𝒍𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒛𝒆 - pjo x hp [₂]

xxxiv. couple of quidditch captains

"𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐙𝐈𝐍𝐆," Anthony Goldstein, Elias' boyfriend, said. "It's rare to see this weather during a Quidditch game."

Raya sat with Thomas, Elias, Cierra and Anthony in the stands to cheer on the teams. It was the first match of the season: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. She was dressed in green and silver, her usual colours ever since she started dating Kayse. Most of her friends dressed the same way, not wanting to make her accidently annoyed.

It was also Kayse's first game as Quidditch Captain, which made them want to support the team a little more.

Unfortunately, luck didn't seem to be on his side for this game. One of his best Chasers had gotten hit in the head with a Bludger during practice yesterday and he was out. And Draco was out sick, which meant Harper was playing. He was a bit of a klutz. And to make it even worse, Kayse himself had woke up with a cold and was running on Tylenol and herbal tea. Mostly those two because he refused to take the Pepperup potion since he hated the steam that came out of his ears

Raya suggested he take the game off, but he refused... and she knew why. The Quidditch team respected him because he was their Captain, but some of the other Slytherins didn't care and still only saw him as a muggleborn. It was going to be a tough game, but she couldn't find a way to talk him out of it. .

Suddenly, the roaring of the crowd grew louder, and Raya saw what had caught their attention. The Gryffindor and Slytherin teams were walking out on the field, tumultuous cheers and boos from the crowd egging them on.

The Captains shook hands per Madame Hooch's instructions, and the teams took to the sky.

Raya kept her eyes on Harry and Harper, the Seeker in her determined to find the Snitch before either of them did. Harper zigzagged far below Harry, searching nearly at the same level as the others playing the game. It was a rookie move, one that showed he was more comfortable in a Chaser position.

Then a voice that was jarringly different to the usual commentator's started up.

"Well, there they go, and I think we're all surprised to see the team that Potter's put together this year. Many thought, given Ronald Weasley's patchy performance as Keeper last year, that he might be off the team, but of course, a close personal friendship with the Captain does help..."

These words were greeted with jeers and applause from the Slytherin end of the pitch. 

Raya finally tore her eyes away from the pitch and towards the commentator's box, where she recognized Zacharias Smith speaking into the magical microphone that had once been Lee's.

"I thought the commentator's supposed to be unbiased," Anthony tilted his head in confusion. He didn't watch many Quidditch games, barely even understood the sport. But he was happy to come along to support Kayse.

"Lee was also very biased," Thomas told him. "He was just biased in favour to Gryffindor, so no one cared. Also he was a more likeable person. And he made most of insults seem like jokes, so it was hard to stay mad at him."

"What Thomas said," Raya affirmed. "It never works, trying to stay unbiased. If you understand the game enough, you tend to have a team you like very much... or hate very much. But Zacharias is much more unlikeable than Lee."

"Oh, and here comes Slytherin's first attempt on goal, it's Urquhart streaking down the pitch and —" Raya leaned over the edge of the railing "— Weasley saves it, well, he's bound to get lucky sometimes, I suppose...."

"Ron's actually a good Keeper," Cierra rolled her eyes. "I barely understand the sport and I know that much."

With half an hour of the game gone, Gryffindor were leading sixty points to zero, Ron having made some truly spectacular saves, some by the very tips of his gloves, and Ginny having scored four of Gryffindor's six goals. This effectively stopped Zacharias wondering loudly whether the two Weasleys were only there because Harry liked them, and he started on Peakes and Coote instead.