[ 034 ] win some

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CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
win some


ON THE DAY OF THE FIRST QUIDDITCH MATCH to officially kick off the season, the November sky looked as lifeless as Sawyer felt when she woke to rain lashing against the window, tiny little claws raking half-heartedly against the glass. Just a light drizzle, but still wet weather nonetheless. Regardless, conditions were cosmically less hostile than the past few days, when she couldn't set foot outside without being immediately drenched. Even though Oliver and Sawyer stopped meeting in the mornings to run because of the weather in the days leading up to this one, Quidditch practice still carried on as per normal for the Gryffindors, though, apparently, because Oliver was both desperate and demented.

Now, though, the sky was a molten grey fissured by bright bolts of mysterious sun, and the professors seemed to think they might as well capitalise on the sudden relent in the weather. Throughout the school day, nobody could sit still. Classes were distracted by the incessant talk of the game this afternoon, bets were placed, spreading like a disease amidst the student body, and flags in either vibrant red or sunny yellow were being passed around. Even the professors had given into the mounting anticipation sparking off their students since they knew there was no taming an entire classroom of excitable students who were potently distracted and whose minds have wandered off elsewhere. School was the last thing on their minds. In Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall had almost docked points because Oliver wouldn't shut up about the upcoming match. He'd caught Sawyer's eye across the classroom, and even though Sawyer didn't think it was a big deal, she couldn't help the indistinguishable expression she made when she met his fiery zeal. Something tugged at the corner of her mouth, and Sawyer wanted to call it scorn, but she wasn't convinced. This was everything to him, and by proxy, it mattered to her, too.

"See you later," Oliver murmured, just low enough for her to hear, pressing a hand against the small of her back as he bypassed her on the way out of their last class of the day before he caught up with Dylan and the rest of his friends in the crowded corridor. In under three hours, they'd be facing off on the Quidditch pitch.

None of the Hufflepuffs expected to win against the Gryffindors, but because they had Cedric now, there was a glimmer of hope. If the rumble of dissent from the sky as the Hufflepuffs strode out as a team with Cedric leading them onto the pitch meant anything, it was presage to exactly how the match was meant to go. As they waited for game time, Cedric led them all with stretches. Sawyer and Violet stuck together for warmups. Before they'd left the wings of the changing rooms, Cedric had given the team some words of encouragement, which Sawyer was surprised wasn't as long-winded as their previous captains' blistering preaching.

"You've trained for this," Cedric had said, a hopeful grin on his face that seemed to soothe even the most anxious of their players. Even Violet looked more enthusiastic than nervous like she usually did. He swept his sparkling gaze over their main lineup. Over their three Chasers, Sanchez, Irene, and Florence. Over their new Keeper, Herbert who was small and compact but rocket-fast. And finally, over Violet, and Sawyer, who flipped her bat over her scarred knuckles. "You've all worked so hard to get to where you are today, and I am incredibly proud of each and every one of your progress. We've always been at the bottom, and I'm not stupid enough to think this match would be easy to win, but we have an amazing, dedicated lineup this year. So we're going to go out there, show them all that we're not going down without a fight, and have our fun."

When the Gryffindors met them in the middle of the pitch, striding out with palpable arrogance, Madam Hooch motioned for both captains to shake hands. Sawyer didn't blame their overconfidence, considering Hufflepuff had always been a sorry state. As Lee Jordan's commentary boomed, firing up the crowd decked out in their house colours, Sawyer tuned it all out as Oliver gripped Cedric's hand firmly, his jaw set in a determined line. Today, her mind was sharp. Sharper than it should've been. Before they parted, Cedric said something nobody else caught that made Oliver grin. Sawyer knew what that grin meant. Collateral damage was eminent. While Madam Hooch began laying out the rules and regulations, Sawyer spotted Harry standing next to Angelina. His eyes were on the blonde girl beside Sawyer. An impish smile tinging her lips, Violet lifted her bat and waved. Harry smirked.

SOME KIND OF DISASTER ─ oliver woodWhere stories live. Discover now