Chapter Seven: Mysteries and a Quidditch Match
James woke up suddenly on Saturday morning when he was rudely shaken awake by Sirius. His eyes opened to see his friend's face smiling down at him. James groggily sat up in bed and noticed Peter was also awake sitting on his bed and looking at him expectantly.
"So do you have some hero credit now?" Sirius asked as he sat back on his own bed and pushed his hair out of his face.
"I got a week's worth of detention with McGonagall, is what I got."
"But you saved them! That's got to count for something doesn't it?" Peter asked in disbelief.
"I got 50 points from Dumbledore."
"That's what I'm talking about," Sirius said with a smirk. "Is anyone else present at this detention?" The blush that came to James's face was all the answer he needed. "That's perfect! What better place to make your move than alone in detention…"
James shook his head at his friend. "Anyways, how's Remus?"
"He's fine. We got him back to the shack in time. He should be around by lunchtime I would assume. Did Dumbledore know what that thing was?"
"If he did he didn't tell me, but some ministry people came and took it away, I think they are looking to see if there are anymore."
"What do you guys think it was?" Peter asked with a slight shake in his voice.
"Not sure, but we will find out one way or the other," Sirius said with confidence. His two friends nodded in agreement.
James had called a Quidditch practice for Saturday afternoon which left Sirius, Peter, and Remus in the library catching up on some of their school work from the week. Remus was already done and had started looking through books for any mention of the creature from the grounds last night. He was plagued with guilt about what had happened, knowing that if the thing did not show up he would have attacked.
"Will you stop guilting yourself Moony!" Sirius said as he looked up from his essay at his friend's distressed expression. "What happened last night was not your fault and besides everyone is perfectly fine. No harm done."
"I would just feel a lot better if I could find out what the hell that bloody five legged monster was."
"Why does it matter? It's in the hands of the ministry now," Peter asked.
"But why was it at Hogwarts? Why was it so close to the edge of the forest?" Remus countered. "That thing was stronger than anything I have encountered before and the fact that it isn't in any of these books just doesn't make any sense."
"The professors are probably talking about it. What if we snag the cloak and sneak into the staff room to see what they have to say about it?" Sirius asked.
Remus smiled, "I'll go get it."
Sirius and Peter went down to the Quidditch pitch to check out the team. When they got there James was just wrapping up practice. James saw them as he was putting the balls back in the chest. "What are you doing here? Where's Remus?"
"Remus is investigating."
"What?"
"He went to the staff room to see if they were talking about that monster." Peter stated matter of factly.
James nodded his head as he took the chest and put it in the supply closet. Then the three friends walked back up to the castle and went straight to Gryffindor tower and up to their dormitory. A few minutes later Remus burst through the door and tossed the cloak to James, who grabbed it and put it in the trunk by the foot of his bed.
"What's the verdict?"
"They know just as much as we do. There were a lot of creatures mentioned but all of them were disqualified for one reason or another. Not even Kettleburn can make any guesses about it and that guy in like an encyclopedia of magical creatures all on his own."
The four friends looked at each other wondering what on Earth it could be to have the entire faculty of Hogwarts stumped.
The week after the monster attack went by quickly. Speculation about what it could have been ran wild throughout the school. James kept overhearing conversations and every time the monster got bigger and fiercer. He passed one group of Hufflepuff's who were convinced that on Friday night there was a dragon terrorizing the castle. He couldn't help the laughter that escaped him at that one.
Detention with McGonagall found him and Lily filing papers for McGonagall without magic. There had been a lot of grumbling on the part of James which was quickly hushed up by Lily who told him to stop complaining or McGonagall might hand them over to Filch. The method of detention did have some perks for James, it gave him time to talk to Lily as filing really did not present the need for them to be quiet or concentrate too hard.
It was now Friday and they were serving their last detention with McGonagall. It was nearing the end of their session and James could taste the freedom that awaited him but he couldn't help a small measure of sadness at the thought of not spending every afternoon with Lily. McGonagall came in to see them and released them early thanking them for their hard work. They walked out of her office and headed up to the Gryffindor common room together.
"I'm going to miss this Lily."
"Detention? You can't be serious."
"No," James laughed, "Spending time with you."
She looked over at him, "Why does it have to stop?"
Their eyes locked and a smile broke out on James's face. Before his courage left him he swept her up in his arms and gave her a tight hug while spinning around. Lily let out a laugh. When he put her down she had to catch her breath from laughing so hard.
"Are you coming to the match tomorrow?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world."
"And welcome to the first Quidditch match of the season!" Sirius's voice echoed across the pitch and throughout the stands. "Let's welcome the Ravenclaw team to the pitch captained by Kingsley Shacklebolt!" Cheers erupted from the crown. "It's been a long time since a beater was made captain here at Hogwarts so I can't wait to see what sort of strategies he employs what say you my friend?" Sirius looked over at Peter sitting next to him.
"I agree, I wonder how rough Ravenclaw is about to become, it should be quite a match to watch."
"And here comes the GRYFFINDOR QUIDDITCH TEAM!" The screams of the crowd were huge, the boos from Slytherin could barely be heard as the team came onto the pitch and mounted their brooms. "This here the one and only James Potter has taken control of the reigning champions of the Quidditch cup! Will he be able to keep the cup? Only time will tell!" James glared at his friend from his place on the pitch and Sirius's laugh echoed around the pitch.
James started to ignore his friend's commentary and scanned the stands for a girl with red hair and bright green eyes. He quickly found her sitting with her group of friends, and surprisingly Remus as well. She looked up at him and he smiled and waved. She waved back and her friends started giggling, Lily elbowed the nearest one to her and James couldn't help but smile wider.
The teams then gathered in the centre of the pitch and James came face-to-face with Shacklebolt. "Good to see you Kingsley."
"You too!" He said holding out his hand. The captains shook and then took their places with their teams.
"The Quaffle is released and Gryffindor captain takes quick possession."
"He is speeding towards the Ravenclaw Keeper Astrid Rose. Porter hits a bludger and it is dodged by Potter who passes the Quaffle to Evelyn Palgreave! Palgreave weaves her way between the Ravenclaw chasers and takes a shot. Rose misses. 10 Points Gryffindor!" Cheers erupt from the crowd.
"Flynn Carter of Ravenclaw takes the Quaffle. He passes to Frigemore, who passes back to Cooke. Cooke with the Quaffle speeding towards the Gryffindor goalposts and he shoots. Saved by Frank Longbottom!"
"Longbottom passes the Quaffle to Potter who passes to Flitney, a new member of the team. Flitney is blocked by Cooke who takes the Quaffle off him. AH! That's got to hurt! Bludger hit by Weasley of Gryffindor and Cooke drops the Quaffle. It is taken up by Potter. Potter dodges a bludger hit by Shacklebolt. Takes a shot! And SCORES! It's not 20 to 0 for Gryffindor!"
In little time Gryffindor is leading by 80 points to 20. Ravenclaw can't keep tabs on the chasers. James's plans work out perfectly, he managed to predict the strategies that Shacklebolt decided upon. They couldn't get passed the Gryffindor chaser line and when they did Longbottom was there with spectacular saves. Not to mention the Gryffindor beaters were so in sync that they managed to keep Ravenclaw completely outmatched. Although Shacklebolt did get a good shot at Flitney which led to the first Ravenclaw goal. The second one happened because Cooke tackled Palgreave for the Quaffle and faked a throw to get Longbottom out of the way before putting it in the far right hoop. There was certainly some talent coming from the Ravenclaw chasers but they couldn't keep up with the quickly changing formations that James had come up with.
"And with that goal it is now 160 to 20 to Gryffindor. Come on Ravenclaw get your head in the game!"
"Their only shot at a saving their pride is for them to catch the snitch."
"So far neither seeker seems to have sighted it. Prewett is circling the pitch with his eyes moving in every direction. We know from his track record that as soon as he sights it the game will end."
"I don't know what to expect from the new Ravenclaw seeker though. They have third year Blythe Parkin as seeker today. She's the smallest person on the pitch, ideal for a seeker. Let's see if she can beat Prewett to the Snitch."
"Oh Potter has the Quaffle. He maneuvers around Cooke, and Carter. Dodges a bludger aimed by Porter and is in range of the hoops. He shoots, Rose goes the wrong way, and it's in! 170 to 20 to Gryffindor."
"Rose passes to Frigemore. He heads up the pitch. And bludger by Weasley, Palgreave takes the Quaffle. Passes to Flitney. Flitney dodges a bludger, out maneuvers Cooke. Shoots and SCORES! 180 to 20 for Gryffindor!" Peter can't contain his excitement as he tries to follow the fast pace of the game.
"And it looks like we have a snitch sighting. Parkin has gone into a dive. It's daring really, the angle she is taking this at. Prewett is quick on her heels. They are neck in neck. Parkin pulls up quickly and Prewett hits the ground! I can't believe my eyes a Wronski Feint!"
"Now Parkin is speeding up and she stretches her hand, she's caught it! I can't believe my eyes, the game is over, 150 points to Ravenclaw, leaving us with a score of 180 to 170 Gryffindor wins but Ravenclaw gets the snitch! WHAT A GAME TO BEGIN THE SEASON!"
Gryffindor cheers erupt from the stands as the pitch is rushed by supporters. Fabian Prewett has gotten up and finds Blythe who has touched down with the snitch in her hand.
"That was some amazing flying Parkin!"
She smiles at him and slightly blushes. "Thanks. It was too late though."
"You saved it for them Parkin." He says and then walks towards his team and is crushed by the celebrating crowd.
James searches through the outpouring of people and finally sees that familiar red hair. He rushes up to Lily and grabs her, spinning her in a circle.
"Congratulations!"
"I think you are my good luck charm."
Lily blushes at this comment and throws her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
That night there is a celebratory party in the common room. They started off the season with a bang and the other houses knew that the Gryffindor team was a force to be reckoned with.
A/N: Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think about the Quidditch game. I wanted to try my hand at writing one and I am really not sure how it turned out. Any thoughts on that will be much appreciated. Also just let me know what you think of the story this far. Any questions or anything I love hearing from you guys. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, followed and favourited it means so much. And to Twihard, thanks for the review I couldn't send a response since you weren't signed in for it but I appreciate the enthusiasm so much! Thanks all and please review! ~LittleMiss
