I was writing in French instead of doing the work we'd been assigned today. My friend was reading over my shoulder and when I stopped to actually do the work the teacher had given us, she said, "Don't stop! I want to know what happens next!" so thanks, buddy. Also thanks to DSCWin for your supportive reviews on every chapter!
The joy from Halloween was soon replaced by anxiety and nervousness for the Quidditch match. We were facing Hufflepuff and that was another reason for me being nervous, Teddy was an amazing Seeker. My friends were all nice and supportive, trying to get me to calm down, and it was helping, just not enough.
"You'll do great!" Danus told me the morning of the match.
"You're going against Hufflepuff and you dare be nervous?" Marius added, slapping my back.
I smiled, but didn't have the heart to tell him that that was what was making me nervous.
At the Great Hall, Mel came by to wish me good luck, whispering that she would be cheering for my team, but not to tell Teddy. I smiled at her and promised. Teddy and his friends caught up with me as we were leaving. "Don't go easy on me," he said, giving me a high five.
"I wasn't planning on doing so," I answered. He winked and walked off with the rest of his team.
In the changing rooms, we changed into our green robes. I felt great wearing them for a competition. Sure, I'd worn them to practice all the time, but this was different. It gave me a responsibility, I had to do well so we would beat the badgers and win the House Cup. We'd lost last year, so this was very important.
We were given a few extra minutes to warm up and relax before the actual match. As I was calming myself down in a corner, I heard Melody Bluebird calling me. "Odny, someone's here to see you," she said.
I got up and went to the entrance to see Janet. What was she doing here? "I saw how stressed out you were during breakfast," she told me "I just wanted to come by and make sure you're alright."
Even though Janet had quite the reputation of being the female version of a bad boy, which she was most of the time, she was really nice once you got to meet her. And since we'd opened up to each other a lot last year, I had seen that friendlier side of her often. Now was one of those times. "Thanks," I said to her.
Before I could say anything else, she'd scooped me into a hug. I was surprised to say at least. "I believe in you," she said "And I know you'll do amazing!"
When she let go of me I could feel my cheeks burning. Way to hide your crush, Danny! I looked at her and thought that I saw the slightest pink on her face, but it must have just been the light.
"Excuse me, you have to leave," Hydrus Boxer, Jessica Boxer's brother, said to Janet. I looked at my watch, the match would start any minute now.
"Of course," Janet replied and left. I felt much more ready to play now than before.
I clutched Dominic's broom tightly as we walked out of the changing rooms and into the court. "Alright team," Day said loudly "Let's show them what we've got!" He mounted his broom and flew out. We cheered and did the same.
"Ladies and gentlemen," I heard the announcer, a fourth year Gryffindor named Ed, say into his microphone "Welcome to the first Quidditch match of this year. I hope you're all excited! Today's match is Hufflepuff versus Slytherin. Let's see how these two complete opposites will play!
"Of course, we have bright players on both teams. Starting with Hufflepuff: Captain Sarah Grace, Chasers Kate Velca, Aria Olorin and Eren Sanders, Beaters Sarah Grace and Dahlia Isha, Keeper Rey White and Seeker Teddy Lupin.
"Now Slytherin. We have Captain Alexander Day, Chasers Alexander Day, Melody Bluebird and Morris Pintkling. Beaters Calliope Shulge and Hydrus Boxer. Keeper Jasmine Wetherell and Seeker Danny Odny."
We flew around the court, showing off our manoeuvres. I saw Teddy and Rey in their canary yellow robes. I tried to fly safe, to spare any damage from Dominic's broom until I got my own one. I couldn't wait to get one, I would do all kinds of cool stuff on it. I would need a lot of savings though, brooms aren't exactly cheap.
"Captains, shake hands," Madam Hooch ordered.
Sarah Grace and Day landed on the ground and shook hands. I could have sworn I saw the tiniest tension between that handshake. "Play nice and fair," the Quidditch instructor said and they nodded, then flew back to their teams as she brought out the balls.
She undid the straps that held the Bludgers down and they shot into the air. We didges them, in case we got injured before the match even began. Merlin, that would be horrible!
Next came the Snitch. I stared at it intensely as if was released into the air, fluttering far away, as if it would help me in finding it again later. 'Wouldn't it be amazing the catch the Snitch right after the match starts?' I thought.
"Madam Hooch has released the Quaffle," Ed said, bringing me back to the real world. The game had started.
I flew up as high as I could. Teddy had given me some secret advice that no one was to know about on Seeking. He said that his uncle Harry had taught him and he had been one of the best Seekers in Hogwarts. It was a bit hard for me to imagine Harry as a Quidditch player, but I guess that goes for everyone who has graduated and now has a job. I suppose that if Mel or Janet told me that their parents had played Quidditch while they were in school I wouldn't believe them, Janet especially.
So, Teddy had told me that a good method is to fly above the court, that way you get less of a chance to get hit by a Bludger, oversee the match and keep an eye out for the Snitch at the same time. I could see what he meant now. Sure, I'd done this in all my practices, but now it was a real match, my first real match, and I could see exactly what he had wanted to tell me.
I saw Morris Pintkling, another new addition to the team, grab the Quaffle and fly off with it. The Hufflepuff Chasers were immediately on his tail, but he zoomed past them like a lightning bolt. Then, he abruptly turned his broom around and tossed it to Day, who caught it. Our Captain was with no doubt one of the best Chasers currently in Hogwarts.
Day carried the red ball all the way to the Hufflepuff hoops, the opposite team catching up to him. Just when I thought that they were going to catch him and that he was being reckless, he threw it to Melody Bluebird who then forcefully threw it through the hoops. It pained me to see Rey miss it, as I liked her, but I was glad we'd scored.
"Don't mind, White," Velca called out to the dark-haired girl "You'll get the next one." She nodded and focused on the match.
The Quaffle was given to Hufflepuff, as we'd been the ones to score. Aria Olorin was the one to grab it first. She flew away instantly, though a bit too instantly. The rest of her teammates didn't have enough time to catch up to her, but mine did. Day bumped into her, causing her to drop the Quaffle. But just when I thought that Bluebird was going to catch it, Velca did. I groaned.
Day seemed just as frustrated as I was, but chased after Velca. She tossed it to Olorin who was back in the air after previously dropping the Quaffle. Olorin caught it. Shulge aimed a bludger at her, but it scraped past her, narrowly avoiding her. I groaned in frustration.
Now both Pintkling and Day were catching up to the Hufflepuff, but she took a risky shot and threw it at the hoops. Wetherell dashed to catch it, but that was what caused her to miss it. The Quaffle went right through the left hoop as soon as she realised her mistake.
She kicked the air in annoyance as the Hufflepuffs celebrated.
For about another twenty minutes, the game went on like this. We scored, they scored, we scored again, they scored again etc. etc. It had become obvious that we were both two very strong teams. It all depended on who caught the Snitch now.
I peeked at Teddy, who was staring the at the court looking concentrated. I tried not to linger for too long, because he might realise I was looking and bluff me while going after the real Snitch.
Suddenly, I got an amazing idea. Maybe I could bluff him! I could buy my team some time and just dive down, pretending to have seen the little golden ball. That way, he would just follow me down and I might even see the real Snitch on the way. I hadn't done this before, but it was worth a shot if it meant we might win.
I waited for the right moment in order to look convincing before zooming down. I heard Ed saying, "Looks like Odny has caught sight of the Snitch. Good moment too, with Slytherin leading by 10 points at 70-60. Lupin is now after him. Let's see who will make it first."
I smirked. I didn't even have to look behind me to see Teddy following me. Partly because I could feel the air coming from his broom and I could hear the Hufflepuffs calling his name from the stands. Little did they know that I was about to kick his ass.
I tried to keep it going for the most time possible that would still make sense. When I thought that that was nearly over, I looked up. I couldn't believe my luck, for there was the Snitch, floating right above us. Now I had two choices, either lead Teddy a bit further away or make a run for it. But he was catching up to me and I was going to run out of stamina if it kept going like this.
I went for the second option. I flew up and from what I understood it only took him a moment to realise what was going on. He had very good reflexes, something that proved to be annoying right now.
Before I knew it, we were right next to each other. I couldn't tell if one was ahead of the other. We both had one hand outstretched and one gripping our brooms tightly. "Sorry to ruin your first game, Danny," he said with an evil grin "But I'll be the one to catch the Snitch this time."
"I don't think so, you canary," I said and sped up just a bit.
It was all I needed. Out of the blue, something small and metal was on my hand. I peeked into my fist and there it was, the Snitch. I have to admit that I had never thought the feeling of catching it would be this good.
"Odny caught the Snitch!" Ed was screaming into the microphone while the Professors behind him were covering their ears "Odny caught the Snitch! The game is over. Slytherin won."
Our fellow snakes as well as everyone who was supporting us got up and started cheering. I smiled as I held up my hand, still clutching the Snitch. My teammates circled me, slapping my back, ruffling my hair, which I did not enjoy, and giving me high-fives.
"Good job, Dan!" Day said to me. I cringed at the name and made a mental note to hex him if he ever called me that again.
The Hufflepuffs exited the pitch with a look of defeat on their face, Teddy and Rey still gave me a thumbs up, though. The good thing with having Teddy as a friend and Rey not minding me was that even though they were sad they had won the match, they were happy for me. I would be too if it had been the opposite.
We went back to the changing rooms and got into our regular robes. We congratulated each other again and Day announced that we were going to be celebrating our victory in the common room later that night.
Mel was the first one there when we got out. She ran to me and engulfed me in a hug. I started worrying about breathing after some time but she let go of me at last. "That was amazing!" she exclaimed, jumping up and down with excitement.
We talked for a bit until my Slytherin friends showed up and she had to go. I dreaded the day they would have to meet her. Danus hugged me, Marius congratulated me, Dominic thanked me for not ruining his broom, Zaria told me that it had been a good match and Janet said, "You should that half-blood Lupin what Seeking is supposed to be like. You were great, congratulations."
I felt that stupid blush make its appearance again. Damn!
Totally me and my crush. I swear, every time I talk to them they must think I'm afraid because I blush slightly and sound nervous. Ugh! But review if you want to, good, bad, it's all welcome!