Wands And Wings

Chapter 10 : A Game Of Shadows And Suspicion

The chill in the air as the Quidditch season kicked off was biting but invigorating. Denia Lily Potter had grown accustomed to the cool breeze that swept through the castle grounds during autumn, but today, the wind felt sharper, more daunting. The first match of the season loomed over her like a specter, casting a shadow of anxiety that was hard to shake. It wasn’t just any match—it was Gryffindor against Slytherin. Harry against Denia.

She couldn’t quite decide how to feel about it. On one hand, there was a thrill in playing her brother, the boy who lived, who seemed destined to draw the attention of the entire wizarding world. On the other hand, it felt like she was being split in two, torn between the house she had unexpectedly been sorted into and the boy who had been her constant companion for as long as she could remember.

Denia paced nervously in the Slytherin common room, her Nimbus 2000 resting against the stone wall. The broom had been a joint gift to her and Harry from Professor McGonagall after both had shown extraordinary flying talent. It was sleek, fast, and gave her a sense of freedom that nothing else at Hogwarts could. But even that didn’t settle the nerves that twisted like a knot in her stomach.

“Denia, you’re going to wear a hole in the floor if you keep that up,” Draco Malfoy drawled from one of the green leather couches. He was lounging as if the upcoming match wasn’t about to determine house glory for the entire season.

She shot him a glare but stopped pacing. Draco was infuriating, but he had a point. Nerves weren’t going to help her in the match, and she couldn’t afford to lose focus—not with Harry playing on the opposing team.

“It’s just a game,” Blaise Zabini said lazily from his spot by the fireplace, his dark eyes flickering with amusement. “Don’t let the pressure get to you.”

“It’s not ‘just a game,’ Blaise,” Denia shot back. “It’s Gryffindor versus Slytherin.”

“That makes it even better,” Theodore Nott chimed in, his voice as calm and measured as ever. “Think of it as a chance to prove that you’re better than your brother.”

Denia bit her lip. She didn’t need to prove she was better than Harry. She just wanted to show that she belonged in Slytherin, that she wasn’t some misplaced Gryffindor. Snape had noticed her talent, and that was the reason she had become a Chaser on the Slytherin team, the first girl to do so in decades. That meant something, didn’t it?

“I’m not trying to prove anything,” she muttered, more to herself than to the boys. Daphne Greengrass, who had been quietly observing from her usual perch near the window, gave her a knowing look.

“Don’t listen to them,” Daphne said, her cool voice cutting through the banter. “They’re just trying to wind you up. You’re a great flyer, and we need you focused. Slytherin hasn’t won the cup in years.”

Denia appreciated Daphne’s support, even if she didn’t always show it. Since joining the team, she had found a tentative ally in the other girl, someone who understood the pressure of living up to expectations. Daphne was more reserved than the others, but there was a quiet strength in her that Denia admired.

“I’ll be fine,” Denia said with a deep breath. “I’m ready.”

Draco smirked. “Good. Because Gryffindor’s going to play dirty. You’ve seen their captain, Wood. He’s obsessed with winning. Almost as bad as Snape.”