Chapter 25

James dodged to the left keeping his head down as he heard the hiss of air as the bludger flew inches passed him. He didn't slow his speed as he kept going. His eyes were on the hoops he was gaining on them. Taking the Quaffle out from under his arm he aimed and watched as the ball sailed through the right hoop. He punched the air joyously before turning to fly back down the other end.

The game was turning out just the way he had planned. Gryffindor were winning, by how much he wasn't certain. He knew that he had scored at least seven now and Jackie and Amanda had had their share as well. Slytherin had managed to get a few passed Sirius but no where near as many as the Gryffindors.

Regulus was speeding towards them with the Quaffle under his left arm. James was smiling as he picked up speed and aimed his broom at the boy. A bludger came from nowhere and knocked the end of James' broom. He spun dangerously as the Slytherin passed him. He cursed as he tried to cling to the broom and right it.

He turned in time to see Sirius block the goal and the Quaffle fly into the hands of Amanda. James hurried to block Lestrange from intercepting the play. He watched the scowl on the other players face as Amanda made her way towards goal. He turned to follow and watched her back pass to Jackie as a Bludger caught her shoulder.

Even from the distance he could hear the crack. His teeth ground together as he watched his friend slump forward a little. A whistle sounded and he quickly made his way to her.

"Mand you okay?"

"What do you think?"

"Dear you need to see somebody about that."

Amanda looked at Prewett and shook her head.

"We need to win this game."

James opened his mouth to tell her to go to the ground but she'd already taken off. The man didn't look happy but it was clear that the game needed to restart.

***

Three hours in and still there was no sign of the Snitch. The game had turned dirty much earlier. James could only see from one eye after Dixon had 'accidentally' elbowed him. His glasses had been smashed but he had easily fixed them.

Amanda's shoulder seemed to be out of its joint. She had it slumped uselessly at her side. Yet she still refused to land and have it seen too. Jackie's right foot seemed at a slightly odd angle as well after Lestrange had ploughed into her. The Slytherins were targeting the Chasers to try and get them out.

James had to admit that it was a good ploy. They were out scoring the Slytherins by about a hundred points, maybe a little more. Sirius was too quick with his blocks. He had made a particularly impressive save where he had swung from his broom with only one leg holding him on.

Branwen and Kat were trying their best with the Bludgers but there was only so much they could do when the Slytherins were trying to use strength instead of balls. They had managed to stop a few dangerous looking attempts at them and had knocked the Quaffle from the opponent's hands a number of times.

The truth was that they needed Randell to find the Snitch and they needed him to do it quickly. He had improved through the practices and was pretty good at weaving between players now. But he was inexperienced. Nott had been playing the position for six years now, he was the captain. He knew what he was doing. Randell was still learning.

A whistle disrupted James and he turned to see Kat falling through the air. Branwen was diving as were Amanda and Jackie. James followed them but didn't reach her in time. Jackie's hand closed around the other girl's ankle as she tried to haul her back up. Then Branwen had her other leg and one of her arms. He watched as she was pulled up onto Branwen's broom. Sirius appeared from nowhere with the lost broom.

James approached them quickly. He pulled his broom to a stop while Kat climbed over to her own.

"What happened?"

He could see that a nasty red mark was forming on the side of the girls face. She just shook her head tears in her eyes. Branwen spoke up.

"Avery flew straight into her; hit her across the face with his bat. She's lucky she's not unconscious or bleeding."

James swore loudly.

"Okay so we pick up the speed now. I know that most of us are injured but let's bring this home okay. Randell can't take much longer now. We keep scoring and then we win the game."

***

Twenty minutes later and ten goals had been scored by the Gryffindors. It was impressive considering their states of injuries. James dropped the Quaffle into Amanda's good arm as he zoomed upwards to avoid the girl's brother. Black was coming towards the girl but a quick movement and she'd passed him. He watched as the Quaffle headed towards the hoop. Before it could pass the whistle sounded.

James swore as he looked around. But quickly he was smiling. Randell was waving his arm high in the air beaming with excitement. Cheers were sounding from the Gryffindor fans. They had won. The game was over. Thank Merlin.

***

"You're all stupid do you realise that?"

Lily had her hands on her hips as she stared down at him. James was sat on a bed next to Amanda. He had a black eye forming and it had swollen. Madam Pomfrey had covered it with some paste and insisted that he remained on the bed until she told him otherwise.

She had quickly been looking over the injuries. She seemed to think that Kat had a hairline fracture and was spending a lot of her energy on helping her. Jackie had twisted her ankle and she had quickly sorted that out while Amanda had a dislocated shoulder.

Madam Pomfrey hadn't been so happy that they had remained playing with their injuries. She didn't care that they had won the game. And it seemed Lily felt the same way.

"We're all fine. You should go back to the party with the others."

James knew that there were celebrations going on in the common room. He had sent the three players who were uninjured to go join in with the rest of the house. The four of them had been sat silently until Lily had burst in with her yelling.

"I am not going to party James. You were stupid you're the Head Boy, the Captain. You should have made them see Madam Pomfrey as soon as they were injured. What the hell were you thinking?"

"That we were beating Slytherin."

Her eyes narrowed and James gulped a little.

"Lily I'm sorry okay. Look I promise that in the next two games if anybody is injured they get treated before getting back in the air. Is that good enough for you?"

She made a face before storming out of the room. James muttered under his breath but was shocked when he heard laughter. Amanda was staring at him with a smile on her face.

"What's so funny Mand?"

"She so wants you!"

James felt his mouth drop open but no words came out…

Sorry its taken so long to post this. Some things came up over here. But hope you like it

Kris xx