Chapter Ten

The First Game of the Season

The stands at the Quidditch Field were filled will spectators for the first match of the year, despite the gray November skies and chilly weather. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, the Houses not participating in the games, traded their colors temporarily for those of the teams they were supporting. It was a wave of red and gold, with insignificant spots of green and silver, overshadowing the cluster of Slytherins at one end of the stands. The Gryffindors were the favorite to win the match and it showed.

"Yeah, go, James!"

Lily stared up at Sirius when he shouted. "Sirius, how can you hold up that Slytherin banner and cheer for James at the same time?"

"Narcissa can look at me to see the colors. But with James, looking for that snitch, he won't bother," Sirius answered. Harriet joined Lily in laughter and Sirius silenced them, just as the game was about to start. The Slytherin team had flown in to join the Gryffindors at the center of the field. Sirius caught sight of Narcissa, her golden hair tied at the temples into braids then brought together in a ponytail. Her green cloak billowed around her slight frame as the wind picked up. She looked at Sirius and waved casually before circling the field with her teammates.

As she passed James, he winked at her, and she said, "I'll wager fifty galleons that I'd score a hundred and fifty points before you catch that snitch."

He smirked, accepting her challenge, as she flew to the center where one of the Gryffindor Chasers was waiting. She was the best Chaser on the opposing team, the ace up the Slytherins' silver sleeves. The Gryffindors had lost their match against the Slytherins in his third year – second year in her case – because they had underestimated her. The buzz was that Slytherin could do just as well with her as their only Chaser as they would if they had had six other players.

"Fraternizing with the enemy, Captain?"

He saw a broomstick zoomed past him and ended at a hover by his side. It was Molly, one of their Beaters. At first, it had been strange accepting a girl as a Beater, but after tryouts, it was obvious that she packed a punch more powerful than a Bludger itself.

"No," he answered. "We made a bet."

"They make her do all the work for the team, and she thinks she actually can," Molly said, and James knew she was indicating Narcissa. And it was true. The Slytherin Chasers did nothing more than to pass the Quaffle to Narcissa. And then it was all up to her to make a goal.

Molly swung the bat over her shoulder. "I'll bring their precious little Narcissa down!"

James' eyes widened with horror at hearing the determination in Molly's voice, but what could he do? He shook it off and hoped fervently that the Slytherin Beaters could keep the Bludger off of Narcissa. Molly was known to make good her threats.

The whistle sounded. The Quaffle was a blur of red in the air before it was caught by none other than Narcissa. She dived downwards, holding the Quaffle tight at her side, maneuvering cleverly past the three Gryffindor Chasers who had rushed after her. Hardly a minute into the game, Narcissa had garnered ten points for Slytherin.

James soared higher, which made a great vantage point both for finding the snitch and watching the game. He caught sight of the Slytherin Seeker scouting around as well and he knew he had to hurry. The sound of a bell announced that Narcissa had just made another goal. He marveled at her speed.

Lily watched James from the stands. Seekers were usually the most boring, inactive players during a game when the snitch had yet to be located, but Lily had no desire to watch anyone else. Because of this, she noticed earlier how Narcissa whispered something to him. Severus' words echoed in her mind. She intended to keep a close eye on the two of them. She and James had started going out since Halloween a week ago and it had made her inexplicably happy, but if she finds out he was cheating on her…

Another ten points was scored for Slytherin and the Slytherins' cheers were overwhelming.

Narcissa seemed extraordinarily spirited that day. She waited until the Quaffle was caught by Robert, the newest Gryffindor Chaser, then she raced after him. He was nervous, this being his first game, and was easy prey. She caught up to him in a heartbeat and pushed the Quaffle out of his arm without breaking a sweat. She swerved to catch it and flew straight for the goal posts. The Keeper was watching her fly right to the post on the left. He turned downward to intercept her, but she aimed her throw way above his head into the higher post. There was a groan from the stands as the bell rang once again.

Narcissa flew close enough to James to subtly tease him, "Hurry up."

'Where in the blazes is that snitch?!' he thought, frustrated.

Narcissa could make fifteen goals in less than twenty minutes, if worse comes to worst. He had to focus.

Sirius was resisting the urge to cheer his cousin on. He had to admit, she was brilliant at Quidditch. She dominated the field. If Slytherin won over Gryffindor, Hufflepuff did not stand a chance. Their team had good Chasers, but also the weakest Keeper. Ravenclaw might fare better. Their Keeper was the best of the four teams, but their Beaters were as much a burden to their team as to their opponent.

Sirius noticed that the crowd surrounding him had gone silent. The Gryffindor spectators were all looking for the snitch. But it was still James who saw it first.

He caught a glimpse of a flashing golden speck close to the ground, and he dove down as quickly as he could. The opposing Seeker followed suit. They were going at the same speed, straight down, and just as the snitch looked to be in their reach, it flitted to the side. They pursued it, each one reaching forward in the hopes of grabbing it first. But just as James felt it was merely an inch from his fingertips, a Bludger approached on his right. He cursed and turned sharply to the left, colliding with the other Seeker. They had lost the snitch.

In that time, Narcissa had scored two more goals and was just about to make her third.

The Gryffindors' spirits sank as the bell rang. It was incredible and none of them could figure out what her motivation was. She had never been so competitive before.

It began to rain as the game wore on. The score was sixty to a hundred and twenty, in favor of Slytherin. All goals were scored by Narcissa. If she scored three more goals, she would win her bet with James. She could almost taste the tension. The Gryffindors had quieted down; the Slytherins were screaming themselves hoarse. As she scored another goal, she wondered how James was faring. She knew he had not been able to find the snitch again.

The ringing of the bell had become a steady beat that his mind throbbed to. He could not lose. It just wasn't natural for him to lose. He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair.

Two more goals… Damn that snitch, he thought, frustrated. Fifty Galleons almost seemed a trifle compared to how much of his dignity would be lost. He was the greatest Seeker Gryffindor has ever had! He could not lose. Not this bet and definitely not this game.

And there it was, just as another goal was counted for Slytherin.

He hurried towards it, before it could flit away. The Slytherin Seeker had not noticed. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Narcissa and the other Slytherin Chasers in pursuit of one of their Chasers who held possession of the Quaffle. He tried to focus. It was there, almost within his reach. And just as his fingers closed over it, a tumultuous noise erupted from the crowd. But it was not the thrilling sound he expected to hear.