CHAPTER EIGHT: QUIDDITCH
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A COLD BREEZE HIT ALEX'S face as she stood beside Ron and Hagrid, surrounded by other Gryffindors. She joined Ron and Hermione to watch Harry's first quidditch game, also the first quidditch game of the season. People were just starting to gather to watch the games. The weather was just starting to get chilly as they made it towards the winter. Alex always liked the snow, she thought it was beautiful. It made the earth look sparkly like it was just covered in a blanket.

Everything erupted into cheers the players flew out on their brooms. "Hello! Welcome to Hogwart's first quidditch match of the season! Today's game, Slytherin versus Gryffindor!" Lee Jordan, the commenter, announced. It was mostly Slytherin's and Gryffindor's gathered into their specific sections, but some of the other house members decided to come and watch. A collection of first years, then mostly other quidditch players. Alex came with her friends. Tianna stayed back to work on schoolwork.

The teams began to gather down at the field. Harry had just received a new broom, the Nimbus 2000, one of the newest broom designs. It was a gift, usually first-years didn't get their own broom.

Lee Jordan began to announce again. "The players take their positions as Madam Hooch decks onto the field!" He announced, just as Madam Hooch got onto the field.

She said something to the players before opening the chest with the balls in it. They flew out. "There goes the quaffle and bludger, followed by the golden snitch!" Lee exclaimed. "Remember, the snitch is worth 150 points. The seeker who catches the snitch ends the game." Hooch then blew her whistle and the game started.

Gryffindor got the first gather on the quaffle, which made the Gryffindor section, including Alex, burst into cheers. One of the chasers for Gryffindor cheered and Alex cheered loudly with the rest of the students.

"Angelina Johnson scores! 10 points for Gryffindor!"

Alex looked over at Ron, who was smiling, and then back at Neville who was smiling as well. It was too loud to have a conversation and they seemed invested in the game more than anything.

She looked back at the field. The Slytherins now had the quaffle and were passing it down the field. Marcus Flint went to score but Gryffindor's keeper,
Oliver Wood stopped it, a small grin on his face. The Gryffindor's had the game again.

Something caught Alex's eyes, she was more interested in what the beaters were doing. She was mostly paying attention to Ron's brothers, Fred and George. Each beater had a bat in their hand and it seemed they were protecting their team from the bludger, but aiming at the other team. It was the position that caught her eye. Chaser would be fun too. She just knew she could never be a seeker or a keeper.

The next thing she knew, Slytherin was up after Oliver Wood had been knocked out by the bludger. Next, they took out one of the chasers, Angelina Johnson.

Alex glanced at Harry, he seemed like he didn't know what to do for a moment. A collection of "oohs" from the audience every time something went wrong.

After a few minutes, Harry's broom started to go haywire. It was out of control. "What's goin' on with Harry's broom?" Hagrid asked.

Hermione turned to Ron and Alex. "It's Snape." She whispered, but loud enough so Alex and Ron could hear her.

"What?" Alex asked.

"He's jinxing the broom?"

Ron's eyes widened. "Jinxing the broom?" He questioned. "What do we do?"

"Leave it to me," Hermione told them. She walked past them and Alex watched her before Ron glanced at her.

"Bloody hell..." Was all Ron said as his eyes drifted back to Harry, whose broom was still out of control. Suddenly he slipped off and caught himself with his hand.

Alex gasped as she covered her mouth, she glanced at Ron who was also visibly shocked. "Come on Hermione!" Ron said.

Harry managed to pull himself back up and start flying again. The broom problem was fixed. A few moments later, Harry and the Slytherin seeker were side by side chasing the golden snitch.

Alex leaned forward, fully into the game again as she cheered. "Come on Harry!"

"Go! Go! Go!" Hagrid cheered.

Harry was inches above the ground, he stood on his broom and reached forward, jumping off. Everybody went silent. He stood up, gagging. Another collection "Ooh's." was heard from the crowd.

"Look like he's gonna be sick." Hagrid pointed out. Suddenly the snitch came from his mouth and landed in his hands.

"Harry Potter's got the snitch! He received 150 points for Gryffindor!" Lee announced.

Hooch blew her whistle. "Gryffindor wins!" She cheered. All the Gryffindors started cheering loudly and jumping around. Ever Professor McGonagall was cheering.

Alex had a large smile on her face as she jumped out and down, celebrating with the rest of the Gryffindor house. Harry raised the snitch into the air, he also had a big smile on his face.

A while later, Ron, Harry, and Hermione walked back with Hagrid, while Alex went with Neville. It wasn't long before she arrived back at the castle.

-

A few days later, Alex was back in the library with Tianna as she worked on some transfiguration homework, they were talking quietly so they didn't disrupt anybody else.

"What do you want for Christmas?" Tianna asked quietly, as she kept writing some things down.

Alex shook her head quickly. "Tianna, no you do not need to get me anything." She told her.

She let out a quiet groan. "Allie, I'm going to get you something whether you like it or not. Now tell me what you want?"

She thought for a moment. She wasn't sure she had never thought about it. Of course, the Malfoy's bought her a rather lot for Christmas but they never asked what she wanted. "I don't know." She admitted, glancing up at her. "What do you want?"

She shrugged. "I'd take another book, so I can keep learning about magic since I'm behind most people, saying I didn't grow up with all of this."

She nodded. "Got it." She said.

Tianna was silent for a few more seconds. "I think I know what I'll give you." He said with a small grin on her face.

"Oh no." She teased. Tianna placed a dramatic and offended look on her face. She couldn't help but smile at her and let a small laugh escape her mouth.

Madam Pince, the librarian hushed them and Alex covered her mouth. "Sorry." She said quietly to Madam Pince.

Just then, Ron approached their table. "Hey." He said quietly as he sat beside them.

Alex looked up at him and smiled. "Hello."

He glanced down at the homework in front of them. "Transfiguration."

They both nodded. "Yeah," Tianna said, glancing over at Ron. "Do you wanna join us?"

He nodded. "I'd like that. I need some help. I'm not sure where Hermione is."

Alex nodded as she grabbed her quill and dipped it into the ink. "We were just talking about Christmas," Alex told him. "Are you going home?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I am." He said. "What about you guys?"

"I am. This is the first time I've been away from my family for this long." Tianna admitted. "I was always with them. I wouldn't miss Christmas for anything."

He then glanced at Alex who nodded. "Yeah, I have too." She said, biting her lip. "My... parents really want me home for Christmas."

He nodded "Cool." He said as he peeked over at Alex's transfiguration work. She raised an eyebrow at him and he quickly looked down sheepishly. "Sorry. I just hate transfiguration and I don't think McGonagall likes me very much."

"Well, you did show up late to the first class." Tianna teased.

Alex nudged her and she looked over at her. "What?" She questioned.

Alex rolled her eyes slightly and looked back at Ron. "You'll get the hang of it." She said. "I'm not perfect in every class."

He gave her a look of disapproval. "All of the professors love you. Even Snape does."

She gulped but shrugged, to try and hide it. "I don't think Snape likes me very much." Tianna stood up and Alex looked up at her. "Where are you going?"

"I'm gonna go look for a book real quick, I'll be back."

She nodded and then glanced at Ron. "Anyways. I'm willing to help you whenever you need it." She said with a short shrug. "I help Neville with potions all the time, even though I'm not very great at it."

"Can't be worse than Seamus," Ron joked. "He blows something up every minute."

She chucked lightly but nodded again in agreement. "Yeah. You are right about that."

She caught herself smiling again. She was dreading Christmas break and it had been on her mind the past few days. But she was distracted for once. She felt like she finally had a place, with people who genuinely cared about her.

authors note

another chapter is done! crazy right? who knew i could write this much?