Year 3: Chapter 37

The morning arrived bright and early for all in Hogwarts as the school sat at breakfast. The atmosphere in the hall was mixed. Excitement flew around the room and yet in two sections of two tables was a nervous feeling.

The Hufflepuff Quidditch team had huddled together around their captain Aaron Scott. Low mumbles could be heard but that was about all. Nobody other than the team sat with them and there were three spaces on either end so they could go over game plans without anybody interrupting.

The Gryffindor table was so very different. Christian was sitting happily with Kathy, Ted and Andi, talking about how excited they were and how sure they were to win. Frank then was further down the table with Alice, Ginny and Joseph, joking around and throwing food at the other boys.

The remaining three players were happily stuffing their faces. The pact between Amanda and James was lasting and they were joking around happily. Even Branwen and Peter seemed to be getting along. Although they had already had a screaming, slanging match earlier and were now again dating.

Half nine came around and the two teams stood up. Aaron looked over at the Gryffindors and caught his sister's eye. Alice smiled and pulled away from Frank heading over.

"Good luck Aaron, you're going to need it against this lot."

"Oh thanks Alley, although you better tell your little boyfriend to watch out; I'm going to get the Snitch before he sees it coming."

Then Aaron was gone, with his team following behind. Christian waved his team to follow him and then before anyone knew it they were in the changing rooms. Once everyone was ready they sat on the benches and Christian stood up.

"Now don't forget what we were talking about last night; no arguments on the pitch. Let's win! We know they're weaknesses, so let's play to them. Oh, and Frank? No killing the other seeker!"

Then they were gone onto the pitch. Christian and Aaron shook hands and the teams were in the air.

In the stands Lily, Branwen, Ginny and Alice were stood in one row and right behind them were Peter and a rather ill looking Remus. Joseph's voice rang high above the crowds as he yelled about each player in turn.

"Playing Keeper today we have Head for the Hufflepuffs and Black for the Gryffindors."

Both sides yelled cheers but from the green end, boos where heard the loudest. Joseph ignoring this though carried on.

"Head is going to have his work cut out for him today; he found it hard enough against the Ravenclaws before Christmas and compared to the Gryffindor three, they're useless. Of course we can't judge him on that game alone after all it was his first on the team and he may have gotten the hang of things now, but still... the Gryffindors are going to make him work today."

The reaction to this was a mixture, but then maybe they were busy watching Pullman lose the ball to James to notice this

"Black, on the other hand, should have an easy game. He's really into the swing of the game now and after the defeat of Slytherins in that very dirty game back in November, he should be ready for anything. The Hufflepuff Chasers will have to be quick to get anything pass him, with the exception of Pullman who it is speculated will go professional after Hogwarts."

There was a scream of happiness from the Hufflepuffs that quickly died in their throats as Kathy got the first goal of the game. Joseph clapped before yelling.

"Gryffindor scores; told you that Head would have his work cut out today. That brilliant goal was scored by the oldest of the three Gryffindor Chasers and of course the captain's Mrs., Kathy White. She's quick on the go, the lovely Kathy, and the other team will have to watch her carefully."

He stopped talking for a moment about the players as Pullman took the ball straight out of Amanda's hands and raced off in the direction of Sirius. She was quickly behind him though and a well-aimed Bludger from Christian gave her the ball and she was back to Head. Faking an attempt to the left she scored easily through the right ring.

"That's another goal for Gryffindor, making it 20-0. I must say that was a close call; Dixon, get your head in the game, love! Letting Pullman take the ball like that, but she showed the Hufflepuffs why she is one of the top chasers in the school. Her speed on that broom is remarkable; not even the great Pullman can match that. Watch the space Hogwarts, this girl is going places and fast."

Ginny turned to Alice and they high-fived, laughing at the look on Aarons face from further above.

"Oh, wait! What is this? Pullman has the Quaffle, and is at the hoops; he aims left and throws right... SAVED! One thing you can say about Black is he knows a fake when he sees one. Pullman though is an excellent player and you've only just seen the start of him today."

"Pullman has taken the ball from White and passes it towards his lovely girlfriend Louisa Book... but what? Dixon intercepts it and is off to the other end. What a great interception! And she aims for the left hoop and... where did that Bludger come from? Wait, she's dropped the ball, straight into the hands of Potter and... ANOTHER GOAL!"

Cheers went up from the Gryffindor area and boos where heard everywhere else. Joseph laughed down the microphone

"Who would have thought that Potter and Dixon would work so well today? They've been at each others throats for the last two weeks... I think we may have a budding romance taking place, although don't tell them I was the one to say that!"

Amanda heard Joseph's voice and it hit her; she looked at James and threw the Quaffle straight at him. He looked shocked, but carried on as she signalled to Christian she wanted a time out. He quickly called it and they flew to the ground.

"Mand, what the hell is wrong with you? Why'd you throw the Quaffle at me like that?"

Her eyes were wide and she was pulling on her hair, which she had tied into bunches and plaited them. Christian put his hand on her shoulder.

"I thought you two were going to be getting along during the game."

"Sorry Christian, James... I just lost it. Joseph distracted me and I wanted to hurt him, so I aimed at James."

"What did Wild say now?"

Ted laughed and looked at them.

"Only something we've all been thinking. Kathy, remember what you and Andi were talking about yesterday? Well Joseph just voiced that."

If Christian knew what was being said he ignored it and looked around.

"Guys look; we're winning, we're half hour into this and we're three goals up, let's make it more. Okay? Whatever is annoying you Dixon, put it aside until after the match. Let's get up there and win this game."

Seconds later the game had resumed and the Gryffindors were scoring. Joseph was having a hard time keeping up with everything.

"Potter has the Quaffle, no wait... Dixon, no White, Potter, White, Dixon... score! Pullman has it! No, White... and another score! This is getting serious now; the Gryffindors are passing the Quaffle around as if there is no tomorrow. Ouch, that must hurt! Penalty to Hufflepuff for that terrible throw from Dixon."

Amanda had aimed to throw the ball over Freddie Cast's head but the ball had gone at the wrong angle and hit him full force in the nose. It looked broken and a time out was called while Prewett looked at it.

When the game had resumed Cast took the ball and aimed left Sirius saw this as a fake throw and went right as he went to throw it that way and he saw the ball sail into the left hoop. Joseph's voice rang loud.

"Cast faked a fake throw that got Black. Leaving the score now as 120 to Gryffindor to the Hufflepuffs 10. Wait what's this? Longbottom has gone into a dive, as has Scott. Come on Frankie boy, get that little ball before the brother-in-law gets it!"

Alice grabbed Ginny's hand as the two boys went head to head, whoever got this would give their team the win and everybody knew it.

Frank saw the Snitch move to the right and he followed it aware that Aaron was close behind him. He saw Amanda out of the side of his eye snatch the Quaffle from Pullman and she flew next to the two boys.

"Go on Frank, get the Snitch... we'll score another four goals now to guarantee we can't lose."

The Snitch went up and so did he as Amanda took aim and scored yet another goal. The Snitch didn't want to be caught as it headed in the other direction. He made a quick twist and carried on in the other direction; he saw Aaron make a cleaner turn and was ahead of him.

He heard Joe's voice yell that James had scored another giving them a lead of 130, another two goals and Aaron would be forced to try and stop him from catching the Snitch. He saw the Snitch make a funny movement it moved down slightly and Aaron followed it but Frank stayed at his level, it paid off because the Snitch moved back up and straight into his hand.

The whistle sounded and everybody headed to the ground. The Hufflepuffs looked downtrodden and he didn't blame them; they were having a bad season. They had been winning the cup for a decade and now all of a sudden they couldn't beat anybody.

Frank found himself wrapped up in the team celebration. Christian had grabbed his empty hand and was wringing it like mad, then Ted did the same followed by Sirius and James. He had a small hug from Kathy and then he saw Aaron move forward.

Before he was close enough Frank felt hands wrap around him and he smiled down at Amanda as he hugged her back. Aaron stopped in front of the team and everybody stood still looking at him.

"Good game."

He stuck his hand out to Frank and before he knew it he was enveloped into a brotherly hug, Aaron shook hands with Christian again and found James and hugged him in a brotherly manner as well. Then he headed off as the teams went to shower before the Gryffindors had their party.

Okay so its been a while and I'm sorry for the wait but now that I've finished university for the summer my work schedule has been increased and I'm also trying to read my way through my history books for next term.

Firewalker Okay the reason that James and Amanda are fighting well I can't actually remember I don't think I gave a reason. The pair are quite alike and that leads them to bang heads a lot and that's what had happened something small was just blown up.

As for them being closer they are, and this is kind of built on a relationship with one of my mates James, we're mates and we get on and we can talk and then something tiny will happen and I blow up at him and he gets mad and then we're not speaking and the last time that happens it was over the fact I didn't wave at him when I was in the pub.

Oh I went to see the star wars film the night before I posted the last chapter. I took my dad and it was just fantastic it's the best of the new three but I still prefer the original three movies. Oh and enjoy your cruise I'm not likely to update now before you go.

Taylin Like I said above its just one of those stupid arguments that gets blown out of the water but something somebody said. It was just a small argument that got bigger and bigger because everyone else is fighting.

There is a hint of Sirius and Amanda as yet I'm not sure how that will turn out, part of me wants to make them a couple and another part thinks thats too predictable so we'll see how that works out in the long run.

Yep my exams are now over so at least that's one less thing for me to do.

Annie yeah Roman means powerful, and Jack well because he's a Swansea boy (locally we call all the Swansea lot Jacks, so now he's officially a Swansea Jack!) Yes you have too many fav characters although Joe is growing on me, I still can't work out where he came from and how he got into the story.

Anyway now you've read this please hit the small button to review

Kris