𝑆𝐸𝐶𝑂𝑁𝐷 𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑁𝐶𝐸𝑆 // 𝐽𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑃𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑖𝑐

Chapter 7: Dont Do Anything Stupid

Saturday 2nd October

The stands are full, although not as busy as they would be with a Gryffindor and Slytherin match, those are the most intense. It was Ravenclaw playing Slytherin today, first game of the season so the tensions are high for it to begin.

Nova didn't get the best seats today, they were low and filled with people who didn't care all that much for Quidditch and were only there for the social status of it. Nova isn't ever late, but seeing as Misty insisted on having two hours to shower they hadn't been quick enough to claim the higher seats — the ones with the best view. Nova tried her hardest not to be annoyed, but when Madam Hooch finally began announcing the players Nova recognised just how little she will be able to see the match.

She huffed and crossed her arms, sitting back down onto her seat and giving up in trying to decipher the teams — the new players and which brooms are being used. So she only listened to the voice of Madam Hooch, then to the commenter— she was a Gryffindor, Nova guessed, hearing that overconfident tone.

"What are they waiting for?!" Misty complained next to the girl, mirroring Nova's actions as she huffed back in her chair.

Nova sucked in a cold breath, "what?"

"The team! The- the-" she gestured her hands downwards to the pitch. "them. The players, why can't they just start?"

Nova's tone was neutral, half expecting Misty to ask questions as she was never all that interested in the sport and only came for the moral.

"Madam Hooch will be explaining the rules since it's the first game, introducing new players to the opposing teams, double checking the balls are all going to cooperate since it's been so long from them being used, random broom inspections can be common too despite it already happening before the game, but it's just for safety reasons. If i'm being honest, she checks Slytherins more often solely because of our reputation but to be frank, it's Gryffindor who's more inclined to be pulling pranks or hexing their brooms or—"

"Okay. Okay. I get it now, broom checking and stuff," Misty said, exasperated.

Nova grinned, that tricked always worked, over analysing the questions Misty would ask to refrain her from asking more. She does like Misty mind you, really she does, but the girl can't have two minutes of silence. She enjoys speaking, she enjoys listening, she enjoys everything but quitness. And it's not that Nova wishes to change her, it's just that part of Misty can sometimes drain Nova as speaking isn't her strong suit.

"And if everyone would please look over to the two captains now shaking hands and- oh! I could feel that tension from here, although I always assumed Ravenclaw and Slytherins were the most friendly of houses. Maybe it was Gryffindor and Slytherin instead that were close," the commentator had already began with the awful jokes— if you can call them that. Nova always enjoyed the game more with a good commentator but she assumes that won't be the case this match.

"And there goes each of the players darting up into the sky at the sound of the whistle!"

Nova was on her feet now and able to see most — if not all— players. But that didn't last long as the game began to get heated, each player taking on their own tactic and spreading out. Nova hadn't been in the stands since second year and even then she still has the same enthusiasm for Quidditch, so she somewhat enjoyed studying the players she could make out, watching the way they handle their brooms and examining the plays from each team, predicting their next move.

It didn't take long for Slytherin to become in the lead, the Ravenclaw keeper not having much luck. She watched Regulus from time to time, his determination on his face as his eyes were scanning the open air in sight for anything small and gold.