This Chapter: The Slytherin Vs Gryffindor Quidditch match. Plus: Sirius tries to get Remus to spill the beans.
Lauralie Black and the Dragons of Yorkshire (YEAR 2)
Chapter 6: Quaffles, Bludgers, and Potions (oh my!)
Mike Sater was bouncing around the Slytherin changing room.
"You suffer from an abundance of energy," Lucius said.
"Actually, I think he enjoys it," Ludo Bagman said. "Come on, let's go."
When they reached the pitch, murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Lauralie had to admit that it didn't look right having Mike on the Slytherin team. He was so small that he looked dwarfed by the other players. She turned and was watching the Gryffindor team carefully. Sirius seemed to be laughing quite hard.
"You let Sater on the team?" Sirius called across the field. "You are making this too easy!"
Mike shook his head, smiling. "You know what Black, I think you are right," he called back. "That is why I'm not on the team."
He pulled the Quidditch cloak he was wearing over his head and showed that he wasn't wearing a uniform underneath.
The laughs ceased and were replaced with looks of puzzlement. Mike turned and threw the cloak up into the stands to Lauralie. She stood and caught it, handing her Cloak of Destiny to Narcissa before heading down the stands. Mike handed her the Shooting Star broomstick her mother had given her as she passed him.
"Is this a joke?" Remus asked.
Lily was smiling broadly. "I don't think it is."
The look on Sirius Black's face was priceless. He had been so smug moments before and now he simply looked dumbfounded as the Slytherin team, complete with Lauralie, approached the center of the pitch.
"Can they do that?" James asked. "I though girls couldn't play."
"Its not a written rule," Duncan McConaugha pointed out. "As my sister has reminded me a thousand times."
Lockhart was the only one on the Gryffindor team who didn't seem at all dismayed by this revelation. He seemed to actually gain some confidence, if that was at all possible for him.
"We're going to wipe the floor with them," he said jovially. "Putting rubbish on their team like that."
That rubbish is my sister," Sirius growled. James grabbed his shoulder before he could pounce on Lockhart.
"Calm down," James whispered. "He's not worth it."
The Slytherins were scowling at Lockhart, clearly having heard his comment. Severus was standing closely behind Lauralie, whispering to her.
"This changes nothing," Lockhart said. "Play as aggressively as we practiced. She is just a ruddy girl."
"You'd think you would have a higher regard for your own gender Gilderoy," Ludo snapped.
"That's enough," Professor Luchesi said, stepping between the two teams. "I want a clean, safe game. Now shake hands."
Lockhart swaggered forward to shake the hand of Ludo Bagman, who was looking at him with a great deal of disdain.
"Happy Halloween ladies and gents," Lee's voice rang magically through the air. "And welcome to the first Quidditch match of the year. Playing for the Gryffindors this year we have Black, Lockhart, Bell, Johnson, McConaugha, Wood aaaaaand POTTER!"
As the Gryffindor team took off, applause rising around them, the Slytherins huddled together.
Ludo spoke over the din. "We've got them right where we want them. The only confident one is that smarmy Lockhart," he bellowed. "Lauralie, wipe that smile off of his smug face."
She nodded, ignoring the lurch in her stomach.
Jordan's voice boomed over the pitch. "And now, the Slytherin team"
"Let's do it," Ludo said, putting his hand in the middle of the circle. His teammates all piled their hands on top of his.
"SLYTHERIN!" they all shouted together.
They took flight. The growing anxiety in Lauralie's stomach faded and was replaced with the exhilaration of wind flowing around her.
Jordan's voice still echoed around them. "Bagman, Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson, Snape, Malfoy, and, a big surprise: LAURALIE BLACK!" He paused for dramatic effect. "That's right witches and wizards, its Black versus Black today. Lauralie is now the first female to earn a place on a Hogwarts' House Quidditch team."
There was a chorus of cheers from the stands, the majority of which seemed to be female.
"And its about time," Magdalene Martinez shouted from her spot next to Lindsay McConaugha.
Lily was cheering too.
"Are you seriously cheering for Slytherin," Remus asked.
Lily gazed at him in slight disbelief. "No Remus, I am cheering for Lauralie, who happens to be my friend, even if she is no longer yours."
Remus really couldn't think of anything to say to that. He turned his attention back to the pitch as Professor Luchessi released the balls.
"Gryffindor in possession. Black, Sirius that is, passes to Bell, Bell to Lockhart. Gilderoy watch out for the Bludger!"
Lockhart had to swerve out of the way of the Bludger that Ludo had sent his way, the Quaffle dropped from his grasp.
"Excellent Beater work by Bagman, the Quaffle is caught by Black, er, Lauralie I mean. Guess it is finally time to see what she is made of. Lauralie passes to Goyle. Goyle back to Lauralie."
Goyle and Lauralie were pelting away down the pitch parallel to one another, tossing the ball in between them. Lockhart was flying between them trying to intercept the Quaffle. It was like a mid-air game of Monkey in the Middle.
"Bugger off Lockhart," Goyle grunted, as he tossed the ball one final time to Lauralie who stopped her broom abruptly. Lockhart was sent forward, nearly knocking his Keeper, Wood, out of the air. Lauralie used the diversion to make an easy shot.
"Lauralie Black scores. Slytherin in the lead 10 to zip." Lauralie gave Gilderoy Lockhart a triumphant look before flying off.
Lockhart, seemingly thinking he could out do Lauralie, pelted away down the pitch, Quaffle in hand, prepared to shoot. Severus blocked him easily. "Not today Gildie." Gilderoy glared at him, pelting off to talk to Duncan McConaugha.
Severus passed the ball to Lauralie. "Watch your back, I think things are about to get ugly."
Ugly perhaps was an understatement. As Lauralie flew back towards the Gryffindor goal post, McConaugha struck violently at a Bludger, and it flew directly at her head. She had to corkscrew quickly to avoid the blow, and nearly dove into a crowd of Ravenclaws.
But before any of the Slytherins could turn to yell at the Beater, Sirius Black beat them to it.
"Watch where you are hitting those things," he shouted.
Lauralie nearly chocked trying not to laugh as she passed the Quaffle to Parkinson, Sirius tirade fading behind her.
"Lauralie dodges a Bludger, passes to Parkinson, Parkinson to Goyle, and GOYLE SCORES! Slytherin 20, Gryffindor 0"
Goyle whooped triumphantly, causing all of the Gryffindors to glare at him. "Oy, you're just jealous," Goyle snapped, flying past Lauralie and giving her a high five.
It was then that the Gryffindor beaters, using the distraction, coincided attacks and pelted both Bludgers at Lauralie. Lauralie managed to dodge the first of them, but it seemed as if the second was going to be a sure hit, that is, if it wasn't for Sirius.
He seemed to come out of nowhere, diving before the Bludger, taking it full on in the chest. He seemed to have the wind knocked out of him as he sat motionless, gripping the broom.
"TIME OUT!" roared Gilderoy Lockhart's voice, apparently his patience had worn thin.
"Looks like old Gildie's about to pop a blood vessel," Ludo said, flying over followed closely by Lucius and Severus.
"What is going on though?" Lucius said, annoyance in his voice. "Are they just going to play 'Pick on the new girl' until they knock her off her broom."
Severus made a strangled sound of anger at the statement.
"They won't. Especially with her dim brother acting as her human shield."
Lauralie actually opened her mouth to state that her brother was not dim when shouts drifted across the field. It was James Potter.
"Sirius stop being DAFT," he shouted. "This is Quidditch. There are Bludgers in Quidditch. Just because she is your sister, doesn't mean she should be granted immunity against offensive attacks."
"If it was merely an offensive tactic, I'd be fine with it. They've been picking on just her," Sirius snapped angrily, nodding towards the Beaters.
"You are letting your brotherly emotions cloud your common sense," Lockhart snapped. "They are winning. And that is NOT what we want. I'm warning you Black, I'll ground you if I have to."
Sirius looked absolutely furious but James interjected. "Sirius, she's here to play, not be coddled by her brother."
"Gentleman, are we here to play, or to debate?" Professor Luchessi asked, flying by.
Lockhart was looking as if that settled it, but Sirius merely glared at him.
"Oh fine," he said, turning to the Beaters. "Don't target just Lauralie. Try to take someone else out."
Duncan smiled. "No problem."
There was a sharp whistle blow indicating that the game was supposed to start again. Sirius found the ball being passed to him and his inhibitions about who the Beaters new target may be were lost in his sporting brain as one thing clouded in. Take Quaffle, score goal. Duh.
He pelted away down the pitch, all eyes on him. That is, almost all eyes.
In the stands, Narcissa squinted up at the sky. "Oh no, Lucius!"
What happened next happened far to quickly to really be observed. Johnson and McConaugha, using the distraction of Sirius' attempts of scoring as a distraction, coordinated their efforts. Johnson darted forward towards Lucius, who looked startled. He turned to fly away, not realizing they were baiting him. Duncan McConaugha appeared in front of him, hitting a Bludger at him. He turned to dodge, colliding with Johnson.
His brain had time to process one solitary thought before the Bludger collided with his head, sending him into darkness. Trapped.
The crowd gasped as Lucius Malfoy's broom darted downward into the stands one row down from where Remus and Lily were sitting, directly into a crowd of cheering Gryffindors.
Ludo Bagman cursed angrily, signaling Professor Luchesi that they needed a time out. All around the pitch people were standing up, some on their seats, attempting to get a look at where Lucius had landed.
Narcissa was the first Slytherin to get there.
Lucius lie on his stomach across one of the seats, his nose was bleeding, and his eyes were closed. He wasn't moving. Narcissa gasped, rushing forward.
"Lucius, Lucius are you OK?" she practically shouted, putting a hand on his shoulder.
He moved only slightly. "Come on Mum, just let me sleep five more minutes," he said in a muffled voice.
"Well isn't that just wonderful," Mike Sater said, coming up the stands. "I say we give him five minutes, kick him in the ribs and tell him to get his Seeker arse back in the sky."
"Mike, he's hurt," Narcissa snapped.
"Oh I'm sure your little boyfriend will be fine," Mike said.
"He's not my boyfriend!" She watched as Mike took a phial of some potion out of his pocket. "What is that?"
"Snape gave it to me, it's a healing/energizing draft," he answered. "I'm just waiting for the go ahead."
They both looked up to see Severus swooping close overhead, he nodded to Mike who gave him the thumbs up. He reached down and rolled Lucius over a bit rougher than Narcissa would have liked, and poured the potion down .
"Are you sure it is a good idea to give him that?"
"Don't worry, Snape said it would take a couple minutes to work, but he thought someone may be knocked down this game. Actually, I think he thought it would be Lauralie. I mean, who ELSE would he make an extremely complex potion for?"
Overhead Ludo was arguing with Professor Luchesi.
"Without a Seeker you have to forfeit, there is no way for your team to catch the Snitch without one," she snapped.
"He'll be back in the air in a few minutes, I assure you."
"Fine, do what you want. But they'll catch the Snitch with your man down and you will have wished you'd listened." She blew sharply on the whistle and the game was off again.
The game proceeded far harder and faster than it had been before the time out. It seemed almost as if the loss of their player had served only to piss the Slytherins off so much that it drove them to play harder.
Jordan was having a problem keeping up at this point as the point margin increased drastically in Slytherin's favor. He had just announced that the score was 160 to 10 when Lucius Malfoy stood where he had fallen, broomstick in hand, and called up to them. "Couldn't have waited for me eh?" Then he took off, still looking immensely tired and rattled.
But Lucius had only just taken off when, all the way across the field, James Potter went into a spectacular dive.
"Oh bloody hell," Anastasia moaned. "What's he playing at, if he catches it they'll only tie."
"Maybe he doesn't think they can do better than a tie at this point," Narcissa pointed out.
"Wait, no, look at Lauralie," Mike said, staring up into the sky.
* * *
Arriving at the manor Lucas Avery had expected to be greeted by a butler, or even a House Elf, but not an enormous snake. It hissed at him, then nodded its head as if gesturing the boy to follow him, which he did.
The room it took him to was sparse considering the large manor it was in.
"Did you have a nice summer Lucas?"
"Would have been nicer if you hadn't sent me off to Transylvania making bargains with vampires," Avery answered.
"Necessary task, as much as you may hate it, it was a necessary task."
"I know Master, I know."
The man he was speaking to stepped forward, his red eyes gleaming in the firelight. "I invited you here to inform you that you work this summer has secured you a spot among my followers."
Avery's eyes seemed to be filled with a mixture of self-pride and anxiousness. He took a step towards the man before him. "I am ready master." Though his voice quavered as he said it his eyes showed pure determination.
Voldemort beckoned him forward, towards the fire. When he reached the hearth he muttered a few words and in his hand appeared a long, iron branding fork. He sank it into the magical fire for a moment then, with out a word, he seized Avery's arm, wrenched it over, and sank the hot iron into the skin of the boys arm.
Avery sank to his knees before his master and screamed.
* * *
The magical tone that indicated a goal had been scored had sounded at nearly the same instant James Potter seized the Snitch from the air. But the magical scoreboard didn't lie, and it read in bright silver "Slytherin: 170 ; Gryffindor: 160"
Slytherin had won.
"Lauralie Black makes the deciding goal just before James Potter catches the Snitch," Jordan's voice rang, sounding startled. "Slytherin wins by ten points."
The din was deafening. The Slytherins landed en mass. Ludo Bagman looked as if he may kiss Lauralie. Severus glared at him as if daring him to try.
"Brilliant, bloody brilliant," he said, clapping her on the shoulder. "I would have hated having to do a rematch because we tied. Always knew putting you on the team was a good idea."
"Of course," she said, as he was swept away by a crowd of cheering Slytherins.
Severus and Lucius both approached from behind. Lucius looked rather rattled, he had a bit of dried blood on his face.
"Are you all right?" she asked anxiously.
"He'll be fine," Severus said. "You did smashing. Saved us the game." He smiled at her pleasantly. "Looks like you have fans now too."
Girls were flooding onto the pitch in all directions trying to get to Lauralie to congratulate her. First was Lily Evans, Audrina Malachite, and Bridget Corrigan. Lauralie couldn't help but notice, with a slight twinge of disappointment, that Remus hung back as his friends came forward to greet her.
Lily dragged her into a hug, ignoring Lauralie's startled protests. "You did great. Wonderful. I'm so proud."
"Yeah, good job Black," Audrina said.
"Um… thanks," she said, taking a step back. Bridget Corrigan was smiling madly at her.
"What has you so happy?"
"This means that I can get on the team next year," she said with another huge smile. "You've done me a huge favor Black."
Lauralie couldn't help but laugh as the three Gryffindors walked away towards where the losing team had gone and sat in the stands.
"If Lockhart let Corrigan on the team it would only be because he fancies her," Severus said, watching them go.
"I think he should put her on the team, it sure would make winning a lot easier for us," Lauralie replied.
"In that case I certainly hope Gildie doesn't let her join."
Lauralie turned to see Lindsay McConaugha.
"Breaking down all the barriers, eh?"
"Well, we did didn't we?" Lauralie answered, looking only mildly amused. "Suppose you'll be trying out to be a Beater next year then?"
"You know it," she answered. "Now go celebrate."
* * *
Remus Lupin sat away from the group of sulking Gryffindors in the common room. They were all talking about the match. Lauralie's surprise appearance, and her securing the game for Slytherin.
Lauralie, Lauralie, and more Lauralie.
He'd needed to escape for a while.
Sirius came over and sat in the chair across from him.
"Are you going to tell me any time soon?"
"Tell you what, Sirius?" Remus asked, hoping his voice didn't reveal his nervousness.
"What happened between you and my sister," he answered. "And don't say nothing because you've been avoiding her gaze for weeks. And you get quiet whenever any one talks about her."
"It doesn't matter," Remus answered simply.
"If it is making you this miserable, clearly it does matter."
"You would only be angry."
Sirius fell silent. "I'll be angrier if you wait to tell me."
"I can't tell you."
"Fine," Sirius snapped, getting up from the chair. "Just hide, sulk, be miserable and stupid. Hide things from your friends. Be my guest."
He stormed out of the common room and up the stairs to the dormitory.