Chapter Sixteen
...
3rd February
The Hogwarts' Gates
10oo hours
...
James scuffled his feet in the dirt as he waited for a member of staff to walk down from the school to let the spectators in. The snow was still thick on the ground and it had melted beneath his trampling shoes, a slow, indignant dampness seeping into the canvas. The only other visitors, a set of parents, and what was almost definitely a scout though she was dressed in plain robes, shuffled too, their warming charms causing the snow to melt a few inches above their shoulders.
James was ostensibly there to see his youngest sister fly, but in reality was hoping to see Alice again. Hence he didn't take the proffered seat in the designated area of the stands for family and friends, but craned his neck, scanning the crowd. He broke away from the seats reserved for outside spectators, ducking behind a couple of tall Ravenclaws until Professor Marchling had lost sight of him, then doubled back and diving into a crowd of black and yellow cloaks.
He found Lizzie sitting about a third of the way along a row of seats with her friends who immediately burst into smothered giggles and whispers as he approached. Behind him, the quaffle was released, and six players, three scarlet and gold, three in canary yellow, sped forward to intercept the red ball. Lizzie was politely clapping as Lily snatched the quaffle out of the fingers of Meagan O'Flaherty then looked up as his shadow fell across her face.
'Could we go and talk somewhere?' He asked, but his words were lost in the roar of noise that had emanated from the Gryffindor supports.
'What?' He saw her mouth above the boos from the Slytherin stand who were supporting Hufflepuff.
'Can we go and talk?' He mouthed back, but she simple shook her head, unable to make out his words.
James had always been a fan of the ridiculous, but this was surpassing even his ideals. The one day he had decided to man up and be a grown up, and he had to resort to screaming to the girl next to him to get her to hear how mature he now was. The irony of the situations he got himself into never ceased to amaze him.
'Can we-' he pointed to her, then to himself, 'talk?' He made a crocodile mouth with his hands and flapped his fingers up and down.
The crowd fell quiet and Lizzie replied with an affirmative, following him out of the stands. Beyond the stadium they could still hear the roars and screams from the stands, and fragments of the commentator's words, but they were muffled.
'What are you doing here James?' Lizzie asked. She didn't look annoyed, only mildly curious as she gazed at him, and James felt the tips of his ears go red.
Glad that this was hidden by his knit beanie, he asked: 'Can we walk?'
'Sure.'
They fell into step, idly kicking the snow out of their path when needed.
It soon became clear to James that Lizzie wasn't going to make the first move, so, after attempting and failing to gather his thought, he through caution to the wind and went with the age-old James motto: Wing it and hope for the best.
'I've been thinking a lot about us', he said, and she looked at him. 'About our relationship, and why we broke up, then that kiss before Christmas. So I guess what I'm trying to say', he concluded uncertainly, 'is, do you want to get back together?'
Lizzie didn't say anything for a moment for, unlike James, she didn't approve of the wing it and hope for the best way of doing things. Instead she laid her thoughts out in neat lines, before opening her mouth.
'We can't get back together James.'
'Why not?' He asked, trying to mask his hurt. 'We had fun didn't we? A good time?'
'Yes', she said. 'And that's exactly why we can't get back together. James, you are one of the most wonderful people in the world, and I value your friendship. But everything was always one massive joke to you, and you never took anything seriously. You were great when we were "having fun" as you put it, but a relationship isn't just the fun bits. It's hard work, it's dedication, and it's support. And you never gave me the support I needed.'
'I-' he spluttered, 'I was supportive, I-'
'All those times you found me crying, you ran away so fast that you almost outstripped a broomstick.' She retorted. 'Did it ever occur to you that maybe I wanted to talk to you about why I was upset?'
'Well we did talk', he said, a little defensively. 'About your mum and everything. Fred said to give you space and chocolate and stuff-'
'I thought my mother was dying', Lizzie retorted. 'And you gave me a fucking chocolate frog.'
James didn't try to reply to this, nor could he meet her eyes.
'You know that I care about you', Lizzie continued, her voice more level. 'And I probably always will. But I want more from a relationship than having a laugh. I want support and trust, not just fun. And you're not ready to have that in a relationship yet.'
'Look', she said more gently, reaching out and squeezing his hand. 'I always knew that I cared about you more than you cared about me, and I was okay with that. I was fifteen, and in love in the way only teenagers can be. You were the most popular boy in school, you could make anyone laugh, and you made me feel good about myself. You were my first love, but there is a reason that people don't usually end up with their first love.'
They walked on for a moment together in silence, then she paused. 'I should head back, my friends will be wondering where I am.'
He nodded, and they turned together.
'I could be more mature, if that's what you wanted.' He said suddenly, reaching out to stop her.
'I know you could.' She smiled. 'But I also know you're not made for a quiet life. You need to be out there, saving the world, doing incredible things or you'd be bored. I wouldn't want you to change for me, you shouldn't have to. Find a girl who's willing to climb mountains with you, not expect you to stay home.'
She set of again, trudging through the snow, leaving him standing their gazing after her. At the entrance to the quidditch stadium, she spotted Albus, his messy hair glistening with snow.
'I love you, Lizzie.' James suddenly called after her, and she froze, willing herself not to run back to him, to throw her arms around his, to kiss him like she wanted to. But her reason was stronger than her heart so instead of throwing caution to the wind and winging it, she simply called over her shoulder.
'I know.' She said.
Albus was waiting for her at the foot of the stadium, but as she approached she suddenly realised that she was going the wrong way still.
'I need a break from the Potter boys.' She said to aloud to herself, and turned towards the castle.
...
The Commentator's Box
11oo hours
...
'Hello and welcome to a beautiful day for quidditch here at the Hogwarts' Pitch. We have Hufflepuff, playing to defend their place at top of the inter-house league tables, and Gryffindor, hoping to make the comeback of the century after their harrowing defeat at the hands of one of their own, the one and only Mack McClaggen!'
Boos filled the air from the Gryffindor supporters, of whom, it was easily noted by all, Mack was not one.
'I am joined-', Alfie Jordan continued, his voice booming around the stands, 'by the wonderful, the beautiful, and the very talkative, Jessica Reading!'
'Hello there Hogwarts!' Jessica's voice joined Alfie's in soaring over the crowds. 'And there is Coach Hendrix, overall quidditch trainer and referee, walking out onto the pitch- oh he's dropped his broom, never mind Coach! And he's picked it up and dropped the chest containing those all important balls. Look Alfie, he's shooting me the death glare.'
'Indeed he is, my dear Jessica. Such animosity! The doors to the changing rooms are opening and here come the teams! In yellow and black we have the resilient badgers: O'Flaherty, Applebee, Summerby, Livington, Smith, Weasley and Ives!'
Applause from the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins.
'And here come the Gryffindors', Jessica shouted. 'Oxley, Lucas, Simpson, Malfoy, Potter, Weasley and Weasley!
'The whistle blows, and they're off! And it's Weasley with the quaffle, passes to Oxley, reverse passes to Lucas, passes to Weasley- bludger from scary Weasley, bludger defence from little Weasley, just the keeper to beat! Gryffindor SCORE!'
'I feel like Gryffindor have a lot to prove during this match', Jessica said, when the cheers had stopped ringing around the pitch. 'After the disaster that was their match against Slytherin, they need to pull out all the stops to make any headway in this competition at all.'
'Well I goal in the opening three minutes is not going to hurt their chances', Alfie replied. 'Hufflepuff Keeper Hugo Weasley feints, then passes to Applebee who- drops the quaffle after only just ducking a bludger from scary Weasley. Caught by Lucas who zooms up the pitch. Dodges a chaser, a bludger, another chaser, a Weasley and SCORES!'
'Now I think that we should assign code names to all the Weasleys on the pitch here today.' Jessica said. 'We have Scary Weasley, and Little Weasley of course. But Scary Weasley's little brother is making an appearance as keeper today. Hence he shall be called Canary Weasley, after the robes that mismatch so spectacularly with his hair.'
'Fascinating as this is', Professor Marchling said dryly, 'Maybe you could tell the spectators what is happening in the game?'
'Sorry Professor', both commentators chimed.
'Just trying to keep it interesting', Jessica said.
'Adding a little colour', Alfie added.
'Hufflepuff break through and score their first goal of the match-' Jessica shouted.
'Which Gryffindor is not putting up with', Alfie answered. 'As Potter and Oxley put away a goal apiece.'
Spurred on by their early capture of the lead, Gryffindor performed flawlessly, putting away another six goals over the course of the next thirty minutes, while Hufflepuff lagged behind on thirty points. Still, Hugo was getting into his stride, blocking at least three quarters of the shots the Gryffindor chasers aimed at him. Bludgers were flying everywhere, and the two seekers were circling high above the rest of the game, as much to avoid being splatted, as trying to search for the snitch.
Beneath the players, the commentary was coming faster and faster.
'And it's Applebee-'
'Summerby-'
'Stolen by Lucas-'
'Reverse passed to Potter-'
'Bludger from Smith, and Potter swerves to avoid-'
'O'Flaherty snatches the falling quaffle-'
'And drops it again as Scary Weasley hits a beautifully aimed bludger-
'Oxley ceases the quaffle and SCORES!'
By the time Gryffindor was leading by almost a hundred and twenty points to Hufflepuff's forty, the snow had started again, and the temperature had plummeted. The spectators in the stands were shivering, pulling their thick woollen cloaks close about red ears, and they thought with some sympathy of the players high above, almost frozen to their broomsticks.
'I bet you, Jessica Reading', Alfie Jordan yelled, 'that if Gryffindor win by more than two hundred points, that you have to kiss me!'
'Deal!' Jessica yelled back. 'You numpty! I'm your girlfriend!'
'Folks of Hogwarts', Alfie bellowed, 'My incredible girlfriend!'
'Gryffindor lead by eighty points, Applebee with the quaffle.' Professor Marchling said resignedly.
'Applebee tackled by Potter- Was that the snitch?'
'Malfoy's diving! He's diving, and Ives is hot on his tail. They're diving, they're going to crash!'
But both sneakers had pulled out of the dive, mere feet above the snowy pitch. Only one, however, waved his hand above his head in triumph, only one bellowed his victory, only one was dive-bombed by his respective time in celebration.
Marco Ives landed, and threw his broom away in disgust.
...
The Quidditch Pitch
14oo hours
...
'We won! We won!' Lucy fell off her broom as she saw Scorpius clutching the tiny fluttering ball. Fortunately she was hovering only about five feet from the ground, and she sank at least six inches into the snow. Screams of joy, shouts of the team, bellows from the supporters, were all echoing in her ears.
A hand partially blocker her view of the sky and falling snowflakes, and she grasped it. Trevor pulled her to her feet and engulfed her in a hug that was woolly scarf and warming charms.
'S-so warm', she spluttered, through chattering teeth, and buried herself into his cloak.
He gave a minute to return to a more natural temperature, then grabbed her by the waist, spinning her around.
'Congratulations! You were amazing Lucy, the best player on the team!' And so saying he kissed her, very quickly, on the mouth, then turned, as though nothing had happened, to congratulate Erin.
The back of Lucy's neck went red.
Sensing a pair of eyes on her, she turned and saw Tommy Tillian standing a good few feet away, looking uncertain. He did not try to approach her, simply giving her his congratulations, then slipping away into the crowd dancing around on the pitch.
'You know, they both like you.' Alex Simpson said.
Lucy jumped, and spun around to face him.
'Me?'
'Yes, you. Have you any thoughts about them?'
Lucy didn't speak for a moment. Her friendship with Trevor Warrington had surprised her at first, but now she knew that they were well on the way to being the next Scorpius and Rose, friends for life. Tillian? Well, his heartfelt apology before Christmas had surprised her, yes. And he certainly seemed changed in the last three weeks that they had all been back at Hogwarts. But that certainly didn't mean she was ready to trust him.
'Many.' She admitted, and he smiled wryly. 'The whole "new side" of Tommy thing is just too new. I have no idea if it will last or not. And while I really like Trevor, I don't want to sacrifice our friendship for a potential relationship I don't feel ready for.'
Alex shouldered both of their brooms, and offered Lucy his arm.
'You are wise beyond your years', he said, and they followed their captain off the pitch.
...
The Gryffindor Changing Rooms
14oo hours
...
'It was so obvious!' Rose groaned as she paced up and down the locker room. Her team gazed her enquiringly, though without much apprehension for Rose's pedantic blow-by-blow after match plays were legendary.
'What was obvious?' Lily asked. Her hand was securely wrapped in Keegan's, under cover of her splayed scarlet robes, and he almost unconsciously stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.
'Findley's the one who planted the listening charms.' Rose said, abruptly halting her furious pacing. 'I caught him in here not five minutes before you got off the pitch, poking about with my files.'
'Findley? Erin's mouth fell open. 'Findley, as in assistant groundskeeper Findley. The super hot Findley, the Findley that totally fancies our own beloved Captain?'
'Exactly!' Rose erupted. Then: 'What?'
'Our fanciable captain aside', Scorpius said dryly, 'How do you know he was the one planting the charms?'
'Because I caught him', Rose said triumphantly, holding up a tiny glass charm. It had the appearance of melted rubber. 'My wards caused it to catch fire, and it set his hair on fire!'
'He must be a scout', Lucy piped up. 'I thought he looked familiar.'
'He let slip to me ages ago that he knew Aunty Ginny professionally', Rose added. 'That sneaky little-'
...
Outside the Changing Rooms
143o hours
...
'Erin, can I have a quick word please?'
Erin glanced around as the team, with many a good-natured shove and laugh, began to wind their way back to Gryffindor Tower and the party that was sure to be happening there. She skidded slightly in the slush, she stopped so suddenly.
'Amélie, what are you doing here?'
Erin felt Rose stop behind her, concerned about her player, but Erin turned to her. 'You guys go on', she said, forcing a smile. When her friends were gone, Erin took Amélie's arm and dragged her out of the main path of students heading back up towards the castle.
'What are you doing here?' She repeated, trying to quench the feeling in her stomach that had risen at the sight of Amélie's dark curls and petite figure.
'I wanted to talk to you', she replied. 'And since you've been avoiding me, this was the only way I could think of to see you face to face.'
'I haven't been avoiding you', Erin lied.
'You're a terrible liar', Amélie said.
'I haven't', she protested, untruthfully. 'I went home for the Christmas holidays-'
'Bull', Amélie said firmly. 'We've been back three weeks. Don't try and deny it, I know you've been avoiding me.'
'I didn't mean too', Erin said softly, absently yanking on one of her dreads. 'There's just been so much going on in my head, and I didn't know how to cope with it all.'
'I get that.' Amélie said slowly, reaching out and taking Erin's hand. It was cool against her hot skin, and it suddenly seemed to Erin that their hands fit so perfectly, as though designed to fold together.
'I was scared', Erin admitted, staring down at the ground. 'I wasn't sure what my feelings for you were, and I was terrified that I was going to sabotage it - you - just like my mother did. I couldn't bare for you to go through the same rejection with me as well.'
'You couldn't mess it up', Amélie whispered. 'You have one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know. And think about it this way; we both know what it's like coming from a home like that, so we know how to avoid those kind of things. I know I will never, ever, walk out on something like my dad did. Just like I know you won't ever become your mum.'
'Look who's the starry-eyes optimist now', Erin teased, drawing a little nearer to Amélie.
'Can I tell you a secret?' she whispered, and Erin nodded. 'You make me want to be an optimist.
The two lent forward and their lips met, as white flakes continued to fall.
A/N
A shorter chapter today I'm afraid, and rather rushed. However, I thought it would be better to post on Sunday, rather than force you to wait another day for a slightly better proof-read chapter. However, I will apologise here for any typos!
What did you think?
Shout out to Connected-by-a-Semicolon who called Findley as the secret bugger - you win a new virtual Firebolt!
Did you like the commentators?
Erin and Amélie, thoughts?
James and Lizzie, did she make the right choice?
Next chapter there will be major development on the Lily/Keegan, and the Rose/Scorpius front, I PROMISE!
Review, and let me know what you think.
Love and hugs
A.A.A.
The Irregular Opposition - A Character Plan
This is a comprehensive list of every character, both canon and my own characters, that attends Hogwarts during the school year of 2023/2024. I haven't created every single character in the entire school (as that would be in the thousands!) so these are the ones that have been mentioned, however briefly, in The Irregular Opposition.
.
The Seventh Years:
(Gryffindor)
Rose Weasley, Dinah Lee, Jenny Tomlinson, Lisa Markson, Karen Sommage.
Albus Potter (Head Boy), Scorpius Malfoy, Mack McClaggen, Keegan Lucas, Sean Finnigan.
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(Hufflepuff)
Isabelle Summers, Lizzie Longbottom, Belinda Bones, Natalie Rivers, Susanne Walkers, Rosemary Woods.
Marco Ives, Harold MacMillan, Lawrence Livington.
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(Ravenclaw)
Amity Chang, Amy Perry, Manar Ling, Celia Raventhorpe, Martha Bobbins.
Roger Davies, Joshua Lemming, Rufus Ringwald, Michael Cheung, Jacob Stebbins.
.
(Slytherin)
Cecelia Greengrass, Mariella Nott, Tabitha Nott, Mercury Bullstrode, Meredith Trode.
Stanley Bibbington-Smythe, Stuart Flint, Charles McNair.
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(The Sixth Years:)
(Gryffindor)
Christian Boyle, Alfie Jordan.
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(Hufflepuff)
Meagan O'Flaherty.
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(Ravenclaw)
Johnny Masters, Jessica Reading
.
(Slytherin)
Digby Warrington
.
(The Fifth Years:)
(Gryffindor)
Lily Potter, Erin Oxley.
.
(Hufflepuff)
Tallulah Applebee, Zoe Smith.
.
(Ravenclaw)
Melissa Stretton, Jason Inglebee, Amélie Greengrass.
.
(Slytherin)
Gideon Goyle.
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(The Fourth Years:)
(Gryffindor)
Alex Simpson.
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(Hufflepuff)
Peter Summerby.
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(Ravenclaw)
Tommy Tillian, Julianna Corner, Ruby Goldstein, Roger Goldstein.
.
(Slytherin)
Arthur Pucey.
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(The Third Years:)
(Gryffindor)
Lucy Weasley, Ella Martin, Violet Johnson, Katrina Simmington, Mary Monroe, Letty Hatter.
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(Slytherin)
Trevor Warrington.
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(The Second Years:)
Oddly enough, there are none at all...
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(The First Years:)
(Ravenclaw)
Molly Weasley, Ruthie Maxwell.
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(Slytherin)
Giles Warrington.
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I hope this helps for things to be a little clearer.
A.A.A.