It was the day before the final Quidditch game of the season. Gryffindor vs. Slytherin as it had been for so many years. James Potter the captain and star chaser of the Gryffindor Team and his best mate Sirius Black a beater were sitting alone in the change room an hour before practice. Play sheets were spread all over the large centre table and James was scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment.
"Slow down buddy," Sirius said, "Or the parchment is going to catch on fire."
"Ha ha very funny Padfoot, why don't you shut your mouth and help me?"
"Why not? Well first off I don't feel like it and second I don't feel like it," Sirius chuckled.
"Go do something useful then, just please get out of my hair I have a ton of work to do."
Sirius wandered off in search of something else to occupy his time. Twenty silent minutes later James looked up from the table, finally done his work. He could not see Sirius anywhere. A few minutes later Sirius could be heard coming up the corridor from the showers and bathrooms.
"Look what I found," Sirius called.
James looked over to see Sirius pushing a wheelchair, "Where'd you get that from?" he asked.
"Found it," he said proudly, "In the back of the storage cupboard. Isn't it awesome?"
"What do you need it for?" James asked confused. Nobody had ever used a wheelchair at Hogwarts because if you broke a leg it could be mended right away or if you couldn't walk you were probably to sick to leave the Hospital Wing.
"Why don't we…" Sirius began.
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The Change Room had filled up with an overly excited Gryffindor Team. The only people that were missing were the Captain and Sirius Black. At exactly 2 o'clock they strolled in, well Sirius strolled in and James rolled in. The whole team gasped in shock when they saw their captain in a wheelchair.
"What happened?" Julia Gerona the petit fifth year seeker asked.
"We were out doing some early laps," Sirius spun their story, "And our captain here got a bit distracted by a girl…"
Elisha Barker the sixth year chaser and Lily Evans' best friend rolled her eyes; she knew exactly who he was talking about.
Sirius continued on with his story anyways, "And so as he was looking over his shoulder he accidentally flew into the stands," he gave a little chuckle at the end.
"What's he saying?" Marcus Brown, Sirius' fellow beater asked his captain.
"I'm going to have to miss the game."
The whole team was in an uproar, their captain and best player missing the most important game of the season.
"How could you be so stupid?" Justin Casona the burly Keeper asked.
"I'm sorry guys," James shrugged his shoulders, "Apparently I bumped my head and Pomfrey said if I get jostled even a little bit I could suffer permanent brain damage."
"You blacked out mate for almost 10 minutes. That was no bump," Sirius added.
"So why are you in a wheelchair?" Ian Wondier asked.
"Oh well I'm not supposed to be out of the hospital wing but Pomfrey and I made a compromise, if I go in this I could leave."
"Well just stand up and grab your broom," Marcus suggested.
"I wish I could, but she put a permanent sticking charm on it. I can't move until she releases me," James grumbled.
"Oh that sucks, can't you do something?" Elisha asked.
"You don't know how much I wish I could," James responded, "I've tried everything to get my rear end out of this chair but nothing works."
"So who's going to be the third chaser?" Ian asked.
"You all remember Mia Pandora?" James asked with confidence.
"No bloody way," Elisha swore, "Am I playing with her."
Elisha and Mia had a sticky past. Elisha's boyfriend of the time had apparently cheated on her with Mia and Elisha caught them together in a broom cupboard. If that wasn't bad enough Mia was only in third year and couldn't play Quidditch if her life depended on it, although she had tried out every year because she was one of those people that thinks they're amazing at everything.
"You have got to be kidding?" Marcus said, "What about Tim or Janelle. Hell even Rodney was better than her."
"I tried, nobody else would do it," James shrugged, "So what I need you guys to do is play your normal game. The only reason she is playing is because we need seven players. That doesn't mean we actually have to involve seven in the game."
The team didn't get to finish their discussion because the change room door opened and in waltzed Mia, "Sorry I'm late everyone, I got a bit side tracked on my way here," she said in her high pitched voice.
"Yeah right, and she just happened to spread lipstick from ear to ear," Justin muttered loud enough for everyone to hear. Mia glared at him and then went over and started to change into a Quidditch Robe.
"So what did I miss?" she asked, "Nothing to important I hope."
"No not really," James said patiently, "Just a pep talk."
"Oh darn, those are my favorite things. Do you think you could possibly do it again?"
"Okay team out to the pitch," Sirius cut in, "Chop, chop. Until James is fit to play again I will be the captain up in the air."
Once the team had excited the change room and Mia had scurried off after them in a tizzy Sirius turned to James and said, "You coming out?"
"Yeah, this should be interesting to say the least," James rolled towards the doorway to the pitch and Sirius followed close behind.
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To the say the practice went well would be an enormous lie. It went horribly. Elisha and Mia bickered the whole time until Elisha flew over to Mia who was already unsteady on her broom and gave her a push. Most Quidditch Players would have been able to recover easily and stay on their broom but Mia couldn't. The only reason she didn't fall to her death was because James slowed her fall from the ground so Sirius and Ian could fly up and catch her.
After that incident James yelled at everyone to get their butts into the change room. After a quick speech everyone headed to the showers. Mia was the first to leave the Change Rooms and the team sighed in relief when they came out from their extended showers.
"I thought she'd never shut up," Marcus said.
"You have got to be kidding me Cap.?" Julia said, "We don't have a chance with her on the pitch. A butterfly distracts her that how stupid she is."
"And her coordination," Ian added, "My Gramma could play better than her."
James held up his hand and the room silenced instantly, "I know guys. You don't know how much I wish this didn't have to be. But…" there it was the big but, "I want you guys to go out their and play like you always do, to the best of your ability. I also know that your guys' ability is pretty good. Much better than the Slytherin's I might add. So go get a goodnights rest, have a good meal and please nobody else get hurt. Finally set your minds to it that this is our win. We're going to hold the cup after this. Not those filthy Slytherin gits."
A cheer rang out and Justin even clapped.
"I'll see you guys bright and early tomorrow morning."
The team left one by one and eventually it was only James and Sirius left.
"So what do we do if they go to Pomfrey and demand that you play?" Sirius asked.
"You get to her first and get her on our side," James replied simply.
"Easier said than done," Sirius muttered.
"Then I suggest you get going quickly. I'll meet you back up in the common room."
Sirius shuffled out of the room and James sighed, it was going to be a long night of interrogation and tears about why he wasn't playing.
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The following morning the school was abuzz with excitement and disappointment. Disappointment on the Gryffindors part because it hadn't taken long for the news to reach them that their captain was not playing. Half of the Gryffindor House had marched up to the Hospital Wing in protest but thankfully Sirius had gotten to Madam Pomfrey first and she was prepared for the angry troupe of Gryffindors.
Down on the pitch the stands were full by 10:30 and everyone was out to watch the game. The Slytherins were having a great time yelling rude comments at the Gryffindors and the Gryffindors weren't taking it lightly.
At exactly eleven o'clock, fourteen players of green and red flew out into the air to wild cheers. After the warm up laps each team gathered in their end to have a quick talk. The game was about to begin much to the horror of the Gryffindor supporters. Some had hoped that it was only an April Fools Joke but as the teams lined up they realized that, that was not the case.
The balls were just nearing their release when a commotion could be scene in the far corner of the pitch and then chanting could be heard, getting louder and louder, "Potter, Potter, Potter!"
James flew out onto the pitch and up to his team. The stands were almost vibrating by now from people's excitement. James said something to Mia who turned around and flew away in a huff. James Potter was back in the game. With a swish of his wand words flew out into the sky.
Happy April Fools Day
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Gryffindor won the game, although just barely. Julia managed to catch the snitch to bring the victory home 260-220. It was an intense and well played game. Afterwards James Potter barely made it out alive between the people wanting to congratulate him and the majority of them who wanted to kill him for scarring them. Needless to say it was not an April Fools Day to be forgotten.
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a/n So what did you guys think. There should be another chapter coming soon so please review. I really want to know what you guys thought. Pretty please with a cherry on top and Triple Chocolate Cookie. Thank you