The Other Castellan

The Quidditch Match

Chapter 8: The Quidditch Match

  As November came around, the weather became very cold. The mountains surrounding the school became icy grey and the lake looked like frozen steel. Every morning the ground was covered in a thin sheet of frost. Hagrid could be seen defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch pitch, bundled up in a long, moleskin overcoat, rabbit fur gloves and large beaverskin boots. Lucas would sometimes help him when he had time.

  To top it off, the Quidditch season had begun. Lucas found a new way to annoy Blaise- by cheering for Gryffindor. He never liked Slytherin in the first place, and he thoroughly enjoyed pissing Blaise off. Whether it was teasing him, saying his name multiple times or talking to Gryffindors, Lucas enjoyed the look on Blaise's face as it got redder and redder. 

  From what Fred and George had told him, Harry had become the Seeker. Oliver Wood, who was the Gryffindor Quidditch team Captain, had wanted to keep it a secret, so naturally, everyone knew. While Lucas kept his promise, Harry had told Ron, who told Hermione, which was overheard by Neville, and, well, by the end of the week, everyone knew. The fact that Blaise knew probably didn't help either.

  At least Quidditch would keep Harry's mind off the three-headed dog. Maybe. Chances are it wouldn't. Sometimes it seemed like Harry was a trouble magnet, attracting all sorts of trouble.

  The day before the first Quidditch match, Harry, Ron and Hermione were outside in the courtyard. Hermione had become friends with them since they had saved her from the troll on Halloween, and Lucas couldn't complain. The girl needed more friends. Besides, Lucas figured that she could help him keep them alive. 

  That day was freezing, like any other day. Hermione had conjured bluebell flames and carried them in a jam jar so she, Harry and Ron could be warm. Lucas was close to them, reading Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Harry, Ron and Hermione were standing with their backs to it, getting warm when Snape limped over. Lucas watched out of the corner of his eye as he stood closer to hide the flames. Unfortunately, their guilty faces caught Snape's eye, and he limped over, wanting to find something to get them in trouble for.

  "What's that you've got there, Potter?" Snape asked Harry.

  Harry showed him the book he was holding. It was Quidditch Through the Ages. Why he was so obsessed with Quidditch, Lucas would never know.

  "Library books are not to be taken outside the school," Snape snapped. "Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor."

  "Oh, that's just low," Lucas muttered as Snape walked (limped) away. "Making up a rule just to take points away from Gryffindor? Hope his leg falls off."

  Over by the bluebell flames, the trio was also thinking among the same thoughts. Harry was complaining about Snape's unfairness, while Ron was wishing that Snape's leg was bothering him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

By the next morning at 11 o'clock, the whole school seemed to be out there. Lucas had undone the Mist and snuck to the Gryffindors, not bothering to even pretend to support the Slytherins. After the courtyard incident, he went and had a conversation with Blaise, where he 'accidentally' let slip that he was supporting Gryffindor. He was also wearing the same thing he wore on the Hogwarts Express to fit in. He went behind Hermione and tapped her on the shoulder. 

  "Hey," he greeted her.

  She turned in surprise. "Hi," she said. Beside her, Ron was staring at the pitch, waiting for the game to start, so he hadn't seen Lucas. "Is it Draco?"

  Lucas grinned. "Yeah. I've decided to support Gryffindor."

  "But why?" Hermione asked, confused.