On the morning of the first Quidditch match of the season, the Great Hall was buzzing far more than usual. Of course, there were many reasons for this. For one, the school had been under a rather oppressive atmosphere since the start of the term, and Quidditch was their only major event. And then there was the Fanny effect, her popularity was really showing now.
Fanny smiled and nodded at everyone who came up to greet her, but Anne knew she wasn't as calm as she looked, after all, Fanny was squeezing her hand tightly.
After a while, Luna floated over, wearing an enormous lion's head on top of her own and a highly realistic snake scarf coiled around her neck. The sight was bizarre, to say the least. A few students behind her were pointing and laughing, but Luna remained utterly unbothered.
Anne greeted her cheerfully. "Good morning, Luna."
"Morning, Anne! Fanny!" Luna beamed and pointed at her scarf. "I've decided to support both Gryffindor and Slytherin today. Look, I made this with cotton and green fabric. Oh, and it hisses too." She tapped it with her wand, and a red forked tongue flicked out of the snake's mouth, hissing.
"That's brilliant, Luna. Thank you," Anne said. Luna gave a happy nod and drifted off to the Ravenclaw table.
"You can support both teams?" Fanny asked, clearly skeptical.
"No one ever said you couldn't," Anne replied. Fanny, now distracted by Luna's oddity, seemed far less nervous.
Fanny had to head out with the Slytherin team, and Anne followed her over to greet everyone.
"Hey! Malcolm, how's training been lately?" Anne asked. That's right, Malcolm Doback was the new Seeker.
The once-small boy was now as tall as Anne. Judging by his current growth, Anne figured he'd probably hit 180 cm by the time he graduated. She herself was already 170 cm.
"Pretty good," Malcolm replied, flashing Anne a smile. A flurry of giggles and chatter broke out among the girls nearby.
Urquhart extended a hand toward Anne, and she took it, confused, until he said, a bit gratefully, "Fanny told me you came up with the idea to recommend Malcolm. Thanks! He's amazing. I really think we can win the Cup this year!"
"Uh… well, good luck!" Anne said. She spotted Hermione waiting for her at the door.
"I'll head out now, okay, Fanny?"
"I get it. Go ahead," Fanny smiled.
The rare stretch of good October weather had luckily landed on the week of the match. As Anne and Hermione walked out of the castle side by side, the sunlight made them squint.
"Beautiful day!" Anne said with a grin. "And it's not even cold."
Hermione adjusted Anne's scarf with a smile. "That's because you're wearing a mountain of clothes."
Anne giggled and wrapped her arm around Hermione. "As long as I can still move, it's fine!"
The stadium was packed. One side was a sea of red and gold; the other, green and silver. Many Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws had chosen sides too.
At the entrance, Anne stole a quick kiss from Hermione before they parted, swift and sure, and most people were too focused on the match to notice.
Hermione responded with a sigh and a playful pinch to Anne's cheek before letting her go.
The Slytherin stands were a sea of green and silver. Anne had to work hard to squeeze into the front row, using just a tiny bit of her prefect authority to get there.
On the pitch, the players were already lined up. Madam Hooch stood between them, instructing the captains to shake hands. Then, with whistle in one hand and wand in the other, she called out:
"Mount your brooms. On my whistle... three... two... one! "
With a screech, the box opened, and all fourteen players soared into the air.
The commentator's voice rang out:
"And they're off! Today's match: Slytherin versus Gryffindor. Team captains: Chaser Urquhart and Seeker Harry Potter..."
As Fanny's sweet voice echoed from the commentary platform, the crowd erupted into cheers and whistles.
Standing tall in her Slytherin robes, Fanny kept a close and serious eye on the field, focused entirely on the game.
"Slytherin goes on the offensive! Smith zooms across the pitch, will they get the first ten points of the match?"
Anne quickly raised her Omnioculars toward the Gryffindor goal. Ron wore a grim expression, eyes locked on Urquhart.
The Quaffle soared from Urquhart's hand, spinning rapidly toward the right goal hoop. Ron lunged, caught it just ten inches from the hoop.
"A great save! Gryffindor Keeper Weasley blocks the shot!"
The Gryffindor stands erupted. Ron raised a fist and waved toward the commentator's box, but Fanny didn't look his way, eyes still tracking the Quaffle.
Thirty minutes into the game, Gryffindor was leading 60–10. Ron had been exceptional, pulling off several stunning saves, some with just the tip of his gloves. Ginny had scored four of the six goals for Gryffindor.
With the gap widening, Anne knew the match would now come down to the Seekers. This was Fanny's first time commentating, Anne had to give her a flawless performance.
So every time Malcolm Doback flew past the Slytherin stands, Anne shouted loud and clear:
"Go Malcolm! I believe in you!"
"You've got this, stay calm!"
Whether it was luck or fate, just as Malcolm passed the Slytherin goal again, Anne caught a glimpse of something gold hovering below the center hoop.
Golden Snitch!
She pointed and shouted, "Malcolm, look! The Snitch!"
But amid the deafening noise, Slytherin was attacking again, only a few nearby heard her.
"Slytherin charges again, it's their twelfth shot today. Can Weasley pull off another save like before, "
Malcolm didn't hear Anne. The field was chaos. But every time he flew by, he'd instinctively glance at her. He couldn't hear all her words, but somehow her presence warmed him.
He was anxious now. It was his first match, and his opponent was the legendary Harry Potter.
Stay calm, he told himself. Anne had said that often while helping him with homework. Calm down, think clearly.
Even though he didn't hear her, he saw Anne suddenly pointing excitedly toward something.
The Snitch?
Yes! The Golden Snitch was right there, under the center goal, flitting its silver wings in the bright blue sky.
He dived, broom accelerating, wind roaring past his ears. The world faded. There was only the glint of gold, and a voice in his heart:
Win this match. Bring the Cup back to Slytherin. And after that... tell my lucky star how I feel.
As Malcolm flew straight toward the Snitch, Anne relaxed. No more yelling needed. Fanny's debut as a commentator, the first match of the season, Slytherin had it in the bag. Fanny would be thrilled, and Anne had done her part. Perfect.
"Gryffindor intercepts the Slytherin offense again. They've been lucky... Wait, what did we miss? Doback! That's Slytherin's Doback, he has the Snitch? Yes! He's caught the Golden Snitch!"
The stadium went dead silent for a moment, only Fanny's voice and Madam Hooch's final whistle echoed through the air.
Then the Slytherin stands exploded. Cheers and screams shook the stadium. Fanny called out proudly, "Slytherin wins the match 180 to 90! Their new Seeker, Malcolm Doback, is a third-year student, congratulations!"
Malcolm was instantly swarmed by teammates. Soon, fans chanting his name joined the celebration.
Anne had left the stands early and headed for the commentary box. Fanny enveloped her in a huge hug.
"You did great, Fanny. Solid commentary." Anne patted her on the back.
"We won!" Fanny cheered. "That was amazing!"
"Yeah, pretty awesome," Anne grinned. "Maybe this really is the year we win the Cup. You've always wanted Slytherin to take it again, right?"
"That would be the best!"
As they left the field, they ran into the victorious Slytherin team on the way to the locker rooms. Fanny got a flurry of compliments on her commentary.
Anne and Fanny both offered congratulations and encouragement.
"Thanks, Anne!" Malcolm scratched his head, gripping his Nimbus 2002 tightly.
"No need to thank me, you flew brilliantly." Anne smiled. "Keep it up. Good luck in the next match!"
"You bet!" Urquhart slapped Malcolm on the back, nearly knocking him over. "He's a great find. We've got the Cup in the bag this year."
Anne raised an eyebrow but replied politely, "We'll be rooting for you. Good luck."
On the way back to the castle, Fanny was showered with praise, and a surprising number of both open and subtle confessions.
Thankfully, Anne and Millicent were both on hand to fend off the boldest suitors.
Back in the Slytherin common room, the house-elves had prepared a surprise celebration for Fanny's successful debut as a commentator, which quickly escalated into a full-on party.
As prefect, Anne didn't stop the younger students from drinking Butterbeer, earning even more love from the lower years.
Someone had set up a magical record player in a corner, and it was playing the Weird Sisters' latest song, Love Lost at the Ministry.
Anne poured herself a warm glass of milk from the drinks table and slipped off to her dorm. Let them party, she sat down at her desk and opened a book on Dark magic. Peaceful days were growing rare.
By ten o'clock, Fanny returned to the dorm.
Anne looked at her watch, puzzled. "Back already?"
Fanny slumped into an armchair by the fireplace. "Trennishy Higgs just confessed to me. I turned him down."
"Oh, another one." Anne closed her book and sat beside her. "You could've considered him. He's a decent guy. Ever since you broke up with Bradley in Hogsmeade, you've been swarmed with admirers. If you don't pick someone up soon, I'm going to have to walk three feet away from you in public, too much attention!"
Fanny gave Anne a look. "Don't mention that Hogsmeade trip. Still makes me mad."
"Ron did pour a whole Butterbeer on Bradley. A bit much," Anne admitted. "But you know why, right? He likes you."
Fanny turned away, muttering, "I have no interest in dating an impulsive, emotionally and intellectually stunted Gryffindor." Then she looked at Anne. "Wait, you're not trying to play matchmaker, are you?"
Anne raised her brows. "Absolutely not. I'm firmly on your side. You should follow your heart, always."
"Good. And if he ever asks you what I like, or about my hobbies, you can't tell him."
"Your secrets are safe with me," Anne said solemnly. Then, after a pause, "But Fanny, who are you taking to Professor Slughorn's Christmas party?"
Fanny blinked in surprise, staring at Anne.
Anne nearly jumped. "Don't tell me you know who I'm going with?"
"Fine," Fanny rested her chin on her hand. "Maybe I'll take Millicent. As a thank-you for helping me dodge so many suitors lately."
Anne narrowed her eyes. "You sure? Are you going to ditch her at the party and go chat with others? Or spend the whole time with her?"
"So annoying, " Fanny muttered. "I should've just waited until after Christmas to break up with Bradley."
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