We're drinking my friend

To the end of a brief episode

Make it one for my baby

And one more for the road

~Johnny Mercer

Chapter Nineteen

That's a Wrap

Their little episode with Snape cost the four second-year boys a week's detention. They'd initially tried to come up with a way to let the student body know that they were responsible for the prank against Snape, but not get into trouble for it. However, they quickly discovered that it would be difficult as sometimes the staff of Hogwarts went solely on rumours when dolling out punishment. Also, coming out in the open and claiming the prank as their own would ensure that no one else, especially one of the Slytherins who so clearly hated Snape, would lay their own claim to it.

After they got out of detention, James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter were bogged down by schoolwork, both newly given and those assigned before their incarceration that they didn't get to in between attending classes and clearing the Great Hall, broom storage, and Slytherin common room without magic. Luckily, the four boys were still on a high from their exploits with Snape and they didn't feel compelled to pull another prank, even a smaller scale one. When random older students were coming up to congratulate and praise the quartet, they didn't want to do something that could take away from their current infamy.

"What do we have left? A month? June? DO you think the teachers will continue to burry us under work, or will they actually let us go out and enjoy this beautiful spring weather?" Sirius asked one spring morning, staring longingly out the Gryffindor common room window. The sun was shinning down on the green grass of the Hogwarts grounds, creating a desire-inducing tableau that pulled at the young boy's outdoorsy heartstrings.

"Well, looking at the syllabuses for each of our classes, I think we are pretty much done learning new things for the year. We've been taught all that we are supposed to in second year," Remus spoke. Sirius sat straight up, appearing quite similar to a dog being promised a treat. "Unfortunately," Remus continued, "Next week is when we should all start studying for finals if we want to achieve good marks on them."

Sirius slumped down in his chair and pouted like a scolded dog. His piles of work, which he had previously been working hard at, lay forgotten on the table. Remus sighed, sorry that he'd opened his mouth and led his friend into a non-working depression.

Moments later, James entered the Gryffindor common room and plodded towards his three friends seated at their normal table. He looked absolutely exhausted, large bags under his eyes and his whole frame dropping like an under-watered flower. His hair, normally only slightly ruffled, resembled that of a muggle scientist Remus had seen photos of his mother's books and magazines. James barely made it to the chair before collapsing down into it.

"Frank is trying to kill me. I don't know if I'll be able to fly in the game tomorrow. This cannot be what he actually wants out of the team. If we're all too tired, sore, and exhausted, there is no way we will beat Ravenclaw for the cup." James slumped towards Sirius, who looked like his twin in pain and anguish.

Remus sighed again. It was going to be a long month.

"Well ladies and gents, this is it. The final game of the year. The one for all the Gobstones. Winner takes all. It's now or never, do or die! Right. Sorry Professor. Moving on. Our last match of the year, as always, between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. This time though, by the luck of the rankings, the winner of this match will be the winner of the cup. So, without further ado, let's get on with the match!" the Quidditch announcer, Donald Karlson, exclaimed.

James and the other Quidditch team players stood on the field waiting on Broadmoor to begin the match. Slowly, he lumbered onto the field, the trunk of balls floating along behind him. When he got to the middle of the pitch, Broadmoor motioned for Frank and the captain of the Ravenclaw team to shake hands. After the quick ceremony, the players mounted their brooms and the balls were released.

"The game starts with Ravenclaw in possession. Fancourt with some fancy broom work is outpacing Longbottom. She sweeps right to avoid a well-aimed bludger from Hodgins. A nice effort from the red and gold, but not nice enough. Melanie Fancourt is one of the fastest fliers this school has seen in many a generation. And just like that, Fancourt scores! Ravenclaw is up 10 – 0!"

At the score, Ravenclaw, along with most of Slytherin and a smattering of Hufflepuff students cheered and screamed. James thought it was all a little much, but it focused him into the game even further. Broadmoor's commentating, and the roars and boos of the crowd, fell away. All that was in his mind was the quaffle and how many times he could get it through the goal posts.

As soon as the quaffle was brought back into play, James had it in his hands. He shot off like a red spark from a vermillious charm towards the goal posts, avoiding other players and bludgers, and sent the quaffle sailing through the ill-defended hoop. He, along with Frank and Vincent Price scored again and again. Before long the score was 100 – 70 for Gryffindor.

"It's a close game, folks. Ravenclaw may be down now, but only by 30 points. Gryffindor is playing a fierce game; their players want this win. You can really feel it. But Ravenclaw wants it just as bad. It's truly anyone's game at this point.

"Look to the Seekers now, ladies and gents. They haven't been super active yet, but just you wait. Any moment now those two could take off after the snitch. At this point, whichever team's Seeker grabs the snitch will win the game and win the cup for their house. No pressure though!" Karlson's voice temporarily broke through James' concentration. The last thing he needed was the pressure of knowing that he and his fellow Chasers weren't doing enough to truly ensure Gryffindor's victory.

Once again, he focused back in on the game, ensuring that he put the quaffle through the goal as many times as he possibly could. James quickly got the quaffle, intercepting a throw between Fancourt and Robinson and reversed his flight path. With skill honed though hours or practice, the messy haired boy dodged and weaved across the pitch. As he flew, he calculated the distance, ad when he felt he was within range, he threw the quaffle as hard and as straight as he possible could.

Second before his shot sailed through the goal post, a loud, excited, almost manic cheer went up from the Gryffindor section and other supporters of the team. James found is a little strange that they were so happy for what was basically just another goal, but he allowed their joy to fill him up. It wasn't until he turned back to the rest of the pitch that he realised the cheer was not, in fact, for him, but Gryffindor Seeker Karen Wilde. Moments after James released the quaffle, but before it went through the goal, she had closed her hand around the small golden snitch and secured victory ad the cup for Gryffindor house.

As this sunk in, James joined the cheering and screaming. All of the other Gryffindor team members were descending upon the fourth-year Seeker. James joined in, wanting to be a part of the celebrations and the rejoicing. His mind was barely processing what was going on aside from the celebrating, but that was really the only thing that mattered in that moment.

Gryffindor had won the Quidditch cup! James' first ever time on the team had lead to the ultimate success! And, James had played a fairly significant role in the victory. Along with the success of his, Sirius', Remus', and Peter's prank against Snape, James felt like he was floating a million miles above ground and he certainly wouldn't be coming down anytime soon. Life could not get any better! It had truly been the most joyous year yet and he couldn't wait what third year would bring for him and his three best friends.

'Adventure awaits!'

The End