Quidditch

Sanada Genichirou

Yukimura became a completely different person when he set his mind to something. He insisted they spend their nights off in the library to solve the riddle instead of relaxing in the common room, or playing Exploding Snap with Marui and Jackal down in the Charms corridor.

They didn't try burning the scroll, which was the only idea Sanada could come up with after reading the first line of the riddle: 'breath of fire shall uncover another.' Yanagi suggested tossing it into a magical fire, but that was no better. So they began to read until Sanada eyes strained and the words began to blur together. Yukimura gave him a tome with words that actually moved once and Sanada developed a horrible headache.

Yanagi read every book on Ravenclaw and its founder Rowena that he could find while Yukimura had Sanada reading books on fire summoning spells that Sanada doubted even Akiteru would understand. They read about each spell in hopes of determining what 'breath of fire' actually meant.

The librarian, who everyone called Miss Hanamura, was an attractive, young woman with auburn hair and magical glasses that never slipped down her nose, even when she gave them sideways glances at the sight of the three first years huddled in a corner with a mountain of books. She never asked what they were doing but sometimes a very useful book would appear in their stack with no explanation.

"We could ask her for help," Sanada said one night. "She knows the books in the library better than we do."

"No," Yukimura said.

"Why not?"

"We can't exactly explain that we're looking up information to solve a riddle from a mysterious scroll that I found in a disappearing room. She'd think we're mad, or meddling with the Dark Arts."

Sanada surely thought he was already going mad, but he was never one to argue with Yukimura, who was usually right. Yet for all the exploring Yukimura did, he did not find a single comfortable chair in the entire library.

"I haven't found anything on Elemental Affinity either," Sanada said in passing.

"Neither have I," Yanagi said.

Sanada looked at Yukimura, hopeful, but Yukimura shook his head. Sanada was beginning to wonder if Professor Vega had made up the term.

The first Quidditch match of the season came in the middle of October, when the grounds were beginning to become uncomfortably cold and no amount of blankets in the Slytherin common room could warm Sanada. The match was Slytherin versus Ravenclaw, their first match after weeks of training.

In the days leading up to the match, Sanada felt that saying the match was Slytherin versus Ravenclaw was wrong—it was Slytherin versus the entirety of Hogwarts. Both Gryffindor and Hufflepuff were proudly supporting Ravenclaw. Some older students from the Gryffindor shouted at the Slytherin team when they came to the Great Hall after practice.

"Do you know a silencing charm, Yanagi?" Yukimura asked. He did not say it, but Sanada knew Yukimura was growing tired of the entire school's obvious dislike of Slytherin. They all were.

"I'm afraid I don't," Yanagi said. "Yagyuu might."

Sanada was thankful that Yukimura had befriended Yagyuu, who was much more civil about the upcoming match than many others in his house. Yagyuu said he was not one for Quidditch, but promised to come and see them play their first match anyways.

Marui and Jackal said they would cheer for Slytherin if they didn't think their housemates would push them out of the stands for it. Sanada didn't put it past the Gryffindors either—the house hated Slytherin more than Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw combined.

Yukimura smiled and told Marui and Jackal that there was no need to apologize. "We have our own house cheering for us," he added.

"If you win, I'll grab you guys some butterbeer from the kitchens," Marui said. "The house elves are really nice to us now. They even stopped hitting themselves with frying pans whenever we ask for food after dinner."

"That weirded me out," Jackal said, clearly disturbed. "I'm glad they stopped that."

Marui nodded in agreement. "Yeah, me too. We're making some real progress. I think it's my natural charm."

The day of the match, Sanada felt hollow, as though his stomach had disappeared and left him with a sour pit. The team had been practicing harder than ever in anticipation of the first match so there was no reason to be worried, but Sanada could not help but feel anxious.

He had never played in an official Quidditch match before. What if he let Yukimura and Yanagi down? What if he was the reason their team lost? The entire house would blame him if they lost, he was sure of it.

By breakfast, he had come up with an inclusive list of what could go wrong during the match. Everything from falling off his broom or tossing the Quaffle at Yukimura's head made the list.

Sanada had never been under so much stress in his life. He had not even touched the toast on his plate. Just looking at Yukimura and Yanagi eat made him want to run to the nearest bathroom.

"You haven't eaten anything," Yukimura said.

"I'm fine."

"You really should eat, Genichirou."

"I'm not hungry."

Yukimura frowned. "You know I won't let up until you eat."

"I feel sick," Sanada said quietly, glancing hesitantly at Yanagi. He did not want to make a habit of admitting his weakness in front of Yanagi. Doing it in front of Yukimura was bad enough, but there was a large difference between Yukimura and Yanagi.

"All the more reason to eat," Yukimura said. "You don't want to get sick during our first match of the season."

Just then, Akiteru slid over and said, "Eat, Gen, or I'll hex you and feed you myself."

Sanada turned a brilliant shade of red. He had never eaten toast so fast in his entire life.

Akiteru grinned at Yukimura. "That's how you do it, Seiichi. Just like our mom does."

"Pisky cries if we don't eat," Yukimura said, smiling fondly. Pisky was the house elf that lived with the Yukimura's and she did not cry, she wailed loudly and horribly until you finished whatever was on your plate.

"Hold on a moment, please," Yanagi said, sounding confused. "You mother hexes you?"

Sanada nodded.

"It's not as bad as it sounds," Akiteru said lightly. "Just cheek pinching spells and ones that make us choke on our tongues if we lie about who dragged in mud."

"I've never gotten that one," Sanada said.

"Our parents are aurors," Akiteru added. "Mom heads the Auror Office for the Ministry."

Sanada wondered if Yanagi knew what an auror was, but he could not say what they were without giving away Yanagi's blood-status. Yanagi read a lot and was very smart so he most likely knew that an auror was a dark wizard catcher.

"That's rather impressive," Yanagi said. "What do your parents do, Yukimura?"

Sanada looked at Yukimura. It was a touchy subject. Yukimura did not let it show.

"My mother also works for the Ministry of Magic, but in the Department for the Preservation of Historical Artifacts. My father is a herbologist."

"All this talk about home reminded me that I need to send an owl to Mom," Akiteru said. He put a rather large helping of roasted potatoes and two more pieces of toast onto Sanada's plate then stood up and left.

Yukimura smiled at Sanada. "You don't look as nervous about the match, Genichirou. That's good."

"I'd forgotten about that match," Sanada muttered.

Yukimura hummed, pushed a plate of sausage links to Sanada, and said, "Eat, or I'll call Akiteru back."

The stands around the Pitch were packed with students and professors, who sat in a small section by themselves. Even Professor Reyna had shown up to watch, though she looked like she belonged at a funeral, not a school Quidditch match. Did the woman ever wear anything besides black?

Banners of blue and bronze dominated the stands, but there was a block of green and silver where the Slytherins were sitting. Ravenclaws had enchanted small plastic megaphones to let out horrible, bird-like screeching whenever they were screamed into. People were banging their feet and clapping and shouting before the match had even started. It was overwhelming.

Meanwhile, in the locker room, the Slytherin team changed into green robes. Ravenclaw would be wearing blue. Sanada struggled to strap on his padding, his hands uncharacteristically unsteady.

Sanada knew Seekers were the most likely to be injured since they were the smallest players, but the Beaters would be aiming at whichever of them had the Quaffle. He heard people had gone into comas after being hit in the head by a Bludger. Sanada hoped that Ravenclaws did not have good aim.

Yukimura and Sanada were the last two to leave the locker room.

"You'll be fine," Yukimura said. "Don't you trust me?"

Sanada took a deep breath. He nodded. "With my life."

Yukimura smiled. "No need to be so dramatic, Genichirou."

They joined their team on the Pitch.

Professor Ryuzaki was refereeing. She stood in the middle of the field waiting for the two teams. She had her broom with her and a silver whistle on a string around her neck.

"Let's get through the game without any fouls," she said, looking fixatedly at the Slytherins but not the Ravenclaws. "Captains, step forward and shake hands."

The Slytherin team captain, a sixth year named Imayoshi, stepped forward. He said, "Let's have a good game today, Masters."

A short blonde girl with gray eyes stuck out her hand. "Just don't try to fly us into the ground like you did last year."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Imayoshi said, but his smile said otherwise. He did not shake her hand.

"That's enough," Professor Ryuzaki said. "Mount your brooms."

Sanada got onto his broomstick.

Professor Ryuzaki blasted her silver whistle.

They flew up high into the air. They were off.

"The Quaffle goes to Atobe Keigo, one of two first years on the Ravenclaw team this year—he passes to second year Chaser and Captain Masters, the very reason first years are now allowed to tryout for house teams—she barely misses a Bludger, nice diving!"

Professor Watanabe was the commenter for the match. The head of Hufflepuff house would hopefully be more impartial than a student.

"And Masters is at the goal—she makes the toss but Slytherin Keeper and Captain Imayoshi blocks the goal—the Quaffles goes to Yukimura, another one of the famous first years that made the house team—he's making quick time—already on the other side of the Pitch—a dive to the third goalpost—the Ravenclaw Keeper didn't see that coming—and he scores. The first points of the season go to Slytherin!"

Three fourths of the crowd groaned, but Sanada did not have time to care. They turned around to chase after Atobe, who now had the Quaffle.

"Genichirou!" Yukimura shouted, though he appeared calm. "Mark him."

Sanada nodded.

"The Quaffle is sent to Atobe—Sanada is gaining—a strategic pass to Akutagawa. Is he asleep? I think he is—the pass fails, the Quaffle is falling and Yukimura intercepts the Quaffle for Slytherin! He saw Akutagawa was asleep and took a chance—follows with a pass to Yanagi—Atobe is pursuing for Ravenclaw—Ravenclaw has hit a Bludger at their own teammate to wake him up—Quaffle back to Yukimura, he's flying down the Pitch, look at that speed!"

Yukimura glanced over his shoulder and tossed the Quaffle to Sanada. He caught the ball, tucking it securely under his arm, and flew faster than ever towards the goalposts. He kept Yukimura and Yanagi in his field of vision and hoped the Beaters did their job at keeping the Bludgers away.

"Sanada's in possession of the Quaffle—it's back to Yanagi—to Yukimura—Sanada—Yukimura—these first years are passing like crazy! Bludger coming in from behind—knocked right back, avoided something nasty there—Atobe is gaining on Sanada—Akutagawa is awake and disoriented—Atobe is along side Sanada, he's marked—Sanada tries to shake him but isn't having much luck from the looks of it—"

Yanagi tossed the Quaffle back to Yukimura, who jerked to the left in front of the goalposts, surprising the Keeper yet again, and made a clean goal.

"Slytherin scores again! The score is twenty-zero."

They looped back around as the Keeper tossed to Atobe, already out of Sanada's reach. Atobe was fast. He must have been using a different broom than he did at tryouts.

"Atobe to Akutagawa, who's back in commission—no, Akutagawa missed! Not as awake as he seems, but Ravenclaw Captain Masters saves the Quaffle—Masters on her way to the goals, she's quick for such a short girl, she'd make a good Seeker—ohh, has the Snitch been spotted already? Ravenclaw Seeker Stevenson is diving down, faster than an eagle, reaching out—yes, yes, she's seen it—OUCH—a Bludger out of nowhere, Stevenson stumbles and—when did Yukimura get a hold of the Quaffle?"

Sanada stretched out his arm to signal he was open then saw someone come up alongside him. Sanada retracted his arm.

Atobe smirked and flew ahead.

Yukimura and Yanagi passed back and forth rapidly, dividing the Beaters' and Chaser's attention. Atobe flew into the middle of their passing route and Yukimura barely reacted in time, hanging onto the Quaffle instead of tossing it.

"Yukimura cuts left at the goalposts and scores! Thirty-zero for Slytherin. The Keeper sends the Quaffle out to Atobe again—the Ravenclaw team has a lot of trust in that first year and I can see why, he's a prodigy just like Masters—Atobe flying down the Pitch, already at the goals—Ravenclaw scores!"

The game was brutal. The Chasers went head to head, scoring point for point.

The score was eighty-fifty when a Ravenclaw Beater swung wide and hit Yanagi with his bat. Yanagi barely held onto his broomstick, the wind knocked straight out of him.

"A nasty foul from Ravenclaw," Professor Watanabe said and the crowd booed. "Aw, shut it. Professor Ryuzaki made the call, not me."

The match halted as everyone moved into position for Yanagi's penalty throw.

"Expected something like that from Slytherin, not Ravenclaw. Interesting turn of events. If Yanagi makes this shot, Slytherin will widen their lead."

Sanada flew up next to Yanagi right before he took his shot. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." Yanagi looked winded. He had taken a Beater's bat to the stomach, after all. Determined, he said, "Tell Yukimura he can still pass to me."

Sanada nodded and flew towards Yukimura to relay the message.

"Yanagi takes his shot—great aim for a first year—and it's in! The score is ninety-fifty and the match resumes."

A Bludger blew dangerously close to Sanada's right ear and he wondered what the hell the Beaters were doing. He saw Yukimura's outstretched arm and tossed the Quaffle. They flew down the field.

"The first year Chasers are making their move, but so is the Ravenclaw's Seeker—straight down the field in a dive—Slytherin Seeker is right behind—it's down to speed—Ravenclaw is reaching out—Slytherin right there—has she done it? Yes, she has! Ravenclaw's Stevenson has caught the Snitch! One hundred and fifty points are awarded to Ravenclaw."

The match ended suddenly.

"Ravenclaw wins!"

It was their first match and their first defeat.

The world did not end, but it felt as though it may have.

Yukimura, Sanada, and Yanagi were the last members of their team to leave the locker room. They walked slowly and silently from the Pitch up the grounds to the castle. Marui and Jackal met them just outside the main courtyard.

"We have butterbeer and food," Marui said, lifting the basket he was holding. "Courtesy of the house elves."

"We didn't win," Yukimura said. It was the first thing any of them had said since the match ended.

Yanagi lowered his head. Sanada frowned.

Jackal shrugged and said, "We figured you'd need it even more, then."

"The cookies are still warm," Marui said.

They sat and ate at the edge of the Great Lake. They had bottles of warm butterbeer, ginger cookies, small strawberry cakes, and marshmallow fudge that melted in their mouths. The butterbeer was smooth and warmed Sanada's entire body. It did not make him feel any better, but it certainly did not make him feel worse.

Marui and Jackal did their best to talk about anything and everything besides the match.

"I heard a fourth year say there was a giant squid in the Great Lake," Jackal said.

"I heard merpeople live there," Marui said. He blew a large purple bubble with his gum that stuck in the grass.

"Both are in the lake," Yukimura said.

"How do you know?" Marui asked. He was now blowing a blue bubble.

"The Slytherin common room extends beneath the lake. We have windows along the lakebed."

"I don't know if that's cool or creepy," Jackal said.

Yukimura lied down in the cool grass and folded his hands beneath his head. Slowly and with great thought, he said, "I was thinking about the match and what we could have done differently and I realized something: if we'd had a lead of at least one hundred and sixty points, it wouldn't matter if the other team caught the Snitch. We would have still won."

"Or we could find a better Seeker," Sanada said. It would be much easier to replace the problem than it was to score one hundred and sixty points more than their opponent every match—not that he doubted Yukimura could pull it off, but like today, the opponent's Seeker may decide the match. "Didn't someone else tryout for the Seeker position?"

"One person," Yanagi said. "They were awful. They didn't dodge a single Bludger during tryouts."

Sanada frowned. So much for that idea.

Meanwhile, Marui and Jackal were sharing a panicked look, as though debating how to get out of this conversation.

"For now, we need to be faster," Yukimura decided. "The Seeker will come when we're third years."

"Why third year?" Sanada asked.

"Because when we're third years, the current sixth years will have all graduated and our Seeker is a sixth year."

"Imayoshi is also a sixth year," Yanagi said. Yukimura and Sanada turned their heads to look at him, wondering what he was getting at. Yanagi smiled. "The team would need a new captain."

"I think Genichirou would make a fine captain," Yukimura said thoughtfully.

Sanada poked Yukimura just beneath his ribs. "Don't play that game. You know Yanagi meant you, not me."

"Captain Yukimura. I like the sound of that." Yukimura smiled, not a trace of their loss in his expression. Yukimura was always quick to get back on his feet when he fell. "Wouldn't it be nice to win the Quidditch House Cup every year?"

"No one's ever done it," Sanada said. "Slytherin hasn't even won it in ten years."

Yukimura tilted his head. "Then we will have to change that."

"It will be hard without a proper Seeker," Yanagi said.

"Then from third year onward," Yukimura said. "We'll win five Quidditch House Cups in a row. That still beats the record, doesn't it?"

Sanada nodded.

Marui and Jackal looked completely and utterly lost.

"What just happened?" Marui asked.

"I have no idea," Jackal said.

Yukimura laughed—it was infectious. Soon Sanada was smiling and Yanagi was laughing and even Marui and Jackal, confused as they were, were laughing too.