, but she quickly turned wary. "Why?"

"Because you are going to be the Gryffindor Team reserve."

"I- the what?"

"Before you fell, I couldn't decide between you and Weasley for Keeper, but now that you can't fly for a while I'm giving the spot to Ron," Angelina explained.

Ron jerked back in surprise. "You mean… I got it? I'm Keeper?"

"I was going to wait until you got back to the common room but I wanted to tell you before I told the others. But yes, Ron you will be taking Wood's place as Keeper, welcome to the team," Angelina said before giving Ron a firm handshake.

Ron stood frozen in place for a moment before his face split into a wide grin. "Yeah! I made it! I'm finally on the Quidditch team!" he cheered punching a fist in the air. "Wait until I tell Harry and Hermione!"

"Congratulations, Ron," Anna said honestly, even as her shoulders drooped a little with disappointment. "You'll be a great Keeper."

"Thanks," Ron beamed.

"That's great Ron, but what about Anna?" Ginny piped up, looking at Angelina curiously. "You said she was going to be a reserve? Like a back-up?"

Angelina nodded. "Seeing Anna get hurt made me realize that if anyone on the team injured themselves or couldn't play, we would be in deep trouble," the dark-skinned girl admitted. "So I got the idea to have someone on the side, who knows all our plays and maneuvers, should anything like this happen again. That way, we aren't scrambling to find a replacement or be forced to forfeit the match. Anna is a capable flyer, knows how to play all the positions, and gets along with everyone on the team," Angelina turned to Anna and smiled, "making her a solid choice."

Anna blushed and tucked some hair behind her ears shyly, while Elsa's chest swelled with pride.

"Whaddya think?"

"Wow," said Fred smacking a hand to his head. "That… that is a really good idea, Angelina. How did we never think of this before? Would have come in real handy when we lost to Ravenclaw that year Harry couldn't play."

"Well, Anna, you in?" Angelina asked, ignoring the boy.

"Of course I'm in!" Anna exclaimed, bouncing a little in excitement.

"Good to hear it," said Angelina. She turned to Ginny. "I'm offering you a reserve position as well. You'll be first pick until Anna is ready to fly again, after that, you'll be second pick. Okay?"

Ginny suddenly wore a smile to match that of her friend's and her brother's. "Okay! Thanks, Angelina."

The Quidditch captain nodded again. "Great. I'm glad that's settled. I'll meet you lot back at the common room, I have to go and break the news to Frobisher and

Hooper. First practice is tomorrow at one," she said turning away.

"I think I'll walk with her," Fred said suddenly, his ears looking a little redder than usual. "Hey, Johnson!" he called to the retreating girl's back. "Wait up!"

Elsa took the opportunity of the momentary distraction to slip away undetected.

xxx

By the time the four of them reached the common room it was already dark outside, however it was soon clear that none of the Gryffindors were sleeping. As they climbed through the portrait hole, a roar of noise rose to meet them.

A grinning Seamus ran over the group, slinging an arm around Ron's shoulders. "Fred and Angelina told us the news!" he beamed steering the Weasley boy towards the center of the room. The rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team as well as most of the fifth-years hollered greetings and their congratulations when the two boys reached them.

"Here's to the new Gryffindor Keeper!" Seamus cheered so that everyone raised their glasses and drank to Ron's success.

Anna smiled half-heartedly as she watched Ron be congratulated by his friends, trying very hard to swallow her jealousy. She had come so close. If only she had paid better attention to where her broom was, then it might have been her getting all the attention. And then maybe some people would actually start to notice her.

Suddenly, she became aware of the Butterbeer being held out to her.

"Thanks Hermione," Anna said, accepting the drink from the older girl.

"Yeah thanks," said Ginny accepting a Butterbeer of her own.

"Great about Ron isn't it," Hermione said glancing over at boy in question who was chatting excitedly with Katie Bell.

"Yeah, it is," Anna replied taking a long sip of her drink, savoring the feel of the sugary beverage on her tongue and she felt herself relax a little.

'Hermione are you okay?" Ginny asked looking concerned, "you look ready to fall over."

Now that Ginny made her aware of it, Anna saw that Hermione looked absolutely exhausted. She had dark circles under her eyes that seemed to be constantly drifting closed and she was swaying a little on her feet.

Hermione blinked hard a few times. "Oh I'm fine," she said waving her hand dismissively. "Just a little tired from-" she was interrupted by very loud yawn, "making hats."

Anna raised an eyebrow. "You're still doing that?"

Hermione nodded proudly. "I'm getting better actually, I can do patterns and bobbles and all sorts of things now."

"And you really think that the house-elves are going to take them?" Ginny said warily, the side of her mouth twitching slightly.

"Of course," Hermione said sounding a little defensive. "They are disappearing like mad! I was up until 1'oclock last night making more."

Anna looked around and sure enough, she could see about ten different wool hats hidden all over the room. "Hermione, what if they don't want to be freed?"

Hermione looked shocked at Anna's question. "Well of course they want to be free!"

Both Ginny and Anna still looked a little skeptical but decided to let the matter rest for the moment.

"Is Harry back from detention yet?" Ginny asked, scanning the room for the boy.

Hermione shook her head. "Not yet but I'm sure he'll be along soon." She yawned again. "If anyone asks I'll just be sitting down over there," she said jerking her thumb in the direction of the chairs by the fire.

"Anna!"

The redhead spun to face whoever had called her name. It was George waving her over. "Anna, come tell everyone how you ended up with your new fashion accessory!"

Anna chuckled and walked over to the crowd of smiling Gryffindors.

As Anna talked and laughed with her friends she began to feel the effects of Madame Pomfery's pain-relief potion wearing off, so that a vicious ache settled in her arm. Just as she'd decided that it might be a good idea to turn in early Anna saw a figure stumble through the portrait hole.

"Harry!" Ron cried running towards the faintly disheveled boy. "Harry, I did it! I'm in, I'm Keeper!"

Ron's yelling seemed to rouse Harry a bit and he smiled, though to Anna it seemed a bit forced, as Ron thrust a Butterbeer into his hand. The two boys talked for a bit before Ron started looking for something. His smile faded slightly when he caught sight of Hermione snoozing in one of the armchairs, Butterbeer sitting precariously in her loosening grip.

Ron then returned to the group to try on Oliver's old uniform, everyone burst into loud laughter when it was clear that the outfit was much too big. Ron would have to roll up both his sleeves and trim the hem of his pants to prevent him from drowning in the clothes, but he didn't seem put out in the least. Afterwards, Anna discussed her new position on the team with Angelina as well as asking the captain about her plans for getting the team ready for their first match. Part way through their conversation the pain in Anna's arm became too distracting and she excused herself to join Harry and Hermione. The two of them were talking in hushed tones and Hermione's eyebrows were furrowed in an expression of troubling concern.

"Harry, I'm sure Dumbledore would want to be bothered by this."

"Bothered by what?" Anna asked sitting next to Harry who looked like he had just bitten into a lemon.

"Harry's scar has been hurting again," Hermione replied.

Anna frowned. "When?"

"Just before, when Umbridge touched my arm-," said Harry, lifting the arm in question. However, it was what was at the end of his arm that held the girl's attention fast.

Anna's eyes flew wide in horror. "Harry, what is that!" None too delicately, she seized the boy's hand, ignoring his hiss of pain. She stared down at the shining cut across the back of Harry's hand, blood still welling up and running down his wrist to stain the sleeve of his robes. Her eyes traced the words over and over until she felt bile rise in her throat.

I must not tell lies.

When Anna finally lifted her gaze, her expression had turned dark. "You told me she had you doing lines."

Harry swallowed, gingerly pulling his hand back and looking rather nervous; he'd never heard Anna use that tone before. "Well… technically -" he snapped his mouth shut at her warning look.

Anna now turned her attention to Hermione. "What did Dumbledore say when you told him? Why hasn't he stopped her yet?" she growled.

Hermione shrank away a little from the younger girl's fury. "I – well – Harry won't –"

Anna held up a hand to stop her. "Tell me you've told Dumbledore about this."

"He won't let us!" Hermione yelped.

"What do you mean?" Anna hissed, rounding on Harry again, she had to physically stop herself from shaking the boy. "Harry you aren't going to tell him about this and that your scar is hurting again? Hermione's right, he would want you tell him!" she said, her tone almost pleading, pleading him to understand just how ridiculous he was being.

"No," he said firmly, refusing to look at either of his friends. "Dumbledore has enough on his mind."

Hermione and Anna shared desperate looks.

"I think I'll write and tell Sirius about it, see what he thinks - "

"Harry you can't put something like that in a letter!" said Hermione, Anna nodding furiously in agreement. "Don't you remember, Moody told us to be careful what we put in writing! We just can't guarantee owls aren't being intercepted anymore!"

Harry stood up, looking incredibly irritated. "All right, all right, I won't tell him, then! I'm going to bed. Tell Ron for me, will you," he said through clenched teeth before turning on his heel and marching up the stairs to his dormitory.

Anna could only watch him go in disbelief. Why was Harry acting so strangely when it came to Dumbledore, lately? And more importantly, where was Hogwarts' headmaster now that Harry needed him?

xxx

Anna took her time walking back to the Gryffindor common room, reflecting on her day and feeling rather disheartened. It had only been their first Quidditch practice and it had gone terribly. Though he had put in a great deal of effort, Ron struggled to keep up with the others. He even almost broke Katie Bell's nose after accidentally smashing her in the face with the quaffle.

Eventually, Angelina had to end the practice early when Fred and George's attempt at stifling Kaite's nosebleed when awry. Instead of giving her something to stop the bleeding they'd given her a nosebleed nugget, which only served to make things much worse. Which was why Anna was walking back to her dorm on her own – after helping the twins escort an extremely pale Katie to the hospital wing Anna decided to leave them to suffer the wrath of Madam Pomfrey without her.

Lost in her thoughts, Anna sighed loudly and shifted her arm in its sling. It was feeling loads better than yesterday now that she'd had a good night's sleep. However, if she reached for something too far away, a sharp pain at her elbow would remind her that she was still recovering. Which was why she'd decided to wear the sling, so that she wouldn't be tempted.

Just as she turned down the hallway that ran next to the library, Anna had to pull up short in order to prevent herself from ploughing into someone walking in the opposite direction. Despite being able to avoid a head-on collision, Anna was unsuccessful at stopping herself from knocking a few papers out of her victim's hands.

"Sorry!" Anna yelped, immediately ducking down to snatch up the scattered sheets, each one filled to the edges with neat handwriting. "Here," Anna said jumping back up and shoving the notes into gloved hands. Anna's head shot up so fast that felt a few vertebrae pop painfully in protest, only to find her sister staring down at her, wide eyed and completely still. Anna felt a small thrill of excitement; it had been over week since she had last spoken with Elsa. Maybe now she could make up for the incident on the train.

"Oh – um – hey, Elsa," Anna stammered, shyly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Sorry about that, I wasn't looking where I was going.

Elsa blinked at her a few times before she found her voice. "It's alright," she said, her tone clipped. She glanced down briefly at Anna's sling - something Anna couldn't put a name to flashed across her face - but didn't comment on it.

That stung no less than a slap across her cheek and Anna felt hurt tears prickle behind her eyes. She doesn't even care.

"… to Ireland."

Anna had been so engrossed in the injustice of Elsa's indifference, she didn't realize the older girl was still speaking to her. "What?"

Elsa pursed her lips, seemingly in irritation. "I said Gerda wrote to me the other day to let me know that she and Kai will be travelling to Ireland, so we may not be able to reach them for a few days," she said.

Anna nodded. "Okay. Thanks for telling me," she replied refusing to meet Elsa's gaze.

A tense silence stretched between them, neither knowing what to say next. Anna simply stared at her feet while Elsa began to fidget uncomfortably, playing with her necklace, as she tended to do when she was nervous. Anna had always admired the piece of jewelry, with its thin silver chain supporting a pendant that looked like a small vial decorated with tiny hand-painted snowflakes. Their parents had left it to Elsa in their will, along with a letter marked just for her… she never took it off.

"Okay, well I better get back to the common room, lots if homework to do, yup yup. Nose to the grind stone, no rest for the weary, and all that," Anna said quickly, breaking the silence.

The side of Elsa's mouth twitched in what could only be a scowl, and tipped her head in a curt nod before briskly walking past Anna without so much as a backward glance.

Anna turned sharply away from her sister's retreating back feeling a little sick to her stomach. However, instead of the usual gloom that tended to plague her after any interaction with her sibling, Anna felt new resentment settle over her like a thick fog as she stomped back to Gryffindor tower.

I hope you all enjoyed this even though I know it isn't particularly exciting considering it is mostly a filler chapter. I promise things will pick up in the next chapter ^_^

Also, before you say anything I know that the Quidditch teams did always use reserves but I altered that just to help the story flow a little better :)

So the last chapter I posted was the pre-mature 'epilogue' story. Now that this chapter is finished I will be taking it down and posting it separately. So if you are new to this story or want to read it again, you can find it along with the rest of my works, under The Past is in The Past.

Thanks for reading and review, review, review!

-N.J.B.