14th October, 1971
October's moved along quickly as we've stayed busy with classes and homework. We've managed to get through mapping the first two floors of the castle, having marked off all the basic landmarks along the corridors on a couple of large sheets of parchment that Sirius kept locked in his trunk. Despite our efforts, however, to be sure we opened every door and looked in every nook and cranny, we still felt that we were missing parts of the castle. It seemed that Filch could materialise from one part of the castle to another instantly.
"Perhaps he's disapparating?" James suggested this evening as we walked across the grounds to the pitch for flying lessons.
Remus shook his head. "Bilius said there isn't any apparating on school grounds. That's why they're scheduled to practise out in Hogsmeade."
"Well bloody hell," mumbled Sirius, who had been quite excited by the idea, "How is he doing it, then?"
We all were getting pretty good at flying in our lessons on the pitch with Madam Hooch. Somehow I was the only one who came close to flying as well as James, and he thankfully encouraged what he called my "natural talent". I was happy to finally surpass Lily in something. She seemed to be the best in just about every subject and in all honesty it was quite frustrating. Professor Slughorn simply adored her, doting over every potion she brewed as though she were some sort of prodigy. All of the teachers were forever marvelling over Lily and her talents.
On the other end, James and Sirius were becoming known less for their marks and more for their talent of getting in (and out of) trouble. They were always up to some sort of no good and the teachers were endlessly keeping their eyes on them, both in and out of classes. It wasn't uncommon to be sitting in the Gryffindor common room and hear a shriek of surprise as some unfortunate soul happened upon a booby trap or a practical joke of some kind that they'd set up. One of my personal favourites had been a spell that I gave Sirius that I had found in a book, which set a little rain cloud on Peter that wouldn't stop pouring down upon him. This had been great until the counter-charm had failed to work and we had to present our tomfoolery to Professor McGonagall in order to get the rain turned off. She'd been most disapproving and had taken five points from Gryffindor for it.
The first Quidditch match of the season is a hot topic around the school at the moment. It would be between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff and there was a lot of speculation about the teams, which both had apparently been granted a new captain over the summer because the previous captains had graduated. It's going to be an exciting event, and, to triple the excitement, it's on the day before Hallowe'en, on which there is supposed to be a massive holiday feast!
30th October, 1971
Today's the day where I see my first Quidditch match! I'm so excited I can barely contain myself! But I had to because I was shivering due to the rainy weather. The boys and I bundled up to brace ourselves against the cold, refusing to miss the match over a spot of poor weather. Seems like we weren't the only ones to brave it, either, it seemed most of the school was trooping down to the pitch in their galoshes and rain jackets. James asked me to help him cast the Impervious Charm to keep rain from getting on his trademark maroon and gold trainers.
Despite the rain, the stands were alive with anticipation. I was happy to see that Sirius had saved a box of Bertie Botts' for us to share in the stands while we waited for the game to begin. The boys and I laughed and swapped beans with each other, daring each other to eat the ones that looked like they'd taste nasty. I was starting to get antsy and quite bored after Peter refused to eat another one of the nasty beans no matter how many triple-hippogriff-dare-yous we issued him, when there came a ripple of excitement all around me.
Madam Hooch had stepped onto the pitch below… the doors to the locker rooms were opening up… and there came the Hufflepuff team… and then the Gryffindors…
"Welcome everyone to the first match of the '71-'72 Hogwarts House Championship Quidditch Season!" The commentator was a Ravenclaw fourth year named Oskar. I recognised him as he was one of the people that had stopped us to oogle over James while we were mapping the first floor corridors. "We begin this season with a match between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor!" A considerable applause went up for each of the houses, though the Slytherins booed mightily for the Gryffindor team and nobody had booed for Hufflepuff.
"Gits," I muttered, scowling toward the little huddle of green and silver at the end of the pitch.
"New captains Wally Jones and Derek Bell approach one another for the customary handshake… and the snitch is released! We're off!" Oskar's voice picked up with excitement as he offered up a play-by-play of the action,
James and Sirius immediately leaped about on the stands, shouting maniacally at the players, waving their arms in glee. I myself resisted the urge to join them, but I was shaking with excitement. Derek Bell was fantastic as a chaser, moving with speed among the other players in his scarlet Quidditch robes. "Bell with the quaffle," said Oskar's magically magnified voice over the pitch's full stands, "Dodges Jasper Kensington's bludger, round to keeper, Jones…. Shoots and… he SCORES! Ten to zero, Gryffindor!"
We all went wild as Derek's throw went through the gold hoop at the end of the pitch, and James did a sort of jig in his seat. Even Lily and Alice, who were sitting at the far end of the row we were in, seemed impressed and clapped for Derek's good job done.
I smiled at James, who was happier than I think I'd ever seen him before. "Just think, mate, next year it'll be you that's the star they're all clapping for." James laughed and hugged me.
Sirius chimed in as well, "You'll be the star of the Quidditch team, and you'll have the girls queuing up to be round you in no time. Anybody looking to be with you ought to have a go at it now, while you're still available!"
I looked back to Lily, who had sniffed and turned away.
"Bloody hell, Sirius," laughed James, "What're you going on about? I'd give 'em all a shot, if they'd have me," he said, side-eyeing Lily, who, although she'd turned away, I could tell was still listening.
"Maybe we could hold a lottery," Sirius said, "Like the muggles do with their pounds… only instead of galleons you'd be the prize."
I giggled, sticking my tongue out playfully, "I wouldn't even pay a knut!" I received a light shove from the bespectacled boy and laughed even harder.
Oskar's voice broke over us, ending the conversation. "Rowling blocks Roekby's attempt at the quaffle… it goes back to Bell… to Weasley… off to Bones… quaffle's in Hufflepuff's possession now. Bones with the quaffle… down the bitch… aims… Rowling dives but Bones scores! Tied game!"
"Damn!" shouted Sirius.
"Watch your tongue, Mister Black," came Professor McGonagall's voice from behind us, making all five of us jump in surprise, having not realised that she was so close at hand… directly behind us, to be exact!
The game's action only picked up as the quaffle moved about the pitch from player to player. Bilius Weasley scored and the Slytherins booed loudly, a cry led by the pale-faced Lucius Malfoy, which angered me to no end. He yelled something that set Bilius off and Derek Bell had to hold Bilius back from marching off the pitch into the stands to clobber Malfoy.
"T'aint worth it, mate," I heard Derek shouting at Bilius.
The score was climbing steadily, though, despite Slytherin's nasty attitude, and soon the game was 110-90, Gryffindor only just holding onto the lead throughout. It was then that I spotted it - the golden snitch, hovering nearby, seeming to watch the game itself from a high vantage point. The rain made it damn near impossible to see it, as the sun wasn't reflected off its gold, but I'm certain at what I saw. "There's the snitch," I said to James, pointing, but not even James could see it. Neither, it seemed, could either of the seekers.
It was mighty frustrating for me, because it was almost close enough for me to grab!
"Blimey, why can't they see that thing, it's right there!" I shouted as the seekers zipped about, searching without seeing.
"I think you're the only one that can," Remus said, squinting in the direction I was frantically pointing.
I was more astounded that James couldn't see it either. "There… right there" I said, "By Tinnamin's shoe! OI! TINNAMIN!" I shouted, waving at the snitch with all my might.
The seventh year seeker for Gryffindor's team, Andy Tinnamin seemed to only just hear my shout over the pounding rain and he looked over, as if trying to spot it. I was pointing as frantically as I could. Tinnamin looked down and finally seemed to see it! With a dive that blew all of our minds, Tinnamin shot forward and snatched the snitch up in his palms faster than you could say the word Quidditch.
"I don't believe it!" yelled Oskar, "I don't believe it! Gryffindor wins with the snitch 260-90! Good try, Hufflepuff!"
The crowd went wild and we were chanting the Gryffindor seeker's name with enthusiasm. James hissed in my ear "Let's go," I saw he was looking at Professor McGonagall, and her expression was torn between anger that I had interfered and thankful that I had.
I nodded "Yes, let's, before she decides how she feels about this all." I nudged Remus and the five of us slipped away from the stands before McGonagall could turn on us for me pointing out the snitch to Tinnamin.
Later that night, the common room was abuzz with excitement, even after everyone had started to settle down and relax for the night. The five of us were laying on the carpet in front of the fire doing our revisions when Derek, Bilius, Andy, and the other players of the Gryffindor team came in through the portrait hole. Bilius carried a bag stuffed with sweets and treats from the kitchens, a bottle of butterbeer in his fist, and a grin on his face as he waved his arms about excitedly for everyone to see. "Hey all, snacks on the Gryffindor win!" he shouted as the whole house leaped back into excited action around him, collecting treats and butterbeers from the sack as though he were Father Christmas or something. "To Tinnamin!" shouted Bilius excitedly, cheersing to Andy.
Andy raised his bottle, but before taking a sip he said, "Really we owe it all to this one here!" he pointed right at me and my cheeks felt hot.
"To Stratford?" Derek asked in surprise as half the room turned to look at me.
"I hadn't seen the snitch and she spotted it from the stands and shouted and pointed it out to me," Tinnamin explained, turning and raising his glass to me instead. "To you, Stratford."
"To Stratford!" Bilius called out. Everyone who had grabbed a butterbeer already shouted 'here, here!' and the four boys grinned at me, miming lifting a glass with their empty hands.
"Ruddy good job, Stratford!" Derek exclaimed proudly.
Andy grinned. "Reckon you have a shot at replacing me next year, even," he said, winking at me. My stomach churned. Could I really have a shot on the Quidditch team? It seemed like all the talent in our year had been given to James.
The players were submerged in excited Gryffindors collecting their snacks and shouting congrats to them and thanking me. James elbowed me playfully, "You better not steal my spot on the team next year," I stuck my tongue out at him.
