There was adrenaline coursing through her bloodstream, her heart was beating madly in her chest, and she was filled with a pure sense of sheer hope as she dismounted and limped her way over to the pile of crumpled seekers. She'd nearly forgotten she'd nearly had her kneecap knocked clean off, but her kneecap reminded her as she touched down a bit too hard and sent a shock of pain up the length of her leg. She was filled to the brim with the joy of potential, however, and that singular hope kept her from feeling any pain right away. For those few seconds, everything felt both very slow and impossibly quick. The world appeared to be made up of pure euphoria. 

And then it wasn't. In a split second all of that hope and the anticipation and the adrenaline left her, leaving behind an exhausted, aching shell. This had been a rough match, and so many times it seemed like they'd catch up, overtake Gryffindor, and finally be able to remember what it was like to win. A win in these conditions would have meant twice what a normal win would have meant. The instant, inevitable loss of that possibility was devastating. Although she knew it was just a game, Lindsay couldn't help but feel like she'd just failed at something major. In the moment, this match seemed like the most important thing – the only thing. She wanted to cry. 

Lindsay wasn't known for being unsportsmanlike, but she just couldn't be happy for Pete right now. It wasn't possible. She was feeling too hurt to even fake the right emotions, and too tired to go through the motions. She would be proud of him later, once she could see clearly, but at the moment she couldn't even look at the celebrating Gryffindors without emitting a profound sigh that spoke of her disappointment. Instead, she sat on the ground next to Sioni, one leg sticking out half-straightened, the other underneath her. Shanley's well-being was something else to focus on, and she needed that. “How is she?” she asked, “Is she awake?” Her voice was rough and whispery, but she felt she should say something. Hearing her own voice out loud made her want to cry again – she sounded as let down as she felt, and that made her feel disappointed for two reasons. How many times could she fail in a day? 


we don't realize our faith in the prize unless its been somehow elusive
how swiftly we choose it - the sacred simplicity of you at my side