Severus Snape looked out the window. The rain was drizzling down harder
than ever. He frowned, knowing that Alasria would have to play Quidditch in
this weather. Ravenclaw vs Gryffindor. He looked back at the essay he was
trying to write. It was for Astronomy, which happened to be his least
favorite class. He set his quill on the table. He would have Avery do it
for him. He grabbed his bag and left the common room.
*** Alasria Moody sat on the bench in the lockerroom, only vaguely listening to what Pardema Patil, the Ravenclaw team captain was saying. Finally, Patil stood up.
"It's time."
The team followed her to the edge of the field, where the mounted their brooms and took a warm-up lap.
"And here are the Ravenclaws!" said Collin Saelban, the announcer for Quidditch matches.
Alasria scanned the crowds. She saw Severus sitting with the Slytherins. She smiled. Madam Hooch's whistle rang shrilly.
"I want a fair game." She said. "Patil, Potter, shake hands."
Patil shook hands with James Potter, the Gryffindor Seeker, and captain.
'Mount your brooms."
Madam Hooch blew the whistle again, and the teams were in the air.
"The Bludgers are up and out. Here's the Quaffle, followed closley by the golden Snitch. Remember that the capture of the Snitch is the only way to end a game, and whoever captures it earns 150 points for their team. Ravenclaw Beater blocks a Bludger from hitting Patil. Ooh, duck Potter." He said.
The Bludger whirred past James' ear. James swerved just in time. Gregory Finnagin, one of the Gryffindor Beaters, pelted after the Bludger, club raised anxiuosly.
"A nice score by Brandan, putting Gryffindor in the lead, ten-zero."
James cheered as Derrick Brandan did a small victory lap.
Alasria flew around the field searching for the Snitch.
"Score by Patil, ten-ten. Duck Moody, that's a Bludger!"
Alasria turned just in time to miss the Bludger that had been hit at her. James loomed above her.
"Watch out Alasria, or the 'ickle Bwudgew might get you." He teased. Alasria gave him a very rude gesture.
The game continued for another hour. Alasria listened to Collin's announcments, still trying to find the Snitch.
"Ninety to ninety for a so far tied game. Folks this may very well become a Seeker's Duel."
Alasria's ears jumped at the sound of Seeker's Duel. They were very rare, especially for amateur players.
"In a Seeker's Duel, when the two teams are tied over 100 points, the winning of the game goes to the Seekers. The Quaffle is taken off the field and the other team members go to the ground and dismount their brooms. The Bludgers, however, are still around, and unchecked, which makes it potentially dangerous."
Alasria's heart raced. Patil was headed for the Ravenclaw goal, the Quaffle locked in her arms. Suddenly, a flash of gold caught her eyes. She saw the Snitch swirving around the Gryffindor post. James had already seen it. She urged the broom forward. Damin, one of the Gryffindor Beaters, nailed a Bludger at Alasria, which hit her in the arm.
"Unbelievable! Ladies and gentlemen, one hundred ten to one hundred ten. We have a Seeker's Duel! WE HAVE A SEEKER'S DUEL!"
Alasria and James watched as the other team members dismounted their brooms. They circled the field, both searching desperately for the Snitch. This game would determine whether Gryffindor or Ravenclaw would face Slytherin in the Quidditch Cup. Alasria pulled up alongside James and slammed into him. She liked him, but it was no time to be friendly. The game was too important. He quickly regained himself and slammed her into the wall. She nearly fell off her broom, but she managed to stay on.
The Snitch darted over their heads. She and James reached up at the same time. James, however, was a bit quicker. He felt his fingers close around the Snitch.
"GRYFFINDOR WINS!" yelled Collin. "Gryffindor will face Slytherin in the Quidditch Cup next week."
His last comments were drowned out by the shouts of GO GO GRYFFINDOR! from the crowd. James and Alasria landed and a crimson wave of suporters flowed onto the field. The Gryffindor teamlifted James onto their shoulders. Severus wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
"Well, you gave the cad the run for his life." She turned to him and kissed him.
"I know."
Severus lifted the arm that the Bludger had hit. She winced.
"Broken wrist." He said. He took out his wand.
"Ferula!"Bandages sprang around her wrist, easing the pain.
"Very good, Alasrianna, very good indeed." Alasria turned, recognizing her fathers growly voice. Alastor Moody stood behind her, beaming. He hugged her and looked at her wrist.
"Bludger got you, eh?"
"Just a broken wrist. No big deal." Alasria answered.
Moody took out his wand. "Immendio!"
She felt the pain in her wrist go away.
Even though she had lost the match, as she walked out of the stadium arm-in- arm with Severus and Moody, she felt as though she'd won the Quidditch World Cup itself. **
*** Alasria Moody sat on the bench in the lockerroom, only vaguely listening to what Pardema Patil, the Ravenclaw team captain was saying. Finally, Patil stood up.
"It's time."
The team followed her to the edge of the field, where the mounted their brooms and took a warm-up lap.
"And here are the Ravenclaws!" said Collin Saelban, the announcer for Quidditch matches.
Alasria scanned the crowds. She saw Severus sitting with the Slytherins. She smiled. Madam Hooch's whistle rang shrilly.
"I want a fair game." She said. "Patil, Potter, shake hands."
Patil shook hands with James Potter, the Gryffindor Seeker, and captain.
'Mount your brooms."
Madam Hooch blew the whistle again, and the teams were in the air.
"The Bludgers are up and out. Here's the Quaffle, followed closley by the golden Snitch. Remember that the capture of the Snitch is the only way to end a game, and whoever captures it earns 150 points for their team. Ravenclaw Beater blocks a Bludger from hitting Patil. Ooh, duck Potter." He said.
The Bludger whirred past James' ear. James swerved just in time. Gregory Finnagin, one of the Gryffindor Beaters, pelted after the Bludger, club raised anxiuosly.
"A nice score by Brandan, putting Gryffindor in the lead, ten-zero."
James cheered as Derrick Brandan did a small victory lap.
Alasria flew around the field searching for the Snitch.
"Score by Patil, ten-ten. Duck Moody, that's a Bludger!"
Alasria turned just in time to miss the Bludger that had been hit at her. James loomed above her.
"Watch out Alasria, or the 'ickle Bwudgew might get you." He teased. Alasria gave him a very rude gesture.
The game continued for another hour. Alasria listened to Collin's announcments, still trying to find the Snitch.
"Ninety to ninety for a so far tied game. Folks this may very well become a Seeker's Duel."
Alasria's ears jumped at the sound of Seeker's Duel. They were very rare, especially for amateur players.
"In a Seeker's Duel, when the two teams are tied over 100 points, the winning of the game goes to the Seekers. The Quaffle is taken off the field and the other team members go to the ground and dismount their brooms. The Bludgers, however, are still around, and unchecked, which makes it potentially dangerous."
Alasria's heart raced. Patil was headed for the Ravenclaw goal, the Quaffle locked in her arms. Suddenly, a flash of gold caught her eyes. She saw the Snitch swirving around the Gryffindor post. James had already seen it. She urged the broom forward. Damin, one of the Gryffindor Beaters, nailed a Bludger at Alasria, which hit her in the arm.
"Unbelievable! Ladies and gentlemen, one hundred ten to one hundred ten. We have a Seeker's Duel! WE HAVE A SEEKER'S DUEL!"
Alasria and James watched as the other team members dismounted their brooms. They circled the field, both searching desperately for the Snitch. This game would determine whether Gryffindor or Ravenclaw would face Slytherin in the Quidditch Cup. Alasria pulled up alongside James and slammed into him. She liked him, but it was no time to be friendly. The game was too important. He quickly regained himself and slammed her into the wall. She nearly fell off her broom, but she managed to stay on.
The Snitch darted over their heads. She and James reached up at the same time. James, however, was a bit quicker. He felt his fingers close around the Snitch.
"GRYFFINDOR WINS!" yelled Collin. "Gryffindor will face Slytherin in the Quidditch Cup next week."
His last comments were drowned out by the shouts of GO GO GRYFFINDOR! from the crowd. James and Alasria landed and a crimson wave of suporters flowed onto the field. The Gryffindor teamlifted James onto their shoulders. Severus wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
"Well, you gave the cad the run for his life." She turned to him and kissed him.
"I know."
Severus lifted the arm that the Bludger had hit. She winced.
"Broken wrist." He said. He took out his wand.
"Ferula!"Bandages sprang around her wrist, easing the pain.
"Very good, Alasrianna, very good indeed." Alasria turned, recognizing her fathers growly voice. Alastor Moody stood behind her, beaming. He hugged her and looked at her wrist.
"Bludger got you, eh?"
"Just a broken wrist. No big deal." Alasria answered.
Moody took out his wand. "Immendio!"
She felt the pain in her wrist go away.
Even though she had lost the match, as she walked out of the stadium arm-in- arm with Severus and Moody, she felt as though she'd won the Quidditch World Cup itself. **