A Bend in Time - Chapter 715

Immediately after the whistle, the Slytherin and Gryffindor Quidditch players split up, while the two seeker's Regulus and Mary scatter to the wind, and the keepers Sirius and Delilah Pizzaro hastily move to protect the three hoop goals. Each side's three chasers head for the Quaffle in hopes of scoring a point through one of the three hoops on their rivals' side, Florinda, Florentina, and Turpentine for Slytherin, and Peter, Ortley, and Amberly for Gryffindor.

The two beaters for Slytherin, Parsley Parkinson and Felton Graham rush forward with their bats held high to smash the nearest Bludger towards the rival team. The same could be said for Gryffindor as the burly 6th years, Vacek and Radic swing corral the other bludger towards the Slytherin Captain & Chaser, Turpentine.

The announcer for the match is Head Boy, Darcy Traver's, and Head Girl, Matilda Madley. The two of them take turns announcing as Darcy Traver's in a clear voice says, "And the Quaffle has been taken by Pettigrew in a surprising turn of events. Pettigrew throws the Quaffle to Ortley the newest Chaser addition to Gryffindor and replacement for Potter."

A loud viable groan is heard from Gryffindor as Matilda Madley takes over the megaphone. "The throw is checked by Captain Turpentine intercepting the Quaffle and passing to one of the Champlain chasers." With the nearly identical cousins moving rapidly about no one was able to tell them apart since their colored ribbons in their hair were just a blur. They were simply the Champlain chasers.

"Vacek and Radic strike the bludger together with their bats creating a perfect doublebeater defense," Darcy Travers sympathetically said and winced. "Oh, Champlain loses the Quaffle after being struck by the powerful bludger. Slytherin is calling foul."

From the stands, Slytherin cries out foul as Matilda Madley jumps in. "The quaffle is picked up by the experienced Chaser, Amberly. A fourth year, and member of the team since her second year at Hogwarts."

A sharp whistle is heard from Madam Hooch as Darcy Traver says, "Madam Hooch calls a foul on Captain Turpentine for cobbling. A bit of an unjust call on my part considering Pettigrew deliberately blocked the Captain first." A loud murmur of shouts arises in agreement with the Head Boy at his remark. He was a Slytherin after all.

Rowan winces and rubs her aching head at the shrill shouts of the Slytherins calling out for the unfair foul and Gryffindor cheering at the foul being called. Turning her gaze back up to the match, she scans the grey sky for Regulus and to see how he is doing.

"Penalty for Slytherin!" Matilda Madley said as Slytherin loudly boos and Gryffindor wildly cheers as Pettigrew is handed the quaffle. "Pettigrew dives closely followed by Amberly and Ortley close on his tale. Amberly dives to the left taking a direct hit, but Pettigrew moves forward before passing to Ortley!"

"A bludger zooms directly at Ortley by Merlin's beard!" Matilda Madley exclaimed in shock. "The newest Chaser from Gryffindor pulls an impressive move the Sloth Grip Roll! Hanging upside on her broom in a roll despite carrying a Quaffle Ortley successfully dodges and passes the Quaffle to Pettigrew waiting right down below her."

"Pettigrew in possession and the field is open," Darcy Traver flatly commented. "Not a single bludger nor Beater is within sight. Wait! Parkinson swings and a bludger rushes directly toward him!" Slytherin cheers full of hope while Gryffindor waits with bated breath.

"Oh no, it appears as though Pettigrew is in trouble!" Matilda Madley jumped in as Gryffindor cheers and winces as a bludger slammed into Pettigrew as Slytherin cheers and Gryffindor lets out a loud groan.

"I don't believe it," Darcy Traver grumbled out loud. "Pettigrew still managed to pass the Quaffle to Amberly despite the excellent play by beaters, Parkinson and Graham. Pettigrew is only a bit bruised, a shame really," earning him dark looks from Gryffindor, who suddenly begin to wildly cheer.

"Amberly in possession the field is open again and she pulls up!" Matilda Madley exclaimed. "She dodges the bludger from beater Graham and continues to head forward! Slytherin Keeper Pizzaro moves to intercept, but Amberly feints-! And Gryffindor SCORES!" Gryffindor screams wildly while Slytherin lets out a loud groan at the first goal of the match.

Ignoring the newly scored goal of Gryffindor, Regulus's gray eyes scan the stands and the field for the familiar golden glint signaling the snitch. He knew that with so many team members the first match would be full of difficulties. His team was counting on him to catch the Snitch first before Mary McDonald. He had to admit that McDonald was rather tenacious sticking close to him to the point it was annoying.

Suddenly speeding up, Regulus presses forward and acts like he is about to dive for the snitch. Regulus suddenly drops forward in a nosedive with McDonald closely on his tale, before pulling up on the last second in a Wronski Feint. A trick he'd learned from the Quidditch World Cup from the English Seeker, McLaggen.

Mary McDonald barely manages to pull up at the last second scrapping her feet against the grass and shooting him a deathly glare. Deciding to put some distance between them, she rises and begins to scout the other side of the field. Relieved that his tactic worked, Regulus moves across the field in a zigzag to avoid bludgers and to better seek the golden snitch.

As Gryffindor increasingly scored the match became more one-sided as Gryffindor led the match by 180 points to Slytherin's 50 points. They were playing better than in Regulus's first match, but still not by much. And he had to admit it, Sirius was a good Keeper and even more so with Peter at his side, who was a brilliant tactician. Because he truly was and even Regulus had to admit that if Peter became a Quidditch coach someday in the future, he'd surely lead his team to victory.

Gryffindor was wildly cheering knowing that the match would end soon, and they were in the lead even without the snitch. Slytherin's were rather dowered in the stands as they still tried to cheer but felt that victory was once more slipping away from them. Some of the fanatics gashed their teeth together as they knew that their team had been in perfect shape last year. If not for the blasted Triwizard Tournament the Quidditch Cup would surely have been theirs! Their victory had been stolen and that was simply unfair! (None of course considered the fact that this was simply the first match and there was still a possibility for a final rematch for the Quidditch Cup.)

Still, some held out hope like Bethanie, who gazed faithfully into the sky. She knew if her betrothed, Regulus still managed to catch the snitch, Slytherin would win! It would be 190 to 180, and it would be their win!

In the distance, Regulus can be seen dodging Mary McDonald, who was sticking close to him again and abruptly getting in his way to ensure that he does not have a direct path of flight. She hadn't gone as far as Blagging, (grabbing his broom), but it certainly was Blocking, which many Slytherins were calling for a foul to be called.

Frustrated and annoyed, Regulus abruptly begins a Spiral Dive causing Mary McDonald to pull away believing it to be another feint. No one really paid attention to Regulus as he dived since this was not the first feint, he had attempted to shake off McDonald off his tale. However, only a few such as Bethanie, Sylvia, Tiffany, Terry, Severus, and Rowan carefully watch the dive.

The first one to notice something is wrong is the Gryffindor beater, Vacek, who sends a curved bludger to halt the dive. Noticing the move, Darcy Travers loudly says, "Slytherin Seeker, Black dives in a beautiful spiral in the Hufflepuff stands. Wait, the Hufflepuffs are shrieking and pointing! Wait, is that the snitch?!"

With one final twirl, Regulus outstretches his hand and firmly clamps his hand around the fiercely beating, winged golden snitch. Regulus pulls up into the air and triumphantly holds the snitch up in the air. Slytherin begins to scream as Darcy Travers excitedly shouts, "He's got the snitch! He's got the snitch!"

Noticing that her partner is blabbering, Matilda Madley takes the microphone and begins to speak. "Seeker Black has caught the snitch, and there is Madam Hooch, and the whistle is blown. The match is over! Slytherin wins the match with 190 points vs. 180 points."

The Slytherin side burst into wild cheers Their loss had finally been redeemed in their eyes. And they would fight to take back that which was theirs, the Quidditch Cup!

The Slytherin team rushed over with clear joy in their eyes as they tossed the slim figure of Regulus Black up in the air. The Slytherin stands roar with cheer as even Rowan's lips twitch into a faint smile. She could ruin the moment by saying this was only the first match of the season and was not yet the final quidditch match. But she wouldn't because even she knew how much the win meant for her friends. And next time, Slytherin might not be so lucky as the Chasers of Gryffindor had proven to be a force to be reckoned with.

Rowan lets out a soft sigh knowing full well that there would be full-blown festivities in the Slytherin common room tonight. Professor Slughorn would not even bother to check in on them, while Professor Eponine Mortimer would no doubt permit the festivities considering the circ.u.mstances. There might even be Firewhiskey involved especially with the older years, who would no doubt pull out their illegal stash of alcohol out to celebrate.

Rowan might as well prepare herself for the long haul. At least, there would be plenty of food and drinks that the house elves would prepare and leave on the snack tables. It was something to look forward at least.