Chapter 10: Too many Bludgers and an unfair game.
October had already begun, bringing with it his colored leaves and a colder wind. Sirius was sitting in the locker room of Gryffindor that morning with his feet on the chair in front of him, tilting it back on two legs with boredom, trying to listen to James's pre-game speech. He had been chatting for more than twenty minutes about strategies more complex than one another, constantly repeating to them that they had to win their first match against Slytherin, that they had to have those points for Gryffindor.
Sirius rolled his eyes for at least the fifth time since he was sitting in his place, wondering why his best friend kept trying to stuff their heads every time, he knew they were, by far, the best of all the Hogwarts's team.
-James, it's okay, we got it. Sirius groaned as he straightened up. -We must win, we will win! It's no use taking your head for such wankers, you know, the Slytherin team is the worst of all Hogwarts! Seriously. He laughed as he got up from his chair, catching his club to stretch. -Lucinda Talkalot cannot even tell the difference between the Quaffle and a Bludger, how do you want her to keep her goals properly, and we will not even talk about her Chasers, they don't even have yet assimilate the rules of the game.
The other team members burst out laughing and James shook his head, slightly annoyed by his friend's attitude. -Maybe, but Black is a great Seeker and do you really want us to talk about their two Beaters? He told him, watching Sirius display a grin of disgust.
-So what? Me too I'm a very good Beater. He said a little more coldly than he would have liked. -If Black gets a bit too close to the Snitch, all I have to do is slam a Bludger right through his stupid face and BAM, it will serve him well. He said, giving a strong blow in the void as if he had just sent a Bludger to someone before bursting into his barking-like laugher that resonated throughout the locker room.
-We're not here to snatch anyone's head off, Sirius. Fabian Prewett, the team Seeker, told him before standing up, adjusting his gloves, frowning. -We're going to win this game Captain! He turned to James, then turned abruptly toward Sirius. -But we'll win cleanly.
- I agreed with Fabian; we are not Slytherins; we do not need to hurt anyone to win our matches, we are better than that. Marlene McKinnon told him, standing up too, going to position herself next to James. Jason Hopkins, the third Chaser joined them.
- I don't want dirty tricks on my team; I don't want any injured players. Said James, starring a little longer at Sirius, to make sure he'd understood what he had said. The latter made a simple gesture of his hand to make him understand that he had heard, and he went out of the tent, the rest of the team following him.
James, who was walking behind him, looked for a moment at the back of Sirius's head before sighing. It was going to be a painful match; he knew it. Sirius was burning with an inner rage since what had happened this summer and since he was not the kind of person who really likes to talk, apart for making dubious jokes, he was pulling out his feelings otherwise. Something told him that the Slytherins were better to watch their backs, for Sirius was, as in all other areas, very good at Quidditch.
He did not particularly apply himself, which frustrated James a lot, but he was doing his job. James knew very well that it was too much concentration to ask from his friend, to go to all the training, to all the matches and to have to behave himself and be serious for more than three minutes in a row. Everyone also knew that Sirius was on the team only because James was the captain, and because James had literally harassed him to be part of it.
Any other, normal captain, would never have brought Sirius into the team. He was not particularly a Quidditch fan either and he had agreed to be part of it simply to not disappoint James. He was good, but he always had to make a mess of himself by doing stupid stuff and spoiling others' time.
He was zooming everywhere as it pleases him most of the time, sending his Bludgers directly to the opposing team's heads and his laughter echoed like the bark of a dog throughout all the pitch. James had, more or less, control over him and when Sirius ended up listening to him, it was only out of respect for him.
Once out on the Quidditch pitch, they arrived in the middle of the stadium, triggering an outcry of applause and screamed from the Gryffindors, as well as Ravenclaws and many Hufflepuffs. For some reason that James was still ignoring and amused him a lot, the Hufflepuffs had a lot of affinity with the Slytherins and they were cheering for them during matches.
-Captains! Madame Hooch exclaimed as she reached the two teams. -Shake hands.
James advanced a little more than the others to shake hands with the Slytherin captain, Lucinda Talkalot. She was the Keeper, and she was not the most talented on the pitch. James, who had been captain since he was in his fourth year, had already seen three Slytherin's captains and Talkalot was the worst of all.
It must be said that this year, Talkalot did not have the most gifted assets in her team. The two best Chasers had left Hogwarts last year, and she found herself with two new recruits and they weren't very good.
Then, there were the two Beaters. They were pretty nasty, and it was better to keep a good distance from them. Doris Purkiss was in fourth years and loved to fight and the second Beater, Rabastan Lestrange, in his seventh years, was the worst of them both. He never hesitated to send the Bludger right through your head for the only purpose of seriously injured you.
James did complain about Sirius, who often did the same thing, but Sirius did not take a target for the purpose of hurting it, it was always to destabilize it and make the target move. James was lucky that Sirius and Frank Longbottom make such a good team together and know how to defend their players because half of his team would have probably been quite injured.
And then, there was Sirius' brother. Into the team since last year, James had no choice but to admit that he was a gifted Seeker and that was what saved the Slytherin team from losing all their matches because the three Chasers; Emma Vanity, Evan Rosier, and Adrian Farley, had no chance at all against Marlene, Jason and himself.
Madame Hooch asked them to go back to their respective team and James turned on his heels going back to join Sirius who he saw winking at Talkalot before raising his hand and made her a rude gesture when Mrs. Hooch had turned her back on them. He saw Regulus roll his eyes and tell his captain not to worry about Sirius, that he was yelling loud, but didn't bite as much as it seems.
Sirius probably heard him too, because he turned quickly on his feet, James preventing him from moving forward by holding him by an arm. -Be careful Black, you never know what might happen to you, a rogue Bludger can happen so quickly! Sirius shouted to his brother, before mounting his broom, James and the rest of the team following him.
-I want a nice, clean game! Said Madame Hooch to them. -At my whistle, three, two, one! She hissed and all the players flew up at the same time. Talkalot had a bit of trouble scattering his players as James only had to raise his hand, his players positioning themselves without him having to say anything.
James looked into the stands, quickly finding Remus and Peter, who were accompanied by Lily and Mary McDonald. He winked at her, and he saw her rolling her eyes, but she still smiled back at him, waving her hand. He heard Sirius laughed behind him as he waved back his hand to Lily and Remus, who was laughing too, shaking his head.
He turned his attention to Madame Hooch, who now held the Quaffle in her hands, ready to throw it and start the game, as he heard the voice of Dorcas Meadowes ringing in the stadium with the magical loudspeaker. She had been commenting all of the Quidditch's matches for two years and she was really good at it, even though she sometimes let herself be carried away by emotion.
-Madame Hooch comes forward, the Bludgers are release, watch out for your heads, the Quaffle is launched... And the GAME BEGINS! Shouted Dorcas, Professor McGonagall, seated beside her sighed, shaking her head. -Potter takes the Quaffle first! He still knows how to fly! Prettily avoiding Emma Vanity who tried to intercept him, made a pass to McKinnon who... Wow, Marlene! Watch out for your head! Sorry Professor, McKinnon is heading for Slytherin's goals, no time to lose there!
The crowd of students let out an exclamation as Marlene, approaching the goal, defeated Talkalot passing behind her to pass the Quaffle to James who scores the first points, the Gryffindors then exploded with screamed of joy in the stands. Sirius and Frank were heard whistling as Jason Hopkins took possession of the Quaffle.
Jason narrowly avoided the Bludger send by Lestrange and passed it to James who grabbed the Quaffle, the crowd screamed in amazement as Emma Vanity punch him in the stomach with her elbow. He hurried to throw the Quaffle to Marlene, descending head first down to the ground, avoiding a second blow from the Chaser.
-It was really vicious of Vanity to do that! Dorcas shouted, her voice resonating in the pitch as she seemed furious. -It was disloyal and... Yes, yes, I know Professor but well... So, Potter to McKinnon, McKinnon avoids a Bludger and oh! That was a cheat! She shouted as Sirius knocked away a Bludger who was heading straight on James, launched at a low distance by Doris Purkiss who burst out laughing.
Sirius and Frank looked at each other, before turning their broomstick in a tight turn, sending the Bludgers back to their shippers, the Slytherins seem to have as a strategy, to wounded as many players as possible, James looking like he was the one they were aiming the most. The Quaffle slipped through Jason Hopkins's hands when Evan Rosier almost knocked him from his broomstick, recovering the ball and spinning at high speed towards the Gryffindor's goals.
-Rosier his heading up, he passes to Adrian Farley who avoids Hopkins's blow, the Quaffle is passed again to Rosier, then to Vanity, Rosier advances himself behind Daisy Hookum and Slytherin scores! Growled Dorcas with a little less enthusiasm than when Gryffindor had scored their first points.
-Gryffindor and Slytherin are even, ten to ten! She continued. -Vanity takes possession of the Quaffle, she passes it to Rosier who throw it at Farley who returns the Quaffle to Vanity, she approaches the Gryffindor's goal, Daisy, be careful oh wow! Hookum stopped Evan Rosier from scoring and gives the Quaffle to Potter, a wonderful save by Gryffindor!
The Gryffindor applauded with frenzy, and James caught sight of Professor McGonagall raising from her seat to applauded her team. He smirked and jerked toward the Slytherin goals to throw the Quaffle through the highest goal as easily as if Talkalot had not been there at all. He saw Professor Slughorn buried his face in his hand, shaking his head seeming to be demoralized.
-Gryffindor scores another goal! They lead the game one hundred and twenty to forty! Dorcas shouted later as the match was raging for over an hour and a half. James was exhausted, the Slytherins had taken him as the main target since the beginning of the game, trying to make him fall from his broomstick at the slightest chance, punching him in the stomach, on his head and his back all over again.
He grabbed the Quaffle and nearly let it slipped when Marlene threw it at him, letting out a grunt as he felt a shot in is back, Rosier trying to take the Quaffle from him, but he was unsuccessful. -Potter heads for the Slytherin's goals, makes a pass to McKinnon who feigns Farley, oh! A nice pass from McKinnon and Potter recovers the Quaffle, Talkalot is way too far from her goals... Potter scores! Another ten points for Gryffindor. Dorcas shouted, jumping up and down her seat.
James caught up the Quaffle but lost it to Rosier, who had tried to hit him in the face to stole the ball and climbed up to avoid a Bludger sent by Sirius, heading to the Gryffindor goal. -Oh no, Rosier is heading to the goals, he seems determined to score this time! He makes a pass to Vanity who, oh! It was close! Nice Bludger blow from Longbottom! Dorcas screamed. -Vanity to Farley, Farley returns the Quaffle to Vanity who passes to Rosier, he is so near... wow! Good job Daisy! Superb save from Daisy Hookum!
The crowd exploded once more in applause before suddenly screaming out of fear. A muffled sound was heard, and then a loud crack rang through all the stadium, Sirius shouting something before James dropped from his broomstick at several feet above the ground, crashing into the sand, unconscious.
All went very fast, James was a little higher than the others and had applauded his Keeper for preventing Rosier from scoring and he had not seen the Bludger send right to him by Rabastan Lestrange. He had taken the blow at full speed right in the stomach, barely restraining himself from falling from his broomstick, before seeing Doris Purkiss sent him the second one, succeeding in getting up a bit to avoid his head from being smashed in half.
But he was not quick enough to completely avoid it and the Bludger hit him directly on his hand holding the broom. James felt a sharp pain overwhelm him, as he gasped, not able to breathe. The top of his broom had been shattered so he could no longer restrain himself to anything, slipping on the side of his broomstick, hearing Sirius yelling before crashing to the ground, losing consciousness.
The Slytherins burst out laughing, Talkalot shouting to his team to pull themselves together as Adrian Farley caught up the Quaffle to head for the Gryffindor's goal, as they had all instantly got to the ground to help James. It was Sirius and Frank who reached him first. He was lying, face first on the ground, a trickle of blood coming out of his mouth, his right arm resting in a strange angle.
Sirius and Frank turned him gently on his back, Mrs. Pomfrey arriving in the pitch at the same time as Remus and Peter, still panting from their races, having pushed everyone in the stands to get to the field as fast as possible.
The Slytherins continued to cheer their teams, yelling out loudly as Sirius heard Dorcas Meadowes' cold voice announcing that Regulus Black had just caught the golden snitch, hearing behind Professor McGonagall's voice asking her to shut up when she cried out that this game was damn unfair.
It was too much for Sirius. He caught his club, ignoring Remus who shouted at him to stay on the ground and flew away again on his broomstick, spotting the Bludger, splitting at him at a crazy speed to deflect a powerful blow right at Evan Rosier's head who opened wide eyes, knowing very well that he would not be able to avoid the Bludger.
He managed to avoid the blow to his head but was not fast enough and the Bludger hit him with full forces in the stomach and he crashed to the ground, spitting blood, having fallen from a much lower height than James. Sirius stung to the ground and jumped off of his broomstick, as Rosier was trying to get up, helped by Lestrange. He rushed straight ahead but was cut in his swing as he tried to punch him, being thrown down to the ground. Remus, Peter, and Frank were trying to control him as much as they could, as he was yelling at them to free him, that he was going to make Lestrange pay for what he had done to James.
Down on the pitch, it was a total mess. Rabastan had also approached, ready to fight with Sirius, holding up by Lucinda Talkalot and Regulus. The professors were now on the field, Mrs. Pomfrey shouting to them that it was enough, that there were enough injured students on the pitch, Mrs. Hooch interposing herself between the two teams.
-Black! Shouted Professor McGonagall, as Sirius had cleared himself from Remus's grip to throw himself on Rabastan, the latter avoiding the punch Sirius had wanted to throw in his face. But Sirius was faster and he hit him with all his strength in his ribs, a loud cracking sound then resonated and a second latter, Lestrange was falling to the ground as Sirius was thrown far away by a spell launched by Mrs. Hooch.
He stood up with difficulty, dusting his clothes, hearing only from one ear the words of Professor McGonagall. She was shouting to him that never, never in all his life, had she had seen such behavior and that he had just got himself an entire week of detention. When she finally released him, he looked around, James had already been brought to the castle by Mrs. Pomfrey and the other team member.
Frank and Fabian had stayed to watch over him and they followed him when Sirius rushed to the castle. He hexed some of the students on his way to the hospital wing because some had tried to ask him what had happened on the field. He did not care if he had to add some more days to his detention, all that mattered to him at the moment was whether James was all right or not.
He went into the hospital wing, the rest of the team was already there, as well as Remus, Peter, and Lily. He pushed his way and brusquely pushed Marlene's hand aside as she had tried to stop him from approaching, also abruptly pulling Peter away to lean over James, still unconscious.
-You're going to calm down Sirius, he doesn't need you in that state! Coldly said Remus to him, pushing him back with a dry gesture. -You think you're smart!? Did you get what you wanted? Giving yourself into a stupid show in front of the whole school!
-They had what they deserved, those two assholes, and if they had not stopped me, I would have taken care of Lestrange. Well done for them and all of those stupid ass wannabe Death Eaters...
-Sirius, shut up. Said Lily, grabbing his shoulder to force him to look at her. -You're being completely ridiculous. Get out, change your mind, Remus is right, we do not need you in this state.
- I will not go anywhere if James is here, Evans! You can get the fuck out of here if you want to but I'll stay put. What are you doing here anyway, I thought you hated him, so don't tell me to leave or I will cast on you a curse so bad that you will remember it for the rest of your days! He yelled at her, his voice echoing in the hospital wing.
There was nothing to do when he was like it seeming to be someone else. There was only James who could calm him, only James to make him shut up. Remus sighed and approached Sirius, trying to calm him down. Sometimes, when Sirius was reacting so strongly to such nonsense things, he could not help but think that he had always been right about the consequences of his family inbreeding.
-Pads... said James's weak voice and Sirius pushed them away a second time to approach him. James made a hand gesture, telling him to come closer and once Sirius was leaning over him, he punched him in the stomach of his valid hand. -Don't talk to her like that or you'll have to deal with me. He groaned between his teeth, trying to straighten up, lamentably failing, resting his head in his pillows.
He thought his head was going to explode, that his right arm was torn off and that the Hogwarts Express had passed over his body several times. He had difficulty moving his jaw, breathing was horribly painful and he felt like he was going to throw up at any moment. He understood a little better by what Remus had to go through every month. He did not remember having a game that had gone as bad as this one.
He watched his arm, wrap in a scarf to keep it in place, relief that it was still there, and in one piece. He let out a long sigh, closing his eyes, trying to not pay attention to the wave of nausea that was rushing him. Mrs. Pomfrey finally arrived, sending away the rest of the team, James telling them softly that all was okay, that they didn't have to worry, that he would be out in no time.
-You can stay with him. Said Madame Pomfrey to Sirius, Remus, and Peter. Marlene and Lily were trying to make themselves as small as possible. -But I'm warning you. She adds, turning to Sirius glaring furiously at him. - If I hear a word higher than the other, a too loud laugh, or anything that might displease me, you will be banished from this hospital wing for an indeterminate time. I hope I make myself clear.
She helped James to sit up and gave him a potion that he vomited at once, Mrs. Pomfrey lifting her eyes to force him drinking the rest of the bottle and she placed on his bedside table a healing potion, the same one that Remus carried everywhere with him. -I'll let you take care of that, it'll do him good. She said before warning them again that she did not want to hear anything, and then disappeared into her office.
James let out a whimper as other waves of nausea shook him, his head still spinning atrociously. -Oh, Merlin. Sirius groaned as he approached to catch the potion, rolling his eyes with a frustrated groan. -Try to remove all that, he said at James, pointing his clothes. -I'll apply some of the potions you'll sleep better. He said to him.
James shook his head, keeping his teeth clenched. If he opened his mouth there were good chances that he would throw up again. -I'll take care of him if you want. Said Marlene to him, as she approached reaching her hand. Sirius raised an eyebrow at her, wondering what was passing through her head and after a while, he eventually left her the potion.
He exchanged a look with Remus, Peter avoiding looking at both of them, slowly scratching his nose. - Well in that case… I think we should go! He suddenly exclaimed, cutting off the silence that was reigning in the hospital wing.
-I'll take care of him Sirius, do not worry, I'll come and join you when I'm done. Said Marlene, a huge smile on her face as Remus grabbed Lily by the hand to force her to move forward, as she was staying stupefied when her friend had volunteered to help James.
- I'm gonna be all right guys, you can go. James told them, before asking Marlene to come and help him try to pull his Quidditch's sweater off as the others were leaving the hospital wing, Lily glancing at James over her shoulder, Remus pulling her out in the corridor.
She saw James let out a moan, mingled with a slight laugh, Marlene's hands being now under his sweater to help him pull it off as he heavily pressed his head on the girl's shoulder. Lily snatched her hand from Remus's grip, feeling suddenly like she was boiling inside as she shook her head sharply, glaring at Remus who was staring at her, laughing. But what was it with her all of the sudden? There was nothing new here, between Marlene and James.
Marlene had always been close to the Marauders, even more so since she was a part of the Quidditch team, and it had never bothered Lily. She did not understand why she had felt her stomach twisted like it had when she had seen Marlene lay her hand in James's face and she was trying hard to get rid of her flaming red cheeks. It was completely stupid, and it made no sense at all.
SiriusDidn'tHaveToDie: I don't know what had happened with the formatting I'm so sorry sweet :/ everything seems all right so I really don't know...
Liz: ^^ thanks again! Hope you had like this one!
To the Guest: Hahaha thank you so much! I'm adding as soon as I finish a chapter and I tried to do it at least once a week but something real life takes over! Thank you so much!