Always

Chapter VII. The big match

Mattheo's POV

Sunday morning. Today was the big day. The day we were going to face the Gryffindor team in a match.

We were in the middle of the field already, brooms in hand. I looked to the stands just to see they were already starting to fill with students of the other houses. Thomas Brattleby was on the Slytherin booth, taking money from everyone and writing down the bets in his little notebook. Lucas Jordan had volunteered to make the commentary of the game, like he always did. Behind him I could see all the Professors chatting and in the center Headmistress McGonagall and Professor Sharp talked happily.

I darted my eyes to the Bell Tower.

Just a few more seconds. And then...

Eight o'clock, sharp.

The bells of the school bell tower started to play, bringing their melody all the way to the field. And just as the last beat echoed, the wooden doors beneath the Gryffindor booth opened and seven figures walked out to the field. People from all houses started to clap and cheer loudly.

I had to focus and keep my head in the game. I couldn't think about what happened Friday night. About what I said! How Anna left running in tears. I acted like an absolute asshole. Merlin, I was so disgusted with myself. Trying not to vomit in my mouth, I just stared back at the silhouettes coming our way.

Focus Mattheo. Focus!

This was a friendly match, but the rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor was well known. So well known, that I knew both teams were facing this game like it was the real thing, and that's why we were all wearing the game uniforms, adorned in green and silver, and not the ones destined for training only.

I took a glance at everyone before me and my eyes landed on Corbin Prewett, who I observed with caution. He had a blank expression on his face, but there was a hint of a challenge in his eyes. I hated that guy. Since Anna arrived at the school he was dying to get into her pants and the fact that he hadn't been able to, and the fact that she had chosen me instead, enraged him. We got involved in a fight once, when I heard him talking about Anna in a filthy and dirty manner. Me and Anna didn't date yet at the time, but I would not let anyone talk about her like that. We rolled onto the floor, until Professor Sharp arrived and broke us apart. I was sent to detention with bruised knuckles and small cuts on the back of my hands. He was sent to the Hospital wing with a broken nose, rib and purple eye.

I didn't know why and when the rivalry between Slytherins and Gryffindors began, but I'll be damned if I was going to be the one to ended it. Especially not while Prewett held the place of Captain of the Gryffindor team. I was going to do everything in my power to obliterate him.

I turned around towards my team as they gathered around in a circle.