James watched as Sirius stopped another goal. He really was lucky to have such a good Keeper for a friend. He was not, on the other hand, so lucky to have chosen the world's biggest git for one of his Beaters. McCormack was going to cost them the game, or at least someone's consciousness.

This thought was instantly driven from his mind as he saw Fabian coming towards him with the Quaffle. Fabian's eyes locked onto James's, and James got ready to catch the ball. Fabian raised his arm, Quaffle in hand, and made a wide throw, as he was forced to dodge a Bludger.

James managed to save the Quaffle from falling to the earth, and instantly rocketed along the pitch once the ball was securely under his arm. He had spotted Andrea swooping down on the Golden Snitch only seconds before, and he knew that all he, Gideon, and Fabian had to do was keep the Hufflepuffs busy while the Snitch was caught.

As James flew up the pitch, he had to duck underneath another Bludger. He saw Gideon to his right, and made a safe pass to him, the Quaffle soaring into his outstretched hands. As soon as he had passed off the ball, James pulled up and looked around for his two Beaters. Billson was hurrying after a Bludger, looking as if he was about to fall from his broom in exhaustion. McCormack was flying after Andrea, shouting directions at her as the Snitch duck and wove meters in front of the lithe Seeker.

"McCormack!" James shouted at the hulking seventh year, as he flew across the pitch towards him, "Chase! Get back to you position and do your job! Billson is getting murdered over there!"

McCormack nodded gruffly and hurried to help his fellow Beater. James turned his broom around sharply in his anger, searching the pitch for any sign of Andrea or the Snitch.

The dark-skinned girl was on the opposite side of the pitch, her braids whipping back in the wind as she closed in on the golden ball hovering barely a foot away from her face. Andrea reached out, and just as James heard Frank announce Gideon's fourth goal for the team, her fingers had closed around the struggling Snitch.

She pulled up, holding the ball in the air for all to see. As James flew towards her, wanting to congratulate his teammate on a job well done, he could hear the crowd shouting and cheering below. But there was something wrong. The noise wasn't ear-splitting and victorious. It seemed only half the crowd had noticed the win.

James looked down at his fellow Gryffindors, as well the Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Slytherins alike. As he searched their faces, he noticed the noise dropping to startled whispers. Soon, every single person in the stand had turned to look at the end of the pitch opposite him. They were all staring in the direction of the goal hoops.

James heard the crack before he was able to turn and see Sirius fall from his broom, Bludger speeding away. The Keeper fell down towards the left goal hoop, his scarlet robes billowing around him. He seemed to have caught onto the goal hoop, and was dangling there, blood matted into his dark hair. James must have been in some state of shock, because he didn't rush forward. Sirius's hand slipped from the metal bar and he fell towards the earth, having lost consciousness. James heard a sickening crunch as both of his friend's legs crumpled beneath him when he hit the ground.