Moments

I don't own any of the characters you may recognize

Chapter 11:

"Captains shake hands."

Al and I walked up to each other. Normally this is the part where the captains try to squeeze each other's hand and who ever flinches or breaks away first is the loser. Not with me and Al. We just like to trash talk each other.

"Sorry little bro, you're team's getting destroyed."

"Don't write home to mum crying when you lose"

"I don't think sending a letter to dad and asking for tips will work against me"

"You still haven't broken mum's record for most points scored in a game"

"You still haven't broken dad's record of fasted snitch caught"

"Well you—"

"WILL THE TWO OF YOU SHAKE HANDS ALREADY?!"

Al and I grabbed each other's hands.

"You're going down" we said at the same time.

"I want a nice clean game from all of you" the ref said. "Now mount your brooms."

Sansa and Lucy clamored to my side as the Slytherin's mirrored us.

The ref blew her whistle and tossed the Quaffle high in the air. We all lounged for the ball. My hands landed on the red ball and I pulled it towards my body and with a burst of speed charged ahead.

I could hear Fred commenting over the speakers. I barely paid attention to what he was saying. A Slytherin was coming up on my right. I passed the ball to Lucy who was on point in my left. We kept our Hawkshead Attacking Formation. It was a basic formation, so basic it made Quidditch through the Ages, but not a lot of teams could pull it off perfectly. A Bludger was aimed at Lucy. She did a barrel roll going to the left the same time Sansa did a barrel roll going right. As the two aligned, the ball switched hands. It happened so fast I doubt the Slytherin chasers noticed it. I called it the Potter Barrel Roll. With Sansa at point she advanced fast. Her strength however didn't lie with her score making ability. She did a reverse pass and I caught the ball. I entered the scoring zone from the right as their keeper moved to cover the right loop I dropped back and aimed for the middle. He didn't have time to change directions leaving the ball free to soar right through the middle loop.

I did a small fist pump but I didn't have time to celebrate. Slytherin got the ball. The worst part about being a chaser is defending..

The new kid, Boyle, was pretty fast. I switched places with Sansa so she could mark him. We all stuck to our marks making it hard for them to pass. Lucy managed to steal the ball and we headed in the opposite direction.

Three minutes into the game and the score was 40-Nil. It was going very fast paced. Hugo managed to block three attempted goals. Their beaters were getting relentless. I dodged two bludgers back to back. Where in the hell were Roxy and Cartwright? Not that I had time to worry about that. I used the Porskoff Ploy to pass the ball to Lucy who went for the goal, and damn, it was blocked.

"We'll get it back" I called to her as I went after Nott, who was currently in possession. When I caught up to him I rammed him hard, causing him to almost lose his balance. Nott got angry and tried to ram me back but I dropped down causing him to overshoot himself and he suddenly found himself sandwiched in between Sansa and Lucy. The two girls put the pressure on until he had no choice but to pass. Before the ball could reach Boyle I intercepted it. I did a reverse pass and Sansa caught the ball. With a burst of speed she rushed forward and scored.

The score was seventy to twenty with us in possession. We were using the Mullet Formation as made famous by the 95 Ireland team. Sansa was on point with me and Luce flanking her on either side.

"It looks like Potter has spotted the snitch" Fred informed everyone.

Sansa halted. Damn it.

"Don't seeker watch" I called after her but it was too late a bludger hit her in the back causing her to lose the ball.

Damn it. Where in the hell were my beaters?

"Both seekers dodge a bludger aimed by Roxanne causing them to lose sight of the snitch."

The Slytherins scored making it seventy to thirty.

"Are you okay?" I asked Sansa as Lucy recovered the ball.

"I fine" she grimaced.

We aren't allowed to substitute out injured players. Sure if the match last for more than twenty four hours we can substitute tired players but if someone was injured they were out for the rest of the game.

"You better not just be saying that" I told her as we charged up to either side of Lucy. Lucy scored and I called time-out. I hate calling time-outs. While it might be a good time for our seeker to find the snitch the same can also be said for their seeker. I signaled the chasers to land.

"Sansa, here quick."

"What are you doing?" she asked as I began lightly running my fingers over her back.

"Two broke disk, they're not puncturing a lung so you can still play. I'm going to spell a wrap to go around the broken bones so hopefully they won't hurt as much. Luce she's going to end up favoring her right side so we're going to have to change formations. I'm going to guard her right so that means you'll be doing most of the work. You can head back up and tell Roxy and Cartwright that if there aren't any Slytherin injuries by the end of the game they're off the damn team."

I pointed my wand at Sansa and muttered a spell.

"Feel better?" I asked.

"A little bit. Nott is weak on his right so he'll be an easier target for you. When they're in possession he's your target now."

"But Bode."

"I got Bode. Don't pay attention to the commentary. If the snitch is mentioned ignore it."

I thought I went over seeker watching in practice I guess that's just something I'll have to mention at the next one. We got back on our brooms and took to the air again.

Sansa had slowed down considerably since the hit. I spent most of my time guarding her from attack. Slytherins were catching up, the score was 100 to 60. We caught a lucky break when Roxy sent a bludger to the keeper knocking him out of the game. The tide of the game shifted back to us as we scored four unattended goals. Summers crashed when he fell for Al's feinting. I had to fix his nose, but now we were still at a disadvange. Magically fixed nosed or no, Summers would still be having slight vision problems not to mention if his broom got slightly damaged it could shift everything. If Al catches the snitch we lose.

"Getting tired?" I asked Sansa.

"No."

"Good. I'm afraid I can't guard you're weak side anymore so you're going to have to muster up some strength."

"Okay Captain."

"Luce"

"I'm on it"

I dodged a bludger and Cartwright speed past me trying to catch up to it.

Lucy stole the ball from Goyle. Right after she scored I heard the ref blow two quick spurts into her whistle.

"Penalty to Slytherin"

What the hell?

"Madam Hooch awards the penalty to Slytherin after Cartwright hit Potter with his beater's bat" Fred said over the speaker.

I made a mental note to have a serious talk with Cartwright after the game.

Hugo blocked the penalty shot. Merlin's blessed hat for small favors.

The score became 190 to 70. We were only up by 120 and needed at least four more goals to secure a win. Players were getting tired on both sides of the ball. We had gone all out so early on in the match that a lot of people where now losing ground.

Lucy scored another goal. Hugo blocked the next goal. Sansa dropped the ball. Hugo blocked again. I scored the next goal. Up by one forty both teams had resulted to trick plays. The Slytherins scored again but their point got taken away for Stooging. Lucy scored again.

"Summers has sighted the snitch!" Fred called making our fans go wild. No point in paying attention to anything but the quaffle. I went after Bode. We were battling arm and arm as not even fifty feet away Al and Summers were chasing the snitch. Bode ducked to dodge a bludger but I didn't bother. Just then Sansa swooped down below and swatted the ball away. I lurched for the ball but Lucy got there first. I didn't even see where she came from. With a burst of speed she charged past both the seekers and the snitch. I followed quickly behind her. Warrington, a beater, rammed into Lucy. Most people were seeker watching so the foul went missed. Lucy passed me the ball and I hauled it towards the left hoop. It soared past.

Not even a full second I heard Fred call "And Al Potter caught the snitch." Did my goal count? Did I make it in time?

"Gryffindor wins 230 to 220!"

There were spectators in the stands. I noticed ones from Puddlemere, Wimbourne, Applebe, and Falmouth. Of course they didn't stop by to talk to players after the match but I hoped that Puddlemere was here to check out my skills. I entered the locker room. Everyone was still there, good. I walked straight over to where Cartwright stood in front of his locker and punched him full on in the face.

"What the hell James?" Roxy said.

What is it with this guy always needing Roxy to stand up for him?

"He knows what that's for" I replied. "I hope everyone has fun celebrating our win, but not too much. I'm calling an emergency practice. Tomorrow, 7:15AM. Don't be late. Good steal Lucy, you won us the game. For that you're the only one who gets to sleep in tomorrow. Sansa, make sure you see Madam Patil."

After I showered I headed up to the Gryffindor tower. There was a party full in effect. I was immediately surrounded by people who were amazed at my last second score. I bet half of them didn't even see it. I looked around the sea of bodies. Where in the hell was Ali? It took like twenty minutes to be able to break free from the crowd.

I found Ali, she and Rose were sitting in the comfy seats by the fire not even celebrating the win.

"Hey" I said coming up from behind her. I wrapped my arms around her and leaned over the chair.

"Hey" Ali said back, looking up. "Good game."

I gave her a kiss. "Did you come to the game?"

"Of course I did" she replied.