The Shadow of Slytherin

The second match

Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff

"No time to lose", Clopton states, risen from his spot. Nerida beside him, they wander off the stand back to their bleachers while Cressida Blume and Arthur Plummby take their places as the narrator for the second match.

Next to Garreth and Ominis, you cheer at the sight of Akira walking out onto the Quidditch field, a bright grin as Alex leans over the banter and nods at him. Then the rest of the Gryffindor team follows while Kat cheers for the Hufflepuffs as they enter from the other side.

"The first match won by Slytherin, a strong team with their favourite seeker in the position of beater. A nasty strike, the Gryffindor seeker catches the snitch for Slytherin. What a roller-coaster, what a great victory. Let us hope Gryffindor will win this match in their own colours," Cressida yells, getting knocked over the back of her head with a book by Samantha Dale who throws her a side eye.

Chuckling, Arthur grabs the microphone and leans closer. "Okada as keeper for Gryffindor. Will he play for them or let the Quaffle through on purpose, while Hufflepuff is stronger than ever, their beaters ready to strike down anyone. Let's hope Greer will not let anyone talk her down and catch that snitch."

The head shaken, Madam Kogawa steps onto the Quidditch field, the box with Quidditch balls floating behind her until she has reached the centre. "All right, listen up. I want a fair game. You wear the same colour, you are the same team. Focus, and let this match be even better than the last." With those words, she blows the whistle, the players all in position, waiting for the Quaffle to fly into the air.

"You think Okada will withstand Balfour this time? Now that her sister is a chaser?" Garreth leans closer, his arms crossed over the banter while you stare down to the infirmary near the entrance of the field to see dirty blond hair on top of a red and yellow striped Quidditch gear vanish through the gates, carried by some students while Madam Blainey tends to Amari Okoye, treating the scratches on her back from where the broom has broken. "Hey, are you listening?" Nudging against your arm, Garreth stares towards the ground as well. "One hell of a strike, I will give you that, but Gray still hits harder."

"And I will rip your head off as well, if you don't keep quiet, Weasley," Atticus snarls, the arm leant over Garreth's as he pulls him from you.

"What is your problem? I brought victory to Slytherin, Slytherin! against my own house," Garreth states, the arms crossed while Ominis, Poppy and Natty focus on the game that has started and grows heated fast when Akira catches the Quaffle and tosses it to Nikolas Mueller, who falters on his broom in an attempt to hold the ball.

Cheering, Alex claps and hops around as Akira remains calm in his spot, getting dirty looks from his fellow team mates.

Upon the next goal from Hufflepuff, a loud cheer reaches your ears. On the other side of the Quidditch field, the bleachers grow darker, the students lifting their wands to create umbrellas and shield themselves while dark clouds grow above the Quidditch field.

Hard rain patters onto the players that close their uniforms, put on the goggles and fly faster, the Quaffle passed quicker as they rush around.

"And Diggory is off, in the dark where no one can see anything, has she spotted the snitch?" Cressida croaks into the microphone, another student holding an umbrella over their head while Madam Kogawa lifts her wand to build a barrier above the entire platform.

The cold rain pattering onto your face, you smile, the cosy warmth inside filling your every fibre, keeping you from freezing like the others. "Salem, quick," Natty yells lifting the umbrella over your head as she pulls on your arm, but you shake your head, the wet strands hitting your face.