Alexandra Potter
Chapter 9
Scene 3/4
Remus nodded.
"I'll owl you. Now, go to your friends!"
The crowd roared: the game had started.
Alex ran.
Ding ding!
"Gryffindor scores!" called Lee Jordan, the stadium erupting in cheers. Ten-nil to Gryffindor.
"Excuse me!" Alex shouted, squeezing roughly between a pair of banner-waving 7th years. She was pushing her way through the crowd, trying to reach Susan and the others, but it was slow going - especially as she wanted to keep an eye on the game at the same time. The players all moved so quickly, rocketing around on their brooms, swooping and banking like fighter jets.
Most of the game centred around the quaffle - a large, red ball - and already things were getting physical. As Alex watched, a Slytherin rammed right into one of the Gryffindor girls, sending her broom into a spin and the quaffle flying. Another Slytherin took it up as it fell, swerved upwards over a Weasley twin, dodged a Bludger, and -
Ding ding!
"An equaliser for Slytherin!" cried Lee Jordan, and Alex used the momentary pause to duck down and crawl through a forest of legs: not the most ladylike solution, but definitely the quickest way to the first years.
"Sly-ther-in, Sly-ther-in," chanted the crowd above her.What's happening?Someone trod on Alex's hand.
"Ow!" she said, trying to shake away the pain, dodging a knee that would have smacked her in the head.
"Watch it!" shouted a fifth year - a prefect. She surfaced on the other side of the crowd, right behind Susan's distinctive red hair. She would've spotted her a mile away. She tapped her on the shoulder.
"Alex!" cried Susan. The girls had managed to get a spot right at the front, leaning over the barrier. A great view. "Budge up, everyone!" she said, leaning to the side to try to make space. A heaving of bodies followed as everyone tried to keep their spot. A tiny space appeared between Hermione and Draco, and Alex jostled her way into it, accidentally placing an elbow into Hermione's ribs.
"Careful!" said Hermione. She was actually holding a copy ofQuidditch Through the Ages, and kept flipping through the book, no doubt trying to look up the names of various manoeuvres.She's insane.
"Hey," said Draco, and Alex smiled at him. He was wearing some really nice robes – Slytherin colours, of course – and had slicked back his hair. "You feeling better?"
"Much, thank you," said Alex.I bet he didn't laugh. He's always so nice.
"You'll be supporting Slytherin, of course," said Draco. Alex grinned, and shrugged.
"I dunno - maybe I just want an exciting match!"
And that it was: the Slytherins were on the offensive again. Their chasers shot across the pitch in a triangle, bouncing the quaffle back and forth whenever the Gryffindors got close.
"A classic Hawkshead Attacking Formation," said Hermione - though who she was talking to, Alex wasn't sure.
"Shut up, Granger," said Draco, and Alex giggled. Hermione glared at her.
"HEADS!" someone shouted, and Alex instinctively ducked. A bludger whipped past overhead, close enough to feel the backdraft. Just as Alex started to rise, she was forced to duck again: a Weasley was quick on its heels; he passed by, mere inches away from ramming right into the stands.
Thwack!Wood on metal: Weasley had caught the bludger. The iron ball was sent flying: right at Marcus Flint, the Slytherin captain. He dodged, but dropped the quaffle - quickly taken up by Katie Bell.
She didn't get far with it, though. A Slytherin chaser flew interference, cutting off her path again and again - until Marcus Flint came back for an aggressive tackle.
"Foul!" shouted half the crowd - Flint's foot had made contact with Katie's face.
"Foul!" confirmed Jordan, and Madam Hooch blew her whistle for a penalty shot.
Angelina Johnson took the quaffle in the centre. A slow clap started.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
She accelerated, weaving left to right, before giving the ball a mighty overarm throw. She went for the right hoop. Ashby went left.
"Gryffindor scores!"
Alex clapped with the others, before calling over to Susan. "Who're we supporting?"
"Slytherin!" said Draco.
"Gryffindor, of course!" said Susan. "If Gryffindor win, and we beat Gryffindor, maybe we can lose to Slytherin and still win the cup!"
Alex looked at Draco. "Sounds good!" she said, enjoying his displeasure.
She turned back to the game just in time to see Flint take a bludger to the ribs and Alicia put the quaffle past Ashby.
"Another for Gryffindor!" shouted Jordan, clearly happy.
"Yes!" said Alex, raising her arms to cheer - and inadvertently punching Hermione.Quidditch Through the Ageswent flying.
"Ouch! You did that deliberately!" said Hermione. She looked over the edge of the railing – the book was nowhere to be seen. "That was a library book, too! Oh no! What am I going to tell Madam Pince?"
"Maybe you should've thought about thatbeforebringing a book to a Quidditch match," said Alex. She was utterly unsympathetic – it was Hermione's own fault. And after the day she'd had, Alex really didn't have the patience for dealing with her.
"No – that just won't do," said Hermione, drawing herself up, "you knocked it out my hands. You'll have to come with me to Madam Pince and tell her it was your fault."
Alex snorted.
"Sure. And right after that, I'll go tell Daphne what a lovely, sweet girl she is."
"I'm serious!" said Hermione. She looked half way between cursing Alex and breaking into tears. "Madam Pince is going to make me pay for it! Me!"
"Well, itwasyour fault," said Alex, trying to follow the game. Gryffindor had scored again and she'd missed it. Why was Hermione so annoying? Why didn't she just shut up?
"Alexandra-"
"-look, Hermione," said Alex. "I'm not going with you to Madam Pince. Deal with it."
Hermione went quiet, and for a moment Alex thought it was over. Angelina had the quaffle; Marcus Flint was a foot behind her – too close to see Katie Bell coming right towards him. Angelina swept to one side, and so did Katie. Flint was too slow: the bludger that'd been following Katie smashed right into Flint's face.
"Ohh!" The crowd winced in sympathy.That boy sure can take a beating, Alex thought as he got back on his broom. He was a thug, but she couldn't help but feel some small admiration for him. If she took a bludger to the head she'd be out for a week.
"Why do you hate me so much?" Hermione asked, her voice wavering. Alex sighed and yet again turned away from the match.
"I don't hate you," she said.Though I will if you keep this up. "You're just annoying."
Normally, perhaps, she'd be less direct. More polite. But today was not a day for politeness. And just like that, the gates opened.
"You're always trying to beat me," continued Alex. "Always trying to do better than me. You suck up to the teachers, you're bossy, and frankly, a bit of a know-it-all."
For a moment Hermione looked hurt, but it passed quickly. Her eyes went hard. "Oh please," she said, venom in her voice, "as if you don't do exactly the same. You're just like me, Alexandra!"
No. I'm not. I'm better than you, and we both know it.
"There's one big difference between me and you, Hermione," said Alex, her voice completely calm. She knew exactly what to say.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. I have friends."
Hermione looked like she'd been slapped. And then Alex twisted the knife.
"Hey, Draco?" she said, turning to include him in the conversation. From the way he was looking at Alex in shock, he'd been listening.
"Yeah?" Casual. Completely at ease.
"Yes," said Alex.
"Yes…?"
"Yes, I'll be your girlfriend," Alex said – without looking away from Hermione.
She wasn't crying. She didn't look angry. She just looked… empty. She turned away without speaking. "Excuse me," she said, trying to get away, but the mass of bodies was too thick. It took her several tries before she managed to break into the crowd.
Alex turned back to Draco and smiled. He was grinning like an idiot, and that made Alex grin too.I have a boyfriend! Wait 'til I tell the – oh. Alex snuck a glance past Draco at Susan.
Her best friend had heard everything. She was looking on with such a look of sadness - it was like a punch to the stomach.Oh, Susan. I'm so sorry.
Draco took Alex's hand and squeezed it. His hands were really cold, but she didn't let go. It was… nice. She giggled a bit, before glancing back at Susan.She'll be okay.
Finally, Alex turned back to the match.
"Higgs has the snitch! Slytherin wins!"