Chapter XVIII: James

'Hello and welcome to the final match of the 1967 to 1968 Hogwarts Quidditch Cup!' Joe Jordan's voice roared over the crowd.  'Today's match is Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff! To beat Slytherin to the cup this year, Gryffindor need to win by a massive 300 points! They'll be pushing it, but Gryffindor have the best squad Hogwarts has seen since the defeat of Grindelwald! Here come the Gryffindors: Sirius Black! Peter Pettigrew! Lily Evans! Carmel Fudge! Frank Longbottom! Seamus Finnigan! And the Seeker and Captain: JAMES POTTER!' The half-crowd of Gryffindors and Ravenclaws began cheering.  However, nothing could be heard from that side of the pitch (Except for the odd 'boo' from Serverus Snape).  'I now call upon, Professor Albus Dumbledore to start the match!' The stadium fell silent.  Dumbledore was obviously expecting this to be the final match.  But whom is he expecting to win? Thought James.

'Mount your brooms!' Dumbledore was now in the centre of the field.  'Ready? Go!'

            'Finnigan gets the quaffle quickly! One of the Hufflepuff chasers comes up quickly behind him! Nice Dodge!'

            'JORDAN!'

            'Sorry, miss.  He passes the quaffle to Evans, Fudge and back to Finnigan – Hufflepuff keeper, John McMillan will have a hard time saving this one, Finnigan's expert speed and his Cleensweep 5 broomstick are going to be hard to…'

            'Joe, if you can't'

            'Sorry! Gryffindor Score!  Gryffindor now lead with a score of 10 to 1.  Potter is going to look for an opportunity to disable that Hufflepuff seeker.   The ball goes back into play at the centerline – And first to get the quaffle is Finnigan… Potter Dives! He looks like he's seen the snitch! The Hufflepuff seeker isn't going to fall for that one, Gryffindor still needs another One hundred and forty points to get the cup.'

***

'Nicholas, I've become aware of the activities of a certain Thomas Riddle.'

            'What are you suggesting, Albus?'

            'I believe that he is seeking the ultimate, your Philosopher's Stone.'

            'No! You have no proof!'

            'Wait and see, my friend.'

***

'The scores now stand at Gryffindor leading sixty points to ten.  Evans starts off with the quaffle! Sirius aims a bludger at McMillan! He isn't going to get past that one! The quaffle has been reposessed by Finnigan… this will be their easiest goal yet.'

            'PENALTY TO GRYFFINDOR! You can't attack the keeper when there is no imminent threat.'

            'And Hufflepuff miss the target.  The scores stand still.'

The game continued on until close to six o'clock.  Hufflepuff had kept the Gryffindors away from their target and the score progressed to 200-100.

'This game is set to be the longest in a century.  James Potter looks the most in control in the seeker division, and he should be able to make the game go at least an hour longer.  And Finnigan gets the Quaffle, and sprints down to the other end of the pitch.  He throws, and McMillan's slow refexes seem to be no match for those of Finnigan!'

***

It was coming close to Midnight.  The game had gone on for longer than any other game in Hogwarts History.  Lily told James at the Next break.  The score had finally progressed to a good target.  Gryffindor were one hundred and forty points up.

            'And welcome back! Finnigan has the Quaffle again! He brings it down to the Hufflepuff end, and… McMillan Saves! Gryffindor have just lost their best chance.'  Just then, James saw a tiny glimmer of light… he chased for it, 'Potter has seen the Snitch… hold on! Fletchley has the Quaffle! If Potter gets the Snitch before Hufflepuff score, there will be a playoff final against Slytherin… Potter is getting closer… Fletchley throws… Potter catches the Snitch… It's a dead heat! We're going to have to take the Omniocculars out and get the expert ruling from Professor Hooch.'

An eerie silence fell over the stadium.  Half an hour passed as Professor Hooch fiddled with the dials on his omniocculars.

'James Potter of Gyrffindor caught the Snitch three nanoseconds before Fletchley scored for Hufflepuff.'  The Gryffindors and Ravenclaws cheered.  Gryffindor has a chance for the Quidditch Cup, again.

***

A/N: This was a long planned chapter.  But anyway, I couldn't end the story so quickly anyway.

Who will win Either Quidditch Final? Will I ever get back to the main story? Will I keep on sidetracking?

Probably.

Anyway, I have a full week to do these stories, so you'll probably see quite a few chapters this week.