Water-horse (Snape fan fiction)

End-game

Ch.8 — End-game

“Slytherin in possession… Chaser Augustin Tench crashing through towards the goal-posts, but here comes Gryffindor Chaser Johnson — she’s going to tackle — oh, but Pucey has moved in for a really aggressive blocking play, and Madam Hooch is turning a blind eye — OUCH — Slytherin still in possession after that open foul—”

Even the blatantly biased commentary from Gryffindor student Lee Jordan couldn’t change the facts of what was happening on the Quidditch pitch. After the humiliations of the previous year, Gryffindor versus Slytherin was always going to be a grudge match, and the Slytherin team had a lot to prove. Thanks to a complete set of new brooms, and a new and doubtless talented Seeker, they were engaged in wiping the ground with the Gryffindor team in no mean style.

“And Tench scores! Gryffindor Keeper Wood is looking pretty sick, and no wonder — Gryffindor have yet to make their mark on the game, and Slytherin are in the lead fifty points to zero—”

Despite everything, Snape allowed himself a smile. Quidditch, in his view, hardly ranked high on a list of productive pastimes; but the inter-house rivalry was intense, and Slytherin had traditionally excelled. If he had to sit out here as Head of House in incipient rain — a particularly cold and heavy drop went down the back of his neck at that moment, and he sketched out an impatient Shielding Charm — then it was a considerable satisfaction to be able to anticipate the triumphant looks Slytherin would be bestowing on the less-favoured Houses tomorrow.

“— and finally, gallant Gryffindor get possession!” A roar went up from the crowd, from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw as well as from the Gryffindor supporters, and Snape’s lip tightened. The Slytherins around him burst into angry boos and jeers in response as the Gryffindor Chaser Katie Bell swerved out from under the Slytherin team captain, Flint, and streaked off down the pitch with a Bludger in hot pursuit.

“Tench tries to tackle — Flint coming up fast from behind — but they’re no match for talented Katie. Slytherin Keeper moving out now to protect the hoops — they’ve got her walled in — she can’t score — YES! — what a pass, what a pass…. As fellow Chaser Angelina Johnson now has a clear run at goal — look out, Johnson — oh no…. Excellent swerve there to dodge the Bludger, but she’s lost her chance at goal, and Slytherin Augustin Tench has fumbled the Quaffle — some brutal work by the Slytherin Beaters on that Bludger, Chaser Bell can’t get through — where are the Weasley brothers for Gryffindor?”

Behind Snape, a tidal wave of shuffling announced itself. He turned, sharply. The Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, was making his way along the stand through the ever-increasing drizzle towards him.

“Slytherin lead, sixty points to zero,” Jordan was announcing glumly in the distance, as Tench scored again and Dumbledore slid into the vacant place at Snape’s left-hand side.

“Ah, Severus,” Dumbledore said in mild greeting as the referee’s whistle blew. He wiped droplets of rain from his half-moon glasses.

Snape, scowling, dutifully extended his Shielding Charm outwards to cover his neighbour. “And to what do we owe this honour, Headmaster?”

Dumbledore never deigned to watch the game from the Slytherin stands. If he was here now, it could only be because he wanted something from Snape…in full view of the rest of the school…. Snape wondered, sharply, if it was about the business with that cat of Filch’s. The whole disgraceful affair had been a nine-days’-wonder, and the school was still talking of nothing else; and it had been clear as crystal, to Snape at least, that a certain cocky young Gryffindor had told them far less than he knew. Maybe the Headmaster had finally come to his senses—