A/N: Today I am taking the liberty of having my characters answer reviews for me, as I am always busy writing:

Lily: to BlackLupin- OutofAzkaban says she is pleased with all the feedback.  She agrees that James is ADORABLE!  I think you're both insane.  OutofAzkaban also apologizes about not having any Caitlin and Sirius in the Yule Ball.  She will try to either fix it sometime or make up for it in future chapters.  She also says Lily is being stopped by her having a boyfriend and her image… wait!  Stopped from what, exactly?  Hrmph.  OutofAzkaban also says that James was rejected completely, and that stops him.  She admits she does not completely fathom how James' mind works.  Hrmph… who knows that, anyway?

Chris: To DeJaView14- OutofAzkaban says "Hey, Danerz!"  What kind of name is that?  Anyway, about the review, she says Chris will not be cheating on Lily!  He would never do that!  And she's right!  I have my dignity!  OutofAzkaban also says that don't worry; she will…what?!  Get rid of Chris somehow?!  What do you mean, get rid of me?!  But she assures you anyway… mutters darkly to himself

Lily: To Lanette- OutofAzkaban promises some Caitlin/Sirius soon, and thanks you for the compliment.  And Chris is sweet!

Chris: At least I have something left… thanks, Lily and Lanette.  To MPPSexxySiriusJamesRemus- OutofAzkaban thanks you for your constant support!  And she agrees with you on James' parents… and says that's why she made them that way!

Chapter 28: Quidditch

            "Hi, Nikki," James greeted Nikki Gryfan with a smile the next morning.  "Ready for breakfast?"

Nikki was unused to this chipper side of James, but she was glad his mood had taken a turn.  I guess I finally got through to him, she thought, exuberant.

            "You have a big game today," she said excitedly as they walked to the Great Hall.

James ran his hand through his hair.  "Don't I know it.  And it's Christmas, too.  We should be on holiday.  Don't know why Dumbledore postponed it."

James was able to keep his cheerful face on through breakfast.  That morning was the Quidditch championship match, Gryffindor versus Slytherin.  Slytherin had been on a winning streak and James suspected that's why the holidays had been postponed—Professor Sylvia Snape didn't want to lose their winning streak.

James was only slightly nervous about the match.  He had been in the team since second year.

In the middle of breakfast, Lily approached James tentatively.

            "Um… Potter?"

            "What do you want, Evans?" James regarded her coldly.  "Can't you see I'm busy?"

            "I…" Lily was shocked.  "Can we talk?"

James sighed irritably.  "Make it quick.  I've got warm-ups."

They walked outside into the Entrance Hall.  James folded his arms across his chest.

            "Well?  I told you I haven't got all day."

            "I… James, what's up with you?  You've changed so much since last night."

James nearly burst out laughing.

            "What's up with me?  What's up with me?  I'll tell you.  You rejected me last night, Evans.  I told you I wouldn't bother you.  That's what you want, isn't it?  That's what you've always wanted.  You would always complain about how I annoyed you, how I got on your nerves, how I infuriated you so much.  Well, you should be happy now.  I'm back to normal and I'm leaving you alone.  Now if you'll excuse me, I have a Quidditch match to win."  James turned and briskly walked away.

But that's not what I want, Lily thought.

-

            "And it's Carey of Gryffindor with the Quaffle!  She's heading toward the goalposts—duck, Marie!-- and passes it to Longbottom.  He scores!  Ten-nil Gryffindor!"  Mark Jordan's voice rang out across the Quidditch pitch.  Cheers and groans resounded throughout the stadium.

James' eyes were searching for the Snitch.  The tiny, golden, winged ball was nowhere to be seen.

            "Flint takes possession, he flies across half the pitch—stop him, Frank!-- he dodges Longbottom and shoots!  Catch it…yes!  I don't believe it!  What a miraculous save by Sean Wood!

            "Gryffindor back in possession, with a ten-point lead…"

James noticed the Slytherin Seeker, Nott tailing him closely.  He dove, and, thinking James had spotted the Snitch, Nott followed.  James pulled up from his dive just in time, but Nott crashed.

            "This could get ugly," Jordan yelled through his magical megaphone.

It did.  The Slytherin supporters started throwing things at James, which he dodged easily.  The players started yelling at James and the referee.  James only grinned.  He was used to this.

The game resumed, after a little bit of sorting out between the referee and the Slytherin team.

Soon it was Gryffindor-70, Slytherin-20.  The match was the toughest they had had all season, and James had to catch the Snitch while they were fifty points ahead; otherwise they lost the Cup.

James noticed the winged ball lurking near the shortest goalpost.  He zoomed toward it, picking up speed every second… Nott followed him, obviously thinking it wasn't a feint.

James reached toward it, hand outstretched, Nott on his tail… closed his fingers around the Snitch…

And then a Bludger came out of nowhere.

            "Potter, look out!"  Wood shouted.

But it was too late.  The Bludger, backed up by enormous brute force, smacked James in the back of the head.  A dull crack could be heard throughout the stadium.

James, still clutching barely to his broom, plummeted face-first toward the ground.  Crabbe and Goyle smacked their clubs together and grunted.

-

Lily whipped out her want and yelled "Immobulus!"  She then slowly lowered James to the ground, then ran to the middle of the pitch.

A crowd was already gathering.  Lily fought her way to the center.  Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey were there, leaning over James.  Lily heard Poppy Pomfrey's voice:

            "I can't feel a pulse, Albus."

Lily's heart stopped.

            "Oh, wait… it's there, but very faint… his chances of surviving are slim…" she whispered so only Dumbledore could hear, but Lily heard it.

A/N: Okay, do you guys remember in chapter whatever-it-was how Sirius overheard Snape and Malfoy plotting to kill James?  Well… points above

I know it's short, but it was updated quickly, right?  Well, even if it wasn't, I had this chapter written (but not typed) when I uploaded Chapter 27.  The next chapter will be long (I hope) so don't count on a quick post!  I'm trying hard!

Review, review, review!

OutofAzkaban