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☆☆☆
The weather at Hogwarts was growing colder as November rolled in. The mountains had become snow-capped and edges of the lake were starting to freeze over. Aurora wondered if Scotland was colder than England, or if she was just missing her parents.
The start of November brought something other than cold weather; the Quidditch season. Aurora had never liked Quidditch. Her brother, however, adored it.
Every summer, Leo was out with their father playing one-on-one. Since starting school last year, he'd roped other boys his age into his games. Aurora knew he'd had the Weasley brothers over and occasionally another boy in the area called Cedric. Aurora just didn't see the appeal.
Why she'd agreed to let her friends drag her to the first school game of the season, she'd never know.
By eleven o'clock the whole school seemed to be out in the stands around the Quidditch pitch. Many students had binoculars. The seats might be raised high in the air but it was still difficult to see what was going on sometimes. Aurora noticed the older students had gone all out with scarlet or green ribbons, posters and scarves.
Aurora and Padma joined Lizzy and Su up in the top row of the Ravenclaw stands. Aurora wasn't sure who they were supposed to be going for. It was a Gryffindor versus Slytherin match; Ravenclaw wasn't playing.
"Are we going for Gryffindor?" Lizzy asked Aurora and Padma.
"I suppose," Aurora agreed, exchanging a look with Padma. "It'll be cool to see how Harry does, won't it?"
Lizzy shrugged, leaning against the bannister in front of them. "My brother's livid. He thinks it's unfair. It is a bit, I suppose. First years aren't supposed to be allowed on the team."
Just then, the two teams walked on to the pitch to loud cheers. The rivers of scarlet and of emerald stood opposite each other. Madam Hooch was refereeing. She stood in the middle of the pitch, waiting for the two teams, her broom in her hand.
The players mounted their brooms. Madam Hooch gave a loud blast on her silver whistle. Fifteen brooms rose up, high, high into the air. They were off.
"And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor- what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too-"
"JORDAN!"
"Sorry, Professor." The Weasley twins' friend, Lee Jordan, was doing the commentary for the match, closely watched by Professor McGonagall.
"And she's really belting along up there, a neat pass to Alicia Spinnet, a good find of Oliver Wood's, last year only a reserve– back to Johnson and– no, Slytherin have taken the Quaffle, Slytherin captain Marcus Flint gains the Quaffle and off he goes– Flint flying like an eagle up there– he's going to sc– no, stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor Keeper Wood and Gryffindor take the Quaffle– that's Chaser Katie Bell of Gryffindor there, nice dive around Flint, off up the field and– OUCH– that must have hurt, hit in the back of the head by a Bludger–
"Quaffle taken by Slytherin– that's Adrian Pucey speeding off towards the goalposts, but he's blocked by a second Bludger– sent his way by Fred or George Weasley, can't tell which– nice play by the Gryffindor Beater, anyway, and Johnson back in possession of the Quaffle, a clear field ahead and off she goes– she's really flying– dodges a speeding Bludger– the goalposts are ahead– come on, now, Angelina– Keeper Bletchley dives– misses– GRYFFINDOR SCORE!"
