Chapter 131 - – Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff (1/2)
As the first Quidditch match in November approached, the excitement grew as the first match was Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff. James was especially excited despite being a hint of nervous at his first game. But to be perfectly honest he was a rather good chaser despite this being his first year playing. At least that's what everyone said to his ears.
At 10:30, the students trickle out to the Quidditch stands as the students gather to watch the match that is to start at eleven. Rowan is unhappily dragged by the girls to sit with them underneath the chilly overcast sky. Sitting all together on the Gryffindor stands she solemnly contemplates on how much weight the magical stands can take before crashing down.
”And why are we sitting with the Gryffindor's again?” Rowan finally grumbled over the crowd's voices.
”Because this is James's first match,” all three girls said as Willa, Mary, and Lily nodded their heads in emphasis. Glancing back, Rowan sees the boys do the same causing her to sigh.
”What about if I'm not feeling well at all?”
”Then we'll wait until after the match,” was their cold, harsh response.
”But-.”
”Enough but's, Rowan! Just sit down and enjoy the match!” They exclaimed in unison.
Rowan huffed and crossed her arms over her chest as she sullenly leaned back in her seat. Still, just in case she kept a hand on her wand in case she saw her chance to escape. Suddenly, she recalled the enchanted earplugs in her pocket that she had prepared beforehand and happily popped them into ears. The loud noise became rather faint as she sighed in relief.
Enjoying the silence, Rowan almost missed the crowd goes still until she saw the heads turning. Turning the same way, she suddenly heard a bit of cheering as they held up their lion banners in scarlet and gold. From the Gryffindor side, the quidditch team emerges in red robes with the inner robes in gold. While the Hufflepuffs emerge with canary yellow robes with their inner robes being in black.
Trying to be at least a bit nonchalance, James doesn't wave as he merely scans the stands and smiles in the direction of his friends as they cheer. If James noticed that Rowan wasn't cheering, his grin certainly did not falter as he followed his team to a stop in the center of the field.
With the two teams lined up in the center of the field, Madam Hooch walks out as she eyes them. Starting with her usual words, Madam Hooch says, ”Let's have a fair game, and enjoy ourselves a bit.”
Seeing the two teams nod, Madam Hooch continues, ”Alright, Captain's shake hands.” Madam Hooch said as the handsome figure of Frank Longbottom steps out from the Gryffindor, while a well-muscled attractive young man with light-colored hair and a slightly arrogant smile takes his hand and shakes.
Narrowing her eyes, Rowan removes one of her earplugs as the loud noise crashes into her ears. Wincing, Rowan leans over and asks, ”Who's the Hufflepuff Quidditch captain?” As Madam Hooch begins to open the cases on the ground.
Silvia and the rest of the girls blinked at seeing Rowan actually interested in someone of the opposite gender. ”He's a sixth year, Edmund Macmillan,” Silvia loudly replied to be overheard over the crowd as the golden-winged snitch is released.