New Chapter. Big thank you to Jannice Sace for her review and CelticFire89 for the lovely message about the story.

Chapter 37:

Lily had not seen James or Sirius to warn them that night and so she had hoped to catch them at some point during the day but they seemed to be rushing around crazily. They barely even sat still in lessons let alone the rest of the time. She had tried desperately to talk Snape out of participating in the attack. He had smiled at her, "it's not me, it's the others. I'm not involved. I'm just trying to protect you."

Lily nodded, "Ok. Can't you talk them out of it?"

"I've tried," Snape replied honestly, he was tired of lying to his best friend.

"Ok," Lily nodded again before walking away.

Professor Bartlet nodded at James and Sirius in the corridor, "you better get that essay on Cornish pixies on my desk before Monday boys. It's already late. I don't want to spend my week off waiting for your essays."

"Yes professor, we'll do it tonight," James replied. He was looking forward to the half term break. He had a lot of homework to do but he wasn't planning on doing any of it over the holiday. Instead he had every intention to get the map finished. That was until Remus informed them that his mother was sick again and so he would have to go home after the Quidditch match on Saturday. Sirius had looked suspiciously at James, "don't you find it a little bit strange that Remus' mum is always sick yet she looked ridiculously healthy at the funeral?"

"Erm," James didn't know what to say.

"I just think it's weird is all," Sirius shook his head.

James and Sirius made their way down to breakfast on Saturday morning. They had barely slept and were yarning heavily as they sat beside their friends. Sirius piled his plate with food as James stretched, "I'm so tired."

"I know man," Sirius replied.

A couple pretty girls came up to the two marauders. They smiled happily at James and Sirius, "make sure you win boys and we might just make it worth your while…" the girls winked before turning around and sauntering back to their friends at the other end of the table. Lily made a disapproving sound from a few seats away. "Jealous, Evans?"

"Nah of course not," Lily blushed.

"Did that really just happen?" James asked Sirius.

"Yeah man, it did!" Sirius replied, "We're famous!"

James and Sirius burst out laughing, "come on Mr Celebrity, we better get down there before Astrix kills us."

Sirius looked at his pocket watch, "shit, yeah we should."

The team dressed quickly, before waiting for Astrix's pep talk, "ok – guys we've worked hard preparing for this. None of the other teams have put in anywhere near the hours we have. None of them are anywhere near as talented as us. Plain and simple we're just better alright? I know we have this in the bag! Do I need to say more than that?"

There was a murmur of excitement as they all stood to their feet and made their way out onto the pitch. James looked up at the stands. Half of the stands were a beautiful array of gold and red whilst the other side of the stand looked remarkably similar to a bumblebee with the yellow and black Hufflepuff colours. The slytherins were all supporting Hufflepuff whilst the Ravenclaws were divided amongst the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors. Everyone was whispering excitedly because Dumbledore had chosen to attend the opening game of the season.

Madame Hooch asked the captains to shake hands. Amos Diggory shook hands with Astrix, commenting friendlily on the weather. Astrix nodded in agreement, "the weather conditions are perfect aren't they?"

Soon they were all in the air. James tried to stay focused on the game. There was little point thinking about the attack until it happened. The commentator was a Gryffindor, "the Gryffindor team have a few additions to their team today. First there is the new beater – Sirius Black – Calloway himself says that he feels like he's been playing with Black for years instead of weeks, they know eachother so well. Hopefully, the strength of the beaters relationship will help them defend the rest of the team. There are also two new chasers; Renee Arteage (fourth year) and James Potter (second year). James Potter has been described by the team's captain, Astrix Alixate as the team's secret weapon. According to Nixon, the team's keeper, he is superb. I've watched several practices and I have to say this year's team is very tight; they work well together and stand a fantastic chance at winning the Quidditch Cup this year. Today should be a bit of a walk in the park for them…"

The commentator took a deep breath, "ladies man, Black – said to be dating Louise Mitchell – flings the bludger at you got it Louise Mitchell, fourth year Hufflepuff and chaser. Mitchell drops the quaffle. Arteage in possession, passes to Potter, passes to Keeney who scores. Ten points to Gryffindor." The stands erupted. "Hufflepuff in possession, pass to… Potter intercepts, nice one Potter. Potter passes to Keeney, who passes back to Potter, Potter shoots, Potter scores." James intercepted the Hufflepuff chasers several times. Gryffindor already had fifty points and the match had only been going for fifteen minutes when James first saw the black cloaked individuals on the ground below. He chose to ignore them, scoring another goal. He was almost hit by a bludger, but swerved slightly to miss it. The Slytherins on the ground below pointed their wands. James quietly placed a protective charm around himself. He saw Sirius do the same, before continuing to pass the quaffle to Arteage. She scored. They continued to fly across the pitch scoring another couple of goals before a blast of bright red light hit James across the face. He could taste blood. His protective spell was struggling now. Suddenly his broom began to jerk. He tried to regain control of the broom but nothing he did helped. He fell slightly and gripped his broom with one hand; desperately trying to regain his balance. Something in the distance caught his eye. Both bludgers were whirling towards him.

Sirius and Calloway made their way towards him in an attempt to protect him from the bludgers' onslaught but they kept coming back, "they've been bewitched," Calloway called out.

Everyone was watching now. Astrix was about to call timeout when he saw it; the golden snitch. He quickly dove. "What's going on? This is absolutely mental." The commentator was saying. There was screaming from the stands as the Slytherins tried to attack the muggle-borns. The teachers quickly disarmed them and pulled them out of the stands and up to the castle, leaving Dumbledore to deal with the second years on the pitch. "I – I think Astrix has seen the snitch!" The commentator practically shouted, "He has, he has. Diggory is on his tail. But wait, has he got it?" Alixate raised his arm into the air, just as one of the bludgers got past Calloway and Sirius and pummelled into James' face. There were more screams from the stands as they watched James fall from his broom. "Alixate has the golden snitch. The game is over; Gryffindor 220, Hufflepuff 30. What the fuck?"

Everyone watched as James fell from his broom. His fall seemed to go on forever. Dumbledore pulled out his wand and slowed his discent until he stopped a few inches off the floor. Dumbledore walked out onto the pitch and made his way over to the Slytherins. Their faces were covered with masks, "get to my office now! I know who you are so do not think that you will get away with this."

The Slytherins rushed up to the castle. A crowd was gathering around an unconscious James. "Give the boy some space," Madame Pomfrey was telling them.

"Poppy, will he be ok?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes Albus, I believe so. I'm going to take him up to the castle now. He should rest for a few days. He's still out cold. The bludger broke a few bones including his nose and he'll have concussion but he'll be fine."

"Good," Albus smiled.

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