A/N: To clear up some questions, yes, I WILL eventually be explaining why Arabella and Sirius cannot be in a room without scratching each other's eyes out.
And as for the James/Lily action…well, let's put it this way. This story is going to take all of the gang through fifth year, so there won't be too much of Lily and James as a couple for a while. ~Ducks the tomatoes~ Hey, if you want some L/J fluff, read my other L/J stories or click on my favorite stories section, where there are some L/J fics that truly rock.
This chapter was easily the hardest to write. I'm not all that into sports (Quidditch doesn't count) and describing the match was not easy. Major thanks to J.K. Rowling for writing Quidditch Through The Ages, because I couldn't have done this otherwise.
Lily shakily took her position on the pitch.
Okay, just breathe. Breathe and try to play the best damn game of your life-
She watched hazily as James shook hands with the Hufflepuff Captain, as Madam Hooch took the field.
"And the Quaffle is released…" the announcer boomed.
Later on, Lily's memories of the game were nothing but a blur. It was all dip-swerve-dodge-that-Chaser-throw-chase-
Until she heard the roar of the crowd and realized that she had just scored.
James grinned at her as he zoomed by. "Told you that you'd be great at this!" he yelled back at her. "Now, if you just score a hundred more of those-"
Lily smiled and flew after the Hufflepuff Chasers, who were racing towards Adam.
The lead Chaser threw the Quaffle straight at Adam, who-
"FANTASTIC save by the Gryffindor Keeper-Walsh has been playing for Gryffindor since his third year-"
Lily breathed a deep sigh of relief.
"-and the score is 10-0, Gryffindor leading-"
Melissa whooshed toward Lily and lightly threw her the Quaffle. "Catch!"
Lily caught it and went full speed toward the Hufflepuff Chaser.
"Looks like Hufflepuff has their work cut out for them-Lily Evans, the new Gryffindor Chaser, seems like a brilliant addition to the team-"
Lily threw the ball towards James, who scored.
"20-0, Gryffindor still in the lead-"
Lily laughed giddily, then ducked as a Bludger tried to hit her on the head.
Sirius flew by on his broom and whacked it towards the Hufflepuff Chasers, who scattered.
He grinned at Lily and she blushed and smiled back.
Come on, Lily, no time for that, especially not now-Just then, Matt dived, but abruptly stopped, shaking his head.
"Looks like neither Seeker has found the Snitch yet-Potter rushing towards the Hufflepuff goals."
Lily hastily flew to where James was flying towards the goals, the Quaffle under one arm. Melissa was hovering about ten feet below.
Lily grinned, realizing what James was trying to accomplish.
James flew higher and higher, the Hufflepuff Chasers following his every move. James looked like he was about to attempt to score, then at the last minute, threw the ball down to where Melissa was waiting. Melissa easily got past the Keeper and made a goal.
"Amazing example of the Porskoff Ploy-and the score is 30-0, Gryffindor still leading-"
Just then, both Seekers made a huge dive, Matt slightly in the lead.
"What the-" the announcer gasped.
James zoomed towards Lily, who looked at him anxiously. James shook his head. "I cannot believe Matt's actually going to try the Wronski Feint-"
"What?!" Lily shrieked. "Is he crazy-they're going to crash!"
And so they did.
"TIME-OUT!" James bellowed. Madam Hooch blew her whistle.
"And Gryffindor takes a time-out while Madam Pomfrey inspects the two Seekers. Disastrous display of a failed attempt at the Wronski Feint-"
The two teams flew down to their Seekers. Matt was sitting up on a stretcher.
"What the hell were you thinking?" James exploded, his eyes glittering. "The Wronski Feint-"
"What good are you going to do this team if you get your brains splattered all over the pitch?" Rebecca demanded angrily.
"Okay, okay, you guys," Lily interrupted, holding up her hands. "Matt, can you play?"
Matt nodded, then looked like he wished he hadn't.
"Matt-if you can't do this, then I'm not going to put you in there," James said flatly.
Matt took a deep breath and said firmly, "I can do this."
James sighed. "All right."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As Lily scored again, she saw a flash of gold right out of the corner of her eye-
-but then it was gone again. Lily tried to signal to Matt, but he'd already spotted it. Whooshing past Lily, he dived after the Snitch.
"And this looks to be the real deal-" the announcer boomed. The Hufflepuff Seeker tried to catch up to Matt, but he was too far behind-
Matt abruptly pulled out of the dive and rose gently, something gold glinting in his hand.
"GRYFFINDOR WINS!" the announcer shrieked above the screams and cheers of the crowd.
Lily stopped dead on her broom.
We won.
I didn't screw up and we WON.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Lily stared at everything in astonishment.
"How did you get all this?" she demanded, gesturing at the sweets, pumpkin juice, and butterbeer piled up on the tables.
James grinned. "Trade secret. And didn't I tell you that you'd be amazing?" he said.
"You've only been reminding for the ten thousandth time since the match," Lily replied, still unable to wipe off the grin she'd been wearing ever since the game.
"Well you were," James told her. He grinned as a Beatles song came on. "You want to dance?" he asked.
Lily shrugged. "Why not?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Frank looked over at where Lily and James were dancing. "Hey, Arabella," he started hesitantly, "d'you ever think that…?"
"That what?" Arabella asked through a mouthful of chocolate.
Frank shook his head slowly. "Forget it. It's nothing, I'm sure." But his face was thoughtful as he watched Lily laughing at one of James's jokes.
"No, tell me," Bella urged.
"It's just-" Frank started, but was immediately interrupted by Arabella's squeals.
"Oooh, this is my favorite song!" And with that, Bella dragged him off to the dance floor.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
With a groan, James and Lily pushed the last chair into place. "There," Lily breathed. "Done. Finally."
"McGonagall would've never let us hear the end of it if we'd left the common room a mess," James said.
"Yeah," Lily agreed, and then yawned. "Well, I'm exhausted. Night, James."
She went to the stairs, then turned around and came back. Without any warning, she kissed James on the cheek.
That's two, he thought giddily. Two in one day.
Lily stepped back, blushing.
"What-what was that for?" James asked, silently willing himself not to blush.
"For everything," Lily said sincerely. "For talking me into joining the team…for being so supportive…for offering to put in a reserve Chaser…for everything. Thank you."
"You're, uh, you're welcome," James said, blushing fiercely and unable to do anything about it.
"Well," Lily said, "I'd better go to sleep or else I'll pass out in class. Which would not be good." She went up the stairs again and disappeared.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
James walked dreamily into the dormitory, a huge smile on his face.
"Why do you look so happy?" Remus inquired curiously over Frank's snores.
"Don't tell me you pulled off a prank without us," Sirius said, horrified at the thought.
"No, nothing like that," James assured his friends. "I'm still happy about the game today."
"As well you ought to be," Peter said firmly. "You guys flattened Hufflepuff today."
"Well, night," James said as he got into his bed and closed the curtains.
Maybe there's some hope for me after all, James thought as he drifted off into sleep.
