The action scene is here. It was a bit shorter than I expected it to be, but I had fun writing it nonetheless.
The Gryffindors had not noticed our arrival. We were at the Slytherin team room: from our entrance, we had a clear view of the pitch, and a clear shot at them. Casting a Vision Charm to shield myself from the harsh sunlight, I observed their practice as we awaited the return of Montague and Flint. Bole looked apprehensive, nervously twirling his finger on a loose thread from his school robes. Derrick's face was twitching with anticipation, as he eyed the lions hungrily. Warrington was his usual brutish self, gripping his wand tightly and muttering under his breath. I returned my attention to the Gryffindors, idly wondering who would be the first to go down. The Weasleys seemed like a likely candidate, with their good eye and uncanny ability to aim Bludgers. Or perhaps it'd be Wood, due to captain rivalry...
My eyes lingered on Bell. Her small figure was in no way a hinderance to her Chaser duties: in fact, she darted up, down, left, right with a grace no one on the Slytherin team possessed. Then again, Flint seemed to fill the rosters with the stockiest, strongest players he could have found, with the exception of me. Maybe it would be prudent for the next captain to learn brawn wasn't the sole factor in player competence, I mused, watching Bell's second loop-the-loop around the goals. Her hair glimmered like liquid gold in the sun's rays...
I exhaled loudly. The fact Flint was undeterred by outsiders was a problem: his fiery drive to carry his actions through was what made him a captain, after all. Today, though, I would have to find a way to protect the Gryffindors- no, just Bell from harm. I wasn't about to get in trouble with the school for satisfying Flint's personal vendetta, but that didn't make things easier for me. This would be complicated.
The loud clatter of boots announced the return of Flint and Montague. They quickly took their positions at the exit of the team room, drawing their wands. Their entry into the pitch was an unspoken signal for us to follow suit, wands at the ready.
We filed onto the pitch, forming a half-circle. There was an angry yell from one of the Weasleys, and Oliver Wood floated down, dismounting from his broom. He trodded to us angrily, his Cleansweep lying on the grass forgotten.
"Oi! What's the meaning of this, Slytherins? We've booked the pitch today, and you know it!" Wood barked at Flint. He looked more confused than angry, but largely ignored the five of us that backed Flint up. "Here to get beat again? Thought you'd had enough of losing!" This taunt was from both the Weasleys, who were descending to the ground rapidly too. The three Chasers did the same.
Flint merely gave a menacing smile. "Us Slytherins aren't here for the pitch. We're here to make you suffer." He spit the last word out, gazing at Wood. Daring him to make a comeback. By now, both teams stood facing each other. While we were fanned out, the Gryffindors were clumped together, with Wood taking the front, the Weasleys beside him and the Chasers towards the back. I wonder where Potter is.
"A wizard's duel? You should know better, you ignorant buffoon. And no playing dirty this time, Slytherin." Wood was unfazed my the sight of Flint's teeth, instead standing his ground. Shut your mouth before it gets your team in trouble, Wood! He folded his arms, drawing his wand from his side pocket. "My second will be Angelina Joh-"
Before he could complete his sentence, there was a blur of movement to my left, and a ripple burst through the air. A Bruising Hex. Wood's eyes widened before he nimbly rolled to the floor, the hex sparking as it brushed the top of his hair. The Weasley twins had their wands out too, but before the one on the left could say anything, a violet beam whizzing from our side hit him in the chest. He was propelled two meters, before hitting the ground with a thud, his limbs splayed at an awkward angle. He didn't stir. In the meantime, the Weasley twin on the right had already fired off two spells, his face a contorted visage of rage. Two jets of blue burned into Montague, and he let out a shriek before doubling over. His wand clattered to the floor harmlessly as he clutched his chest. I wrinkled my nose at the smell of singed flesh.
The Slytherins were not standling idle, either. Warrington's teeth were bared in a snarl as he waved his wand in a counterclockwise motion furiously, sending bolt after bolt of neon green at the Gryffindors indiscriminately. Flint targeted Wood, casting numerous Bludgeoning Charms, and dodging as the lithe Gryffindor captain fired off some spells in exchange. The fight was at full swing now, with bolts of light whizzing across the pitch. An occasional shriek or yelp would punctuate the yells from each side, as we rapidly casted spells. Lucian Bole had conjured a large stone wall in the middle of the pitch, absorbing most of the spells from each side. Similarly, there was faint outline of a sphere surrounding the Gryffindors, indicating that one of them had cast a shield charm. I watched as a particularly nasty hex cast by Derrick impacted the shield, causing it to wobble. Moments later, a flurry of blue bolts cast by Flint and Derrick caused the bubble around the Gryffindors to burst with a flash of light, and a loud pop. The fight would be over soon. Both sides had faced losses: Montague lay down on the grass, clutching his chest and moaning in pain. Bole's attempt at a healing spell had been ineffective. Derrick's left arm had been hit by an immobilizing curse, but he still wielded his wand in the other hand, the injury fuelling his rage. The Gryffindors were worse off: Both Weasley twins were unconscious, and I was fairly sure Spinnet was hit by a Petrifying Charm two minutes into the foray. That left Wood, Johnson and Bell as the sole combatants on their side.
I quickly distanced myself from the battle, trying to avoid being spotted by either a Disillusionment Charm on myself, I evaluated my options as a felt a smooth sensation glide across my skin, rendering me unnoticeable to the naked eye If I could only find a way to stop the fight, no one else needs to get hurt... Unfortunately, a peaceful resolution was out of the question. Still, I had yet to cast a single harmful spell: I had not attacked neither the Gryffindors, nor the Slytherins. Perhaps it was time to change that. "Avis!" A quick figure-eight motion, and a jab forward: My wand glowed white-hot for a second, before spitting out a burst of white feathers. A second later, a murder of crows emerged from it, flying towards both the Slytherins. I nervously watched as the flock of around forty birds descended in front of the Slytherins. Their loud cawing caused Flint to recoil in fear, while Warrington stepped forward, waving his wand frantically. There was a flash of red light, and I watched helplessly as three of the crows disappeared in a flurry of feathers.
My distraction wouldn't hold for much longer, unless... "Opugno!" Willing the birds to merely occupy their time and not maim, I directed the flock to the remaining Slytherins. The cawing grew in intensity, and they disappeared under a mess of feathers. From behind the stone wall, the remaining Gryffindors emerged. Johnson merely watched the scuffle with an amused expression, but Wood cautiously approached the tangle of crows and Slytherins, wand clutched in one hand.
The murder of crows was almost entirely gone by now. As a scratched-up Flint disintegrated another pair of crows, he came face to face with Wood. I could make out the silhouette of another Slytherin collapsing, while Bole staggered towards the exit of the Quidditch pitch. Warrington must have been the one hurt badly. This wasn't going according to plan: I merely meant to distract them! Still, revealing myself would probably end badly, since Flint might figure out quickly that I was the one who conjured the crow. There was nothing left for me to do but wait here and observe: the Disillusionment Charm would only apply so long as I maintained a safe distance.
Flint and Wood were a sight to behold: Wood's robes were torn in multiple places, and blood dripped from his forehead. Flint had scratch marks all over his body: his Quidditch robes peeled at some points, revealing a set of sturdy underclothes. Despite his wounds, Wood stood defiantly, his eyes issuing a silent challenge towards Flint. They were still for a moment, just two meters away from each other, wands raised. Flint smirked for a second, before-
"Stupefy!" A jet of red light sparked from Wood's wand, and Flint slumped to the ground. Wood stared at the unmoving bodies of Flint and Derrick, before slowly walking over to a groaning Montague and Warrington, who was still twitching feebly. "That's it, then. Fight's over. I should probably get Madam Pomfrey." Wood let out a sigh. "I hope she doesn't kill me for this."
"I wonder why they were dumb enough to attack us like this. They weren't at full strength, either: I didn't see Miles Bletchley and Draco Malfoy. Probably too scared to show up in a proper fight, just like how Lucian Bole scampered," Johnson piped up. Wood gave a curt nod, before continuing: "Angelina, I want you to watch over the injured. I don't think Graham Montague or Cassius Warrington's going to attack, but you never know. Katie, you go to Professor McGonagall's office. Tell her what happened here: she'll sort the Slytherins out." With that, he turned on his heel and briskly jogged out of the pitch.
They hadn't saw me! My Disillusionment Charm along with my refrain from participating in the skirmish must have caused them to assume I had not showed up, albeit for unflattering reasons. Still, most Gryffindors already had the belief that all Slytherins were cowardly, so I wasn't about to be knocked down a peg in their eyes. I hadn't harmed Bell. I prevented further injury... or at least had tried to do so. And that was what mattered today.
Do review and tell me how you found the story. How does my depiction of the characters differ from the headcanon? If I could expand on one part of the story, which part would you have me work on? I appreciate every single comment that comes my way.