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CHAPTER TEN: Game of Revelations

Albus was hesitating outside the Gryffindor dressing room. His first game as Quidditch captain. A chance to fire up the team and get them ready to achieve victory. To provide words of inspiration that would cause them to lift their game and play at their best. He just wished he could think of any.

"Why aren't you going in?"asked Lily as she and Hugo appeared behind him.

Albus sighed. "You're late,"he told them.

"So are you,"Lily fired back.

"No, I'm the captain. You're meant to be in there waiting for me."

"Is there something wrong?"Hugo asked.

Albus considered lying for a moment, then he sighed. "I'm having trouble coming up with a pre-match pep-talk."

"You're usually okay giving advice to us,"Lily pointed out.

"Yeah, I know, but it's not just you this time."

"Maybe you should pretend it is."

Albus thought about this for a moment then smiled. "Thanks." He led the pair into the dressing room. James, Martin, Angela and Natalie stood up and looked at him expectantly. "I don't need to tell you your roles,"he told them. "You've all played enough to know what you have to do and to know how good you are. So just go out there and do what you've always done and they won't stand a chance." He looked round and was relieved to see their expressions all looked positive. "Come on."

Harry and Hermione were sitting with Ron and Neville in the stands. Rose was a few seats in front of them, with some of the Gryffindor girls from her year. "What do you think of the team this year?"Ron asked Neville.

"Hey, not up to me to choose it,"Neville reminded him. "You know Hugo got in?"

Hermione nodded, pleased. "He wrote to us."

"He certainly looks happy about it,"Harry noted, nodding to where the Gryffindor team were taking their places. He managed to wave to James, Albus, Lily and Hugo as they flew past. Suddenly, over half the team was related to him.

Albus flew to the centre and shook hands with Matthew Stone, his opposite number who was now in his last year like James and Martin. Then he took up his position and the game began.

Albus' team talk seemed to have done its work. The Gryffindor team were attacking with a new vitality and Peter Lenoir in the Slytherin goal was almost under siege, with his Chasers unable to get the quaffle back from the opposing players. James and Martin had the bludgers under control and were managing to pelt them so they stopped the opposition interfering. "To your left, Martin!"Neville shouted and smiled as his son hit the bludger in the direction indicated, causing Matthew to veer away from an intended interception.

Lily scooted under the Slytherin defence and hurled the quaffle through one of the hoops. The Gryffindor crowd led out a loud cheer, with Harry almost drowning the rest of the supporters out. But a moment later, Slytherin were on the attack, bearing down on Hugo's goal.

"I can't look,"Hermione moaned, burying her head in her hands. Harry and Ron both nudged her and she looked up just in time to see Hugo clear the ball. She screamed in delight, hugging both Harry and Ron.

While all this was going on, Albus and Scorpius were involved in the private duel of the Seekers. Both were hovering out of the way of the main play, keeping an eye out for the snitch. Scorpius spotted it hovering near the ground and dived. James spotted the dive and aimed a bludger in his direction. He had intended it to merely fly across his path and cause him to pull up, but instead it caught him a glancing blow on the arm.

Rose stood up. "You idiot, James, that's the father of my child!"she shouted. The entire stand swung round to look at her. She reddened and Ron and Hermione grimaced before looking at her sympathetically. "Well, he is,"she concluded before sitting down again.

Scorpius had managed to recover from the blow and was back scanning the pitch. Then he spotted it. Albus did too and they both dived. A bludger flew between them and they both swerved but Scorpius managed to swerve in the same direction the snitch was travelling and grabbed it out of the air.

The Slytherin crowd went wild as the commentator announced they'd won the game by 180 to 80. Rose stood up and applauded, trying to ignore the fact that every set of eyes in the stand was focused on her.

Rose paced back and forth in the corridor outside the Slytherin common room. Every now and then she heard another cheer from inside, indicating the Slytherins were still celebrating their victory. She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Apollo Zabini, Scorpius' cousin and one of the Slytherin Chasers, approaching with a crate of butterbeer. He stopped and looked at her, his expression unreasonable.

"Have you heard?"she asked.

"About your announcement? I think the entire school's heard by now." He nodded towards the common room. "You want to see Scorpius?" She nodded. "Better come on then." He led the way to the door. "Peverell,"he stated, giving the password, and the door swung open.

Rose followed him inside. She saw Scorpius chattering with a group of his housemates, who seemed to be congratulating him on his play. Then people began to notice Rose's presence and a quiet began to descend. Several of the girls, including Zara Mills, were glaring openly at her.

Scorpius noticed her as well. He went over and kissed her softly, putting his arm round her shoulder, and led her into a quiet corner.

The conversation picked up again, the Slytherins too busy with their celebration to start an argument. Rose cuddled close to her boyfriend. She had a feeling things would get difficult soon, but for now she felt safe.