QUIDDITCH

The next day began with Transfiguration for the Gryffindor and Slytherin first-years.

"Today," Ginny told her class, "you will be learning how to change colours of objects." She pointed her wand at a white quill that was lying on her desk and said, "Colorus Incantetam." It turned a perfect, bright blue. "Got your quills, everyone?" Ginny asked ; everyone nodded.

There were sounds of 'Colorus Incantetam' everywhere. Scorpius Malfoy's and his friend, Max Flint's quills remained perfectly white. Some quills caught flames, some began to smoke. Some students had managed to change the colour of atleast half a quill. Ginny kept walking around the class, monitoring her students' work. She paused near Emily. Emily pointed her wand at her quill and muttered "Colorus Incantetam." It turned a pleasant green.

"Excellent, Ms.Dursley, 10 points to Gryffindor" Ginny said and continued patrolling the classroom.

The bell sounded across the castle and the class dispersed. That afternoon, Gryffindor Quidditch trials began. Emily and James arrived at the Quidditch pitch, holding their Superswipes, a new racer broom. They were shortly followed by Harvey, Hannah and other first-years, all clutching their brooms. The only three remaining members of the existing Quidditch team appeared at the pitch with their broomsticks.

"I'm Jake Wood, chaser and captain. As you'll know, you all have assembled here for Quidditch trials. There are four vacancies. We're in need of a chaser, a seeker and two beaters. We'll start with chasers. Chasers, over here," Jake said as Emily and three more first-years lined up. The first years, Jake and his sister soared into the air. Jenny took her position near the goal-hoops and Jake in mid-air, holding the Quaffle. He threw it high into the air and as it came down, penetrating the air, a black-haired girl caught it and headed towards the goal-posts. When she was near enough, she threw it but even before Jenny could block it, Emily whizzed in between and caught the Quaffle, ducked down to avoid an approaching Bludger and threw the red ball right through the centre goal hoop. Jake blew the whistle and all the players sped back to the ground.

"Emily, you're on the team!" Jake said. She jumped up in joy, throwing back her long, brown ponytail and punching the air with her fist. The trials continued. James was chosen as seeker and the twins were selected as beaters.

One cold November evening, Emily and Harvey sat at a table in the corner of the Gryffindor common room, their Defence Against the Dark Arts books open in front of them and they were talking rapidly in whispers. James and Hannah appeared through the potrait hole, grinning broadly. They spotted Harvey and Emily in the corner, still whispering rapidly. They went to the table in the corner.

"What's up,Em?" James asked as he and Hannah sat down.

"Oh, nothing... just-" Emily started but Harvey interrupted.

"This is ridiculous! James, you know what she wants to do?! She is going to sneak out at night and try opening the third floor right-hand side corridor!"

"Oh, that's cool," James said.

"What?! Oh, yeah. Not a bad idea," Hannah said.

"What's wrong with you'll? Don't you see the danger behind it?! It seems it has started shooting spells at people. Neil told me that it fired a stinging hex at a Slytherin first-year," Harvey said.

"Oh, really? Hope it is Scorpius, that little git," James added with a smirk.

"Oh, shut up James," Hannah said.

"Okay. How many are in it?" Emily asked and put her hand on the table.

James and Hannah put their hands on top of hers.

"Okay, then. I guess I'm in it too," Harvey said reluctantly as he placed his hand on top of his sister's. "When are we going?" he asked.

"We'll go next week, after the Quidditch match," Emily said.

"We'll be having practice and stuff," James added.

The whole of next week went mainly in Quidditch practice. Their potions master, Professor Hawkins had started in shrinking Potions. They were still stuck with the hovering charm in Charms. In Transfiguration, they had moved onto changing needles into matchsticks. They were studying about Red Caps in Defence Against the Dark Arts. On the morning of the Quidditch match, the whole school had assembled in the stands, some of them with red flags and some holding green ones. The seven players had assembled in the Gryffindor changing room. Jake gave them a pep-talk and reminded them of all the moves they had practised. The four first-years in the team were nervous as it was their first match. The two teams walked onto the pitch with their broomsticks. The whole crowd cheered loudly and many of them waved green and red banners. The captains of both teams - Jake Wood and Alyson White - shook hands. Madam Spinnet blew her whistle and threw the Quaffle into the air.

"Stacey Osment has caught the Quaffle and is heading towards the goal posts. She dodges a Bludger and heads forwards and ... oh, she has dropped the Quaffle and... Weasley catches it. A Bludger approaches and she throws it to Dursley. She catches it and zooms towards the Slytherin goal posts. She dodges a bludger sent by Micheal Finnigan. She throws the Quaffle, Flint tries block it and...she SCORES!!!! That's 10 points for Gryffindor," Neil Jordan said.

The two seekers, James Potter and Scorpius Malfoy, were frozen in mid air on their brooms, watching the chaser shoot goals and the keepers block them, with no clue of where the snitch was. When it was a 30 to 90 for Gryffindor, James saw a tiny glint of gold flutter past his head. He made a dash for it. The snitch went high up, James zoomed after it and Scorpius followed him. Though he had not seen the snitch, he realised that James had seen it. James chased the snitch around and stands and when he was quite close, he stretched out both his , balancing himself on his Superswipe with his legs.

"It looks like Potter has seen the snitch and...he catches it!!!!!!!! James Potter has caught the snitch!!!!"

Madam Spinnet blew the whistle.

"It's a 90-point victory by Gryffindor!!!!!!!!" Neil said.

All the fourteen players zoomed back to the ground and all the Gryffindor-supporters cheered loudly.

That evening, the seven players were the centers of attraction in the Gryffindor common room. Neil had managed to nick butterbeers from the kitchen and the whole of Gryffindor were celebrating their victory against Slytherin. The celebrations went on till late evening when the crowded common room started clearing. At last when everybody had gone to the dormitories, Emily, James, Hannah and Harvey came back to the empty,littered common room, James holding his Invisibility cloak.