Disclaimer: Harry Potter 'tis not mine!

Please Note: Hello everyone. In this story, James will be a Chaser. I know, I know, many of you will yell at me and say he was Seeker since Harry was one. To tell you the truth, I DON'T CARE. The movie was as inaccurate as anything, and I don't intend on following it. In the book, according to my wonderful friend, it doesn't mention anything about what position James played. J.K. Rowling also mentioned in an interview (where the interviewer very clearly asked "WHAT POSITION DID JAMES POTTER PLAY IN QUIDDITCH") that James was a CHASER.

NOW PLEASE STOP TELLING ME JAMES WAS A SEEKER. If you mention so in a review, I will BURN IT WITH ZIGZAG'S LIGHTER!!!

Hem Hem This, Hem Hem That

Chapter Seventeen ll Bring It On

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"Damn--damn--damn--damn--damn--damn--damn--damn!" Lily cursed repetitively (under her breath of course, it wouldn't do for students to see the Head Girl repetitively curse) as she rushed to the prefect common-room. There was to be a meeting conducted there, and she, of course, had to be present.

"I'm late, I'm late, I'M LATE!!" she shrilled to herself, sounding like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland.

It was only a few days since the end of Christmas break, and Cosima had been returned home in one piece. She was a little sick, causing Mrs. Evans to scold Lily a little, but other than that, everything was fine.

"ARGH!" Lily screeched irritably as she was quite literally knocked back. She fell onto the ground with a thud, and moaned.

"Owww."

The person who had knocked her over offered their hand, "Watch where you're going, pumpkin."

"Potter," Lily spat in annoyance, getting to her feet.

"Your hair's all messed up," James said teasingly, smoothing down her hair.

She slapped his hand away.

"Are you ever planning to go to the Prefect meeting?" James asked sweetly.

"I'm going now!" Lily said irritably. She turned and began rushing down the corridor, but stopped abruptly and turned back around.

"He-e-e-e-y, aren't you supposed to be there?" she asked, frowning.

"Bingo! I was sent to look for you," James paused, "Because, you know... you're LATE!"

Lily narrowed her eyes, "Fine. But I'm not letting you have the glory of the other prefects thinking you found me... Because I was already on my way!" She flashed a sarcastic smile and ran off.

"LILY!" James yelled after her, shocked that she was so evil.

Lily burst into the prefect common-room, gasping for air with one hand over her heart.

"We should honestly conjure up oxygen tanks," Professor Dumbledore said seriously as everyone else stared at her.

"I'm--so--so--sorry," Lily panted, leaning against the doorjamb. She looked as if she was about to die.

James barged in at that moment, causing Lily to scream and topple over again.

"I'm s--sorry, I f--found her, but sh--she--" James looked at the girl on the floor, who was groaning, "Oh. Sorry." He helped her up again.

Professor McGonagall hid a smile while everyone else laughed.

"No matter. Now that the Head Girl is here and the Head Boy has returned, we can begin," Dumbledore said lightly.

Lily sat herself primly in an armchair, and James plopped himself into one next to her.

"Now, as you know, there will be a Quidditch match next week. Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff," McGonagall began curtly.

"We decided we should promote a feeling of team spirit," Dumbledore continued smoothly, "And so we thought we could perhaps form cheerleading teams for each House."

"You're kidding," Lily said blankly.

Dumbledore looked at Lily with twinkling blue eyes, "I assure you I am not, Miss Evans."

Lily groaned.

"We have decided that these cheerleading teams will be made out of girls," McGonagall continued explaining, "As the majority of players on the Quidditch teams are male. This meeting is being conducted to elect a captain for each cheerleading team for each House. You will name a worthy candidate to represent your House. They must be a fifth-year or above."

"Lily's for Gryffindor," James said automatically.

"WHAT?"

"Hey, no sweat pumpkin, you'll do fine," James said lazily, looking at her intently.

"Unelect me," Lily said dangerously, "Now."

"...No."

James turned to McGonagall and Dumbledore, "I think Miss Evans will be a good captain for the Gryffindor cheerleading team," he repeated.

"I agree," Dumbledore said lightly, glancing at Lily.

"What--no!" Lily said, her jaw dropping.

"All in favour for Lily?" James said loudly, looking expectantly around at the prefects.

They all put their hands up.

James turned back to Lily with a smile, "Looks like you're the captain now."

Lily looked at him murderously.

"Now," continued McGonagall, "For the Hufflepuff...."

Lily tuned out and concentrated on how much she loathed James Potter.

When the meeting finally ended, Lily stalked out of the common-room and shoved James against the wall.

"Why'd you go do that for?"

"Because, you'll look so fine in a--"

"SHUT UP!"

"Okay."

Lily looked at him in disgust once more before turning away and making angry hissing noises.

"Whoa, don't worry, you'll be fine," James said comfortingly, running to catch up with her.

"No, I won't, I've never had any cheerleading experience in my life," Lily said angrily.

"Sirius can write you up a good cheer, believe it or not. He's had experience..." Lily looked at James questioningly, but he brushed the subject aside, "Anyway, in the meantime, you better round up girls for your cheerleading team."

He began walking ahead, "I've got detention with Anson. See you later."

Lily stared after him, then hurried back to the Gryffindor tower.

---

"Please Penny," Lily begged painstakingly, on her knees.

"No way!" Penny scoffed, "Cheerleading? You've got to be kidding!"

"Come on, Pen!" Lily pleaded, "Em's doing it!"

"You seem to forget that Emily also goes carolling with you," Penny said loftily, turning away.

"It'll be fun!"

"Why don't you ask Meddy?" Penny changed the subject.

"Oh, believe me, I will. After I get you to join," Lily said sweetly, getting to her feet.

"Lily, no."

Sirius had been listening in.

"Penny, why won't you join?" he cut in.

"Because," Penny said helplessly, feeling that everyone was against her, "Cheerleading! What's up with that?"

"It's fun," Sirius said carelessly.

Lily looked at him curiously, then ignored that odd comment and turned back to her friend, "Please, Penny? For me?"

Penny looked from her pleading friend's face to Sirius' solemn one. She clicked her tongue in agitation.

"Fine. But as long we don't have to wear skimpy outfits or stuff like that..."

Lily bit her lip in a worried fashion.

"Lily!" Penny burst out angrily.

"Kidding!" Lily said with a gigantic grin, "We'll probably wear a leotard and a skirt or something, but I'll make sure it's loose enough and it's not so revealing."

She gave Penny a big hug.

"Thanks, Pen! Where's Meddy?"

"Err, somewhere."

Lily clicked her tongue impatiently, "Oh, stuff it. I can't be bothered asking her. She won't join. Stubborn as a mule, that one."

Penny glared at her.

"Don't worry Pen, cheerleading will be fun," Lily said cheerfully, forgetting that just twenty minutes ago, she had been close to killing James for electing her as captain.

Lily and Emily went around the girls' dormitories, asking random girls to join the cheerleading team. By the time it was dinner, a total of twelve girls had signed up, excluding the aforementioned three.

"That makes fifteen people," Lily said to Emily, while a disgruntled Penny followed them, "That'd be enough."

Over the week, the Gryffindor cheerleading team practiced as hard as they could. They got their cheerleading uniforms; scarlet leotards and golden skirts. They had pompoms made out of sparkly golden and scarlet ribbons, and they voted on the same hairstyle: a high ponytail.

The Gryffindor Quidditch Team also practiced as hard as they could.

"We have to slug Diggory," Sirius told James one Quidditch practice.

"Why, of course. How do you reckon the girls are doing?"

Sirius grinned, "Very well, indeed. After all, I wrote their cheer."

James rolled his eyes.

"It'll be a miracle if they don't get tomatoes chucked at them...." he said under his breath.

"What was that?" Sirius jerked his head up.

"Nothing," James said innocently, turning to the team, "In your positions, please!"

---

The day of the Quidditch match finally arrived.

The players were relaxed, all lounging in the Great Hall tucking in on their breakfast.

However, the same thing couldn't have been said for the cheerleaders.

"Hey," James greeted Lily as she joined them, "How are you feeling?"

"Great! Chirpy! Cheerful! Terrific!" Lily said in a hysterical way. Then she sighed, "I'm going to die."

"Don't worry, you'll be fine," James reassured. Lily stared at him for a moment, confused.

Potter comforting someone?

It was easy to tell who were all the cheerleaders for Gryffindor, even though they were wearing their Hogwarts' robes. Their hair was pulled into a high, sleek ponytail that sat almost on top of their head, held with a golden ribbon.

Kayla Saunders and Jade McKinnon, both sixth-year brunettes who were on the cheerleading team, came running up to Lily.

"Do you know who the Hufflepuff captain is?" Kayla asked Lily, wide-eyed.

"Err, no," Lily said uncertainly. She had been too wound up in her own worries that she hadn't even bothered to find out their rival's captain.

"It's Adriana Zatling," Jade said tragically.

Lily continued to look blank, "Ahh, who's she?"

Kayla and Jade exchanged worried glances.

"Only the best cheerleader at Hogwarts," Kayla said anxiously.

Lily merely shrugged, "We're better."

Kayla and Jade laughed uncertainly before they went off.

"I hope we're up to this," Emily said, closing her eyes and crossing her fingers.

"I'm sure we are," Lily said, sounding pretty uncertain herself.

Then she turned to Sirius.

"Sirius, thanks for writing our cheer," she said, giving him a hug.

Sirius looked startled but pleased, "No sweat, Lil."

She then turned to James.

"Thanks for convincing me to do this," she said a bit timidly, cocking her head to one side.

James grinned, "No sweat. I don't want a hug though--" he leant in, "--I want a good luck kiss."

Lily restrained herself from rolling her eyes and quickly kissed James on the cheek. Two people in the Great Hall were very displeased about this. Kiara and Amos.

Argh, that does it, Potter. You started it. You rejected me, broke my heart and now you've stolen my girlfriend. So uncool. I'm going to slug you real bad.

"Okay you guys," Lily called to Penny and Emily, "Let's get ready."

"Good luck," Meddy and Remus called.

"Thanks. I think we'll need it."

---

"Okay you guys, this is it," Lily told her team seriously, "We've been practicing for a week now, and I think we're really good."

"We're up against Adriana Zatling," reminded Courtney Whitner.

"I don't care," Lily said dubiously, "We're still better."

"Some better than others," Anna Pacynski shot a look at Tina Middleton. The two girls despised each other.

"Yeah, right," scoffed Tina, glaring at Anna.

"Break it up you two," Lily said sharply, "Listen, I don't care that we're going against Adriana Zatling. I don't even care if we're going against England's all-time-cheerleading-champion. It doesn't matter because this isn't a competition."

The girls looked doubtful and exchanged glances.

"Now listen up, we're going to go out there. We're going to cheer for Gryffindor. And we're going to be the best."

---

"Welcome to the first Quidditch match of the season, Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff!" Remus announced. The audience went crazy, waving flags and screaming out cheers.

Sirius, a Beater, and James, a Chaser, were circling around on their brooms. Sirius winked at his best friend and flew off, around to the other side as he got into his position.

James shook hands with Amos in a friendly way, but the way Amos grinned maniacally with the dark, creepy look in his eyes seriously freaked him.

The Quaffle was thrown out, and James immediately dove out and just caught it between his fingertips.

"James Potter, Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, in possession of the Quaffle--brilliant pass to Tim Smith--back to James--GRYFFINDOR SCORE!"

The Gryffindor stands went wild, screaming and cheering their approval. Five seconds into the game and already a goal was scored.

"Hey, look at that! The newly appointed cheerleading teams. It looks like Gryffindor is about to burst out..."

"Okay, you guys," murmured Lily out of the corner of her mouth, "Ready...go!"

They began waving their pompoms in their air, moving from side to side with ultra bright smiles on their face.

"We cheer, and we lead,
We act like we're on speed.
Hate us cause we're beautiful,
Well we don't like you either!
We're cheerleaders,
We--are--cheerleaders."

James stopped for half a second to look at Lily. He smiled to himself. That girl got prettier every day. He watched as Amos Diggory whacked a Bludger towards Hope Meredith, who just managed to dodge it.

"--passes to Jack Bloe--Hufflepuff...score?" Remus frowned, then caught himself quickly and said half-enthusiastically, "HUFFLEPUFF SCORE!"

Most heads turned to listen to the Hufflepuff Cheerleading Team.

"Oh, Hufflepuff, you're so fine you're so fine you blow my mind,
Hey Hufflepuff hey hey, hey Hufflepuff hey hey.
Hey Amos!
Watching you practice every night and that's a little long,
Gryffindor think they've got it right but they've got it all wrong,
Why can't they just surrender tonight, and save them from embarassment."

Sirius, circling around in mid-air, began laughing. Honestly, it was the worst cheer he had ever heard.

Gryffindor scored a few more goals, and Hufflepuff scored one more goal. Lily decided to do another cheer.

"We sizzle, we scorch,
And now we pass the torch.
The game will begin,
And one team has to win.
We're fair, we're fun,
And we'll be number one.
Kick it Gryffindor,
G-G-G-Gryffindor.
We're strong and we're loud,
We're gonna make you proud!
We're G-G-G-Gryffindor.
Everyone's favourite team, Gryffindor!
Let's go, lions,
We are the lions, the mighty, mighty lions,
If we're so good, we must be the lions!"

James pelted the Quaffle so hard that the Hufflepuff Keeper dived out of the way.

"GRYFFINDOR SCORE AGAIN!"

The pitch was full of deafening cheers, and James turned to look at Lily, who, to his utter surprise, was looking right back at him.

"And it looks like the Seekers are onto the Snitch!"

James switched his gaze to Sammi Torr, their Seeker, who was flying after something that he couldn't see from his position. On her tail was the Hufflepuff Seeker.

Lily had been watching James. She could feel... affection growing inside of her. Maybe, just maybe, if he asked her out one more time... she would accept.

"COME ON, SAMMI!" Remus was screaming in his excitement, "GET THAT SNITCH--ALMOST THERE--"

James continued to look at Lily, although most eyes were on Sammi, who was closing onto the Snitch.

He really did love her... more than anything else...

Amos glared at James darkly. He was staring at his girlfriend. Well, he had vowed war on Potter secretly. He had gone too far. Amos sniffed on the inside. If James had accepted his offer...

Amos shook his head free. No, James had chosen to be straight.

That was all right.

But he preferred Black.

That would be all right as well, but now he was going after his girlfriend.

Nuh uh, not going to happen.

It's payback time, Amos thought nastily.

Out of the blue, a Bludger came hurtling at him. Feeling something rise up in him, Amos lifted his bat and struck it violently, right towards James.

James had fast reflexes, but even this was too quick for him. All he remembered was a crushing pain at the back of his head, and his eyes began to stream. He felt himself weaken and his body swayed off backwards, and he began to fall.

Lily watched in horror as James fell down at least fifteen metres. Even some of the most hardcore Quidditch-spectators had stopped staring at Sammi as she closed in on the Snitch to watch as the captain fell... fell... fell...

He crashed onto the ground.

Lily was among the first to reach the crumpled and unconscious form of James lying on the ground. There was blood trickling from the back of his head.

And it didn't look like he was going to make it.

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A/N: (cries) He's--he's--he's HURT! WAAAA. That's so... sad. :( This chapter is making me sad... well, the end part anyway. (sob) Well... I think this is the second last chap... yes, yes. Awwww, PRONGSIE 'TIS HURTIFIED! Okay, I'll shut up. (sniff) Goodbye and thank you! --MSQ.

PS. Here are the credits...

GRYFFINDOR CHEER
ORIGINAL-- from the movie Bring It On

I sizzle, I scorch,
And now I pass the torch.
The ballots are in, and one girl has to win,
She's perky, she's fun, and now she's number one.
Kick it Torrance,
T-T-T-Torrance!
I'm strong and I'm loud,
And I'm gonna make you proud.
I'm T-T-T-Torrance.
Your captain Torrance!
Let's go, Toros.
We are the Toros, the mighty, mighty Toros.
We're so terrific, we must be Toros!

HUFFLEPUFF CHEER
ORIGINAL-- Mickey by B-Witched

Oh Mickey, you're so fine you're so fine you blow my mind,
hey Mickey hey hey, hey Mickey hey hey.
Hey Mickey!
You've been around all night and that's a little long,
You think you've got the right but I think you've got it wrong.
Why can't you say goodnight so you can take me home, Mickey.