Once again, Iris found herself seated in the stands of a Quidditch field, bouncing from excitement. The atmosphere was charged and she couldn't help but feed off the energy. The new Puddlemere stadium was huge, sparkly and state-of-the art. She was seated in the family box with Angelina and George next to her. Behind her were Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione. Oliver's parents sat in front of her.
True to their word, the team had presented her with a Puddlemere jersey with Oliver's number and Mrs. Wood on the back. She had nearly died laughing but knew every game she would be in the stands wearing it. She proudly wore it then, pulling her long hair up into a messy bun so that the "Mrs. Wood" was on display.
"Wait so this is really only your second Quidditch game?" George asked. Iris nodded, keeping her eyes on the field, waiting for the players to come out.
"You're in for a treat. My boy is a class act keeper," Mr. Wood said, proudly puffing up his chest.
"He better be, with all the practicing and training he's done over the past few months," Iris replied. "I feel like I live alone most days. He's off before I wake up and I barely get to see him when he comes in at night because he's too tired to do much more than eat before he passes out."
"Once the season gets underway, it should hopefully get better. The coach only had them going hard to get everyone back into form," Angelina said from next to her.
"This should be much more entertaining compared to Hogwarts," George said. "No offense, Harry."
"None taken. If it's anything like the World Cup final, it's sure to be exciting," Harry said grinning.
"Everyone! Let's give a warm welcome to… the Chudley Cannons!" the announcer boomed. The crowd went wild as the seven players in orange and black robes flew out from one end of the stadium while the announcer named them. They circled it and then landed in formation on one end.
"And now… for the home team… put your hands together for the one, the only… Puddlemere United! Captain and seeker Benjy Williams! Chasers Wilda Griffiths, Alicia Spinnet and Lucas Alton! Beaters Roger Williams and Daniel Lewis! Finally… keeper Oliver Wood!"
The crowd went insane as the family box exploded into noise. Iris rose to her feet, cheering as she watched the team do a circle of the stadium and then take their positions. Iris grinned as she settled her sight on Oliver, floating in front of the hoops. She caught him glance their way and wave, then turn to focus fully on the field in front of him.
Iris turned back to center field, watching as the referee came out with the balls. She stayed standing, though those around her had sat back down.
"This could go on forever, Iris. You might want to sit," Angelina said, laughing.
"Oh I know, just… too excited to sit at the moment," she said, her eyes still glued to the field.
"Or, she wants to make sure everyone gets a good look at the 'Mrs. Wood' written across her back," George joked. Iris shot him a look, but couldn't help grinning at the same time.
"Let her enjoy the moment," Mr. Wood said, glancing up at her with a twinkle in his eye. "It's not everyday you get to see your beloved in action." Iris clasped her hands together as she watched the referee bend over and flip the lock open on the box. Immediately the bludgers took off, as did the snitch. The referee glanced at the players, who all seemed to be on edge, then tossed up the quaffle.
Iris blinked and suddenly the field erupted into a blur of motion as the chasers descended on the quaffle, determined to get to it first. She almost didn't catch that Lucas had snatched the ball and was streaking towards the goal on the opposite end of the stadium.
"God, they're fast," Iris said, as she whipped her head over to follow the action. He passed the quaffle to Wilda, who then tossed it behind her where it was caught by Alicia, who took aim and sent it sailing through the right hoop. Iris cheered as the Cannons quickly regrouped and started out their assault on Puddlemere's hoops. Iris had meant to sit, but found she couldn't as her eyes were glued to the game playing out as it neared Oliver. He was motionless in front of the center hoop - or at least it appeared so from her vantage point. She had to squint to see him properly.
"Here, these'll help," Harry said, handing something out to her. Iris looked over and noticed he was holding out some sort of magical binoculars with tons of knobs. Iris quickly grabbed than and put them to her eyes, focusing on Oliver. She'd figure out how to properly use them later.
His face was tense in concentration as he watched the Cannons' chasers zigzag down the field. Iris held her breath as the middle chaser reared back and sent the quaffle shooting towards the left hoop. Deftly, Oliver flew over and caught it, tossing it to Alicia, who immediately zoomed down towards the opposite end of the field. Iris cheered at the save.
"Calm down, woman. It's only the beginning of the match!" George said, grinning up at her. Iris scowled down at him.
"Please, it's my first time watching my future husband play Quidditch. Let me have my fun," she said.
"Yea, yea, she's not bored watching Wood yet," Angelina said, smiling. "Let her enjoy it for now. Won't be long before she's just as tired of it as we are." Iris laughed and looked back at the pitch.
"I don't think I could ever get bored of this," she said.
"Famous last words," George replied. Angelina punched him in the arm and turned back to watching the game.
"Stop teasing her," she laughed.
After an hour or so, Iris had finally sat down as her legs started aching slightly, though she still sat on the edge of her seat, watching the action constantly.
"Come on! That was clearly a foul!" George yelled from the other side of Angelina.
"Don't let them play dirty!" Angelina shouted after him. If ever there was a doubt in her mind that the two were made for each other, watching the match with them would have clearly dispelled it for Iris. Even Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny were thoroughly entertained by the couple's antics. Other spectators nearby had started laughing softly and enjoying the two's commentary more than the actual official commentator.
Iris gasped and grabbed Angelina's arm as a bludger shot towards Oliver, nearly hitting his head before he did a last minute roll on his broom and still managed to kick the quaffle that had been beaming towards one of the hoops away.
"Blimey, Iris! Are you trying to take my arm off?" Angelina shouted. Iris glanced over at her, then down at her arm and suddenly let go.
"Sorry… I just get a bit nervous," she said feebly with a small smile.
"Wait… you can feel him, right?" George asked, tearing his eyes away from the game for a moment.
"Not physical pain or anything. But I can sense when he's scared or in danger. Or any sort of emotion for that matter. But not pain, thank god. Otherwise I'd be in for it," Iris said, looking back at the match. "That," she said referring to gripping Angelina's arm, "was moreso out of my own fear. He's as cool as a cucumber at the moment."
"What's he thinking now?" Ron asked, leaning forward. Iris stared at Oliver, focusing on him.
"Iris is going to kill me for that," he thought. Iris laughed.
"That I'm going to kill him for that move," she said. "He's half right. Nearly gave me a heart attack."
"You're going to need to loosen up a bit if you're going to survive Quidditch season," George joked. Iris shook her head.
"Between him and Harry, it's going to be the death of me," she said ruefully. Iris settled back into her seat as the game entered a long back and forth between the chasers - neither side getting too close to the other's goal posts. She still watched, interested, but with nothing really going close to Oliver it had lost a bit of its intensity. Puddlemere was up by 50 points at this point. Iris took to watching him as he floated in front of the goals, keeping an eagle eye on the quaffle as it went back and forth between the teams.
"Benjy's found the snitch," Angelina said suddenly. Iris shook her head and looked up, noticing the slight seeker suddenly tearing away across the sky. She glanced back down at Oliver, noticing that the Cannons chasers were now descending upon him. Oliver was hovering in between the left and center hoops when at the last minute it became apparent the chaser was going for the right. He fired the quaffle off and Oliver tore towards it like a bat out of hell, though Iris didn't think he'd make it in time. Everyone in the box stood to their feet, watching the action play out - though most were following the two seekers in their quest for the snitch while Iris' eyes were glued to Oliver diving for the quaffle. It was as if time slowed. Oliver leaned forward, his arm outstretched, reaching. Iris held her breath, eyes wide. It looked as though he would pitch forward off his broom. Suddenly, he knocked the quaffle out of the way and it was snatched up by Wilda. At the exact same time, Benjy must have caught the snitch because the entire box erupted into cheers. Oliver banked right, doing a circle around the hoop and coming back around to the front, his arm raised in victory as the rest of the team flew around, making their own gestures of celebration.
Iris jumped and cheered with the rest as the announcer boomed out the final score and the stadium erupted in ear-splitting cheers.
"Come on!" Angelina shouted, pulling at Iris. She looked over at her friend, confused.
"Where are we going?" she asked. Angelina rolled her eyes.
"Puddlemere just won their first match of the season. We're going down to the pitch," she said, dragging Iris behind her.
It seemed like it took forever, though really it was just a few minutes for them to get down the VIP stairs that led to the field. Their group came out onto the field alongside many others, moving towards the team which was now surrounded by various reporters and photographers there to document the first match of the season. The fans were also pouring out onto the field as well.
"Oi! Wood! Nice flying for someone who's rusty!" Angelina shouted. Oliver, who had been answering a question, looked over at the group. His hair was flying in several directions and he was obviously sweaty and slightly winded. But he had a maniacal glint in his eye and a huge grin on his face, likely a side effect of winning. He grinned as he saw them, and it grew - if that was even possible - when his sights feel on Iris, who was grinning just as madly, caught up in the rush of the match. He stepped away from the reporters and strode over to her, taking her up in his arms and swinging her around. Iris squealed in glee, though immediately began blushing as she remembered she was in front of a large amount of people.
"Congratulations!" she said when he placed both her feet on solid ground. "That was magnificent!"
"Ah, so you liked the game, then?" he asked, one arm still firmly planted on her waist while the other held his broom. Iris nodded.
"Iris! Iris! Is this your first Quidditch match!" a reporter shouted as a few turned to look at them. Several flashes went off as Iris shook her head and looked at the group in confusion. Why would they even bother asking her questions?
"Uh… well… it's my first time seeing Oliver play, yes," she said, a bit nervous from the attention.
"When's the wedding?" another shouted. Oliver laughed and looked down at Iris.
"Soon," he said, smiling impishly. Iris laughed loudly.
"What's that on the back of your jersey?" another shouted. Oliver looked up at them.
"I do believe there is an entire team over there, dying to answer questions. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to hit the showers so I can get home to celebrate the win with my family and friends," he said, waving. He then turned and started walking towards the locker rooms, pulling Iris with him. He looked down at her as they both felt and heard the whole lot of cameras go off, taking photos of them.
"We're going to be in the Prophet tomorrow, aren't we?" she asked, looking up at him.
"No doubt," he responded.
Hope you've enjoyed the story so far. I love reading and watching Quidditch scenes, but I feel I'm quite bad at writing them, so apologies for that. It is what it is. Just one more chapter to go and then I went back and threw in a bit of an epilogue based off something that randomly popped into my head. I believe after this I'm finally done with this story and can move on to other things. ^_^ Hope you've enjoyed the journey as much as I have!