WITHOUT YOU [draco malfoy fanfiction]

8. quidditch

IRENE:

I arrive at the Quidditch stadium along with Nora. It is a magnificent place. I have never played Quidditch in front of a large group before. Although, no one here knows that. When Dumbledore said he had a friend who could teach me, he meant the captain of 'HOLYHEAD HARPIES'. I read about the team in the books Dumbledore had given me and I knew it was a great deal. And boy! The team did not let me down. Their captain, Gwenog Jones took me to practice with her team. Initially they taught me how to handle each ball, but I was pretty fond of the little golden snitch. I liked chasing after something that could basically change the entire game. I'm giving my try-outs for the position of the seeker. Gwenog said that I was a natural at Quidditch. I really hope she was right, because right now I don't want to be looking like a sore loser in front of everyone.

Nora wishes me good luck and goes to the stands along with the other Ravenclaws.

Madam Hooch lines all of us and dictates the rules to us. She will be taking the last year's captains' try-outs and if she found them good enough for this year as well, they will be re-elected and will be conducting the try-outs of their respective teams. I look at Ian standing just behind me and he gives me a smile, I mouth him an 'all the best'.

Madam Hooch blows the whistle and only the captains are standing with her. Rest of us, take a seat on the borders of the ground. From the corner of my eye, I spot Malfoy sitting for try-outs, looking as confident as ever. He looks at me and I quickly avert my eyes. After the incidents of today morning, I can't help but blush.

DRACO:

Flint comes back to us grinning. That idiot got re-elected as captain this year as well. But no matter what I say, I have to give it to him that he is a great captain. He tells us that Slytherin house selections are going to be held at last so we can go and take our seats at the stands.

The try-outs are so boring and having to watch 3 more houses is killing me. Hufflepuff just finished, It's Ravenclaw's turn now. All the students are divided into a total of two teams and play the game while Madam Hooch and the captain decide who are the best ones out of the lot. Ravenclaw's captain Ian walks up to Madam Hooch and asks if the students can come to the ground. On Madam Hooch's signal the Ravenclaws enter the ground. I spot Irene walking with the group. She's trying out too. Hooch blows the whistle and Irene shoots up in the air. She is trying out for the seeker's position. On the other team Cho Chang is defending her position as the seeker. Cho is a damn good seeker, I wonder if Irene could beat her. Another whistle and the quaffle is released and the game begins. One of the beaters hit the bludger straight towards Irene, I felt my pace quicken but she dodges it with ease. Her control is phenomenal. Not only is she dodging anything that comes her way, she is also helping her team by blocking the opponent players. Cho, on the other hand has all attention towards finding the snitch. That is actually a very smart strategy. At the end, the seeker's job is to find the snitch. Irene zig-zags in between two players and blocks the quaffle from going into the hoop. Well that is what I thought. She actually opens her palm slightly to show the snitch that she caught! That is the cleverest strategy. She made it seem like it was nothing just her attempt to help the team, so that Cho who was actually more closer to the snitch did not suspect anything and Irene ended up catching the snitch. I can't help but smile. This girl is clever.

IRENE:

As soon I catch the snitch, Madam Hooch blows the whistle indicating that the game has come to an end. I can see Nora clapping enthusiastically in the stands for me. I wave at her and give her a big smile. We descend together and start walking towards where Ian and Madam Hooch are standing. I can see Ian grinning at me. As usual.

"It was a good game kids" Hooch says

"Yeah and we won" this guy who was on my team says

"And I gotta say, the day belonged to Pierce" I'm surprised to see where this came from. Cho is smiling at me. I thought since I caught the snitch before her, she would be cussing me. My heart warms at her smile. I mouth thank you to her and return her smile.