here's chapter 8. enjoy

disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry potter except my OCs

Chapter 8: The Potter rivalry

Three months later...

December came in the form of a large blanket of snow that fell over the castle, its surrounding village and the Forbidden Forest. The castle was like an ice sculpture, the many windows of the Great Hall iced with frost. Inside the castle the students were feeling the effects of the winter.

The heavy woolen cloaks they were required to get at the beginning of the year were worn even in class to protect against the frigid wind. Despite the cold weather, nothing would stop the competitors in the duelist tournament.

Albus was now at a count of 29 gold wand pins. Griffin, on the other hand, had already acquired 30 gold wand pins and was now one of the finalists. After he'd turned in his pins, he told Albus that there were only one spot left for the finalists.

Unfortunately, a majority of the competitors had already dropped out, been defeated or quiet. The small few that remained were getting harder and harder to find to call to a duel.

Other obstacles Albus had was he also had Quidditch practice during all his free time. Davy said it was due to the fact that their first game against Slytherin was coming up quick and constant practice was vital. The game would take place tomorrow the same day that the dueling tournament would end and the Wand Gambit would begin.

During one of the last practices, Davy told Albus that James had reached 29 gold wand pins too and was gunning for his 30th. Albus had a feeling that James would try to knock him out of the competition.

. . .

Albus walked down to breakfast, his robes flapping at his ankles. He would change into his Quidditch robes when the team went to the locker room before the game. Albus entered the Great Hall and sat next to Leia. Rosie and Griffin were all ready digging into the plates of eggs and sausages. Albus served himself some toast and eggs. As he began eating, Scorpious Malfoy walked over to the Gryffindor table.

"Good Luck Albus" said Scorpious holding out his hand which Albus shook. "I'll be supporting Gryffindor."

"Why?" asked Albus.

"Everyone in Slytherin has been a jerk to me. I'm not like the other Slytherin and I'd rather have you win then them."

"Oh" replied Albus. He'd just begun to dig into his breakfast when Davy walked over, dressed in crimson Quidditch robes and holding a broom.

"Better get to the locker rooms Albus" he said. "It's time." He walked off, the rest of the team following him.

"Good luck Al." said Rosie giving him a hug.

"Good luck." said Leia giving him a kiss.

He gave Griffin a high five and walked off as the whole Gryffindor applauded as the Quidditch team left the Great Hall.

. . .

In the locker room, Albus took off his black school robes and put on his crimson Quidditch robes. As he puts his school robes in the locker, his brother James walked over, already in his Quidditch robes holding two brooms.

"Here" said James handing him a red broom with a fire-like tail end. "Mom and Dad bought this as congratulations for making the team."

Albus took it in his hands, staring at the name on the handle.

"It's a Fire Phoenix 2000! It goes up to Mach five."

Davy called the team over. "Alright team, today we face Slytherin. You all know they'll be trying to cheat but we're going to play a clean game so no Bludgers to the face. Alright Malik and Marik?"

He glanced over at the twins who adopted identical looks of 'who me?' Davy turned back to the team.

"So we play hard but clean and we'll win! Now let's get out there!" The team grabbed their brooms and formed a line behind Davy. They walked out through the locker room to a wooden hallway. They walked down the hall and stopped at a pair of closed wooden doors.

The door opened and the team walked out onto the pitch. A loud applause sounded as the Gryffindor team walked onto the pitch. Albus looked around in amazement. The entire oval shaped stands were filled to the brim with Gryffindors, Slytherins, Ravenclaws, Huffelpuffs, and staff. Albus even thought that he saw Hagrid standing up amongst the Gryffindor supporters. The referee, Oliver Wood, stood in the middle of the pitch a large wooden box sat at his feet. The green and silver clad Slytherin team approached from the opposite side of the pitch. Davy and the rest of the Gryffindor team reached Wood lust as the Slytherin team did.

"Captains. Shake hands." Davy shook hands with the part troll Slytherin captain. Then the two teams kicked off from the ground and flew into the air.

Suddenly a loud voice echoed from the staff area of the stands.

"HELLO! MY NAME'S CONNER JACKSON AND I'LL BE DOING THE COMMENTARY FOR TODAY'S MATCH. TODAY WE HAVE SLYERIN VS GRYFFINDOR!"

The strand erupted with cheering.

THE TEAMS WAIT ABOVE AS OLIVER WOOD, VETERAN GRYFFINDOR CAPTAIN BACK TO REFEREE THIS MATCH, PREPARES TO RELEASE THE GAME BALLS!"

Wood opened the large wooden crate and released two black balls, the Bludgers that shot off into the air. The walnut sized Golden Snitch zipped away, faster then a bullet. Then he threw the red soccer ball-sized Quaffle.

"THE QUAFFLE IS REALEASED." Cried Conner Jackson as the red ball sailed through the air.

"AND THE GAME BEGINS!" As James grabbed the Quaffle and rocketed through the air past the Slytherins towards the goalposts.

"JAMES POTTER OF GRYFFINDOR HAS THE QUAFFLE AND ROCKETS DOWN THE PITCH TOWARDS THE SLYTHERIN THROWS AND SCORES! TEN POINTS TO GRYFFINDOR!"

. . .

Albus looked down from his perch high above the game. As Seeker, his only job was to get the Snitch. Davy had told him to stay out of the way until he saw the Snitch. He didn't want Albus to get hurt before he had to do anything.

Gryffindor was fifty points ahead of Slytherin and so far there was no sign of the Snitch.

"AND ONCE AGAIN, JAMES POTTER FOR GRYFFINDOR HAS THE QUAFFLE AND ZOOMES TOWARDS THE SLYTHERIN GOALPOSTS."

A glint of gold shown in Albus' eyes. There! The Snitch was flying by James as he flew towards the goalposts. Albus rocketed towards the Snitch. He went too fast and as he attempted to stop he smashed right into James. He fell from his broom. Albus grabbed the small ball of gold.

"AND ALBUS POTTER GRABS THE SNITCH! THE GAME GOES TO GRYFFINDOR! The crowd went wild with applause as Albus held aloft the Golden Snitch. He landed on the ground and ran over to his brother. Before he could get to his brother, James pushed past the people who were trying to help him up.

"What was that?!"

"I was trying to get the Snitch like I was supposed to"

James glared at Albus. "Why'd you knock me off?"

"It was an accident!" said Albus. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't cut it." James reached into his robe and drew his wand, leveling it at Albus.

"I challenge you to a duel Albus."

uh oh. brother vs brother. If the past has taught us anything, it's that this never goes well. Review!