nikki A/N: I'm a terrible, evil person for depriving you for this long. I just only recently got a computer that will allow me to update, you see, and I've been so distracted breaking it in that I'd nearly forgotten how long you've been without.. and alas, for a bit longer, you'll be without any real plot, as I came to three sudden realizations a week ago: 1- the story is short, and doesn't have much interaction with the Darkflame clan, who I spent so much time developing in my head and in side projects that got flushed, 2- the plot moves too sodding fast, and 3- this just doesn't feel

enough like a J.K. Rowling fanfiction without, you guessed, it, a chapter of completely random Quidditch that does nothing for the plot save for a little character development and putting some meat on the bones of the story.

And thanks to Remi and Linny for that fun brainstorming session when I needed to name Ms. Chang, who can either be a significantly older sister or a young aunt to Cho, it's all in your heads, folks. I didn't like Cho enough to go back and see if her family was ever mentioned. dodges rotten fruit and to think, I was sorted into Ravenclaw on the Hogwarts RPG board... go figure..

So without further adeau, let's toss some quaffle!

chapter 10: Slytherin vs. Ravenclaw, Quidditch Cup Finals

"Remember, watch out for Sarah Bones, the Seeker. She's the only really good player on the team. Ignore everyone else, really. Just make sure she doesn't get the Snitch, Rakka," Tomas ordered.

"Don't sweat it, Tomas," Rakka winked, tightening her arm guards. "She's new. She didn't watch much Quidditch last year. She doesn't know how to play against Slytherins, especially not us."

"Nice to see that our favorite seeker managed to revive before the Cup," Zeke smiled, seeing Rakka flip her hair out of the neck of her robes before tying it in a loose braid.

"Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss this for the world. Ravenclaw is going down," Rakka smirked, grabbing her broom. "Ready?"

"Waiting for you, kid," Tomas stood, broom in hand. Remi and Isamu stood to his left, and Jakob and Michael to Tomas' right.

"Let's go kick some ass," Rakka grinned, following them out onto the field.

"Here comes Slytherin," Joseph Samus, the fourth year Hufflepuff that was commentating this year's games, announced. "We've got the captain, Tomas Darkflame, Keeper, his brother, Zekiel, Beater, and back for the first game since Slytherin vs. Hufflepuff, the last piece of the Terrible Trio, Rakka, who will be today's Seeker. With her is Eana Remillus, the Slytherin Banshee, who is a Chaser, along with the two chasers new to this year, the cousins of the Darkflame triplets, Michael 'Green Wind' Swindler, the fastest Chaser in Hogwarts, and Isamu Perellfoot, the Demoness herself, who has the record for most injuries caused to other players by a Chaser in one season, before the season is even over. And of course, last but certainly not least, Zeke's parter in crime, Beater Jakob Stormcrow."

Rakka circled the field, hearing the roar of the Slytherin stands going berserk. The Hufflepuffs were cheering for Slytherin as well, while Gryffindor booed them nearly as loudly as Ravenclaw did, Eana circling as closely to the Gryffindor stands as she could, baring her teeth and sticking her tongue out at the students, cackling maniacally. One thing was for sure: put Eana Remillius in Quidditch robes, and she isn't Remi anymore. She really is the Slytherin Banshee.

"And now, here comes Ravenclaw! Captain Marisha Chang, Chaser, and her two Chaser companions: Wilhemina and Sam Angelline."

Marisha her hair tied back in several small braids, tried her damnedest to look menacing as she circled in, the blonde brother and sister team of Wilhemina and Sam right behind her.

"Behind them are Beaters James Whimbledon and Mark Boot, Seeker Sarah Bones, and Nathaniel Turpin, Keeper."

Whimbledon and Boot looked like they could have been brothers, the same thick build, sandy brown hair, and dark eyes. Sarah Bones was a very thin girl, seeming rather fragile and out of place, though she did seem very quick and agile, good for a Seeker. Nate Turpin was a similar build to Tomas and Zeke, sort of wiry and thin, but not at all gaunt or frail. Both teams fell into line as Madam Hooch opened the box and let loose the Quaffle, Bludgers, and Snitch.

Rakka shot straight up, circling the field like a hawk, only to see Sarah doing the same, glancing between the field and Rakka, looking for any signs that Rakka might have spotted the Snitch. Taking the opportunity, Rakka glanced over at Zeke, who looked back up at her. Grinning, Rakka started diving toward him.

"And it looks like Rakka has spotted the Snitch! She's in a steep dive... if she's not careful, she's going to splatter on the ground, and Slytherin can't afford to lose her again, not with Bones on the field.."

Seeing Rakka dive, Sarah followed. Rakka pressed herself tightly against the broom, trying to go faster, chancing a glace at Zeke, who was looking away, grinning. Rakka knew exactly what he was looking at, and pressed on, not caring how close she was to the ground, just determined to get a firm lead on Sarah, who was fast, but not fast enough. Two loud thuds later, Rakka pulled out of her dive inches from the ground.

"And Zeke Darkflame's well aimed Bludger has knocked Sarah Bones clean off of her broom! It was a feint! Rakka did not find the Snitch!"

No sooner were the words out of Joseph's mouth than a gold blur buzzed by Rakka's face. Instinctively, she reached up to swat it away, only to realize it was the Snitch, and clasp her fingers around one buzzing wing. Sarah Bones hadn't even been taken off the field yet, and the game was over.

"No, wait... Rakka has the Snitch! Slytherin has won the Cup, the final victory for the Terrible Trio, the Banshee, and Stormcrow, and the first Cup win for the Demoness and the Green Wind! What a great finish!"

Rakka landed, handing the Snitch to Madam Hooch before getting tackled by Zeke.

"You did it, you crazy kid!" Zeke grinned, kissing her cheek so hard it hurt.

"Hey, ease up, spaz," she smirked. "I couldn't have done it without you, pal. Thanks for taking care of Bones for me."

"Hey, that's what Beaters are for, right?" he grinned. "Thanks for passing me that Bludger back there, Jakob."

"Hey, I'm here for you, Zeke," Jakob grinned, landing next to them. Isamu landed next to him, dropping her broom and catching Rakka in a strangling hug.

"We won! You did it, we won!" Isamu cried joyously (and rather loudly) in Rakka's ear, then turned to hug Remi, who was squealing at a similar volume.

"You slimy gits!" Marisha Chang growled, storming over in a whirlwind of blue robes and pure anger. "You underhanded, sneaky little.. snake!"

"Is there a problem, Miss Chang?" Tomas stepped forward.

"That was a dirty trick, you nasty little skank!" Marisha raged, shoving Tomas aside.

"Hey, we won, fair and square, so bugger off!" Zeke growled back, Rakka stepping in front of him defensively. Marisha stormed up until she was only a few feet away, only to find herself blocked by a broom held firmly in front of her, hitting her hip hard when she walked into it.

"I think that's enough, Miss Chang," Rakka said quietly, holding her broom steady.

"Get out of my way," Marisha hissed.

"That's enough, Miss Chang," Rakka said again, a little louder, in a warning tone.

"Get out of my way, Rakka, I've got a score to settle with your charming brother," Marisha grabbed the broom as though to push it aside, only to have Rakka grab her shoulder tightly, bordering on painful.

"Watch your head," Rakka said quietly. Marisha didn't have time to contemplate what Rakka meant before a stray bludger connected with the back of her head, sending her over Rakka's broom like a limp doll. Rakka caught the girl by her shoulders, lowering her to the ground and standing beside the unconscious Ravenclaw captain, suppressing a smirk.

"Oh, my," Madam Hooch sighed. "It looks like I didn't manage to get that bludger back fast enough. We'll have to get Madam Pomfrey to take a look at her. Come on, kids, clear out, give her some room." As Madam Hooch signaled to have Marisha taken off the field on a stretcher, Dumbledore came off of the field, Cup in hand, Professor Snape and two women with cameras right behind him.

"Great job," Snape smiled almost hesitantly, glancing from one teammate to another until he had given a smile to every member, save for the one that pounced, catching him in a strangle hug as the flashbulbs began a thorough blinding of the weary team.

"We won, Snapey lady!" Remi grinned, squeezing the life out of the teacher. "Aren't you proud of us?"

"Yes, very much so, Miss Remillius," Snape smiled a little when she finally let go, opting to strangle Jackob next, as he turned a bit red in the ears, not so much from the death hug as from who was delivering it. Rakka cast a sidelong glance at Snape, then looked over at Isamu, knowing she was busted. Isamu winked back, as if to say the secret was still safe with her.

"Can I get a picture of all of you together, here, Professor in the middle, guys in back, girls in front," the photographer gestured. "Yes, yes, that's it. How about with the Seeker in the middle, too.. yes, that's it, now smile, everyone!"

Several further flashbulbs later, the group dispersed as much as was necessary for personal space, but Rakka found herself still standing beside Severus.

"You were wonderful out there, Miss Darkflame," Severus said in a cool, conversational tone. Rakka came to the realization that when all eyes had been on her during the game, his had been as well. She looked down, willing herself not to blush.

"Thank you, professor, your opinion is greatly appreciated," Rakka said calmly. "Wow.. I sound like an ass, don't I?"

"Of course not, Miss Darkflame, that was a very professional, courteous answer," Severus choked down a chuckle.

"Hell with professional courtesy, I'm seventeen, I should act like it," Rakka muttered to herself. At this, Severus couldn't hold back his laughter.

"What makes you say that?" Severus asked softly. "I mean, what's wrong with being mature?"

"It's no fun," Rakka smiled a little. "And it scares people off."

"It doesn't scare me off," Severus said softly, immediately regretting it. He had probably just creeped her out, and now she would never be able to talk to him the same. If only he could have held back for a couple more weeks, until she was leaving...

"Well, you're the first guy I haven't accidentally tricked into thinking I'm lacking a soul," Rakka actually managed eye contact for a moment, then broke it off again, losing an uphill battle with the uncomfortable heat rising up her neck and down her arms.

"Then maybe I'm the first guy you've talked to that has half a brain," he shrugged. Rakka smiled at that, looking back up at him for a moment before the quiet was interrupted by Zeke cursing loudly, as though he'd put a Sonorus charm on himself.

"You sodding brat! I swear, one of these days, I'll tear your damned tongue out!"

"LAAADIEEEE!" Remi squealed, giggling uncontrollably.

"Those two are hopeless," Rakka didn't even realize that Snape had echoed her same sighing statement until Isamu and Jakob burst out laughing.