Chapter Three

To Catch a Snitch

"And just what am I supposed to do?" Aurelius complained when Andrew voted to go to the park.

"Oh, come on, Rel, I'm sure plenty of your friends will be there," Alex said, grabbing her broom. "The park is always packed during the last few weeks before school."

"Yes, and my friends will all be playing Quidditch," he complained.

"I'll tell you what. We'll sign up for one game, and afterwards, we'll play football for awhile," Andrew suggested.

"What, are you insane? Nobody in Slytherin house would even think of playing football!" Aurelius said, genuinely horrified. "It's bad enough not being able to fly without humiliating myself any further. Thanks, but no thanks."

"Suit yourself, but we're still going," Alex said firmly, heading for the fireplace.

In no time they found themselves standing in the gift shop to Aviation Park, which was teeming with kids of all ages. Andrew gaped at the size of the Quidditch list.

"Do you see this?" Andrew said. "We'll never get in today."

"Look, there's only three of us playing this time, and you know as well as I do that most people sign up first and look for teams later," Alex said. "Maybe someone on the list needs us. And considering one of us is on a real team, it shouldn't be too hard get someone to pick us up." Aurelius rolled his eyes. "Come on, let's go see who's here."

It was just Aurelius' luck that he was the first one called when they came out of the shop, looking up to see Xavier with his broom in hand.

"Good to see all of you! Come on, Aurelius, how about a game? Where's your broom?" he asked.

"Grounded until the beginning of school," Aurelius said sourly.

"Ouch, that's harsh," Xavier grimaced.

"We're up for a game," Alex said eagerly. "Got room for three?"

"I'd love you have you join, Alex, but uh, sorry, we don't play with Gryffindors," Xavier said, looking pointedly at Andrew.

"Fine, we didn't want to join anyhow," Alex said irritably.

"Hey, why don't you come watch, Aurelius? I've got Stock and Heph playing Beaters and I want to get your opinion on them. We're up next, you know."

"Oh, all right," Aurelius grinned, following him over towards the Pitch.

"Drat, there goes a chance at a quick game," Alicia sighed.

"Sorry about that, girls," Andrew said.

"Nothing to be sorry about," Alex assured him. "Look over there, Andrew, there's Ted and Stewart watching the game! Let's go find out if they need people." As it turned out, they needed exactly three, and welcomed all of them warmly.

"It's good to have you! Conner broke his arm after playing polo the other day, so he's out. You'll be a great replacement, Alex, I've seen you play. Great Chaser," Stewart smiled.

"Thank you," Alex said. "What else do you need?"

"I'm short a Beater and a Seeker. My broom's acting up so I don't think I can cut it. Andrew, do you want to play Seeker?" Stewart asked.

"If it's all the same, I think the team would be better off if Alicia is Seeker," Andrew said. "She's the best."

"Andrew's right, she is better than the rest of us, and Alicia never gets to be Seeker. Aurelius always hogs it," Alex said.

"All right, I'll trust your judgment. Alicia, you're the team Seeker." Stewart declared. Alicia grinned at him. "Come on, let's go meet up with the others."

The Pitch was so busy that day that the stands were anything but empty as various teams waited for their turns and tried to pick up an odd player or two. So despite turning down a couple of offers to play, Aurelius didn't feel too conspicuous where he sat on the end row near the main entrance. He had always known that Heph was a good Beater, but he had seldom seen Stock play, and begrudgingly decided that he was a pretty fair player. But Aurelius knew the other reason Xavier was checking those two out, for not only were they decent players, but Xavier didn't allow anyone on the team that was older than him. It had caused problems now and again, since some of the other Slytherins liked to pull age and rank, and Xavier preferred to remain in complete control of his team. Aurelius was pondering that and wondering who their next girl prefect was going to be when he noticed someone standing near the stands beside him, realizing with a start that it was Lucius Malfoy.

"Not playing today, Mr. Snape?" Lucius asked when he saw Aurelius jump, his eyes still on the game.

"What are you doing here?" Aurelius asked suspiciously.

"Watching Mr. Stockton at the moment. I have known his lawyer, Counselor Rummert, for some years now, and I knew his uncle as well. He was a shrewd businessman, and an opportunist to be sure… I hear Mr. Stockton is quite like him. I'm considering taking him under my wing, so to speak," Lucius explained.

"You mean now that your protégé is facing a sentence for Obliviating my mother?" Aurelius challenged him daringly.

"It was an unfortunate occurrence, but let me assure you, had I known about it beforehand, I would have stopped it before it happened. Not only to protect myself from the curse, but for the simple reason that I would not have wanted my protégé involved in something so openly underhanded," Lucius replied.

"You're under a curse?" Aurelius asked. Lucius looked at him with open surprise.

"Haven't your parents told you, Aurelius? Your mother has had me bound to a dark curse for years now… a death curse of her own making," Lucius explained. "A curse that makes it impossible for me to do anything no matter how indirect to cause harm to you, your siblings, or your parents. It happened not long after your youngest sister was born, in fact. So yes, had I known, I would have had to stop him. And it would have saved my protégé, as you call him, in the process."

"So you're hoping Stockton would take his place? But why do you need him? I mean, you're one of the richest businessman in the country, what would you need with anyone else?"

"Mr. Stockton and I have a lot in common. He has lost faith in his parents. I have lost faith in my only son," Lucius said, his face turning dark. "My son has betrayed everything I have taught him, and worse, he betrayed me and his family in countless ways. That sort of betrayal leaves a scar on a man, a scar that can't be easily erased. I need no one, but at the same time, now no one needs me. Amadeus did," Lucius amended. "But I'm sure I am boring you, and you have not yet answered me as to why you're not playing today."

"Oh, I got into a bit of trouble casting a spell at a mixed party," Aurelius admitted.

"A mixed party?" Lucius said with a complete look of distaste.

"Well it isn't as if I wanted to go," Aurelius assured him. He had seen that look often enough on his own housemates. "My parents forced me to go because it was Willowby's party."

"Oh, yes, the famous Muggleborn alchemist and his famous Muggle town."

"Please, don't remind me," Aurelius grumbled. "The way they dote on him is sickening. They gave him an entire new lab for his stupid hybrid shop, can you believe it?"

"Disgraceful," Lucius agreed. "What did you get this year for your…why let's see, your magical thirteenth, isn't it?"

"Yes," Aurelius said glumly. "I got clothes, a charmed Slytherin stick pin, and sparring gloves." Lucius tsked. "Mum said the other day that I didn't seem to have much talent in Potions. I wonder if that's why she dotes on him."

"Well, that's hardly an excuse to favor one of his sort to one's own pure blood family," Lucius said. "That is no more natural than having to live with all of those Muggles in that town... knowing that you are there, expecting you to perform tricks for them as if you were freaks or clowns."

"Definitely. They do that, too," Aurelius agreed. "And Corey does nothing but encourage it."

"Well, you know what they say, once a Muggle always a Muggle," Lucius agreed. "And yet you are in trouble for casting a spell in front of them? When I'm sure Willowby probably does it himself, considering he allows them in the apothecary. Of course, it's probably only a matter of time before he makes a mistake in front of them so terrible that the Ministry comes and revokes his license and takes his shop away. I just hope too many Muggles don't get hurt in the process."

"The Ministry can do that?" Aurelius asked with surprise as Lucius gazed distractedly at his cane.

"Of course they can, Mr. Snape, and I'm sure they will. How disappointing that will be to your parents too, when he's reduced from stardom to common street trash in a single blow. To be blunt, I for one am rather looking forward to it," he said with a cold smile and a nod, slipping back away from the stands.

Aurelius turned back around but the game had ended, and even now Xavier, Heph, and Stock were walking towards him.

"So, what did you think?" Xavier asked Aurelius, who nodded in response.

"I think they have potential," Aurelius replied.

"So do I," Xavier grinned. "There will be no ties this year. We are going to dominate to the point there will be no catching us, no matter what Dumbledore tries to pull at the last minute."

"Good, because I find ties even more embarrassing than losses, being a Tiebreaker," Aurelius admitted.

"Same here," Xavier agreed. "Don't worry, Aurelius. We won't let it happen again. By the way, were you just talking to someone a moment ago? I thought I saw someone else over here."

"Oh, it was Lucius Malfoy. He stopped to watch you play, Stock."

"Did he? I'm sorry I missed him then. I wonder if he's still around?" Stock said thoughtfully.

"So you actually like him? Considering, I mean, his past loyalties?" Aurelius asked Stock. Stock shrugged at Aurelius.

"He's always been civil to me. You just don't want to get on his bad side is all, because he doesn't forget a grudge. A good businessman never does. In fact, he's helped me and my counselor with advice on investments, and every one of them has paid off, not that you're interested in that sort of thing, I know. But then, your parents have been fighting with him for years, haven't they?"

"Yes, Grandfather and Mum especially," Aurelius said. "They say he had my grandmother killed."

"Then why isn't he in jail?" Heph asked.

"He went, but he got out later on a appeal. I think they've been fighting ever since," Aurelius replied. Xavier suddenly chuckled and shook his head. Aurelius looked over at him curiously.

"What?"

"Just ironic, is all, how far this grudge has gone considering what your father did to help me get over our family grudge," Xavier said. "Good thing Malfoy's son can barely stand him any more, or you'd be in the same position for sure, with every Malfoy and every Snape hating each other until they've forgotten what started it in the first place."

"Wow!" Heph gaped as he stared towards the Pitch.

"What?" Aurelius said, his neck going up to see what he was looking at.

"Who is that?"

"Oh that," Aurelius said as a small figure on a broom did a triple twist in mid-air as she climbed to get into position. "That's just my sister."

"Your sister?" Xavier said with interest, his eyes focused on the wisp of a girl with an appraising eye as the match began.

But suddenly she zoomed straight up and then zigzagged into a dive that he couldn't follow with his eyes. A moment after he found her again, he noticed nobody on either team was moving, merely hovering around and talking to one another.

"Wait a minute! The match is over?" Stock realized, standing up in surprise.

"Yeah, probably. I don't know what Alex was thinking, letting her be Seeker," Aurelius said, rolling his eyes. "It happens every time. How can anyone get a decent game in when Alicia insists on ending it a minute into the game?"

Xavier stared at him, his eyes burrowing into him as if trying to make sure he was being serious.

"It looks like they're going to do a rematch!" Heph said.

"Stock! Omnis!" Xavier ordered, and Stock got into his backpack and threw him the Omniculars, getting a spare out for himself.

Aurelius, however, looked bored with the whole thing. He had seen his sister play before. What he did notice, though, was that Xavier wasn't the only one with the Omnis out. Several other teams had members that stood and grabbed Omnis as well, or was just using their hands around their eyes to keep their view from being distracted.

A moment later, the game was off again. Alex had the ball, and she and Stewart were passing it quickly up the field. But little did they realize that right behind them, Alicia had sprung into action, shooting off at speeds many of the students had never seen anyone dare to try in the enclosed Pitch, pushing herself into a tight turn straight towards the ceiling! At the last possible second she flipped her broom upside down, the bristles skidding across the ceiling as she scooped the Snitch in her hand. The spectators all erupted in a roar as if it had been a real game. Alicia casually floated down to the center of the Pitch, winning two games in less than five minutes, both at 150-0.

"I have got to have her," Xavier said as they clambered down from the stands. "Aurelius, she has got to be a Slytherin, you hear me? If she gets on any other team, we're crushed!"

Stewart was already shaking her hand, while Carey from Ravenclaw and Pensington from Hufflepuff were running up from the far side of the field.

"Alicia, if you get Sorted into Gryffindor, you can one hundred percent count on having a place on the team this year," Stewart told her.

"No! She's a Snape!" Xavier panted as he caught up. "She'll be Slytherin's Seeker for sure!"

"Hey, I'm a Gryffindor," Andrew said defensively.

"You are a family fluke," Aurelius informed him.

"Nonsense, she's too brilliant to be anything but a Ravenclaw, isn't that right, Carey?" Alex said, and Carey nodded fervently.

"Sure! We would really love to have you," he said with as much dignity as he could.

"So would we!" Marlene Pensington from Hufflepuff said. "Let's face it, this girl has a sure spot on any team no matter where she's Sorted. That was incredible!" The sentiment was echoed through the rest of the group, and Alicia smiled uncomfortably at them.

"All right, whoever it ends up being, I'll join. I love Quidditch," Alicia replied, and the crowd broke out into a cheer.

They didn't stay much longer after that. Alicia was too excited, bursting into the house to tell her parents, who had been having a quiet conversation over coffee in the kitchen before the children had come in.

"Mum! Father!" Alicia said, her broom still in hand as she rushed in, her siblings following close behind. "I've just been invited to join the Quidditch team at Hogwarts!"

"Alicia," Jennifer chuckled, "How can you have been invited to a Quidditch team when you haven't been Sorted yet?"

"They were all there watching me play! Xavier and Stewart and Carey and the other one…"

"Pensington," Aurelius offered.

"Yes! All the captains, and they said no matter what house I got into, they would guarantee me a spot!" Alicia beamed.

"You'll be perfect for our team, Alicia," Alex agreed.

"Wait a moment! She's going to be in Gryffindor!"

"Shut up, Andrew, you already have a Seeker. She's going in Slytherin!" The three of them broke out into an argument and Severus winced in disbelief.

"Quiet, settle down. Silence!" Severus said sternly. None of them missed the warning tone in his raised voice and finally fell to merely glaring at one another. "No one is going to be playing Quidditch without your mother and my approval, and might I remind you that there are several obstacles in the way of a first year joining a team to begin with? The first being, of course, that you're not allowed your own broom."

"It doesn't matter, I can be fast on anything, Father," Alicia said, immediately getting waved into silence.

"We'll put you on a toothpick then," Aurelius said sarcastically.

"The second being that you have an extensive class schedule and school work is much more important than any of these trivial diversions."

"Trivial? Since when has Quidditch been trivial, even to you?" Aurelius challenged him. "Besides, Alicia graduated near the top of the class. Of course I was the only one to graduate number one, but still, she did decent." The other three Snapes gave him a dirty look.

"I don't know, Severus, personally I think it's a bit too rough out there for a first year," Jennifer said.

"But Mum! You've seen how she flies, she's brilliant!" Alex protested.

"Actually, I stopped watching some time ago because I was tired of having near heart attacks every time she goes into one of her dives," Jennifer admitted.

"She can handle it, Mum, really. Stewart says he's never seen anyone fly like that, short of Brittle herself. He says she's the next Harry Potter in the making."

"Please don't say that," Severus said, a look of pain crossing his face. He glanced at Alicia, standing there with her broom and an anxious, hopeful look on her face. "Fine, your mother and I will talk about it."

"We will?" Jennifer asked with a frown, the four children all exchanging grins in response.

"Now go do your reading and get your chores done before dinner," Severus advised, focused on the four of them as they went down to the basement, intentionally avoiding Jennifer's gaze.

"You're serious! You're honestly considering letting her play," Jennifer accused him, folding her arms.

"Jennifer, we've always encouraged their talents no matter what they are, provided they dealt with their responsibilities as well."

"Yes, but this one could kill her," Jennifer pointed out.

"And popping through paintings before we knew what they were doing couldn't have?" Severus mused. "It isn't as if she would be unsupervised, and more than likely she'll have another sibling either on her team or in the Pitch. If she's old enough to cast magic, she's old enough for this," he said, looking into his coffee for a moment before speaking again. "I was never much of a player. James always dominated the Pitch. Aurelius and Alex are fair enough players in their own right, but… there is something almost enticing about seeing one of my own out there during their first year with an ability that could equal if not best both the Potters."

"Yes, and I suppose it wouldn't hurt if she was wearing green and silver at the time, hm?" Jennifer said challengingly.

"It wouldn't do me any harm, no, although honestly I can't see her in my house," Severus admitted, looking off in the distance. "It doesn't matter. As long as she has Snape for a last name."

"As long as she keeps up with her schoolwork and her art training," Jennifer added for good measure, but kissed his cheek and wrapped her arms around him. "All right, Severus. I just hope it doesn't go to her head. Or yours, for that matter," she teased, grinning at the look he gave her.