Chapter 35
"And the Quaffle has been released and the two teams are off!"
Joe had to shout to be heard over the screaming. It was always the same with the first Quidditch match of the season. Oh how he loved Quidditch days. Being the commentator was the next best thing to being on the team. Besides he couldn't fly not like the team.
"Adrian Dixon has the Quaffle. He passes Potter, Ddraig sends a Bludger he dodges it. He's still in possession as he flies passed Amanda Dixon. Wood aims a bludger and dislodges it from his hands. But Regulus Black has caught it. The only thing between him and a goal is his brother Gryffindor Keeper Sirius Black. Regulus takes aim and it's in."
Joe clicked the button and ten points went up against the Slytherin name as screams of joy went up around the stadium. He hated it when people scored against Gryffindor; he hated having to commentate on it. This was his team and already they were losing.
"Owen has the ball for Gryffindor. She's passed Lestrange, gone under Black and Dixon has been passed the ball. She's gone passed her brother, but Avery hits a Bludger at it. Nice roll Amanda! The ball is in Potter's hands and he shots and Snodgrass catches it. He passes it back out to Lestrange who skims off to the other end…"
Sirius dived to his left and caught the ball with his finger tips. He was annoyed, very annoyed. Twenty minutes in and he'd already let in five goals. Worse James had only managed to get one passed Snodgrass. What was wrong with them?
He threw the ball to Amanda and was amazed to see that she didn't catch it. She tried to right her mistake but Adrian had the ball. He took aim and Sirius saved it easily. A whistle was blown and Sirius could see Frank waving them upwards.
The Gryffindors went up and hovered around their captain.
"What in Merlin's name is going on?"
"We're losing Frank."
"I did happen to notice that James. Amanda head in the game is it?"
"Sorry I don't know what's wrong."
"Look we're losing. And I for one don't want to lose this game. So how's about you three get the Quaffle through the hoops over there that Snodgrass is guarding."
Sirius watched as Frank prodded Amanda, James and Jackie in the arms. He then turned his attention to him.
"And you! Don't let your brother score anymore goals."
He had hit the sour part. Regulus had scored four goals and the fifth had been by Lestrange. Sirius was determined not to allow anymore goals in.
"Longbottom seems to be jabbing his Chasers as he tells them what needs to be done. That's a sign of frustration people. Trust me, Frank only jabs when I steal the last piece of apple pie from under his nose. When he gets like that you have to react quickly. And now he's jabbing the keeper. This is a sure sign that the Gryffindor captain is unhappy with his team."
"As for the Slytherins they seem to be making the most of this time out. In fact Nott is looking for the Snitch while Lestrange and Black seem to be arguing. Yes a typical Slytherin meeting then."
Joe watched as the teams filed back into position.
"Okay and the timeout is over and the game continues. A reminder to you all that Slytherin lead fifty to ten."
"Three hours, sixteen minutes and thirty six seconds have passed since the start of this game. Slytherin lead the game on ninety to forty. There is some confusion from the Gryffindor team. Not to make excuses but this is the first time that they have lasted more than twenty minutes since the start of term. So the question on my mind now is how much longer can they hold up? Some of the players are beginning to look tired."
Joe looked ahead and felt a pang in his chest. The team were looking ragged but there was only one player looking tired and that was Amanda. He spared a glance over his shoulder and could see that McGonagall wasn't looking happy. Joe couldn't help but think that maybe they thought it too soon for the girl to be flying.
Turning back to the game he continued with his commentary.
"Amanda Dixon is passed the ball and she can't seem to keep hold of it. She's passed quickly to Potter who heads towards Snodgrass. But wait! Nott has gone into a step dive. Longbottom is close behind but… Avery sends a Bludger and blocks the way. Nott has pulled up and … I don't believe it Slytherin has the Snitch. The game is over, Slytherin win."
I just want to say a HUGE thank you to shetlandlace for pointing out the mistake of trail instead of trial in the last two chapters. I must say I'm a real idiot. I went through the next load of chapters and I would have trial written in the first line and then the one below I had trail. I really must proof read these more carefully than I have been in the past. So thank you again for that. If you hadn't pointed that out we would have had some fun in the later chapters ;D
Kris xx