Ch 2
Madam Hooch hurried over with her wand outstretched, shouting orders to the other players above. Craning my neck to get a better view of the body, I was speculating whether it was possible that Croesus could really be 'struck by lightning'when a flushed Flavius Trent came up to the stands and gripped my wrist.
"Cmon you ! , he hissed impatiently, his pale eyes unusually bright with excitement.
Startled yet curious, I allowed him to lead me while picking up news from the onlookers.
..flew straight into the pole...
..did you see that..?
Bloody fool!!
Think it was deliberate..?
oh! oh! he tried the ronski faint thingy!
Feint! Wronski feint, how many times do I have to tell..
Must have been painful, I thought with a shade more compassion for the fallen Seeker than usual. Especially when he learns in the hospital wing that the Slytherins will have forfeited the game.
Trent apparently had the same trend of thought and nodded grimly at the Slytherin Captain and Keeper Destin Dorchester who was hovering near his fallen team mate with a strained expression on his face.
As stretchers were conjured, Madam Hoochs shrill whistle heralded the half time break, much to the disappointment of the Gryffindor fans.
This surprised me. Surely the game was over thanks to the optical oversight of our resident House Seeker?
With a startled jolt I remembered my main purpose for coming.
Hey Flave, I said, including Trent in my troubles for the first time, Did you see Professor Snape anywhere at the game today?
He did not attend the game." Trent replied shortly, as we winded our way past a jubilant group of gambling third years from Hufflepuff. "Dorchester needs to see you though.
If its possible to have two bursts of surprise in one go, that is exactly what happened to me now.
W..What?! Snape isnt here? I gasped as the awful truth sank in. B-but I spent all bloody morning hoping to ask him about our OWL practice paper and you're telling me he didnt leave a memo about the change in plan?
I brooded silently on the unfairness of it all.
As it is, I dont voluntarily seek out the attention of our Head of House as his mood swings tend to range from peeved disgruntlement to downright outrage depending on his mood swings. However, even the bitterest critic knew that an 'Outstanding' in Potions did wonders to their future resumes and it's a well known fact that Snape is most helpful to students of his own house. Including me.
He isnt at the school either because he's on an 'important' errand, said Trent half turning with a meaningful raised eyebrow.
I was about to get sarcastic, when I heard the last words.
Oh, right...
It is an open secret among all Slytherins that the subject of our Head of Houses rare absences were not to be discussed publicly. We all knew that during those times this had something to do with the progress of getting that Ass-who-must-not-be-named back in business.
However, as this subject was freely circulated among the children of former Death Eaters, it was usually wiser for the "others" to plead ignorance to all news even if the whispers were loud enough to be heard across three bathroom stalls. I was grateful therefore to see Dorchester running up to meet us.
As the game had revealed, goal keeping was not Dorchester's forte. His medium broad frame was ideally suited to the role of beater where muscle makes all the difference in clearing the field of players (temporarily or permanently), whereas for the goal keeping post you needed someone with more finesse and quick on his toes or rather in the air. Judging from his scowl or grin (I could not tell which) he wanted to tell me something.
Well, what do you want? I asked coolly, easing the stiffness out of my fingers. It was a chilly morning despite the sunshine and I came without my gloves. What he said next nearly made me break my fingers off.
Meadowes ... you'll have to replace Croesus.