Sorry for not updating, I've been on school camp all week and now I'm sick with a nasty cold. Fun. Oh, and just letting you know that this chapter contains a flashback to the night before and not a dream (for once).

'The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss'

–Douglas Adams

Chapter Eighteen:

My eyes flashed open, mind suddenly awake. I sat up smirking at the Ballycastle Bats poster taped to the headboard, taking a while to recognise where I was for a minutes before realizing that I (for once) had fallen asleep in my own dorm, in my own bed.

It just wasn't… proper… anymore, for me to stay with them. With him. Because, even though it meant nothing between us, it meant something to me.

"Just follow the plan, 'kay," James nodded crazily at us. The three of us – Padfoot, Prongs and I – sat slouched in a circle on a shaggy rug in the boys' dorm, as James (once again) drilled us on our technique and strategies.

"Dude, can we go through this in the morning… Quidditch meetings at midnight really fuck with my mental state," Sirius groaned.

I yawned widely, "I agree… the games tomorrow, so we'd better get some sleep or we'll fly crocked…"

"Fine… but I'm waking you all extra early so we can go through all of this before the match starts," Prongs looked at up pointedly, "We have to win!"

"Yeah, yeah… save it for the mornin'," I stood up off the floor, eager to leave the room. I just felt so… awkward. It shouldn't be like this – it never has been between us, but somehow I felt as if he was… out of reach, even when sitting right beside me. It was as if I was restricted, because he had a girlfriend and, well, it wasn't me, "I better go back to my dorm, it's gettin' late,"

Sirius frowned, "Why not top and tail, we usually do…"

"Um, I don't think that with Ariana now, that'd be a… good idea…" I mumbled awkwardly, looking down at my bare feet.

"… Oh, right," Padfoot smiled weakly, "Well, goodnight, then,"

I managed a small smile and left.

Because truly, no matter what anybody says… things are just different now…

Sighing, I slipped out of bed. Everybody was still asleep on this quiet Sunday morning, but I knew, that James was downstairs waiting, so I quickly pulled on my Gryffindor uniform, grabbed my old battered Cleansweep Two and headed downstairs into the Common Room.

On my way down, I decided that with my loyalty to Gryffindor, I'd morph my hair into a deep scarlet with golden highlights (which I'll admit, didn't look all that bad). I made sure to make it short also – it makes it easier to fly.

Sirius, James and our Seeker Marlene McKinnon where already there when I jumped the last step, but we were still missing Frank, Hestia Jones and Sturgis Podmore.

Suddenly, Hestia came bolting down the stairs, sleek black hair tied up in a messy bun, "Am I late?"

James shook his head and she joined our ranks. After a few minutes of waiting, Frank stumbled down the stairs accompanied by a Sturgis, "I can't find my broom!"

"What?!" James exclaimed.

"We can't find it anywhere, Longbottom can't remember where he bloody left it," Sturgis sighed, shaking his head.

James looked livid but did a good job of remaining calm, "What do you mean… you do not know where you left it. We trained on Friday!"

Frank scratched the back of his neck, "Well, you see, I haven't seen it since, well… Friday. I've been looking for it, and I tried hiring a broom yesterday while in Hogsmeade from Spintwitches, but they don't lend them out, apparently,"

And to think Frank's the eldest on the team – thank god he didn't want to be captain and handed the job down to James or Gryffindor would be in for hell's trial.

"Okay, when did you last see your broom?" Marlene asked calmly, while Sirius calmed down James who looked as if he was about to go into cardiac arrest from overwork and stress overload.

"On the field after practise, I left it there, I know I did, but when I came back the next day and it was gone,"

"Didn't Slytherin have training that morning… could they have taken it?" Hestia suggested.

I frowned in thought and spoke slowly, "Andromeda's their captain though, and she's fair… pretty much everybody listens to her, well, all except for…"

"I'm going to fucking kill my little brother!" Sirius yelled in sudden realisation.

"We don't know if it was Regulus, Sirius," James held his friend back.

I scoffed and folded my arms across my chest, "Who else but the slimeball would go against the word of Andromeda, she's not somebody you cross and you know how Regulus likes to test the limits,"

"Who are you even talking about?" Frank asked, looking confused.

"My little brother, the Slytherin Seeker," Sirius spoke sourly.

Marlene frowned, "Merlin, he's your brother? He almost pushed me off my broom last game! In fact, I did see him lurking about when I went back to get my glasses on Friday morning,"

"Sounds like something a Black would do," I smirked and Sirius shot me a wry smile.

"Okay, let's just get down to the field and talk to Andi, the Slytherin's are already warming up down their while we stand here bickering," James spoke with authority and the team nodded in agreement.

Together, we marched out of our Common Room and through the castle, determined looks on our faces (well, all except for Frank, who was looking quite pale) as we approached the field James waved down Andromeda and she landed before us.

"What do you need?" She asked suspiciously, but with high spirits.

"I need to talk to my little brother about a theft," Sirius stated quite bluntly.

She arched and eyebrow, "Oh, do you now? And what theft is this,"

"We think he may have taken Frank's broom," I sighed.

Andi stiffened and her smile turned into a hard line, "I don't have cheats on my team… Longbottom is always losing his things; don't use one of my Seeker as a scapegoat for your faults,"

"I saw him sneaking around!" Marlene snapped.

"When?" Andi looked down her nose at the shorter girl.

"When I was getting my glasses!"

Andi threw her hands up into the air, "If you were getting your glasses then how did you se–"

"Oi, save it for the game!" I said sharply and broke them apart.

Andi sighed, "I'll ask him,"

"He won't listen to you," Sirius exclaimed.

"Why not, cousin," Andi folded her arms across her chest defensively.

Sirius smirked, "Because according to him we're both blood traitors,"

She bit her lip, "True,"

Sturgis spoke up, "Um… I feel as if this is a family battle, which can wait until after the game,"

"And I really need my broom back," Frank shuffled awkwardly.

Andi bit her lip, "I'll see what I can do…"

"That douche bag…" Sirius muttered.

Frank rolled his eyes, "Get over it, I've got it back now, it's fine,"

"Still doesn't excuse the fact that he painted it green and silver!" Snapped Sirius.

I laughed at his sour expression, "Dude, you're talking this way to personally, it's fixed now so get over it,"

Sirius grumbled but seemed to brighten and Little Miss Perfect herself skipped up towards the team, "Good luck today, Sirius, I'll be cheering for you,"

"Thanks, Ari," He smiled warmly and kissed her quickly of the cheek. I turned away, not wanting to watch.

"Oh and good luck to you too, Riley, make sure you don't fall off your broom," She said sweetly.

I looked at her with an odd, surprised expression on my face – was she serious? It looked as if she were; Ariana looked earnest in her usual nice and down-to-earth way which infuriated me to no end.

Well, she's a Hufflepuff, what should I expect? Ariana isn't conniving or scheming – she's actually a good, genuine person. She doesn't laugh at others pain or spend her free time illegally spraying the tunnels of London. She doesn't barley scrap by in her exams or constantly challenge the rules. She isn't cruel or devious. Snarky or sarcastic. Pessimistic or manipulative.

She's absolutely nothing like me.

And the sad part is… that's actually a good thing.

Merlin, she's so perfectly infuriating!

"Um… thanks," I muttered awkwardly.

She beamed one last time before skipping off to take her spot in the stands with the rest of the student cheering for Gryffindor, which made me feel better. Under my shirt I felt my locket change from a murky green into a deep burning red against my skin.

"Get ready," James called and I mounted my broom.

The wooden doors opened and we flew in, the crowds cheering loudly. The Slytherin's appeared on the other side of the field and I saw Andi and James swoop down to the ground.

"Alright, we want a fair game; need I remind you of the rules?"

Both captains shook their heads.

"Well, then shake hands and good luck too you both!"

Andi and James grasped hands firmly; Prongs looked so serious it was almost comical, while Andi had the nerve to wink at him with a playful grin on her face. They backed away from each other and levitated back towards their teams

"You guys ready?" He asked, but before anybody could answer, as a bludger flew past his ear at a blinding pace, narrowly missing his head by mere millimetres.

"Careful Prongs!" Yelled Sirius who was in pursuit of one of the Slytherin Chasers (Avery I think his name was) who had caught the Quaffle and was speeding down the field at an alarming rate.

Sturgis and Frank got to work straight away, smashing the Bludgers as they chased Marlene into the sky.

"–both of the Seekers seemed to have spotted the Snitch and are in hot pursuit–" I heard the voice of our commentator Ted Tonks over the speaker.

I speed up, feeling the Slytherin Beater Alecto Carrow gaining on my tail, "Gonna get 'cha, ya' silly little Half-Breed,"

"Bite me, bitch," I smirked and looped under using the Sloth Grip Roll manoeuvre and she lost control of her broom as she tried bashing he Bludger into me.

James came in beside me and we raced towards Sirius who had gained possession of the Quaffle.

"–now Avery and Rosier are chasing Black down, oh wait, no Rosier's been hit by a Bludger!–" Ted spoke excitedly into the microphone, "–Potter and O'Conner are speeding down the field to join their fellow Chaser–"

James and I came up behind Avery and squashed him on either side, but in a flash I felt Avery Cobbed me across the jaw, I swerved a little but managed to stay on my broom.

"You bastard!" I yelled, but kept squishing him until he was forced to drop back.

"–that's a foul of Cobbing for Avery Multch, Slytherin Chaser–" Ted said which seemed to get the crowd going, "

James and I flanked Sirius in the Hawkshead Attacking Formation, fending of the other two Chasers (including Rosier who's eye was blackening quite rapidly from his brutal Bludger hit), but we backed off as he entered the scoring area (the two of us didn't want to be accused of Stooging).

Sirius smacked the Quaffle through the third hoop, Macnair tried using the Double Eight Loop manoeuvre, but failed, which wasn't surprising since this was his first year and game being the Slytherin Keeper.

"–Gryffindor's score! Oh wait, Slytherin's in possession of the Quaffle. Avery's swivelling and zig-zaging down the field, he passes to Rosier and then passes under to Andromeda, seems like their using the Woollongong Shimmy technique–"

It was almost impossible to catch them – Sirius, James and I were attempting to follow their seemingly random flight pattern as Frank and Sturgis battered the Bludgers away from us and towards the other Slytherin's.

I saw Sturgis dive, and miss as a Bludger nicked the tail brush of his broom and sent him spiralling down; I had no time to see if he was alright before it came back slammed into the side of James who also fell towards the ground.

Increasing my speed, I set my sights on tailing Andromeda, as she currently had the Quaffle, but seeing this, she swiftly threw it down to Rosier.

Sirius was underneath Andi and I, on the inside of Avery, trying to steer him away from the other two Slytherin Chasers. I watched as Avery tried using the Transylvanian Tackle on him, but realised quickly that wasn't what he was doing at all.

It wasn't fake at all – Avery full on and outright punched Sirius in the nose, straight off his broom.

And he fell.

Fell all the way to the ground.

Okay, that was hard. Writing Quidditch games is not an easy feet, but I hope you liked it, even though it was quite short.

Also, I know last chapter Ariana seemed like a bit of a bitch – that wasn't intentional. She's meant to be a down-to-earth and moral character, which is why she disagrees with pranking, because she's actually nice.

Still, I love hating her.

Now, a little Quidditch terminology for those who didn't know what I was going on about;

Sloth Grip Roll – When a player hangs upside down on their broomstick to avoid somebody or something.

Cobbing – Illegal excessive use of elbows towards opponents.

Hawkshead Attacking Formation – Three Chasers fly in triangle shape to force other Chasers aside.

Double Eight Loop – A Keeper flies in front of the three goals at high speed to block the Quaffle.

Stooging – More than one Chaser entering the scoring area (this is illegal for Chasers only).

Woollongong Shimmy – Chasers fly in a zig-zag motion to confuse opposing Chasers.

Transylvanian Tackle – A fake punch to the nose to confuse the opponent (as long as contact is not made, it is not illegal).

And now, just as a reference/reminder;

Gryffindor Quidditch Team:

Seeker – Marlene McKinnon (4th year)

Beater 1 – Frank Longbottom (7th year)

Beater 2 – Sturgis Podmore (7th year)

Keeper – Hestia Jones (5th year)

Chaser 1 – James Potter (6th year – captain)

Chaser 2 – Sirius Black (6th year)

Chaser 3 – Riley O'Conner (6th year)

Slytherin Quidditch Team:

Seeker – Regulas Black (5th year)

Beater 1 – Alecto Carrow (7th year)

Beater 2 – Amycus Carrow (7th year)

Keeper – Walden Macnair (3rd year)

Chaser 1 – Andromeda Black (7th year – captain*)

Chaser 2 – Avery Multch (6th year)

Chaser 3 – Evan Rosier (6th year)

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