The Marauders Proudly Present James Potter in The Marauders: Year Two
Chapter Fourteen
Into The Red
Written By Chambers10
James stared up at his canopy while gripping his mini quaffle tight in his grasp. He slowly squeezing and relaxing the ball in his fist, he tried to do it to his heart beat. But, he was so nervous with it thundering in his chest, that stopped a long time ago. James Potter had been up all night. A million different scenarios running in his head. About what was going to happen today, of all days. His first ever Quidditch match for Gryffindor.
He'd been sent to bed early by Wood. As had most of the team, his debut for the team was the hot gossip going round the school right now, apparently the whole school was going to be down on the pitch to see him play. Wood had described him as incredible, from another planet good.
Normally, he wouldn't hesitate to do the same thing. But…he was, and he couldn't believe he was thinking this. But was nervous as well. How the hell could he be nervous. He'd played Quidditch before, hundreds of games, but this was important to him. His dad had told him lots of stories about how the Quidditch pitch, the arena, and the glory of victory.
He looked over at his clock.
07:00 AM
James pulled open the curtains to his bed and sat on the end. James sighed and rubbed his head, he reached under his bed and pulled out his bag he packed the night before. James looked at the bag for a long time. He needed air. He needed lots of air.
He quietly got some tracksuit bottoms and a t-shirt from the drawer and changed, scooping his trainers as he walked past the door.
After quickly changing he walked out of the tower and pulled on a beanie hat. He did a couple of jumps on the spot and then started to run. His steps echoed through the castle as he ran down the marble staircase and out of the castle to the grounds. The cold air was biting, but welcome on his body that was heating up quickly.
He thought back to when he was younger and his dad told him about the Quidditch at Hogwarts.
"Tell me about it." said a young James sitting on his dads work bench. Alec was under the bonnet of his car fiddling with the spark plugs. James swinging his legs idly.
"Why do you want to know so badly?" asked Alec as he stood up. He wiped his brow and looked at the late afternoon summer sun streaming into the garage. He looked over at his son who shrugged his shoulders.
"You always say it's really good." Said James. "It's not like when I play Quidditch though. We have small pitches, at Hogwarts you say we play in an arena." Alec laughed.
"You do." Said Alec wiping his hands. "Huge arena to, over fifty stories high, and the stands are really close to the pitch. So it's almost like the fans are on the pitch with you."
"Wow." Said James picturing it in his head. "It must be brutal."
"You have no idea." Said Alec. "But probably won't play till your third year, so you have plenty of time to catch the atmosphere."
"No, no." said James jumping off the bench. "I'm gonna play in my first year, I'm good enough, aren't I?"
"Well you are seven." Said Alec, "I suppose there's plenty of time to improve." James looked appalled at him while Alec laughed.
"Kidding kiddo." Said walking over and ruffling James's hair. "I'm sure you will. You give your old man the run around."
"What's it like scoring?" asked James.
"What, a goal?" James nodded.
"Well…" Alec thought for a moment. "When the quaffle goes through the hoop and that bell rings. The whole place comes alive, three sections of the arena shouts and cheers your name. Trust me mate, when you lift that house cup in front of your house, you can feel like you can do anything.
"Awesome." Said James nodding his head. "Will you be there?"
"Me?" said Alec looking up from the bonnet. "Maybe, I'm sure we'll all be there, your mum and sister to."
"And win the house cup."
"Sure mate." Said Alec. "Come on, I think we've done all we can here today."
James stopped running by the black lake and looked out across the water. The air was still cold and brittle across his skin. But the run hadn't done anything to calm his nerves, he was still nervous. He shook his head and continued on his run. The Quidditch pitch itself came into the distance.
He stopped and looked up at the high oval structure. His dad was right in saying that it was a huge arena. He walked over to the player's entrance and pulled back the door.
When he opened the dust from the outside was magnified from the autumn sun. The tunnel though was very long and dark. James slipped in and closed it and walked down the tunnel. He was looking down the right hand side of it and passed the Hufflepuff changing room, and then, next to it a little further down. The Gryffindor Lion roaring on the door. To think, in a few hours he was going to be in there, with the rest of the team, where greats had sat before him, his dad included. He placed a hand on the door. Almost asking it if there was any advice he could follow.
The resounding silence gave him his answer. This was something he needed to do alone.
His footsteps echoed round the huge structure the light at the end of the tunnel not betraying the outside. He walked into the light and out onto the pitch.
If it looked tall from the outside it was herculean on the inside. The immaculately cut grass round the outside, a layer of gravel and then the grass itself on the pitch. A huge oval pitch with the hoops high up into the air. But the stand behind it eclipsed by at least twenty stories.
It was still claustrophobic on the inside, and the pitch was very close to the stands. James felt sorry for a seeker trying to find a snitch inside here. And yet, in just a couple of hours, this stadium was going to be full of people from all the houses, all of Hogsmede, and other people who came from far and wide to see a game.
James closed his eyes, his nerves still hadn't gone. It anything, seeing just how many people were going to be there made him sick.
He needed to get out. After running back down the tunnel and climbing over the fence he ran back to the castle.
There were the first signs of life from people on a Saturday going down for breakfast. James bypassed the great hall and ran back to the tower.
He got to the portrait.
"Oh, there you are." She said. "Woods been looking everywhere for you."
"Has he?" asked James. The portrait nodded.
"He always gets the whole team together to eat breakfast and go over tactics and plays." She said, "I thought you knew that." Now she mentioned it, James could remember Wood doing that last year with the team, he hit his head.
"Sorry, I went out for a run."
"It's not me you should be saying sorry to." She said. "He's inside waiting for you." The door opened and James ran in.
"Potter, there you are!" he barked. "Where the hell have you been, we've been waiting for you."
"I went for a run." Said James taking off his hat and ruffling his hair. "I needed some air."
"Well get your stuff together, we have to get going." He said, "Be down in five minutes." James nodded and ran up the boy's staircase and banged the door open. Sirius looked up from his bed.
"What the fuck are you doing?" he groaned while pulling to duvet over his head.
"Getting my Quidditch things." Said James pulling his bag from underneath his bag and checking all his stuff was there. He pulled it over his shoulder.
"Make sure your down there later." He said. "I need to have breakfast with the team." Even though he felt sick at the thought of eating.
"Yeah, yeah, fine." Said Sirius, he looked around the dorm. "Where's Remus and sprout?"
"Probably already in the great hall." Said James now changing his t-shirt while spraying deodorant. "Remus said he was helping him with history of magic. Right, see you down there mate." James ran to the door.
"Good luck mate." Said Sirius relaxing into his bed. "Not that you'll need it, you'll do great." James stopped and turned round to face him.
"Yu, you think so…"
"Sure." He said yawing. "Now go, I want five more minutes." He rolled over and James slowly walked down the stairs, a little more upbeat, if Sirius thought he would do well, well, he might just be alright.
"Come on Potter, down we go." Said Wood. While the rest of team talked on their way down to hall James was still quiet, for the only time in his life. Mainly still trying to calm the butterfly's in his stomach.
The great hall was full now, everyone talking about how the match was going to go down. When the team walked in they were met by jeers from the Slytherin table. There were a couple of chants from them that James mainly ignored, well, until his name was mentioned.
"James Potter, the boy blunder!" James's head shot to the table which roared into laughter. James went to pull out his wand but was stopped by Wood.
"Easy." He said. "There trying to goad you, if they can see that they can get under your skin easily, they control you. You just have to take it, and deal revenge on the pitch later. Got it." James looked over at the table and narrowed his eyes.
"Fine." He said shortly. Wood sat him down and then began to place some items on a plate. James though just stared at it and didn't even want to try it.
"You have to eat something." said Wood.
"I'm not hungry." Said James.
"I know your nervous." He said. "Everyone is when they play for the first time." James didn't say anything. "But you need to eat something. You have a long day ahead, it'll be dinner time before you get to eat again. Wood didn't wait for an answer, he grabbed James's plate and began to place scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, mushroom and tomatoes on his plate along with potatoes and placed it in front of James.
"You're starting on the bench if you don't eat all that." He said. James picked up his knife and fork and began to eat.
After breakfast the team made its way to ground with the applause and cheers of their table, and then the jeers of the Slytherin's. Wood led them down to the stadium which now had the flags up for the big game.
They walked to the stadium players entrance, they walked down the corridor to the changing room which had the Gryffindor symbol on the door. On the right hand side of the room were wooden benches that where underneath small windows. On the left was a big chalk board with a Quidditch pitch already inked on. The other players sat underneath the same spots they presumably had last year, the only one left for James was in the centre of the room where his jersey was waiting for him.
POTTER
6
James stared transfixed at the jersey. He had completely forgotten that he would get this shirt, and they even had his number on the back of it.
"Hope you like it pal." Said Wood slapping him on the back. "That's yours now."
"Thanks Wood," said James, "I don't know what to say."
"You've already said it." said Wood. "Now get your training kit on. We need to go warm up. I'll be out in a few minutes." James stood transfixed on the shirt and ran his hand over the soft material. It hadn't really felt real until this moment, it was always a thing that was just a few months away. He breathed deeply and walked over to where the shirt was and sat down underneath it opening his bag. He changed into his training gear and pulled out the Auror boots his dad gave him.
"Cool boots mate." Joe Drummond, a tall fifth year with shaggy blonde hair and one of the beaters came up to him and inspected it for himself. "Not like my boots." He said. "What make are they, there light as."
"My dad made them." said James, he knew they would definitely be illegal.
"Ay, you'll have to get him to make me a pair." He said walking over to his own shirt. James placed them on and they clicked into place. He then pulled on his training shirt, Maroon with black stripes under the armpits, and walked to the training pitch with the rest of the team while Wood wrote down tactics on the chalkboard. James picked up his new broom and walked with the team out to the pitch.
Like before, his footsteps echoed around the stadium and there was still no sight at the end of the tunnel. Just a white light. When he walked out the stadium wasn't full but there were a few people hanging up banners around the stadium. But one caught his eye that was being charmed up by his friends.
James Potter: Boy Wonder!
"Come on Potter, let's start on this drill before Wood busts our balls." Called Rhys Williams, another fourth year with short brown hair and the other chaser on the side. James smiled as Dorcas instructed Sirius who was charming it up. He then looked over at the Slytherin side and saw another banner with his name on it.
James Potter: Boy Blunder!
James heart sank a little again. There just goading you he said to himself, you'll show them, just you see. He went and picked up a quaffle and started to practice throwing it around.
"Come on Lily!" Dorcas shouted pulling back the curtains. The sun shone over Lily who hid under the covers groaning. This was happening way too often for her liking. She could feel Horatio hiss in disapproval to. At least he loved his sleep to thought Lily.
"Come on sleepy head, it's time to Quidditch!" Dorcas jumped on Lily's bed and then up and down on it. Horatio hissed again and jumped off the bed.
"Go away!" she said, "I helped with that stupid Banner and that's my dew!"
"No, you have to come see it!" said Dorcas. "You promised, one match a year."
"I did, last year." Said Lily moodily.
"School year." Dorcas corrected. "Come on, Its James's debut, we have to cheer him on! The whole school and more is gonna be there!"
Lily was getting annoyed of the jumping on her bed. When Dorcas landed she swung her foot and tripped her up causing her to scream and fall backwards on the bed. As Dorcas looked up Lily rose to. Her hair frayed and array.
"I was planning, on reading!" she said in a low and dangerous voice.
"You promised." Said Dorcas, "Besides, I think James would want you there anyway." Lily sighed and ran her hands in her hair in a fruitful attempt to tame it someway.
"Fine!" She said getting up and grabbing clothes in a huff. "He better steal me a butter beer for this!" Lily showered and changed and went down with Dorcas for breakfast where the team was already eating. Lily looked over at Potter, he had a vacant stare on his face as he ate his breakfast.
"There she is!" Lily snapped out and saw Dorcas with Mary Marlene and Sarah. "Finally got out the shower then."
"Had to tame this." Said Lily pulling on her hair. She sat down and filled her plate with full English and tucked in ravenously. The post came in and dropped a paper in front of Lily who paid the owl and thanked it through a mouthful of bacon and eggs.
She rolled out the front page and saw the headline.
More deaths in Transylvania! Has Dracula returned!
Full analysis inside!
Lily opened the paper and began reading, only to have it promptly snapped it shut.
"What!" she turned angrily to Dorcas.
"You have to get into the mood Lily." said Dorcas with a smirk. "No reading until the matches over." Lily went to protest but thought against it. And mainly because the room erupted into a mixture of applause of jeering. Lily turned and looked at Potter who still looked ahead with a steely stare.
"He looks up for it." said Marlene. "The jeering didn't affect him." Lily frowned slightly.
"He looked nervous." Said Lily.
"Nervous, come of it Lily, he wasn't nervous." Said Dorcas. "He never gets nervous."
Lily watched as he walked out the door. He was nervous, there was something in that stare, something said he wasn't as confident as he usually was. In all the time she knew him he would relish in the acclaim he was getting, except this time. This was definitely different, maybe it rooted deeper into his childhood.
Lily went back to her breakfast while the others talked Quidditch, eventually joined by Sirius and the rest of the boys.
"Was James alright this morning?" Dorcas asked.
"Seemed to be when he got his stuff." Said Sirius. "Why?"
"Lily seemed to think that he was nervous." Said Sarah.
"Pfft, James, nervous?" asked Sirius. "No, James never gets nervous."
"See, told you." said Dorcas. "He was just in zone."
"Sure." Said Lily as shovelled the last of her scrambled eggs into her mouth. "Because James Potter is invincible and doesn't get nervous when the whole schools eyes are on him."
"That's right." Said Sirius. "Glad you get the picture."
"Come on." Said Dorcas patting her on the shoulder. "We have to put up the banner."
"But I haven't finished my tea yet," said Lily.
"You can get some down there." Said Dorcas. Lily huffed and put her baker boy hat on before walking out with Dorcas. "Come on Sirius, we need you to."
"I'm having-" Lily turned on her heel and pointed her wand at him.
"Leviosa!" Sirius's sausages sandwich flew out his hand. Lily swished her wand and it flew straight into his face.
The stadium was staring the fill up slowly as James was going through his drills. Wood came out and was watching the chasers go through their passing and shooting drills. James could afford a quick look around the stadium and see more banners from Quidditch stars past and present.
But it was his that he could see with his friends behind it watching and talking. Although from down here and from the arena filling up they looked like ants. James went back to his drills, earning applause every time he scored, and then jeers from the Slytherin's when he did.
"Ok team! Let's get started." Wood led them back into the tunnel to thunderous applause from the entire stadium, as the Slytherin's where going in to. The light disappeared into the dark tunnel as James saw the partially empty stadium for the last time. There were no words spoken between the teams as they branched off to the changing rooms.
"Hey, Wood." Wood looked round and saw Alec Potter standing there with Katherine. "I know you have your preparations, but do you mind if I wish James luck. It is his first game after all."
"For you Alec, anything, two minutes enough?"
"Plenty." He said. James breathed deeply as the team walked in. Wood closed the door behind him leaving them alone in the dark tunnel.
"Well, I said third year, looks like you got here a year early."
"What are you doing here?" Said James. Alec laughed and ruffled his hair.
"We weren't going to miss your first game for Gryffindor." He said, "Are you mad?"
"You look so good sweetheart." His mum came up and hugged him. James replied it weakly.
"Thanks." He said.
"You could sound a little more enthusiastic." She said. "I thought you'd be bouncing against the walls with excitement."
"Just concentrating on the actual game aren't you mate." Said Alec.
"Yeah, yeah I am." Said James.
"Well, best not keep you." said Alec. "Or Wood will have your head. Good luck."
"Good luck sweetheart." Said Katherine hugging him again. "Or, Boy Wonder."
"What?"
"We saw the banner." Said Alec. "Well, looks like you have a rep to live up to."
"Yeah…" Said James. "I'll see you after, yeah?"
"Of course." His mum said. "Good luck." They walked away to their seats leaving James alone in the tunnel.
The stadium was now filling up nicely. She looked over at some of the older years who were banging on the back of the stand.
Dum, dum, dumdumdudm dumdumdudum. "LIONS!"
Lily was sure she could sneak out before anyone noticed she'd gone. Dorcas was acting like a mad woman, Lily didn't really realise how much this meant to her. But quite frankly a good book was better than this so called 'electric atmosphere.'
"I need the toilet." Said Lily.
"But the game's about to start." Said Dorcas.
"I'll be quick." Said Lily. "See you in a sec!" Lily got from her seat. Fully intending on going back to her dorm and reading her paper and her book. She walked out of the building back towards the castle. She was then disturbed by a deep breath. She turned and saw Potter pacing outside the players entrance, he was dressed in his Quidditch uniform but not his jersey.
"Potter?" His head turned to her and his gaze softened.
"Oh, hey Evans." He said, running his fingers through his hair. Lily frowned slightly, if he just ruffled it the other side…
"What are you doing here?" asked James.
"On my way back to the castle." Said Lily. "Quidditch isn't my thing."
"Oh…right." Said James studying her feet. He looked almost defeated before he had even begun.
"Are you ok?" asked Lily.
"Me?" Lily nodded.
"I'm fine, absolutely fine." He said with a nervous laugh and ruffling his hair. Lily raised an eyebrow. James looked back appalled at her.
"You doubt this?" Lily gave him a sympathetic look.
"Potter, I know where not exactly best of friends." She said, "But you can tell me when things aren't ok, you never know, maybe I can help."
"There's nothing wrong with me." He said through gritted teeth. Lily again raised her eyebrow.
"Potter, I can see you are not alright." Said Lily, "Normally you would be revelling in this and you haven't been, which can only mean one thing!"
"Oh yeah, what's that!" he said loudly.
"You're afraid of something." said Lily. "You're afraid of slipping up." James stood motionless, an unreadable expression his face.
"No I'm, not." He said quietly.
"Potter."
"Ok, fine!" he snapped, "Am I scared, yes, I am fucking shitting myself, because I've got one half of the school waiting for something incredible, and the other half waiting for me to screw up! And I don't know what to do!" he sat down on the floor and buried his head into his knees.
Lily stood shocked in front of him for a second. The great James Potter admitting he was scared of screwing up, part of her should have been taking the piss for this. But, against all odds, she smiled. She walked over and kneeled down next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't you feel better now? Asked Lily. James looked up at her.
"A little." He said. "But I'm still nervous."
"You're not going to screw up." Said Lily. James looked up at her. "Potter, you've been training for this for over a year, you've trained in this stadium, what's different?"
"It's full." Said James. "And this is the biggest game of the year. He shook his head. "And if I lose it, no one will ever let me forget it." Lily shook her head; he really was a stubborn git.
"Do you know how I know you'll do something incredible?" She asked. James shook his head.
"Because you are incredible." James really did look at her confused now.
"What?"
"I've seen you fly." Said Lily. "You are good. You can do things that, really still make my mind boggle."
"Really?"
"Yeah." Said Lily. "You have always had self-confidence, and now, this is biggest stage in the world for you to show off. Because you are a show off." Potter nodded his head.
"So come on, on your feet." Lily helped pull him up and started to bat his shoulders of all the dirt. "Now, go out there and do something incredible. Like I know you can." James nodded his head.
"Why do you believe in me so much?" asked James. Lily shrugged her shoulders.
"I suppose after what happened with Murdoch. I really do know you can do anything." Said Lily. "All that's left now is for them to know that." She said pointing to the stadium that was behind them.
"Thanks Evans." He said. "Going to wish me luck?" Lily smiled shyly. Before she knew what she was doing she hugged him. He didn't respond straight away, but as soon as he did she pulled away and then ran away from the stadium. "Good luck!" she called back.
Something vastly bigger than himself swelled up inside him and then went to his extremities. He now felt invincible, like he could do anything. He vaguely watched the red blob of Lily Evans go back into the stadium if she thought he could do it, then…
"We're the red and gold army! We're the red and gold army! We're the red and gold army!"
James looked back to the stadium, it was ready for him to do something incredible. James smirked in the corner of his mouth and stormed back into the changing room.
"Right Potter. Ready have mummy and daddy told you can have a galleon for every goal?" asked Wood.
"No." he said. "A go on Drummond's sister every time I score." The changing rom roared in laughter and James went to his new jersey and pulled it off the hanger. Wood went through the team talk while James began to put on his armour. He put on his chest plate and then his jersey.
"Right, remember, chasers, triangles, let's get those passes crisp and precise, and let's get some bloody shots away to. We have a good crowd today, more than Hogwarts. Let's go out there and put on a show.
"BROOHAH!"
"BROOHAH!" the team shouted and they walked out into the tunnel. James stood on the right hand side with Abbey Richards in front of him, thee attractive seeker from the year above in front of him, her rose scented perfume filling up his nostrils.
The noise from the crowd was muffled but incredibly loud, with the rafters above them almost shaking. In the almost pitch black tunnel it created a great atmosphere.
The Slytherin's came out as well and stood next to each other. They all breathed deeply, once again, no talking or sounds. They were swiftly joined by Madam Hooch.
"Mount." James did and looked at the dazzling light at the end of the tunnel. This was it, this was the moment, one that his dad had talked to him about.
"What's it like flying out onto the pitch for the first time?" asked a young James to his dad.
"Ah, see, that, is the one you can never replicate." Explained Alec. "You wait in that dark tunnel and the whole ground is shaking above you. You then mount your broom and you fly out of the tunnel into the most incredible sight in the world."
James kicked up and they hovered in the tunnel, James took a deep breath and they began to fly out.
"What is it?" asked James.
"A huge wall of red." Said Alec. "That you have to swerve to avoid. There's a name for it you know."
The tunnel came closer and closer, the noise becoming more and more unbearable.
"What's it called?"
Alec Smirked.
James flew out the tunnel. The light from the outside momentarily blinding him.
"Into the red."
The noise that greeted him was deafening. James was caught in awe of the biggest wall of red he had ever seen in his life. People waving scarfs and shouting and cheering. James had to swerve to avoid the wall of noise it was that close to the pitch. James hovered above the stadium with the other chasers as everyone got into their positions.
Match 1: Gryffindor Vs Slytherin
Hogwarts Stadium
Attendance 5,347
Gryffindor vs Slytherin
1: M. Wood 1: G. Thomas
2: J. Drummond 2: M. Morris
3: D. Davis 3: D. Jones
4: R. Williams 4: J. Johnson
5: P. O'Riely 5: T. Flint
6: J. Potter 6: L. Hammond
7: A. Richards 7: L. Malfoy
After they called out the names of the players (His name getting a really good ovation.) Madam Hooch was in the centre of the field and released the bludgers. Next, the snitch which fluttered in the air then disappeared from view. Next, the quaffle. James waited patiently on the left hand side of the chaser pack three.
Madam Hooch threw it up into the air, Flint and O'Riely snapped straight into the game and went for the quaffle. O'Riely got there first and quickly threw it over to James.
As soon as he caught he could feel that anticipation around him. Whatever he did next, was going to define him as a player for the rest of his school days.
Two Slytherin players closed in on him. He felt a small flurry of nerves, James gritted his teeth and felt it sink away as he turned. The two players closed in more, and James then threw it over their heads, turned sharply again and dived under them. Easily catching it on the other side.
It was met by wild applause and cheering as James offloaded to O'Riely again who shot for goal.
And scored.
Most of the stadium erupted. O'Riely came over and patted James on the back.
"Good turn back there. That was incredible!"
"Cheers." Said James. Although he wasn't sure whether O'Riely could hear him over the noise.
"We love you! We love you! We Love you!
And everywhere we follow, we follow, we follow!
Cause we support Gryffindor! Gryffindor! Gryffindor!
And that's the way we like it! We like it! We like it!"
"OHHHHHHHHH! WHOAAAAAAAAAAOHHHHHHHHHH WHOAAAAAAAAAAAAOHHHHHHHH! WHOAAAAAAAAAAAAOHHHHHHHH!"
The goal keeper got the quaffle and passed the quaffle out to the right hand chaser, Jack Johnson. A fifth year that was on a Comet 240. He sped off down the line but was easily intercepted by Rhys who threw the ball over to James who dodged a bludger and then pass it back to O'Riely
O'Riely moved the quaffle out wide to Rhys who attacked down the right wing. He swerved a bludger and passed to O'Riely who passed to James who was inside his own half. James held onto his broom tight and sped off towards the posts.
Past one with a dummy.
Dodged another bludger.
Past the beater who aimed said bludger.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Rhys who was in acres of space at the back hoop. But the way James saw it was the back hoop was unguarded. His mind went from setting up another goal to get one myself. Tyrone Flint then came across to tackle him.
"Got you now, boy blunder!" James smirked. He cut inside to almost go head to head with him which brought gasps from the crowd. James went to feign the pass. Flint went to intercept, but James then jumped onto his broom and jumped high.
Flint completely missed him and he was now mid-flight with the quaffle in his hand. He saw that back hoop completely free. James threw the quaffle with all his might and could only watch with the rest of the stadium as it soared towards the goal. The keeper moved across her broom to try and get it. James's heart was in mouth as it curled in the air, missed her hand, hit the hoop…
And fell through.
The cheering that followed the ding was the biggest James had heard yet. He landed on his broom and punched the air.
His first goal.
His first goal for Gryffindor, and the stadium erupted like a volcano. A euphoria like nothing he had ever felt, he just wanted to fly and fly and fly until he ached.
It was better than anything he had ever experienced in his life.
"Here's to you, mighty red'n'gold, Hogwarts loves you more than you will know! OHHHHHHHHH!"
When his team mates finally let him go he looked up at the huge wall of red before him and gave them a salute that they cheered.
"POTTER! POTTER! POTTER!" rang around the stadium. James had to be shouted at the get back in position on the left wing. The smile from his face refusing to go away.
"Williams to left of me, Potter to the right, here I am! Stuck in the middle O'Riely!"
"That was good wasn't it?" said Katherine bumping into Alec was watching the game intently.
"Alec…I'm talking to you." she said in a sing song voice.
"That bloody show off." He muttered. Katherine laughed.
"I remember you doing something quite like that in your youth." Said Katherine calming down. "For god's sake just say it was a very good piece of skill and that you are proud."
"But he could off-"
"Alec, he's set up three already, he deserves a goal at least."
"Yeah but." Katherine curled up next to him, silencing him.
"Dumbledore, give us a wave! Dumbledore, Dumbledore give us a wave!
Dumbledore, give us a wave! Dumbledore, Dumbledore give us a wave!"
The headmaster smiled and waved back, making the Gryffindor crowd cheer loudly and clap.
"Doesn't he look so grown up?" Katherine asked as James zoomed around.
"Yeah." Said Alec holding her hand as he zoomed round the pitch, and laying off another goal. "He does." Katherine looked at her husband's face. A sad sort of longing on his handsome features.
"Harriet would have been a good player to." Said Katherine, after all these years of marriage she could tell when his mind wondered to her.
"Seeker?" asked Alec looking down at her.
"Yeah." Said Katherine.
The game was almost passing James like a blur, he didn't know if he'd been out here for minutes or hours.
It was just so much fun, he didn't know why he was so nervous to begin with, he never ever wanted to end.
Especially since he just beat Tyrone Flint with another great piece of skill. He was pulled back by his hood cynically and fell off his broom onto the floor. Madam Hooch blew her whistle for the foul.
"He's just too good for you! He's just too good for you! He's too good for you! He's just too good for you!"
James smiled to himself, he liked that chant. He helped up to his feet and kicked off his broom again.
"He's just too good for you! He's just too good for you! He's too good for you! He's just too good for you!"
"Keep that up mate!" O'Riely said. The crowd then gasped in unison.
James stopped and watched as Abbey Richards and Lucius Malfoy descended into dives, clearly gaging where the snitch was. James wanted to watch it unfold, but was brought out of it when he was thrown the quaffle. He sped up the wing again, doing a one two with O'Riely before throwing it back post for Rhys who punched it into the nearest hoop.
James looked back to see Abbey and Malfoy still fighting it out. Abbey then pulled up sharply and the doubled back on herself and sped along the floor. Just as Lucius had realised he'd been had Abbey rose victoriously with the snitch firmly in her hand. The Gryffindor part of the stand erupted as the extra hundred and fifty points where added to the score.
James punched the air and saw the crushing feeling of defeat on the faces of the Slytherin's James felt hugs from almost everyone. He looked over at his banner where all his friends were cheering him.
"WHOA WHOA WHOA He's magic! You knowwwwwwww! Never believe it's not sooooooooo!"
But amongst the sea of red and gold only one thing stood out to him, Evans…her red hair standing out above everything else to him… She was cheering and clapping her hands and must of saw him staring at her. She smiled and gave him a thumbs up.
If it was possible James's grin widened.
"Well done Potter." Said Wood James's attention now diverted. "Weren't out bad out there where you."
"That was amazing." Said James looking round the stadium. "I've never felt so alive."
"Well soak it in." said Wood patting him on the back. "Hopefully there will be plenty of these days yet to come." James flew off towards the banner which he had tried to avoid.
James Potter: Boy Wonder!
"Do you like it?" asked Dorcas.
"I love it." he said hugging her. "Thank you."
"You were awesome out there mate." Said Sirius, "Couldn't believe that first goal, out of this world good, I bet Flint's feeling like a right chump.
"Yeah, it was good." He looked around, there wasn't that inviting red hair that was usually with Dorcas.
"Where's Evans?" he asked.
"She went back to start on the party." Said Dorcas. "She really enjoyed it as well." James smiled and nodded. "She said you were incredible." James smiled.
"I better go get changed."
He said unable to hide his huge grin. "I'll see you there."
"Will do." Said Dorcas hugging him one last time. James flew down towards the tunnel and dismounted outside the dressing room and walked in, the rest of them cheered on his entry.
"There he is!" Danielle Davis came over, the beautiful other beater and a sixth with dark skin and hair. She was only in her Quidditch trousers and sports bra and gave him a huge hug. James returned the gesture. "You were amazing boy wonder." She said. "You should have seen Flint, he was furious."
"Stop teasing him Dani." Said Wood coming over. "He's only twelve, don't give him unrealistic standards now." Danielle winked and went back to her things.
"Look but don't touch." Wood sat next to James.
"I don't think I'd ever get the chance." Said James.
"Ha, I know you wouldn't." said Wood. James frowned.
"Are you two?" James pointed and Wood winked.
"Wow." Said James admiring Danielle's athletic body. He had to admit, he was a little jealous. "Is it good?" Wood laughed, stood up and slapped him on the back.
"Mate, if I told you, you wouldn't believe me." He walked over and slapped her arse.
"Wood!"
"You want some of that to?"
The room erupted into laughter. Danielle tried her best to look annoyed, but she then smiled. "Well who knows." She said starting to get changed. James did to. This was the best day of his life.
"Where is he?" asked Katherine. "We said he would be here?"
"Let the boy be." Said Alec. "He's just finished his first Quidditch match. He's probably still getting used to the banter in the dressing room.
"But we're his parents, he should want to come out with us." Said Katherine.
"He's becoming a teenager." Said Alec shifting his weight. "Soon, we'll become uncool and unpopular."
"Not James, surely."
"I thought it of my parents." Said Alec.
"Were different from your parent's though." Said Katherine. "God help me if I turn into your mother."
"Wouldn't of married you if you did." Said Alec looking forward. The changing room door opened and James stepped out. He called goodbye to his team mates and went towards his mum and dad.
"Hey guys."
"Boy wonder in deed." Said Katherine hugging him. "You were amazing sweetheart."
"Thanks."
"That first goal was showing off a bit though." James smirked.
"I had to do something memorable." He said. "That was adequate." Alec rolled his eyes.
"Come on, we have a table booked at the three broomsticks." Said Alec.
"But there's a party later." Said James. "And I have to-"
"A party that will be in full swing by the time you get back." Said Alec. "Trust me, nothing worse than a party that isn't in full swing."
"Really?"
"Your captain and beater haven't come out yet, so I think that they have the same idea." Said Alec.
"They said they were going over plays." Said James looking back at the stadium. Katherine smacked Alec on his shoulder.