The Quidditch game came upon the team faster than they had bargained for. Everyone felt queasy on the morning of the 26th. Rory wouldn't take a bite of breakfast. Kylee practically stuffed a piece of toast down her throat mumbling about how if she didn't eat she would feel worse. Rory scowled but chewed the toast anyway. Aidan had taken to sitting with Rory, Kylee and the guys at meals since no one else seemed to enjoy his company as much as the four of them did. He still wore that ridiculous beanie that said something different every time he wore it. Today it read, 'I'm so nervous I think I'm going to throw up'. Rory didn't sit across from him like she usually did.

"Why are you all the way over there?" Aidan asked her, she was on Marcus's other side.

"I don't want to be in the way of your projectile vomit," she said simply. Aidan laughed.

"There won't be any, but it's always good to be forewarned,"

"Splendid," Rory said and decided that she needed a nap. She leaned on Marcus and attempted to fall asleep when she felt someone come up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. "You need something?" she asked sleepily and turned around.

Rory got a face full of orange juice. When she had wiped it out of her eyes, she turned to see Kylee standing there with the empty glass, grinning like a mad person.

"I could have predicted you would do this," she mumbled, sarcasm laid on thick. Kylee grinned broader and pour another glass.

"This time you drink the whole thing!" Kylee said and handed the glass to the now-sticky Rory. Rory fumed but did as she was asked. Well, told, really, but that's not important.

McFly appeared near them out of seemingly nowhere. He was nervous as well, Rory could see it, his face was a little green and he had cut himself shaving at least three times.

"Okay guys time for us to go out and change" he stumbled over some of the words, and nodded and walked away talking to himself.

"I think he's finally lost it," Aidan said, scratching his head watching McFly's quickly retreating back.

"I know for a fact that he didn't even have it to lose," Rory commented dryly.

"That's not all he didn't have!" Marcus said. Rory and Kylee giggled furiously. Kylee hugged Rory.

"Don't kill yourself up there. I makes me nervous when you do all of that crazy stunt shit," she said.

"Don't be nervous, the boys'll tell you. If anyone in school was better at it than I was, I wouldn't do it," Rory replied and smiled reassuringly.

"Fine. Careful," Kylee said and turned back and sat down with the other sixth years. Rory sighed and ran to catch up with the boys.

"You nervous, Payne?" it was Jess Riley, sounding like the pompous idiot he was.

"No not really, I'm just sorry I get to throw that ball at the other Keeper and not at you," she said kicked her foot up behind her. She heard him screech in pain like a little girl and fall to the ground.

"Goddamn girl, you hold big grudges," Aidan said and put his elbow on her shoulder and quickly pulled it off when Marcus began to growl at him.

"No, I don't. I'm just," she thought for a moment as Jess finally regained the ability to walk on his own, "a respect whore," she concluded; Aidan laughed, "I crave it," Rory whispered comically and made an evil-sorceress face. She tapped her fingertips together in mock-plotting as they all exited the Great Hall.

They changed into their green and silver robes in complete silence. People barely breathed, let alone talked. Rory put her hair up and sprayed it with hairspray. You can't have flying hair when you're trying to tackle Ravenclaw Chasers. She grinned with this thought and tied a Green ribbon over her ponytail.

"Okay, folks," McFly has finally brought his courage back from wherever it had vacationed at breakfast. Rory noticed how his cheeks were hollowed out a little and his face was ashen. She supposed it was just lack of sleep, "Today it's open season on Ravenclaws!" the joy on McFly's face was palpable, you could feel it flowing off of him like a heat wave. Rory especially, she had to take a few deep breaths.

"We're gonna go out there, play hard, fight and we're gonna win it!" there was a general whoop of agreement from the whole team.

"So what the hell are we waiting for!" McFly raised his Firebolt V3 in the air and turned to run on the field. The team followed suit. When they stepped out, almost half of the stadium erupted.

Slytherin supporters waved bright green pennants and some of the boys had "SLYTHERINS!" painted on their chests. Rory smiled, she lived for this kind of glory. She felt the others get the same shot of adrenaline. She climbed on her broom and hovered a few feet off the ground and waited for the team to be announced.

Christian Moore was, if it was humanly possible, a bigger man-whore than McFly. He was very Irish with shaggy, straight red hair and deep brown eyes. He had the deep, clear voice that made any girl want to swoon. As a Slytherin 7th year, he was McFly's sworn enemy, but unfortunately he took to heart the phrase, "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." He was the announcer for the Slytherin Team.

Christian cleared his throat audibly and McFly scowled. Christian was better at drawing attention to himself, and this was the way to do it.

"Here comes the Slytherin Quidditch Team! Captain McFly, Co-Captain Payne, and Cassius, O'Malley, Crane, Riley and OOOOOOOOO'Sullivan," Aidan's name was last because he was Seeker, and also because it seemed as if it was fun to end on. When the players heard their names they took off into the air making a lap around the pitch, raising the hype even more. They settled in their starting positions as Ravenclaw team was being announced.

"Now entering; it's the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team! Captain Jones, Co-Captain Abernathy, and Wonderson, Stafford, Chang, Davies, and Newen!" The Ravenclaws did the same as the Slytherins and settled in their own positions, McFly and Jones shook hands.

Danara Jones was a tall and bulky 7th year. She had long black hair that was tied in tiny braids and tied up at the back of her head. She was like a wall when it came to tackling. Rory had gotten more than a few broken limbs from this girl after running into her in games. She was polite enough about it, though. Rory regained her place as center Chaser when McFly went to the right to his position.

Madame Hooch still looked not a day over 50. Sharp, eagle yellow eyes were as piercing as ever and she still was lean and fit. Rory did not even know how old she truly was. She looked at both girls. Rory nodded, followed by Bonnie Abernathy. Bonnie was in her year, and was very intelligent and very good at Quidditch. She had short orange-colored hair and navy blue colored eyes. Bonnie was a real bitch sometimes. It gave Rory all the more reason to beat her. Hooch tossed the ball into the air and then sped away on her broom.

Time stood still for Rory as she lifted her broom up and soared towards the ball. It fell into her hands and she took off in the direction of the Ravenclaw goalposts. She half-listened to Christian's commentary.

"There goes Payne with the Quaffle, my, she's a pretty one, err...I mean, Payne has always got good timing!" Christian laughed at himself richly, "Oh! Davies hits a Bludger her way. Payne rolls over in the air and Crane comes out of nowhere and knocks the Bludger back to Davies." The Slytherin crowd went wild, "Holy Saint Blarney! Davies is hit, that one's gotta hurt!" O'Malley and Crane celebrated by hitting their bats together as they passed each other.

Rory cheered silently to herself, one less to worry about! She thought with glee as she reached the goal posts. Jones stood ready. Rory grinned and decided to fake her out. Rory moved like a cat to a crouching position on her broom, with the Quaffle under her arm she launched herself into the air and tossed the ball up above her, as it was falling, she one-handed it into the right goal post. The Slytherins went wild and she felt Kylee relax. Rory did a victory lap as the ball was put into play again.

She looked up to see the Ravenclaw Chaser, Newen trailing Aidan by about 100 ft. She stuck two fingers in her mouth and whistled. Aidan looked down at her. "LOSE THAT CREEP!" she shouted and sped off the help McFly with the Ravenclaw Chasers. Aidan nodded and looked back at Newen. Aidan grinned; he made a girlish screech that made the whole crowd look at him. He suddenly accelerated to the goalposts on the Slytherin side and then went into a 90 degree dive, pulling out only inches from the ground. The crowd gasped as Newen hit the sand and rolled. The kid groped for his broom and was in the air again in forty-five seconds, but Aidan has faked him out, and you know what they say about 'the boy who cried "wolf"'.

Ravenclaw managed to get five past Jess. Most all were thrown by Bonnie; she and Rory were similar, most center Chasers are flashy with tricks and stunts. Rory felt her teeth clench up. She listened to Christian to check the score.

"Ravenclaw 50-Slytherin 120; Excellent pass from McFly...oh damn intercepted by Stafford. Stafford is assaulted by the Bludgers, he drops the Quaffle," Rory dove for the fallen sphere and fliped upside down to head in the other direction. She popped her neck and looked to her right at McFly, he gave her a thumb up, and to her left at Cassius, who saluted. They had been working on a team-score move for some time now. With Theo on the team they had finally perfected it. Rory nodded and they all split off. McFly swerved to the right and Cassius to the left. Rory turned upside down again and they all raised a good ten feet into the air; it took that long for the Ravenclaws to realize what was going on.

Rory passed to McFly who threw it to the back of a Ravenclaw, it bounced off and Theo caught it, rolling in the air. He passed like lightning to Rory, who sped on towards the goal posts. She suddenly threw the Quaffle into the air above her and snatched the broom right out from under her. She hit the Quaffle like a baseball into the center goal post and it hit the tower so fast it bounced back into McFly's hands. He caught it, threw the ball up and punched it into the Right goal post at an angle where it bounced off the center post and flew right to Rory she passed to Cassius who soared up twenty feet and let the ball fall with him he then twisted in the air and kicked it like a Soccer ball into the left goalpost.

Christian was silent, but the crowd was going wild. There was never a record of a move like this in Hogwarts history. All of the jubilation ended when Danara called a review. The teams watched as Danara and Hooch argued. Hooch signaled to Christian.

"The score stands Ravenclaw-50/Slytherin-150" there was once again an eruption like a volcano from the Slytherin Supporters. Rory high-fived each of her team mates. She wore this ridiculous grin until something happened that was completely unexpected.

"O'Sullivan has seen the snitch. Go, Irishman, go!" Rory whipped around to find Aidan, flat on his broom speeding towards the Ravenclaw side. Newen obviously didn't believe him until Aidan leapt off of his broom, did a front flip and land on the handle again like a gymnast. He held the snitch in his hand. Slytherin had won 300-50. Rory and team floated to the ground, sweaty, tired,and hungry. Rory went over and kissed Aidan on the cheek.

"Thanks, we owe you one." she smiled.

"No, no you don't. This little gold thing is thanks enough." he held up his left hand. The snitch had wound itself in his fingers, like it didn't want to come loose. Rory vaguely felt a thump on her right side. She was tackled to the ground and Kylee's eyes were blinking inches above her own when she finally decided to fact the music.

"Ow," Rory said.

"THAT HAD TO BE THE BEST QUIDDITCH GAME I HAVE EVER WATCHED!" Kylee's voice was hoarse from screaming, but it was still loud. Rory covered her ears.

"Thank you?" Rory managed to get out. Kylee shook her friend's shoulders vigorously and O'Malley and Marcus pulled Kylee of Rory. Rory dusted herself off. Kylee was jumping up and down all over the pitch after everyone but the Slytherin 6th years and the team had left.

"Sleepy" Rory said.

"Ditto" Marcus replied.

"Cubed" Theo said, his view blocked by Lilibeth who was still ecstatic.

"I Fourth it" O'Malley said and draped himself over Kylee's shoulders. "Carry me?" he asked Kylee stepped to her left and he got this hilarious look on his face and slowly fell to the ground. Everyone was laughing by the time O'Malley got up and dusted himself off.

"Anyone for a party?" Rory asked and began to walk in the direction of the castle.

"Christian said he'd take care of it," Aidan said and got in step with Rory.

"Good," Kylee and O'Malley caught up. Marcus pushed himself next to Rory by moving Aidan over.

"Well, what's next on the agenda?" Rory asked as she wiped the sweat from her forehead with the hem of her robe.

"DUH! It's the 20th! Halloween's in 11 days!" Kylee said and prodded Rory in the side.

"SHUTTUP! I totally forgot about the Masquerade!" She said frantically.

"Don't worry. Chill! Wait until you see what I have for you!" Kylee said.

"Well, that gives me no consolation" Rory said sarcastically.

Kylee scowled, "Oh bite me!"

Rory felt Marcus suddenly convulse next to her.

"You okay, babe?" she asked and let him go.

"Yeah I'm fine. I'm okay, let's keep going," he said. Rory looked up at him. All color seemed drained from his face and he seemed sickly looking. He smiled at her. Rory blinked when she saw his canines were longer that his other teeth. She blinked again and everything was normal. She was seeing things; it was the thrill of winning. She sighed audibly as the group continued up the hill to the castle.