Chapter 10 - Quidditch
AN: Hi, sorry for the wait, it hopefully won't be as long for the next one. I had fun writing this, so I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I'm sure J.K. Rowling has better things to be doing with her time than writing fan fiction... Just saying.
As the weeks passed, the weather rapidly became colder. A brisk wind took up a regular residence on the Hogwarts grounds and darkness came earlier and earlier each night.
Max and Ellie had mentioned nothing of their 'expedition' to Greg, nor had they attempted any further excursions. Small red patches, healed blisters, still peppered their hands from scrambling up the curtain that night. With Max and Greg (despite the mysteries that surrounded him) as her firm friends, Ellie was loving every minute of Hogwarts, classes included. She spent a lot of her free time in the library with Max and Greg, where they liked nothing better than to find the oddest titled book they could and pour over its contents for an afternoon. When it was warm out, the trio took their things outside and did their homework under a shaded tree by the lake, or tromped around the grounds, chatting and inspecting various bits of wildlife and plants they came across. Ellie soon discovered she had quite a flare for Transfiguration, and much to her own delight and that of her housemates, had earned several points for Ravenclaw in the two months she had been in the House.
Ava found herself on good terms with most of the Slytherins, although there was still an undeniable tension between herself and Eugenia, which Ava found unfathomable. She and Zabini continued to wind each other up good naturedly, and she had become more at ease with his cutting remarks, even joining in from time to time. While Ava was pleasant terms with Zabini and the others, she found herself quickly becoming inseparable from Goyle and Beatrice. Goyle, though not the sharpest tool in the shed, seemed generally good natured. He tried to avoid conflict, and he was undeniably less aggressive than the rest of the Slytherins. He seemed, Ava thought, slightly embarrassed by his heritage, and although Ava didn't understand it, Beatrice seemed to think it was to his credit. Beatrice, on the other hand, was sharp, sarcastic and fierce. For an eleven year old, she seemed incredibly knowledgeable of the ways and workings of the wizarding world, and very opinionated about it at that. Ava found Beatrice's insight very useful, and the two got along fantastically. Ava, although she detested homework, found she enjoyed the sense of power that came with yielding a wand, and found charms class and Defense Against the Dark Arts highly satisfying.
Maia felt completely at home in the castle. She found she was spending more time with Roxanne, Sage and Violet than she was with her sisters. She might have felt guilty, but Ellie, Ava and Leala were too busy with their own friends to notice, and anyway, Maia was having too much fun. Violet and Sage constantly kept Maia and Roxanne amused with their antics, and being best friends with Roxanne meant meeting her crazy family. Within her first couple of weeks at Hogwarts, Maia was introduced to all the Weasley cousins currently at Hogwarts. Dominique, Louis, Molly, James, Fred, Rose, Albus and Lucy promptly adopted Maia, and treated her as they would have each other, much to her delight. Maia found herself enjoying most of her classes, with the exception of History of Magic. Potions was not her forte either, though when paired with Roxanne, they always did quite well. She always enjoyed Herbology, and she particularly liked Professor Longbottom, Sage's fun loving father. If forced to choose, Maia would have to say Defense Against the Dark Arts was her favorite, and Professor Merrigold, the slightly eccentric teacher, had taken quite a shine to her.
It was Leala though, who, had they had the time to notice, Ellie, Ava and Maia would have thought had changed the most. And discovering her talent for Quidditch was the least of it. As sweet and kind as ever, Leala was now incredibly popular among the Hufflepuffs. Louisa was rapidly becoming Leala's closest friend, but Leala loved all her fellow Hufflepuff first years and they adored her beyond measure. The members of the Quidditch team admired her for her talent and liked her for her sweet nature. Leala found herself with a new found confidence; although still quiet, she no longer coward in quite the same way when someone addressed her. She definitely didn't go out of her way to be noticed, but she found herself able, albeit quietly, to talk to other students and Professors.
But on this cold October morning, Leala found herself completely in the absence of her newly acquired confidence.
It was the day before Halloween. The leaves on the trees had reddened to the colour of rust and the wind was brisk. While the other first years chattered happily as they wolfed down their breakfast, Leala, dressed in her bright yellow and black Quidditch robes, stared at her plate of scrambled eggs, feeling nauseated; today was the first Quidditch match of the season, Hufflepuff versus Slytherin.
'You'll feel worse if you don't eat,' said Louisa gently. Leala smiled weakly at her best friend. Louisa was dressed in a bright yellow knitted sweater, emblazoned with the Hufflepuff badger. Her shiny black bob of hair was clipped back from her eyes with hair clips, which flashed between yellow and black. Her school scarf was slung over her shoulders and Maria had painted yellow and black stripes on her cheeks.
'I'm not hungry,' she said quietly. Louisa frowned, but a second later she was hit square in the face with a bread roll. Leala and Louisa jumped and turned in the direction the roll had come from. Several seats down the table, Benjamin Masters was looking sheepish.
'Sorry Thomas,' he called, 'I was aiming for Fielder.' Leala blushed slightly. 'Eat,' instructed Masters, motioning by moving his fork from his plate to his mouth, 'You won't be any good to us if you pass out on the field.' He grinned encouragingly at Leala before turning back to a classmate he had been talking to.
Leala glanced at the food in front of her before grudgingly taking a bite. The eggs tasted like sawdust.
While Leala battled with her breakfast, Maia was listening to Roxanne and Sage's excited conversation about witnessing their first Hogwarts Quidditch match, she and Violet attempting to keep up.
'I hear the Slytherin beaters are brutal,' remarked Sage, spearing a piece of sausage, 'You do not want to be on the receiving end of one of their bludgers.'
'Bludgers?' inquired Maia worriedly.
'Leala will be fine,' assured Roxanne hurriedly, 'besides, the Hufflepuff beaters are just as good, they'll keep her safe.' Maia relaxed slightly. She of course didn't own any Hufflepuff paraphernalia, but she was wearing a yellow cardigan she'd brought from home in support of her sister, and Dominique and Molly, who were quite artistic, had painted little dancing badgers on all their faces.
At the Ravenclaw table, Ellie was too busy reciting the many rules of Quidditch, Max nodding approvingly, to be worrying about Leala. Ellie had learned all the rules and fouls to heart, under Max's careful training. She was wearing a thick, royal blue jumper, a demin skirt and white tights, but she had borrowed Leala's school scarf, promising to wear it at the match; Ellie didn't own anything yellow, so the black and yellow scarf she now wore around her neck would have to do. Leala had seemed delighted at the gesture anyway, and that was all that mattered.
At the Slytherin table, Ava was decked out head to toe in green and silver, sitting with Goyle and Beatrice, both of whom were also happily sporting their House colours. Ava couldn't deny she wanted her sister to succeed, despite what she had said about Leala that day in flying class, which she felt slightly guilty for. Ava hadn't spoken to Leala since.
But Ava honestly wanted her own House to win; she was very much torn. She decided as long as Leala didn't suffer any permanent damage, she would be happy to see Slytherin come out on top.
Fifteen minutes later, the Great Hall was empty and the Quidditch stadium was packed. Maia, Roxanne, Sage and Violet had managed to get seats in the front row, along with Michael Thomas, Jamie Finnigan and Andrew McLaggen. Most of Gryffindor had come to see the match, to size up their competition and to cheer on Hufflepuff. According to Roxanne and Sage, the Gryffindor-Slytherin tension wasn't as bad as it used to be, but Maia still thought it was fairly intense. In fact, she noticed, even the Ravenclaws seemed to be rooting for Hufflepuff, as well as the Gryffindors.
On the other side of the pitch, Ellie, Max and Greg sat in the top most row of the Ravenclaw booth, watching excitedly for the teams to come out. In the booth next to them, Ava sat with Beatrice and Goyle, attempting to block out Zabini's cries of how his brothers were going to annihilate the Hufflepuffs.
Goyle kept shooting her anxious looks, as though she was going to explode and attack Raziel. 'He's right to be concerned,' thought Ava sourly as Raziel spoke loudly of Slytherin's certain victory; no pathetic Hufflepuff stood a chance against his brother, much less a mudblood. Feeling a tinge of guilt at the words 'pathetic Hufflepuff', Ava balled her hands into fists as Beatrice ordered Zabini to put a sock in it; she reminded herself it was her House she was cheering for, not Zabini's brother. Still, she found herself wishing he didn't play the same position as her sister.
Down in the Hufflepuff changing rooms, underneath the buzz of excitement, Leala thought she was going to be ill. She was fully changed, complete with her yellow cape, emblazoned with a large seven and 'FIELDER' in big black writing. She was clutching an old school broom, a Comet 180, in her sweaty hands.
Montez was giving them a hearty pep talk, but Leala barely heard a word of it; she was too busy trying to keep her breakfast down.
'And most of all, good luck to Leala for her first game,' smiled Montez, and Leala couldn't help but smile weakly back. 'Now, I want everyone to have fun, and we'll play the best game we have, agreed?' The other six members of the team cheered. 'Excellent,' beamed Montez, 'Badgers on three. One, two, three…'
'BADGERS!' they all shouted, leaping up. Leala's knees felt like they might buckle underneath her as she and the rest of the team followed Montez out of the changing room into the corridor between the stands. Montez led them, Leala behind him. They came to a halt before the doors. Montez lent down to match Leala's height.
'Feeling okay Kiddo?' he asked softly. 'Terrified,' answered Leala honestly, her voice barely more than a whisper. Montez nodded. 'Don't worry,' he said kindly, 'Just do what you've been doing in training and you'll be great. Zabini's not that great. He doesn't have your talent.' Leala nodded numbly.
A shrill whistle outside signaled for the teams to enter the pitch. Leala gulped. Montez smiled at her before pushing the door open and leading his team onto the field. Leala, still grasping her broom, looked around Montez to see seven green and silver clad figures striding towards them from the other side of the pitch.
The crowd was cheering deafeningly, the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins shouting the loudest. Leala could already feel excitement bubbling under her nerves, when her eyes fell on the front row of the sea of yellow and black clad Hufflepuffs; Daisy, Emmett, Oliver, Ben and Sam seemed to be doing some sort of dance routine and singing, while Louisa, Maria, Margo and Jasper were clutching a huge banner, painted with bright yellow paint, that read 'WE LOVE THE SEEKER!' in big, sparkling black letters, several small, painted badgers dancing across the bottom.
Leala laughed in delight and waved at her housemates. She glanced at the Gryffindor stand and saw Maia, with Roxanne, Sage and Violet, cheering madly, all decked out in Hufflepuff colours, jumping up and down and cheering. Maia was waving madly, and Leala waved back, feeling a tinge of pride. Her eyes wandered to the Ravenclaw stand then, where she could just make out Ellie with her two friends, standing up on the bench, wearing Leala's scarf and waving a Hufflepuff flag wildly. She then looked over at the cheering Slytherins, scanning the crowd for Ava. She saw her then, green and silver head to toe, looking away from the Hufflepuff team. Leala looked away, stung.
The withered Madam Hooch stepped onto the field then, dressed in referee robes.
'Captains!' she barked, 'Shake hands!'
Montez stepped up to the burly, dark haired Slytherin captain, who Leala knew was named Nathan Flint. Gabriel extended a hand, face firm but not aggressive. Flint seized it roughly, shaking it harder than was necessary, a sneer crossing his face.
'Now I want a nice, clean game, understood?' barked Madam Hooch. The Captains nodded. The crowd was cheering louder than ever and Leala could feel her ears buzzing, her stomach lurching, excitement and terror battling inside her. Madam Hooch gave them the nod to mount their brooms and take their positions on the field.
Leala leapt onto her broom and kicked off, immediately feeling better from the sensation. The two keepers tore towards the goalposts. The chasers circled above where the quaffle would be launched, the beaters hovering a few feet out, clutching their bats. Leala was perched several feet above them, her mind racing as she watched Madam Hooch, marveling at the ferocious cheering and yelling of the crowd.
'Right then, on my whistle,' shouted Madam Hooch, 'Three, two, one- TWEEEEET!'
The shrill whistle pierced the air as Madam Hooch launched the big red ball, the bludgers hurtling after it. Leala barely caught a glimpse of the glittering gold, walnut sized ball before it disappeared from sight.
In the same split second, the six chasers dived for the quaffle and a magically enhanced filled the stadium. Leala didn't recognize it, but it had a thick Irish accent and she guessed it was student.
'And they're off! Should be an interesting game today folks, a few new faces. And when the Snakes are playing, it's always interesting anyway. Sorry Professor,' the voice apologized swiftly.
'Anyway, back to the players!' the voice continued as Leala skirted around the pitch, keeping her eyes peeled for a flicker of gold. 'Flying for the sna- I mean, the most noble House of Salazar Slytherin, we have Flint, Zabini, Avery, McGovern, Remmel, Lindon and another Zabini! Merlin, there's nearly as many Zabini's as there is Weasleys these days… Sorry Professor Longbottom, I'll be good.'
In the Slytherin booth, Ava was enjoying the sour expression on Raziel's face as he glared daggers at Matthew Finnigan, the third year Gryffindor who was commentating. Ava's eyes flickered between the game, and where Leala was smoothly circling the pitch, several feet higher.
'And playing for Hufflepuff today we have Montez, Forsyth, Bast, Peters, Nicholas, Masters and Fielder!' The first year Hufflepuffs let out a great roar of pride as Matthew said Leala's name.
'Well now,' said Matthew, 'it seems the new Hufflepuff seeker has herself some fans!'
Leala felt a surge of happiness and her cheeks flushed with pride.
'And it's Bast with the quaffle, passes to Forsyth, who passes it back to Bast- Intercepted by Zabini! Er- that's the older one. The younger one's looking for the snitch. No sign yet Ulysses? Well that's what you get for being a stuck up- Sorry, sorry Professor.'
The Gryffindor booth rumbled with laughter as Professor Longbottom scolded Matthew.
'Flint with the quaffle, passes to Avery, who, for the record is actually a pleasant human being, which is unusual- I mean, Avery passes to Zabini, who avoids a bludger sent by Nicholas. Zabini shoots- Saved by Masters!'
Leala whirled around to see Masters grinning smugly at Zabini.
'Forsyth in possession, passes to Montez, back to Forsyth, passes to Bast, back to Montez- SCORE! 10-0 to Hufflepuff!' The Hufflepuffs, along with the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws cheered manically, while the disgruntled Slytherins booed and jeered.
'Forsyth with the quaffle- taken by Flint, passes to Zabini, back to Flint, back to Zabini- Merlin, they seem to have forgotten Avery exists.'
It was true; Gillian Avery was soaring alongside Flint and Zabini, looking highly annoyed.
'Flint still with the quaffle. Oof! Receives a nice bludger from Peters, drops the quaffle, caught by Montez. Oh, another bludger, sent by Remmel of Slytherin. Montez loses the quaffle, caught by Zabini- SCORE! Slytherin even the score to ten all!'
The Slytherins were cheering and caterwauling at the top of their voices, leaping and chanting in the booth. Back up in the air, Leala frowned and sped off in the direction of the Slytherin goalposts, hunting desperately for the snitch.
'Flint with the quaffle,' exclaimed Matthew, 'passes to Zabini, back to- OH! Stolen by Montez. Montez to Bast, back to Montez, Montez speeding down the field and passes to Forsyth. Ow, Forsyth gets a nasty bludger sent by McGovern, that had to hurt.'
Leala whirled around to see Megan wincing and clutching left her shoulder, Montez talking rapidly to her, Jodie glaring at McGovern, the fourth year Slytherin who was highly reminiscent of a boulder.
Suddenly a flurry of emerald green barreled by Leala, almost making her lose balance. The slim form of Ulysses Zabini whirled around to face Leala, his face twisted into a menacing sneer. He held you a claw like, gloved hand and drew his thumb across his neck. He then whipped around and bolted off as fast as he had appeared. Leala swallowed nervously as Matthew's voice rang out across the stadium.
'Zabini with the quaffle, passes to Flint, back to Zabini. Oh! Zabini receives a nicely aimed bludger from Nicholas, good job. Zabini fumbles the quaffle, caught by Flint, passes it back to Zabini. Zabini tearing down the pitch- tackled by Montez, doesn't lose the quaffle though, good try Montez. Zabini surrounded- Oh! He passes to Avery, guess he learnt to share. Sorry Professor. Avery shoots. Middle hoop? NO! Left hoop, ten points to Slytherin!'
The green clad students exploded into cheers, yelling and roaring. Leala looked down at the goalposts to see Gillian Avery smiling smugly, not at Masters, but at Zabini and Flint. Leala watched in amazement (while keeping a careful watch for the snitch) as Flint yelled something at Avery as they sped back down the pitch. Avery yelled back, but Leala didn't hear what she had said. Judging by the look on her face, she wasn't exactly on the best of terms with her captain.
Leala was so intent on searching for the snitch that she almost didn't notice the bludger that suddenly went hurtling across the field below her. But the barreling black ball, combined with the roars of outrage from the crowd, caught her attention, just in time for her to see it collided with Jodie, who had been perched on her broom, a good thirty feet above the ground, waiting for the quaffle to be tossed back into play.
Leala watched in horror as the bludger crashed into Jodie's head, with the nauseating crunching of bone. Several people screamed as Jodie toppled off her broom and plummeted towards the ground, sandy hair trailing behind her.
Leala, immobilized with fear, watched in terror as Gabriel and Peters dove, tearing after Jodie's rapidly falling form. There couldn't have been more than three feet between them and the ground when Peters managed to grab hold of Jodie, Gabriel managing to support him. The three of them collapsed in a heap on the ground, more lightly than should have been possible.
As Gabriel and Peters struggled to untangle themselves, the rest of players were beginning to land, and Leala, shaken back to her senses, followed. Professors were beginning to flood onto the field as Leala landed by her team, now huddled around Jodie, who was shakily attempting to sit up.
'Who did this?' barked Professor McGonagall furiously, green robes swishing around her ankles as she hurried into the thick of students, Professors Longbottom and Merrigold 'Who hit that bludger?' She looked at Madam Hooch who shook her head helplessly; she had been concentrating on launching the quaffle.
The crowds were still roaring in outrage, and Leala could feel her ears buzzing in the noise as she knelt on the ground next to Megan. Jodie was now sitting up, leaning against a very pale Nicholas. A large, egg shaped lump was already forming on the left side of her forehead, turning a nasty shade of purple. Peters and Megan were kneeling on either side of her, asking her repeatedly if she was alright. Peters kept holding up his fingers and asking her how many there were. Masters was standing, alternating between arguing with McGonagall and glaring at the Slytherins.
Gabriel looked worriedly at Jodie as McGonagall addressed him.
'Mr. Montez, did you see who aimed that bludger?' But Gabriel shook his head. McGonagall then turned to the rest of the Hufflepuff team who mimicked their captain; no one had seen who aimed the bludger.
'Ms. Bast, did you see who aimed the bludger?' inquired McGonagall, brow furrowed. Jodie shook her head, and then winced.
'Ow. N-no I didn't,' she said shakily, 'But I'm fine really, I can play,' she insisted. 'Like Hell you can,' growled Masters and Gabriel nodded in agreement. 'No way in Hell Jodie,' he told her.
'I saw who did it.'
The Hufflepuffs and Professors all turned in surprise, the see Gillian Avery standing in front of the rest of the Slytherins, all who were sporting grimaces of pure hatred.
'Ms. Avery?' asked McGonagall.
An unreadable look crossed Gillian's face. She tucked a strand of her short chestnut hair behind her ear before she looked at McGonagall. 'It was McGovern.'
'Six billion points from Slytherin!' shouted Professor Merrigold, the slightly eccentric head of Hufflepuff. McGonagall cast him a scathing glance. 'Er-sorry. Continue Headmistress.'
The Slytherin team began to scream at Avery.
'TRAITOR!' yelled Remmel.
Avery kept her calm expression, but Leala could tell she felt awful.
'SNITCH!' roared Remmel.
'YOU COULD HAVE KILLED HER!' Avery roared back, her narrow face reddening.
'That will do,' said McGonagall sharply. 'Professor Merrigold, please escort your student to the hospital wing. No negotiation Ms. Bast!' McGonagall shot down Jodie's protests as Nicholas and Merrigold helped her to stand.
'Madam Hooch, you are the referee, and I do believe that was a foul,' said McGonagall as Merrigold and Jodie left the field.
'Yes, most definitely!' barked a highly irritated Madam Hooch, 'Penalty to Hufflepuff,' she exclaimed. At least three quarters of the stadium erupted into cheers and applause.
'Um, Madam Hooch, we don't have a reserve,' said Montez, looking slightly embarrassed. 'And why not?' demanded Madam Hooch. 'Because they all sucked,' said Masters with a shrug. 'Actually,' said Montez pointedly, 'We had nearly a full team, and we were handed a seeker, so we never held tryouts.
'And they sucked.'
'That will do Masters. You'll have to play one short in that case,' said Madam Hooch. 'Now get into positions players!'
She blew her whistle loudly and the players began to dart back to their places. Montez took the quaffle to take the penalty, before turning to Leala. 'No pressure Kiddo, but we could really use a quick catch,' he smiled kindly, but Leala could see the seriousness in his warm eyes. Leala nodded mutely and Montez gave her an encouraging slap on the shoulder before dashing off the directions of the Slytherin goalposts.
Leala nervously mounted her broom and pelted off into the air, more determined than ever.
'And Montez taking the much deserved penalty for Hufflepuff,' Matthew Finnigan's voice filled the air again, 'And I think we'd all like to see those cheating, pathetic excuses for human beings put in their place.' Professor Longbottom did not argue.
Leala was searching determinedly for the snitch as Montez took the penalty. 'SCORED!' roared Matthew delightedly as Montez shot the quaffle through the middle hoop with ease.
Leala grinned as the crowd roared, looking up to see Ulysses Zabini on the other side of the pitch, glaring at nothing in particular as he hunted frantically for the snitch.
Ten minutes later, the snitch was yet to put in an appearance, and the Hufflepuffs were beginning to feel their disadvantage. Matthew had remarked several times that he thought the Slytherins should be forced to play down a player too, but other than a few cries of agreement from the Hufflepuffs, Gryffindors and Ravenclaws, and boos from the Slytherins, he was ignored.
Slytherin were now leading 90-30. Montez and Megan were giving it their all, and Masters had saved over half of the attempted goals, but the Hufflepuffs were undeniably struggling.
Leala continued to circle the pitch, watching carefully for the snitch. She was just beginning to wonder if it had by any chance managed to leave the pitch, when she saw it.
It was about ten feet above her, and at the opposite end of the pitch, but her sharp seeker's eyes didn't miss the tiny flicker of shimmering gold. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Zabini; he was even further away and facing away from the snitch; he hadn't seen it. Praying she wouldn't be noticed (Zabini's broom was no doubt faster than Leala's borrowed school one) Leala tore after it.
She had travelled maybe twenty feet, when Matthew's thick accent filled the air. 'FIELDER'S SEEN THE SNITCH!' he exclaimed excitedly. There was an audible gasp followed by wild cheers from the spectators, but Leala blocked it out, only concentrating on the tiny golden snitch.
The snitch dropped in the air. Leala dived quickly, air rushing by her face, aware that Zabini would be on her heels at any second. The snitch continued to zigzag at a great pace, but Leala was managing to close the gap between it and her.
Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, a bludger came flying at Leala. Luckily for Leala, it was badly aimed and only managed to clip her ankle. While it was extremely painful, it didn't impinge terribly on her ability to fly.
She could feel Zabini close on her tail, and even felt him brush at her toes. The snitch was right in front of her. She stretched out a gloved hand. She and Zabini were nearly neck-and-neck. The snitch dropped. Leala dived, Zabini right beside her. They were now only feet from the ground.
Leala's finger tips brushed the snitch. She urged the broom forward on last bit, a sickening pit in her stomach. She felt Zabini knock into her, in a desperate attempt to save the game. Leala's fingers clammed shut as the pair tumbled from their brooms onto the grass.
The crowd was completely silent as they stared at the two seekers, sprawled on the grass. Leala was lying flat on her back, staring up at the grey sky, trying to catch her breath and comprehend what had just happened.
Beside her Zabini sat up jerkily, looking around in confusion and disbelief. Leala's eyes fell to her hand, still clamped shut. She pulled herself up to a sitting position and shakily opened her palm, sticky with sweat.
The tiny golden ball sat there peacefully, feathery wings relaxed and unmoving, gleaming as bright as ever.
Then the crowd exploded. The cheering deafened Leala's ears as she stared, awe struck at the ting ball in her hand. 'HUFFLEPUFF WIN 180-90!' roared Matthew, 'I don't know where they found that kid, but Merlin, they're lucky to have her!' Her friends' shouts of 'WE LOVE THE SEEKER!' barely registered. Then all of a sudden, she was lifted from the ground and hoisted onto someone's shoulders.
The rest of the Hufflepuff team (barring Jodie) had landed by her, and Montez and Masters had thrown her onto their shoulders. Megan, Nicholas and Peters were leaping up and down and cheering, huge grins on their faces.
'You did it!' cried Gabriel, beaming from ear to ear, 'We won, Kiddo, you did it!'
Leala felt a grin spread across her face, and a surge of pride and delight rippled through her. Her whole body ached dully from exhaustion, her clothes plastered to her with sweat and her face bright red and steaming. Her ankle was beginning to throb painfully and swell in her tight quidditch shoes, but Leala didn't notice any of it, still gazing in disbelief at the gleaming snitch in her hand.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone way up in the stands, jumping around wildly, blonde curls dancing. Leala beamed and waved to Ellie, who waved back madly, a wide grin on her face. Leala then noticed a second person, jumping and cheering even higher and louder than Ellie had been.
Her flaming red curls were bouncing wildly as she jumped, little badgers dancing happily on her cheeks. Maia looked at Leala and positively beamed, wider than anyone ever had before. Her cheeks flushed a rosy hue, her icy eyes gleaming in a way they never had before. And Leala saw something in Maia's eyes that she never had seen before when her sister looked at her.
And in that moment, nothing else mattered. It didn't matter that her rapidly purpling ankle was pulsating unbearably. It didn't matter that she would never tell her mother of her success. It didn't even matter that Leala knew if she looked at the Slytherin booth now, she would not see a smile, or even recognition on the face of her third sister.
Because right now, in that moment, Leala saw the awe in Maia's eyes; for the first time ever, Maia was looking up to Leala, the way Leala always had to her.
And to Leala, that was the best prize she could get.
AN: Hope you liked it! I was trying to show Leala coming into her own and Ava... well being Ava. Next chapter's Hallowe'en! Please, please, please review, they make me so happy! Oh, and by the way, I totally got my Pottermore account! Wooo! Thanks for reading!
Love and sunshine,
LilyRose xxx