"Maddox seems to be on the move," James Sirius Potter said into the microphone, holding Omnioculars up to his eyes, "Has he spotted the Snitch? Will this match be coming to an end?"

James shifted his weight forwards and leant closer to the action, "Another inevitable goal by Howell as Slytherin snatch the Quaffle back into their loop of goals. It looks like Crane has the Quaffle now, she's hurtling towards the other end of the pitch but – woah! That bludger came out of nowhere! Only Thorne can be responsible for that one," He watched as Thorne lazily twiddled the beater's bat between glove-clad hands.

James' entire extended family had travelled up to Hogwarts for the end of the year match between Gryffindor and Slytherin. They made the effort every year and despite being sick, Grandma Molly had even joined them. He turned and smiled at his family all gathered together in one tower. Lily was curled up next to their father while discussing something animatedly, Albus sat between their parents with a book in his lap and his mother seemed to be drinking up the atmosphere. James would've sold his very soul in order to get onto the Gryffindor Quidditch team, but he didn't even think that would secure his place. He wondered if any of his siblings would consider Quidditch. Albus always seemed to be studying and Lily refused to touch a broom.

"Thorne and Reyes have packed together and formed an unbreakable defence as they swipe around the pitch," He said lazily as Isaac Howell threw the Quaffle through a hoop as Thorne almost broke another with the force of a bludger attack.

"And I think Gryffindor's keeper, Dailly, might need new underwear when he hits the ground after that encounter," The crowd laughed and James was back. He was happy. He was at least entertaining people with his comments. "And Maddox has the Snitch in sight! He dives for it and snatches it up in seconds, I don't think that could've even registered with the Gryffindors! The last match of the year is over with a score of 240 to 250, congratulations to the Gryffindors for their victory!"

Both teams landed by the changing rooms after securing the Bludgers and shook hands. All that was left of this year was the End of Year feast. James' family members would all be Apparating back home to return to work.

"We're gonna kick their asses next year, whoever's Captain is gonna have to replace like the entire team," Nico Reyes said as he pulled his robe over his head. He had dropped his Beater bat by the doorway, which their Keeper, Tyler, promptly tripped over.

"Are we still on for Butterbeers tonight?" A voice called out from the changing room toilet.

"Close the fucking door White, we don't want to listen to you shit!" Another voice called back from underneath a tangle of green and silver Quidditch robes. "Can someone help me out of this?"

The boys turned to look at Alaska and laughed along with her as Nico freed her from her sweaty robes.

"Cheers, I thought I was doomed for a minute there," She laughed. "What's the plan for drinks?"

"Common room at half 7. I'll bring stuff. I can't be bothered to go to the feast when it's just going to be a Gryffindor wankfest," Joe said as he stuffed his robes in his gym bag. He absent-mindedly ran his thumb over the Captain badge on his blazer lapel. He leant down to Alaska and whispered in her ear, "You gonna be ok if Ben comes along?"

Alaska nodded ever so slightly. "Things are fine with us. I told you already, it was mutual. We're being responsible about it."

Joe rolled his eyes and moved to the door. The entire team was in shorts and thermal vests with their blazers over the top. Nico and Tyler were play fighting with one another and Isaac, one of their chasers, fiddled with the ends of his green and silver striped tie as the group left the changing room.

They were quickly greeted by some fellow housemates they spent time with when they weren't training.

"Hey Una," Joe said as Isaac quickly moved to the back of the group. "What did you think?"

"Pretty good, shame about that last goal," the sixth-year prefect replied.

"It's always a shame when they manage to score on me," Tyler said, puffing up his chest. Alaska laughed and the rest of the group followed.

"Sure, it's not like you let in a fair few because you were busy eyeing up the Hufflepuff girls, Ty." Alaska winked at him.

Tyler gasped mockingly, "Here I was, thinking I was being discrete. If you have to know, she's in my History of Magic class and she's really smart."

"Nobody takes History of Magic to be smart, Ty. They take it so they can nap while Binns is rambling." Una replied.

"Well, she's still hot," Tyler said, shouldering his broom.

"And you're shallow, Ty." Una laughed with the three girls following her.

"I might be shallow, but I'm damn hot," Tyler winked at Una and her group, making them all blush.

Alaska poked his butt with her broomstick, "And super modest to boot!"

"Look we just have to show our faces, smile a bit and look like we don't want to commit every single penalty in the book when we play against them next year." Alaska said, pushing Joe into the Great Hall. "We take some food, go down to the common room and forget all about it."

"We still have to see them win the stupid cup like they aren't sucking up to every teacher here for easy points."

"Quit being so petty, Joe, and eat your damn dinner," Alaska laughed. They sat with the team and a few friends from other year groups, which included Scorpius Malfoy, the Zabini twins alongside Una and her ever-loyal clique. "You did fine, losing isn't going to impact the scouts."

"Still," Joe whined, and Alaska took her chances and hastily shoved a large roast potato in his open mouth.

"Shut uuuup!" She complained, laughter from the group drawing looks from other tables. She caught the wandering eyes of James Potter and he turned away quickly.

James' classmates had congratulated him on commentating such a hectic match with ease. He smiled slightly and nodded, watching as the Gryffindor Quidditch team walked past, the whole red and gold table clapping at their arrival. His glance at Alaska had cost him: his cheeks were flushed the same deep scarlet as his tie. Against his own sense of self-preservation, James dared another look at her across the hall. The Gryffindors and Slytherins were separated by both Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, but James had already located his target. The entire Slytherin team were laughing, with the familiar sun-gilded locks of Alaska Thorne at the centre of it all. He harboured a slight crush for Alaska, ever since he had laid eyes on her at Madam Malkin's in Diagon Alley as an eleven year old boy. He had quickly been sorted into Gryffindor, where some of his cousins awaited him, and had crossed his fingers in the hopes that Alaska would be put into Gryffindor too.

Unfortunately, after seven agonising minutes of silence, Alaska was announced as the newest member of Slytherin.

James' heart lurched as he remembered the holidays were beginning soon. The O.W.L exams had flown by after hours upon hours of revision and the entire fifth year was excited and nervous to see their results. James had spent more time planning pranks than revising, but as long as he had scraped out five, he was going to be happy. But alongside a relaxing break from hours of toiling away at homework was the knowledge that Alaska was going home and James wouldn't see her for an excruciatingly long eight weeks. Lily wouldn't share any Slytherin gossip, she never had spilled anything to James or Albus, so knowing what had been happening at the end of the year was not happening for James. He rarely found Albus particularly interesting, Albus was usually in the greenhouse during the summer, tending to his Herbology experiments.

James' attention slipped quickly from Alaska to Ethan Wood, the shoe-in for Gryffindor Quidditch captain. The entire team was leaving after their N.E.W.T. exams and Ethan was the leftover, going into his seventh year. Perhaps James would spend some time hanging out with him over the summer, if his dad decided a barbeque was on the cards. Alaska seemed to be toying with Ethan, winking and sending balls of smoke in various shapes of Pygmy Puffs to mess up his hair as her ex-boyfriend Ben, one of the Chasers for Slytherin watched on, a dark scowl pressed on his lips.

The cup was awarded to Gryffindor that evening, and despite trying to find Alaska in the crowd, she and the rest of the Slytherin Quidditch team were nowhere to be found.

"Honey! Results are here!" Mrs Thorne called up the stairs to her sixteen year-old daughter. She busied herself with rifling through the rest of the letters, which were mostly letters reminding her that she had to do her annual repeat of overly intrusive, complicated security drills to maintain her job in the Department of Mysteries. Alaska bounded down the stairs, jumping the last two steps and landing with a gentle thud.

"How many times have I told you not to do that, Alaska?" Her mother chided, filing the mail into stacks in front of the microwave.

"Sorry mum," Alaska replied, not sounding remotely guilty. "Is Dad up?"

"Not yet, sweetheart. Are you going to open it up?" Her mother said, clapping her hands in glee.

"Do you know when he's going to be up?"

"No, I don't. Come on, sweetpea, I want to see how you did!"

After a brief moment of hesitation, Alaska snapped the red wax seal open. Her voice was filled with trepidation as she read the letter aloud.

"Ordinary Wizarding Level Results:

Pass Grades: Outstanding (O), Exceeds Expectations (E), Acceptable (A).

Fail Grades: Poor (P), Dreadful (D), Troll (T).

Alaska Isabelle Thorne has achieved:

Ancient Runes: O

Arithmancy: O

Astronomy: O

Charms: O

Defence Against the Dark Arts: O

Herbology: O

History of Magic: O

Potions: E

Divination: O

Transfiguration: O."

"Congratulations darling!" Mrs Thorne said, squeezing her daughter's shoulder with a vice-like grip. "Have you got everything in order for Alchemy next year?"

Alaska nodded absent mindedly, "Yeah I'll just have to send a quick owl to Professor Khan. I was worried I wouldn't get the grades I needed so I never officially signed up."

"Alaska! You know that course only runs if there's enough interest," Her mother replied, sounding hurt.

The cuckoo clock mounted in the hallway saved Alaska from further scolding as it yelled that Mrs Thorne would be late for work if she didn't leave now.

"Must dash, darling. Don't forget to eat breakfast today, and half a grapefruit does not count! Your father's cooking tonight, I've got a late evening at the office."

"Alright Mum! I've got it, just go to work and try not to be late!" Alaska said as she gently pushed her mother towards the door. While she prepared her breakfast and paced across the lounge trying to think of the right way to word her letter to her Head of House.

A large thud pulled her out of her reverie and Alaska turned to the french doors to see a large, dusty outline of an owl's wings on the glass. The owl sat up and gently dropped the letter it had clasped in its beak on the wooden table on the patio. It flew off after quickly righting itself and left Alaska puzzled in the doorway.

"Morning honey," She heard her father call out from the top of the stairs. "Any post for me?"

"Muggle post hasn't arrived yet, Dad, usually it's here at half ten. Max is supposed to be picking me up in ten minutes."

Mr Thorne appeared in the doorway of the kitchen, his grey t-shirt was half splattered with the entire spectrum of colours, his navy jogging bottoms slung on backwards and his auburn hair sticking out at every angle.

"Heard anything from school yet?"

"Yup! I passed everything. Mum's upset I didn't sign up for Alchemy though."

"What about Quidditch, and those after-school thingies? Still gonna stick with those?"

"Quidditch practically keeps me sane, Dad! If I've got the time, I'll try and keep more on my plate, but everyone says sixth year is where things get hectic."

"You gonna try and stick with art?"

"Obviously! Professor Khan will have to pry that one out of my cold, dead hands," Alaska laughed.

"That's my girl! Do you want to see what I spent last night on?"

"Sure thing," She replied, ignoring the other letter from Hogwarts on the kitchen counter. "Have you seen Lulu?"

"Not since she went outside last night. I think you're gonna love this piece."

Alaska followed her father into the garage, which had been converted into his studio when they first moved to the outskirts of a southern Muggle town.

"Isn't it wonderful?"

Alaska's eyebrows knitted slightly, "Yeah, is that inspired by cubism?"

"Not quite, keep going!"

"Post-impressionism?"

"Correct!"

"Well, it certainly is," Alaska tilted her head around, squinting slightly, "Interesting. I think I hear Lulu. Be right back."

Returning to the kitchen, Lulu greeted Alaska with a friendly meow and began to rub her head up against her owner's legs. "Hey there, Lulu. Let me get you some breakfast!" Alaska was opening the cupboard when the doorbell rang. She glanced over at the time and swore. "Dad, can you get that?"

"Sure," he waltzed past, ever so casual in his pyjamas as he opened the front door. "Good morning, Tim! How are you on this fine day?"

"Great thanks, Mr Thorne. Is Alaska around?"

"Just sorting out Lulu! Come in!" Alaska called as she battled with her Siamese cat for the right to pour the cat food out.

"Good morning! How are you?" Max said as he dropped his Quidditch bag by the front door. He was a tall boy, although he wasn't the tallest boy on the team. He was built well from all his years playing Quidditch at Hogwarts and then lacrosse and rugby in the summer holidays. He was a pretty boy, and regarded quite highly by the female population at Hogwarts for being so attractive, but he was never interested.

"Alright. Think I've been overstretching a little bit. You alright?"

"Yeah," Max replied as Alaska pulled her fruit salad out of the fridge and poured it into a Tupperware box.

"Still pining over Nico?" She said, smiling as she pressed the lid onto the box.

"Shut it, cheeky! Have you spoken to Ben since you guys – y'know?"

"You mean since I dumped him?"

"Yeah. That."

"Nah, not really. You get your end-of-sixth results this morning?"

"Yeah. My mother screamed at me to get me up, I almost pissed myself. I need to get a lock or something."

"You have magic, moron."

"Yeah, that I do," He said wistfully. "So, you ready to go?"

"Gotta change first," She gestured to the clothes she had slung on after her shower and had been too lazy to change out of.

"Me too. I'll hop into the lounge."

Alaska and Max arrived in Godric's Hollow forty-five minutes later and retrieved their brooms and robes from the backseat of Tim's expensive car. Godric's Hollow had a large green that was perfect for zipping about on brooms to keep their reflexes fresh. Much to Alaska's chagrin, the bludgers were never allowed out. Instead, she spent her time in the air to survey the rest of the boys for their weak spots.

"Get down here, Goldie!" Joe called, after Alaska had spent five minutes hovering in the air thinking. She zipped down and landed right next to Joseph. The group collapsed in a little heap of limbs and spent an hour and half talking about what they had done on their holidays, what classes they were taking and the conversation rounded off with the inevitable question of who was next year's Captain.

Joe asked each of the boys until he finally reached Alaska.

"Well, congratulations my little protégé! The first female Slytherin captain, what an achievement! I thought it was going to be you, but I didn't want to get your hopes up."

"Wow," Alaska laughed sarcastically, "So much faith in me. I've been busy at the gym all summer, thanks! But for real, I don't want anyone finding out it's me who's captain yet. Just imagine how many people might try and bribe me for the Seeker spot."

"That's true," Joe laughed, "I remember when I was trying to get the Seeker spot, everyone annoyed poor Liam about it, he had people offering to do his homework for weeks!"

"I can't imagine ever putting up with that."

"Well I guess this way you won't have to. What time is it?" Joe asked, the pale strip of skin on his wrist showing that he had left his watch behind.

"Half three. Got somewhere you need to be?"

"Yeah. Job interview at half four, I've gotta go home and get ready. See you all around, yeah?"

Joe's leaving was greeted with a semi-coherent chorus of goodbyes and he jogged off the square as another person came into view.

"Who's that?" Alaska asked. Dry, dead grass stuck to the small of her sweaty back as she propped herself up with her elbows.

"Looks like Potter. He's ridiculous. He always does this. I can't train in my back garden in peace. He's always like two hundred metres behind me when I go out running. It's getting really stupid," Ben replied.

"Thought of a restraining order?" Alaska replied, only somewhat jokingly as she put her head back down onto Nicolas' stomach.

"With his parents? Merlin, no!"

"Tried talking to Lily?"

"She never leaves her bedroom any more. Not according to Albus, anyway. Albus thinks it's stupid, but he's not doing anything to stop him."

"Tried going out at a different time?"

"Yup. It's like he's always waiting in his gym clothes watching me from a window in his room."

The group laughed together, eating Alaska's warm fruit salad. Tyler spoke up after the laughter had died down.

"I hate to ask this, Alaska, but what are the chances that we're all still going to be on the team this autumn?" He asked.

"Are you kidding me? I'd sell my soul before I replaced a single one of you! Anyways," Alaska said, shooting a furtive glance towards the outline of a certain James Potter, "Max and I have to go, he's got lacrosse and I've got to see if I have a letter back from school. See you all at Diagon Alley next week?"

The boys chorused their goodbyes and Max and Alaska returned to the car.

"Do you think he's trying to make the team?" She asked quietly as they slung their Quidditch things in the back seat.

"Who?"

"Potter."

"I think he'd be over the moon just to get on the bench these days, but who knows? He might actually enjoy commentating."

"No, he doesn't. Ugh, I need to get this off," Alaska muttered as she pulled at her sweaty Quidditch robe. She had had a few close encounters with James Potter over the years. He had pulled a baby Mandrake out in second year Herbology before Professor Sprout had even had a chance to start the class, resulting in half the class being knocked out for three hours. In third year, a rumour went around that he was throwing balloons filled with Flobberworm mucus off the staircases and in fourth year, his Blast-Ended Skrewt had set fire to his own school uniform. She was less than impressed by him and his antics, and kept her distance because of it.

"Then take it off and stop complaining. Shove mine in the back while you're at it," Max said as he yanked his robes over his head and tossed them at Alaska.

"Put them back there yourself, lazy," she replied, throwing his robes back and smacking him in the face with them.

a/n: POGCHAMP i'm alive. as a bit of a personal project, i've decided to rewrite this story... and actually finish it. i reread it a few weeks ago and i was thinking: how the fuck does anyone follow this it's so choppy with all the cuts to different scenes and things it's like i put a dictionary in a blender. i have no idea on regular updates yet but ye. rating has changed in accordance to what i have planned: probably too much swearing and a lot less vague ass explicit content. we completely ignore The Cursed Child in this house, so I basically go off canon and this is kinda AU i guess. see ya around folks o/