Forbidden Request

Chapter Twenty: Qudditch And Girl Talk

Poppy slipped into a pair of snug jeans and a cozy Hufflepuff jumper, the yellow and black stripes making her excitement for the game even more obvious. Meanwhile, I tugged on my own casual outfit, opting for something comfortable—jeans and a simple top—before pulling my curly red hair into two neat braids. As I tied off the last one, Poppy turned to me with a hopeful grin.

"Can you braid mine too? Yours look so good."

I laughed softly and nodded, motioning for her to sit. As I worked through her short hair, weaving it into twin braids, the morning light filtered through our window, making the scene feel calm before the chaos of the day ahead.

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The day of the Hufflepuff versus Slytherin Quidditch match dawned with a cold, brisk wind that whipped across the Hogwarts grounds, bringing with it the crisp scent of autumn. The sky overhead was a patchwork of dark clouds and faint blue, creating the perfect, dramatic backdrop for what promised to be an intense match.

The Quidditch pitch was already packed with students when Poppy and I found our seats in the Hufflepuff section, just behind the team's bench. The stands were alive with color—yellow and black banners fluttered in the breeze, and green and silver flags waved proudly from the Slytherin supporters.

There was a sense of anticipation in the air, a buzz that seemed to charge the atmosphere with electricity.

Poppy was bouncing in her seat, waving a Hufflepuff flag with all the enthusiasm of someone who lived for this sport. "This is going to be so good, I can feel it," Poppy beamed, waving her Hufflepuff flag as we took our seats just behind the Hufflepuff team's bench. "Jamie's been practicing so much, I'm sure she'll get the Snitch!"

I smiled, though my stomach fluttered with nerves. "I hope Aiden's new passing strategy works. Slytherin's got some tricky players."

The teams began to take the field, each flying into formation with practiced precision. Aiden Lowe, Daisy Pritchard, and Bertie Horne, the Hufflepuff Chasers, were the first to soar into the sky, their yellow robes fluttering behind them. Max Caldwell and Lily Johnson, our Beaters, followed, both gripping their bats tightly, eyes scanning for bludgers.

Jamie Thompson, our Seeker, hovered near the Hufflepuff goalposts, her gaze fixed on the other end of the pitch. She looked calm, collected—a good sign.

Across the field, the Slytherin team was a stark contrast. Tobias Green, their captain and a Chaser, wore a confident smirk as he circled above the pitch, already scanning for weaknesses in the Hufflepuff defense. Their Beaters, Conrad Rosier and Helena Flint, were larger than Max and Lily, but no less focused, their eyes gleaming with determination. Finn Abernathy, the tall and imposing Slytherin Keeper, hovered in front of the goalposts, arms crossed as he surveyed the pitch.

And then there was Sebastian.

I spotted him immediately, circling the center of the pitch like a hawk waiting for the right moment to strike. His deep brown eyes flickered with intensity as he scanned the sky, looking for the Snitch. His tousled hair caught the light, and even from this distance, I could see the focused set of his jaw, the way his muscles tensed as if ready to spring into action at any moment.

I swallowed hard, trying not to let my gaze linger on him for too long. This was just a game, and yet, seeing him like this—so determined, so in his element—made something inside me twist.

The whistle blew, and the game began.

Aiden immediately took control of the Quaffle, flying in a tight formation with Daisy and Bertie as they weaved through the Slytherin Chasers. Tobias tried to intercept them, but Aiden was too fast, passing the Quaffle to Daisy just before Tobias could block him. Daisy shot forward, dodging a bludger sent her way by Helena Flint. Max was quick to retaliate, sending the bludger hurtling back toward Slytherin's Chasers.