Thanks for the mega reviews, you're all dudes! This is quite a long chapter, compared with the others, but I really like writing the Quidditch games, so GET OVER IT!! hehe... I hope to finish soon... Oh, someone (sorry, I would put the name but I can't remember it and I can't be bothered to look) asked in a review AGES ago, did Lily know about Remus being a werewolf - when she and Sirius were talking by the lake? Well, I don't know, but I figured she probably did, because I wanted to use that line about werewolves' hearts changing with the moon... for some reason... Okay, fire away...
DISCLAIMER (continued disclaimer): I own nothing that JK owns.
Chapter Twenty-Four: The Quidditch Final
The morning of the Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw game, the last of this school year's season, dawned bright and warm, a sunny late May day. Breakfast was a merry affair, everyone, even including the two teams, excitedly anticipating the result of the final. The Great Hall rang with loud betting talk and friendly arguing.
James was determined his team would win; they had for all his previous years as Seeker, and he wasn't prepared to give up his winning spot without a fight. Sirius had his own personal battle, and had his hopes on seeing Marley Branson on the losing team for once. He'd been jokingly giving Bethan a hard time, constantly demanding to know which house she was supporting. She always assured him it was Gryffindor, of course, but she knew she daren't say that to Marley, who was just as resolute as her friends that Ravenclaw would triumph.
As James was still so often preoccupied with Lily these days, it meant Sirius and Remus spent most of their free time in each other's company. When they weren't busy being Marauders, their conversations always went in the same direction: either Sirius would complain about Marley, or he would talk in detail to Remus on his misgivings about Adriana. Remus had been concerned when he heard about Adriana' apparent meeting with the Slytherins, but after the tenth discussion of it, during which Sirius would repeat all the things he had already said, to try and convince Remus of the 'facts', he had become rather tired of the subject. As a consequence, he encouraged Sirius to concentrate on his work, so the two were always on top of all the essays and revision set, much to the amazement of their friends.
At the Gryffindor table the Marauders were eating scrambled egg on toast for breakfast, getting their strength up before the match (well, Sirius and James were). Remus was sitting between Lily and Adriana, and as they were both concerned with their better – or worse – halves, it meant that once again he was trapped into listening to Sirius talk about Bethan.
"I mean, just look at her," Sirius was saying furiously, pointing towards the Ravenclaw table where Bethan was sitting on Marley's knee, laughing at something he'd just said. "Consorting with the enemy, that's what I call it!"
He looked to Remus for some agreement, but was aghast when the reply was an exasperated, "Just leave her to it, Padfoot, let her do what she wants, even if it does mean supporting her boyfriend in the Final."
"I've a good mind to give you a right kick up the bottom for saying that!" Sirius spluttered after a moment, but he had to laugh along with Sarah and Remus when he realised how ridiculous he'd sounded.
The match was at eleven. The students made their way across the grounds to the pitch, and took their places in the stands, eagerly awaiting the game. Ravenclaw seemed to have the most support, for although both houses were popular, Slytherin had such a vendetta against Gryffindor that they had to make do and cheer on the opposite team.
In the changing room, Sirius was starting to feel a slight nervous flutter in his stomach, but he knew it would disappear once he was in the air. Chaser Steven Brown, however, was in his usual state of great pre-game nerves, not helped by James' pep talk, which turned out to be more of a threat that if they didn't win they'd regret it.
"Excuse me, I need to use the little boys' wee wee room," Steven said with a nervous laugh, just as they were about to walk out onto the pitch.
"Oh, no you don't," James said sternly, steering him in the right direction and keeping a vice-like grip on his team mate's arm.
They walked on with the Ravenclaws to a rapturous greeting from the crowd. Sirius felt his heart lift as he gazed up at the people above him, and he saw Bethan, sitting with Lily and Sarah at the Gryffindor end, dressed in scarlet, as she should be. She was clapping madly and grinning and laughing. He noticed the way the bright sunlight glinted off her strawberry-blonde hair, and felt a fresh rush of anger as he looked back down and saw Marley opposite him, glaring as usual and not even glancing up at his beautiful girlfriend. Sirius grew even more determined to beat him this day, and raised his eyes again to the girls. He saw that Remus and Peter were there next to them, but where was Adriana? He didn't have a chance to look for her, as it was kick-off time, and instead he soared up into the air, accompanied by the thirteen other players and more cheering.
Gryffindor immediately took possession of the Quaffle, as they were prone to do. Jenny Miles, their third Chaser threw it to Steven who dodged a Bludger from Marley and lobbed it to Charlie Cooper, who got so close to the goalposts but – WHAM! The other Bludger was thrown his way from Ravenclaw's second Beater, a slim, brunette seventh year called Laura Fodden. She got her target and the goal was missed. Sirius scowled over at Helen, his fellow Gryffindor Beater, as Marley and Laura zoomed past each other, offering congrats on their interception.
Now Ravenclaw had the Quaffle, and their Chasers Billy, Dean and Myra were doing a good job of keeping possession and dodging the Bludgers at the same time. Too good a job, in Sirius' opinion, as he belted a Bludger as hard as he could in Dean Cooper's direction. He threw his bat in the air and caught it in celebration as Cooper had to swerve violently to avoid the heavy black ball, and in doing so Charlie Cooper grabbed the Quaffle and took it back to their end.
Steven and Jenny were waiting, poised, to receive the Quaffle, and this time they got it past Toby Barrett, the Ravenclaw Keeper, and into the middle hoop, to euphoric cheering from the red and scarlet crowd. Sirius and James joined up to fly an ecstatic lap around the stands, slapping the out-stretched hands of their supporters, and jeering at the Ravenclaws and Slytherins; all in good fun, of course.
As Sirius sailed, grinning widely, over the Slytherins' green heads, he spotted someone who surely shouldn't be there; a slender, blonde-haired, beautiful someone... He nearly fell off his broom in surprise, and looked around wildly for James. The game had restarted, and his teammates were waving him over. Ravenclaw had the Quaffle again.
Sirius hurried back on his broom to join the game. A Bludger came his way and he randomly hit out at it with his bat; it cannoned straight into Myra Shen, the Ravenclaw Chaser, just as she neared the goalposts ready to score. But Sirius hardly noticed the crowd cheering for him as he flew straight over to James.
"Good hit, Padfoot!" James congratulated his fellow Marauder.
Sirius waved the compliment away. "James! She's with the Slytherins! Adriana –"
"What?" James frowned slightly. "What are you talking about? Get back in the game!"
He flew upwards, taking his usual position above the other players, squinting about for the tiny golden Snitch. With a sigh, Sirius turned back round to view the game. Ravenclaw had scored now, meaning both teams were equal. Seeing Dom Wood, the Gryffindor Keeper, in spot of trouble as he was about to be attacked by two Ravenclaws and a Bludger, Sirius swiftly flew to his aid, beating the Bludger at the oncoming Ravenclaws. It worked; they scattered, losing the Quaffle to Steven, who had been hovering underneath them.
The game continued in this fashion; it was a very close match. The two teams were hot on each other's heels, and whenever one would score, it gave the other extra determination to also get a goal. In half an hour the score was seventy-all, and the pressure was steadily increasing on the two Seekers' shoulders to end the game and win the final for their team. But the Snitch hadn't yet made an appearance.
If the players were getting tired, they weren't showing it; besides, they had played for a lot longer than this before. This game, though, was extremely fast-paced, and everyone had to be on their toes all the time as the teams were so similar in talent and skill.
Sirius and Helen circled the game like hawks, darting into the fray whenever they saw a Gryffindor in trouble, or smacking a Bludger in if a Ravenclaw Chaser looked like he or she might score. James was up above, always moving, staring about keenly for the Snitch. He also kept a sharp eye on Jill Rexel, the Ravenclaw Seeker, in case she saw it before he did.
Sirius concentrated on the game, often giving some of his best hits yet, but his mind kept drifting back to Adriana, sitting in the Slytherin stands. He wondered if he had seen her, or if he'd made a mistake, and flew past the Slytherins section of the stands to make sure... She was there, between Snape and younger, curly-haired girl he didn't know. What the hell? Why wasn't she with Peter? He stared right at her as he flew past, and she smiled and waved at him.
A loud cheering distracted Sirius; he spun around and saw to his horror that Ravenclaw had scored again, putting them two above Gryffindor. Dom Wood looked like he had a nosebleed, and James had called time out.
Sirius quickly joined his team on the ground, and was faced with an angry glare from James.
"Where the hell were you when Branson got Dom right in the face with a Bludger?" he demanded. "That's what let the goal in!"
Sirius looked at Dom. The Keeper was holding a great wad of tissue to his nose. "Man, I'm sorry," he said, turning back to James. "I was –"
"I know what you were doing," James interrupted. "You were gawking at some girl. Stop getting distracted by pretty girls, Padfoot!"
Sirius' mouth fell open in surprise, but a second later he closed it in anger, ready to retaliate, but by that time James had gone, to see how Dom was doing.
"I'll be alright, James," he assured the Captain thickly.
"Okay, I'll believe you. Right, team," James addressed them confidently, "We only need two more to equal with them – you know as well as I do we can do it!"
"Especially if you get the Snitch, Cap'n," Steven hinted, grinning.
"I want no cheek from you," James warned, jokily pointing a finger at the Chaser. He rounded on Sirius. "And you – forget the girls for a minute, if you can, and try concentrating more on how much you hate Branson and want to beat him."
"I could do that," Sirius said grimly, as the seven of them soared back into the air ready to win the final.
But the Ravenclaws took advantage of their lead and scored another goal almost immediately. Steven, Charlie and Jenny increased their speed and took possession, managing to score one of their own. Beater Helen whacked a Bludger at Dean Cooper in celebration, which unfortunately got him scare in the jaw. Ravenclaw was awarded a penalty and Helen called "sorry!" over to James, who merely shrugged; he knew she was unpredictable, a trait which sometimes got them into trouble, but more often got them ahead in the game.
Billy Budweiser took the penalty, while Myra Shen helped Dean to recuperate. He appeared to aim for the left-hand goal, but Dom, his nose now dry but still swollen, knew all the tricks and caught the Quaffle as Billy lobbed it for the middle post.
James stopped in his search for the Snitch to do a high-five with Sirius, but at that moment Jill Rexel sped past him towards the Ravenclaw end, clearly having seen the tiny ball.
"Prongs, the Snitch!" Sirius yelled, his face aghast.
James turned and zoomed after Jill without a moment's hesitation. His broom was minutely faster than hers, but she was far ahead, nearing the Snitch already. It was hovering just below the right-hand hoop. Jill reached a hand out, ready to grab it. James sped up, his eyes and mind on the Snitch alone. He caught up, he could touch her broom-tail now... But it was too late, Jill had the tiny winged Snitch in her raised hand and her teammates were rushing towards her, screaming and shouting along with their many supporters in the stands.
The Gryffindors regrouped on the ground, slapping each other's shoulders and bravely smiling.
"It was a good game, dudes," James told them, though his face was white from the chase of the Snitch and the defeat. "We put up a good fight, and if we had to lose to anyone, I'd rather it be Ravenclaw."
They all agreed with him, though Sirius privately thought he wouldn't mind losing to them so much if Marley Branson wasn't on the team. Nevertheless he applauded gallantly with the rest as Toby Barrett held the Cup aloft, and tried not to look to see if Bethan was happy or not.