She thought her life was over – but fate gave her another chance, in a world of magic. Now, running around Hogwarts with James Potter and his friends, she's about to make choices that will change the future in ways she never thought possible…

Marauder's Phase

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

Unfavourable Conditions

"Why'd they cancel classes I wonder?" Lily mused, as we made our way down to the Great Hall the morning of the Gryffindor-Slytherin match.

I shrugged. "I dunno, but I wish they hadn't. I swear I'd rather be in Potions then outside today…" As if the accent my words, the rain beat down ten times harder it seemed, and Lily gave me a sympathetic smile.

James was waiting for us both on tenterhooks.

"Slytherin have bailed out on us." He said flatly.

"What!?" Both Lily and I shrieked.

James looked grim. "Apparently their Chasers have all injured themselves…"

"Probably on purpose." Lily interrupted angrily.

"So we're playing against Ravenclaw instead." James shook his head. "And with this bloody weather…"

"Hey, relax," Lily said, concerned. "It's just a game of Quidditch…"

James and I both stared at her as if she was crazy.

"Oh, never mind." She sighed.

***

'I can't see a blessed thing'. I thought, squinting through the pouring rain and sweeping winds. I also couldn't see anyone else until they were right on top of me, and multiple times I had to swerve to avoid a head-on-collision. The fact that Ravenclaw was wearing blue didn't make it any easier to spot them.

The bludgers were hard to spot too.

I dodged one, and continued looking for the snitch. I knew the sooner it was caught the better, for all of us.

Even the people in the stands would be happy to go inside, out of the rain.

Trouble was, I couldn't see the snitch anywhere.

I flew up higher, looking for it, and then I heard screams from the crowd.

Looking around in a panic, I was startled to see a heap of red lying at the foot of the goals.

"And Keeper James Potter has been hit by a Dopplebeater Defence, and is down for the count!" Ryan Lee shouted.

"NO!" I yelled and my voice was carried away by the winds, as I realised that I needed to find the snitch now – without a Keeper our goals were wide open. And if Ravenclaw got just ten more points, then we'd have to get some more points before I caught the snitch, otherwise we'd lose…

In desperation I looked around…and there I saw it! High above, glittering gold against the grey back drop of clouds, was the snitch!

I put on a burst of speed and began to climb higher, and the Ravenclaw Seeker, Mark Jotes, began doing the same thing, both of us heading toward the golden snitch, keeping our eyes on the prize, that fluttering golden snitch.

'How could James have been hit like that? Dear God, I hope he's alright, poor James, Lily must be having kittens by now…'

There! The snitch was within arm's reach, I must have it! I reached for it…and a burst of gold and silver light shot past me, searing the hand that was reaching, scalding straight through the glove and burning into my hand.

I cried out in pain and clutched my arm to my chest…just as two black shapes came hurtling toward me, and there was nothing I could do.

The bludgers hit me, one in the left side of my face and the other on the right side of my chest, and I felt myself fall off my broom, and then I was falling…

***

No One's P.O.V:

Everyone in the crowd gasped as the shape was falling. They couldn't see who it was though, but it was falling fast.

Then…

"THAT'S THE GRYFFINDOR SEEKER, EMMA PAX!!" Ryan Lee shouted, and the Gryffindors began screaming. Lily screamed loudest of all, and covered her eyes, and Sirius' face was a mask of horror. Peter gasped.

Remus stood up, however, and raised his wand.

"ARESTO MOMENTUM!!" He shouted, and Emma's body at once slowed…

There was a moment of silence, broken only by Ryan Lee saying hesitantly: "And…it appears that the Ravenclaw Seeker, Mark Jotes, has caught the snitch…Ravenclaw wins."

What followed next was a mass of great confusion.

Everybody began talking – or shouting – at once. The Gryffindors demanded a rematch. The Ravenclaws demanded to be heard. Professor McGonagall demanded for silence. Madam Hooch demanded for an explanation.

Everyone wanted to know what had happened.

Remus, on the other hand, had sprinted out onto the pitch, followed by Lily, Peter and Sirius.

When they reached Emma, she was lying in the grass, blood staining her already scarlet robes darker, the left side of her face looked horrible, and her right hand was burned.

"Oh no!" Lily gasped, her emerald eyes filling with tears.

Remus, his face grim, knelt down on Emma's left side and took her wrist in his hand. "She's still alive!" He exclaimed, as everyone came running toward them, players landed their brooms and hurried toward them, the rain not relenting in the slightest, despite the end of the match. "Madam Pomfrey!"

"Out of my way!" She said, pushing her way gently through the crowd of students, gasping in shock when she saw Emma's condition. She knelt down beside her and began checking her vital signs.

Sirius, staring at Emma, seemed to be in shock. His face was as white as hers was.

Emma's lips suddenly moved, and everyone stopped talking because she was speaking.

"…the…the match?" She asked, her eyelids fluttering but not opening. "…who won?"

Everyone exchanged a silent glance, and then Lily said: "No one blames you Emma…"

"Oh damn…we lost…Ravenclaw won…" She murmured, before she shuddered, and Madam Pomfrey straightened up immediately, saying that Emma needed to get to the hospital wing now.

Everyone watched in surprise as Remus – with a surprising amount of strength – picked Emma up, bridal style, and followed Madam Pomfrey at a swift walk across the pitch, back toward the school.

"Sirius, come on." Lily said, grabbing his hand and dragging him across the pitch in their wake.

Sirius was numb with shock.