Chapter 18- Of Quidditch and Dates to Hogsmeade
Avia’s face lit up with excitement as the Quidditch players marched out onto the field. “Oh, Remus, it’s starting!!”
Timothy Jordan’s voice said, “And, ladies and gentlemen, Madam Hooch is walking out onto the field. And…the captains, Gryffindor Preston and Slytherin Cunningham, are shaking hands. Wow, that Cunningham sure has a firm grip!”
McGonagall cleared her throat
impatiently, and
“Right, well. Madam Hooch is unlocking the ball chest…AND… THEY’RE UP!”
The Snitch zoomed quickly out of sight, the Quaffle was quickly in possession by the Slytherin chaser Avery, and the Bludgers were off God-knows-where. Sirius got in quite a few good shots at the Slytherins in the first few minutes of the game, he seemed to have a very energetic attitude today, chipper almost, and it was infectious. The crowd was almost ten times louder than usual, and Avia’s excitement made Remus all the more happy to be with her.
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The Slytherin chasers were very good, working together to complete their plays. Or trying to. The Slytherins were very good, but the Gryffindors were seamless. They could read each others’ thoughts, so hand movements and huddling (as the Muggles call it) weren’t really necessary. James, of course, their star chaser, was leading them to victory. After perfectly angling his throw, James confidently pitched the Quaffle. Hicks missed that red ball by a MILE… and that was the third time in twenty minutes that he had missed it. The Slytherins were not necessarily very happy with Hicks. Not only was he causing them to lose, 30-0 so far, but he was losing to their greatest enemy, James Potter. Severus Snape could be seen in the crowds making a particularly ugly sneer.
“What’s HIS problem?” Emia asked Lily, noticing Severus’ expression.
“Who cares?” answered Lily.
“WHO CARES? WHY’S HE SMILING? HE’S BEEN STARING AT YOU FOR THE PAST HALF HOUR!”
“So?”
“Uh, he likes you.”
“AND?”
“He doesn’t like James.”
“Wow...Emia…your news is so revolutionary…I need to sit down. Damn, already am. So much for that thought.”
“Oh, open your EYES! James loves you, but he HATES Severus. Severus HATES him, but LIKES you.”
“So…?”
“If Snape’s HAPPY his team is LOSING, what did he DO to JAMES?!”
Understanding dawned on Lily’s face. (And they call her the smartest girl in her year.) Then fear clouded the wave of understanding. She had to get to James…she had a feeling…something was terribly wrong.
“And ANOTHER ten points to Gryffindor…the score stands at 100-0, the Gryffindor chasers doing a superb job of knocking down the Slytherin defense!”
This comment earned quite a few scowls and curses from the Slytherins.
Sirius and Frank were both directing the Bludgers at the Slytherin Chasers... they were the only part of the Slytherin team that Sirius and Frank had the heart to hurt. Their Keeper couldn’t catch, their seeker couldn’t find a damn thing, and their beaters couldn’t get the Bludgers away from Sirius and Frank!
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Suddenly, a hush fell over the crowd. Charli was zooming towards the middle of the field, neck and neck with Bulch. Charli was much lighter, and was slowly gaining on Bulch. The elusive Snitch was flitting around at top speed…first in the middle of the field, then jerking higher, then jerking to the left…it kept getting away! Charli held her breath for luck, but on the last burst of speed that she could, and jerked upward…she felt the tiny ball flitting in her fist…they had won. But it had taken quite a bit out of Charli Maclaine.
Charli was about to collapse in the air, and if she fell, she would fall for a LONG time…being very high up, after all. James noticed her slip off of her broom, and started heading downwards to catch her. Charli Maclaine continued descending downward, until someone realized that the valiant James Potter couldn’t save her this time. Sirius quickly caught her with not a moment to spare. Suddenly, James’ broom started jerking violently in midair. He felt the broom start to move, upward, sideways, wherever that broom wanted to go. Lily and Emia were screaming with worry back on the ground. James felt his glasses slip off, and it was all a blur. James started to cling to the broom like his life depended on it, which, essentially, it did.
Avia grasped Remus’ hand with worry, and Remus soothed her quietly, telling her James was an excellent flier, and he was sure that James would be fine.
“Snape,” was all Lily said to Emia, who nodded in agreement. Lily felt like she was a horrible judge of character, Severus’ stupid jealousy was not worth something like THIS!
Lily meanwhile, was sick with worry, and went to Sirius. Rather than tell him the problem, she took his broom, and wordlessly flew up to where James was terrified and helpless in midair.
“James, honey…it’s me…”
“Lily?” his heart thought it was a hallucination. Maybe God was allowing him one more visit with the girl he loved before he plummeted to death…
“Grab my hand, that’s it…climb on my broom…”
James couldn’t see at all, but trusted Lily with his whole heart. He took her hand, and Lily put his hand on the broom, allowing him to approximate how far he had to move.
James successfully got to Lily’s broom, and wrapped his arms around her waist. Lily and all the spectators let out the breath that they were holding, and Lily steered Sirius’ broom back down to the ground. “Are you okay, James…sweetie…are you okay?” Lily asked.
“I think so…”
“How many fingers am I holding up?” asked a worried Sirius.
“I don’t know…three?”
Sirius looked at his fingers in confusion. “Nah, man…not even close…I was holding up seven. Are you okay?”
“Well, you know, my guess was as good as any, seeing as I need my glasses to SEE, you imbecile.”
“Oh. Emie, can you help me look?” Sirius replied.
Emia nodded, and they set off to find James’ glasses.
Lily laughed at James’ sarcasm, and flung her arms around his neck, relieved to have her boyfriend back.
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After all the excitement had died down, Lily, Emia and Avia were standing in a circle, discussing the days’ events. Avia was deep into discussing the seamlessness of the Gryffindor chasers that day, how in sync they were and such. An arm crept around Avia’s waist, and she looked up, her heart hoping, but disappointed to only…see…Sirius.
“Oh, hey, Sirius…” Avia smiled, trying to be as upbeat as possible, but coming out rather disappointed.
“Fine, don’t be happy to see me…I don’t have to be mentally abused by this rudeness…” At that, Sirius walked over to Lily and threw an arm around HER.
“Oh, no way in hell, Sirius.”
“Feisty, are we? I like that.”
“You also like the best friend’s girlfriend thing, huh?”
Sirius laughed and recoiled his arm, saying, “Just joking, Lil…you know I’m not serious.”
Lily’s face softened, and she replied, “I know.”
“Look’s like it’s just me and you, Emie,” Sirius said enticingly, throwing an arm over her shoulders and talking a walk with her around the field.
Meanwhile, Avia, still deep in conversation with Lily, barely noticed an arm slide around her waist again.
“Sirius, go away…you know I don’t like you like that,” she quickly said, without looking at the person behind her.
“I’ll make sure to relay the message,” said a smiling Remus.
Avia put a hand over her mouth in shock. There went those butterflies in her stomach again…sigh.
“Um, Avie?”
“Y-yyesss….?”
Would you…would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend?”
“Yeahhh….I mean, yes. That would be really fun, I’d love that!”
“Okay, great…meet you in the common room on Saturday morning, then?”
“Okay” answered a lovesick Avia, staring after Remus with her mouth hanging open.
Lily stifled a laugh as she closed Avia’s mouth.
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Emia and Sirius had walked three times around the Quidditch pitch, and neither had yet to say a word.
Breaking the silence, Emia asked, “Sirius, do you…do you…feel the same way?”
Emia looked up at Sirius with her bright caramel (sorry I’m hungry) eyes, and from the way Sirius’ chocolate (still hungry) eyes widened, Emia could tell that he would tell her the truth.
“I don’t know, Emie. The way I feel around you…is different than with other girls…not that you’re not a girl! But you make me feel more free…not that I need freedom from you or anything! Damnit…how do I say this!?”
Emia laughed at Sirius, and replied, “I think I understand. More time?”
“Yes…but in the meantime,” Sirius took her hand with a bright eyed expression. “Would you like to go with me to Hogsmeade this Saturday?”
“Thought you’d never ask,” Emia replied with a smile.
“Um, Sirius?” Emia asked, as they walked…holding hands…back to the castle.
“Yes, Emie?”
“Did you…purposely…”
“Go to Avia first…then Lily…”
“Yeah.”
“Yes.”
“Oh. Why?”
“Well, I knew what they would do already, and it was YOU that I really wanted to talk to anyway.”
Emia couldn’t stop smiling, his hand was sending shocks and shivers through her whole body…just one hand holding hers, and she was the happiest girl in the world.
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