CHAPTER ELEVEN: Quidditch!

"Hey it looks like the plans for the library might have to be put on hold." I said to Jenny later that afternoon, as I arrived in the common room breathless. I couldn't believe I'd forgotten that that afternoon was the first Quidditch match for the year. People had been talking about it the last few days!

She looked at me, her face expressionless. "Why?" She asked. "Have you got a better offer? Or no-let me guess-Martin said something. Honestly Sam I-"

"It's Quidditch!" I interrupted, correcting her.

She raised an eyebrow. "Quidditch?"

"Paul just told reminded me about it. We have to go and support Gryffindoor- esspecially considering they're playing Slytherin." I explained. "Of course I knew about it, but I forgot it was today. Most people are already on their way to the field. Martin's saving us seats!"

Jenny sighed. "I don't think I feel like sitting and cheering on-"

"Jenny! Everyone goes!" I argued with her.

"If everyone jumped off a cliff would you Sam?" She asked, sounding very much like my mother.

"Fine. Don't come. Sit here and be a nerd by yourself!" I snapped sick of her attitude.

Her face paled, and her eyes filled with tears. "Sam, I was simply pointing out that it's not that big a deal. I mean I've heard people talking about it and all...But you know sports aren't my thing." She said softly.

"Not that big a deal? Jenny!" I said, so shocked I couldn't even manage to continue. To me Quidditch was a big deal.

"Everyone has different priorities Sam, and mine are getting the best marks I can." Jenny said, opening her textbook on flying techniques. Flying practice had ended a few hours ago, and although after the beginning Snape hadn't given us any trouble, she clearly wanted to learn all she could. Today Snape had let us hover off the ground for a few seconds before making us come down so he could give us a lecture on-of all things-caring for our brooms! Martin complained to me afterwards that he had done it just so that we couldn't get the chance to fly really. I had to agree with that!

"Fine." I said with a shrug. "But I bet your Dad didn't miss a game, and I'm pretty sure even your Mum would have gone."

Jenny didn't answer, and I left her in the common room and went to the Quidditch stadium. I spotted Martin after a bit, as the stands were packed, and made my way up there. He moved over to let me sit down.

"Where's Jenny?" He asked, not really caring. His eyes were mostly on the scarlet clad figures flying around on brooms above the stadium.

"She didn't want to come. I think she was studying." I replied.

Martin glanced at me. "She's the only one from the house not here!" He said.

I nodded. "Yeah, I noticed. I'm sure she'll come next time though." I wasn't entirely sure of this, but I decided I'd have to convince her. For the sake of school spirit!

We all booed as the green figures flew onto the field. I noticed that it wasn't only Gryffindoor students in the crown booing, but also those from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, which made me smile! After flying around for a bit the two sides flew back down to the ground, and the two captains were made to shake hands. Paul was sitting in front of me and I leant forward to ask him who the Gryffindoor captain was?

"Artie Baston." Paul replied. "He's been our keeper since third year, and he's in his last year here now. We would have won the championship last year if Slytherin hadn't cheated. And the year before that Baston and our seeker both broke their legs in the match, and Slytherin beat us again! So we're out for revenge this year!"

I watched as Artie won the toss from the referee, Madame Janson, and flew off towards the goals. He made flying look so effortless. It occurred to me that perhaps Jenny could learn more about flying from watching this than reading textbooks!

"And who's our seeker?" I asked Paul.

"Conrad Lyons." Paul said. "He's in his last year two, and everyone says he's bound to get a spot on the English side as soon as he's finished!"

Now my eyes went to Conrad who was flying lazily around the stadium, looking like he was out for a leisurely fly rather than a match!

As if he read my mind Paul added, "Don't be fooled by the way he's flying around now. Once he spots that Snitch he'll get it or die trying!"

Greg heard that last comment and leant over the rest of the first year boys to tell me "Someone died playing Quidditch the other year here."

"They did?" I repeated. "How come we didn't hear about it?"

"Well they don't want people to know do they?" Greg replied.

"He's lying. As usual." Francine said from behind me. "They didn't die. They disappeared."

"Well it's the same thing isn't it?" Greg demanded. "They're still lost aren't they?"

"Where's Jenny?" Francine asked me.

"Studying." I admitted. "She says Quidditch bores her."

Francine frowned. "But everyone comes to the games!" She said.

"I know." I replied. "I told her that, but she asked me if everyone jumped off a cliff would I?"

Francine snorted, but our conversation was cut short by the beginning of the game. The players all flew into the air, and I kept my eyes on Conrad, still circling above lazily.

The crowd all went up as one, as one of our beaters whacked the bludger towards a Slytherin player who had to turn quickly to avoid it, and almost fell off his broom.

"Way to hit!" Greg called. "Next time knock the git off his broom!"

It suddenly occurred to me that I thought Greg would be an ideal beater- he'd love to hit things at people!

Artie made a save, earning most of the crowd's cheers, and one of our chaser's had the quaffle and was zooming towards the goals when one of the Slytherin chasers banged into her, almost knocking her off her broom. The stadium erupted as Madame Janson called a foul, and one we had a free shot at goal. The goal went in, and we all jumped up and down waving our red flags and scarves.

"Serves the dirty rats right." Martin said to me over the noise. "They play dirty and they'll lose in the end!"

"I hope you're right." I said back, but he didn't hear me.

There was a gasp from someone in our section. "Look at Conrad!" She called, and we all trained our eyes up to Conrad, who was racing towards the ground, his body flat along his broom his eyes straight ahead.

"He's seen the snitch!" Someone else yelled.

"COME ON CONRAD!" Another person yelled.

We all urged on Conrad. The Slytherin seeker had seen Conrad go into his dive, and rightly guessed he'd spotted the snitch, but Conrad had a head start, and as fast as the seeker flew they weren't catching up enough! Conrad suddenly pulled upwards again, and then opened his hand to show the golden snitch!

We all jumped up and down cheering. "Go Conrad! Go Gryffindoor!"

It was only afterwards when we were walking back up to the school, still celebrating with our cheers extra loud when we were near any Slytherin student, that Martin complained about how quick the game had gone. "Only one goal scored!" He said unhappily.

"But wasn't Conrad great?" I argued. "He'll be on the English side no worries. He got the snitch so quick!"

Martin admitted he was. "I just was hoping for a higher scoring match." He said.

Greg laughed and patted him on the back. "Don't worry. I'm sure we'll have a longer game sometime. But the main thing is we beat Slytherin!"

Jenny met us at dinner, and observing our happy expressions she knew we'd beaten Slytherin. "You all look like you had fun." She said.

"We did!" I replied. "Francine wondered where you were. You were the only one in the whole school not there!"

Jenny looked surprised. "Really?"

"Really." I confirmed.

"Hmm...well I might have to make the next match then." She said, avoiding my eyes. "If everyone likes it I guess it can't be that bad!"

"Yeah." I agreed, taking a big bit of my steak. "And tomorrow afternoon after DADA I'll come to the library with you and see if we can't discover who Merlin is, and why the ghost's council are making such a big secret of him!"

Jenny looked grateful. "Thanks." She said simply.

"No problems." I replied, just as simply. I was actually feeling a little guilty about my comments earlier. If I had of made her feel a little more welcome maybe she would have been more prepared to have come to the match? Sometimes though, she annoyed me so much that I forgot my promise to my mother and to Francine. However I had to admit, she was getting a bit better lately.