Snow fell in droves over the grounds, long-since filling the thousands of footprints that led to the Quidditch Pitch. More than a few Ravenclaw lingered by the fires in the library, but the rest of Hogwarts braved the cold, bundling up to watch Gryffindor and Hufflepuff in the final match of the fall term.
Gryffindor was ahead by 150 points and was the favorite of the match, but the winter weather had set their pace back. The seekers were managing fairly well, but the seekers of both teams were having trouble finding the snitch in the snowstorm.
Finally, with the score Hufflepuff 40, Gryffindor 190, the crowds thinning and the teams turning blue from the cold, James shot upward. He had seen the snitch. The cheers grew louder while the snow blew harder, and both seekers took off toward the south end of the Pitch.
When it looked like the game was had, a bludger had caught James in the shoulder just before reaching the flighty golden orb to secure the win.
The Hufflepuff seeker, Carson Holt, had never been as fast as James, but he had tailed his competition most of the match. Now with a Gryffindor seeker out of the running, the entire audience gasped when it looked like the game might fall to the badgers.
Snow was still falling in droves, the November air blistering cold, but the teams plowed on. Rose watched it all in horror, the quaffle tucked under her arm as she shook with the cold. Her grip around the broom tightened with one hand, and the other gestured toward her cousin. Blast it all, she thought to herself; she was grateful for the gifted gloves.
Rose kept at it, determined to beat her own scoring record and clench the win. She kept an eye on Carson, and on her signal Roxanne set into motion their latest trick play. It was risky, and if it failed the game would end with a tie. If it worked, Rose would have scored ten goals in the course of the match setting her own personal record, securing the win.
"It's a bird…"
Carson's arm stretched out towards the unseen snitch; Rose gripped the quaffle tighter and barreled toward the rings.
"It's a plane…"
Rose faked to Roxanne, successfully sending the two chasers on her tail toward her cousin. Meanwhile, in one clean sweep Rose swung under her broom and back over it, borrowing a move her Aunt Ginny had perfected fifteen years ago. She had one chance to make this work.
"It's… it's….it's ROSE WEASLEY for the win! Holt has caught the snitch but GRYFFINDOR WINS!"
While Devlin Tanner's Muggle movie reference was lost on more than half the students filling the Pitch, its subject was more than pleased. Rose Weasley felt exactly like Superman as the quaffel soared past the Hufflepuff keeper and through the center ring mere seconds before Holt snagged the snitch.
The match was over. The move worked. Gryffindor had won.
Rose was frozen to the bone, but she didn't care, and she rounded the pitch in victory twice before joining her team in the locker room. The Gryffindors practically carried Rose and Roxanne to the castle, though the cousins broke away with a large gathering of students sporting every house color to check on James in the Hospital wing. The party started there and thundered through the corridors until it took off full force in Gryffindor tower, lasting until well after two o'clock.
When Rose finally clamored up the steps to her dormitory, she collapsed onto her bed in content. However before her face hit the pillow, a crisp sheet of parchment pressed against her cheek. Pulling away in confusion, she unfolded the paper, brow furrowed and heart beating fast.
The rough script was instantly recognized.
Well done, Weasley.
The note itself would have been enough to dance her into dreamland, but it was the final line which plastered a grin to her lips that lingered through breakfast.
By the way, nice gloves.