Chapter Five
Quidditch

"Match fixtures all of you!" Hooch chirruped handing them all copies as they stepped inside the staffroom. Each staff team was grouped together, pouring over the fixtures, some looked up to see the "Slytherin" team arrive from practise, eyeing them up.

The first match was Ravenclaw students verses Gryffindor students. The following day it was the same for the staff teams. This first match was in a week's time. The weekend after it held the Slytherin-Hufflepuff matches, students on the Saturday, staff on the Sunday. Following that was a month's break for the student matches. The staff however continued the very next weekend, with Hufflepuff vs. Ravenclaw, then the following weekends after that held Gryffindor-Slytherin, Ravenclaw-Slytherin, Hufflepuff-Gryffindor, so that the staff tournament was thick and fast so as to be finished before Christmas with any luck. Eventually when the student tournaments which ended sometime in the second term, were over, the winners from each tournament would play, students verses staff. Severus appeared to be strongly aiming for Slytherin staff verses Slytherin students.

There were no further reports of flying and biting books by Elvin Wolf, which meant the Ministry of Magic left the books to Slatero and his classes finally. Even the first years this term were progressing smoothly. Davina made few further advances on the young defence against the dark arts professor, a slight distance between the two friends. Quidditch practices became much more frequent, the team turning out in rain or shine. That along with the spying on the staff Ravenclaw team out of the Slytherin Quidditch tower on the pitch late at night made up the most of the free time the staff had. Slatero was having trouble keeping up with his marking, as Severus Snape is a difficult person to say no to.

The student match between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor was fast and furious in the October air, Gryffindor winning when Charlie Weasley caught the snitch when the points were level. The following day the staff teams were on the pitch. Professor Dumbledore watched with the remaining staff as Madam Hooch supervised Minerva and Fillius shaking hands and then started the game. A huge cheer erupted from the Ravenclaw stand as the staff scored after thirty seconds.
Gryffindor staff fought back, McGonagall scoring soon after. Several fouls were called by Hooch. The most spectacular action of the game was the astrology professor, Gryffindor's keeper, being knocked off her broom by a bludger into the sand at the base of the goals. Unusually the game was stopped immediately by Hooch, not something she did with the students, and the fact was noticed by many of the students who called out from the stands. Luckily the keeper wasn't hurt and got back on their broom to continue play. Ravenclaw won, Fillius catching the snitch when his team was behind. Severus increased training.

Friday morning, the day before the Slytherin student match, Davina picked at her food at breakfast. She had a gaunt look on her face.
"Are you nervous about Sunday?" Slatero asked. Davina looked up at him suddenly.
"No, not at all. You?"
"I can't help being nervous." Quirrell gave a smile. Davina didn't return it. She continued to look ill through to Saturday afternoon, when halfway through the Slytherin-Hufflepuff student match she told Slatero she was going back to rest, as she felt unwell. Slatero offered to go with her, but she insisted against it. When she didn't turn up for dinner, Severus questioned Slatero on her health. Their first match was less than twenty-four hours away.

After dinner Severus and Slatero left the building to discuss the conditions and Davina. The night was cool and the moon was full, illuminating the grounds and the Quidditch pitch. As the two wizards walked across the grounds, what looked like a huge dog ran from the pitch to the forest. They both stopped dead. The wind swept round them.
"Wolf?" Slatero asked, reaching for his wand within his robes. The forest was full of them, but they rarely ventured out.
"Legitimate or animagi..." Severus started.
"Werewolf." Slatero finished. A cloud obscured the moon sinking them into darkness.
"Lumos!" They both commanded, holding their wands out.
"It's gone, back into the forest. We'll inform Dumbledore of the restlessness when we return." Severus said. "If it's a werewolf, we can't risk it attacking students."
"True. I didn't get a good enough look to see if it was. Davina said she saw wolves on her travels." Slatero said suddenly.
"She better be well enough to play tomorrow!" The potions master growled.

"Davina? Are you awake?" Slatero called through his friend's door. There was no reply. He put his ear to the wood, the cool hit his ear with some surprise. His hand rested on the handle, and a small turn found it to be open. Cautiously he looked round the door and saw the chamber was empty. He walked into the empty room, bewildered. Perhaps she was in the hospital wing, Slatero considered, spotting a parchment left on the empty table. Grasping it, he read:

Dear Slatero, Poppy and Severus.

Don't worry about me being ill, I recognised it as a reoccurrence of something I caught travelling, and I'm at St Mungo's where they've got the antidote. It doesn't look like I'll be back for Quidditch, more like Monday morning. Please explain this to Albus. Good luck for the Quidditch.

Davina

Severus went off to find a sub to replace Davina, Slatero went to Dumbledore.

"Good evening Slatero, looking forwards to tomorrow?" Albus asked as the young teacher came through the door to his office.
"Evening headmaster. Not so much since we're one player down."
"Davina not well?"
"As far as we know." He handed over Davina's note. Dumbledore peered through his half moon spectacles.
"I'll send an owl to St Mungo's to check she's well." Slatero gave a nod. The headmaster had the pensive on his desk, the grey clouds swirling. Slatero looked from it to the headmaster.
"Yes... interesting news. Harry Potter had shown signs of being magical again. It'll only be three years until he's studying here.
"That soon headmaster?"
"Albus Slatero. Besides you only call me that when tense." Slatero looked stunned.
"Really?" He exclaimed in disbelief. The wise old wizard chuckled, drawing a grey strand from his temple into the pensive. Slatero saw Davina and him standing together for a second before it too swirled in with the rest.
"Good night headmaster." Slatero said, turning for the door. When he'd gone, Dumbledore smiled at the young man's behaviour before writing to Davina. No one noticed the owl circle the school once and then land on her windowsill.