Chapter 18- The Inter-House Quidditch Cup
The Quidditch pitch was a storm of excitement as students from every house filled the stands, eager to witness the most anticipated match of the year—the final showdown between Slytherin and Gryffindor. Banners in green and silver waved proudly alongside red and gold as the cheers of hundreds of students echoed across the pitch. The tension in the air was palpable, a mix of rivalry and anticipation that crackled like static.
Hadrian found himself in the Slytherin stands, sandwiched comfortably between Daphne and Tonks. The two witches had taken it upon themselves to ensure that he was never left alone for long, and today was no exception. Daphne, with her cool confidence, sat close enough that their knees brushed, while Tonks, her hair a bright shade of electric pink today, leaned in close on his other side, her arm occasionally brushing his as she shifted in her seat.
Hadrian could feel the heat rising in his cheeks, though he tried to play it off as nonchalance. It wasn't just the proximity of the two attractive witches that had him flustered—it was the way they seemed to be doing it deliberately, the way their touches lingered just a bit too long to be accidental, the way their eyes sparkled with unspoken mischief.
"Excited for the match?" Daphne asked, her voice low and smooth, sending a shiver down Hadrian's spine. She tilted her head slightly, her icy blue eyes locking onto his with an intensity that made his pulse quicken. The corners of her mouth twitched up in a small, knowing smile, as if she could sense the effect she had on him.
"Of course," Hadrian replied, though his voice came out slightly more strained than he intended. He cleared his throat and tried again, hoping to regain some semblance of composure. "It's going to be a close one, I think. Both teams are at the top of their game."
Tonks, ever the playful one, leaned in even closer, her breath warm against Hadrian's ear. "And which team are you rooting for, Hadrian?" she teased, her voice a low purr that sent another wave of heat rushing to his face. "Slytherin or Gryffindor?"
Hadrian smirked, trying to play along with their game despite the butterflies in his stomach. "I'm sitting with Slytherin, aren't I?"
Tonks chuckled, a light, musical sound that made Hadrian's heart skip a beat. "Good answer. But don't think that lets you off the hook, mister. We'll be watching you closely."
Hadrian felt a shiver run down his spine at her words, though whether it was from excitement or nerves, he couldn't quite tell. He cast a glance at Daphne, who was still watching him with that same enigmatic smile, and felt a sudden urge to say something clever, something that would make them both laugh. But before he could come up with anything, the captains of the two teams—Marcus Flint for Slytherin and Oliver Wood for Gryffindor—stepped forward to shake hands.
The crowd's cheers rose to a deafening roar as the two captains approached each other, their expressions grim and determined. Flint, with his broad shoulders and trademark sneer, looked every bit the ruthless competitor he was known to be. Wood, on the other hand, was a picture of focused intensity, his eyes narrowed in concentration as he extended his hand.
They shook hands firmly, the tension between them almost palpable, before stepping back to join their teams. The referee, Madam Hooch, blew her whistle sharply, signaling the start of the match.
"And they're off!" boomed the voice of the commentator, Lee Jordan, as the players shot into the sky, their broomsticks cutting through the air like arrows. The Quaffle was released, and the game began in earnest.
Hadrian's eyes were glued to the action, but it was difficult to concentrate with Daphne and Tonks so close. He could feel every brush of their skin against his, every time one of them shifted closer or leaned in to make a comment. It was distracting, to say the least, and Hadrian found himself more aware of their presence than the game unfolding before him.
"Look at that maneuver!" Daphne suddenly exclaimed, her voice tinged with excitement. Hadrian followed her gaze just in time to see one of the Slytherin Chasers, Adrian Pucey, perform a dazzling spiral to avoid a Bludger before passing the Quaffle to a teammate. The move was smooth and precise, a testament to the hours of practice the team had put in.
"That was brilliant," Hadrian agreed, nodding. But before he could say more, Daphne leaned in, her shoulder pressing against his as she whispered in his ear.
"Bet you could do better, though," she murmured, her voice sending a thrill through him. "I've seen you fly, Hadrian. You've got the talent."Hadrian swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "I—uh, thanks, Daphne," he managed to stammer out, cursing himself for the way his voice wavered. Daphne's closeness, combined with her flattering words, was making it increasingly difficult to think straight.
Tonks, not to be outdone, leaned across Hadrian, her arm brushing against his chest as she grinned up at him. "She's right, you know. Maybe we should sign you up for the next match, eh?"Hadrian chuckled nervously, trying to maintain some semblance of composure despite the way his heart was racing. "I think I'll leave that to the professionals."
"Oh, come on," Tonks teased, her voice laced with playful challenge. "Where's your sense of adventure?"Before Hadrian could respond, the crowd let out a collective gasp as one of the Gryffindor Beaters, Fred Weasley, smashed a Bludger straight at the Slytherin Seeker, Terence Higgs. Higgs barely dodged it, swerving sharply to the left, but the near-miss threw him off his rhythm, giving the Gryffindor Seeker, Charlie Weasley, an opening.
"Weasley's spotted the Snitch!" Lee Jordan's voice rang out, and the tension in the stands ratcheted up several notches. All eyes were on the two Seekers as they raced after the tiny, golden ball, their broomsticks streaking across the sky at breakneck speed.Hadrian leaned forward in his seat, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched the chase unfold. Higgs was trailing Charlie Weasley by a narrow margin, his expression one of fierce determination. But Weasley was fast—faster than Hadrian had anticipated—and he was closing in on the Snitch with every second.
"Come on, Higgs!" Daphne muttered under her breath, her hand gripping Hadrian's arm tightly as if willing the Slytherin Seeker to catch up. Hadrian could feel the tension in her body, the way her nails dug into his skin slightly as she watched the chase with bated breath.
But despite Charlie's best efforts, Higgs, with a final burst of speed, lunged forward and closed his hand around the Snitch, holding it high above his head as the Slytherin stands erupted in wild cheers.
"And Higgs catches the Snitch! Slytherin wins the Quidditch Cup!" Lee Jordan's voice was almost drowned out by the roar of the young Slytherin supporters, their cheers echoing across the pitch.
Hadrian felt a pang of pleasure as he watched the Gryffindor team land, their expressions a mix of frustration and defeat. But before he could dwell on it, he felt Daphne's hand on his arm again, her touch warm and reassuring.
"Well, what a match!" she said, her tone light despite the victory. "Was that match exciting enough for you?"
Tonks, leaned in closer, her arm slipping around Hadrian's shoulders as she grinned up at him. "Don't look so happy, Hadrian. It was a good match, but remember that your Slytherins will have to play against Hufflepuff too next year."
Hadrian couldn't help but smile at that. He felt a warmth spread through him, a sense of contentment that had nothing to do with the outcome of the match and everything to do with the two witches beside him.
As the crowd began to disperse, Daphne and Tonks remained close, their presence a comforting reminder that win or lose, he wasn't alone. Daphne leaned her head against his shoulder, her breath warm against his neck as she let out a contented sigh.
"You know," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the noise of the crowd, "I could get used to this."
Hadrian felt his heart skip a beat at her words, his mind racing as he tried to decipher the meaning behind them. Was she talking about the match, or something more? He didn't have time to ask, because at that moment, Professor Snape appeared at the edge of the stands, his dark eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on Daphne.
"Miss Greengrass," Snape called, his voice carrying easily over the din. "A word, if you please. "Daphne groaned softly, her head still resting on Hadrian's shoulder. "Duty calls," she muttered, though there was a playful glint in her eyes as she looked up at him. "Don't miss me too much, Hadrian."
Before he could respond, she playfully flicked his forehead with her fingers, a mischievous smile on her lips as she straightened up and made her way towards Snape. Hadrian watched her go, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his own lips. Daphne Greengrass was a puzzle—enigmatic and alluring, with a playful streak that kept Hadrian on his toes. She was unlike anyone he'd ever met—cool, confident, and mysterious in a way that made him want to figure her out, even as he knew that doing so would be nearly impossible.
As Daphne disappeared into the crowd, Hadrian's attention shifted back to Tonks, who was still comfortably close to him. Her electric blue hair seemed to glow in the fading sunlight, and there was a teasing smile on her lips as she met his gaze.
"She's something, isn't she?" Tonks remarked, her tone light, but there was a subtle undertone of something more—a flicker of curiosity or perhaps a touch of protectiveness. It was gone almost as soon as it appeared, replaced by her usual playful demeanor. "But don't worry, Hadrian, I'm still here to keep you company."
Hadrian couldn't help but chuckle at that. "And I'm glad you are," he replied, his voice sincere. There was something about Tonks—her easygoing nature, her infectious energy—that made it impossible not to smile when she was around.
Tonks grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You better be," she quipped, nudging him playfully with her elbow. "After all, I'm not one to be ignored."
Hadrian opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Tonks leaned in closer, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, "But before I go, I think I owe you something."
Before Hadrian could react, Tonks's lips were on his, soft and warm and sending a jolt of electricity straight through him.
The kiss was brief—no more than a second or two—but it was enough to leave Hadrian's heart pounding and his mind reeling.
When Tonks pulled back, there was a triumphant gleam in her eyes, and she grinned at him, a mixture of playfulness and something more intense. "That's for being so damn adorable," she said, her voice low and teasing.
Hadrian's cheeks flushed a deep red, and he struggled to find his voice, still reeling from the unexpected kiss. "I—uh—" he stammered, his mind blank as he tried to process what had just happened.
Tonks laughed softly, a light, melodic sound that only made his heart race faster. "Speechless, huh? I'll take that as a compliment." She gave him a wink before rising to her feet, her movements fluid and graceful.
"Unfortunately, duty calls for me too," she added, her tone slightly more serious now. "But don't worry, I'll see you around, Hadrian. Keep being you, alright?"
Hadrian could only nod, still too stunned to form a coherent response. Tonks gave him one last smile, a mixture of fondness and mischief, before turning and heading off in the direction of the castle, her hair shimmering like a beacon in the crowd.
For a few moments, Hadrian just sat there, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. The kiss, though brief, had stirred something deep within him—a mixture of excitement, confusion, and a warmth that spread through his entire being. He couldn't deny the attraction he felt towards Tonks, an attraction that seemed to be growing stronger with every encounter.
And yet, there was also Daphne. Daphne, with her cool elegance and sharp wit, who had a way of making him feel seen in a way that was both comforting and unnerving. He could still feel the warmth of her touch, the way she had leaned against him during the match, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Hadrian let out a slow breath, trying to make sense of it all. Relationships, feelings—these were things he had little experience with, things that had always seemed distant and complicated. But now, with both Tonks and Daphne, he found himself caught in a whirlwind of emotions that he wasn't entirely sure how to navigate.
Before he could dwell on it too much, the sound of cheering caught his attention, drawing his gaze back to the pitch. The Gryffindor team was gathering in the center, celebrating their victory despite the loss of the Quidditch Cup. Even though Slytherin had won the match, the Slytherin team were still discussing about how close they were to losing the match.
As he made their way towards the castle, Hadrian couldn't shake the feeling that something was shifting, that the events of the day—the match, the conversations, the kiss from Tonks—were leading him towards something new, something that would change the course of his time at Hogwarts.
He just wasn't sure what that something was.