Authors' Note: Sorry that it has been a very long time since we've updated. We've been very busy. We're also sorry about the fact that the first four fics in the Marauders and Lily Read the Harry Potter books have been deleted. The site admins apparently decided that the fics did not meet standards and removed them. Unfortunately, the fics are not saved, since the chapters were all deleted after they were uploaded. We never realized that the admins would remove them. So the fics will not be reposted, unless we feel like and have the time to rewrite them.

The day of the Quidditch match turned out to be rather stormy and James eventually had to do the spell that repelled water on his glasses in order to be able to see clearly. It still wasn't that much of a help, for the weather conditions were playing havoc on his flying. Being small and light, the wind kept trying to blow him off course. As the Hufflepuff seeker, Cedric Diggory, was much bigger, he didn't have this problem and flew better.

Finally James spotted the Snitch and went streaking after it as best as he could. That was when he felt the air getting cold. Dimly a woman's voice could be heard screaming and pleading. Just as he reached his hand out to close around the Snitch, the voice became louder. Through the fog, he decided that perhaps he should go help the woman. As his fingers started to close on the Snitch, the world suddenly went black.

When his eyes opened, he realized that he was in the Hospital Wing. Jade, his friends, and the rest of the team, except Wood, were gathered around him. "Thank goodness you're all right!" exclaimed Jade in relief. "Those dratted Dementors! I can't believe they decided to show up at the match! Dumbledore was furious."

Hermione nodded. "He did a spell that slowed your fall from your broom, James, and another spell that drove the Dementors away. Really, we've never seen Dumbledore so angry."

"You looked like you almost didn't survive the fall," said George soberly.

"What about the match?" asked James. "The last thing I remember was my hand starting to grab the Snitch and someone screaming. And I was planning to go help the person screaming."

"Er, you didn't fully grab the Snitch," replied Angelina. "Cedric Diggory caught it after you'd fallen. He didn't know and once he found out, he wanted a rematch. But even Wood said Hufflepuff won fair and square. Gryffindor was ahead by ninety points, though, so we didn't lose too badly."

"But we still lost," said James heavily.

"Look, no one blames you, James," said Alicia. "Besides, we only lost by sixty points and since Hufflepuff will probably lose the match against Slytherin, we'll still be in the running for the Cup."

"Okay," said James, though he still wasn't happy with the news. He'd never lost a match before and though it was almost certain that he would have to lose one eventually, it wasn't at all nice to have it finally happen. At least he didn't lose to Slytherin. Malfoy would never let him live it down if that happened. "Where's Wood?"

"In the showers," answered Katie.

"I think he wants to drown himself," added Fred.

James sat up. "I have to- "

"You have to rest," interrupted Susan firmly. "Oliver Wood will be able to handle the loss of a match. Besides, it's not as if this is his last chance to win the Quidditch Cup. Gryffindor won the Cup in your first year, after all."

He sighed and lay back again. Susan was right, though he wondered how she felt over everything that happened. As a friend, she was obviously concerned for him and would sympathize over his failing to catch the Snitch before he fell. On the other hand, she was in Hufflepuff, and would be happy that they won the match.

"What happened to my broom?" he asked instead. "Did someone get it?"

Looks were exchanged. "What?" he asked, alarmed. "Did it disappear."

"Worse than that," said Neville tentatively. "When the Nimbus flew away, it hit -"

"The Whomping Willow," Ron finished for him.

James groaned. He knew what happened when something hit the Whomping Willow, thanks to what Sirius and Remus, er Professor Lupin, had told him.

Jade slowly upturned a bag, the remains of the Nimbus Two Thousand One falling in a small pile on the bed. "We're sorry, James. But Mum and Sirius will get the Gryffindor team a replacement and you can use your Nimbus Two Thousand until then."

Madam Pomfrey came over then and ordered everyone out, saying that James needed to rest. As the others left, he put the remains of the broom back in the bag and later told Madam Pomfrey not to throw it out. He wanted to keep it for sentimental reasons, even though the broom technically wasn't his, but belonged to the Gryffindor team.

The rest of the weekend, he was stuck in the Hospital Wing, though he was allowed vistors on Sunday. Sirius and his mother came by. His mother fussed over him, while Sirius was furious over what the Dementors had done. In fact, he had gotten into a one-sided shouting match with Dumbledore over it before seeing James. However, Dumbledore had no authority to remove the Dementors, and when Sirius had finally stopped his ranting, calmly informed him of the fact and to please take it up with the Ministry.

"I will!" Sirius had shouted and then stormed out of the office and up to the Hospital Wing.

Luna dropped by, expressing her hope that James was better and making a comment on how some weird creature or other must have provoked the Dementors into appearing at the match. Matt and Mari rolled their eyes at that, but didn't say anything. Ginny handed James a get-well card she made, a slight blush on her face as she did so. He thanked her for the card.

Wood turned up with the rest of team and in a hollow voice told James that he didn't blame him in the slightest for the loss. Cedric Diggory also showed up, apoligizing for not realizing that James had fallen off his broom. He tried again to insist on a rematch, but James agreed with Wood, that Hufflepuff had won fair and square, and told Cedric so. Diggory made a feeble attempt to protest, but James was firm, and so after apologizing again, he nodded and left.

When Lupin resumed teaching after he'd recovered from the full moon, he made arrangements to privately teach James, Jade, and any of their friends that were interested the Patronus Charm. The first lesson would start two days after the end of the Christmas holidays. James couldn't wait for the lesson, because he wanted to be able to fight the Dementors the next time he ran into them, instead of fainting.