After the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff Quidditch Match

[lilium_evansiae]

It was a miserable day for a Quidditch match -- overcast and damp, with occasional swirls of snow flurries, and the kind of cold that seems to settle into your bones.

But it was a brilliant match, with the lead trading back and forth a dozen times before Gryffindor finally won 370-230 when Raquel Clayworth caught the Snitch while spinning to avoid a Bludger, and Lily frankly isn't sure how she managed to stay on her broom.

She suspects Thomas Levy will be a bit hoarse tomorrow, after the commentary on that match, and looking around the common room, she suspect he won't be the only one, given that her housemates are still breaking out into cheers.

There's an explosion of red and gold sparks into the air from over near the fireplace and Lily turns to look. She catches Remus Lupin's eye as he does the same thing from the other side of the room, and rolls her eyes slightly. He smiles and goes back to his conversation. The prefects have an unspoken rule at times like this that they only get involved if it looks like someone is going to get hurt.

Lily has been waiting for about a half an hour to catch her roommate Cliona, who is one of the Chasers, but that's never easy after a match, and half the time Lily just has to wait till the party breaks up and they're back in their room. She's just about decided she'll have to wait this time, when the crowd around Cliona breaks up.

Lily crosses the room very quickly. "You were wonderful, Cliona," she tells her friend, with a careful one-armed hug that's meant to make sure neither of them spills their butterbeer.

Comments

[alotofgood]

James has, so far, had a bloody brilliant day.

(But then, when is he not when he's playing Quidditch for hundreds of adoring fans?

And winning the game?



Okay, well. Helping to win the game. He supposed he owed it to Clayworth who really showed the rest of them what she could do.)

He's been patted on the back, congratulated, kissed several times (on the cheek, twice on the lips), and hoisted up upon the shoulders of enthusiastic Gryffindors with the rest of his teammates.

It's a party that's likely going to go on into the night and last till about the time the sun decides to come back up for school tomorrow. But it's no matter. James couldn't be happier right now.

He and Sirius are still laughing about the look on Chester Routley's face (which James imitates with stunning accuracy) before he happens to spot Lily Evans and Cliona Byrne.

Obviously, he hadn't been searching for her or anything.

(It'd gotten bloody crowded in the Common Room and he'd been swept up in all the congratulations.

So it's possible he may have lost sight of her ginger hair for a moment there.)

[lilium_evansiae]

After their last conversation, James Potter would have to run through the common room with his robes on fire to get Lily Evans to look at him.

(And even that would be 70/30 at best.)

Cliona, flushed from the game and the celebration, waves away Lily's congratulations. "It's a team effort," she says, cheerfully.

"Don't be ridiculous," Lily says. "No one is handing out house points for humility tonight, and you are a brilliant chaser."

[alotofgood]

It only takes one look from James (met with a responding eye-roll from Padfoot) before he manages to break off that part of the room and come sauntering towards the two girls.

And it's apparently the perfect timing as they're obviously talking about him.

"- what's that about brilliant Chasers, now?"

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily and Cliona exchange a quick glance and apparently this is the evening for eye-rolling.

"Potter," Lily says. "Congratulations. It was a good match."

Because that's the truth, and there's no getting around it.

"It was better than that," Cliona says. "Don't you think, James? Raquel was just amazing. I'd bet you five galleons the Slytherins are running scared right now; it's not like Regulus Black is going to be any match for her."

[alotofgood]

"Thank you, Evans. I'll take those words and sear them into my brain. Never heard a compliment from you before."

James grins.

"Blimey. The rate we're going, Regulus Black'll be so afraid of us, he'll be making up some excuse about being sick the night before the game just so he won't have to show his face."

He wouldn't mind that, really.

"Clayworth's definitely proven her worth," he adds with pride. "March made a good decision, putting her on the team."

[lilium_evansiae]

"It's the best team we've had, even better than last year's," Cliona says. "I thought we were done with Artemesia leaving."

"I can go," Lily says. "If you two want to talk Quidditch, I'm just going to be in the way, aren't I?"

"Actually, I need to go find Fenton. Somebody owes me an after-Quiddith snog." She gives Lily another quick, one-armed hug. "I'm going to want your help with potions later, all right?" she says, and Lily nods. "Brilliant, thanks. See you, James," she says, and Lily could swear that she hears Cliona add, "You owe me" as she saunters off to find her boyfriend.

But Cliona wouldn't. She just wouldn't.

Would she?

[alotofgood]

If Cliona does, James absolutely makes no point in making that obvious.

As far as he's concerned, it was all just a figment of Lily's imagination.


After a quick "Yeah, see you", James turns back to Lily.

"I don't suppose you'd be willing to give me an after-Quidditch snog, then?" he teases.

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily's eyebrows jump towards her hairline.

"D'you know, I don't think even your ego would survive my full answer to that question, so I'll be kind and just leave it at 'no, there's not a chance in hell.'"

[alotofgood]

James starts to laugh.

"Well, I had to try, didn't I?"

[lilium_evansiae]

"Being you, yes, I guess you did," says Lily, drily.

[alotofgood]

James laughs again.

"You know me well, Evans." He grins. "Glad you got to see the game, though. It was brilliant."

Really, he isn't sure why anyone would ever want to miss Quidditch games anyway.

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily isn't sure why anyone would, either. In five years, she hasn't missed a Quidditch game.

"Well, I certainly know you as well as I want to," she says. "And probably a little better.

"But it was a good game. Congratulations."

[alotofgood]

"Well, that's good isn't it?"

James thinks that's good!

(Of course he does.)

"Thanks," he says again, cheerful. "The party's brilliant too. You'd think we'd won the Cup."

Though he has no doubt they will when it's time.

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily looks down at her watch.

"I remember last year. If we'd won the Cup today, McGonagall would already have been up twice to tell us we were making too much noise by now.

"Don't get cocky, Potter. Well, cockier than you already are.

"You've still got to beat Slytherin."

[alotofgood]

"Did you see us out there? Slytherin will be no problem," he says, waving a hand dismissively.

As if he couldn't get any more cocksure.

[lilium_evansiae]

"Yeah, but I also Slytherin flatten Ravenclaw last month."

Ugly, ugly match.

And the one with Gryffindor will likely be worse.

[alotofgood]

"Well, it's been said that the Ravenclaw team this year pales considerably in comparison to last year's," James explains. "After Lefeuvre and Baker graduated - well, they lost their best players."

[lilium_evansiae]

"Maybe, maybe not," Lily says, wondering who this unnamed 'they' is.

"Regardless, overconfidence can lead to losing."

On or off the Quidditch pitch.

[alotofgood]

"It's not overconfidence, Evans," James points out. "It's merely stating a fact. I reckon we're even stronger than last year when the other teams practically begged Gryffindor to take the cup in the finals."

Okay, so it didn't exactly go that way, but he's hyped up on Gryffindor pride right now.

[lilium_evansiae]

"I can't believe I'm about to say this, but ... you're selling yourself and your teammates short, talking like that. The other teams fought hard for the Cup last year, and they were good, all three of them, but Gryffindor was better.

"None of which changes the fact that when you go into a situation thinking you cannot lose, the situation will often find a way to show you that you can."

[alotofgood]

Well - that wasn't what he expected (or wanted) to hear.

"Oy, did anyone ever tell you you're an absolute killjoy, Evans?"

Can they just go back to the 'Congratulations, Potter!' bit?

[lilium_evansiae]

"Just you, really," she says, cheerfully.

"Well, and Black."

[alotofgood]

"Yeah. Well, the two of us, we know what we're talking about then, don't we?"

He shakes his head.

"Is it so difficult for you to just enjoy something without thinking about everything else behind it?"

[lilium_evansiae]

"Honestly?" she says.

"It depends on what it is. And what the everything else behind it is."

Lily pauses, and then half laughs.

"God, I really am a killjoy, aren't I?"

[alotofgood]

"Yeah, a little," James says, but the serious expression slowly turns into something of a smile.

"Sometimes it's okay just to enjoy something, you know. Without thinking too much about it."

He shrugs.

"D'you not think I know how hard Gryffindor plays to win every game? I'm on the team, don't forget."

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily looks away for a second, and then looks back, with a smile more suited to a party.

"Trust me, I am not in any danger of forgetting that you are on the Quidditch team.

"Given your penchant for reminding people of the fact."

[alotofgood]

"Well, it never hurts to remind people," he says, his usual trademark grin returning in answer to her smile.

He even runs a hand through his strategically-mussed hair.

"In case they even appear to forget."

[lilium_evansiae]

Her eyes go to his hair for a moment.

He really is such a prat.

(Isn't he?)

"I see," she says.

[alotofgood]

He chuckles.

"Anyway, Evans. This is a party. We ought to be enjoying it, yeah?"

[lilium_evansiae]

"Yeah.

"Yeah, you should get back to your adoring fans.

"And I think Pettigrew is waiting for you," she adds, with a nod towards the other boy.

[alotofgood]

"He is?"

He glances in the direction Lily nods to, and lets out a small sigh.

"Why does he always have to look so -"

Anyway.

Wormtail can wait.

"You know, I meant we ought to enjoy it together. You can't tell me you're actually thinking of going to bed or something."

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily laughs.

"That was a little smoother than your earlier attempt, Potter, but my answer is still no."

[alotofgood]

He laughs too, then shakes his head.

"Well all right, Evans."

Strangely, he's not sure whether she thinks he meant 'together' like together, because he'd actually meant (this time) to enjoy it as friends.

'Course, he's decided he'll let her alone anyway, now that she's said 'no'.

"Have a good time, then. I suppose I ought to see what Pete's up to now."

He gives her a smile, then literally bowing out, he heads towards his friend.