Chapter 81: Slytherin VS. Gryffindor
{A/N: Here's Another Update...Giving you a heads up...I am in no mood to really flush out a Quidditch scene here...the game is mostly for background purposes and showcases Phaeron and James II's Rivalry in front of the entire school as well as Harry Potter and Lucius Malfoy...so forgive the non description if that is what you were looking for...I'll do my best to make this make sense...}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S
{"Never walk away from a fight that's worth fighting...Never hesitate when you know you're gonna act...Never waste your words on a fool you won't listen...Never sell your soul cause you'll never buy it...back...Time has come and gone for words...A thousands threats I've heard before...But words are cheap, but lies are meant to kill...Time has come and gone for words...A thousands threats I've heard before...And all your words are too big to take..."} No More Words, Jeff Hardy Theme WWE
The Great Hall, Hogwarts Castle, Scotland, Wizarding World...
Green had been the color of the field below their feet as both the respective Quidditch teams from Gryffindor House and that of Slytherin House. The two de facto team captains met in the center of the field, Carlo Reddy for Slytherin and James Potter II for Gryffindor. Phaeron had the job of seeker due to his aerial stunts and nearly unmatched speed when on a broom. The columns had been decorated in the various team colors scarlet and gold for Gryffindor, Silver and Green for Slytherin. The day had not been too bad given the slight haze and minor clouds high in the sky. Phaeron Snape smirked rather steadily as he spied his Godfather Lucius Malfoy sitting in the stands next to Head of House Draco Malfoy. His obsidian eyes shifted over to the Gryffindor stands where he caught sight of Harry Potter, his wife Ginny and Lily Luna Potter.
It was definitely show time.
The game got underway fairly quickly, with Gryffindor immediately scoring on Slytherin's Keeper, Ed Bezus. The Slytherin team had not seemed to take the first point loss to Gryffindor well snarling at Ed's incompetency. Ziare had been an astute chaser zipping through the sky on his broom in an effort to end Gryffindor's minor streak against his house. Phaeron kept his eyes on the snitch. The golden winged ball zipped by him once or twice catching the attention of Gryffindor Seeker, Kyle Mossley.
The very same Kyle Mossley that had been apart of James Sirius Potter's New Marauders crew. Phaeron smirked as he raced after the snitch zipping passed a fearful Kyle who simply clutched his broom as if his life depended upon it. Lucius Malfoy's gray eyes took in the spectical that was his godson zipping through the sky at alarming speed. He was an impressive sight in mid-flight. The Senior Malfoy smirked as he noted how close the boy was to the golden snitch.
He had not been the only one to notice as James Potter II shook off his most recent blunder in scoring and chased after Phaeron Snape at an alarming speed as well.
Scorpius Malfoy took advantage of James Potter's absence and managed to score on the more unprepared members of Gryffindor's Quidditch team. He had successfully given Slytherin 20 points in the process placing them in the lead. The younger Malfoy earned approving looks from both his father and grandfather with his success.
In the stands...
Ursula Black watched the match from the Slytherin stands. She never took her eyes of Phaeron. She knew the Slytherin git was up to something, he had been acting rather strangely during breakfast, muttering something about taking Team Potter down a peg. When Cameron Gamisson finished off his rather large helping of pancakes that had been placed in front of him, Phaeron smirked at the extra amount of syrup he put on them.
Lily Luna Potter had been watching Phaeron as well as her brother James. She knew both boys had a long standing rivalry when she arrived at Hogwarts for her first year, but there was little she could do about it. She had liked Phaeron and been really good friends with him. At the same time, James II was her brother despite his many flaws he was still family. She never actively took sides in their little games and often screamed at them both for being insensitive gits making her worry over their many trips to the infirmary.
Albus Severus had been sitting in the stands as well with a cast over his right arm, making him sidelined from his Keeper duties on the field for Slytherin House. He had been in a rather dark mood ever since the incident. He knew James attacked him or at the very least had him attacked just so he could win this game. The younger Potter brother glared murderously at his brother sucking up all the attention the family was giving him. The stupid Prat needed to be taken down a peg and Phaeron Snape was just the wizard to do it.
Albus Severus had made it a point to sit on Slytherin's side in the match not at all giving James II the satisfaction of wishing him well after the stunt he pulled cost him his place in the match. Lucius Malfoy looked over at the boy with a rather curious expression. He had not known that a Potter would actually support Slytherin given the history of Potters being pro Gryffindor.
He had been quite surprised when Draco informed him that Harry Potter's youngest son was in Slytherin house but seeing the boy in green and silver was another matter altogether. It had been the first time he had seen the boy up close considering his tendency to be on the field defending the Slytherin goals during various matches.
"If you don't mind my inquisitive approach... I would like to ask why you are not over on the Gryffindor side with the rest of the Potters." said Lucius turning his full attention on the young Slytherin with messy brown hair.
"I'm not a Gryffindor." replied Albus Severus spitting out the name of his rival house as if it were poison.
Lucius smirked never believing he'd actually see the day a Potter of all people would have contempt for the golden Gryffindor house.
"Well...this is indeed a surprise." he said causally. "I suppose you know greatness when you see it."
Albus Severus nodded.
"I do." he replied still with anger in his tone. "And his name is Phaeron Snape."
Lucius arched an eyebrow at this in the style of Snape.
"You believe my...godson is better at this unconscionable sport than your own Golden Gryffindor brother?" he asked stunned.
"Yes." replied Albus Severus. "Phaeron has actual talent unlike a certain skate-through-life-with-everything-handed-to-you git...whom I am forced to share relation."
Lucius looked over at Draco further surprised by what he was hearing.
"This boy is positively a dream." said the Senior Malfoy in awe. "By far my most favorite of the Potter children."
Albus Severus rolled his eyes turning his attention back to the match. He wanted Phaeron to show that poser James II up and what better time than to do it in front of their entire family as well as all the school he strutted about in as if he owned.
On The Field...
Phaeron with stood a heavy assault being rammed into the stadium walls by both Potter and Cameron. The slap happy Marauders had managed to make the raven haired Slytherin hit his head and bruise his right arm in the process. Still he kept after the Golden snitch as it barreled through obstacle after obstacle. James II had been right behind Phaeron trying his hardest to knock the Junior Snape from his broom.
"Haven't had enough Snape?" spat James II annoyed.
"Have you Potter?" retorted Phaeron after being rammed yet again.
The two wizards clashed in the air as Phaeron caught a well timed fist in the face by Cameron. He held on to his broom as it began to spin out of control. Lucius Malfoy got to his feet, the concern for the young Snape boy etched across his pale face. Phaeron managed to get control once more and followed the snitch as it rose high above the field. He could see and feel the moisture from the clouds as he trailed after the snitch with only the goal of capturing it on his mind. He had gone so high that he could barely be seen as the very breath from his mouth began to freeze.
James Potter II followed after him enraged at Phaeron's audacity to defy his skill on a broom. Below all eyes had been on the sky as both Potter and Phaeron battled it out for the snitch. James Sirius had been determined to keep the Junior Snape from retrieving the golden snitch going so far as to continue ramming him while at such a frightening altitude.
Scorpius Malfoy continued to score on the baffled Gryffindors as he made it a point to give Slytherin a sizable advantage over their rivals. Ziare had flown up into the sky out of concern for Phaeron but remained as in the game as his mind would allow.
Everyone seemed to hold their breath as the two wizards battled it out in the sky. The clouds that surrounded both Phaeron and James II had become thick and swollen. The crisp white glow gave way to increasingly darkening gray as they continued to fly at dangerous speeds in the climbing altitude.
"Your dead, death eater father can't save you this time Snape!" shouted James Sirius enraged.
"Your poser "chosen one" father is going to watch you get yours Potter!" countered Phaeron.
James rammed Phaeron once again this time causing the Slytherin to nearly plummet toward the ground. Phaeron recovered but they were going at an alarming speed. It had be come difficult for either of the teen wizard's to hold their own against the brewing storm clouds.
"It's only a matter of time before you follow in your murderer father's footsteps." said James continuing to taunt Phaeron. "Tell me Snape, what's it like having a death eater whore for a mother?"
"About the same as having a common whore for a mother I'd wager." countered Phaeron." Word is Ginerva Weasley seemed to prefer Slytherin house to Gryffindor when she needed to spread her legs."
The comment further enraged James Sirius as he took to attacking Phaeron with his fist trying his hardest to break the Junior Snape's jaw. He had only gotten close enough to draw blood.
In The Stands...
Harry Potter's emerald green eyes studied the sky as he searched desperately for signs of his eldest son James Sirius. He had known just how brutal a game of Quidditch could be from first hand experience. He had hoped his son didn't take to pulling some ridiculous stunt just to out do Hermione's son. It was all he would need to see the boy end up in the infirmary. James Sirius had always been one to bend the rules and push the envelope when it suited his purpose of garnering the most attention.
Harry sighed.
It had been six years since his son had changed from the cocky little eleven year old barely starting Hogwarts into the cocky arrogant teenage version of his long deceased father James Potter I. He had hoped to honor his fallen father and godfather by naming his first born son after them but he had not intended to create a carbon copy with all their most undesirable traits manifested.
The green eyed wizard had seen through Snape's pensive memories just what kind of men both James Potter and Sirius Black had been. Every word that Snape ever said about both men had indeed been true but they didn't seem to make Harry love them any less. He simply though they didn't have the chance to learn from their mistakes, to learn that there was a different way of doing things, a way that both he and Draco found at the end of the second wizarding war.
Ginny had a worried look on her face, tough she too knew what it was like to be on the field in the middle of a fast paced match. She couldn't help but fear for her son. She had never seen him look so enraged as when he had been on the field with Phaeron Snape. She never would have imagined in a million years that her son and Hermione's son would grow to be such bitter enemies. Given all that had happened between Hermione and Harry it was still surreal to see their respective children with so much contempt for each other. They had all been so close during their own time at Hogwarts.
Lily Luna Potter had not taken her eyes off the vastly darkening sky. She had hoped that the weather would hold and that both Phaeron and James II would get over themselves long enough to realize the kind of danger they were in. If a storm truly broke out with lightening while they were amid the clouds...she didn't want to think about it.
Lucius Malfoy's face had been contorted in a look of absolute worry as he studied the sky for signs of Phaeron. He had not wanted to be the one to tell Hermione that she had lost her first born child due to bad weather and arrogance in a Quidditch match. She'd do more than skin him alive given his status as Governor of Hogwarts and Godfather to Phaeron.
Draco had shown concern as well but knew Dumbledore would not allow anyone to intervene in case the weather had been a passing phase and the game would continue. It concerned him that Phaeron had gone up to such a high altitude but he was for all intents and purposes chasing after the snitch. He grew more antsy when James Potter II trailed up after him, of course it was all part of the game, James had to try and stop Phaeron from retrieving the golden snitch. He too had known it from his experiences on the field against Harry Potter in the old days.
Ursula had been watching for signs of Phaeron unsure what she should be feeling knowing her boyfriend was probably up there trying his best to beat Potter's head in before the cover of the clouds ceased to hide the act. He had been enraged when he found out what Potter had done to his own brother in the pursuit of glory on the Quidditch field. He had seen what Harry Potter's father James Potter I, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Pettigrew had done to his father all throughout their time as students at Hogwarts.
He had been particularly forth coming about his father trying out for the Quidditch team and being fairly good at it until he was brutally ambushed by the Marauders prior to concluding his try-outs. Phaeron had told her Snape was so terrified of flying on a broom after it had been sabotaged by Potter Sr. that he never went back to try-out again.
She had not been particularly comfortable with the knowledge that a Potter caused Severus Snape to plummet almost to his certain death after he attempted to try his hand at the Seeker position. His natural speed and mastery of flight on a broom had been one of the few times he showed true skill outside of dueling and academics. His mother had after all been Gobbstones champion and his father played muggle sports for years it was only natural Snape himself had some sports talent.
The apparent talent was passed down to Phaeron who embraced it fully as something that neither of his parents could accomplish and he was not about to let James Sirius Potter take that away from him. Ursula didn't put it passed Snape Jr. to pull his most ridiculous stunt yet in a bid to out shine the cocky Gryffindor. She just hoped his bones would only be mostly broken when it all came to an end.
In the sky...
Phaeron returned the blow to his face in kind to James Potter II. Both wizards glared murderously at one another. As they continued to bicker and through punches while maneuvering to stay on their speeding brooms, the clouds rumbled all around them getting the attention of Phaeron who for obvious reasons had been the more practical of the two. James Sirius had been more concerned with knocking Snape Jr. off his broom and sending him crying home to his mother or at least that was what would have happened in the elder Potter boy's mind.
Lily Luna Potter's worst fears were confirmed when lightening flashed across the sky. Rain came down heavily soaking everyone and everything in it's path.
Lucius Malfoy took to floating in mid-air noting how difficult it was to see if the boys had been in trouble. His lengthy platinum blond hair had been soaked and sticking to his Slytherin coat and pale cheeks. He searched the sky for the boys fearing they were in a good deal more trouble than he initially realized.
"You have no place here Snape!" shouted James Sirius angrily. "Death eater scum like you belong in Azkaban!"
"Fuck you...Potter." replied Phaeron turning his attention to the golden snitch that had casually fluttered by.
He went after it determined to show up Gryffindor's precious Potter. The memory of how Potter's arrogant grandfather cursed his father's broom and caused the dour wizard to go plummeting toward the ground breaking his right arm and shattering his femur in his left leg burned in the back of Phaeron's mind. Snape had never gone any where near a broom after that incident and only looked at a Quidditch field after he became Head of Slytherin House and only to support his Slytherins who braved the elements and Gryffindor spite the way he could not.
His father would have been a good Quidditch player, maybe Slytherin would have actually won some games instead of being shut out from victory year after year following the reign of The Potters. Gritting his teeth and stretching his long pale arm as far as he could manage, Phaeron had gotten the bright idea to stand on his broom while in mid-flight to angle just enough to reach the snitch.
James Sirius had not been of the mind to allow that to happen. He rammed Phaeron's broom causing the raven haired teen to lose his balance and spiral out of control. Lightening flashed igniting the end of Phaeron's broom making it even more difficult to regain control. Feeling himself about to fall to what had most certainly been a brutal death, Phaeron concentrated his magic in a bid to regain control.
"Gloria spiralem locomodus!" shouted Phaeron as he lept from his broom and into the open air.
The raven haired teen wizard looked out over the horizon noting how time seemed to stand still as he held his breath. His broom had gone crashing down to the soaked field below causing many of the players and on-lookers to panic and shuffle out of the way of it's impact. Seeing Phaeron's broom inflamed and spiraling to the ground had been enough confirmation or Lucius that Phaeron needed is assistance. He redoubled his efforts to find him for fear of his impending doom at the hands of Potter's boy.
Phaeron managed to get his hand on James Potter II's broom. The enraged Potter teen had been even more irate when he noted that Phaeron had managed to grab the snitch when he took his death defying leap into the open sky. Lightening continued to flash around them as they started to spin out of control.
"GET THE HELL OFF SNAPE!" shouted Potter frantic as they continued to lose control. "YOU'RE GOING TO GET US KILLED!"
"Not going to happen Potter!" spat Phaeron gripping the broom tightly. "I know how you were so longing to see me plunge to my no doubt certain and gruesome death...but disappointing you is what I live for."
James Sirius narrowed his eyes at the raven haired teen.
"There is no way you're winning this match." he said.
"I have the snitch Potter." said Phaeron with a triumphant smirk. "It's over, Slytherin wins."
"Over my dead body." said James Sirius leaping at Phaeron and causing himself to go over the side of the broom.
The raven haired teen used his wand-less magic to stop James II's fall.
"STUPID FUCK PRAT!" he shouted grabbing the cocky bastard and maneuvering him back onto the broom.
In his efforts to save James II, Phaeron had dropped the Golden snitch.
"Looks like you lose Snape." said James II triumphantly.
"Fuck off Potter." replied Phaeron.
He barely managed to pull himself up onto the broom when another flash of lightening came in contact with Potter's broom igniting it and sending them spinning further out of control.
"It's too much weight!" said James II being shaken from his cocky delusions. "We're going to crash!"
Phaeron saw just what James II was talking about in the form of them about to be flung into a rather large grey cloud riddled with lightening.
"Any bright ideas Potter?" he asked taking a moment to see the dry humor in nearly falling to his death.
"You're the Slytherin here...aren't you suppose to be cunning?" countered James II.
Phaeron knew they would have a better chance if he could conjure a certain spell but he needed to by Potter time to keep the broom from hitting the cloud too soon and he needed both hands to conjure it as well as pure focus.
"Just one." replied the raven haired teen.
He looked over at James II and smirked.
"Who would have thought it would all come down to this Pot ol' boy." he said dryly.
"Fuck you Snape." said James II trying his best to continue his brave front despite being utterly terrified.
"If you were Lily and a few years older than we could talk about that Pottie boy." said Phaeron still with that smirk. "Oh well, don't ever say I didn't do anything for you."
"What the hell are you talking about?" asked James II.
In reply, Phaeron lept off the end of the broom causing it to stabilize but he was falling a bit faster than he anticipated given the height of his fall. The speed of his fall and the pressure from gravity made it extremely difficult for him get his arms up much less open his mouth to say the incantation. But the determined Slytherin did just that in time to save James II as another flash of lightening split his broom in two.
"Nimbus cervical!" shouted Phaeron with great difficulty.
He had only managed to see a magical cloud appear just in time to catch James II before he too fell freely from the sky. The younger Snape had not enough energy to make a second summoning for himself thinking of how long James II had before he fell to his death. As much as he hated the arrogant prat, letting James II fall to his death would only reinforce the prejudices against his house and his father. It wasn't a grand a statement as saving the son of his mortal enemy, whom had also been the product of his ex-girl friend who ditched him, from an insane dark wizard from hell, but it was definitely a grand statement to make for the son of Severus Snape.
As Phaeron began to lose consciousness due to the lack of oxygen during his fall, his one thought had been how his mother was going to be pissed about him getting himself killed just to prove a point to a Potter. Lucius Malfoy appeared in time to catch the falling raven haired teen. His face as grim as the grave and his gray eyes filled with concern and seething rage.
"Stupid boy." said Lucius annoyed beyond measure.
Obsidian eyes met cold gray which for a fraction of a second melted away and revealed cold obsidian.
"F-Father?" said Phaeron utterly confused.
"Stupefy!" had been the last thing he heard before everything went dark.
On The Field...
Everyone had been relieved to see that both Phaeron Snape and James Potter II had come down in one peace thanks to Lucius Malfoy's efforts. The senior Malfoy layed both reckless teens onto the field after having caught them in mid-air. He carried Phaeron over his left shoulder and gripped Potter by his neck. He made no secret of his contempt for all things Potter when he simply dropped the unconscious boy on his face and sat his godson down gently. The med-witch came to examine them both noting the minor injuries and scrapes. Phaeron had a broken arm and busted femur no doubt from the initial ramming James II did when he nearly sailed into the wall. James II had only minor bruises and scrapes. He awoke just fine as Harry Potter ran to the field to look him over for himself.
James II got to his feet and was well on his way to the infirmary for further checking. His family with the exception of Albus Severus fussed over him incessantly. Much to his chagrin.
The Slytherin team stood by as Phaeron came too. He had been hurt pretty badly but he smirked rather wickedly despite the concerned eyes that fell on him. He used his good arm and pulled the golden snitch from his pocket. The entire school erupted in a round of shocked applause noting that Slytherin house had won the match.
Ursula rolled her eyes at Phaeron's antics. She couldn't help but feel proud as the fireworks went off in the background. They of course had been Weasley brothers products and as such had a wide range of insults tweaked by Phaeron to make James II look like mud at the bottom of everyone's shoe.
SLYTHERIN RULEZ! had been in bright green bursts.
JAMES POTTER II IS A DUNDERHEAD POSER!" had been in silver.
REIGN OF THE SNAKES! came in another green burst.
Followed by a giant Snake firework that literally chased after James Potter II and made him squeal for everyone in the school see him for the spineless whelp he truly was. laughter erupted as everyone told varying accounts of what happened after the match. Slytherin house was riding high from their much deserved victory over Gryffindor house. The Great Hall had been lit with sliver and green snake banners.
Phaeron Snape had become something of a legend in his own right at Hogwarts and James Sirius Potter II was sucking on the bitter taste of defeat.
The Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts Castle, Scotland...
Albus Dumbledore had his hands full when both Harry James Potter and Lucius Malfoy came barging into his office wishing to have a word with him over the conduct of both students in the wake of the Quidditch match. Harry had been up in arms over his son's near death experience and how Dumbledore exercised a lack of control when it came to the game. He sited his own near death experiences playing the game and drove home how unsafe the game had become as of late.
Dumbledore tried his best to accommodate Harry and adhere to his wishes. He noted that perhaps certain rules needed to be put in place to keep the game from getting out of hand as it had that day. Lucius Malfoy narrowed his eyes at Dumbledore and Harry Potter. He had been most uncomfortable standing in the center of the Headmaster's office and wished to get his point across so that he could be done with this place once and for all.
"Are you not going to bring the Potter boy's antics to his father's attention?" he asked bitterly.
"What's that supposed to mean Malfoy?" asked Harry taking offense to his son's behavior being called into question.
"It's obvious these guidelines and new rules were not needed until your reckless Potter brat went too far on the field." said Lucius in a bored tone.
"Phaeron Snape had been just as reckless out there if not more with his broom diving antics." countered Harry now with rage behind his emerald eyes. "And besides, you are the last person who should be talking about a child's behavior needing to be called into question with what you let Draco get away with during our time here...what kind of a father let's his son become a death eater Malfoy?"
Lucius had been fuming.
"Draco may have been a death eater by involuntary means but at least he isn't a murderer which is a lot more than I can say for the son of a pompous prat like James Potter Sr." spat the gray eyed wizard. "Isn't that correct Mr. Potter?"
Harry launched at Lucius attempting to grab him by the collar when he was effortlessly countered. Then pushed into a nearby wall himself. Lucius tightened the grip on Harry's collar as his gray eyes blazed in absolute hatred.
"Struggle all you like Potter, but the fact remains...I would not have to stand in for the boy's father if your antics at the Fortress of Solitude had not cost Severus his life." spat Lucius bitterly. "Now you tell me which of us is the real monster in this room?"
"They should have locked you up in Azkaban." spat Harry bitterly.
"And you as well." replied Lucius equally bitter.
"That's enough!" shouted Dumbledore rising from his seat. "Both of you stop this!...You behave no better than the very boys whose actions you came here to defend!"
Lucius let Harry slip from his grasp and fall flat on his backside onto the hard stone floor below. The green eyed wizard glared at Lucius murderously.
"Rot in hell." he said bitterly.
"Only if I get a seat right next to you." countered Lucius.
He glared at Dumbledore hatefully.
"Consider yourself on notice old man." he said then walked out in a flash of black robes.
Dumbledore turned his attention to Harry who had gotten to his feet.
"Are you alright, Harry?" he asked in a father-like tone.
"I'm fine." replied the green eyed wizard bitterly. "I-I've just got a lot on my mind."
Dumbledore sighed.
"I apologize for Lucius' callous manner." he said.
"It said it's fine." replied Harry clearly still bitter. "I-I've got to go see to James II anyway."
With that he took off out the door. The Headmaster sat down shaking his head. How could anyone expect Phaeron Snape and James II to put aside their differences when the internal prejudice of Slytherin and Gryffindor ran deep between their families not to mention the bad blood surrounding the death of Severus Snape.
One thing was for sure, Dumbledore had his work cut out for him lest any of the boys find out about what happened that night or anyone else in the wizarding world. Especially if that someone had been Phaeron Snape.