Chapter Ten

Fallen Comrades

For the Gryffindor Quidditch team, homework was largely abandoned in the following week as they trained harder than they'd ever trained before for an opening Quidditch match. Lily ended up spending most of her lunchtimes doing homework, since she was already behind from the previous week, and not even Professor Longbottom, head of Gryffindor House, would accept Quidditch practice as an excuse for incomplete homework.

The morning of the match dawned grey and cloudy. "It's going to rain," Lily predicted, looking out of the window.

"Lots of Impervious charms, then," Mia said brightly, getting out of bed too.

The dormitory door banged open, and Matilda tumbled in, Emma following in her wake.

"Roxanne's in the hospital wing!" Matilda said dramatically. "She's been throwing up all night, and Madam Pomfrey doesn't know how to stop her!"

"But it's the match today!" Lily said. "There's still three hours – surely she'll be okay by then?"

Matilda shook her head. "Apparently, Madam Pomfrey says even if she stops puking right now, she's still dehydrated, so she can't play."

"And who told you all this?" Mia asked.

"No-one…" Matilda said, sounding about as sheepish as Matilda ever did (which was hardly at all). "I overheard the fifth years talking when I went past their dormitory. But it wasn't really eavesdropping…"
"Sure it wasn't," Lily grinned. "I wonder if Sam knows yet…"

Lily and Mia dressed at top speed, and then headed down to the Common Room, where it was clear that the news about Roxanne had spread. They spotted the rest of the team huddled in a corner and went over to join them.

"I don't know what to do…" Sam was saying. "I just went up to visit Roxy – Madam Pomfrey let me have five minutes. She's finally stopped puking, but Madam Pomfrey's adamant she can't play. Roxy says to play JJ in her place, but that feels really risky – we've never seen him play Beater before… I think I'm gonna have to put Peter in, which is far from ideal, but Beater is his most natural position – it's what he always has to play when we play at home. Yeah, it's gotta be Peter." He walked away to find his little brother.

It was far from ideal, Mia thought, remembering the disastrous match in her first year when Peter and Kyle had replaced James and Fred when they'd been in detention. Had this been been last year's team, with James and Fred, they probably would have coped with one change of player, but this was almost like three changes because Reuben and Kyle were new too. Then again, Mia had never seen Peter play Beater, so maybe he'd be alright.

It was in low spirits that the team – now including Peter – walked down to the pitch.

"It's gonna be fine," Sam said, as they got changed, sounding more confident than he looked. "We've just got to remember everything we've practised. Peter – take your lead from Mary. Let's do this."

The Gryffindors walked out onto the pitch, to find the Ravenclaws already assembled.

"And it's the Gryffindors: Potter, Goldstein, Caplan, Dursley, Cattermole, Wood aaaand Wood!" Mac shouted into his megaphone. "In a last minute line-up change, the… incapacitated… Roxanne Weasley is replaced by the youngest Wood brother, fifth year Peter. Also new this year are fifth years Goldstein and Caplan, replacing James Potter and Fred Weasley. Those two have been part of the Gryffindor line-up for a very long time, so it will be interesting to see how the team are going to do without them."

Samuel pointed his wand at his throat, muttered Sonorus, and then said, "We're going to do amazingly." His voice was magically magnified so everyone could hear it, and this lifted the Gryffindors' spirits, It did, however, earn Sam a reprimand from Madam Hooch – the use of Sonorus at Quidditch matches was strictly forbidden as it could distract the players.

Duly reprimanded – and with his voice returned to its usual volume – Samuel shook hands with Louis' sister, Dom, who was the Ravenclaw captain. On Madam Hooch's whistle, the fourteen players kicked off hard and rose into the air.

"Aaaand they're off!" Mac shouted. "And it's Ravenclaw in possession – Boot passes to Goldstein, back to Boot, to Senior… these three have been flying together for years, but as they're all seventh years, next year the team will have to do without them… anyway, it's Gryffindor in possession now, after a nice Bludger there from Cattermole, and it's newcomer Kyle Caplan with the Quaffle. He tears up the pitch – could this be the first test for Ravenclaw's new Keeper, Ash?"

As Kyle few toward the Ravenclaw goal hoops, Mia eyed up her opposite number. The red-haired girl had long arms and legs, but was only a second year. Dom hit a Bludger at Kyle, and he dropped the Quaffle whilst rolling to avoid it.

"And it's Ravenclaw in possession – Senior, Goldstein, Senior, Boot – and the Ravenclaw trio are heading for goal!"

Mia watched as the three seventh years flew towards her in perfect formation. They really were very good, she reflected – you could tell they had been playing together for years. Goldstein – Reuben's sister – shot at Mia's left hand hoop, and she dived and just managed to hit it out of the way.

"Nice save there by Dursley – who, incidentally, has been hired by Wood as his PA – and the score remains 0-0."

Mia passed the Quaffle to Reuben, who flew off up the pitch with it. He quickly found himself surrounded by Ravenclaw Chasers, and so passed to Lily, who passed back to him a minute later when Dom sent a Bludger her way. He then passed to Kyle, who tore off with the Quaffle under his arm. As he neared the Ravenclaw goal hoops, where wiry Ash was waiting nervously, he found his path blocked by Senior. Instead of passing to Reuben, who Mia was sure must have been in his line of vision, Kyle made a wild shot at the goal and missed by miles. Mia thought that this was the second time he'd wasted an opportunity by trying to do it all on his own.

The third time it happened, Sam called for a time-out.

"We've gotta do better than this, guys," he said as they all landed together on the pitch. "We're not getting anywhere, and it's only due to sheer luck – and Mia's brilliance, of course – that Ravenclaw haven't scored yet. Kyle, you've gotta sort yourself out. I hate to be brutal, mate, but Lily and Reuben are both better goal-scorers than you, so your focus should always be 'how can I set them up for goals?' rather than 'how can I score?'."

Kyle looked sheepish, and Sam tried to soften the blow.

"Obviously, if you've got a proper decent chance on goal then give it a shot," he continued, "but otherwise... And Peter – you've just gotta stop being afraid of getting stuck in. We're missing chances of unseating them because you're being too tentative about it. What's the worst that could happen? – you miss." He looked around at the whole team. "C'mon guys, let's just give this our very best shot, yeah? For Roxy!"

Madam Hooch blew her whistle for the end of the time out, and everyone flew back up to playing height. Over the next fifteen minutes, Mia could tell Kyle was trying, as he and Lily set Reuben up for the first goal of the match. But the fact remained that the Ravenclaw Chasers were infinitely better than the Gryffindor front three, as they scored three goals in quick succession.

After a good save by Ash, Ravenclaw were in possession once again. As they moved up the pitch, heavily marked by the Gryffindor Chasers, Peter suddenly saw his chance to hit a Bludger which came flying toward him. He swung hard, aiming at Krystelle, who had the Quaffle. The Bludger went several feet wide, hitting Reuben hard on the arm.

Madam Hooch called for time out immediately, and the players flew to the ground, Reuben being heavily supported by his sister. Everyone gathered around Reuben, but Madam Hooch pushed them out of the way.

"Broken!" she declared after giving Reuben's arm a quick once over. "Hospital wing for you!"

"But Madam Hooch – the match," Reuben said feebly.

"You can't play Quidditch with that arm, young man," Madam Hooch said brusquely.

Whilst Reuben attempted to argue with Madam Hooch, Samuel turned to his brother. "Peter-"

"I'm really sorry-" Peter began.

"No, it's mostly my fault," Sam said. "I told you to go for it, and I never should've dropped you in it at the deep end like that."

"I'm going to take Reuben to the hospital wing," Peter said. "I'm sure you don't want me on the pitch anymore."

As Reuben and Peter walked off the pitch, Madam Hooch came over to speak to Samuel. "You can either forfeit, put on subs, or play on with five players," she told him.

"Uh... I need to consult my team," Sam said, turning to the others.

"We are not forfeiting," Lily said fiercely. The others all nodded their agreement.

"We could put on subs... but who is there?" Mary mused.

"No one," Samuel said decisively.

"We could play JJ," Lily suggested.

Sam shook his head. "I don't want any more injuries due to inexperience."

"Let's play on, just the five of us, then," Mia said. "We'll probably lose the match, but let's at least lose it with some dignity."

"Hear, hear!" Sam said. "Alright, let's do this, guys!"

He let Madam Hooch know their decision, and, after informing the Ravenclaws, she blew her whistle and everyone set off again.

"And, after that... interesting turn of events, Gryffindor have made the courageous decision to play on with five players... Was this the right decision? Only time will tell," Mac said, as play resumed. "So, it's Gryffindor in possession, Potter passes to Caplan, back to Potter, to Ca- intercepted by Boot, and it's Ravenclaw's Amy Boot heading for goal!"

Mia prepared herself to block the goal, but at the last minute, Dom sent a Bludger at her and she had to dive to avoid it.

"Ravenclaw score!" Mac yelled as Mia returned to playing height to find Dom grinning sheepishly at her. "Ravenclaw lead, 40 points to 10."

As the match progressed, Ravenclaw pulled further and further ahead. Although Lily and Kyle managed to score a couple of goals, Ravenclaw used the fact they had two extra players to their advantage, and Lily and Kyle found themselves constantly bombarded by Bludgers and marked by the Ravenclaw trio.

As the game passed the hour-and-a-half mark, Mia just wanted it over – she was beyond caring who won, really.

"And so, Ravenclaw lead, 210 points to 30. And it's Ravenclaw in possession – Boot, Goldstein, Senior, Boot, Senior, Boot, Goldstein, and it's Krystelle Goldstein heading for goal... oooh, nice save there by Dursley. So, Gryffindor in possession, Caplan passes – no, intercepted by Goldstein, to Boot, back to Goldstein, Senior, Boot, and it's Boot heading for goal... she shoots... she scores! Looks like Dursley got a touch on the Quaffle there, but it still went in. Ravenclaw lead, 220 points to 30. But – yes, it looks like the Seekers have spotted the Snitch!"

Mia watched as Samuel and Di Ackerley, the Ravenclaw Seeker, dived toward a golden glint at the foot of the centre stands. Mia did a quick calculation. If Sam caught the Snitch now they'd lose, 220 points to 180. But where they really going to get the five more goals that they'd need to win?

"They're gaining on it," Mac commentated. "Ackerley's in the lead now, but of course, if either of the Seekers catch the Snitch now it's a win for Ravenclaw since they're 190 points up."

The Snitch changed position to be much closer to Sam. He glanced over his shoulder, but no Bludgers were coming to his rescue – he'd have to block Di himself.

Instead of flying for the Snitch, Sam flew right across Di's flight path. She rolled to avoid him, but carried on toward the Snitch. Mia could tell that Samuel was trying to keep her away from the Snitch long enough for it to disappear.

"And now they're neck and neck again, Ackerley's reaching out for the Snitch, Wood's trying to block her, she – no, he – Wood has caught the Snitch! Gryffindor Captain Samuel Wood catches the Snitch, but Ravenclaw win, 220 points to 180!"

Mia could understand why he'd done it – even if he could've held Di off long enough for the Snitch to disappear, there's no way Lily and Kyle could've scored enough goals to put Gryffindor in a position where they could win next time the Snitch appeared. Better to end the match now, on his terms.

"You guys did great," Sam said to Lily, Mia, Mary and Kyle as they landed beside him. "I know you all played your best – I couldn't've asked for more. Let's go visit our fallen comrades, yeah?"

Dom came over to shake Sam's hand. "It was a brave decision, playing on with five. If you guys are heading up to the hospital wing, tell my baby cousin I'll look in on her later?"

"Will do," Sam said, and then the five Gryffindors headed off in the direction of the castle.