Hello again! Thank you for all your kind reviews, I'm so glad you like it. This is a good long chapter because I'll be very busy again next week so probably won't have time to write. Plus I'm going through a difficult patch at the moment so sorry about that. I hope you enjoy x
A few days went by before Albus made up with James and the others. The conversation was awkward and there wasn't much direct eye contact, but they came to an agreement in the end. Albus told them that it was some Slytherin 5th years that beat him up, but he didn't name names as he looked to James and said "I don't want you to go and get yourself in serious trouble and do something stupid. Don't go chasing anyone, I'm fine." James looked like he couldn't trust himself either, but still looked suspiciously at Albus. Of course Albus was lying, he wasn't really fine, but they didn't need to know, besides he felt slightly better after befriending Scorpius. "Please promise us you're safe Albus." said Rose with concern. Albus swallowed thickly but said "I promise" without wavering. "If they ever hurt you again I won't be so nice anymore." warned James. He felt very guilty for lying, but it was for the best.
Albus had his first quidditch match of the season against Slytherin, and had been practicing hard which had kept his mind off his anxiety and Rowell. Roxanne was really pushing the team, but Albus felt fit and strong when he was working hard in the air, and he didn't often feel strong. When the morning of the match arrived tensions were high in the great hall, and there was excited chatter amongst the house tables. Albus was feeling very nervous for some reason, and struggled to keep down his breakfast and keep his jittering hands steady. James however was raring to go, he was wolfing down some eggs on toast and Rose watched with both amazement and disgust. "You'll get indigestion." she said warningly. "Inde-what?" said James through a mouthful of toast. Rose rolled her eyes and Albus giggled. "So Al, you ready to win this?" asked James.
"I hope so" replied Albus.
"I think you meant 'Yes James!'"
"Yes Sir!" mocked Albus and he did a salute. Albus looked over to the Slytherin table, and he saw Scorpius sitting with some people he didn't know, looking slightly bored. He didn't appear to be wearing much support for his team, and he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose casually. He saw Albus and smiled, and Albus returned the smile, suddenly feeling calmer. Scorpius mouthed good luck, and Albus mouthed thanks back, he felt he had a good chance of winning now. Albus' eyes wandered along the table, when they fell on Rowell's eyes. Albus gulped. Him and his mates were looking at Albus like he was a piece of meat, and Albus felt like a sitting duck, he felt very vulnerable. Albus' heart dropped to his stomach when he saw Rowell crack his knuckles and point to him, then he tapped his wrist as if to gesture about the time. Albus took this as Rowell was going to hurt him again very soon, and it was about time. Albus took in a sharp breath and quickly excused himself. He needed space to calm down for the game and he needed all his focus to be on that snitch, not those dick heads. He didn't look behind him as he left the great hall, and he leant against the cool stone of the castle walls while he got his breath back.
A few minutes later when Albus was significantly calmer, people started to file out of the great hall in excited chatter. James saw Albus and strode over to him. Oh God, I really don't want a pep talk right now thought Albus. James put his hand gently on Albus' shoulder as if not to frighten him. "You look scared. Please tell me everything's alright." said James softly.
"I'm fine, I just needed some air, I'm a bit nervous." said Albus. James furrowed his brows, but stepped back from Albus. "Come on, we've got a game to win. We need you Al"
Albus grinned and followed James to the Quidditch Pitch to change.
Albus changed quickly and then there was a final talk from Roxanne. The air was thick with nerves and anticipation. "Right you lot, let's see all our hard work pay off today. I know we're capable of beating them easy, so don't let the crowd or the pressure get the better of you." she said encouragingly. The team walked onto the pitch and received cheers from the Gryffindors and the other houses, and a few boos from the Slytherins. The sun was just visible through some heavy grey clouds, and the air was chilly. At least it'll keep me cool. Albus liked to feel the winds icy fingers running through his hair during a quidditch match, it kept him focused and calm. The Slytherin team were facing them, looking mean but not impossible to beat. Both teams mounted their brooms, and the referee Madame Collins was ready to release the quaffle. "Ready" she said clearly. She threw the quaffle high in the air and the game began. Albus kicked hard off the ground and was immediately searching for the snitch, circling the pitch and getting a feel of the wind. He watched the quaffle be tossed around, before Gryffindor scored their first goal, they were ahead already. In their celebration one of the Slytherin chasers got the quaffle and was hurtling towards James at frightening speed. The quaffle flew to the left hoop and Albus held his breath, but James made an impressive dive and caught it. The Gryffindors cheered James' name. When the game was Gryffindor 50-40, Albus finally caught sight of the golden wings of the snitch, and immediately sped towards it. The other seeker soon followed him in pursuit. He was zooming around the stalls and above people's heads, but kept all his focus on what was in front of him, and the crowd had noticed the chase for the snitch. Come on come on come on, almost there. Albus' mind was clear, he outstretched his arm ready to grab the snitch. Come on! His brain was screaming at him and the wind was whipping his face, he could faintly hear the crowd cheering him on. He lunged his arm forward and felt the metal in his hands, he'd done it. Yes! Albus dived to the ground but landed gracefully, and was welcomed by his teammates slapping his back in praise. The crowd was roaring with applause and Albus smiled up at the stands, and held the snitch up to the sky. It was then he noticed how the metal was not cold, but was burning his hand like fire.
Albus yelled in pain and shook the snitch out of his hand. He looked to the ground expecting to see flames coming out of the snitch, but it was completely innocent looking. Albus frowned down at it and looked to his hand. There was an angry looking circular burn on the palm of his right hand. "What's up Al? Is that a burn mark?" said James.
"The snitch did it, you try picking it up." replied Albus. James looked sceptical but picked up the snitch. At first nothing happened, but then James hissed in pain and dropped the snitch, shaking his hand as if to cool it. "What the hell?" exclaimed James. "Madame Collins! The snitch, it's burning out hands." Madame Collins strode over and looked at Albus' and James' hands, then picked up the snitch herself. It did nothing to her. "How strange, I can see the burn marks on your hands." she thought for a moment, then beckoned Roxanne over to her. She put the snitch in Roxanne's hand, and she took hissed with pain and dropped it. "Why is it burning?" she asked whilst rubbing her hand. "Someone's cursed the snitch to burn the Gryffindor quidditch team." said Madame Collins with shock. The pitch had quitened now, and the team looked at each other with anger and surprise on their faces. Albus immediately thought of people who could of done this, the Slytherin Quidditch team, or Rowell. Most likely the latter, as it would mean they could harm and scare Albus without being direct suspects. Albus suddenly felt very uneasy, he felt like this was a warning, or something just beginning. He remembered the gesture Rowell had done to him across the table that morning. Oh God.
"You all go back to your dormitories except for Albus James and Roxanne, I'll take this to the head teacher and you can show your burns. Sorry to delay your celebrations." said Madame Collins. They followed her quick pace to Professor McGonagall's office. "Who would do such a petty thing like this?" said Roxanne on the way. "I bet you it was the Slytherin team's captain, I bet they're all in on it, slimy gits." said James with anger. That's what Albus wanted to believe, but somehow he couldn't. "Still, didn't stop us from winning, excellent catch Albus!" said Roxanne with a smile. Albus shrugged smiling, "I guess so, thanks." replied Albus. He looked to his burn again, this would be a reminder of the fear he felt because of Rowell, if it was them. He really hoped it wouldn't leave a scar. They reach McGonagall's office and stepped inside after Madame Collins gave the password. "Ah hello, congratulations you three, the game was exquisite." said the Professor, and she smiled a gentle smile to them. "What's the trouble Madame Collins?"
"Well Minerva, the snitch, it's burning the Gryffindor Quidditch team's hands. Look." and they all showed their circular burn marks, Albus' being the worst. "It doesn't burn me. I think it's cursed." finished Madame Collins. Professor McGonagall appeared stern and confused, and she took up the snitch in her hands, it did not burn her. She took out her wand and muttered something under her breath, and the snitch made a wailing sound, like a flock of geese in pain. Albus though it horrid and wanted to cover his ears. The Professor frowned and looked very annoyed. "You are right, it is a curse, thankfully not a deadly one, just a simple burn. But this is still severe, it's sabotage, and its dangerous! Madame Collins, round up the Slytherin Team immediately, and I want all their wands checked with priori incantatem and question them about this. Bring them here. You three go to Madame Pomfrey and get your burns seen to." She dismissed them with a wave of her hand, and Albus could see her anger.
Albus knew, somehow, that they wouldn't find the guilty party in the Slytherin Team. He just knew it was Rowell, and Albus could see his scowling face in his mind, enjoying that he'd most likely get away with this. Albus shivered back into reality as he felt the cool ointment on his palm. " There you go dear. That should heal it in no time, you can go now." said Madame Pomfrey. When they arrived at Gryffindor tower they were greeted with applause and cheering, Albus received several pats on the back. After the chatter had died down, they told the whole common room about what had happened with the snitch, and everyone was both fascinated and concerned. Rose piped up "That's disgusting! That curse could have been anything!" she exclaimed in worry. James laughed slightly "Yeah, but even their silly curse didn't stop Al getting hold of the snitch!" and the common room cheered again. Albus was conflicted. He felt great knowing he'd won the game and been able to hold on to the snitch, but he was constantly anxious about Rowell and it was shitting on his mind. He felt watched, as if Rowell would spring out at any moment. Nevertheless, Albus smiled at the common room, and half enjoyed the celebrations, half didn't.