A thanks to all of my superb reviewers! Blitz-gurl-42 , indescribable music , Lily-Grace-Black , Hpfangirl-1991 , Kiki Bombay , wRiTeR'S bLoCK is AWFUL , azuresilver , Luna Elen , voldy's gone mouldy 98 , IrishDancerAnime - you guys keep my fingers typing!
The Guidditch chapter has come, I'll admit that I was slightly unenthusiastic about writing this part... why oh why did I make one of my main characters a Quidditch player... what was I thinking... Ah well, I hope you enjoy it. I certainly enjoyed writing the second part :)
Lara
James looked around at us all, a stern, rarely seen, face filled with the determination only ever seen in sport crazy males. He eyes us each in turn with the same expression that clearly said 'If you're not as serious as me right now then get out'.
James was in his Quidditch mode.
"Right people, the first match of the season: We all know we can go out there and beat the Hufflepuff's blindfolded. We've done it before and we Merlin knows will do it again. This is the best team we have had for a generation. Every one of you has worked your socks off for this and I have never been prouder of all of you guys. We will open this tournament with style. You don't need me to tell you this. So go out onto that pitch and show those badgers what we're made of!" We all cheered (and not even just to prevent getting murdered by James if we didn't).
It had to be the cheesiest pre-match speech I had ever heard. Not that I particularly cared, though I did chuckle when I saw the Levet cousins role eyes at each other. I picked up my broom and gulped down the lump in my throat. So, here we go. My first ever match on the Hogwarts team. I could do this.
"Nervous?" Sirius asked next to me, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"No" I said firmly and then hesitated "a little"
I heard him chuckled and I glared at him.
The doors ahead of us swung open and the team marched out: James in front, me and Sirius behind, the Levet's behind us, and then Glen (the Keeper) and Asha (the Seeker) after them. Noise hit me in waves, screams and cheers and boos coming from every direction. Flags waved in our house colours: red and gold, and in Hufflepuff's – yellow and black. However, the worst part was the hurricane of emotions that washed around me. Talk about distracting! Everyone was so excited!
I tried to block it out into a muffled buzz in my head and it worked for the most part.
"And here come the Gryffindor Team now! Captain Potter has made a few changes this year to the team, most notable the new Chaser Larissa Grey and the Seeker Asha d'Argo. Many have called this team the best Gryffindor has seen in a generation: Chaser James Potter, well know as the best Chaser seen since Will Crossly six years ago. Beaters Anaya and Elaine Levet who many doubted last year for their youth but quickly showed their worth to this fantastic team – good luck Hufflepuff!" And indeed the Hufflepuff team, already at the centre of the pitch by the referee, looked a little pale at these words that echoed throughout the pitch.
When we got to the centre James shook hands with the Hufflepuff captain, Annie Frost, a girl with short strawberry blond hair, pale skin and a determined face, at Mr Darlene's command. We then kicked off into the air and waited for the balls to be released. I saw the brief golden glint of the snitch zoom into the air. Then there was a moment of tense anticipation as he carefully unclasped the quaffle and... It flew into the air – and the game begun.
Sirius rushed forward first and grabbed the quaffle before the other Chaser. He threw it to James and zoomed beneath James' broom as James threw it to my waiting arms while I sped over his head. I passed it to Sirius' waiting hand, who was tackled by Shawn Kirby who threw it to Macmillan. James then intercepted the next pass and dropped it to me. I flew halfway down the pitch then, feeling Lois Coleman on my tail, passed to James who looped over me and passed to Sirius. I sensed (from Alex's mind in the stands) that a bludger was heading my way and quickly dodged. I heard Coleman grunt as it hit the end of her broom. Ahead of me James and Sirius were quickly passing back and forth, getting closer and closer to the scoring area, and I rushed in (noticing the move they were trying to pull off), grabbed the quaffle mid pass and propelled into the left ring before the keeper had a chance to move.
"AND THEY SCORE! 10-ZERO TO GRYFFINDOR!"
And so the game continued. James scored three goals, Sirius two and I managed to get another one in there as well. The Hufflepuff's had got two goals so far, making the scoring 70-20 to us!
"And its Potter, Grey, Potter, Black takes it down – Potter, Black – Kirby takes possession! – Coleman, Kirby, Macmillan – Potter takes back – Grey – coming to score- Tripe prepares – Here she comes! POTTER! What-? AND HE SCORES! Where did he come from!" I gave the others a quick high five before the game continued.
I was watching the two seekers, Asha and the other captain Annie Frost, whizz up ahead. Frost had an unwavering look on her face and her mind was solidly concentration on the game. I pushed away from those tempting waters and concentrated on the match. I always tried my very hardest not to listen to anyone during a game (I couldn't help but hear Alex) it was after all an unfair disadvantage.
Alex
I jumped up in my seat as Frost dove through the centre of the pitch, Ash close on her tail.
"She's seen it!" I shouted, tense as the strings on Lara's violin.
They were both a blur as the streaked after the unseen (to me) snitch. I saw Frost reach out her hand. No! But then she stumbled, grasping her broom quickly and pulling it into an upward shoot. She was practically upside down! And there was Ash, sweeping after her, now closer to her than before. They were flying up, higher than the stands and everyone was watching them. They twisted around each other, Frost bolting to the left a moment after Ash.
It was so close!
The whole stadium was roaring with excitement! I couldn't even hear the commentator over the racket.
And then a bludger! It was whizzing straight for Frost, directed by the brown haired Levet I think. She dodged it quickly but I knew it hit her leg because she span off to the side! Just the opening Asha needed as he reached out a hand.
And the game was over! We had won! I could hear Lara exploding with happiness.
We won! We won! We won! I need to hug someone! Sure, James, you'll do! We won!
"We won! We won! Alex did you see it!"
Dear lord... I think my sister is hyper...
"Oh shush! I'm allowed to be beeecaauussee wee won! Wir das Spiel gewonnen!" She was grinning from ear to ear of her flushed face and she bounced (yes people, bounced!) to me and jumped into my hug. She then proceeded to pull me into the centre of the mob and push a shot of fire whiskey into my hand. I drank the steaming liquid in one, only slightly wincing as the burn travelled down my throat.
I had just arrived at the common room; I had taken a slight detour with the remaining Marauders to get food from the kitchens for the party. I had been delayed by having to talk to McGonagall about something as well. I'd had only been away for say forty minutes and I come back to find her already with a nearly empty bottle of butter beer and, if her muddled thoughts were anything, more than slightly tipsy. I looked around and saw James and Sirius letting off a bunch of fireworks much to the excitement of everyone. On the opposite side of the room Alice and Frank were... close. Near them Amy was talking to (or at) Tabby, too fast for comprehension. Lara had vacated my arms now and was now talking to Remus and Peter, her hair falling out of her braid and spiralling around her. Everywhere people were dancing and cheering and the pure excitement of the place was almost too much to handle. Loud music was coming from somewhere and by the looks of things the younger students had been shoved into a corner.
"Alex! Come have a drink Alex!" somebody shouted at me and I looked around to see a girl in fifth year pushing through the crowds waving a butter beer at me with a grin. She was pretty, with long sleek blond hair and wide blue eyes. I hadn't even known that she knew my name but I recognised her from the Quidditch team – a Beater.
"Oh right. Yeah. Sure" I said uneasily taking it from her and taking a sip. I could sense alcohol already wiggling though her brain. She smiled at me at me and held out her hand, which I shook.
"I'm Elaine Levet – nice to meet you" She said, drawing out the 'c' in nice "You hang out with Potter and Black, don't you?" sending me a sly look "you've built up quite a reputation you know" and to my utmost horror stepped very close. Very close.
Oh Merlin. Oh. Um.
I suddenly became very much aware that her tight black dress, from this point of view, didn't leave much for the imagination. Now. This was awkward.
"Well, hi there, it's nice to meet you too. I, um, have to-" I said uneasily, ignoring the last comments, trying to step away. I should have known it wouldn't work.
"Oh no you don't! Me and you are gonna have a niccce loongg talk. What do you say?" she said seductively, stepping closer. She clasped one of her precisely manicured hands (this girl played Quidditch?) on my shirt and the other firmly on my ass. Well. Huh. Don't need to hear her thoughts to understand this one! She fluttered her eye lids at me and licked her lips. Oh Merlin.
How the on earth could she be this drunk already? And this was when I identified that the bottle clasped in her hand was a half empty bottle of fire whiskey. Uh-ow: I was doomed.
See, this is why I hate parties.
I looked around in hope of some rescue mission but Lara was talking animatedly with Remus and not even my plight would drag her from that. Everybody else was so tightly packed around us that I couldn't even see anyone else. I had nowhere else to look but the woman in front of me still pressed into place that didn't have to be mentioned.
Oh Merlin. I needed more alcohol...
Before I could figure out was going on I was being pulled out of the crowd and was being pressed into a corner seat. It seemed this girl knew what she wanted and how she was going to get it. She slammed the bottle on the table and looked at me with a triumphant gaze. Dark blue glittering eyes met mine before she attacked my mouth, practically climbing on top of me. Needless to say, I didn't stand much of a chance. Her mouth tasted of the fiery liquor. I think I must have flailed a bit at first but finally settled, in the hope to at least stop her completely collapsing on me, to grasping her slender waist. And as for her hands! They were everywhere! Literally!
It wasn't so bad... I guess. But Merlin I needed to get away soon! I'm sure nearly any other guy would be completely turned on by this but, well, I wasn't any guy; I was pretty much dying of discomfort and was trying extraordinarily hard not to push the crazy girl away. How do you tell somebody who throws them self at you that you are just not interested...?
I needed help... fast.
Lara!
Sirius
"Oi Black!" I heard someone say and I turned to see Lara grinning slyly at me, Remus just next to her looking clueless.
"Yeah Greyette?"
"My brother is being a damsel in distress and is in desperate need of assistance" She said chuckling. I raised an eyebrow at her, confused at what she was talking about, she simply pointed to a far corner.
What I saw there made me splutter a bit on my butter beer but I quickly masked it a choke of laughter. Although really, it was a very comical sight... There was Alex being completely snogged by a certain miss Elaine Levet and seeming very uncomfortable about it too. It was obvious he was uncomfortable by the way he was pushed against the wall and holding her away by the waist. Right?
"My, my... only been here a few months and already he has a Levet's attention - impressive" I said in a mock admiring tone.
"Indeed, as I said – He's in desperate need of assistance" She said nodding wisely.
I smirked at her, crossing my arms.
"Really? It looks like he's doing just fine by himself... I don't think we really have to interrupt, he looks... busy" she laughed.
"I'm sure he'd thank you for helping – believe me" She persisted but I was uneasy at the glint in her eyes.
I didn't really want to go over there to be honest. It meant I'd have to push through the crowd and risk being pulled into a similar situation as Alex. Usually that wouldn't bother me. Usually I'd have been the one making sure that was the situation. Usually. But the very idea, while still intriguing, made me feel... uneasy. Furthermore, I really did not want to have to be the one to break up any make out session... especially Alex. Just looking at the way Elaine's hands roamed made me feel a little nauseous.
The dog inside me growled at the sexy blond and a lump formed in my chest at the thought of Alex. No. Going closer was not something I wanted to do.
But if he really was uncomfortable?
"You sure Al wants to be... ah, rescued?" I asked, hoping the uneasiness wasn't in my voice.
Lara seemed to become serious for a moment giving me a shrewd look.
"Yes I am certain. Even if I couldn't hear his thoughts right now (which, I must add is seriously gross) I would know that he was uncomfortable in that position"
I thought on her words. What did that mean? Was he a big no to relationships? Or just being kissed by random girls. That made sense. Or maybe he already had someone? Was she in Germany still? I hadn't heard him mention her though. Or maybe...
I sighed.
Pushing through the crowds I found myself wondering when I had become protective of Alex. Had it been any of my other friends I'd have laughed at a distance and left them to work out how to remove a persistent admirer. And yet here I was preparing myself to do the very opposite. Why Alex? Why not Prongs or Remus or Peter (in the unlikely chance that any girl would go for him – it's not mean, just fact), I had known them longer and yet... Why did I feel so angry seeing Levet with him? It made no sense. I didn't want to think about what else it could be, a little word beginning with J...
As I came closer I saw Alex sag slightly and break the 'kiss'. His grey eyes, over the blonds head (who now seemed to be eating his neck), were wide with a desperate plea. Help. They seemed to say and I knew I'd made the right choice.
"Now there Levet: time to get you onto the next guy of the night. Where is your cousin I wonder...?" I said as I pulled the girl off my thankful friends and passing her off to some fifth year boy who stood nearby with a wink. He looked at me with a blank startled expressing as Elaine began studying him with interest.
"See you Alex! It was nice speaking with you, we should do it more often" She called over her shoulder as she unsteadily tried to walk away in her ridiculous heels. She didn't get very far before tripping and falling into Mr. Baffled's arms who led her away.
I turned back to Alex with a smirk. A look of horror came to his face at her proposition which nearly made me laugh out loud. He was getting to his feet and nervously flattening he clothes and buttoning up some buttons on his shirt. His face was a light pink and he stared at me thankfully.
"You looked like you were having fun there Al" I said chuckling; he looked so hilarious under the demanding presence of a needy girl.
"And Lara wonders why I hate parties like this so much..." He said running a hand through his silver hair. I looked away, gulping at that move.
"You obviously need to be taught general survival instincts in the area of drunken women" I said and he laughed, looking back at him I saw him sit back in the window seat. I climbed into the one opposite him, my feet across them.
"She caught me off guard, by the time I thought to try and escape she was already... moving in" He admitted with a shake of his head and a grin.
I looked around the room, still alive with the party, which was unsurprising as it had only really just started. Lara had moved onto talking with Lily and they were both giggling and smirking, I tried not to notice the looks Greyette was sending me. As for said girl, she was chatting to the boy I had siphoned her off to and the irony that I might have actually triggered some sort of relationship made me chuckle.
Looking back at Alex, I saw that his usually neat hair was a complete mess thanks to Elaine's busy hands. I smirked and started talking, though I have no idea what about.
Lara
I watched with a satisfied smile as Alex and Sirius sat together. I knew I was making Alex self conscious but hey, what would he do about it. I knew he was already embarrassed about Sirius seeing Elaine wrapped around him and being saved by him to top it off. I could see the way he self consciously tried to hide the love bite that was beginning to grow on his neck and buttoned his shirt. He was trying to not look at the boy in front of him as he lounged on the seat. And still he refused to see what was obvious to me. Alex Grey wasn't the only one with a crush.
"Aww, aren't they cute" Lily whispered in my ear and I laughed.
"I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees it" I replied "My dear brother seems adamant not to believe me the poor thing"
"Yes well, perhaps it runs in the family" She said deviously, pocking me in the ribs.
I blushed.
"What runs in the family?" James said coming up behind us with a cocky grin on his face as ever; I flushed harder.
"None of your business Potter" Lily said stiffly, pursing her lips.
I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing.
"Hark who's talking Evens! Hypocritical much!" she scowled at me and tried to pock me in the stomach again but I dodged. Nevertheless the damage was done – I wasn't the only one blushing now!
James looked between us with a confused look and shrugged, walking away with a statement that sounded very much like "girls..." which only made me laugh louder.