Hello lovelies, I'm updating early today because I am in the BEST mood today.
(I can't believe this story almost has 950 reviews. Absolutely bloody insane.)
Please leave a review and let me know what you think ;)
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Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling and only the storyline and any OC's belong to me.
For L xxx *winks*
Friday, January 30th, 1976
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Quidditch Pitch
"The Quaffle is stolen away from James Potter by Avery in one fell swoop. This game has been neck and neck the entire way through. Neither side letting up!" Riley commentated from the Commentator's Box: the Hufflepuff was standing up, leaning forward with her head partially out of the box—so into her commentary that she hadn't noticed Sirius wink at her a few minutes prior.
Sirius was now flying at breakneck speed, Beater bat firmly in hand—a loud crack ringing through the air as it connected with the Bludger that was heading directly for Draco. Smack!
"Brilliant shot by Sirius Black—displaying a fantastic spot of flight work just then!" Riley exclaimed, pride punctuating every syllable.
Sirius turned his head just long enough to blow her a kiss before he was plummeting downward, flying directly at Hermione, curving and falling in line with her as they wove through the air.
Hermione grunted loudly when she hit a bludger Avery's way, and consequently scowling when it barely caught the bristles at the back of his broom.
"Duck!" Sirius yelled at Hermione, and instinctively she followed his instruction—she trusted him with her life after all. A bludger whizzed right beside her face, and she could feel the air movement burn across her right cheek.
She nodded at him, yelling out her thanks before veering off to the right, slowly down abruptly—currently holding onto her broom with a vice grip. However, mere moments later she relinquished her grip on her broom completely: pulling back the hand holding onto her bat and in one smooth motion swung it forward, smiling when the satisfying crack of it connecting with a bludger reached her ears.
It wasn't her bludger that soared through the air and smashed into its' intended target—the bludger she hit harmlessly sailed through the air, not hitting anyone.
"Bollocks!—" Riley shouted in outrage, only to get a stern look and a quick scolding from McGonagall that could be softly heard across the pitch. "A bludger has smashed directly into Draco Potter's calf!"
With alarm Hermione, Sirius and James's heads all snapped in the direction they'd last seen him, and sure enough Draco was spiralling downwards.
Hermione swivelled, hard, leaning forward, sweat pouring down her face.
Suddenly, Draco stopped spiralling and just in the nick of time he pulled up and started zipping upwards. Hermione exhaled deeply as she too pulled up, casting a worried eye at him before her attention was once more stolen away by an erratically flying bludger.
It was an uphill battle, ducking and weaving through the air, avoiding bludgers that came seemingly out of nowhere, and dodging out of the way of other players.
It certainly didn't help that it had begun to gently snow, and Hermione accidentally bit the inside of her lip in an attempt to stop her teeth from chattering.
The metallic taste swirled in her mouth as she soared to her left, avoiding a stationary Regulus. The boy hadn't moved much during the game, and he would've made for an easy target but Hermione decided against it—especially because she'd seen Sirius hit away a bludger or two that had been heading his brother's way.
"BEAUTIFUL save by the Gryffindor Keeper, Philip May!" Riley shouted excitedly, referring to the boy that was now hanging on his broom by one leg that was hooked on top of it. With a grunt and a bit of effort, he managed to right himself, wiping his brow from the sweat that had gathered there, and the brown haired boy pulled his goggles down over his eyes—the snow was falling harder now, aggressively almost.
The edges of the stands faded away into the light fog that was rolling in. A chill trickled down Hermione's spine as she reached up and roughly pulled her own goggles down over her eyes—grimacing as she realised that it was tighter on one side than the other; the cold seeping through her gloves had caused the very tips of her fingers to go numb, so she fumbled for several moments to adjust them properly, her skin no longer pinched beneath the goggles strap.
She properly looked around her and saw a bludger sailing towards her—there wasn't enough time to redirect it— with a low curse she ducked, laying herself flat across her broom, praying that it didn't skim across the top of her head or smack right into her regardless.
The bludger practically ran across her scalp—there was some space, but very, very little of it— she yelped as a few strands of hair were yanked out of her head as it flew above her. She lay across her broom panting for a few moments, a fire igniting in her chest and refuelling her exhausted limbs. This match had been going on for long enough, and she was done playing nice.
"—Hermione Potter narrowly avoids the bludger's wrath, and now she is hurtling across the pitch, bat firmly in hand as she brings it back and beautifully connects with a bludger that is sent...where is it going?"
The bludger curved towards Regulus, but the Slytherin Seeker shook his head—a bemused look on his face—and effortlessly dodged it.
Profanities lowly fell from her lips, eyes narrowed into slits at her actual target. She knew the trajectory of the bludger would have curved just past Regulus and smashed into Avery's broom—but Regulus shifting had caught her target's attention and he'd pulled up just in the nick of time.
Hermione didn't get to linger too much on missing her target because then Riley's voice boomed across the pitch and Hermione perked her ears to listen, flying towards where James had just stolen the Quaffle from Avery once more.
"Golly! Despite the devastating blow to his leg, Draco Potter will not give in! He has just flown past the Commentator's box with admirable momentum! One can only assume he's seen the snitch!" Riley yelled, excitement bubbling out of her infectiously, the crowd reacting vociferously to the news.
"Regulus Black has now joined the chase! And not to be outdone, James Potter scores once more!"
Hermione felt a whoosh of air blast past her, and her eyes quickly followed the motion; Regulus's green Quidditch robes were whipping out behind him as he sped after Draco—who was now diving downwards once more, half standing on his broom, only holding on with one hand as he outstretched the other one.
It was over before it had even begun. Without further ado, Draco plucked the snitch out of the air.
Hermione's heard a muted curse as Draco wobbled and his injured leg gave out—clearly not impressed with him putting so much strain on it—and the raven haired boy somehow managed to grab ahold of his broom. Draco had the snitch firmly clasped in one hand, the other the only thing keeping him from slamming into the pitch—which he was flying dangerously close to.
Hermione was frozen in place, horror clutching at her limbs as panic pulsed through her system. Draco dipped slightly and that was what snapped her into action: Hermione reached for her wand that was holstered to her thigh, but before she could do anything, a flash of light galloped towards Draco—halting him dead in his tracks
Hermione's head turned sharply towards the stands until she found what she was looking for. Dumbledore, Hermione noted as Draco and his broom were gently lowered onto the snow covered pitch. The Headmaster was standing up, his wand pointed directly at Draco: the wizard's silvery white hair and beard were floating in the wind, his periwinkle robes standing out against the light fog that was licking at his heels and ready to roll over him.
Hermione sighed heavily as she directed her gaze back to Draco, relief flooding her system as she saw that he was okay. Then, it hit her. They'd won.
As if reading her thoughts: cheers erupted from the lions, roaring their praise and joy at their win. Hopefully it was enough to push them just over the edge so they could win the Quidditch Cup again this year.
Hermione absently calculated it out in her head and a small smile broke out across her features. Thinking how funny it was that Draco had been the one to bring them to victory—Draco Malfoy would have detested the very thought. (Though she should be used to it by now, having seen him do it on multiple occasions in this time.)
Hermione saw that everyone was flying down to the pitch, and students were rushing down as well, all racing to congratulate the winning team.
Vaguely she heard Riley relaying the score, and then a muffled, "Sirius!" as well as a light smacking noise, and Hermione rightfully came to the conclusion that Sirius had headed straight for the commentator's box and laid a kiss on his witch's lips.
The Slytherins weren't even pretending to clap along, all heatedly discussing things among themselves, or sitting in utter silence looking on with heavy contempt.
Hermione inhaled deeply, the cold air filling her lungs. She reached up to push her goggles back on top of her head, and she saw Remus in the stands still, his gaze unwaveringly on her, a prideful smirk on his face. She let out a breathy laugh, and instead of joining the festivities that were bound to happen, she flew towards him instead.
The stands were quickly clearing, and she paused to let some firsties pass—they looked up at her and brightly yelled their praise—with a bashful expression on her face, she nodded in thanks.
She hovered above the stands beside Remus, and said, "hi, stranger."
"Hi, love. Why don't you come down here so I can reward my witch for playing a spectacular game?" Remus asked, his voice lowering. A pleasant shiver ran along the length of her spine.
She carefully got off, the wooden boards creaking slightly underneath her weight when she stood on solid ground for the first time in what felt like forever.
Hermione knew she looked a mess, hairs had most assuredly escaped from the thick braid she'd tied them back in, she was sweaty and grimy and snow was littering her tresses. Yet, he confidently stepped forward, scooping her into his arms and kissing her soundly in congratulations.
She felt his arms tighten around her and she pulled back to look in his eyes that had shifted into molten gold flecked with burning amber. Hermione swallowed thickly, and she felt heat pool in her abdomen. "I need you," Hermione whispered, her broom still grasped in her hand, awkwardly held out to the side.
Remus's eyes widened, licking his lips nervously, "Hermione—"
"Remus. I need you. I want you," Hermione breathed, her chest rising and falling as she tiptoed to press her lips against his once more.
The werewolf leaned back just enough to murmur huskily against her lips, "okay."