"GO, GO GRYFFINDOR! GO, GO GRYFFINDOR!" The Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor houses shouted enthusiastically. This match was against Slytherin, so naturally, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw wanted Gryffindor to win.

Lily and Emma saw James, Sirius, and the rest of Gryffindor team enter the quidditch pitch. Emma blew a kiss to Sirius (who winked in return), while Lily just sat there, pretending to look disgusted at James (who pretended not to care that she did so).

The two team captains, James Potter and Lucius Malfoy, "shook" hands, or more rather clenched each others hand, trying to put the other in excruciating pain.

Madam Hooch blew the whistle, saying "this will be a fair game," and the rest of the usual speech she made.

In seconds, the two teams were off, flying at least fifty feet in the air at first. Sirius flew off towards the goal posts, and James zoomed around the field, searching for the snitch.

"Flints got the quaffle! Passes to Malfoy! Who passes to-wait, now Gryffindor has got the quaffle! Ella Johnson passes to Lauren Bell, who passes to-COME ON! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR! DAMN IT! HOOCH! WHISTLE! NOW!" shouted Kevin Jordan, on account of Aaron Bulstrode whacking two bludgers straight at Bell, nearly making her fall off her broom. McGonagall gave him a warning look.

"Er-Right. Sorry 'bout that," said Jordan into the "microphone," (which was really his wand). "Now, Gryffindor is back in possession, Johnson passes to Stephen Wood, to dodges the bludgers from Crabbe, goes to the Slytherin goal posts and-SCORES! 10-0 FOR GRYFFINDOR!" By now, the Slytherin's "boos" were strongly overpowered by Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor's cheers.

James grinned. He saw how happy Wood was. James glanced over to where Lily was sitting in the stands. James swore he saw her wink at him, but then he convinced himself he must have imagined it. He sped off in search of the snitch.

"Malfoy with the quaffle. Passes to Goyle, passes to Flint. Flint goes for the goal posts, shoots-NICE SAVE BY BLACK FOR GRYFFINDOR!"

Sirius bowed on his broom, which caused much laughter from around the stands.

"Goyle in possession! Passes to Malfoy! Malfoy shoots-DAMN IT! SCORES!"

Malfoy had gotten a goal in the time Sirius had bowed on his broom, causing Sirius to swear loudly and explicitly at him.

"Flint is in possession of the quaffle now. He passes to Goyle. Goyle makes his way toward the goal posts-OH! NICE ONE HIT BY GRYFFINDOR'S BEATERS, CREEVEY AND FINNIGAN!"

"It is now 10-10. Bell passes to Johnson, passes to Wood, passes back to Johnson, who shoots-SCORES! 20-10 FOR GRYFFINDOR!"

On account of Johnson scoring, Remus suddenly stood up, and screamed and clapped his hands frantically, shouting, "GO ELLA! GO!"

"Now Flint with the quaffle. He-er-doesn't seem to be passing to any of his other teammates-that's Flint, for you, though, eh? He heads off towards Black at the Gryffindor goalposts, he shoots-GREAT SAVE BY BLACK FOR GRYFFINDOR! Bell's got the quaffle. She passes to Wood, passes to Johnson, passes back to Bell. Bell's shooting off for the Slytherin goalposts-DAMN IT, BULSTRODE! AGAIN! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT-" McGonagall nudged Jordan quite hard. "Er-right. On with the game, eh? Even though Slytherin's a bunch of bloody cheaters-Sorry, professor, sorry. Just voicing my own opinion is all! Wood back with the quaffle-"

James was getting quite bored. He still hadn't caught a glimpse of the snitch. He circled the field again and again, occasionally allowing himself to glance at Lily.

"Malfoy with the quaffle. He passes (for practically the first time this game) to Goyle. Goyle shoots-scores! DAMN! 20-20! Now Bell's got the quaffle. She passes to Johnson, passes to Wood, passes back to Bell, who-BULSTRODE! WHAT IS YOUR FRICKIN PROBLEM, HUH? YOU LIKE BELL, OR SOMETHING? NO? THEN STOP AIMING THE DAMN BLUDGER AT HER, OK? Gee, professor! It's just my own opinion! Just telling the teams what I think, you know, offering some encouragement!" Bulstrode had knocked Bell of her broom, but, seeing as this was a foul, Madam Hooch let Bell continue to play.

"You alright, Bell? Yeah? Good. Hey, wanna go to Hogsmeade together, eh? Awesome! See you then! PROFESSOR! Again, they're just my opinions, and if you keep hitting me, I will have to go to Dumbledore! Malfoy with the quaffle again, passes to Flint, who makes his way down to the Gryffindor goalposts-NICE JOB, BLACK! I tell you, he is the BEST Gryffindor keeper we have seen in years! PROFESSOR! WHAT? YOU HAVE TO ADMIT IT! Wood with the quaffle, passing to Johnson, passing back to Wood, who shoots-SCORES! 30-20 FOR GRYFFINDOR!" By now, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor fans were going insane.

James scanned the sky for the snitch. It's got to be here SOMEWHERE, he thought. I've got to catch it-to impress Lily. He looked over at her. It looked like she was having a great time with Emma, cheering.

"Where is that snitch, eh? Potter looks like he's gonna go mad any second, searching frantically. Oi! Malfoy with the quaffle again! She-excuse me, he, passes to Goyle-"

James saw the snitch. It was right near Flint's ear. He instantly pulled into a dive, speeding down towards Flint. Slytherin's seeker, Cynthia Parkinson, saw James quickly diving towards Flint. She also pulled into a dive, and soon they were head to head. James sped forward. Flint looked quite alarmed, as if James was going to clobber him. James stood on his broom, and reached for the snitch.

"AND POTTER HAS CAUGHT THE GOLDEN SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS THE MATCH! GREAT JOB, POTTER! You know, I've always liked him. Very talented on the pitch, you know-"

James grinned, and landed safely on the ground, still clutching the golden snitch. Sirius zoomed down next to him. "Great job, mate!" Sirius clapped him on the back. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw fans were pouring out on the field, cheering.

James and Sirius saw Emma, Lily, and Remus run towards them. James couldn't help but notice that Lily was grinning at him. Emma instantly started snogging Sirius, who returned the favor, and Remus quickly clapped James on the back and went to find Ella.

Lily, however, immediately ran over to James, and-

Hugged him.

It was a rather quick hug, but it was a true one, not just one of those pats on the shoulder.

Lily finally let go, completely mortified, and bewildered about why she just hugged Potter.

Sirius and Emma had stopped snogging, and stared between James and Lily in awe, as if they did not completely understand what had just happened between them.

"Er…thanks," said James, turning increasingly red every second, looking down at the ground, grinning awkwardly.

"Um…good job Potter. But next time, try not to show off, eh? Honestly, you are so conceited!" shouted Lily, and with that, she ran away as fast as she could, looking at the ground, incredibly mortified.

James just stared after her, grinning madly. He was completely humiliated, and definitely in shock, but his happiness overpowered both emotions.

"Bloody hell," remarked Sirius, completely astonished, mouth wide open, staring at James.