Chapter 7

"Oh, the thrill of the chase as I soar through the air
With the Snitch up ahead and the wind in my hair
As I draw ever closer, the crowd gives a shout
But then comes a Bludger and I am knocked out."

Katie laughed as the chants echoed from the surrounding stands. 'Pasty?' Alicia offered, thrusting the bag towards her face, eyes focused on a cute wizard two rows ahead with messy brown hair. Katie silently wondered what had happened to Jake from the club but thought better than to ask, instead taking a pasty and biting into the warm casing. She'd never really been a fan until she had arrived at Hogwarts but she supposed drinking pumpkin juice at breakfast, lunch and dinner for seven years could change your mind.

The crowd were suddenly silenced as the screen turned white showing only a Falcon and a Wasp with a large zero printed beneath each. A voice boomed through the stadium, 'Hello and welcome ladies and gentlemen, to the second Falcons' game of the season. We are proud to announce, having finished our count, that we've filled thirty thousand seats today. The team would, as ever, like to thank you for your continued support.'

Cheers and screams rose from the stadium as Katie tried to imagine a time when she'd ever known that many people in one space, aside from the Quidditch World Cup or a Weird Sisters UK Tour.

'Tonight's game will be played against the Wimborne Wasps.' As the voice continued a collective hiss rang out from the Falcons spectators. A large bird of prey, similar to a patronus erupted from the Falcons' goalpost and at the other end of the pitch a wasp did the same. The two illusions charged, circling and heckling each other before bursting into an eruption of glittering light.

'And now, ladies and gentlemen, the visiting team, the Wimborne Wasps! I give you – Mitchell!' The first player of the night made his way out onto the pitch, kicking off from the turf and soaring up towards the goalposts.

'Frayn! Gray! Marr! Harrison!' Four more black and yellow clad wizards shot from the pit.

'Evangeline!' The only witch on the pitch, she smiled confidently at the crowd and their thunderous applause for Witch Weekly's Most Attractive Female Athlete three years running.

'And their captain, Short.' In Katie's opinion the name was an oxymoron, Short had to be at least six foot five, a friendly giant. It was surprising considering his size that he played a position like seeker but his record proved that his height played no part on the pitch.

The team circled to a mass of cheers and boos from respective fans before taking their places in their half of the field.

'And now, tonight's home team, the Falmouth Falcons! Caine!' A player in white and grey robes sped like a bullet towards the second set of goalposts.

'Hawthorne! Doyle! Ripley!'

'Pucey! Warrington!' Katie recognised the two from Hogwarts. Warrington's perfectly mussed blonde hair wasn't even ruffled by the wind and Pucey's tan looked like the product of three weeks on a Grecian island. No wonder they were Witch Weekly's Charming Chasers nearly every week. Katie silently wondered if there was a hair and make-up team stowed away in the Falcon's changing room.

'And their captain, Flint!' The resulting roar was deafening as Flint strode out onto the pitch and ruffled the hair of his team mascot before mounting his broom and taking off to the cheers of the crowd.

The Falcons performed their circuit of the stands and found their places on the pitch as the referee made his way onto the field. The anticipation climbed and finally he kicked the ball chest open before mounting his broom and joining the players in the air.

'And off they go!'

Suddenly it was a blur of action. The chasers dove for the quaffle and the fight began.

'Warrington! Pucey! Warrington! Oh wait, and it's Marr, Marr with the quaffle! Marr! Evangeline! Harrison! Nice bludger by Doyle and now it's Flint! Flint! Pucey! Flint! And they're heading for the goalposts! Dodge past Mitchell! And I believe that makes the score 60 - 20 to the Falcons!

An hour in and the match raged on. Three penalties had already been awarded for various cases of blatching and naturally all of the fouls had been made by Falcons. But while it was fair to say they played dirty even Angelina grudgingly admitted to their skill. The chasers took full advantage of having known each other ten years and almost never felt the need to communicate. The beaters were vicious but accurate and Hawthorne might have caught the snitch if it weren't for the distraction of Ripley running Frayn into the ground nearby. Katie recognised some of the more traditional plays from her own time on the field, like the Porskoff Ploy and Sloth Grip Roll but some were brand new and undoubtedly the work of Flint.

'And Flint again! It's another goal from the Falcons captain! 70-20!' Speak of the devil.

Flint made his fourth victory circuit smiling at his fans as he passed. She noticed his cocky streak that had been the source of most most Gryffindor non-beaters' temptation to grab a bat had gone. Instead there was just a genuine pride in his work and in his team. Despite herself she smiled as he drew closer laughing genially at the cheers of the West Stand and just for a fraction of a second she thought he'd noticed her before he passed on and returned to his team. Only to throw a look back over his shoulder and wink. She gasped. He did not just wink at her..

'Merlin! Did he just wink at you Katie?' Ben asked gaping.

'He did not just wink at you!' Ange growled.

'Cheeky bastard!' Ali laughed.

Within seconds the whole of her tier in their yellow and black colours were staring at the blonde girl on the recieving end of enemy flirtation. Did they think that she was a fraterniser? That maybe she was a Falcons spy? Sweet Merlin, she was doomed! With a weak smile at her friends Katie sunk lower into her seat wishing it would swallow her whole.