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Disclaimer; All people, places and magical things and the whole Harry Potter world belong to JK Rowling, this is purely for entertainment and the only character I own is the OC Rayna.
Chapter 2 - Quidditch
September 1991
Rayna had been at Hogwarts for a couple of weeks so far. The Slytherins had been very welcoming to her. However, other houses didn't seem to want to make the effort. Rayna had tried to hold a conversation with a Ravenclaw during a potions lesson with Professor Snape, but they had glared at her as soon as she said hello to them.
Flint informed her it was nothing personal against her, but the fact that others houses didn't take to well to Slytherins. He told her that being nice to other houses came across as uneasy and even suspicious because of the expectations other students have of Slytherin pupils. Yet Rayna was genuinely being nice and trying her best to make other friends.
Over the two weeks that she had become a student at Hogwarts, Flint had held four Quidditch training practices that Rayna happily attended now she was part of the team.
They had their first game against Gryffindor in a couple of days meaning Flint had arranged a last minute practice which Rayna was on her way to.
She was walking quickly, her bag full of clothes slung over her left shoulder and her broom gripped tightly in her right hand. Rayna descended the stairs, hurriedly walking across the castle grounds in the direction of the Quidditch pitch. It was raining lightly and she had to concentrate on her steps as the grass was becoming a slippery hazard. She could see a blur of red up ahead through the fuzzy rain, she realized it must have been the Gryffindor Quidditch team going into their locker room having finished practice.
The Slytherins locker room was situated opposite of Gryffindors, an emerald green colored wall facing a golden red wall clashing terribly with each other while still being a pleasant sight to look at. Just as she reached the Slytherin door that would take her inside of the locker and shower room, a voice behind her caught her attention.
"hi"
She spun round quickly her eyes wide as she wasn't expecting it.
"didn't mean to startle you" another voice spoke in an apology.
"that's- okay... hi" she said quietly in response.
"i'm Fred Weasley" the second voice spoke "and this is the moron who scared you, George"
Rayna took in their appearances, both of them had signature ginger hair, slightly flat, matted by the rain. They were completely identical, however Rayna noticed that George had a small barely noticeable mole on the skin near his ear. That's how she was going to be able to tell them apart. They were both clad in scarlet robes with the Gryffindor crest proudly sitting on the chests.
"Rayna Carrow" she replied smiling slightly as this was the first time someone from another house had started a friendly conversation with her.
"you must be the new Slytherin chaser" George spoke curiously "you any good?"
"yes, she's very good. Now if you would kindly leave, she has practice to attend" Flint had appeared behind the Weasley twins.
"we were just asking" George responded his hands up in surrender.
"it was nice meeting you" Rayna spoke with a smile on her face meeting Fred's eyes. "I better get changed for practice" she excused herself before pushing open the locker room door and disappearing from the twins sight.
"what are you playing at Weasley?" Flint sneered at George.
"I was just making casual conversation" he replied.
"leave my chaser alone" he glared at them harshly.
They were interrupted by the Gryffindor locker room door swinging open.
"Weasley's what are you doing out here, you're missing the team talk" the authoritative voice of Oliver Wood sounded through the locker room corridor. Oliver stepped out of the room to join them. "Flint" Oliver scoffed when his eyes fell on the Slytherin.
"Wood" he almost growled.
"haven't you got a team to train?" Wood retorted
"in fact I do." Flint smirked "I have a very good team this year"
"i'll believe that when I see it" Wood gave him a sarcastic smile.
"oh, you will. Just wait until Saturday, when we win" Flint challenged.
"cheating and dirty playing isn't winning" Wood retorted, turning his nose up at the black haired Slytherin.
"see you Saturday Wood, Weasley's" Flint smirked before disappearing into the Slytherin locker room.
The twins followed behind Wood who was now silent as he lead them back to their lockers. The rest of the Gryffindor team were gathered on the benches waiting on them.
"Saturdays game will no doubt be tough" Oliver broke the silence, looking at his team mates. "Flint will not go down without a fight-"
"not to mention their new chaser" Fred cut in "she's supposed to be really good"
"with the way Flint trains him then i'm sure he will just be another player who uses their strength to play dirty" Wood spoke.
This made the twins both chuckle.
"I don't think she could knock anyone of their broomstick if she tried Wood. She's pretty small for a Slytherin player" George spoke amused.
Oliver's eyes widened. He didn't expect the new chaser to be a girl, let alone a petite one. Slytherin's tactics favored playing dirty, Flint picking his team based on strength and fight. Slytherin hadn't had a girl on the team for years. She must be an exception or a reason for it.
Oliver's eyes glanced around the room taking in the now nervous glances that his team were giving each other.
"so what if this girl is as good as you say" Angelina scoffed. "the rest of the team are basically the same. She can't carry the whole team just with her chaser skills"
"you must not think like that" Oliver said "I don't want us to underestimate any team this season, no game is an easy game okay?"
He received nods from around the room.
"Flint is out for blood this year" Fred spoke "I can see it"
Oliver was starting to worry at the new found news of the Slytherins team. With Adrian Pucey and a new supposedly very good player as two out of three of Slytherins chasers worried him. Pucey was a good chaser, Oliver would give that to him, but in previous years the other Slytherin chaser couldn't keep up with him meaning his talent was almost wasted.
The game on Saturday was going to be very interesting. Oliver was broken from his thoughts when he heard Alicia Spinnet speak up.
"i'm sure she's not that pretty, you're probably exaggerating"
"you should have seen her, she was stunning, really took Fred's breath away, didn't she?" George chuckled as Alicia glared at him.
"she was" Fred mumbled blushing slightly as he was called out in front of the Gryffindor team.
"it doesn't matter if she's pretty or not Fred. You must not be distracted, Okay?" Oliver spoke sternly.
"you haven't seen her yet have you Wood?" Fred said quietly.
"no, I haven't and I do not intend to until Saturday when we are on the pitch winning against them" Oliver spoke seriously.
"and don't go all gentlemanly on her" Alicia spat "hit the bludgers her way, the Slytherins sure as hell don't take it easy on us because we're girls"
"but I don't want to ruin her pretty face" George joked around knowing it would get a rise out of some of the girls.
"George!" Oliver said threateningly
"i'm only joking. I'll send one her way"
He received glares off of all the girls and Wood.
"alright, alright" he said putting his hand up in surrender "i''l send two her way"
"George" Angelina growled
"i'm just kidding" he laughed "i'll send as many as I can"
"you better, or i'll do it myself-" Angelina went to say but Oliver cut her off.
"that's enough, we will all play to the best of our abilities and better. We need to start off with a win to show everyone how serious we are about winning the cup this year" Oliver said feeling the need to remind them all how serious he was being this year.
He saw Katie Bell roll her eyes at his statement expecting another rant.
"please just take it seriously this year, I cannot express how important this is, we need to win" Oliver sighed clutching onto his playbook tightly. "you can all go now" he said. "remember practice tomorrow at 7, it's the last one before the game so you better all be here no excuses" he reminded them as they all started to move around collecting up their belongings.
"what if we're dying" George asked
"then I expect you to still be here at 7 tomorrow" Oliver replied.
After everyone had left Oliver sat on the bench for a while reading over the plays in his note book. They had solid strategies this year. Oliver had spent his summer watching many Quidditch games and picking up on their techniques and skills. He managed to create a training plan and merge his notes into new strategies to try out against each team this year.
Once he felt tiredness over take him, Oliver discarded his book to the side before deciding to shower. He had the water as hot as it would go in hopes of burning the tension out of his shoulders. He felt himself relax slightly as the hot water thudded down on his back, this didn't last long as he thought about the changes of the Slytherin team, he ran his hand through his wet hair in frustration. What if he had to create new strategies now they had a new player. How was he mean't to know how talented she was based on the word of the Weasley's who had never seen her play.
Oliver turned the water off, wrapping a towel round his waist as he exited the shower room to reach his locker. He sat down on the bench again, his playbook back in his hand.
He heard a couple bangs outside and the voices of the Slytherin team going into their locker room after finishing practice. He heard the loud laugh of what he assumed was Flint and Pucey, followed by a small, angelic giggle.
Oliver sighed, sitting with his head in his hands as he thought of Saturdays game. It was certainly going to be tough. Maybe he should schedule more practices Oliver thought.