Delyth Snape

The Quidditch Match

------

As I made my way to the Quidditch pitch, excitement buzzed through the air, the crowd's chatter growing louder with each step. The Hufflepuff versus Slytherin match was always a big deal, even if it wasn't as intense as Gryffindor-Slytherin. Today, Cedric would be playing Seeker for Hufflepuff, and the entire house was rooting for him. 

Just as I turned the corner near the stadium, I bumped into someone. "Oh, excuse me—" I began but froze when I saw who it was.

"Miss Snape," Lucius Malfoy's cold eyes met mine, a thin smile curling on his lips. "What a coincidence."

"Mr. Malfoy?" I asked, startled. "What are you doing here?"

Lucius adjusted his cane, his voice smooth as silk. "A matter with the Ministry and Professor Dumbledore. Thought I'd stay to watch Draco play. You seem to have the same idea." He raised an eyebrow. "Care to join me?"

"Join you?" The offer caught me off guard.

"Why not?" He motioned toward the stands. "We can watch the match together. It's always good to have someone respectable at one's side."

Respectable. His tone carried more meaning than the word itself. Without waiting for a proper response, he led the way, and I followed, unsure of what else to do. We found seats high in the stands where we had a clear view of the pitch.

As we settled in, my eyes wandered, and that's when I spotted my father in the crowd below. I hadn't expected to see him here. He hardly ever attended Quidditch matches unless Slytherin was playing.

Lucius noticed my gaze. "Ah, Severus," he said lightly. "Didn't know he was much of a Quidditch enthusiast."

I couldn't help but snort. "He's not. He only comes when Slytherin plays."

Lucius's smirk deepened. "Of course. Loyalty to his house."

We both turned our attention back to the game. Draco was already in the air, flying from one end of the pitch to the other, his movements sharp and precise. "He's so talented," Lucius commented, pride evident in his voice. "Draco's a natural flier. One day, perhaps, he'll play professionally."

"He's good," I agreed, though my attention was divided. My eyes kept wandering over the crowd, searching for familiar faces. When they landed on Fred Weasley, who was sitting a few rows down with George and the rest of the Gryffindor team, my chest tightened. Fred caught my eye and waved, a grin spreading across his face. I returned the gesture, smiling despite myself.

Lucius noticed. "Be careful who you associate with, Miss Snape," he said, his voice soft but laced with warning. "Weasleys are... well, let's just say they're not the company one of your standing should keep."

I didn't reply, my smile faltering. His words sat heavily in the air between us, but I wasn't about to explain my history with Fred or defend my choice of friends. Not to Lucius Malfoy, anyway.

The game continued, though Hufflepuff wasn't doing well. Slytherin was dominating, and the score was painfully in their favor. I tried to focus, but the knot in my stomach tightened further. Something felt wrong, though I couldn't place what it was.

Then, a sudden chill swept through the stands.

I felt it before I saw them—the cold creeping up my spine, the air growing thick with dread. The crowd's cheers turned to confused murmurs, then to gasps of fear.

Dementors.

The black-robed figures glided onto the pitch, their presence sucking the warmth and joy out of the air. It was as if the entire stadium was plunged into icy despair. The players stopped in mid-air, frozen by the overwhelming cold. Draco nearly fell off his broom, and Cedric's face went pale as he hovered in place, staring at the dark creatures approaching.

The sight of them made my heart pound painfully in my chest. Everyone knew they were here because of Sirius Black, but in that moment, it didn't matter. All I could feel was the creeping fear their presence brought.

"Don't worry," Lucius said beside me, his tone eerily calm. "They won't harm you."

I wasn't so sure. The coldness in the air made my skin prickle, and my hands trembled in my lap.

The match was called off, players and spectators alike rushing to escape the freezing chill. Lucius remained seated for a moment longer, his gaze following the Dementors with cool detachment."You should hurry inside, Miss Snape," he said finally. "No sense in lingering out here."

I stood up, the unease still swirling in my gut as I turned to leave. "Thank you, Mr. Malfoy."

Lucius nodded. "Perhaps you'll reconsider spending Christmas with us at the manor. Narcissa has been asking about you. It's been too long since your last visit."

"I'd love that," I replied automatically, though in truth, I didn't know how I felt about it. The thought of spending time at Malfoy Manor with Draco and his family filled me with mixed emotions. Still, I forced a smile. "Thank you for the invitation."

Lucius gave me a small nod as I hurried off toward the castle. Fred caught my eye once again in the chaos, but there was no time to exchange more than a quick glance before the crowd pushed me along.

The Dementors had reminded everyone of Sirius Black, the man they were searching for. Though in the rush and fear, it seemed everyone had temporarily forgotten.

 I pushed through the crowd, searching for my friends. My heart was still pounding at the sight of those creatures. The atmosphere had shifted from the excitement of the match to something much darker.

Finally, I spotted Cedric near the changing rooms, his shoulders slumped, staring at the ground. His usual confidence was gone, replaced by frustration.

"Cedric?" I called softly as I approached him.

He looked up, his face tight with anger. "We were losing so badly, Delyth. It was embarrassing. And then those Dementors... they ruined everything."

I frowned and stepped closer. "You can't blame yourself for that. The Dementors shouldn't even have been there."

"I'm supposed to be a leader," he muttered, his voice filled with self-disappointment. "And I couldn't do anything about it." With one final look at the now-empty pitch, Cedric nodded. "Let's head inside."

As we walked back toward the castle together, I couldn't help but glance over my shoulder, half-expecting to see that black dog again lurking at the edge of the forest. But it was just shadows this time. Or so I hoped.

----