November came and with that came the much anticipated Gryffindor-Slytherin match. Prior to the game, music blasted in the Gryffindor common room as the students hyped themselves up with excitement. Now the mood was melancholy and solemn as the students dragged their feet into the room. For the first time in five years, Slytherin had defeated Gryffindor. Unfortunately, some Gryffinders were too confident in their predictions for the game. Most of the Gryffindor students were awkwardly standing around the room decorated with gold and crimson decorations while drinking lukewarm butter beer and pumpkin juice.
Al and Rose were leaning against one of walls drinking pumpkin juice from gold plastic cups. Although neither were interested in Quidditch, both knew this was a big game for James, who had been a Chaser since his second year and was the captain of the team. While Rose felt sympathetic to James, Albus didn't feel the same way.
"I told you Jay doesn't handle losing well," said Al to Rose, pointing to James sulking in one of the common room's big crimson armchairs while chatting to his friends Kieran Copper and Rory Finnigan. "Look at him! He's like Hazel when she doesn't get her own way!"
"I think he just wanted to end on a high note," said Rose, defending James' attitude. "Think about it Al - each year he's been on the team they won. This is the last time he'll play, and he's clearly gutted."
"It's just a bloody Quidditch game," snapped Al, frankly annoyed at the fact that people felt sorry for James for simply losing a game. "He'll be fine tomorrow."
"Maybe to you it's a game," retorted Rose, bothered by Al's unsympathetic mood. "But it means something different to Jay."
"Whatever," said Al, sipping his drink. At that response, Rose got up from where she was sitting with Al. "Where are you going?" asked Al.
"To see Jay," snapped Rose, making Al's hand tremble slightly at the harsh tone of her voice. "His attitude may not be great, but yours is dreadful!" Al watched as his Rose walked over to talk to James, however she was still fuming at Al's callous response and stormed her way over to James. Several students who knew Rose well knew that her temper was something to fear, and many dodged her as she charged through the common room.
"What did you say to her?" asked Lexie Thomas to Al.
"Nothing!" insisted Al.
"Well, clearly you did!" argued Lexie. "She's got that bothered look again!"
Rory and Kieran immediately stopped talking to James when Rose approached them. The first thing Rose noticed was that James' normally bright eyes were dimmed like house lights. Rose also saw that James was not smiling, which was unusual and distressing as James always found the positive and fun in any situation. Any frustration Rose felt for Al was replaced with sympathy for James.
"Hey," said Rose, awkwardly as she sat on the arm of the chair.
"Hey," said James.
"You played brilliantly, Jay," said Rose, trying to cheer up her cousin.
"Thanks," said James, half-heartedly.
"She's right, Potter," said Troy, who leaned against the armchair. Troy was a Beater on the team and had appointed himself as a "co-captain" to the team, much to the chagrin of everyone but James. Normally, James tolerated Troy's arrogant and smug comments, however Rose could tell that James did not have the patience to deal with Troy
"I mean, we did well," said James, never willing to blame a bad game on anyone.
"But you smashed it," insisted Troy. "Which is not a surprise, since you and I care more about this game than the others." At that remark, Rose saw a frown appear on James' face and his eyes shrink as he glared at Troy.
"Look, mate," said Troy. "Polly's form was subpar today, Sam can barely fly in a straight line, Maddie's only one the team because of her dad, Louis was rubbish as a Beater, and I know she's your sister, but Lily's just not ready for this team..."
"Troy," said James, in a monotone yet frustrated voice. "Just shut up already!"
"What?" asked Troy, incredibly clueless about his remarks. "Was it the part about Lily?"
"Pretty sure it was all of that, you knob!" yelled Kieran.
"Yeah, you basically pissed all over the team," said Rory.
"Potter and I are captains," said Troy, defensively as the team members who overheard the remarks crowded around the armchair. "As captains, we're allowed to critique the players..."
"No, Jay is the captain," said Louis. "You are not and have never been the captain."
Just then, James got up from his chair and walked away from the group. At that point, he didn't want to be around people or hear their opinions, whether it was Rose trying to give a pep talk or Troy giving his worthless and rude opinions.
Al was still in the same place as he was before, but this time talking to Lexie and Anjali. James was about to walk past them to go to his dorms, but when Lexie and Anjali moved to avoid being in the way of James, Al merely stood against the wall. Just as James was about to open the door, Al decided to not stay silent and give his own opinion about the match to James.
"You know it's just a game, right?" said Al to James, rather bluntly. That remark was the catalyst to spark James into a rage
"Shut it, Al!" barked James, getting in his brother's face. "I don't want to hear your bloody thoughts on Quidditch! Just leave me alone, all right?
"Merlin's beard!" cried out Stanley. "Who invited the snakes here?" The common room tensed up as Scorpius entered with the Slytherin team, who were still dressed in their green and silver robes, plus a few stragglers, including Juniper.
"What do you want, snakes?" asked Troy, as he and his crowd formed a barricade in front of Scorpius.
"Is James here?" asked Scorpius, surveying the room.
"Piss off, Malfoy!" said Bruno. "No one asked you to be here!"
"I bet Rosie invited him here for a victory song," suggested Kyra, as Rose's cheeks turned red.
"Don't be daft, you blonde bimbo!" responded Rose.
"Nobody asked me to be here," said Scorpius. "Like I said, I'm looking for Jay."
"What do you want, Malfoy?" asked James, walking forward from where he was standing with Albus.
"I have something for you," said Scorpius, noticing James was not in a pleasant mood. "You've been playing Quidditch longer than any of us. After talking it over, the team agreed - we want you to have this." Scorpius reached in his robe's pocket and pulled out a snitch. The room gasped at the sight of the little gold ball, hovering over Scorpius's hand.
"You're giving me the snitch?" asked James, still a little uncertain about the generous gesture. "Are you having a laugh with me?"
"Not at all," said Scorpius, shaking his head. "This was your last ever Gryffindor-Slytherin game. And the game snitch usually goes to someone..."
"Take the bleeding snitch, Jay!" yelled Hugo.
With that, James's face loosened up and a huge grin grew across his face. James reached his hand out to the snitch to grasp it and his free hand out to Scorpius to shake and pull him in to pat his back. With that, the room exploded into cheers, with Troy and his gang and a few Gryffindors, the common room to avoid being around Slytherins.
"Right," said Jay, now back to his joyous self. "How 'bout some Exploding Snap?" And with that, a party was in full swing as music began to play and students started to laugh again. As the celebration took full swing, Scorpius turned to Rose and Al, giving them a lopsided smile and shrugging his shoulder.
"Do you tell him to do that, Rosie?" asked Al.
"Not at all!" said Rose, throwing her arms around Scorpius. "Oh, Scorpius! That was wonderful!"
"Well, thanks, mate," said Al, smiling at his friend. "You definitely saved the day!"
"Um, thanks!" said Scorpius, slowly and almost cautiously returning the hug.
"Scorpius, let's go!" said Juniper, dragging him out before he could say good-bye to his friends. As Rose and Al looked back at the party happening behind them, they felt the cheery spirit from the room. Despite their lack of interest in Quidditch, both of them were excited for the rest of the afternoon to enjoy themselves and their housemates.
"Well, cheers to another game," said Rose, raising her plastic gold cup half full of lukewarm butterbeer.
"Cheers," said Al, clinking his cup against hers.