CHAPTER NINE

Cheater, Cheater, Pumpkin Eater

James sped through the course, afraid he had passed up the first checkpoint. But, he had not seen an owl around anywhere at all, not for miles, and he was sure he'd be passing something soon.

"Bloody hell!" he muttered to himself. He saw no other racer's to his side, not even Zach, though he was sure that that dirty Slytherin knew how to treat a Hippogriff.

Swerving past another corner, James twisted around one of the Castle's turrets, reaching the top he spotted a few owls perched on the rooftop. Spotting his gray-white owl, he watched as it lifted itself into the air and flew off.

"NO!" he yelled out, speeding towards it faster now.

"What's the matter Potter!? Can't tame your own owl?" James turned his head for just a moment to see Zach standing at the top of the turret with his wand out. He was controlling his bird.

"Stop it you slimy worm!" James turned around, racing towards the turret when he was stopped just inches from landing, Zach's wand now on him.

"Ah-ah-ah. You come one inch closer to me and I'll have to kill you." Zach's eyes were black with anger, his face even drearier than before. He looked as if he'd aged ten years since the race first started. Gritting his teeth, James took a quick glance back, no one was coming.

"Oh, don't you worry about them, I've cast spell on their birds. They're going slower that you are and you're stuck in mid-air." chuckling, Zach left his wand in the air floating by itself as he whistled for his owl. Taking the paper from around it's foot, he tucked it into his pocket and smirked.

"I want you to know, no hard feelings."

James felt himself go cold.

"Stupefy!" and with that, James went flying backwards, stiff as a board without a voice to call for help. He was falling and he was sure he would hit the ground and die, the last thing he'd ever hear and see was Zach; the cheating misfit who'd taken everything he'd ever wanted. It couldn't possibly end like this, could it?

"Accio Dragon-Wing!"

No, he was sure it wouldn't.

Speeding towards him, James saw his broomstick he'd gotten for his birthday fly from his room in the tower to him. Again, he'd have to thank his dad.

Catching just the handle of it and dangling near the ground, he pulled himself on top and sped up to the turret. Feeling his feet on the ground, he looked around. His Hippogriff was dead, a stiff-green smoke coming from it's mouth. He sighed, he would have points deducted, but he had to finish. Searching the area, including the sky, with his eyes he could not find his bird. Zach must've killed it, too. So, reaching into his pocket he pulled out a gum-wrapper and used a rock to etch the word onto it as he took the paper from another owl. Taking his poorly written word, he tucked away safely and climbed onto his broomstick, looking back one more time. In the distance he could see dark figures following at a slower pace than he, shaking his head, he sped off.

***

Reaching the third checkpoint, James finally caught up with Zach who was taking his jolly good time. His wand was out, light emanating from the tip as he cast some sort of defensive spell around the turret.

"Potter! I knew you wouldn't give up so easily. Got a broomstick have we? Tsk-tsk-tsk, what will your mother and father think of you as a cheater?" Zach teased as James dismounted his broom, holding it close James stared down the awkward boy who was grinning, obviously amused.

"I'm not the one cheating. You sent me flying off my bird and then killed it. What did you want me to do? Die?"

As if this were the correct answer, Zach lifted his wand.

"Exactly." he hissed.

"Avada--!"

"Expelliarmus!" James shouted, cutting off Zach as his wand went flying down to the ground. Horrified, Zach backed away to the edge where James caught him by the collar, his wand at his neck.

"You're a louse and a coward you lame excuse for a Champion."

"Oh, but I am a Champion." Zach snorted. Baring down, James poked his wand deeper.

"Give me the counter-curse."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Fine, fine. It's Rictus Reversio."

"You'd better not be lying."

"Would I, really?"

Giving him a warning look, James shot his wand into the air and shouted the counter-curse, sending a string of sparks into the direction of the other Champion's.

"From here on out, you play fair." James snapped, and threw the boy against the stone wall, watching him wince as he hit it hard. Smiling with a satisfied expression, James walked to his owl, never turning his back on Zach and took the piece of paper.

"See you at the finish line." James scowled, taking his seat on his broom again and flying off, making sure he was far enough away from Zach before he put his wand back into his pocket.

Around the sixth checkpoint, James could see a few approaching figures, though, still far-off; and yet, none appeared to be Zach at all. But, not wanting to find out, James mounted once more and sped off for the next and last checkpoint.

At the seventh, he had a significant lead but Elodie, Nicolai, and Zach had all just about caught up with Myra and Marcus just a few meters behind. Kicking it into full drive, James hit the finish line with Zach right after and everyone else finishing into third, fourth, etc.

***

After explaining what had happened to his Hippogriff, the teacher's were both understanding and disturbed. He had not bothered to tell them of Zach's apprehensive behavior or attempted murder because he honestly felt bad. Zach looked a mess, even as he stood in second.
"Fifty points, for first place to Gryffindor, with an extra forty for quick-thinking!"

"Forty for Slytherin, Zachariah brown!"

"thirty for beauxbations, Elodie rumery!"

"and twenty for durmstrang, nicolai belova!"

"finally, ten to hufflepuff and ravenclaw for a tied finish!"

Cheering, the students stood again, crying out for their winner. James stood in the winner's circle, his arms raised in victory, pumping them up and down with his fellow Gryffindor's. And, among them, Alice smiled at him with her pearly whites. Feeling his heart skip a beat, he felt he really had won, because it was Alice that was smiling at him and not at Zach.