Moments

I don't own any characters you may recognize

Chapter 30:

Hot water rained down on my head as I practiced my speech. Today is the big day...that sounds lame in my head no way I'm going to say it out loud. Ravenclaw sucks, is a statement, not a motivational speech. We got this, there's no way we can lose. That sounds better.

"Hey James."

I sputtered and got water in my eyes as I quickly moved to cover my naked body.

"Laney, what the hell? Get out I'm trying to take a shower" I shouted.

"Sorry, I wanted to wish you good luck."

"GET. OUT!"

After Laney rushed out I turned off the water and grabbed my towel. I forgot my game day speech already. Damn that girl for making me forget.

I changed into my Quidditch gear now instead of waiting for the locker room. I'm ready now. I can do this. We're a good team and there's no way we're going to lose.

Feeling super confident I headed down to the Great Hall.

"You're fired" I told Fred grabbing a piece of toast.

"No, I'm pretty sure I'm still going the commentary today" Fred replied.

"I meant fired from being my best mate. It's in your job description to make sure crazy girls, specifically Laney Daniels, does not sneak up on me in the shower."

Fred, Jace, and Brendon started laughing.

"That's not funny. If Ali was here she'd kill both of us."

"She is here, mate. She went to the pitch with her friends."

"What? Really? I told her to stay home during the game. How'd she get here?"

"She came with your parents."

I did invite mum to this game didn't I? I swore I'd beat her scoring record. Crap, there goes another thing I forgot.

I don't think I've ever been this nervous before the game before. It's crazy right?

"Well I'mma go head to the pitch."

I got up from the table just as owls flew into the hall with the morning's post. I wasn't expecting anything so I was surprised when a funny looking bird dropped a letter on my head.

The bird looked foreign, but I didn't waste time trying to figure out where it was from. I opened the letter it was from my Uncle Charlie in Romania.

I read the letter three times until it sunk in. Suddenly I wasn't so nervous anymore.

"Hey Captain," Fred nudged me, "rest of the team is headed to the locker room."

"They can wait on Greatness" I fired back causing the guys to snort.

I folded the letter into my pocket. I couldn't wait to talk to Ali.

"Good luck on the game, James!" Random people called out as I exited the Great Hall.

No one spoke in the locker room. There was a nervous energy in the air as the rest of the team got dressed. I held onto my broom, trying to think of something inspirational to say. My earlier musing forgotten already.

The team looked up at me expectantly.

"Let's go" I turned and headed for the field but was met with protest.

"Wait up!"

"Where's the pep talk?"

"Aren't you going to give a speech?"

I paused and looked at the team. They looked like a crew of half sleep have sick nervous wrecks.

"You want a pep talk?"

Nods all around.

I cleared my throat and scratched my head. "Right so, there isn't a need to say how important this game is. It's for the cup. I don't need to say that we'll beat Ravenclaw, because well, we already know that. And um, no need to point out we're the best team, it's already known. So I guess the only thing left to say is...have fun."

Six shocked faces stared back at me. At least they no longer look asleep.

"Let's go show Hogwarts, no let's go show the world, the best Quidditch team they will ever see!"

This got me the cheers and the team yelled and fist pumped our way out of the locker room.

It was sunny out, but not blindingly so; some winds but nothing chilling. Perfect conditions. I glanced around the now full stadium. So many faces, so many loud voices I couldn't see her in the crowd, but I knew she was there.

"Captains shake hands."

I gave my best tough guy handshake and then mounted my broom.

The ball was tossed in the air and I swooped in and caught it. I tucked it in safely to my chest and took off. The enemy chasers weren't far behind and they tried to box me in using a triangle formation. As if I'd let myself get caught up that easily. Just as the right chaser went to ram me I dropped down and ended up next to Sansa. I passed her the ball and she sped off. Colin and I quickly guarded her from the other chasers and we tossed the ball between the three of us.

A well aimed bludger came zooming past going for Sansa who had the ball. She ducked to avoid it just as an enemy chaser rammed into her to make her drop the ball. Luckily Colin was right below to pick up the ball. He lobbed the ball to me using his special spin on the ball that made it too hard for the defenders to see let alone catch. I was in scoring range. As soon as I got the ball I aimed for the left hoop. The keeper rushed to the side but it was too late. The ball went through. Ten points to Gryffindor. Defense time now.

We were evenly matched teams for a while every time we scored they scored. Instead of getting frustrated we didn't take the immediate lead, I was happy. This way it is much more of a challenge.

A well aimed bludger knocked out their lead scorer. Great job Hu.

With their lead chaser down, it was easier to take the lead, but that didn't mean the match got any easier.

Seven hours. Twelve fouls. Five injuries. The stands were only filled with dedicated Ravenclaws, Gryffindors, and scouts. Everyone else left. There were NEWTs to study for. The score 610-430.

It was perhaps the best game of my life, yet I didn't care. Was that odd? I let my team hug me as we won, but I wasn't really there. As soon as I could I rushed into the stands.

Unlike the majority of the school, Ali stayed.

Not bothering to acknowledge the scouts, or even speak to my parents, I went straight to Ali and kissed her.

Dad cleared his throat, a lot, and eventually we pulled apart.

Wow, she got huge. I'm not dumb enough to say that out loud, but Merlin's gut she's huge. I placed my hand on her stomach. It looked like she swallowed a beach ball.

The baby kicked, and that after everything was the best feeling.

"Great game. It lasted forever though. I was starting to fall asleep."

"You were not. You were sitting on the edge of your seat."

"How much do I owe you?" Mum asked.

I blinked confused. Owe for what?

At my look mum explained. "For breaking my record of most points scored in one game."

I raised my eyebrows. "I did? Really? How much did I make."

"Like you don't know" mum said rolling her eyes. "He beats me by one score and acts like it's a big deal."

I smiled. Ha, take that mum!

The pitch was still crowded with people, that was odd, I could have sworn it was getting lighter.

"FRED!" I called when I spotted him carrying a keg. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

"THEY KICKED US OUT OF THE COMMON ROOM SO THEY COULD STUDY FOR NEWTS SO WE'RE BRINGING THE PARTY OUT HERE!" Fred shouted back.

Yeah, good luck with that one. Even though he is head boy I doubt the professors will allow that.

AN: Hi all, sorry for the unexpected hiatus. Between the move, new school, and new job, I haven't had much time to write. I normally stay a few chapters ahead, but that wasn't the case this time. So I'm sorry. Especially since is mostly a filler chapter. Gah writing Quidditch is so hard. I lost all of my notes for this story too, I could barely remember player names or how the match was supposed to go. Hey if you want to know how Jame's & Ali's plan/trap for Rose went I'm working on a spin off titled Secret Admirer that I will publish when I finish this story.