The Epilogue : Part I - The Shadow Army

CHAPTER NINE

Hogsmeade

The first weeks passed very quickly at Hogwarts and soon enough October came, bringing a windy and uncertain weather upon the fifth year's students who quickly found themselves stuck with mountains of homework that only Cassiopeia managed to easily complete. Outside of the castle's walls, attacks of the Shadow Army continued, and often made the front page: about twenty people died since the beginning of the school year.

Along with the lessons and homework, James also had to focus on the Quidditch trainings for the first game of the year opposing Gryffindor and Ravenclaw.

On the morning of the game, breakfast was the usual excitable affair before a match, and the Great Hall was full of cheerful chatter about the upcoming game. Robert Brougham, along with the other members of the team, were sitting together at the Gryffindor table, arranging the final details of his strategy.

"Brougham," a voice said behind him.

Surprised, Robert turned his head and saw David Chambers, captain of Ravenclaw's Quidditch team: a short boy with massive spectacles.

"My team and I wanted to wish you good luck for match," he said in a formal and almost pompous way before leaving.

They spent all the breakfast to discuss about Quidditch until they got interrupted by the mails which recently constituted a great source of anxiety (one boy from Lily's class left Hogwarts overnight after his father has been found dead). Many owls emerged from the enchanted ceiling, mainly delivering comforting news from their families.

"Is everything ok?" asked Robert.

"Yes," they all answered one after the other, relieved.

Robert spent the rest of the breakfast motivating his team, and it's rather confident that the Gryffindor team left the Great Hall for the Quidditch field.

"Good luck," wished Rebecca and Andrew in front of the locker room before joining the others in top row.

In the locker room, James and the rest of the team silently changed, and as they were putting their scarlet Quidditch robes on, they could hear the almost terrifying noise of the crowd cheering outside.

"Alright, this is it," Brougham said, as seriously as if he would go to war. "Let's win this game."

They walked out into the field under tremendous applause from the crowd. In the middle of the field the Ravenclaw team, dressed in blue, was already standing there. Robert walked toward until Chambers.

"Hello everyone!" said a frantic voice that resounded in the entire stadium. "Welcome for this first match of the season opposing Gryffindor and Ravenclaw! I'm Anthony Turner and I will be your commenter. We all remember the last match of the season last year during which Ravenclaw has brilliantly won the Four Houses Cup — his voice was partly covered by boos from Gryffindor and cheers from Ravenclaw supporters — so the question is: Will Gryffindor able to take his revenge today?"

"About Ravenclaw's team, we have here the same one as last year: Russel, Abercombie, Chouldry, the implacable trio of Chasers is back. They gonna be protected by Davies and Page, the beaters. Chambers, the captain, will have to get the Snitch and finally, the «flying wall» Bagnold will keep the goal safe."

"For Gryffindor's team now, there have been some changes. Among the former ones, we have Brougham, captain and keeper. We also have the Seeker Granger–Weasley, Potter and Saxe as Chasers. Dumbston, who replaces Cattermole, complete the trio and Agrios and Thoas become the new beaters.