Chapter 3
I stepped onto the pitch, looking around for the other players. Anna and I joined Pete and his mates, standing opposite the other team. A large crowd had followed us from the pub, and were now lounging in the stands as we waited for Tom the barman, who was acting as referee. He arrived a few minutes later, his bent frame still moving swiftly despite the weight of the box he was carrying under his arm. He set it down and opened it, unstrapping the balls.
"Captains, shake hands." He said, his voice creaking in protest as he tried to make it louder.
Pete and shook hands with his opposite number, a tall blonde woman. Then the whistle blew, and we were off!
I pushed off hard from the ground, revelling in the feeling of the wind in my hair as I shot into the air. Steadying myself, I looked around for the other two chasers, Anna and a guy called Brett. Anna had the Quaffle. I flew into position, flying underneath her as she went straight for the goal hoops. She was almost hit by a bludger at the last second, and she almost fell off her broom, dropping the Quaffle. Soaring beneath, I caught it, and accelerated. I marvelled at the clumsiness of the other players, my own team and the opposite team, and even Anna weren't all that good. Their moves were so clumsy, so uncalculated. The only decent player among them was a chaser on the opposite team, a young, pale, dark-haired guy, who moved with the ease and agility of an experienced player.
One of the Beaters sent a Bludger at me. I dodged it easily, then swooped around two chasers as the tried to hem me in. As I took off again, both Bludgers were sent my way, the beaters following close behind. I dodged them all with ease, finding myself wishing I was back at Hogwarts, where the opposing players could actually play. However, no sooner had I thought that when I was blocked by the dark-haired Chaser. I swerved to the left, but he shadowed me easily, blocking my path with his broom. Again and again I tried to get around him, and each time he blocked me effortlessly. I was getting desperate- I could see the rest of his team closing in, but my own team were nowhere to be seen. I flew as fast as I could, still clutching the Quaffle as I tried to escape them, but that one chaser was always in front of me. In one last attempt I jerked my broomhandle upwards, shooting up almost vertically over his head before levelling myself and continuing my flight. As I did so, Brett finally came into sight.
"About time," I muttered to myself, passing him the ball.
Half an hour later it was 70 all- every goal having been scored by either myself or the dark-haired guy, I might add. Every time I was blocked I wished again that I was back on the Gryffindor team. Ange and Alicia would never have abandoned another Chaser in the middle of a game, like Anna and Brett did. Fred and George wouldn't let their team get hit by Bludger after Bludger. Harry would have caught the snitch by now. And Oliver- well, if Oliver was our keeper we'd be miles ahead. That boy could save anything.
The crowd were getting restless, and many were leaving. The ones still remaining weren't paying any attention to the game, just chatting amongst themselves.
Suddenly, the Quaffle came my way. Glancing around, I saw that my path to the goal hoops was clear. I leant forward, willing my broom to go faster. The goalie was watching, guarding the hoops as well as he could as I swooped in from the left. Just before I hit him, I swerved right, lobbing the Quaffle through the furthest hoop. I punched the air in celebration then-
"Oof!"
I was knocked sideways off my broom, so that I was hanging by one hand, fifty feet from the ground. As I tried to swing myself back onto my broom, I looked around for the bludger that had hit me, but they were both up at the opposite end of the pitch. And then I realised. No bludger. That fool of a seeker, Jenny, had crashed into me when she was diving for the snitch. She was lying in a heap on the ground, whimpering. The opposing seeker was lying next to her, battered and muddy and looking very much as though he had just crashed into the ground.
"They win," sighed Anna, coming up behind me, as I reseated myself on my broom.
"How come?" I asked, not taking my eyes from the scene below, as both seekers were helped off the pitch by spectators.
"Their seeker got the snitch. Landed on top of it."
We alighted on the pitch, and started to make our way towards the changing rooms. I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Excuse me," said a voice.
I turned. A man was standing in front of me, one of the spectators. He was athletically built, maybe in his late thirties by the look of him, with close cropped mousy hair and piercing grey eyes.
"I'm Steve Crowley," he said, holding out his hand. I shook it.
"Katie Bell," I said, feeling slightly confused. He smiled.
"Hi Katie. I noticed you were playing extremely well today. Are you an experienced player?"
"Of sorts," I said, flushing. "I was on the Gryffindor team in Hogwarts for six years."
"I see." He paused, and I frowned, wondering what this was leading up to.
"Look, Katie, I'm not going to beat around the bush. As you might have heard, Montrose Magpies have recently lost a Chaser to injury, Jake Greenlee. I'd like you to take his place, if you're willing that is."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This. Could. Not. Be. Happening.
"Me?" I managed eventually.
"Yes, you. I'm the Magpies coach. What do you say? Actually, wait a sec." he paused, looking over his shoulder.
"Larry, Aaron! Come over here for a minute."
He turned back to me.
"Well?"
"I- I dunno. I'd love to, I suppose. I'll do it."
Steve smiled. "Good. Katie- I'd like you to meet Larry Thompson, manager of the Magpies."
I shook hands with Larry. He was a round, balding, middle-aged man with a kind, fatherly look about him. I liked him straight away.
"Larry- this is Katie Bell, our new Chaser. She's agreed to join the squad."
Larry beamed at me.
"Excellent! You'll be a valuable player, Miss Bell, I can tell you that straight off. Haven't seen that sort of easy skill in a long time."
"Where's Aaron got to?" muttered Steve. "He heard me. Stupid git, probably off with some girl or other. Again. I'll kill him one of these days."
"Go easy Steve," said Larry quietly. "Don't be too hard on the lad."
"Easy, my-" Steve was caught off mid-rant as another voice joined the trio.
"Hey, what have I missed?"
A figure emerged out of the gloom. I recognised him instantly. It was my opposite number, the dark-haired Chaser.
"This," said Steve, looking as though it was taking him all his strength to keep his temper, "is Aaron Salter, Magpies Chaser and fool extraordinaire. Aaron, this is our new Chaser, Katie Bell."
"Nice choice Steve," said Aaron approvingly. "She's really good." He grinned at me. "Hey Katie! Good game, eh? And don't mind Steve. It's all lies, he's just jealous coz he's not as handsome as I am."
I grinned back. Aaron gave me a wink, before disappearing into the gloom. Steve ground his teeth.
"I could kill that boy," he muttered as he departed. Once he was gone, Larry clapped me on the arm.
"Don't worry about Steve. He's a grouch, but he's got a good heart. His bark is worse than his bite. Anyway, down to business. Do you know where the Magpie training grounds are?"
I nodded. I knew them well. The Magpies had a large complex, just outside London. I'd often gone there to watch league matches with Ange and Alicia.
"Well, if you come down at 10 o'clock on Monday morning we'll give you the tour. Training starts at eleven, so you'll have plenty of time to get yourself settled and meet the rest of the team. See you on Monday!"
And then I was left on my own. I couldn't take in what had happened. It was like a dream come true. And then a thought struck me. I grinned.
"Ange is going to kill me."
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(A/N): Hey everybody! Sorry about the lack of Oliver in this chapter, he will appear in the next chapter, I promise! Ducks the turnips that are being thrown at her. No really, he'll appear.
Anywho, my reviewers…..You all rock.
Pia O'Leary: Loads of Oliver in the next chapter, I promise!
IHopeForAnarchy: I refuse to be predictable! Lol. :p
Kathy: Katie/Oliver in the next chappie, I promise! And the way I picture Alicia, I don't really think she's suited for George. Plus, it would be too neat to have Fred, George, Oliver/Angelina, Alicia, Katie.
And thanx also to:
Fernanda, TheBeautifulLetDown, Lady of Masbolle, Chenelle and TooSweet4Words.