AN - Please comment if you're reading and let me know what you think so far.
Disclaimer: All people, places and magical things and the whole of the Harry Potter world belong to JK Rowling. This is written purely for entertainment only, the only character I own is the OC Rayna.
Chapter 3 - The Quidditch match
September 1991
An uproar of cheers echoed through the sky. Nature was being kind to them all today, the sky was bright and clear, very few clouds were visible to the eye. The sun was beating down on the sea of green and silver on one quarter of the stands. The other half was packed with red and gold. It was a large turnout for the first match of the school year. From the moment students had woken up that morning there had been an excitable atmosphere, especially at breakfast.
Oliver Wood had just finished his team pep talk, he was more nervous than he had been before since being captain. At least his team seemed focused on winning today which eased his mind a little.
The Slytherins were already in the sky warming up when the Gryffindor's arrived onto the pitch.
Oliver could see Flint smirking at him from afar. He glared in response before ushering his team to warm up.
"GO GO GRYFINDOR" was being chanted by the crowd bringing a small smile onto Oliver's face. The Whistle blew signalling for both team captain to fly down to Madame Hooch, while both teams took their starting positions.
"I want a nice, clean game" Madame Hooch stated looking at the two glaring captains sternly.
"of course," Flint smirked holding his hand out for Oliver to shake.
Oliver's glare increased.
"certainly" Oliver stated raising his eyebrows up at Flint as they firmly shook each other's hand, neither of them missing how hard they had both gripped.
"let the game begin" Madame Hooch blew the whistle, throwing the quaffle into the air once Oliver had made it to his position in front of the three hoops.
He watched as Adrian Pucey snatched the quaffle straight away before dodging Angelina who had made a grab for it. He threw it to Flint who dropped it beneath him as a bludger sent by one of the Weasleys skimmed past his face.
Lee Jordan was commenting the match like he usually did, McGonagle interrupting him as soon as he showed some kind of bias towards Gryfindor.
"and Katie Bell drops the quaffle almost being hit by a bludger sent by Lucian Bole" Lee's voice was loud over the cheers from the Slytherin stands.
"Marcus Flint has possession of the quaffle, throwing it to Rayna Carrow the new Slytherin chaser, looks like Flint has thrown it too far ahead of her…" he stopped to watch as Rayna picked up speed on her broomstick her right arm reaching forward, the tips of her fingers brushed the quaffle as she leaned forward to speed up more. Her hand clasped around the quaffle before pulling it under her arm. "that was some great speed from Rayna Carrow who now has the quaffle.
Rayna flew well, todays weather was her favourite flying conditions, giving her the confidence she needed for her first match.
She sped towards the Gryffindor hoops, one of their chasers heading straight for her with their hands reached out to try and grasp the quaffle. Looking them straight in the eyes Rayna smirked before throwing the quaffle to the right where she knew Adrian would be.
Over the past couple trainings, Rayna and Adrian had clicked in their playing positions. They were similar flyers, they both had speed and co-ordination. They had a new formation allowing them both to know where the other would be without looking. So far it was working in their favour.
Adrian caught the quaffle smirking to himself as the Gryffindor heading towards Rayna looked confused, obviously not expecting her to pass the quaffle.
As the same Gryffindor flew towards Adrian he could see Rayna up ahead nearing the Gryffindor goals, he swerved the Gryffindor player as Flint came up beside him. They made quick eye contact tricking another chaser into thinking Adrian was about to throw it to Flint. However, he threw it the other side to Rayna who caught it easily before speeding towards the Gryffindor goals.
Oliver was frustrated as he saw the Slytherins passing techniques. They were beginning to run circles around his chasers and he could see the frustration of his players which was not good. Oliver knew when his team were frustrated they started to make silly mistakes. He focused back on the game, paying that they would keep it together until Harry found the snitch.
He saw a flash of green whipping in the wind, his focus was drawn on the speed at which they were flying towards him. They swerved to the left, small hands clasped around the quaffle before their elbows push forward sending it into the middle hoop.
Oliver looked bewildered, meeting the eyes of the person who scored against him, she winked in return.
It was Slytherins new chaser.
Oliver was shocked. At first, he thought she was going to throw the quaffle into the right hoop which he had moved towards, yet she surprised him at the last minute, curving the quaffle into the middle hoops with much precision. Oliver was impressed.
He met her stare again as she smiled at him innocently. Her eyes twinkling with joy in the sunlight.
The Slytherin crowd had gone crazy, shouting and chanting, but all Oliver could focus on was her.
Flint watched on smirking before taking one of the beaters bats and hitting a bludger as hard as he could in the direction of the Gryffindors keeper.
Woods heard the bludger before he could see it, breaking eye contact with the Slytherin chaser and ducking out of the way of the bludger. He looked to see Flint laughing at him from afar, he shot a glare back at him before turning to where the Slytherin chaser had previously been.
She was now half way across the pitch, Adrian Pucey patting her on the shoulder in passing.
The game was picking up again until both Slytherin beaters cornered Angelina Johnson knocking her into each other and making her drop the quaffle.
Rayna swooped low to catch it before sending it to Adrian who passed it off to Flint straight away. They were heading towards the Gryffindor goals again, confusing the Gryffindor chasers once again with their trio of quick passes back and forth to each other.
"Rayna Carrow has the quaffle again and Is making her way towards Wood." Lee commented
Rayna copied the same action as the last, curving the quaffle to the right this time and sending it towards the middle. Unfortunately for her, the Gryffindor keeper caught it before throwing it to one of his chasers who caught it.
"was a bit predictable love" He shouted over to her as she met his eyes again. He gave her a cheeky smile as she raised her eyebrows.
"predictable?" she chuckled.
"just a bit" he replied
"I guess so" she smiled before turning around and flying towards the Slytherin goals to help the other chasers.
"Rayna Carrow has the quaffle again and is heading back to the Gryffindor goals with Adrian Pucey and Marcus Flint by her side. The quaffle goes to Flint, now to Pucey then back to Flint, Angelina Johnson intercepts… but Carrow tails her snatching the quaffle back before throwing to Pucey." Lee was trying to keep up with the rapid passes of the Slytherin chasers.
Rayna found herself with the quaffle quickly coming up to the Gryffindor's and their keeper again.
She went to throw it again, setting up the same situation as the last two, however before she threw it she dropped it.
Rayna knew Adrian was there without having to look.
Adrian caught it with both hands before sending it flying into the left hoops.
Oliver wasn't expecting that at all.
He looked at her in what was almost amazement but he played it off as shock.
"was that predictable?" she asked, pouting slightly as she waited for an answer.
"Rayna" Adrian called motioning for her to help him and Flint get the quaffle off Alicia Spinnet who was speeding towards Slytherins goal.
Oliver was slightly in shock. He was never this un-alert in a match before, what the hell was happening to him. Maybe he was thrown off by the Slytherins new strategy and how their passes were more accurate making it hard to intercept.
Oliver was broken out of his thoughts as he heard the crowd gasping.
Harry was diving towards the ground, hand out stretched. He was neck and neck with the Slytherin seeker, Terrence Higgs. However, as they came hurdling towards the ground, Higgs pulled up at the last moment, too scared of hitting the ground.
Oliver saw Harry shift on his broom, standing up on it slightly his hand still out stretched. Suddenly his broom titled and hit the ground tripping him in the process and making him tumble onto the ground. Another round of gasps from the crowd sounded.
Rayna was watching it all unfold and flinched when Harry hit the ground. It looked like he was going to be sick.
Yet all that came out of Harrys mouth was the golden snitch.
"Harry Potter has caught the golden snitch. Gryffindor wins" yelled Lee Jordan.
Rayna raised her eyebrows impressed.
She followed her team down to the ground.
Most of them looked pissed, especially Flint.
"I think we played well" Rayna spoke. "we definitely threw them off with the whole quick passing thing, but we might have to change it up. Don't want to be too predictable."
The team nodded.
"I'm going to shower" Flint stormed off, the two beaters and keeper following him.
"well played Rayna" Adrian said patting her on the shoulder "it's nice to finally have someone to work together with on the pitch, made it easier, especially as we fly the same speed."
Oliver walked up to the three remaining Slytherins.
"Pucey" he nodded at him in acknowledgement. Adrian nodded back.
"good game" Rayna smiled at him, holding her hand out to shake his.
"we haven't officially met" Oliver said taking her out stretched hand and shaking it. "I'm Oliver Wood"
"Rayna Carrow" she replied. "hi" she waved awkwardly at the rest of the Gryffindor team who stood behind Oliver.
None of them really acknowledged her. The girls frowning at her, all accept Katie Bell who gave her a small smile which Rayna appreciated.
"if it isn't my favourite Slytherin" George Weasley spoke up.
"George" she nodded smiling.
"wrong twin" he said trying to confuse her. "I'm Fred"
She frowned slightly. "no, you're not, you're George"
George looked momentarily shocked, confused at how she knew. Even his own parents couldn't tell the difference.
"I like you" George said, "can we keep her?" he asked turning to Fred who nodded.
"Rayna, we better go to the locker rooms, I'm sure Flint will want to talk" Adrian spoke quietly to her, but the Gryffindors heard.
"We better go" Rayna said dismissing herself. "well played everyone and congratulations for winning!" she said smiling at them all before turning around to make her way to the Slytherin locker rooms with Adrian and Terrance behind her.
Oliver watched her retreating figure confused and frowning.
"how is she a Slytherin?" Fred spoke up as everyone was silent. Oliver had just been thinking the same thing.
"oh come on, can't you see right through her!" Alicia Spinnet spoke up laughing. "She's obviously up to something, the Slytherins must be planning something."
"I think she seems nice" Katie Bell said quietly.
"oh come on Katie, open your eyes, don't be so naive. She a Slytherin, she's there for a reason." Alicia said in disgust.
"she's a really good chaser" Katie said ignoring Alicia. "she didn't cheat once through the entire game"
It was true Oliver thought. She hadn't cheated. She had scored based on true talent and skill. She also had very nice technique and he wondered where she learnt it from or who.
"She also has a pretty face" George spoke up before grunting as Angelina had hit him on the shoulder.
True again, Oliver thought. But he pushed this thought away immediately. No distractions when it came to Quidditch, no matter how nice her face was.
"Jesus woman, I'm just saying that she's nice to look at, plus she can tell us apart" George gestured towards his twin.
Oliver sighed. The game hadn't gone as well as he hoped and they had only won because Harry caught the snitch. He didn't want to have to rely on that. They definitely needed to practice more and Oliver definitely had to think of new strategies.