CHAPTER 14 – Gryffindor vs. Slytherin
The time for the quidditch match had come. James stood before his fellow teammates with a look of pure determination. Two of their main players were stuck in the hospital wing due to unexplained injuries. James knew better, the Slytherins were playing dirtier than ever before. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that Marcus Malfoy and Lucas Nott were somehow involved. Those two were just waiting for unsuspecting Gryffindor players to cross their paths. James fist tightened around his broomstick handle.
"Alright you lot we're out Damsley and Edge. Let's show those Slytherins how to play real quidditch. They can put our players out but they can't beat us. We've been training twice as hard as last year and I think we stand a good chance. I'd love to win the cup this year but if we don't let's make sure Slytherin doesn't have a chance of getting that cup," James growled enthusiastically to his teammates, "Give this match everything you've got. Amelia, watch those hoops, they'll be pushing hard for scoring. They'll want points and fast. This match is bound to get messy so Hubbard, get that snitch as soon as you can."
"Their seeker can't compete with ours!" Sirius shouted, raising his beater bat above his head.
James nodded his head in agreement, not even trying to be modest about his skill but trying not to boast, "Watch each others backs. We can do this! Now let's go show those Slytherins some real Gryffindor wizards!"
"And witches!" Amelia added nervously standing next to their seeker, Jacqueline Hubbard.
"Right!" James led the way to the pitch and met the Slytherin captain in the middle.
James noticed that today they did not have their regular arbiter; today it was the Head Boy from Hufflepuff. Before going to shake hands with Nott he inched closer to the Head Boy with a quizzical look.
"Is something wrong?" He questioned.
The Head Boy, Alan Abbott shrugged his shoulders, "The professors have some kind of important meeting with Dumbledore. They wouldn't say what it's about but I heard something about protecting the school. I'll be over the match today."
"Let's hope all hell does not break loose today," James eyes darted around the stands nervously.
"Make it a quick one, Potter," Abbott said pleadingly, "before the rest of the students notice."
"I'll do what I can," James replied still looking through the crowds.
James grasped Nott's hand tightly and received a harsh squeeze in return. James hoped that Nott was too stupid to understand the reason for the Head Boy's role in the match. Once the Slytherins figured out that the Professors were late there would be no end to the dirty tricks they would pull. James was determined to win this match fair and square so he thought quickly of a way to distract the captain from the missing Professors and uncomfortable looking Head Boy.
"Don't worry Nott; I won't go too hard on you. We'll slow down when we have a few hundred points more," James said arrogantly.
"Sure Potter. Remember last year? Beat you into the ground, we did," Nott barked.
"Ah yes, but I wasn't captain then," James smirked, knowing he had properly angered and distracted the Slytherin captain.
Nott spit on the ground in front of James, glared, and stormed back to his team. James rushed to his team members, especially Sirius and explained their predicament. They each agreed they needed to end the game as soon as possible. If the Slytherins found out they had no real supervision it would be a blood bath. Nott, Malfoy and Mulciber were not known for their honorable dealings. One of the reasons why James was sure they had something to do with Damsley and Edge's hospital wing stay.
James was not the only one who noticed the missing Professors. Lily stood on her tip toes leaning over the edge of the stands to get a better view of the administration box. Aside from the Ancient Runes Professor Hemmingsworth, the Muggle Studies Professor Charity Burbbage and the Head Girl from Ravenclaw, it was empty. Her eyes scanned the crowd and the pitch for any evidence of them. Terrence and Remus seemed to be following her actions while Alice was showing Peter how to properly wave his wand in the spell to magnify his voice.
"This could potentially be a disaster," Remus muttered looking in James' direction.
"I overheard that the Professors thought this was the best time to add to some of the school's protection charms. While all of us are out here," Terrence said trying to conceal a grin, "This could get interesting."
Lily pulled out her wand and looked at Remus, "If we have to step in lets be ready."
"It doesn't look like the Slytherins have noticed. I'm sure things will be fine," Terrence said reassuringly.
For the next forty minutes the game continued like any other. Gryffindor was ahead one hundred and ten to sixty. No one had caught sight of the snitch but both seekers were looking around more frantically than usual. Nott, one of Slytherin's beaters was becoming more and more aggressive. Lily watched Amelia and Braxton and even James and Sirius anxiously. Braxton managed to grab hold of the quaffle and race to the other end of the pitch followed by both Slytherin beaters and all three of their chasers.
Sirius shot a bludger toward Nott but missed and hit one of their chasers instead. The Slytherin zoomed off in awkward spirals, disoriented after the hit. He tried to gain control again but collided into one of the surrounding towers. He plunged toward the ground but barely managed to pull up in the nick of time. He stayed seated on his broom, making no attempt to chase after Braxton and the others.
While the crowd was fixed on the Slytherin chaser Nott decided to take a chance. He swung his beater's bat at Braxton, the end making contact with the Gryffindor's head. Braxton dropped the quaffle which was caught by a Slytherin and leaned sideways. His broom followed him for part of the way before he rolled off completely, unable to shake the fireworks before his eyes. He plummeted to the ground with a sickening crunch.
When no whistle was called, no time out requested, and no points deducted Nott had figured it out. While the Slytherin chaser headed back over to Amelia to score he flew over the administration box. Seeing only Hemmingsworth and Burbbage he zoomed back to his fellow beater, formulating a plan. The Slytherin crowd was becoming rowdy, shouting and cheering and taunting the Gryffindors in the stand next to them. Lily noticed all of these things and looked at Remus, who was watching the other end of the pitch.
"Maybe we should go," Terrence whispered in her ear.
Ignoring him, she followed Remus' gaze. The Slytherin chaser was heading toward the Gryffindor hoops guarded by Amelia. Behind the chaser was Nott who managed to look menacing from even so far away. Lily brought her hands up to cover her mouth with worry. Remus, wand forgotten, was waving his arms leaning over the edge again.
"James! Prongs! James!"
His shouts were lost in the sea of raucous students. Thankfully James noticed the situation and he and Sirius flew to their keeper. Nott took a swipe and Amelia ducked just in time. The chaser threw the quaffle and scored for Slytherin.
"TEN POINTS TO SLYTHERIN!" Shouted the announcer, "THIS IS TURNING UGLY!"
Nott tried for another hit again but missed. Sirius swung another bludger in his direction and this time hit his target. Nott faltered and dropped below the hoops, shaking off the shock and pain. He glared at Sirius and chased after him. James was at a loss for words and had no idea what to do. He looked for the Head Boy on the ground; he was busy trying to keep the even more unruly students from getting out of control. Unfortunately it was not working well.
The Slytherins were shouting at the Gryffindors and many of the Gryffindors were shouting back. A fight broke out and the Slytherin and Gryffindor crowds converged. Lily looked at Remus and Terrence before holding up her wand, ready to try and stop the fight. Remus, always the marauder, grinned and held his up. Terrence shook his head but pulled his out as well. Alice and Peter were no longer within sight.
"Let's at least go back to the castle Lily. This is dangerous and you aren't exactly favored by the Slytherins," Terrence gave her a small push in the opposite direction.
"We are prefects Terrence. It is our job to get this under control. Besides, I have to do something to help before it gets too far out of hand," Lily just managed to finish he sentence before they were squeezed against the edge of the stands.
Lily's wand was knocked out of her hand and tumbled harmlessly over the edge of the stands and onto the white snowy ice of the pitch, "My wand!"
She leaned over the edge to see where it had fallen. It lay flat and unbroken but barely visible so far down. She saw Braxton lying on his stomach moving only slightly after his fall. No one had helped him, he was still there. Lily turned to Remus and shook his arm to get his attention then pointed to Braxton.
"We'll help when we can Lily. Right now we have bigger problems," he turned back around.
There were so many bodies, Slytherins and Gryffindors, even Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, pushing this way and that. Rogue spells were flying over heads and occasionally a student would drop to the ground covered by the ocean of bewildered students. A rather large group of seventh year Slytherins were enjoying the chaos, pushing students out of their way and firing spells at those nearest to them. They came closer to the group. Alice was trying her best to heal Peter from curse that hit him in the face, she didn't notice the one directed for her until she was face down unconscious.
"Alice!" Lily pushed her way to Alice to see if she was ok, "Remus, get my wand!"
"Accio wand!" She could hear Remus shout.
The wand flew toward him and he caught it just as the large seventh years made a big push for their group. A spell hit Terrence, who was trying to get to Lily, in the chest. The spell was a jelly legs jinx turning his legs to jelly. He lost control and fell backward over the side of the stands. Lily saw this and stood up rushing to side, meeting Remus there. Terrence lay on the ground far below them, unmoving. Lily gave Remus a look of panic and reached for her wand. Before she had the chance to grab it she and Remus were pushed over the edge. Lily screamed as she was knocked over. Remus barely managed to grab the edge with his hands while Lily held tight to his legs. They were dangling above the ground. In the process Remus had dropped both of their wands, which fell beside Terrence.
A face popped over the edge, a strange and puffy face. Peter Pettigrew had been hit in the face with some kind of stinging jinx that caused his face to swell up like an allergic reaction. The only thing that helped Remus recognize him was the years they had spent together. This was not so reassuring, Peter would never be strong enough to pull both him and Lily back up. He still tried, clutching at Remus' clothes and arms.
"Wormtail. Get help!" Remus croaked, knowing that to ask him to perform the spell could be devastating.
"Remus! I… can't . . . hold on," Lily cried, holding tightly to his ankles.
"Hold on Lily. Peter's going to help us. Just hang on a moment," Remus shouted.
Remus shouted and Lily screamed in shock when a bludger hit side of the stands. It was hit so hard it went straight through the wood shaking the two. Remus tried thinking of something he could do but his mind was completely blank. His palms and fingers were aching and bleeding but he tried to pull up anyway. He barely moved, it was no use.
"Oy! Need some help?" Sirius shouted from his broomstick, flying next to a worried looking James.
"Think you can hold on a little longer Moony?" James asked while flying closer to Lily.
Another bludger shot at them but Sirius batted it away safely.
"Just hurry," He groaned.
James stopped next to Lily, "You need to trust me. Hold onto Remus' leg but put your other arm around me. When I say let go, push off and grab hold of me."
Lily stopped herself from commenting about how he would love that. Now was not the time or place. She nodded fearfully. She did not trust James but what other choice did she have? She closed her eyes and drew in a breath while slipping one arm around James' shoulders. Whack. Sirius fought off another bludger aimed for them.
"You better speed up mate," Sirius shouted.
"C'mon Evans," James said holding out an arm to catch her when she pushed off.
She pushed off with her eyes closed. She felt herself fall in the chilly winter air before a pair of arms tightened around her and hers tightened around his neck. She exhaled and opened her eyes. She was hanging awkwardly from James neck, unable to make it to the broomstick. Sirius grabbed Remus a little less gently and followed as James flew to the ground where Terrence lay, still unmoving.
He set her on the ground and quickly grabbed her wand and placed it in her hand, "Don't lose this."
Her heart was racing and her mind was cloudy. James Potter had once again helped her out of a dangerous situation. He pulled out his own wand, ready to jump into the crowd before a very loud sound, something like a cannon was heard.
"I WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR AT HOGWARTS!" It was the voice of Albus Dumbledore but he was nowhere to be found, "I WANT YOU ALL TO RETURN TO YOUR COMMON ROOMS IMMEDIATELY!"
All students stopped what they were doing and began to run to their house common rooms. No one questioned Dumbledore and no one had heard him sound this angry. Remus was on the ground muttering enervate to Terrence before Lily had the chance. Sirius was already supporting Braxton and heading toward the castle. James grabbed Lily's wrist and pulled her along.
"Just so I don't lose you," He muttered uncomfortably.
As if she even noticed. Things had all happened so quickly that her mind was not comprehending everything fast enough. She was not at all worried about the warm hand wrapped around her wrist, or the look in those warm hazel eyes. She let him guide her back to the common room while she hoped each of her friends made it back safely.