Running With Wolves

Chapter 15: Love's Labors

Chapter 15: Love's Labors

"All right, everyone," James shouted, waving his arms for attention. "I'm going to split the team in half. Sireen, Ben, Spencer, you'll be together. I'll join Sirius and Mallory. Dervla, you're going to try to catch the snitch as soon as possible. The points go to the loosing team, so there's extra pressure to score as many points as you can. The winning side ends practice early. And it looks like it might rain. Good luck, team." James kicked open the ball crate and released the balls into the air; he grabbed the quaffle and launched off the ground. The team arrayed themselves across the field. James tossed the quaffle into the air. Sirius hefted his bat.

Sireen made it to the quaffle first, darting out to the center of the field at lightning speed, and snatching it away from the other two chasers, zipping through the air to where Mallory played sentry, watching the middle of the field critically. A bludger whizzed through the air past Mallory and she ducked to get out of the way.

"Oi, get moving, Black. You're not here to have a staring contest with the quaffle!" she shouted.

"Sorry." Sirius took off after the bludger, hefted his bat, and smacked it as hard as he could into the fray. Sireen careened away from it, dropping the quaffle for James to catch from underneath her. He slipped past Spencer and Sirius raced after him, intercepting a bludger from Ben from a trajectory towards James' back. He sent it at Spencer instead, who was creeping up on James' left. It hit Spencer in the shoulder with a load thud, and Spencer spun sideways. Sirius winced.

"Sorry, Spencer!"

"Don't get distracted, Sirius!" James snipped, voice strained. Sireen squeezed herself beside him, and snatched the quaffle. James swore, turned and gave chase. This time, Sireen successfully dodged Sirius' bludger. She feigned throwing the bludger left, and then chucked it at the right goal post. The bludger brushed Mallory's fingers as it sailed by, flying through the hoop. Sireen cheered. Mallory retrieved the quaffle and threw it back to the middle of the field. James took it, swerved away from Spence and sped back across the field, both opposing chasers on his heels. Ben's bludger missed him by inches and Sirius smacked away. James made it to the end of the field and launched the quaffle through the center hoop.

"Yes!" said Sirius, performing a little victory dance with his bat in the air, and jerking out of the way when Ben cracked a bludger at him in irritation. James dove for the quaffle and threw it back to the field, speeding after it, bent over his broom. Spencer grabbed it first, passing it quickly up to Sireen who was further up the field. Sirius flew parallel to her, waiting for an opportunity that never came. Sireen aimed for the hoops, and threw. Mallory caught the quaffle against her chest with a grunt.

"Nice one, Mal!" Sirius called.

"Call me that again and I'll shave your head in your sleep, Black."

"Noted."

Soon after, James managed to score three consecutive goals, getting past Spencer and Sireen and flipping the quaffle through the hoops before either of them could stop him. Dervla soared above, searching for the snitch.

Sirius hit a bludger at Sireen who was on her way to the goal posts again. Ben intervened, blocking the bludger and sending it careening sideways right at Dervla, who, yelped, and dipped sideways to avoid it, casting her best skull-melting glare in Ben's direction.

"Oi, I'm on your side you daft maggot! Losing team gets the snitch, remember? That's you in case you hadn't noticed." Dervla yelled across the field

"Ha, barely," replied Ben.

"You seem to be forgetting, if I catch the snitch, you win."

"We can win without your help."

"Not if I don't let you."