The Turning of Time ~ Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Twenty

As I flew upwards the nervousness fades to pure joy. The feeling of the wind rushing past me and the roar of the crowd is making me feel giddy. I settle into a position high above the normal playing field, the giddiness and roar fade as I start to focus entirely on the game. 

I slowly begin to circle the field, my focus split between watching the game to make sure when I find the snitch we aren't too behind in points, while also making sure I don't get knocked off my broom by a stray or intentional bludger, all while searching for the metallic glint of the almost imperceptible snitch. 

At first we seem to be doing well, back to back goals, resulting in an easy early 20 points. 

I feel the slight shift in the momentum before I see it, the way the crowd almost holds its breath for a second. As I look away from the game to search for the snitch I see a slight yellow and black figure dart away from our beaters and head for our goal posts. I keep my eyes focused even though I can feel panic start to build, then I hear the cheering. 

From the wrong side of the stadium.

Focus, stay focused. 

It's only 10 points...

I glance back to the game and suck in a breath. I see her, Lenora, Marie was right. She is wicked fast and incredibly agile, avoiding our Beaters with ease. In the minute I look back she makes her way to the goal, I turn back to scan again and hold my breath in dread. I hear cheering, again. 

20-20

I breathe out, almost in pain. Can my team recover? 

...It is not only 20 points. No we did not recover, at least not right away.

10, 20, 30, 40, 50 in almost rapid succession, we got a break before she reached sixty. But the energy we were slowly cultivating has shattered. Panic has taken over my easy focus. We have the quaffle now, but for how long? I can't say.

I take a risk and stop looking at the game entirely, now going solely off of the cheering from the crowd and praying I don't get hit. I need to find that snitch. 

Now.

It's still hiding. We gain another ten points bringing us to 30. There's a slight moment to breathe while each teams passes the quaffle, loses it to the other team and try and pass again, repeating for a few minutes. 

I see it! 

No, it's a pocket watch from the crowd.

Breathe. Settle. Focus.

We finally go up another twenty, bringing us to an even 50. 

Neck and neck. 

The panic settles for the moment. Hopefully they have figured out Lenora a bit.

From the corner of my eye I see quick movement, I duck just in time to avoid being hit in the back of the head from a bludger. I look down to see one of the Hufflepuff Beaters smirking up at me. 

I smirk back, I see a black streak heading in his direction, he nearly gets knocked off his broom by a retaliation bludger. His smirk disappears as he struggles to regain his balance. I turn back and circle faster. My own smirk fades as I see the other Seeker who had been staying lower than me, already on the move. I look in the direction he's heading, and I see it. 

Dammit, I was distracted on purpose.

Without hesitation, I move. I pick up speed, my broom with it's legal modifications, yes, I did check, easily outpaces there Seekers broom. I fly past him. My breathing starting to pick up and sweat starts to bead on my neck. Finding the snitch is only half the battle, catching it is a whole other beast.