AN:

I'm trying to finish up this story. Pardon my typos.

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Chapter 24:

June 10th:

9am:

Waking up to screaming outside, Maggie looked outside her window to find that the SWA had already been awake for awhile. Their coach were running them through the mill and again and she was half expecting it to not see the team out of the tents till its game time. She really did not understand as to why the coach drills them into the game.

Deciding it could be a good time to wake up anyways she headed to the showers and tried to clam down her nerves. Her father decided to put two reserves during the first half of the game, just to reserve the other chasers energy for the half that really mattered. She and the reserve beater put in.

Out in the fields, Lyra and Nicola jogged right beside each other. Each were half a sleep. Maria had been in a foul mood that morning when she found that the team was slacking off. Maria always had a motto of "never celebrate till the fat lady sings" and usually the fat lady she talked about was their math teacher from SWA. She wasn't there that very moment.

"Come on… RUN RUN RUN…..wake yourselves up!" Maria shouted. For a small girl she sure was loud. Anne Buchan was making faces as Maria instructed them. Nick elbowed the other chaser but it was too late. Maria saw and had made the whole team to do 50 pushups. Nicola groaned, but what else did she expect from the Captain who got them as far as the finals.

12noon.

Stella sat at the table nibbling. She had been nibbling since 9am. She didn't believe that eating a full meal before the game was good; she might throw up with her nerves. Elena and Francesca were right beside her possibly braiding their hair. She wanted to walk away but she didn't want to go outside where the reporters were being held back. There was some buzz about recruiters for professional teams present at Hogwarts and she juts wanted not to get asked. What would she say if she was asked and James was not? Or Mike for that matter.

--

With a pop, Percy and Parker landed on Hogsmeade station. They were now to trek up to the castle but they found someone there waiting for them with brooms.

"Oliver, what are you doing here?" Percy asked as he helped Parker stand up. The little girl was not used to side apparition. Olive smiled and handed both of them brooms each.

"Making it easier for Parker to get to the school. Now we don't want you to over use your feet now do we? Oliver said to Parker who getting on the broom she was handed. Parker smiled and thanked Oliver before asking if she could go on ahead. Percy stopped her before she zoomed away and gave her an ID pass. She thanked her father and went on ahead.

"Now what exactly is the problem Oliver?" Percy asked. Oliver shifted around and then pointed at the pitch A.

"Nothing big Perce, just nervous. You sure you got all fixed? No attempts…no..."

"Oliver…I made sure…These are our children now. What do you think I'll get my children, nieces, nephews into trouble?"

Oliver nodded. Maybe he just was being nervous. After all he had been like this since Cup where his wife almost died, where Cal almost lost the twins, where Percy almost lost his job.

Everything was going to be okay.

"Everything will be fine…"Percy reassured him.

-

Upon arriving at the great hall, Parker was jumped by a boy taller than her. He looked tanned already at this point of the year and Parker didn't waste time teasing him about it.

"Shut up…I can't believe you left me before exams!" Screamed Wyatt as the reporters were zoning in on the two. Parker looked back to see the reporter's hungry eyes for an opening to the great hall. She took Wyatt's hand and dragged him right into the great hall and closed the door behind them.

"They've been there since 9am, wanting to see the players. You should see Maggie." Wyatt laughed. He noted that Parker looked weirded out being back at Hogwarts. It's only been a week since she left but she already looked like she did not belong at the school.

"Come one. Eat lunch with me…the players have already been called to their docks. An hour to go till the games…" Parker went along with Wyatt and didn't pay attention to the stares she got from her former classmates.

12:45:

Everyone was being led to the stands. Percy sat at the top box with many of the officials and diplomats of other countries. The games apparently had become something being watched by international people.

"Percy ah there you are" said a woman's voice. Percy stopped at his tracks and saw his mother-in-law sitting on

"Julietta…saved a seat for you?" Percy said as he gave his mother in law a good hug. She peered beside him and looked around before asking where her daughter was.

"She's been forced to stay in bed. She's going to watch this from home." Percy said.

He tried not to think about it. He didn't want to remember it. Instinctively he looked for Parker at the lower stands. He found her sitting right beside the other Weasley and Wood kids. It made him feel better to see Parker waving at him while Wyatt grabbed her binoculars.

"She looks like her mum...even acts like her mum…be careful with that one Percy…" Julietta said loftily. She loved Parker, but sometimes Parker made her feel nervous, especially with the whole dancing career thing. But then again, Cal did make a living out of digging ancient people's trash. Percy laughed; he understood why Julietta took good care of Parker. He knew exactly why, he shared her fear for Parker.

Oliver walked into the locker room and bellowed out "Hogwarts" and few seconds later everyone scuttled into the locker room. All were dressed in their uniform though some were still not.

"I want you to play clean. I want you to win." Oliver started.

"Yes sir" everyone chimed in after. Oliver smirked. He then went on for the first line up. One of the other chasers fell really ill so Mike was put to the first string spot after Coach Brown voted him to be to the spot. For the first half of the game the second stringer Keeper was taking the posts, as to reserve the first stringer's energy.

It was a different set up as they were having two periods of games. By the time a school hits 70, a time out would be called out by the referee and the teams would be given a 10 minute break. Quite unorthodox, but both team coaches agreed it was a good idea. If the snitch were found, then game over.

"WEELLLLLCOME to the first ever-" boomed the announcer outside. Oliver turned to his team and started the huddle.

"Who are we?" Oliver shouted.

"Hogwarts!" screamed the team.

"What are we out to do today?" He asked.

"Win!" replied the team. But it was faint and Oliver could feel that the team must've felt nervous going after SWA, since the school had the best line of chasers yet in the whole tournament.

"I didn't hear you!" Oliver bellowed out. He had to remind them, they were the best of the best of Hogwarts. He could see each face smiling brightly. This was a sure sign that they at least knew he believed in them

"WIN!" They all shouted.

"Welcome folks to the first ever Inter-School Quidditch tournament, months ago five other schools came from different corners of the world to participate in this tournament. But only two of those size schools are going to battle it out for the first spot. To be called the best of the best, to be hailed until the next tournament comes around!

Can I hear it from Salem Witches Academy?"

A roar of applause and team chants came from all over the stands as the team, clad in their black, Stalin reminiscent uniforms, and flew out of the visitor's dock to the east of the pitch.

"And hailing from the locale, our very own Hogwarts!"

An even louder roar came about, even from the SWA players who were howling along with the crowd. The west dock opened and spots of black with Hogwarts' crests plastered on their backs came flew out.

In the middle of the pitch hovered the referee. Both captains approached him and shook hands.

"Ladies lets keep this a clean game" commented the referee. Stella and Maria both laughed and agreed to him. "Player on your marks" announced the announcer and everyone steadied into their spots. Stella looked at Maria's team and found herself getting nervous. They needed that snitch right away.

"Okay heads up ladies in one" The referee counted down. Stella's stomach twisted as she readied herself to pounce up to grab the quaffle. "Two", her heels were digging into the back of her broom. "THREE" shouted the referee finally and he threw the ball up so high that both Stella and the SWA captain shot up like arrows right beside each other. In the end SWA was in possession, after fumbling for it.

"Round them up" gestured Stella to her team and went after the Nick who was holding the quaffle at that moment.

Mike, zoomed right past Stella had just gestured for them to go on heavy offense. He read her mind somehow and he was at Nick's heels when the girl turned into a sharp 45 degree turn due east and shot down 10 feet. Mike looked down and tried to turn his broom when he nearly collided with one of SWA"s beaters who were out to get possession of the bludgers.

Inching in his seat, Oliver watched as the Silverio girl zoomed past every single one of his chasers. "Damn" he thought, "that girl can fly". He watched as she sent the ball to her west and into the captain's hands and swiftly into the middle hoop. Hogwarts had a tough game to play alright.

"Holy shit, the make it look easy!" screamed Gillian Potter as she heard the familiar DING of the score board. She watched closely as Stella held onto the quaffle. She looked like she was having an egg with her serious face. Gillian could help but let out a giggle.

DING 10 minutes later, Hogwarts made a goal. It was 1:1.

Another minute later Hogwarts was still in possession but Eva dropped the ball after being hit by a bludger, no one expected that SWA would catch it. As the ball fell fast, Buchan pulled up and stood up on her hell pedals and did a dive down catching the quaffle and pushing back properly. Oliver made a face; he did not know of that trick, he did not know SWA had so many tricks up their sleeves. No wonder they had mediocre games, they were saving it all for the end!

"And Cobbs, is possession, passing it to Silverio, Weasley tried to pry, Weasley fails. Potter sends out a bludger, oooo too late, Silverio takes a mild hit, she passes to Buchan, Buchan looses the ball to Flint, and Flint heads straight. Flint fails. SWA in possession again…" the announcer said non stop like it were a horse race.

DING Hogwarts scores again. 2:1

Minutes later, Flint nearly falls from his broom when something really fast brushed past him grabbing the quaffle. He looked bewildered as he saw a black dot zoom away with the quaffle in hand.

DING SWA makes a goal. 2:2. Minutes later, SWA made another goal putting them up to 2:3.

This was when both seekers started to zoom around. Turned out to be a dud, but as everyone were watching the rat race between the two seekers, SWA made another goal much to Stella's dismay. They were far too reckless and fast on their moves.

DING 2:4.

It had been 30 minutes already since the games started and not long after Hogwarts made another goal making them 3:4.

This was when a collision happened and Buchan and a Hogwarts beater fell to the ground with bleeding noses. The time out was called.

Anne Buchan cried as she pressed her nose with ice their Keeper, Sarah, had conjured up. Their coach laughed and said that it was al in the game. The Hogwarts beater was dizzy and couldn't stand so it was Oliver's decision to put their second stringer in. Patrick Weasley, who had been manning the posts were retired and Jamie Pucey was put back up to his posts. Aside from exchanging Buchan with a second stringer, the coach did not change anyone else.

10 minutes after the timeout, Hogwarts and SWA were up to their necks again. With 5:5. This when the seekers suddenly shot out of the pitch, but the game must go on. While the seekers were both out SWA scored two more goals as Hogwarts scored one.

It was about 15 minutes later that the seekers came back both looking windswept, zooming around the stands after the elusive golden snitch. The chasers how ever all were just paying attention to their ball and their scores were 6:10, this was when Lupin, the seeker, swiveled left and lurched forward. He needed that snitch. His hands were being pushed away by Lyra, the other seeker but to no avail neither one could get the snitch.

2:15pm the game was still on, with the scores of 8:14. Oliver thought, SWA must be trying to make a big enough dent to win at least by points. Stella looked like she needed water but she had that determined face to slaughter SWA.

2:25pm Stella thought to herself, where the hell do those SWA girls get their energy. The sore was 9:14.

The golden snitch appeared again and alas, someone did catch it.

AN:

Thanks for reading.