Magical Encounters

Chapter thirteen: The game.

Disclaimer- I think this will be the last time I post this for a couple of chapters, so jut so everyone is clear, I don't own Harry Potter.

Ariana woke up to bright sunlight streaming into the dormitory through the window on her right hand side. From the sounds around her, she figured that the girls around her were up and getting ready to go down to breakfast. Following their lead, Ariana got up and pulled out her brand new green and silver Quidditch robes. She put them on quickly and then observed herself in the mirror beside her bed. The robes fit her very nicely and slimmed her stomach down, but her hair was a pile of hay stacked on top of her head. Ariana grimaced at her reflection in the mirror and began to pat her hair down with one hand while the other reached for the brush that sat atop of her trunk. She tore through her hair with the brush and once she was satisfied she set it down and turned to leave the room.

Ariana walked into the common room to find that the entire Quidditch team was already there and talking in a tightly knit circle. Ariana pushed through and joined the circle just as Scorpius came downstairs. She cast one last glance at him before becoming immersed in Tyler's speech.

Tyler looked around at his team and swallowed nervously. "Okay mates this is it. This is where we show ourselves to the entire school for the first time. Now, we can either look like idiots or like badasses and I'm hoping it's the second one. Anyway we will talk more in the locker room but just be sure to eat something at breakfast and try to relax your nerves."

The group broke up and Ariana walked toward the door only to find her path blocked by a familiar little white cat that was holding an envelope in its mouth. Ariana leaned down and picked up Abby, hugging her tightly to her chest. Ariana walked out of the common room with Abby in her arms and headed toward the Great Hall for breakfast. Once the reached her destination she took the letter from Abby's mouth and set her on the ground, at which point Abby followed Ariana to her seat. Ariana sat near the edge of the table far from any other people and began to open her letter. It was a reply from Mary at the Orphanage and it read:

Dear Ari,

How are you sweetheart? I am well and very sorry that it took so long for me to reply to your letter. We have been very busy here, seeing as a flu epidemic has hit us, but don't worry. Everyone is recovering beautifully. I read in your letter that you will be staying at school for the holidays and that's fine with me but I will miss you honey. I hope all is well over there. Have you made any friends? I hope so. Anyway nothing too new is going on here so I must say good bye for now.

Love always,

Mary.

Ariana crumpled up the letter and picked at the plate of food that she had compiled for herself. Her nerves had begun to set in and her voice even shook as she looked down at Abby and asked her if she attacked an owl for the letter. Abby cocked her head at Ariana and walked away as if to say that she had no idea what Ariana was talking about. Ariana shoveled her food into her mouth just as the Great Hall began to fill up with people. Ariana caught sight of Scorpius coming into the room and her eyes left him just as he winked at her. Ariana watched as he made his way toward her and the Slytherin table and when he passed her and kept walking he dropped a small piece of parchment at her feet.

Ariana continued eating and when she finished she pretended to drop her fork on the floor and picked up the piece of parchment that Scorpius had dropped. After she read it she gathered herself and made her way out of the Great Hall casting her eyes toward Scorpius, meeting his eyes meaningfully and nodding very furtively before turning away. Ariana continued on her path and headed out of the Great Hall then the school. She headed to the broom shed where she would pick up Tyler's old broom which wasn't the best model but thankfully it was faster than the school brooms. In most cases players kept their brooms in their room but Ariana didn't want to keep something that wasn't hers in her trunk.

Ariana saw a bench in the very rear of the shed and made her way there and sat down. She sat waiting in the shed for ten minutes before there was a creak at the door and someone made their way inside. Their silhouette was the only thing Ariana could see but she was pretty sure who it was that was coming toward her in the darkness. By the time he got within three feet of her, Ariana could see that Scorpius was truthful in his note and he had indeed come to the broom shed to meet her before the game.

Ariana watched as he sat down next to her and sighed. "Hey. How are you?"

"I'm really nervous, actually. " Ariana said looking at Scorpius seriously. "This is the first game and I feel like I don't even know what I'm doing yet."

Scorpius put one arm around her and pulled her into an awkward but warm hug. "You will be fine Ari, I know it. Actually that's why I wanted to see you. To wish you luck in the game and let you know that I will be cheering for you from the stands."

Ariana looked at Scorpius and smiled at him as she pulled out of the hug. "Thanks Scorp, I appreciate that. But if that's really all you have to say then I really have to get going because I have to go to the locker room for Tyler's pep talk."

Scorpius nodded and told Ariana that he would wait for some time after she left to leave and then Ariana stood up and headed toward the door. Once Ariana reached the locker room she walked inside to find that everyone was there already and that an abnormal silence filed the room. She cleared her throat and instantly six heads turned to face her. She greeted everyone and then sat down on a bench facing Tyler and the rest of the team faced his as well. All but Ariana, who had calmed down after speaking to Scorpius, wore horrified expressions on their faces.

Tyler looked out at their faces and drew a deep breath before speaking. "So this is it everyone. The first game. I know that everyone has worked really hard in practice but now it's time to show everyone what we are made of. Jacob, Edmund, do not let any bludgers touch a single person on our team. Sophia, stay away from the action so you can keep a lookout for the golden snitch. Drake, do whatever you can to keep the quaffle out of our goal posts. Brooke, always be ready for the pass never let it take you by surprise. Ari, if you can manage to use that arm of yours to land a goal within the first five minutes, then the game will be as good as ours." Tyler looked at all the faces around him before his eyes settled on Ariana's. "I'm putting you in the front line. Try to get possession of the quaffle right away and try to get it to me or Brooke ASAP. That way we can confuse them."

Tyler looked out at the whole team now. "We can do this guys. The Gryffindor team is good, but we are better. They haven't won a cup since Harry potter himself was seeker and they have a lot of weaknesses. They can't do long range passes and their keeper is very weak on his left side. As for their seeker, James Potter, well he is good I'll admit, but he is new to this and he tends to be a little too confident sometimes. His cockiness is his weakness so fake him out. We can do this team, now let's go out there and show them what we've got. "

Ariana smiled at Tyler then stood up and followed the rest of the team out of the locker room and into the Quidditch Pitch. The walk seemed longer than usual to Ariana but once they entered the stadium Ariana felt a rush of adrenaline pulse through her. All around the stadium sat students of her school who were on their feet and cheering as the teams headed onto the field. Ariana couldn't see any specifics, seeing as the seats were set so high up, but she was sure that Scorpius was in the stands cheering.

The team situated themselves in the middle of the Quiddtich Pitch as the Gryffindor captain stepped forward to shake Tyler's hand. Once they were done Ariana and the team spread out to their positions, Ariana walking to the very center of the pitch and facing the Gryffindor chaser. Ariana didn't recognize him but somewhere behind him she saw the faces of James, Fred, and Roxanne. Madam Hooch was also on the field and she was getting closer and closer to the center of the field. Madam Hooch reached Ariana just as Ariana took a deep and calming breath to focus herself. Stepping in the middle Ariana and the other chaser, Madam Hooch looked at all the players around her before bringing her wand up to her throat and using it to magnify her voice.

"Welcome everyone to the first Quidditch match of the season, Slytherin versus Gryffindor. The teams are as follows: Leading the Slytherin team this year we have Tyler Shutowick. He is a third year chaser and his fellow chasers are Brooke Tyler, third year, and Ariana Dumbledore, first year. The beaters for the Slytherin team are Jacob Kitain, fifth year, and Edmund Black, sixth year. The keeper is Drake Zambini, a second year, and the seeker is second year Sophia Kitain." Madam Hooch took a second to breathe. "And on the Gryffindor team we have fourth year Sookie Lovegood leading the team as a chaser, with her fellow chasers being Bianca Finnigan, a fifth year, and Roma Patil-Summers, a seventh year. Guarding the hoops we have Joseph Ramirez, a fifth year, and the seeker of this year's team is James Potter, second year. To finish off the team we have the Weasley siblings as the two beaters, Third year Fred Weasley and first year Roxanne Weasley. Now I hope we all have a good game. On my whistle the game begins."

Madam Hooch released the bludgers and the golden snitch and then reached down toward the chest Ariana had only just noticed was at her feet and grabbed the big red ball that was the quaffle. She drew her whistle to her mouth and held it there. Then, as she threw the quaffle into the air she blew into the whistle and the game begun.

Ariana narrowed her eyes, pushed off instantly, and took hold of the quaffle before the Gryffindor chaser had even gotten fully airborne. She looked wildly around and spotted Brooke to her left. Reminding herself mentally that this was just a pass, and therefore had to be softer, Ariana threw the quaffle in Brooke's direction and waited till she caught it and zoomed toward the goal posts to follow alongside her. The Gryffindor captain was flying right behind them and Ariana watched as she pushed Brooke and caused her to drop the quaffle. Ariana followed the quaffle and swooped down below Brooke's broom to catch the ball and continue toward the goal post.

Lovegood came up beside Ariana and Ariana knew at once that she was going to push onto her like she did with Brooke. Ariana looked to her left and dropped down three feet just as a bludger went past her previous position and slammed into Sookie's arm. Ariana heard the girl cry out in pain but the sound faded quickly as Ariana continued down the field. Suddenly Ariana was surrounded by the other two Gryffindor chasers. She looked around her to find that Tyler was flying near her attempting to bump the chasers off of her. Ariana watched as the two girls exchanged a look and suddenly a thought that wasn't hers entered her mind.

We are so going to sandwich her, just like we practiced.

The girly voice left her mind as quickly as it came and Ariana saw one of the girls nod at the other. Before she even had time to register if she thought what she had heard was true or not, Ariana dropped down and the two girls slammed into one another. Ariana banked to the left and passed the quaffle to Tyler as the girls rebounded off of each other and headed for her. Within a moment the chasers had realized that Ariana was no longer in possession of the quaffle and they headed toward Tyler, then Brooke, then back to Tyler. Ariana followed as Tyler and Brooke neared the goal posts where Joseph was patrolling, back and forth, watching the three of them carefully.

Tyler looked at Ariana and gave her a small nod as he faked a throw in the right goal hoop and instead threw to Ariana on his left. Ariana flew forward and grabbed the ball when it was just feet in front of the left goal hoop. The quaffle left her hands as quickly as it came because Ariana instantly threw the quaffle into the hoop in front of her. As if in slow motion the keeper turned toward her ad saw the quaffle fly into the goal. He flew to the goal post but he was much too late. The crowd quieted for a second before realizing what had happened then in the relative silence a voice rang out.

"The first year Dumbledore chaser scores!" He shouted. "Slytherin leads ten to nothing."

Ariana smiled to herself as the chasers reset and the crowd roared. Tyler flew beside her as they waited for the quaffle to be released again into the throng. She heard Tyler tell her to watch her back now because the other team now knew how good she was and she nodded back at him just as the quaffle was thrown again into the game by Madam Hooch. Sookie took possession for her team and started making her way to the Slytherin goal posts. Ariana flew after her just as Brooke and Tyler got on either side of her. In despair Lovegood passed the quaffle to one of her fellow chasers who saw that a bludger was coming toward her and threw the ball toward the third chaser just as the bludger hit.

Ariana leaned forward on her broom and headed toward the chaser. Just as the girl stretched her arms out to catch the quaffle, Ariana intercepted the pass and took the quaffle into her arms. With all the others chasers caught up at that end of the pitch Ariana zoomed toward Ramirez again. She heard a whistling to her right and saw that a bludger was heading toward her. She banked to the right and dropped slightly so that the bludger would miss her. She heard a whack from her left and saw that Roxanne had sent that same bludger right back at her. Ariana pushed off her broom instinctively and came off of it and into the air. The bludger flew underneath her and then she landed roughly back into her broom. When she landed she leaned her body down to escape the same bludger that Fred had now batted her way. They were passing it between each other in an attempt to stop her.

Roxanne had hit the bludger again and Ariana was just about to drop down to escape it when Edmund showed up to her right and hit the bludger back at Roxanne. Roxanne was taken by surprise and nearly fell off her broom to escape the bludger. Ariana looked to her left to see Fred getting hit by the other bludger just as Jacob showed up beside her and winked. Sensing that there was not much else they could do, Roxanne and Fred headed to the goal post to help their keeper. Ariana watched as they each took a hoop and waited for her to try to score. Ariana took a deep breath and flew directly toward the middle goal post, toward Joseph. Edmund and Jacob fell behind her as she pushed forward and as soon as she was five feet within the goal post Ariana threw the quaffle, aiming directly for Joseph.

Ariana held nothing back on her throw this time and the ball whipped so fast toward the keeper that even Roxanne and Fred looked shocked. Joseph stretched his hands out and prepared to catch the quaffle but once it got to him it was clear that he was in over his head. The quaffle flew through his fingers and slammed harshly into his stomach. Ariana heard the thump as the quaffle hit and she saw the boy's face contort into a mask of pain. The ball had hit with such ferocity that Joseph was knocked backward off his broom and into the hoop. Ariana zoomed forward and caught the boy as he fell toward the ground, unconscious.

Ariana heard a whistle and Madam Hooch's voice rang out in the pitch. "Time out. Miss Dumbledore, please touch down."

Ariana headed toward the ground and landed near Madam Hooch. "Yes Madam?"

"When you knock someone off their broom you are supposed to let them fall dear." Madam Hooch said. "But I think it's best if we wake him up. Hold him steady now. Aguamenti!"

Madam Hoch pointed her wand at the boy and he was immediately doused with water. He woke with a start and pushed off of Ariana to stand on his own. Once he was alright, Madam Hooch looked at the two of them. "Alright back in you go," She began, but then she drew her wand up to her throat and her voice boomed once more. "On my whistle the game will begin again with Slytherin leading by twenty points. A warning to you all. Leave the keeping to the keeper or this could happen again. Another member may only fill another's position if the member to whom the position belongs is unable to fill it."

Madam Hooch aloud Ariana and Joseph to fly into the air before she blew her whistle and threw the quaffle in. The chaos began anew and the Gryffindor team was in possession. Ariana was chasing after the chasers when two people zoomed past her, Sophia and James. She paid no mind to them and just as she reached the group of chasers, Sookie threw the ball toward the hoops. Drake veered left and swatted the quaffle directly into Ariana's hand.

The Gryffindor team was in a frenzy as Ariana made her way down to face Joseph once again. Ariana heard the crowd roaring in her ears and pushed her broom forward even faster; no one was able to touch her. She got to the goal posts in no time and flew toward the right goal post. Joseph followed her quickly, determined to stop her from scoring. Ariana smirked and threw the quaffle in the other direction and scored. The crowd roared so loud that Ariana couldn't even hear the announcer tell the crowd the score. Ariana prepared to reset her position when the announcer's voice rang out again and Ariana forced herself to hear it.

"Sophia Kitain has caught the golden snitch, earning the Slytherin team one hundred and fifty points. Sophia ends the game with Slytherin at one hundred and eighty points, Gryffindor, nothing. SLYTHERIN WINS!"

Ariana rushed to the ground and joined a massive group hug that was taking place in the middle of the field. Once she joined her team they all fell onto the grass of the field and laughed joyously as their supporters joined them on the field. Ariana managed to pull herself out of the tangled mess that was the Slytherin team just as Albus and Rose reached her.

Albus smiled at her. "You were amazing! I don't even care that we lost, you were just so good."

Rose nodded in agreement just as Fred, Roxanne, and James came into view behind her. Roxanne rushed over to Ariana and gave her a huge hug. "You were amazing!"

Fred interjected before she could say anything else. "You are the best chaser I have ever seen. When you dodged that bludger! It was unbelievable!"

Ariana thanked them before looking toward James and biting her lip. James looked a little down at having lost but he still smiled at Ariana and flipped his hair out of his eyes. "You were awesome Ari."

He leaned closer and kissed Ariana on the cheek. Ariana jumped back shocked and chuckled nervously and told them all that they had been great as well, while her friends walked away and left the Slytherins to celebrate with their supporters on the field. Ariana saw a flash of golden hair to her left and turned to meet Scorpius' gray gaze. He looked upset for some reason but he managed to twist his mouth into a smile and wink at her before looking away. Ariana turned back to her team to see Sophia untangle herself from the midst and rush to a Blonde boy who took her in his arms warmly and kissed her full on the mouth. Ariana looked away and saw that Drake had seen the whole thing and was walking dejectedly away from the crowd. Ariana frowned and went after him.

"Hey," Ariana began as she reached Drake's side. "That was an awesome save! You were so good."

Drake smiled at her but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, I guess. But I didn't get the girl."

"Then that's her fault." Ariana said, stepping in front of him and stopping him. "She won't be with that guy forever and when they break up then you can go for it but for right now you just won your first game and you should be happy."

Drake looked at Ariana and smiled his true, one million dollar smile at her. "You're right, let's go celebrate."

The party in the common room that night was awesome. Not a soul bothered Ariana. In fact most people were even a little nice to her and her usual tormentors left her alone. Ariana hung out with Drake for most of the night but once he decided to go to bed Ariana looked around the common room to find Scorpius talking to some girl. The instant she looked at him he looked at her and looked away before the girl could notice. Ariana didn't really know what he wanted to do but she decided she would just have to see him in the morning.

Ariana was just getting up when she heard Scorpius' voice ring out in the room. "My father is taking me and my mom to the country for the break. I suppose everyone goes away huh?"

Ariana was so exhausted that she didn't pay him, or the girl who answered, any mind and headed toward the dormitory as fast as her drowsy feet would carry her. Once she reached the dormitory she kicked off her shoes and threw herself onto her bed. She was asleep before she could even pull the covers over herself.

The next day Ariana woke to complete silence and lifted her head up to see that there was no one in the room around her. She lifted herself off the bed and rubbed her eyes. Looking around she saw that Abby was asleep at the foot of her bed and she very quietly changed her clothes and went down to the common room. She couldn't see anyone. Ariana walked over and sunk into her favorite chair and looked at the grandfather clock curiously. Breakfast had just ended, Ariana realized sadly as her stomach growled. She figured that at any moment people would start returning from their fill of waffles and fruit and whatever else had been available today.

Ten minutes passed and still no one appeared. Just as Ariana was about to get up and leave to go look for everyone Scorpius appeared through the hole in the wall carrying two plates with every type of breakfast food you could imagine. Ariana raised her eyebrows at him and blinked as he sat down in the chair next to her and laid the plates down on the coffee table in front of them.

Scorpius smirked at her expression. "I didn't know what you liked so I got a little of everything. Good morning sleepy head."

Ariana's mouth began to water as she looked at all the food but she swallowed and looked at Scorpius quizzically. "Not that I don't appreciate this, but where is everyone?"

Scorpius' smile was nearly blinding. "We are everyone. You missed it, but everyone went home this morning and we are the only ones left of the whole Slytherin house."

Ariana's mouth dropped open and her face held a questioning look that Scorpius caught immediately. "I told everyone I was going away so they wouldn't get any ideas about staying behind and ruining this for us." Before Ariana could ask what he meant he continued. "I know it's not perfect, but for a few weeks we don't have to be secret friends, we can be real friends."

Ariana smiled at him, her blue eyes shining, but just as she was about to speak her stomach growled and Scorpius chuckled at her. "You can thank me later, but for now just eat before you faint from hunger."

Ariana laughed and did exactly what he had said.

Ok so that's it for this chapter. I hope everyone liked it. If you did or didn't let me know by reviewing. If you have a critique that's good too. Thanks for reading. Please review or I will be sad =[ Keep in mind that any questions you may have shall be answered in time.

Becca.