CHAPTER 2
I DREAM OF QUIDDITCH
"WELCOME ONE AND ALL TO THE HOGWARTS QUIDDITCH STADIUM ON THIS FINE DAY!" yelled Angus Neil, the official Hogwarts Quidditch announcer. "AND ON THIS FINE DAY WE ARE REWARDED TO A MATCH BETWEEN HUFFLEPUFF AND SLYTHERIN!" Angus was defiantly right, for Hufflepuff and Slytherin were having a Quidditch match that day, and unlike all the other players, he wasn't looking forward to it. His father had been the greatest seeker that Hogwarts had ever seen, until James Potter came along in his fifth year and stolen his victory. After the Blackstone Troll Gang had killed his family, Julius vowed to be as good or better than Potter and his father. He tried his hardest during the games, and practice, and during the summer, but he still wasn't good. He was the best chaser that his team, Hufflepuff, had had, but he still couldn't be the seeker. His team had beaten Griffindor and Slytherin had massacred Ravenclaw, so it was time that they showed up. Slytherin's hot new Seeker, Marcus Flint, was the worst jerk that one could ever conjure up, but he was also the model seeker.
"Now here comes Professor McGonagle on her brand new Nimbus 1000!", yelled Neil. McGonagle then got between both teams, who were positioned in a half circle.
"I know this is the Quidditch Cup", said McGonagle, "but if you don't give me a nice, clean game, I will make sure that a sack of dungbombs are put in each of your cauldrons." She then threw the Quaffle up into the air and both teams zoomed towards the center. However, Callius McRubble, one of the Slytherin chasers, grabbed the Quaffle first and zoomed off towards the Hufflepuff goal. However, Jamie O'Brien, a Hufflepuff chaser, tackled Callius and passed the ball to Julius. Once he caught it, he saw that their third chaser, Yvonne Arbington, was closer to the Slytherin hoops than he was, so he threw the ball with all his might at Yvonne, who caught it. She then threw it at one of the hoops, but the Slytherin Keeper, Jackson Archer, blocked the shot and Julius cursed.
Jackson then threw the ball to Callius, who was zooming towards the Hufflepuff hoop. Julius intercepted Callius and was going to make a tackle when Callius started cobbing him really hard. Julius ignored it for a while, but he got so sick and tired of it after a few times. He then leaped upon Callius, grabbed the Quaffle, and then leaped back onto his broom and began soaring towards the hoop when he felt a pain in his back. He ignored it for a while, but once he got closer to the hoop the pain was unbearable, and Julius dropped the ball.
"TIME OUT!" yelled McGonagle. "Julius, what's wrong?"
"I don't know", sighed Julius. "My back just started hurting like crazy out of nowhere. It was unbearable. I couldn't help dropping the ball".
"Do you have a history of these kinds of spasms?" asked McGonagle.
"IT WASN'T A SPASM!" yelled Julius. "IT WAS SOME MAGIC FROM THOSE SLYTHERIN FU..."
"Watch your language!" yelled McGonagle. "Since I didn't see any wands around, I won't count that as a penalty on Slytherin's part. Since you dropped the ball, that will be considered a foul and Slytherin will automatically get the ball."
"What!" exclaimed Julius.
"You heard me", yelled McGonagle. "Now you go back up and play Quidditch or I will automatically give Slytherin the Quidditch Cup."
"Fine then", said Julius. He then zoomed back up on his broom into the semi-circle that his team made. McGonagle then threw the ball in the middle and Julius flew to the ball, caught it, and dove towards the ground so that he could avoid the other players. After he was underneath the other players he zoomed to a normal height and zoomed as fast as he could toward the three Slytherin hoops. It was a flawless move, and he heard that the whole crowd cheering at him as the wind rushed into his face and caused a sensation like no other. He lifted his arm to throw the Quaffle into one of the hoops when a bludger hit the back of his broom and caused it to explode. He then spun out of control until the other Slytherin beater hit the bludger with his bat and it hit Julius's arm, causing him to fall out of his broom and drop his Quaffle. He hit the sand with a thud, and the gasping of many a fan was in the background. Julius jumped out of the sand as if he fell of his bead instead of falling 70 meters from the sky and ran towards the Hogwarts castle.
"JULIUS!" yelled Madame Promfrey. "COME BACK HERE! I NEED TO HEAL YOU!" Julius just ignored her comments and began to walk towards the castle. He absolutely couldn't believe it. He got too cocky with his trick play and caused himself the pain of embarrassment- and being beaten with a bludger. His dad wouldn't have done it. His dad wouldn't let his emotions get in the way. His dad would've seen the bludgers come, evade them, and throw the ball into the hoop and scored a well-deserved goal for his house (which was good old Griffindor). That's the problem- his dad was the perfect Quidditch player and he wasn't. He had to be as good as his dad, but he couldn't. His dad was just way too good. It was impossible! That's why he sat in front of the Quidditch trophy room and cried in front of it, staring at his father's trophy, which was next to James Potter's and several other famous players who wound up going to the England Quidditch team and being beaten constantly.
"It will do no good to mope", said a feminine voice from afar.
"You don't understand", said Julius. "Just be thankful that you're not in my position."
"Then you should try to stop giving me advice on my problems", said the female. The voice came from Cleo Anderton, Julius's girlfriend. She was exactly his age, had a very eccentric but nice personality, and her features were to die for (Julius thought she would make a good bikini model, but he dare not tell that to her). They met during lunch, when Cleo got a howler for getting a negative score on a transfigurations exam. She had gone of crying after hearing the offensive letter, but Julius, who could not stand crying, tried to talk her out of crying. It took an hour after that to maker her stop crying, but she then brightened up and became the best of friends.
In contrast to what Julius had said to her, she was actually in the same position he was. He had come to Hogwarts when he was fifteen and was forced to start at the First-Year level, while Cleo has been a first year at age eleven, but she had a learning disability and was currently taking fourth year magic. However, she didn't have an all-star Quidditch dad or mom, but she would hate to see Julius get gangrene if he didn't go see Madame Promfrey.
"You're trying so hard to be your dad", said Cleo.
"You haven't noticed?" exclaimed Julius.
"Well, you're doing a hell of a job trying", said Cleo.
"WHAT!" yelling Julius. "I AM DOING EVERY GODDAM THING I CAN POSSIBLY THINK OF TO BE AS GOOD AS HIM! I JUST CAN'T BE LIKE HIM! I CAN'T! IMAGINE IF HE WAS STILL ALIVE! YOU THINK YOUR HOWLERS WERE BAD? IMAGINE WHAT MINE WOULD BE LIKE!"
"If you want to be like him stop moping", yelled Cleo. "My mom was his girlfriend before he hooked up with Lilly. He would not do this kind of thing if he lost a Quidditch match!"
"I don't think he ever did, woman!" yelled Julius.
"HE DID!" yelled Cleo. "Look at his trophy- 22 wins! That means he lost six during his stay here! He's not perfect! And neither are you!"
"It would feel a lot better if I lost as a Seeker than if I lost as a chaser!" yelled Julius.
"You are the best chaser in Hogwarts!" yelled Cleo. "Our Seeker is just a little bit better than you are! You don't know how proud your father would be of you, and he would be even more proud if you went to Madame Promfrey instead of moping! Now, why don't we go to Madame Promfrey this very instant so we don't wound your father's ghost any more?"
"Fine", said Julius, who bounced right back up like a Kangaroo. "Whatever you say".
"Besides", said Cleo, "I'll take you to Honeyduke's. You know it's your favorite."
"Sounds yummy", said Julius, "just like you."
"You wish", said Cleo. "Say, you want to go to the Circus with me?"
"You must've used a mind reading charm on me", said Julius. They then walked to the nurse hand in hand, oblivious of what destiny would set in front of them on a silver platter.
I DREAM OF QUIDDITCH
"WELCOME ONE AND ALL TO THE HOGWARTS QUIDDITCH STADIUM ON THIS FINE DAY!" yelled Angus Neil, the official Hogwarts Quidditch announcer. "AND ON THIS FINE DAY WE ARE REWARDED TO A MATCH BETWEEN HUFFLEPUFF AND SLYTHERIN!" Angus was defiantly right, for Hufflepuff and Slytherin were having a Quidditch match that day, and unlike all the other players, he wasn't looking forward to it. His father had been the greatest seeker that Hogwarts had ever seen, until James Potter came along in his fifth year and stolen his victory. After the Blackstone Troll Gang had killed his family, Julius vowed to be as good or better than Potter and his father. He tried his hardest during the games, and practice, and during the summer, but he still wasn't good. He was the best chaser that his team, Hufflepuff, had had, but he still couldn't be the seeker. His team had beaten Griffindor and Slytherin had massacred Ravenclaw, so it was time that they showed up. Slytherin's hot new Seeker, Marcus Flint, was the worst jerk that one could ever conjure up, but he was also the model seeker.
"Now here comes Professor McGonagle on her brand new Nimbus 1000!", yelled Neil. McGonagle then got between both teams, who were positioned in a half circle.
"I know this is the Quidditch Cup", said McGonagle, "but if you don't give me a nice, clean game, I will make sure that a sack of dungbombs are put in each of your cauldrons." She then threw the Quaffle up into the air and both teams zoomed towards the center. However, Callius McRubble, one of the Slytherin chasers, grabbed the Quaffle first and zoomed off towards the Hufflepuff goal. However, Jamie O'Brien, a Hufflepuff chaser, tackled Callius and passed the ball to Julius. Once he caught it, he saw that their third chaser, Yvonne Arbington, was closer to the Slytherin hoops than he was, so he threw the ball with all his might at Yvonne, who caught it. She then threw it at one of the hoops, but the Slytherin Keeper, Jackson Archer, blocked the shot and Julius cursed.
Jackson then threw the ball to Callius, who was zooming towards the Hufflepuff hoop. Julius intercepted Callius and was going to make a tackle when Callius started cobbing him really hard. Julius ignored it for a while, but he got so sick and tired of it after a few times. He then leaped upon Callius, grabbed the Quaffle, and then leaped back onto his broom and began soaring towards the hoop when he felt a pain in his back. He ignored it for a while, but once he got closer to the hoop the pain was unbearable, and Julius dropped the ball.
"TIME OUT!" yelled McGonagle. "Julius, what's wrong?"
"I don't know", sighed Julius. "My back just started hurting like crazy out of nowhere. It was unbearable. I couldn't help dropping the ball".
"Do you have a history of these kinds of spasms?" asked McGonagle.
"IT WASN'T A SPASM!" yelled Julius. "IT WAS SOME MAGIC FROM THOSE SLYTHERIN FU..."
"Watch your language!" yelled McGonagle. "Since I didn't see any wands around, I won't count that as a penalty on Slytherin's part. Since you dropped the ball, that will be considered a foul and Slytherin will automatically get the ball."
"What!" exclaimed Julius.
"You heard me", yelled McGonagle. "Now you go back up and play Quidditch or I will automatically give Slytherin the Quidditch Cup."
"Fine then", said Julius. He then zoomed back up on his broom into the semi-circle that his team made. McGonagle then threw the ball in the middle and Julius flew to the ball, caught it, and dove towards the ground so that he could avoid the other players. After he was underneath the other players he zoomed to a normal height and zoomed as fast as he could toward the three Slytherin hoops. It was a flawless move, and he heard that the whole crowd cheering at him as the wind rushed into his face and caused a sensation like no other. He lifted his arm to throw the Quaffle into one of the hoops when a bludger hit the back of his broom and caused it to explode. He then spun out of control until the other Slytherin beater hit the bludger with his bat and it hit Julius's arm, causing him to fall out of his broom and drop his Quaffle. He hit the sand with a thud, and the gasping of many a fan was in the background. Julius jumped out of the sand as if he fell of his bead instead of falling 70 meters from the sky and ran towards the Hogwarts castle.
"JULIUS!" yelled Madame Promfrey. "COME BACK HERE! I NEED TO HEAL YOU!" Julius just ignored her comments and began to walk towards the castle. He absolutely couldn't believe it. He got too cocky with his trick play and caused himself the pain of embarrassment- and being beaten with a bludger. His dad wouldn't have done it. His dad wouldn't let his emotions get in the way. His dad would've seen the bludgers come, evade them, and throw the ball into the hoop and scored a well-deserved goal for his house (which was good old Griffindor). That's the problem- his dad was the perfect Quidditch player and he wasn't. He had to be as good as his dad, but he couldn't. His dad was just way too good. It was impossible! That's why he sat in front of the Quidditch trophy room and cried in front of it, staring at his father's trophy, which was next to James Potter's and several other famous players who wound up going to the England Quidditch team and being beaten constantly.
"It will do no good to mope", said a feminine voice from afar.
"You don't understand", said Julius. "Just be thankful that you're not in my position."
"Then you should try to stop giving me advice on my problems", said the female. The voice came from Cleo Anderton, Julius's girlfriend. She was exactly his age, had a very eccentric but nice personality, and her features were to die for (Julius thought she would make a good bikini model, but he dare not tell that to her). They met during lunch, when Cleo got a howler for getting a negative score on a transfigurations exam. She had gone of crying after hearing the offensive letter, but Julius, who could not stand crying, tried to talk her out of crying. It took an hour after that to maker her stop crying, but she then brightened up and became the best of friends.
In contrast to what Julius had said to her, she was actually in the same position he was. He had come to Hogwarts when he was fifteen and was forced to start at the First-Year level, while Cleo has been a first year at age eleven, but she had a learning disability and was currently taking fourth year magic. However, she didn't have an all-star Quidditch dad or mom, but she would hate to see Julius get gangrene if he didn't go see Madame Promfrey.
"You're trying so hard to be your dad", said Cleo.
"You haven't noticed?" exclaimed Julius.
"Well, you're doing a hell of a job trying", said Cleo.
"WHAT!" yelling Julius. "I AM DOING EVERY GODDAM THING I CAN POSSIBLY THINK OF TO BE AS GOOD AS HIM! I JUST CAN'T BE LIKE HIM! I CAN'T! IMAGINE IF HE WAS STILL ALIVE! YOU THINK YOUR HOWLERS WERE BAD? IMAGINE WHAT MINE WOULD BE LIKE!"
"If you want to be like him stop moping", yelled Cleo. "My mom was his girlfriend before he hooked up with Lilly. He would not do this kind of thing if he lost a Quidditch match!"
"I don't think he ever did, woman!" yelled Julius.
"HE DID!" yelled Cleo. "Look at his trophy- 22 wins! That means he lost six during his stay here! He's not perfect! And neither are you!"
"It would feel a lot better if I lost as a Seeker than if I lost as a chaser!" yelled Julius.
"You are the best chaser in Hogwarts!" yelled Cleo. "Our Seeker is just a little bit better than you are! You don't know how proud your father would be of you, and he would be even more proud if you went to Madame Promfrey instead of moping! Now, why don't we go to Madame Promfrey this very instant so we don't wound your father's ghost any more?"
"Fine", said Julius, who bounced right back up like a Kangaroo. "Whatever you say".
"Besides", said Cleo, "I'll take you to Honeyduke's. You know it's your favorite."
"Sounds yummy", said Julius, "just like you."
"You wish", said Cleo. "Say, you want to go to the Circus with me?"
"You must've used a mind reading charm on me", said Julius. They then walked to the nurse hand in hand, oblivious of what destiny would set in front of them on a silver platter.