3.

Boys will be boys

The term passed relatively quickly, filled with Potions lessons in the dungeons, Transfiguration under the stern eye of Professor McGonagall, Charms with a vibrant little gnome Filius Flitwick, their Defence Against the Dark Arts and of course Herbology. The school had announced they'd be ordering new brooms to replace the old Silver Arrows, so broomstick lessons were postponed for the time being. The warm weather faded away into chilly days and as November neared, so did the Quidditch season.

Quidditch was a game that only wizards and witches played. It was played on broomsticks in an oval pitch, at each end of which were three goal hoops. There were seven players to a team: three Chasers who handled a big red ball called the Quaffle and were responsible for scoring, two Beaters who carried heavy bats and swung at Bludgers which were balls that tried to unseat the other players, one Keeper, who guarded the goals and tried to stop the other teams from scoring and one Seeker, whose job it was to catch the Golden Snitch. The Golden Snitch was worth one hundred and fifty points so the team that caught it generally won. A game of Quidditch wasn't over until the Snitch was caught.

It was a blustery but otherwise fair day early that November when the announcement came around that Gryffindor would be playing Ravenclaw during the next week. The halls were buzzing with excitement – everyone loved Quidditch. And if James wasn't bad enough with his pointless broomstick waffling, it got worse on the day of the match. All morning he was barraging them with trivia on the wide assortment of broomsticks available to the point where even Peter Pettigrew, awed as he was by James' knowledge, was starting to get bored. When Sirius stood up and offered to reserve a spot in the stand while James finished his breakfast, there was a sudden group of volunteers to accompany him.

"You don't have to be so subtle!" James called after him as he, accompanied by Peter, Remus, Mana and Midgeon walked away, leaving James with Marcus and Frank. They were already in the stands and chatting away by the time James came down, planting himself between Sirius and Peter.

"You can be such a prat sometimes," he said, and Sirius merely laughed. They watched as the stadium slowly filled up. The teachers were filling into their reserved box, and alongside McGonagall was the commentator. Midgeon popped her gum.

"I'd love to commentate."

"You always have gum, Midgie," Figgy said, appearing next to her with Lily and Alice. Midgeon grinned.

"Ma says it looks good. She's always been that way. My Gramma was Sacharissa Tugwood."

"I have a card of her," Figgy said in her blocked-nose voice. "Pioneer of beauty potions."

Sirius looked past Mana at the girls, and then turned to Mana.

"Is beauty all you girls talk about?"

"Is broomsticks all you boys talk about?"

"I don't talk about broomsticks."

"And I don't give a Fizzing Whizzbee about beauty."

He laughed, and then turned to the stadium as the commentator's voice lifted above the chattering crowd.

"Welcome to the Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch! I'm your commentator Rohan Wood! Today's match – Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw!"

The stadium erupted into cheers and applause. Two teams were walking out onto the pitch, one in robes of blue and bronze and the other in red and gold.

"Welcome to the Ravenclaw team! They're pretty much all fourth-years there, except for their Seeker, second-year Rubelt, amazing Seeker he is. Of course we all know that the Captain is Gregory Diddle. And the Gryffindor team, a wide range there, seventh-year Captain Sally Genista. As we well remember, Gryffindor scored a narrow victory over Ravenclaw last year with the Quidditch Cup, and it's Genista's last year so I'm sure she'd like to go out with a bang. She's playing Seeker for Gryffindor.

"Captains are shaking hands and… there's the whistle! Mansfield has the Quaffle, Gryffindor in possession… oh that was a close one, that Bludger from Harvard nearly got him there. And it's Leeson, Leeson in possession and wow! What an interception by Gryffindor Chaser Blinks! It moves to King, King has the Quaffle and… now if that isn't a pass it's a long shot for the goal! Wait a minute – yes, it is! Score ten points to Gryffindor! The score rests at ten to zero."

The blue and red blurs were rocketing around the pitch, as the scores climbed. Thirty to twenty. Then Ravenclaw pulled up. Fifty to thirty. Sixty to thirty. The tables turned again. Seventy to sixty. Eighty to sixty. The two Seekers were combing the pitch, searching endlessly for that little glint of gold that would give away the position of the Snitch. Ninety to sixty. The Gryffindors were cheering. As far as they could see, the match was in the bag. And then.

"What's this? Ravenclaw Seeker Rubelt has pulled into a dive! Genista follows quickly but she's no match for that broom. Rubelt rides a top of the line Nimbus 1000…"

"Told you it was top of the line," James taunted in Sirius' ear

"…compared to that, Genista's Swiftstick is nothing."

They watched as the two forms dived. A Gryffindor Bludger raced narrowly close to Rubelt's head. But it wasn't enough. A massive cheer rose up from the Ravenclaw stand. Rubelt pulled out of his dive, hand held aloft. He had the Snitch.

*

James was livid.

"I can't believe Gryffindor lost," he snarled as they passed out of the stadium, close to the change rooms, and the other four nodded their agreement, not hearing the girls behind them chittering about how good Rubelt looked. "That was such an easy catch for the Snitch… ooooh if I was playing Seeker…."

"If you were playing Seeker, Potter, the other three houses would hallow your name. Against us you couldn't catch a cold."

The laughter rang out loud. All five of them turned. Behind them, with a group of about five or six friends was the second-year from the train. His sand and silver hair was blown in the wind. Then they realised. This cocky boy was none other than the Ravenclaw Seeker, in his blue and bronze team robes with his Nimbus 1000 over his shoulder and his six other team-mates gathered around him.

"P-P-Potter would so be a good Seeker," Peter said loudly, and the Ravenclaw team laughed louder. But the mousey boy went on, even though Remus and Mana were on his shoulders to try and silence him. "He could beat you hands down. You're just a-a-a… a lucky blowhard!"

The laughter stopped. The silver-fringed Seeker glared at Pettigrew out of raven-sharp eyes. Then his gaze turned to James.

"Beat me hands down, huh?" he snarled. "Alright then. We'll see about that. Midnight. On the pitch. Don't show and the whole school will know that you're the blowhard. And bring your cheerleaders. Wouldn't want them to miss your big failure."

"And if you lose?"

"Let's hope I don't."

"Pity," James sighed, "that I haven't got a broom."

The Ravenclaw Keeper strode forward and thrust the handle of his Shooting Star into James' hand. Rubelt laughed his sardonic caw.

"Now what's your excuse?"

"Hang on," James made to think. "Oh yeah. I don't need one now. After all, how hard can it be to beat a girl like you who never goes anywhere without his squad to look after him?"

In a flash the tall boy made to grab James' neck and he moved forward to greet it. It took the whole Ravenclaw team to drag their Seeker back and James merely stood there laughing. A thin mahogany wand whipped out from under his blue robes before James could draw his.

"Indigus infernus!"

A blast of violet flames burst out of his wand tip, striking James and sending him flying to the ground in a billow of smoke. Four wands were pointed at Rubelt who allowed himself to be backed away by his team, the majority of whom were all fourth and fifth-years.

"Hey come on, Rubelt. Keep your cool."

Sirius picked up the Keeper's broom and threw it to him as Remus and Peter pulled James back to his feet.

"He'll be here. Don't chicken out, bird-boy."

"If you push me, Potter," Rubelt snarled. "Just you wait."

"Go on," Sirius pressed. "I'm sure you've got other people to make miserable."

Rubelt and his team turned and headed into the locker rooms to change back into their school robes. Mana looked at James.

"You're not really going to come out tonight, are you?"

"Sure I am," he replied, batting at the ashy patch on his robes. The fire hadn't burnt, but it had covered him in cinders. Mana frowned.

"But what if you get caught? What if Rubelt's setting you up?"

"We won't even be seen. You'll see tonight."

"What makes you think I'm coming?" she asked. Sirius shrugged.

"Moral voice?"

"That's what I'm trying to be right now but you're not paying attention."

"Come on, Mana, we'll probably only be gone for half an hour, if that. James'll catch that Snitch before Rubelt is even steady on his broom."

"Yeah," Peter agreed. "I'm sure James will prove that jerk wrong."

Mana looked from Sirius to Peter, then to Remus.

"Remus, you're sensible enough, surely…"

"I don't think it's right to sneak out after curfew…"

"Thank you!"

"…But I would like to see James play Rubelt."

"Oh Remus," Mana shook her head. "You'll get caught!"

"Trust me, we won't," James assured with a wink. "Come on Mana, you wouldn't miss it, would you?"

She looked up at Sirius, who smiled back that dreadfully charming smile.

"Oh… well… okay."

*

At eleven thirty that evening, four little shadows stole across their dormitory, down the winding staircase and into the common room, where the fire was burning low behind the grate. The room was glowing dark orange. James went to open the portrait door, but Sirius held out his hand.

"Wait, what about Mana?"

"She probably won't come," James replied. "You know how she is."

"No, she will. Just… just wait a minute."

"Ooooh Sirius," James taunted in a whisper. "Something you're not telling us?"

"No!" he replied swiftly, and there was a swooshing sound like a cloak moving. They looked up and saw no one. James turned back to Sirius.

"She's not coming."

"Who's not coming?"

Remus spun and almost killed himself trying not to laugh at James' face. Somehow Mana had managed to appear between them and the door, without so much as being glimpsed.

"Where'd you come from?" he hissed, trying not to speak too loudly.

"Don't worry about that now. So if you're so sure we can get out of the castle without being seen, please feel quite free to example for me."

"Just follow the master," James grinned and she fell into place behind him as he silently pushed open the door. The corridor was empty of everything, even sound. Moonlight streamed through the windows casting long, barred pools of silver light across the floor. The light shifted as five furtive shadows scurried through the halls. Every eye was on the lookout for danger. The new caretaker, Argus Filch, was known to prowl around after dark searching for troublemakers to make miserable, and there was always the chance that they may be stumbled upon by Peeves, the school poltergeist. James slid through the shadows up to a tapestry. He waved them over and looked behind it.

"Okay. This passage leads right out into the grounds, close to the Quidditch pitch. Follow me, and quietly. I know Filch is trying to get to know the school. I don't think he's got this exit pinned yet though, which is good, but the smallest sound could give us away. Watch out for the fifth step, it creaks."

Nodding in understanding, they all slipped behind the tapestry and disappeared from view. The staircase wound in a haphazard way, spiralling, winding, strait. A thin corridor here and there before the stairs ran down again. Eventually night noises could be heard in the distance and the stairs levelled out into a passage. At the end of it, faint blue light was streaming in, and one of the goal hoops from the Quidditch pitch could be seen silhouetted against the moonlight. It was the quarter moon outside, and there were no clouds to be seen even though soon the grounds would be covered in sheets of thick, white snow.

James, leading the way, held up at the exit, looking around for any sign of movement. Seeing none, he again waved for them to follow and they flitted across the open space and into the shadows of the pitch. Stealing along the outside towards the locker rooms, they darted, one by one, into the stadium. It was empty, and the stands glimmered silently and tall in the pale light. Peter shivered in the breeze, having forgotten a coat and scarf. Remus looked around.

"There's no sign of the Ravenclaws. Do you think they set us up?"

"I wouldn't be in the least surprised," Sirius growled.

"Keep to the shadows," James warned. "They may have tipped someone off that we're down here."

But there was no sign of anyone. Five minutes passed. Then ten. Twenty minutes later and still no one had shown. But after half an hour, Mana turned to Sirius to suggest they go back when movement on the other side of the pitch caught their eye. Melting out of the shadows, seven figures walked across the pitch towards them carrying a heavy-looking trunk. At their head were two tall boys, one slightly shorter than the other. Both were carrying brooms. Starlight glinted off the oak handle of one, and the words 'Nimbus 1000' stood out against it. Rubelt stopped walking a few feet from James, a devious smile on his face.

"Well, well. Looks like you're not the coward I took you for."

"Thanks for not keeping us waiting," he replied sarcastically. Two Ravenclaws were opening the chest and they pulled out something that glinted gold in the dim light. It flashed for a moment and then began to buzz, looking as if it wanted to fly away. Chaser Leeson handed it to Rubelt, who took it reverently. He held it where they could see it.

"The Golden Snitch," he sighed. "So. You think you can outfly me. Well, it's a good thing that the Snitch is enchanted not to leave the stadium. If Madam Hooch caught us out here, without permission, this late at night, we'd be out of school for sure."

"You sound so worried," Remus murmured disapprovingly.

"Of course. See, I have an alibi all worked out if we happen to get caught. Upon seeing a group of first-year students messing around on the pitch with the Quidditch equipment, we immediately came out to put a stop to them. We might just lose some points. You'd probably be expelled."

"And if it doesn't hold up?"

"Oh, it will," Rubelt assured. "Professor Gemini would never let anything become of her most prized Seeker. And I'll just vouch for the rest of the team. You guys," he laughed rudely, "are only fresh off the block. You don't have anything that could keep you in this school."

"Nice example you're setting to first-years," Remus grimaced. Rubelt shrugged.

"I'm not gonna lose any sleep over it."

Mana shook her head with little more than a sigh as the Ravenclaw Keeper handed James his broom.

"Well," Rubelt brought himself up to his full height. "Ready?"

"Just a second," Sirius interrupted and waved James back over to him. They crowded in to be able to hear his eager whisper. "We don't want to get busted, do we?"

"What do you suggest?" James asked quickly.

"Nerf," Sirius rolled his eyes. "Honestly James, you didn't think of it yourself? We need a lookout. Someone who's quick on their feet, can imitate night birds and doesn't stand out in the dark."

"And that someone would be…"

"Mana," Sirius said, crossing his arms. She looked up quite suddenly, not having known this herself.

"Me?"

"Yes. I've seen you up and down the trees during breaks. James can take you up to the stand looking out over the yard to the castle, and if you see anyone coming, hoot twice and then trill. James'll come and get you as soon as you do, and we'll run to the nearest hideaway."

"But—"

"No buts, you're here, so you're going to make yourself useful."

Remus sighed. "Go on, Mana, if you don't, they'll just get difficult."

"And they're not difficult already?"

"You know Sirius," Peter added. "When he has an idea everyone has to conform to it."

Eventually she nodded, and as James mounted the broomstick, she climbed on behind him. Rubelt let out the most sardonic caw.

"Going to play with the bird, are you Potter?"

He flew up to a good point and let Mana down. She scurried under the shadows so she couldn't be seen, and James turned and flew back down, drawing up level with Rubelt who had risen into the air, the Snitch still fluttering in his hand.

"Alright, I let it go and we wait for one minute before we go after it."

"Got it."

He opened his hand and the little golden ball sped away. In silence Rubelt and James hovered there on their brooms, staring each other down when suddenly Rubelt took off. The minute was up. They shot backwards and forwards over the darkened pitch, the Ravenclaw team pointing lit wands to the sky to help shed some light on the Snitch. They darted in and out of shadows. The gilded glow from the wands was more of a hindrance than a help. Then he saw it.

Rubelt was up the other end of the pitch, and there was the Snitch, hovering a few dozen feet below him, towards the opposite end. He pointed the tip of the Shooting Star down. The broom obeyed his command swiftly and it was a moment before Rubelt registered. James' head start was well enough though. He rocketed down. The Snitch got ever nearer. His fingers touched one fluttery wing. He could hear Rubelt's broom so near. He felt his fingers tweeze the feathers. And as he jerked the little golden thing towards him, he heard something else lift above the buzz of the Snitch and the whoosh of the brooms.

"HOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! TRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

He spun in midair and threw the Snitch into Rubelt's hand, jetting away to retrieve their lookout from the bleachers. He could hear the Ravenclaws buzzing with confusion. Without a word or a pause Mana jumped onto the back of the broom and was off it before it had even touched the ground, sprinting away towards the other three, who were doing the bolt for a tiny grove of trees just outside the pitch. James threw the broom to the Keeper who just barely caught it, and took off after them. It was a few moments later when they finally caught on, and ran for the exit to the pitch.

Meanwhile, the five first-years had reached the trees, and Mana sprang up into the boughs, pulling Sirius up who in turn hauled up Peter. Remus sprang up on his own and James was just clambering into the leaf-hung boughs when a brisk, stern and unimpressed teacher with spiky hair rounded on the Ravenclaws. They were clearly not fast enough to escape the eyes of Rolanda Hooch.

"Take off your scarves," Sirius hissed, shoving his beneath his robes. "They're a dead giveaway."

Luckily, the Ravenclaws hadn't seen where the first-years had run off to; otherwise they would really have been in trouble. Rubelt's 'alibi' was no good without any first-years to incriminate, so the five hung around to watch the ensuing fun. Hidden away in the trees, they could see and hear but not be seen themselves. Madam Hooch strode over fiercely, looking at all seven of them in turn.

"Now this I never believed I would encounter from Quidditch players — and Ravenclaws no less! Stealing the Quidditch trunk… out of beds… whether this might be some sort of extreme practice session or not is beside the point! You most certainly know the rules pertaining to school property and your own curfews! Captain Diddle, what have you to say for yourself?"

Captain Diddle didn't seem to have much that he could say. So it seemed Rubelt believed in the old 'the truth will set you free' belief, and started forward.

"It's not what it looks like, Madam Hooch. There were these first-years out here. We caught them with the Quidditch trunk and were just about to turn them in when they ran off."

"Well if that's the case then, Master Rubelt, you'll quite easily be able to identify these students."

"That Potter boy and his friends."

"I see."

The four boys in the tree froze. Uh-oh. But Madam Hooch crossed her arms.

"Mr. Potter and his friends might have a reputation for being troublemakers, but they certainly do not have the gall or the resources to be able to take the trunk, nor sneak out into the grounds so late at night. I'm afraid I do not believe you. Twenty points each from Ravenclaw and you'll all be on detention for a week. That's just from me, so now we'll see what Professor Gemini wants to say about this. Now back up to the castle. March!"

A grin spread across Sirius' face, matched by Peter's look of aghast, James' smirk and Remus' expression of wonder. He gave an anticipating laugh.

"Oh-ho… they are in so much trouble."

*

Remus' brilliant idea for the next day was to keep well away from Rubelt. It was one they all agreed with, with perhaps maybe the possible exception of Sirius, who was all too eager to walk past him several times and say 'alright, Rubelt?' The reply was always a distinct movement towards his wand, nine times out of ten halted quite suddenly when thoughts of the night before haunted him. James began to think, partially because Peter had mentioned it to him, that Rubelt didn't often break the rules. When he was being an utter prat was an obvious exception.

But of course that one time out of ten in which he didn't hesitate, Sirius came back up to Gryffindor Tower looking triumphant — but for the exception of a the few litres of slime that seemed to have been poured all over him. Rather, he looked like a big something with a head cold had sneezed on him. It took Remus and Peter a whole hour to clean the muck off with a Scouring Charm, all the while Sirius bragging about how Rubelt walked away 'with great dirty tufts of fur sticking out of his nose and ears, a blue face and was convinced that Professor McGonagall was the Virgin Mary'. He also disclosed the fact that said professor had subtracted ten points from Gryffindor and Ravenclaw for fighting in the halls, taking Ravenclaw's total losses up to 150 points in two days. They imagined their other housemates wouldn't have been too impressed.

The four boys, on the other hand (though Sirius' antics really didn't help them approve), couldn't have been happier.

Chapter 4 shouldn't take too long to get up, but should be done by some time during this week at the absolute latest J.

So what could Rubelt have in store for the boys next time?

Will they get him before he can get them?

And whatever happened to Severus Snape?

All these answers and more in Chapter 4: There's No Day Like Snow Day.