Chapter 3: Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw
Author: Blodeuwedd
Beta: higginszoo
Author's note: Thanks to my beta, higginszoo and to everyone who reviewed!
It was a glorious Saturday afternoon, the sun was high up in the sky and no clouds were within sight. That is, the best day for a Quidditch match. Rose closed her eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the warm air. This was the first match of the year and she had decided to score as many goals as she possible could, to have a good beginning. After last year's fiasco, when they had come in third, the Gryffindor team really needed a fresh start. Granted, Ravenclaw had come in last the previous year, but that didn't mean it was an easy target, for the difference had been really small. A loud whistle was heard and the game began as the Quaffle was shot into the air. Rose accelerated and caught it, quickly flew to Ravenclaw's goal hoops and was about to score when a Bludger hit her broomstick, sending her spinning in the air, the Quaffle now already in the hands of a Ravenclaw's Chaser. Rose shot a death glance at her brother, who was supposed to make sure Bludgers came nowhere near her. He only shrugged and mouthed, "Sorry."
Meanwhile, Ravenclaw's Seeker, Sue Steel, was flying in circles above the pitch, searching for the Snitch. She saw the Weasley girl get hit buy a Bludger and smiled. Serves her right for being such a show off! Her eyes then went to the opposite team's Keeper, Kevin Wood. He had messy brown hair, broad shoulders, a calm voice and an incredible ability to avoid her. She had been hinting that she wanted him to ask her out for over an year now, and yet he still hadn't. That was rare for her; she usually got what she wanted, especially where it concerned boys. They all fell very easily for her shiny chocolate hair, her tanned skin, her curves and some smooth talk. Wood, nevertheless, seemed to prefer the skinny Gryffindor redhead that had now managed to score a goal and was being cheered by the audience. Sue scowled at her. Like hell she's going to win against me! And she didn't mean only Quidditch.
Hugo sent a Bludger flying at one of Ravenclaw's Chasers, Jane Webster, who lost the Quaffle she was holding. Rose seized the opportunity to catch it and quickly fly to one of the hoops. She then threw the Quaffle to Lily, who was on the other side of the pitch, to try to confound the Keeper. Lily threw it back at her when she neared the hoop; she caught it and was about to throw it when she saw a Bludger coming her way. She didn't have to dodge, though, for Hugo had already hit it and sent it into Sue Steel's direction. Rose threw and scored, making the red mass scream in joy. Rose winked at Lily, then looked at her brother and mouthed, "Thank you." He pretended to take a bow at her and she grinned. Above them, Sue buffed and resumed her search for the Snitch after she had lost it trying to avoid the Bludger.
Less than ten minutes later, the score was already 120 to 40 to Gryffindor and rising. Sue buffed again, annoyed. She had to find the Snitch and she'd better do it fast, for Ravenclaw didn't seem like it was going to score anytime soon – thanks, mostly, to Wood's ability as Keeper. Sue wouldn't mind her team losing if it meant she got him to comfort her, but seeing as it wasn't the case, she'd rather win, even if only to be able to rub it at Weasley's face. She was lost in these thoughts when she caught sight of something gold near the Ravenclaws' left goal hoop. Her attention quickly focused, she took a quick glance at James Potter and noticed he still hadn't seen it. She dove in the opposite direction and stretched her hand, pretending to be trying to catch something. She watched through the corner of her eye when Potter followed her and smiled. They were almost reaching the floor level when she made a sudden turn, shooting up. Potter took precious two seconds to understand what had happened, which cost him a crash with the grass. He swore and stood up, but it was already too late, for Sue had just grabbed the Snitch and the match ended 190 to 120 to Ravenclaw. The blue crowd cheered and the teams landed, the Ravenclaws grouping around Sue, the Gryffindors looking very disappointed. Slowly the teams started to leave to go to the changing rooms, an evident contrast between a cheerful and a gloomy group. As Rose Weasley passed, accompanied by her cousin, Lily Potter, Sue took the opportunity to talk to her friend a little bit louder than she needed to.
"I pity them, really, they just can't help losing! It's not like they are great players after all…"
Rose rolled her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. For some unknown reason, Sue Steel had an uncanny ability to make the redhead incredibly angry at her. Every other day she found herself near to drawing her wand at the beautiful brunette, but she knew better than to get in trouble because of that… well, girl. Rose saw her cousin Lily step forward and put a hand on her arm to prevent her of doing something harmful. "Never mind her," Rose whispered, "she's not worth it."
"They could be a little better, you know, if their captain chose the players for their ability, not hair color," Sue had resumed to provoking them. "Unfortunately, it seems Wood is a bit blind-eyed where it concerns a certain family. I mean, we all know one of his Chasers deals much better with books than with the Quaffle. I hate to sound mean, but she really should choose another sport; perhaps a Muggle one! 'Cause certainly flying is not her gift, if you know what I mean… Not to gossip, but I heard she wouldn't be in the team, if she hadn't done some favors for the captain…"
Rose spun so fast she nearly fell, her face redder than her hair, wand already at hand. "What did you just say?"
"Oh, you were there!" Sue looked almost sorry for what she had said. Almost. "Please, forgive me! I shouldn't have said it… Although I was just repeating something I'd heard."
"Take it back!"
"Can I give you a piece of advice, you know, as a fellow Prefect? Why don't you just assume that, you know… You did it with Wood, since the cat is out of the bag already?"
Rose's small blue eyes got wide with shock. "I… I didn't… I never…" She stammered, unable to former a proper phrase.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you! I'm a little bit envious, actually. I mean, you've certainly got a lot more experience than me… Well, than any of us."
"You bitch! That's a lie and you know it! Why do you hate me so?"
"Hate you, the perfect girl? Oh, gods, no! Never! But now you have offended me! What, just because I said something everybody already knows, that you're a slut and you shagged Wood?"
"Densaugeo!"
"Tarantallegra!"
The spells collided in midair and changed trajectories. Rose's jinx hit Webster, who screamed and put her hands over her mouth, for her front teeth had started to grow a lot longer then they were supposed to be. Sue's hex, on the other hand, hit Kevin Wood, who – along with James – was coming to see what was happening; his legs seemed to have become alive and started some sort of crazy tap dance, which made him trip and fall.
"Weasley and Steel!" The girls froze as the loud voice of their Quidditch referee and flying teacher, Madam Robbins, echoed in the hallway. She came closer and shook her head at Wood and Webster. "You both, to the infirmary now. Miss Potter, Mr. Potter, if you will please escort them?"
When the Potters left with the injured ones, Madam Robbins turned her attention back to Rose and Sue. "Now, what just happened here?"
Sue put up her best puppy eyes. "She wanted to jinx me!", she whined, sounding very innocent. "I was just trying to defend myself."
Rose opened her mouth and closed again, resembling a golden fish.
"Is that true, Miss Weasley?"
Rose grinded her teeth in annoyance and had to take a deep breath before she could answer. "She was provoking me."
"Now, Miss Weasley, what could Miss Steel have said to cause you to raise your wand at her?"
Rose felt the warmth flowing through her cheeks as she blushed. "She called me… Well, she called me something very bad."
"What was it, exactly?"
"Well, she said I was a… a… slut." She only whispered the last word, but Madam Robbins clearly got the meaning, as she laid eyes in Sue again, who tried her best to appear as naïve as possible. "You go to the shower now, both of you." The girls sighed with relief. "I'll give you twenty minutes to clean up and report back to me here, then you're going to have some quality time with Mr. Filch."
The girls groaned and looked at each other menacingly, but neither spoke again.
Author's note: I know Filch is about a hundred years old now, but I felt he's such a good character that I just couldn't replace him. And in the next chapter, the true detention really begins! :-)
