Hey all you sweet people! I don't own any of this...
As they had given their O.W.Ls, the fifth year students were either free or attending classes for their N.E.W.Ts, which was the highest qualification that Hogwarts had to offer. Most of the teachers took their time into lessons, boring them with the various rules and regulations of N.E.W.Ts and what grades they needed in these Tests to pursue their chosen career. Professor Minerva McGonagall never wanted to see them free and roaming around and was always swooping down upon them leading them into her Transfiguration class for more tips on her subjects and how they could pass it if they paid careful attention.
At the end of this school year, the best two school teams were to compete and the best of them was to compete against Durmstrang, another Wizarding institute situated somewhere near the North Pole. Gryffindor and Slytherin were easily the best two teams at Hogwarts. They were to have a match next week, which was why Daniel Thompson, the captain of the Quidditch team forced all his teammates to practice each and every day. James was more than happy to do as he was told. He was the best seeker at school and he hadn't lost one single match for his team. He had a knack for spotting certain objects other people didn't and his record time was 3 minutes. He had caught the tiny golden Snitch in a matter of only 3 minutes against the Hufflepuff team last year.
They were training so hard and so frequently that most of the people on the team felt like they were still on broomsticks even when they had both their feet firmly on the ground. Sirius, who was also good at Quidditch volunteered as the Keeper, as the Gryffindor Keeper was currently on leave. James liked it best when he had his best friend alongside him in his favorite sport. The day of the match grew nearer and everybody could just sense the panic of the heated environment. Slytherins let no chance of trying to injure the Gryffindor players go to waste. They stood around corners trying to trip any of the teammates they saw. Daniel had taken this into consideration and had ordered everyone in the house to surround all the players wherever they went, which they were more than happy to do.
'I'm going down for practice, you going to come and watch Remus?' asked James as he shouldered his broomsticks and made to go out of the portrait hole. 'No thanks James I have to go look up some stuff in the library, I have to catch up with the N.E.W.T syllabus!' he said in a matter-of-fact tone. 'Oh!' said James 'Right! If you don't catch up with your new syllabus how in the world will you live up to your label of nerd?' he said sarcastically, then chuckling softly at the stern look on Remus's face he left the dormitory and headed downstairs for practice. He hummed a soft tune under his breath. He was in a very good mood. There was no sign of McGonagall and Lily was to come back from her parent's house today. She had written quite frequently to James during her one-week trip. They had come on such close terms that they were put under the 'couples' section of Hogwarts students. Only those students who seemed to be fit for each other in every way were put in on that list. They were voted on by the whole school. She had sent him an owl yesterday, saying she'd be in Hogwarts today. Although, she didn't write the time of her arrival, at least James had something to look forward to!
'Here already, Potter?' said Edwin Poirier, another chaser on the Gryffindor team. He was quite amused by James's last name and preferred to call him by that. 'Daniel would've liked everyone to show such enthusiasm as yourself' he said, shielding his eyes from the sun and looking up.
'Nice weather!' he commented.
'Yeah' said James, clambering on his broomstick and preparing to fly off any minute. 'What's the hurry?' called out Sirius as he came running towards his best friend.
'I've been savoring the idea of flying, all through our O.W.L papers!' said James, looking back.
'Have you? You did keep on practicing Quidditch during your exams, you can't fool me!' Sirius called out as James flew off into the forget-me-not blue sky. Daniel Thompson and the rest of the Quidditch team arrived moments after that. Daniel showed them various charts he had prepared which showed all of the players where their positions were and how they were to make their moves. They practiced for a long time and when Daniel called out a break they all touched down on the ground, he was enthralled by Sirius's skill as Keeper.
'Why didn't you ever come for tryouts? You're brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!' Daniel exclaimed, thumping Sirius on the back when he touched down on the ground. Sirius grinned, but remained silent, fighting hard not to look too pleased with himself.
'And you!' Daniel turned around to face James. 'Why didn't you ever tell us your best pal is such a good Quidditch player?' he demanded.
'Gwarsh, Danny, I didn't know it myself' said James truthfully. Although Sirius had come out to help James practice, he had never played keeper. And now that he had volunteered for the team, James got to know that he was extraordinarily good at it.
'Alright people! On to your broomsticks again!' Daniel called out to his team, climbing skillfully on his own broom. 'No, practice goes on for another hour so Fulton, you can't leave!' he added sternly in response to the protest by one of the beaters. Fulton puckered his lips into a frown and, disgruntled, climbed his broom and kicked off the ground with everyone else. Since the sky was clear, Daniel thought it was a good idea to let the Snitch out, although James could spot the Snitch in a pitch-black night he didn't want to take any chances for losing it. James circled the pitch high above trying to catch a sight of the tiny golden ball. Five minutes hadn't gone by when James went into a burst of speed and raced the snitch across the pitch and it was only a matter of seconds before he caught it. Everyone whooped and clapped, Daniel beaming proudly.
'Potter, if you keep giving us such good performance we might just end up being dependent on you' said Edwin good-naturedly.
'That's not a problem!' James winked as he touched the ground amongst cheers from his teammates.
Practice went on for an hour as Daniel had said; James kept on giving extraordinary performance and caught the snitch on every five minutes. Sirius was giving a wonderful performance on his side. Not one Quaffle had passed through his side of hoops. James looked around to see Sirius make another spectacular save. He gave the snitch a few minutes head start then raced after it. He spotted it in a matter of seconds. He burst into speed and raced towards it, he reached out his hand to close in the snitch... someone beat him to it. Another hand stretched out towards the miniscule ball and clenched it tightly, a long mane of red hair was visible as the person touched back down to the ground and waved at him. James's expression was that of mingled shock and bliss. He landed down neatly and got off his broomstick.
'Lily!' he cried out, advancing towards the new entry.
'Hey' she said, giving him a quick hug. 'How are you?' she asked, a pleasant smile playing on her pretty face.
'You never told me... Quidditch?' cried James, utterly perplexed.
'I just play it sometimes...not too good at it' said Lily modestly.
'Lily! I was searching for you all over the school!' Jennifer came hurrying out on the pitch to Lily. Lily grimaced, 'I had to meet Jenny at this time, I'm so sorry I have to go! Nice seeing you again. I'll meet you back in the common room' she said and hurried off, shouldering her broomstick.
James stared after her; mouth hung open and snitch struggling in his hand (Lily had handed it to him when she went).
'Whoa!' said a clearly impressed Sirius, touching down beside James, his dark hair ruffled in a way to make any girl drool. 'What a girl!' he articulated staring at Lily's retreating back as she made her way towards Gryffindor tower. 'First Dungbombs now Quidditch!' he added in a very impressed tone of voice. 'You are one lucky man!' he said as he thumped James's back. James silently nodded, too shocked to say anything. Lily truly was apart from every girl he had ever known.
There! How's that for a long chapter? Thank you Thankyou! But no encore!! ::bows:: So, get your reviews flowing in as quickly as possible!!!
