Must Have Done Something Right / Scorbus

Chapter 33 / Snitch-Seeking Slytherin

A quarter of an hour later, Andrea and Claire stood up. "Well, we're heading off. See you later, Scorpius!"
He looked at them in alarm. "But it's not over yet!" he said, pointing out to the pitch where, sure enough, the flying blurs of the Slytherin and Gryffindor teams were still battling it out. Neither Albus nor the Gryffindor Seeker had caught the Snitch yet, though there was a moment a few minutes ago when Albus performed a death-defying dive and Scorpius had nearly screamed in terror. It had been an act, because when he—finally—pulled out of the dive inches above the grass, he was smiling like a fool, and Scorpius had released the breath he didn't know he had been holding. Stupid boy.
Andrea rolled her eyes at him. "Now who's obsessed with Quidditch?" she said pointedly. "Besides, you said so yourself: we're only here because we're interested in how well the uniforms sit on the players. Now that we've finished ogling like a pair of shameless teenage witches, we're heading off."
Claire butted in, "Gladrags has bought out a new catalogue and I'm dying to look through it!" she explained. "You should come! The new men's winter fashion is to die for!"
It was tempting, Scorpius admitted, he was in dire need for a new pair of semi-casual trousers; but it was nowhere near as tempting as watching Albus on his broom. "Next time, girls. Sorry."
Andrea grinned. "That's fine. When Slytherin wins and you give Albus his celebratory snog, you'll tell us all about it, yeah?"
Scorpius went red. "Wha—snog? I don't ... that's not ... that won't ... oh, shut up."
Claire and Andrea giggled like children. "Bye, Scorpius!" they both bid before descending the staircase and leaving a blushing Scorpius behind, who was still picturing what it would be like to kiss Albus.
Snap out of it, he reprimanded himself.
He turned back to the game just as Matt Morion failed to stop the red ball as it sailed through the centre hoop. He groaned inwardly as the Gryffindor stands erupted in praise at the impressive goal James, head Chaser and Captain, had just scored. The score stood at 50-40, with Gryffindor possessing the marginal lead. Scorpius knew Albus must be furious. His eyes searched for him and immediately found him flying near Matt and yelling angrily at him for not paying enough attention. Matt flipped him the finger and shouted something back. Scorpius didn't hear it, but he would wager that it probably rhymed with "duck cough." Albus didn't look phased and flew away from him, resuming his search for the elusive Snitch. Scorpius was proud that he retaliated no further, knowing that he was almost certainly itching to. In any case, Scorpius had his wand with him, just in case any unseemly fight erupted between the two boys.
The game went through a few nail-biting moments after that, and the lead wavered undecidedly between the two teams, and still, Albus was no closer to catching the Snitch. The look on his face was one of determination and frustration in equal measure—the Gryffindor Seeker had decided to stick to Albus like a leech, annoying him immensely, Scorpius knew. In an attempt to shake her off, he tried a few more increasingly terrifying and dangerous dives that had Scorpius gripping his wand like a lifeline.
His attention was so caught up in the action, he never noticed the small, portly old wizard that joined him on the back row of the Slytherin stands.
"Hello."
Scorpius jumped in fright and turned to the bespectacled, balding man, whose owl-like eyes were blinking jovially at him. "Hello?" he replied unsurely, trying to determine whether he knew this man at all. He didn't.
"Fascinating game isn't it?" the man asked, nodding his head in the direction of the match.
Scorpius nodded. "Yes ... yes it is," he said, looking at the wizard in confusion.
A minute passed. Scorpius thought it was incredibly awkward, but the old man was smiling cheerfully, as if sitting next to a random stranger during a Hogwarts Quidditch match was no more unusual than brushing one's teeth.
"Forgive me," the man said eventually. He turned to Scorpius. "Percival Ipsworth, avid Quidditch fan," he introduced, thrusting out his hand.
Scorpius blinked, but extended his hand nonetheless. "Scorpius Malfoy, er ... Slytherin student."
"Do you like Quidditch, m'boy?" Mr Ipsworth asked, leaning closer to Scorpius, staring owlishly.
Under his fervent gaze, Scorpius felt like he was being cross-examined. "I suppose," he said, bending the truth a little. He decided he needed to add a little more information, and thus said, "I'm here supporting my friend."
Mr Ipsworth smiled broadly and gazed out onto the field, as if trying to determine who Scorpius meant. "Who is that?"
"Albus Potter, the Slytherin Seeker," he answered. "And Captain," he added, knowing Albus would want him to add that extra label onto his name. Scorpius smiled inwardly; Albus was so proud in his Quidditch position. And rightly so; he was a natural.
Mr Ipsworth seemed to share his opinion. "Oh, a marvellous young talent, he is. Such a promising young Seeker."
"Do you support Slytherin, then, Mr Ipsworth?" Scorpius asked, curious, still unclear as to who the wizard was, or why he was here.
"I'm a supporter of anyone with extraordinary skills, like your friend," he said, somewhat mysteriously, keeping his eyes glued to the action of the game.
Scorpius turned to watch also. Albus was circling the pitch, higher than anyone else, the Gryffindor Seeker having abandoned her tactic of following him. His eyes were narrowed, his face set in fortitude, Seeking with all his focus.
He was near enough for both Scorpius and Mr Ipsworth to hear him yell, "Rockwell! Sims! Peters! Hawkskead Formation! Now!"
Scorpius didn't have a clue what the Hawkshead Formation was, but his ageing companion seemed to know, who almost rose out of his seat in excitement, watching enthusiastically.
Like a perfectly performed dance manoeuvre, Albus whipped his team into shape and within seconds, he—the Seeker—was leading an arrowhead pattern with his Chasers, flying with a single-minded determination toward the goal. With all the skill and effectiveness of a blade cutting through water, their formation pierced through the heart of the melee. They gained control of the red ball—the Quaffle, Scorpius suspected, was its name—and before Gryffindor could concoct a counter-attack, Merrick Sims shot past the Keeper, letting the ball sail effortlessly through the left hoop.
Slytherin erupted in cheers, so did Scorpius. He was on his feet and clapping with enthusiasm, cheering for Albus and his brilliance in pulling off such a move. The Slytherin Captain returned to his post above the rest of the game, searching once more, but Scorpius could see the smug grin on his face. Scorpius smiled. Albus was fully aware of his skill, the little show-off.
With Slytherin now in the lead, Scorpius sat back down, and turned to Mr Ipsworth. "If you want extraordinary skills, sir, then Albus is your man," he said.
"Indeed, indeed," the balding wizard agreed, chuckling merrily. "That was a perfectly executed Hawkshead! He is to be commended." He nodded, keeping his large eyes on Albus.
Scorpius smiled in return. "Excuse me, sir,\"" he said, the curiosity getting the better of him. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you here in the first place?"
Mr Ipsworth waved his hand vaguely and casually said, "Oh that's neither here nor there, lad. I just enjoy a good Quidditch game when the opportunity arises."
He offered no further explanation and Scorpius decided to not pursue the topic. If Mr Ipsworth wanted him to know, he would say so. They settled into a comfortable silence.
For the next few minutes, Slytherin scored twice more—though neither of the goals was nearly as impressive as the one Albus initiated—and Gryffindor scored one. The Beaters of either team, meanwhile, had entered into a two-on-two match of their own, constantly aiming to hit the Bludgers at each other in anger. Albus had eventually got hold of their separate game and reprimanded his two Beaters swiftly, telling them to play sensibly. They had obeyed, though grudgingly, and Albus continued his job as Seeker, becoming increasingly agitated.
During one of his loops around the pitch, when Albus neared the Slytherin stands, Scorpius stood up impulsively, caught in a random moment of bravery—or insanity, he wasn't sure—cupped his hands around his mouth, and yelled, "Go Albus!", in exact imitation of Albus' drawing.
Hundreds of Slytherin heads—including Albus'—swivelled back to look at him, but Scorpius didn't have the energy to feel embarrassed, not when Albus' smile was brighter than the sun and directed solely at Scorpius. In that split-second, Albus' attention was diverted off the game and Scorpius knew he was right at the centre of Albus' world. And oh, what a glorious place it was. It lasted for a few seconds, before Albus could no longer afford to sacrifice any more time. He returned to the game, and Scorpius could not have felt happier.
"There's no denying who you're supporting, is there?" Mr Ipsworth asked, laughing when Scorpius' face blushed pink. "It's alright! I think it's fabulous!"
"He deserves it. Granted, I haven't seen many Quidditch matches before, but in the one's I've attended, Albus has far outshone any other players. They were wise in making him Captain, this year. I think we stand an excellent chance at winning the Quidditch Cup," Scorpius extolled, more than happy to sing Albus' praise. He was in an exceedingly good mood, after all. It was amazing what one of Albus' smiles did to his spirit.
Mr Ipsworth chuckled. "If he keeps up that sort of game, I don't doubt it."
"Oh, he will, sir," Scorpius said. "When it comes to Quidditch, Albus is more determined than anyone you could meet."
"Indeed, indeed ..." Mr Ipsworth said, grinning vaguely, as if lost in thought.
Suddenly, the mood in the stadium changed drastically. It was as if everyone was holding their breath collectively, and Scorpius instinctively knew the game was about to end.
He stood and saw Albus performing another of his theatrical dives, only this time, he wasn't smiling. He had seen the Snitch and was flying after it with all the speed he could muster. He was fast. Scorpius' heart leapt to his mouth in fear.
Please don't let him get hurt, he thought immediately, eyes glued to the Albus' pursuit.
The Gryffindor Seeker was a few body lengths behind him and was no real threat. It was only Albus and the Snitch, and the whole of Hogwarts watching him.
The ground was getting closer and closer. Scorpius' heart was beating faster and faster.
Albus wasn't going to let up. He kept going, arm outstretched, seemingly oblivious to the grass that was approaching him faster than could ever be safe.
"Pull up, Al, pull up," Scorpius muttered frantically.
But he wasn't going to; not without the Snitch. Albus was determined, ready to put his life on the line for the stupid golden ball.
Just as Scorpius was ready to rip his hair out, the ground centimetres away from the diving Seeker, Albus righted his broom.
"ALBUS POTTER HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH!"
He'd done it.
Slytherin exploded.
Scorpius screamed in joy, pride for his best friend radiating out of him.
Albus circled the pitch once more, in celebration, holding the Snitch up high for anyone to see. The clear victor. The smile on both his and Scorpius' face could have stretched for miles. Merrick and Raymond joined him in his victory lap. Scorpius glanced at Matt, who was, surprisingly, smiling, but unwilling to join in the celebrations. When Albus neared the Slytherin supporters, the cheer increased to deafening status, and Scorpius contributed as much as his lungs would allow.
"ALBUS! ALBUS! ALBUS!" rose the chant, higher than the stands, so that everyone would hear the name of the Seeker. Still with the Snitch in his hands, Albus flew right up to the Slytherin students, holding out his free hand to accept high-fives and pats on the back from his adoring fans. He was lapping it up with ease, and loving the spotlight.
Albus flew further up the stands towards Scorpius, grinning crazily at him.
Scorpius lost the ability to breathe and the sight of him. Albus looked incredible, and he was coming towards him! Scorpius fixed his eyes on him.
Albus stopped to hover right in front of Scorpius, with the world's biggest smile on his face. He extended the hand that was holding the Snitch to Scorpius. "For you," he said simply.
Everyone was watching raptly; Scorpius didn't care. He was sure he had never loved Albus as much as he did in that moment. With shaky hands, he reached up. Their hands touched and Scorpius swore sparks were flying off them. Albus passed the small ball on to Scorpius and for the first time in his life, he was holding the Snitch.
He looked at Albus, certain that all his adoration and admiration was shining out of his eyes, but Scorpius didn't care about that either. Albus deserved it all. "You were incredible, Al," he said with all his heart.
"This one was for you, Scorp."
Scorpius' heart soared in complete joy. Albus then quickly winked at him before pulling up and away, joining the rest of his team down on the grass. Scorpius, in the meantime, was in a daze, the image of Albus' happy face and smile flashing in his mind. Eventually, people began to make their way down to pitch-level, the Slytherins singing chants to celebrate their victory.
"That's some gift, there," Mr Ipsworth said merrily, pointing at the Snitch in Scorpius' hands. Scorpius looked down at it. Its tiny wings were fluttering lazily, tickling his fingers and palm. "He must be quite a friend."
Scorpius laughed. "He is," he agreed. "Best person I know."
"Well come on then, let's go congratulate them!" the wizard suggested, getting up and joining the queue waiting to descend the stairs.
The journey down passed in a blur for Scorpius who couldn't get the image of Albus, flushed, energised and sweaty, out of his head. Before he knew it, they were amongst a small rabble of Slytherins surrounding the team, asking all sorts of questions. Scorpius wanted to get to Albus, but couldn't. He and Mr Ipsworth remained on the outskirts.
Eventually, Madam Avery and Professor Slughorn—the head of their House who had been congratulating Albus and inviting him to join some sort of special club of his—demanded that all the students return back to the castle and leave the team in peace to freshen up. The students groaned as one but obeyed the teachers.
"Party in the Common Room!" someone in the retreating horde called out. It was received with a loud cheer. Scorpius knew he wouldn't be sleeping until much later tonight.
"Albus!" he called for his attention. "Albus!"
Albus turned and his face split into a grin. "Scorp!" he said, running towards the blond. "Did you see it? Did you see it?"
Scorpius laughed. "Of course I did, you prat! You were brilliant." His smile died somewhat when Mel appeared from behind Albus. Her hair was in pigtails—one side was decorated in red ribbons, the other green. She looked like a Christmas decoration.
She made eye contact with him but Scorpius couldn't distinguish her emotions towards him. He imagined she couldn't be too happy at the moment, considering the fact that the Snitch was still fluttering in his hand, and not hers. He forced himself to ignore their silent war; this was Albus' moment.
"Oh man, the feeling when I caught the Snitch. It was awesome!" Albus gushed out, eyes wide with glee, clearly reliving the moment.
"It certainly was, Mr Potter. An excellent victory!" Mr Ipsworth spoke up, clapping his hands twice. Scorpius had forgotten he was even there. He turned to look at him, as did Albus, Mel, Madam Avery, Professor Slughorn and the rest of the team who were still there.
"Pardon me, sir," Professor Slughorn said, and then asked the question on everyone's mind. "But who are you?"
The merry wizard smiled broadly and Scorpius felt like the question would finally be answered. "My name is Percival Ipsworth, and I am a talent scout for Puddlemere United." He rounded on Albus' shocked face. "And we've got our eye on you, young Albus."

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Next Chapter: Albus gets an offer he can't refuse, while Scorpius (wait for it...) stands up for himself!