Author: Yuzu
Title: Terra Verde
Chapter Title: Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw
Fandom: Harry Potter
Timeline: 1975/76, during Lily and James' sixth year at Hogwarts
Genre: Romance/Drama
Pairing: Eventually Lily/James, for now, just rambling pairings
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is copyright Joanne Kathleen Rowling, Bloomsbury and Warner Brothers. "Do You?" is property of Jewel. I would rather not this be posted anywhere without my permission. Don't steal. I bite.
Yuzu's Rants: It's been forever, I know. Sowwy.... *hides*
Summary: It's Lily Evans' sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She's not really outgoing and spends most of her time studying. James Potter, the charming, charismatic and definitly sly boy in her house and year, notices her. But, James uses her as he does all the girls; takes them and throws them away. Lily, however, is not one to be fooled. With a little help from her friends and Sirius Black, she will make this year hell on earth for the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain and Seeker. Love/hate relationship.
You look to the sky
You look to the man
You claim innocence and not to understand
Or do you, do you?
~ Jewel "Do You?"
Chapter II; Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw
Lily made her way down to the Quidditch pitch earlier than the rest of the school. The teams had already left of course, and even though she wasn't a part of her House Team, Lily was restless. This was the first match she'd get to do the commentating on and she had never been more nervous.
The green pitch loomed into sight as she walked down the sloping lawns towards it. It seemed to enlarge as she came nearer and all of the sudden, Lily felt really small. That feeling only increased as she shakily stepped onto the green plain and looked around her. The tribunes were huge, the pitch was huge and the commentator's box looked as it was reluctant to accept her. She couldn't do this. She really couldn't.
But now, she heard the front doors of the castle open and the chatter of 1000 people talking excitely, rushed with joy of the welcome event and she couldn't turn back. She'd accepted.
Walking steadily up the tribunes and letting herself into her box, Lily sat down where she'd seen Sarah sitting at every match since her first year. Her fellow students started filing into the seats and before long, all her Professors were sitting in the box with her.
Professor McGonagall nodded to her to begin and Lily's hand shook as she picked up the magical megaphone.
James looked over his team. They were all suited up for battle and ready to play. Sirius was leaning casually on his broomstick next to him, gazing up at his captain with unfocused interest.
"We going then?"
James gritted his teeth and nodded. First match of the year. They were going to win. They had too. This was life, this was his life. Flying. James clapped his hands together to get the team's attention for his little pre-match peptalk, the one he always had before every match. Or at least, the one the previous captain had always had before every match.
"Listen up! We're going to win!" He took a deep breath and focused on the face of the girl in front of him, one of the Chasers, he realized. A faint shade of pink crept up along her cheeks and James almost smirked. "And do you know why?" His gaze wandered over the remaining players.
"Because we have you, Potter! All hail Potter, our fantastic, handsome, gorgeous, hazel-eyed captain with the unruly black hair and broad shoulders that all the girls fall for! We bow before you! You are our role-"
"That's enough, Rupert." James glared at his senior. The sandy-haired seventh year grinned widely and winked. Sirius burst out laughing. James shot his friend a glare too.
"No, not because of... those things..." William Spinnet snickered. As did the rest of the team. James felt aggravated. "Because we're the best we've ever been! We've been training more than Ravenclaw. I checked! They've only had-"
"Yeah, yeah, save it, James." Mica Sakamoto, a fellow sixth year waved her hand and rolled her eyes. "That peptalk thing only works with Wood."
The snickering grew louder and James flushed. "Anyway. It's time."
"Don't worry James, I'll keep the goalpost!" Mica called.
"We'll beat the Bludgers!" Rupert Finnigan and Ida Duna chimed in.
"And we'll chase the Quaffle!" Sirius, William and Josephine Twist grinned. "Then you do your Snitch Seeking, captain."
James couldn't help it, he grinned too. "Alright! Then let's go out there and kick a little Rawenclaw butt!"
The team cheered and with James leading the line, they practicly marched onto the green plain while Lily Evans' magical enchanced voice rang over the pitch announcing the players.
"HERE ARE THE GRYFFINDORS! POTTER - BLACK - SPINNET - TWIST - FINNIGAN - DUNA - SAKAMOTO!
AND THE RAVENCLAWS! CLEARWATER - ALLEN - HARKER - HARKER - FINN - DAVIES - CHANG!"
James shot a glance up at the commentator's box where Lily was situated near Professor Dumbledore, then turned to face the Ravenclaws.
"Captains! Shake hands!" Madam Hooch was playing referee once again. James went foreward and shook hands with Daniel Davies, a 7th year. He was a Beater, tall and muscular. He gave James a grim smile, which he returned and they went back to stand beside their teams.
"Mount your brooms!" James did so. A moment later, a whistle was heard and the fourteen players rose into the air, getting into position. Then Madam Hooch released the balls. James saw a flutter of gold before it was gone. He rose higher and higher until he was completely above the rest of the match, but made sure he could hear the commentating.
Lily was good, James realized. She was talking rapidly as the Quaffle was sent between each player, watching every move. She even swore some, but slapped herself as she did so, blushing as Professor McGonagall sent her grim looks.
"BLACK'S GOT THE QUAFFLE, HE PASSES TO TWIST. GO-GO-GO- SHE SCORES!!! 10-0 TO GRYFFINDOR!"
Potter watched Kathleen Clearwater, she was squinting her eyes, casting glances at him as she scanned the area for the Golden Snitch. James snorted, she was nervous. So was he, when it came to it. He had to go looking for the Snitch himself. Couldn't lose this match.
It wasn't before long when Lily announced (with a groan) that Ravenclaw had scored. All the Ravenclaws cheered, as did the Slytherins (as they would ever side with Gryffindor) and some of the Hufflepuffs clapped politely, not taking sides.
James looked to the west. Heavy black clouds were forming. It would rain soon. He would rather not play in the rain. Now concentrating more fully on locating the Snitch, James only paid attention to the commentating when the crowd cheered. They were leading, but barely. It was 60-50. The clouds were coming in fast. When Lily announced with a curse that the score had become 70-80 in favour of Ravenclaw, James shot a quick look at the box she was sitting in and his heart leaped.
The Snitch was hovering ten feet in front of her, just inside the pitch bounds and he could see her grin. "Hey Seekers! The Snitch is now located right under my nose. Want to come get it?"
James had already started diving. Kathleen was zooming at it from the opposite direction of the pitch, gaining on it as he did. Then a boom of thunder was heard and heavy raindrops started falling. The Snitch had vanished in the water and it didn't take long before James was drenched to the bone.
Cursing silently, James got back in position. Ravenclaw was in the lead. Juliet Allen was zooming towards the Gryffindor end, Quaffle under her arm. James gritted his teeth. If Ravenclaw got one more goal, he would give the team a serious reprimand. Something scarlet passed beneath him and he watched as Ida Duna hurled a Bludger at Juliet. She had to take a sharp left turn to avoid it, resulting in the loss of the Quaffle. William caught it and passed to Sirius. James watched as his best friend became a scarlet and gold blur, chasing in top speed towards the other end of the pitch. He passed to Josephine just before a Ravenclaw Chaser blocked his way and she put it past the Ravenclaw goalpost.
"JAMES POTTER, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU? PAY ATTENTION TO THE SNITCH AND YOUR OPPOSING SEEKER!" Lily was shouting at the top of her lunges. He whirled around and his heart did a sinking thing. Kathleen Clearwater was heading towards the Snitch. James sped after her. The Snitch was fluttering over Mica's head. The Keeper looked up and her eyes widened. Just as Kathleen was 3 feet from the Golden ball, Mica shot upwards, blocking Kathleen from her prey. James rejoiced as the Snitch vanished and he could see Kathleen swearing at Mica. The japanese girl only grinned and pulled her shoulders.
"NOW, IF JAMES POTTER PAID MORE ATTENTION TO THE ACTUAL GAME THAN TO THE GIRLS, HE MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE IN PROFESSIONAL QUIDDITCH." Lily pointed to James in the air smiling widely at Mica and smirking at Kathleen. "GUESS THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN." James looked horrified. He glared at Lily, then at William, Rupert and Sirius who had all erupted in laugther.
So this is where she would get back at him. On the Quidditch pitch. James choose to ignore the laughter than rang from the tribunes and searched the plain for the Snitch instead. Lily had gone back to commentating. They were leading now. 110-90.
The rain was coming down in waves. It was chilling as the wind blew and James shivered. Darkness was falling. It was going to make it even more impossible to spot the Golden Ball. Sending curses through the thick falling rain, James scanned the pitch for the Snitch. He glanced at the clock over the commentator's box several times. They'd been playing for nearly 90 minutes. 150-140 in favour of Gryffindor. He hadn't expected Ravenclaw to be this good.
James was distracted by a blue blur passing him. It was one of the Harker twins, Quaffle under his left arm. In two seconds he had scored and he could hear Lily's voice ringing out a string of curses. People were conjuring up umbrellas. He needed to catch the Snitch fast. This was too tiring.
Something grazed his right ear. James spun around. The Snitch was speeding north, away from Kathleen and him. James flung himself after it. It wasn't long before Kathleen was tailing him.
The Golden ball zig-zagged around the players. Several times had Ida and Rupert have to beat the Bludgers away from James. But James only paid attention to the Snitch. It circled one of the Ravenclaw goalposts further and further down. He was gaining on it. Kathleen was side by side with him. When there was only 4 feet between the ground and them, James lunged at the Snitch. He practicly jumped off his broom and his fingers clasped around the tiny ball. They had won.
"POTTER HAS THE SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR VICTORY! 320 POINTS TO 170!"
Then he continued falling. Too long. He crashed into the ground with a thud and could vaguely hear something crack before everything went black.
Lily watched in horror as James crashed into the ground. She dropped the megaphone and ran out of the box, down the tribunes and onto the pitch. Several other students had also made their way there. Then she stopped abruptly. Why was she running to his aid? He had dumped her. Made a fool out of her. Lily turned around and was faced with Arabella and Juliy. They looked panick-striken and concerned for their fellow Gryffindor. Grabbing Lily, they ran to James' side. He was unconcious.
The team was gathered around him. Lily tore herself loose from Arabella and Juliy. They didn't seem to notice. She turned around and ran up towards the castle. She was caring for him. Still. But it had been weeks. Inside the Entrance Hall, all was quiet. The heavy fall of rain couldn't be heard and the noices from the Quidditch pitch had dissappeared. It was oddly peaceful.
Lily shakily made her way to her dormitory. She undressed, tossing the soaking wet clothes beside her bed and stepped into the shower. The water was warm and soothing. It ran in sheets down her body.
Wrapping herself in a towel, Lily got out of the shower again and stared in the mirror. She watched as the water dried off her. A single drop ran from the corner of her eye down to her mouth. It wet her lips. Salt. Then another drop ran from her other eye. It ran in streams.
Collapsing on the bathroom floor, Lily wept.
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Yeah, yeah, it's shorter than the last one, but it contained almost just Quidditch. Aren't you proud? ^^
Read? Review! (And if it isn't too much to ask, I would really like to reach 30 reviews. ^^)