Chapter 48: House Cup
Lily sat by Remus, Ambre, Peter and Ivy. Mary and Jamie hadn't even bothered to show, no doubt wanting to avoid the other. James looked bored up on his broom stick making goals and passing the quaffle. It turned out that the Ravenclaw team's keeper got sick so it was easy to get goals and while the players were good, they were no match for Gryffindor.
The only down side was the seekers couldn't find the snitch. The crowds continued to cheer and chant, but lunch had passed, lethargy as well as hunger was setting in.
Gryffindor was at 220, Ravenclaw 80. The crowd was certain with that kind of lead Gryffindor was sure to win.
Ravenclaw scored another point causing the opposing team to boo some. Most people were sitting down trying to make it through until the end. Most Slytherins who showed up had since left as did a few Hufflepuffs. The Ravenclaws and Gryffindors were trying to be loyal and stay.
"What time is it?" Lily asked Remus. He looked at his watch.
"Three forty six." He told her.
"This has been going of for five hours."
"And forty six minutes." Ivy added. Lily looked out at the pitch where James was talking to the other captain. They seemed to be fighting, then the other captain zoomed off resuming the game. James flew to the stands.
"Remus, what time is it?" He asked.
"Almost four." Remus answered.
"Signal me at five if the game hasn't ended." He said then resumed the game.
"Thats an hour from now." Ivy complained.
"More than an hour from now." Lily corrected.
"It's not that bad." Ambre consoled, but even she sounded tired and ready to go in.
"We've been out here for five hours." Ivy snapped.
"How much longer can this last?" Lily asked.
"Days if no one finds the snitch." Remus told them.
"Three months is the longest ever." Ambre added.
"I'm going to kill someone if it lasts that long." Ivy said.
Lily laughed once. "It won't." Or she was hoping it wouldn't.
"Its sounds like if it doesn't end by five the captains are going to take a break for the night. Start it up again tomorrow." said Remus.
"Why didn't they do that for lunch?" Ivy demanded.
"Who knows." Lily mumbled. Gryffindor got another ten point. Half an hour later Ravenclaw got ten more. The commentator sounded bored as he announced the scores. Gryffindor: 230, Ravenclaw: 100.
The sun felt unusually hot that afternoon as they baked in the sun, not even the sad wind that blew in could cool anyone down.
"Four twenty two." Remus told everyone causing groans. Out on the pitch Sirius was lying on his stomach across his broom handle, his bat hanging lazily from his hand.
The bludger went at him, Sirius almost looked grateful at the prospect of it knocking him off his broom. But instead with a swing of his heavy bat the ball rocket across the pitch, easily taking down one of Ravenclaw's players.
Lily tried to think about what the first two hours had felt like. There was euphoria, cheering, and it was a little cooler. As the third hour set in, that was when the crowd started to get hot, their voices strained from the previous hours of yelling.
Then came hour four when everyone just wanted the game to end already.
Hour five was painful, but Gryffindor got another point.
Six hours passed. Six hours thirty seven minutes after the quaffle was thrown up before a seeker caught sight of the small glint of the snitch. He pushed himself forward. Ending the game.
Ravenclaw won by ten points. Just enough to win the game, but not enough to stop Slytherin winning the house cup. Had Gryffindor won they would have gotten the house cup. It had been that close. At least the torture was over.
"That was painful." Ivy said walking out of the stands.
"At least you weren't playing." Ambre told her.
"Poor boys." Lily sympathized.
"Poor commentator. Could you imagine how boring that would be? Endlessly coming up with new ways to say that they scored a point." Remus said.
The boys shuffled off the field not caring about victory or defeat. They were just thankful to be off their brooms.
"That was close." Ivy told them.
"Yep." They agreed.
"That hurts like my mother." Sirius said waddling to the changing room. Remus raised his eyebrow watching as he made his way to the room.
"That's pleasant." Ivy said shaking her head.
"Isn't it?" Lily asked.
"Let's get food." Ambre suggested.
"You go ahead." Lily said.
"Gonna wait for James?" Ivy guessed. Lily just nodded so they went ahead without her. She sat down on the grass.
Maybe five minutes passed before the team started to leave the changing room. They all looked exhausted and sore.
"Good game guys." James said leaving the room with Sirius ambling out beside him.
"I'm almost thankful there's no Quidditch next year." Sirius announced massaging his thigh.
"Me too." James rolled his shoulder. Lily got up from the ground as they approached.
"Is it possible to pull your groin?" Sirius asked.
"Yes." Lily answered.
"I'm not sure I want to know how you know that." Sirius told her.
"My dad coached the local high school." Lily shrugged.
"High School?" They asked.
"Muggle school for teenagers."
"Yawn." Sirius said.
"Speaking of which, I could use a nap." James mentioned.
"How is that related?" Sirius questioned.
"You really don't get it?" James asked. James not getting something Sirius said really was one of those things no one expected to ever happen. I would have been like walking into a room to find the founders sitting around a table drinking whiskey. It just didn't happen.
"Am I supposed to?"
"Yes."
"Because a yawn is related to sleep, or being tired." Lily explained.
"Don't remind me." Sirius said. Lily frowned but decided to let it go.
"The others went up to the castle to get some food. Then they're probably going to be taking naps as well." Lily said instead.
"Sounds good."
"Did I grab my shirt?" James asked stopping suddenly.
"What shirt?" Lily asked.
"The Bulgarian one. With the spot."
"Get it later." Sirius told him pushing himself forward.
"I don't think I've ever felt this tired." James said leaving the shirt and going on.
"Not even first year when we stayed up two days straight?" Sirius asked.
"We didn't sleep for thirty six hours. And I still think I feel more tired now."
"Me too. Now that I think about it."
"NEWTS are coming up." Lily reminded them.
"We know."
They reached the castle deciding against food. Instead they trudged up to the common room then the dorms, instantly collapsing onto their beds.
But in usual, or it was becoming usual, form Mary and Jamie entered the room screaming at each other. Names being thrown around, insults used, wands drawn but not used, and snide remarks ever present.
Lily sighed sitting up. Ivy looked over at her, having also been awakened by the yelling.
"Sleep over in the common room?" Lily suggested.
"Done." Ivy agreed instantly grabbing her pillow and blanket.
So Gryffindor lost the house cup. I had to do something unpredictable. And James does go back and get his beloved shirt. I just want to say that now in case I don't later. You know the drill. Thirty seven push ups, six laps, and one review. Kidding about the work out, but I'm dead serious about the review. Please.