The events of the weekend had enlightened Katie's spirits and she walked around with a new spring in her step. The Quidditch season had just begun so Kate, being seeker for the Ravenclaw team, was often absent from the common room. Louise was also busy whether it be helping Kate with her daily Quidditch practise or watching over Katie as she wrote Quibbler articles about their first week back at school. In general it was quite clear to see that the new school term was back in action and with lessons in full swing everyone was working hard.
"I'm off now," Kate called as she marched out the common room dressed in full Quidditch gear and a broom in hand,
"Yeh see you later," Louise called back. Katie stood up from her position by the fireplace and stretched,
"Wait up Kate," she said sleepily, "I'm coming too. Could do with some fresh air, we've been cooped up inside all day." She grabbed her coat from the chair and started after Kate,
"Woah, woah, woah," said Louise suddenly, grabbing hold of Katie's arm causing her to jerk backwards, "Since when did you want to go watch Kate practise? I thought you hated sitting in the cold watching people fly madly round obstacles catching the occasional ball and hitting each other with bats. You said it was boring, I'm suspicious,"
"Oh give over Louise," Kate replied though a slight pink tinge appeared in her cheeks as she said so.
"Kate?" Louise asked, with a hint of realisation in her voice, "Who are you practising Quidditch with today?" Kate crossed her arms and thought deeply,
"Well, there'll be the two Ravenclaw chasers and the keeper, both of the beaters are ill at the moment, come down with some form of mild muggle flu,"
"Ah ha!" Louise exclaimed, "That's it!" she looked at Kate as if she had just confirmed her thoughts,
"What's it?" Katie asked confused,
"That's why you're going to watch the Quidditch practise, because the Ravenclaw keeper will be there! I should have seen it coming," Louise giggled.
"I don't get you," Kate said confusedly as she rested her broom on the chair arm,
"OK," said Louise impatiently, "Put it this way. You're practising with the Ravenclaw team,"
"Except the beaters," Kate added,
"Well yeh, but anyway," Louise started again, "And who exactly is on the Ravenclaw team? There's you, Hikari Chang-Edwards, Dan Stimpson, Anna Creevey, Marcus Weasley, Peter Diablo and who else?"
"Ohh, I see," Kate laughed, "Sam Evanstar." Katie flushed bright red and flopped down onto the sofa,
"Fine then, I won't go and watch Kate practise, I'll just stay here and get bored,"
"You won't get bored, we can play gobstones," Louise suggested, "Bye Kate, have fun," she added. Kate quickly disappeared and Louise and Katie sat in silence as they listened to her footsteps on the stone staircase then Louise disappeared to go and get her gobstones set but Katie remained on the sofa.
Kate soon returned from her Quidditch practise to announce the first Quidditch match of the season would take place the very next day. Ravenclaw would be playing against Gryffindor as Slytherin had some problem with finding a new chaser. After a quick chat and a cup of cocoa, the three girls retired to bed for a good nights sleep.
The next morning came bringing with it the anticipation of the day ahead. Katie got up as usual and then hurried to wake Kate in the bed opposite. Louise, being who she was, had already got up, washed, dressed and was now onto laying out Kate's Quidditch robes for her. Katie rolled her eyes as she walked past, muttered 'Monica' to herself, but thought it kind of Louise anyhow.
"Kate," she called lightly as she stepped over a pile of clothes Louise was attempting to tidy up, "Get up now, your match starts in two hours and you need some breakfast." She sat down on Kate's bed and rocked her gently. Kate opened her eyes, grumbled and sat up. Katie got up off the bed and smiled at her friend before turning back to her own blue four poster. She noticed Louise had gone, as had all remains of mess, but thought nothing of it.
As soon as they were ready Katie and Kate headed off downstairs to the Great Hall for some food. As they entered the Hall, Katie saw that Louise was already there and so went to join her at the Ravenclaw table. Kate walked nervously behind her, her Quidditch robes flowing and a look of un-interest on her face,
"Come on Kate," said Katie gesturing at the bench, "Sit down." Kate slowly seated herself next to Anna Creevey, the Ravenclaw beater (now fully recovered) and put her hands together. Katie thought she looked completely washed out, but then again she always did before a match.
"Hiya," said Louise happily as they sat down, "You ready for your match Kate? I can't wait to watch it!
"Hmm, yeh," Kate replied, a slight waver in her voice. Katie reached forward and picked up a bread roll, smothering it with butter before giving it to Kate. She knew her friend wouldn't eat otherwise. Katie picked it up and gingerly took a bit, then but it back down again. Just as Katie had started to munch her way through a Quorn sausage there was a mad rustle of wings and a loud screech followed by a huge flock of multicoloured owls flying into the hall from all directions. Many students ducked to avoid being hit by levitating parcels and others reached up to grab letters written on yellowing parchment. Louise jumped backwards off the bench to catch a lilac coloured enevelope, landing in a heap on the floor. Kate on the other hand simply put her hand in the air to grab a small folded piece of parchment - giving Louise a you-don't-have-to-make-a-drama-out-of-everything look at the same time.
"What's that you've got Louise?" Katie asked peering across the table,
"Oh nothing," Louise replied hastily, stuffing the envelope into her pocket,
"Fair enough, What's that?" She picked up Kate's note and read 'Good luck for the match today, love mum and dad',
"Aww that's nice," said Katie as she put the letter back on the table. As suddenly as the owls had come, a swarm of excited students moved past them and started to pile out of the hall. Kate coughed then stood up, before hurrying out of the hall anxiously without saying goodbye to her two friends.
"Come on then," Louise said, taking a final gulp of milk, "Let's go." Katie got off the long polished wooden bench, grabbed a few grapes and headed out of the hall with Louise to go and get seats at the Quidditch pitch.
When they arrived at the Quidditch pitch Katie noticed that the two teams, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor were stood on the grass crowded round their captains. Katie and Louise climbed the steep tower then edged their way along to two blue plastic seats near to the front of the spectators stand. Katie looked around her. The sun was shining and reflecting off the dew on the Quidditch pitch making it glisten. The viewing stands were slowly filling up with students carrying banners and wearing scarlet or blue pointed hats. She could see Kate down below, clutching her broom and shifting her feet nervously.
"What is she worried about," Katie though to herself, "She's one of the amazing seekers I've ever seen, you agree Louise?" No answer. Katie turned to see that her friend had deserted her, "Louise?" she called in surprise, looking madly around her, "Oh well," Katie muttered, turning back to the pitch just in time to see the teams mounting their brooms for the start of the match.
"Welcome to the first Quidditch match of the season!" called Professor Bloom from the teacher's stand, "Today we have Ravenclaw vs. Gryffindor. Playing for Ravenclaw is Evanstar (Katie gasped), Creevey, Weasley, Chang-Edwards, Stimpson, Diablo and Wizadora." The Ravenclaws cheered loudly and Katie whooped as Kate took off.
"And for Gryffindor is Goyle, Lorica, Smith, Weasley, Weasley, Shacklebolt and Brown." This time the Gryffindor fans exploded loudly.
"And shortly, let the game begin!"
As soon as everyone was in position the referee blew her whistle and the game began. Screams and shouts were emanating from all stand along with the occasional chant and the commentary from Miranda Jordan could just be heard over the noise.
"And it's nil-nil to both sides at the moment," she shouted, "Stimpson has the Quaffle, great pass there to Chang-Edwards, she dives forward, look at that! What talent this girl has! Quaffle to Diablo, he drops it, Quaffle to Stimpson, he drops it, Quaffle back to Diablo, Diablo shoots, HE SCORES!" The Ravenclaw stand erupted in cheers, Katie stood up to join them. "It's 10-nil to Ravenclaw." Katie sat back down but stretched upwards to get a better view of the Ravenclaw team,
"Back," whispered a voice. Katie turned to see Louise had returned,
"Where did you go?" she asked,
"Er, to get a drink," Louise replied,
"But-" Louise was saved from having to answer another question as the Gryffindor end cheered noisily.
"And it's 10 all so far," commentated Miranda, "Weasley has the Quaffle, he passes it to Smith of Gryffindor, Smith dives - ooh, that looks nasty." There was a loud gasp from each stand as a bludger whacked the chaser in the face, directed by Anna Creevey. The referee blew her whistle to let Janie Smith land to go and see the school nurse for her blooded up nose. A first year, Sophie Atkins, took her place meanwhile.
"And they're back in play," called the commentator, "Smith replaced by Sophie Atkins and Atkins has the Quaffle, passes to Shacklebolt, intercepted by Chang-Edwardss, she spins, she dives, she zooms, SHE SCORES!" Katie and Louise whistled loudly to congratulate Hikari Chang-Edwards on her goal,
"20-10 to Ravenclaw and play continues, Diablo of Ravenclaw has the Quaffle, he swerves to avoid a bludger directed by Lorica, passes to Stimpson. Ooh did you see that spin by Creevey? Anyway, Stimpson still has possession of the Quaffle, he swerves round the Gryffindor beaters, HE'S GONNA SCORE! Oh no, the Quaffle is intercepted by Keeper Goyle, Bad luck Ravenclaw." The Gryffindor end cheered, Katie could see Rachel Felton jumping up and down wildly.
"Now Weasley has the Quaffle, is that the snitch? Yes it is! Brown has seen it, she zooms towards the Ravenclaw post, tailed by Wizadora, it's a close race. Oh and the snitch has vanished, wait what's that, oh, Gryffindor have scored! I think that was Richard Weasley. but I'm not sure. So, 20-20 is the score. And the snitch is back!" Everyone craned their necks to try and get closer to the chase between Kate and Charlotte, but not succeeding as they seemed to be going up higher and higher.
"Ooh this game is good," squealed Louise, pressing the badge on her chest causing it to shout out 'Ravenclaw rule!' in a high squeaky voice.
"Go go Ravenclaw!" called a voice from behind, who Katie recognised to be Julie.
So the game went on, uneventful for a while with the odd goal, but still managing to keep the crown hooked. After about an hour things started to happen once more.
"The Quaffle is in Ravenclaw possession," called Miranda, "Stimpson has it now and he's moving like wildfire, look at him go! He passed to Chang-Edwards, she's above the goal, she shoots, SHE SCORES AGAIN! That's 70-40 to Ravenclaw." Katie clapped happily, smiling ecstatically, she hadn't enjoyed herself this much in a long time. "The snitch has returned!" Miranda commented, "And Wizadora's seen it, look at her go!" There was a chant of 'Wizadora, we adore her' from the Ravenclaw stand, Katie joined in the cheering for her friend.
"Look at her go! She's sure got talent that Wizadora! She circles Goyle, she can see the snitch! Wizadora stretches out, but is knocked off course by Brown and skids to the left. But she's back on track, tailing Brown, getting nearer and nearer, oh and Gryffindor score! 70-50 to Ravenclaw." Katie groaned, but at least they were still in the lead. "Wizadora is gaining on the snitch! Brown seems to have slowed, but Wizadora is still going strong! She reaches out, I don't believe it, SHE'S CAUGHT IT! Kate Wizadora has caught the snitch! That's 220-50 to Ravenclaw and game over for Gryffindor. I'm Miranda Jordan, signing off."
Katie saw Kate punch the air ecstatically as she swerved down to the ground. As soon as she'd landed a flood of Ravenclaws surrounded her, lifting her up into the air. Katie and Louise hurried down the stairs and went to congratulate Kate, patting her on the back. The air was filled with song and the chant of 'Wizadora, we adore her' rung round the school grounds. The Gryffindors trundled past glumly giving cold stares to the members of the Ravenclaw team who just smiled back sarcastically. Kate and the team continued to be praised all the way up to the castle and throughout the night, leaving the three friends thoroughly exhausted by the early morning and subconsciously singing, "Wizadora, we adore her' to themselves.
A/N yay! I like writing quidditch matches! might just have to have another one later! And don't fogert, 'wizadora, we adore her!' Please review!