Chapter 208 - Gryffindor Vs. Slytherin (1/2)
The following Monday everyone was excited as that Saturday the first Quidditch match would be held Slytherin vs. Gryffindor. Tensions were running high as friends found themselves on opposing sides. Take for example the silver foursome in their second year, Regulus, Dirk, Barty, and Letitia. Letitia couldn't very well cheer for Regulus as this was his first match as she was a Gryffindor. But neither did the other two know which side to cheer for either. In the end, they decided to cheer for Regulus with the exception of Letitia who should cheer for her own house during the match.
On that note, Sirius had taken to glaring at Regulus during meals giving Regulus a bit of a stomachache. It wasn't though he had gone and tried out just to annoy his older brother! Regulus was, in fact, a rather good seeker. But that did little to calm his nerves as his first match steadily approached.
The day before the sky had only been partially cloudy but this morning it was simply storming with heavy rain and strong winds. At breakfast, Regulus had been rather pale, while on the Gryffindor side Sirius beamed, while Pettigrew resembled much like Regulus was feeling.
Seeing the bad state of the weather by glancing at the ceiling, Rowan had half a mind to simply fake being ill to stay indoors. Glancing over at Regulus she felt a bit guilty and pity at seeing his place face. But still, it was Regulus's first match and she could at least pretend to be excited for him.
See Regulus so down they all tried to cheer him up until Rowan finally couldn't take it anymore. ”Are you any good, Regulus Black?” Rowan impenitently snapped.
”Captain Nott, says I'm the best flier she's ever seen,” Regulus indignantly defended himself.
”Then prove it,” Rowan firmly said. ”That's all you're going to do today. Win or lose, show them what you've got.”
For some reason, Rowan's words gave Regulus the bit of comfort and courage he needed as he instantly perked up like a flower in the spring sun. The rest of those were trying to comfort him were entirely baffled by the reaction. That's exactly what they had been saying all along?! Maybe not in the same words, but it was the same message in the end!
Not long after the Quidditch team players left for the locker rooms as the rest of them chattered and waited until the last minute to trickle out into the foul weather. Umbrellas sprouted over the crowd like bright colored flowers with some exotic ones thrown in the mix. The rain was just sleeting down as Rowan cleverly muttered a water repellant charm over herself to keep herself dry. However, for appearance's sake, she wore a cloak with a hood as the water just dripped off of her but did not get her face or any other part of her body wet as she remained a bit cold, but dry.
Each house sitting in their own stands, Terry is heard loudly muttering over the dampening effect of the rain and wind, ”You think Regulus will be alright in this wind? I'd say, his weight will not be to his favor for the match but rather the Gryffindor Quidditch captain as he'll be likely to be blown off course by the rain-.”
”Achoo!” Tiffany lets out a loud sneeze interrupting him as she loudly sniffs. Bethanie kindly hands her a handkerchief to wipe her nose as she valiantly holds onto her shared umbrella. Silvia, unlike the other two girls, merely wears a cloak with a hood, but her face and hair are rather wet already as she eagerly gazes out onto the field.
”I'd say, that is a distinct possibility,” Severus drily said as he firmly held onto the hood of his cloak as his raven hair had already became plastered to his skull as all it took was a single slip of his hood to do so.
Rowan doesn't reply as she really didn't want to be out in this weather but doesn't have much of a choice. She idly wondered what would happen to someone who tripped while climbing up the stands. With all the slipperiness all around right now, an innocent fellow was liable to roll all the way down the stands resulting in many broken bones. And if she presumed correctly the odds were even higher for those who were going to be flying on a wet broom in the middle of a storm! Insane, the whole lot of them.
The lighter team members on both teams actually staggered sideways as they emerged onto the field. If the crowd was loudly cheering, they were only able to be heard as dull voices as the roar of the wind and rain dampened most of the sound. There was not much visibility as faintly through dripping wet binoculars Madam Hooch could be seen moving about on the field, before trying her best to be overhead over the storm. ”Mount your brooms!” And loudly whistling for the game to start.
Despite the bad weather immediately, the Gryffindor chasers grab the quaffel and begin to move in the direction of the Slytherin goal. It actually showcased how easily James and Pettigrew communicated with each other. Despite, this being Pettigrew's first match, he showed no sign of faltering despite his obvious pallor. Quite nimble and fully being able to trust his teammate allowed for James and Pettigrew to show off their skills on the field. Within a few minutes, they scored the first goal!
Wilkes on the stands could faintly be overhead screaming about the goal, while the Gryffindor side rose to their feet to cheer. The Slytherin side oddly enough remained sitting beyond the usual boos. They weren't stupid enough to stand in this weather and get their seats wet only to sit back down in them.