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Øñę: Phœbe

I've always loved Quidditch.
I used to practise it with my dad and the twins when I was little in the garden. We'd have so much fun and would never want to go back in when Mum called us.
And now that I've got onto the Ravenclaw Quidditch team? I feel like my life has finally started properly.

And today is my first match. Ravenclaw vs Slytherin.

I had dragged myself out of bed and strapped on my new Quidditch kit as quickly as possible. Cho had laughed at my awkward bronze and blue robes, but my friends finally accepted that I was their house Seeker and decided to help me get ready. Of course, it wasn't like I would let them stand there laughing at me.
I then crammed two slices of hot buttered toast into my mouth incredibly quickly, causing me to choke on the crumbs and get the melted butter stuck between my teeth.

All in all, it wasn't a great morning. And now, the wind is biting my cheeks and the dirt is squelching beneath my feet as I trudge out onto the cold pitch with the others. They're all taller than me and much older, too. The crowds are roaring around us; I can catch a glimpse of some snakes on banners or enchanted eagles on flags between the dark masses of people. The Slytherins facing us are all boys, broad-shouldered and buck-toothed with their hair swept across their faces lathered with a handful of grease.
But wait...

Behind them all, almost completely hidden, is a small girl. Her robes are about two sizes too big and streaks of dark hair are escaping from a limp ponytail. She doesn't look too happy to be here. I don't think anybody does.

"I want a good, clean game from you today,"says Madam Hooch sharply, glaring daggers at the Slytherins. They all smirk at each other but nod anyway to satisfy her. "Shake hands."
The Ravenclaw Captain, Rodger Davies, then has a short arm wrestle with the Slytherin Captain and suddenly we are launching into the air and I am rising higher and higher. They start play immediately below me, the Quaffle tossed seamlessly between hands while the fierce little Bludgers fly across the pitch. I lean close to my broom, chin almost touching its veneer handle and start moving around to search for this Snitch that I'm supposed to be catching.
In this wind, it might take a while.

I dart around for a few minutes in hope I might be lucky enough to spot it. No chance. I do see the  girl, she's a Seeker like me I think. We're probably in the same year, but her build is much lighter than mine. I have regrettably long limbs, which is my disadvantage.
We fly about for about twenty minutes, sometimes crossing paths. She doesn't acknowledge me at all, though I do grin through gritted teeth at her from time to time. There's a lot of action going on beneath us though, the crowd has screamed many a time while we've been circling.
And then, I see it. A little flash of gold in the grey sky. I dive immediately and Slytherin Seeker dives with me. She hasn't seen it, I know she hasn't, she can't have from where she was. And if she's gullible as that, then...
I pull out of the dive last minute and glance behind me triumphantly as her little Comet 360 falters, skimming the grass by the whisker of a cat. Well. I am going to have a lot of fun with this.
I may have lost sight of the Snitch, but she doesn't know that.
I spiral back upwards, dodging a stray Bludger as I go and of course she follows me.
"100-30 to Ravenclaw!"booms the voice of Lee Jordan, the commentator. I smile and look at the girl with pride on my face. She is chewing at her lip nervously, probably wondering what to do.
"Do you know what you're doing?"I call out to her, half mocking, half helpful. She nods, raising her chin.
"Of course I do. Do I look like an idiot to you?"she snaps and pushes past me rudely. Honestly! I was just trying to help. Sort of. I swerve after her and we chase each other from corner to corner for ages, exchanging insults as I catch up to her and she slides past me. But suddenly, just as Lee shouts "190-30!", she dives off to the side and disappears between the other players. I fly after her as fast as I can, weaving between the oncoming Bludgers, keeping on her tail as best I can. The Golden Snitch is right in front of her broom, just out of reach. If I could only catch up....

But then, without warning, the Snitch turns and flies towards me. She follows it and reaches out her arm just as we collide. My broom handle hits the side of her torso at the exact same moment as her broom hits my hip and we hurtle towards the ground tangled by our limbs and brooms.
The pain on impact is terrible. Her broom falls right on my face and I hear a sickening crunching noise as my shoulders crush her elbow beneath me.
My eyes fall shut at the pain. It shoots through my body and I feel as though I am on fire. I hear soft footsteps in the ground around us as people hurry to see what has happened. As if they could do anything about it! We will need to go to the hospital wing, for goodness' sake! Or she will, anyway. I don't feel numb, so I suppose that is a good sign.
"Make way, make way!"says a cheery voice and more footsteps approach. Oh God, if that's Professor Lockhart I will slap him. I'm not even a violent person. "This girl needs medical attention! Make way!"

"So not you then, Professor," I groan, sitting up and rubbing my throbbing head. There are a few mumbles of agreement from the students who have crowded around us.

"Nonsense, nonsense. The girl's delirious." He points at my head with his wand. "She's bumped -her head, see? Well, children, watch in wonder as I- "

"Shut up? Chance would be a fine thing,"I interrupt again, moving over to the girl on the ground to protect her. "Please just take us to the hospital wing, Professor." The rest of the Ravenclaw team laugh and nod their heads and even the Slytherins are getting irritated at this buffoon.

"Listen, Miss Mason, I am a world-renowned healer and generally talented wizard. All I have to say is 'Anteoculatia'!" I see the pink light at the end of his wand and quickly dodge it as the beam shoots out and hits the Slytherin girl instead.

"What's happening to her head?"cries out a little boy from the stands. We watch in horror, the rain beating down on us, as dark brown roots sprout from the girl's head and curl upwards and upwards until they form perfect...

"Antlers!"says Lockhart proudly. "I must say, I wasn't expecting that!"

"Anteoculatia? How on earth can you mistake that for a spell that cures a headache?"exclaims a Ravenclaw girl from my team. She holds out  her hand and helps me up.

"Well, um, students, it's..... a good party trick! Now, who's next?"

I carefully put my arm around the Seeker's shoulders and support her as we stumble slowly across the pitch. Lockhart tries to come after us, but the crowd of students push him out the way.

Our houses may have their differences, but we unite in a pure loathing for Professor Lockhart.

Idiot.