Sorry about the short chapters... They'll get longer, I promise!

And remember, reviewers get cookies!


The rest of his team stood behind him: three Chasers, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, and Katie Bell. Two new beaters, the twins Fred and George Weasley. And his brand-new Seeker, Robin Hedes.

Oliver Wood felt a twinge of nervousness as he strode out onto the Quidditch field. This was his first year as captain of the Gryffindor team, and Robin was having problems with her broom. Fred and George seemed effective enough, but this was their first game and Oliver wasn't quite sure about them. The only completely reassuring part of his team was the three Chasers, all of which had been playing for at least three years.

Of course, he'd given his normal pep talk in the dressing rooms before the match, but nobody seemed to pay much attention. They were either too nervous(Robin), joking around(The Weasleys), or had heard it all before(Angelina, Katie, and Alicia).

"Captains, shake hands," Madam Hooch stated, and Oliver had his hand crushed by the Slytherin captain, Marcus Flint. Flint had a mouthful of yellow, gapped teeth, oily black hair, clammy hands, and an unpleasant demeanor. They had been enemies ever since Oliver had joined the Gryffindor team in his second year.

Unflinching at Flint's cold, tight grip, he reflected upon the repetitiveness of all of his Quidditch games. This was the only one that had started any differently, with him as captain instead of Charlie Weasley. He almost missed being able to stand behind the tall, ginger Seeker.

Oliver was shaken out of his thoughts by Flint, wrenching his hand out of the Gryffindor's grip. It felt as if he had broken something, but Oliver shook it off. Now was no time for weakness. "Mount your brooms," Madam Hooch said. Oliver clambered onto his broom along with everyone else. The whistle blew, and everyone immediately flew up. The game had begun.