The Princess and the Bloodstone

The Last Quidditch Match

A hellish week layered with sleep depravity dragged by and suddenly it was Saturday again. The sun was starting its climb through the morning sky, the day was bright with only a slight draft coming from the snow-capped mountains around Hogwarts.

The fact that today was the first Quidditch match of the season, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, summarized most complications that sought to involve Professor Severus Snape the past week. The Quidditch Cup had not been held for so long, that it saw considerable added interest and excitement surrounding the approaching game.

Rolanda Hooch hovered at the fringes of the pre-match scene beside Severus, keeping an eye on players and supporters gathering in the pavilions. Despite the week he had, he found himself somewhat eager to referee a match between the two big competitors, as he has interests on both sides.

Only once James Potter laid six feet underground, Remus Lupin was ostracised, Sirius Black a dead man walking and little Lily found herself at risk did Quidditch begin to rub off on him. Being comfortable on a broom was a skill he had to learn the hard way. Severus had put in hours of practice to be able to keep his composure during the fast-paced game, played whilst basically clutching a stick between your thighs and speeding through the air – and he had to pass the three levels of practical assessment trials during the Department of Magical Games and Sports International Practical Quidditch Refereeing Competency Examinations. He had to learn to fly like he had to learn to like Quidditch and, although Severus had to make up for many disadvantages during his four years involved in the sport, he was currently the most heavy-duty referee Hogwarts had. This was proven by the frequency he was placed on the field at the special request of Hooch, McGonagall or at times even Dumbledore to enable staff to catch cheats and break up inevitable fights between hot-headed participants.

His ability to bring players to heel and his shrewd knowledge and severe enforcement of the rules made him an intimidating referee. Statistically, his matches were cleaner compared to the rest of the staff because of the control he was able to maintain over the field.

Naturally, his main objective was to keep Holly from breaking her neck by accident or otherwise and he liked to think that his promise to keep her safe made him at the very least less biased toward other teams.

The Gryffindor players sat in a circle, going through a stretching routine together before the warm-up.

Holly laid her ear on her knee in a deep hamstring stretch while simultaneously chatting happily with a friend twisted into a similar pose. She laughed with the general conversation and joined in with a cheer or witty comment as they moved on to shoulder mobility exercises. She then showed off by tying her bootlaces while doubled over like an acrobat, her friends seeming to love it.

They love her.

Something powerful inside Severus seemed to be inexplicably slighted by this.

Could it be jealousy?

He looked away, trying to distract himself.

Gathered by the changing rooms, the Slytherin players huddled together in a strategic planning session. The new captain, Montague, used his wand to draw in the cold mud, occasionally pointing at players around him and then poking at the elaborate dirt-plan again. The team seemed reasonably prepared, but whether or not they are better than last season remained to be seen. He had booked the Quidditch pitch for their practice so often that the Gryffindors had difficulty getting on it to play, and yet he was still missing the House Cup in his office.

Severus despised seeing Gryffindor triumph over his own house . . .

They have had enough victories, today the cup is for Slytherin.