Summer fun Catch between two people was fairly dull. Keep away, on the other hand, was much more interesting. Ingrid took the ball and a three second head start, and then Freddie was flying after her. She took a few twists and turns, trying to be evasive, but he soon caught up to her. Not that that meant it was over. He reached over, trying to knock the ball out of her hands, but Ing switched it, holding it at arm’s length.
He pulled in as close as he could, arm reaching across her back to try to pull the hand with the Quaffle back towards him.
“Are you trying to make me crash?” she asked, but she was laughing.
“If you’re scared, give me the ball.”
“I’m not scared,” she grinned, trying to wriggle out of his grasp. She shoved him with her elbow, which did push him away, but he wasn’t daunted into letting go that easily, so it just meant that she went with him. That was enough that she lost control, and they tumbled to the ground in a heap. They hadn’t been high and the fall didn’t hurt. Freddie got the brunt of it, landing half underneath Ingrid.
“You ok?” he asked.
“Yes,” she confirmed. The Quaffle had fallen from her grasp, and landed a few feet away. He saw her eyes dart to it, and knew that she knew that the game wasn’t over. She was on her feet, and he leapt up after her, grabbing her from behind to stop her from reaching the ball.
“Hey,” she protested, but he could see she was grinning. “Let go.”
He pulled his arms tighter around her waist, pressing her against him. He bent his head low, his breath warm against her ear.
“You really want me to?” he whispered.
There was no reply from Ingrid. However, there was a pointed cough from beside the house.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing?” Theodore asked.