The last week of the school year at Hogwarts always had a strange, bittersweet feeling. Students rushed about to finish final assignments and exams, but all anyone could really talk about was the final Quidditch match of the season: Ravenclaw versus Slytherin. It wasn't just any match this time it was the decider for the House Cup. The points were so close that whoever won the match would secure the coveted trophy for their house.
The entire school buzzed with anticipation. Even the professors seemed a bit more lenient in their lessons, as if they too were caught up in the excitement. Banners were being waved in corridors, and house pride was at an all-time high.
Petunia Evans sat in the Great Hall that morning, picking at her breakfast while chatting with Pandora, Emmeline, Felix, Andrew and Severus
"Are you nervous?" she asked, glancing toward Severus, who was calmly buttering a slice of toast.
He shook his head. "No. I've studied Cyrus Greengrass's flying style. He dives too early. If I'm patient, I'll catch the Snitch before he even spots it."
Felix smirked, nudging him. "Look at Severus, talking like a seasoned Quidditch star."
Severus gave a smirked. "I'm just trying to win."
"Do it for Ravenclaw," Emmeline said, raising her juice in a mock toast.
By mid-morning, the stands were packed. The sky was a brilliant blue with just the right amount of breeze. Professor McGonagall and Professor Slughorn were already seated in the faculty box, and Madam Hooch stood at the center of the pitch with her whistle ready. The Ravenclaw team stood in a circle, tightening gloves, adjusting goggles, and glancing toward the Slytherins with narrowed eyes.
Gavin Whitthorne, tall and steady, stood at the center of the Ravenclaw team. His voice was calm and focused. "We've worked all year for this. Play clean, play smart. Let them get aggressive we'll beat them with precision."
The team nodded.
Juno Hale cracked her knuckles. "Let's crush them."
Across the pitch, Slytherin stood in a tight huddle. Amycus Carrow's expression was fierce, barking orders at his teammates. Cyrus Greengrass, tall and lean with cold eyes, was already scanning the sky.
"Remember," Carrow growled, "we play to win. Push them hard. Make them slip up. Don't be afraid to rattle their nerves."
With a loud shriek, the golden Snitch shot into the sky, followed quickly by the Bludgers. Madam Hooch's whistle pierced the air, and fourteen players launched into the air.
"And they're off!" boomed the magically amplified voice of Melanie Higgson a fifth year Hufflepuff perched high in the announcer booth. "It's Ravenclaw versus Slytherin! Gavin Whitthorne in goal for Ravenclaw, and Amycus Carrow—captain and Chaser—taking early possession of the Quaffle!"
Carrow dove forward, narrowly dodging a Bludger from Theo Ashworth. He passed to a stocky boy named Simon Avery, who quickly passed to Goyle. The coordination was sharp, and the Slytherins moved like a green serpent through the air.
"Goyle scores! Ten points to Slytherin!" Micah cried.
Felix gritted his teeth, snatching the Quaffle at the restart. "Let's go!" He weaved past Lestrange, passed to Raj, who flipped it back to Celia Morrison. She dived under a Bludger and fired the Quaffle toward the Slytherin hoops.
"Whitthorne intercepts it wait, no Morrison scores! It's a tie game, 10-10!"
The crowd roared, Ravenclaws leaping to their feet.
The match continued at a brutal pace. Slytherin began playing rough, nudging shoulders, crowding passes, and using tactics just within the rulebook or just outside it. Juno Hale and Theo Ashworth responded by hammering the Bludgers back with equal aggression. Juno sent one flying directly at Carrow, forcing him to drop the Quaffle mid-flight.
"They're doing it on purpose," Petunia muttered from the stands. "Slytherin's trying to rattle our rhythm."
"And it's working," Emmeline said, watching as Slytherin pulled ahead again, 40 to 20.
On the pitch, Severus soared higher, scanning the air. Cyrus Greengrass was circling beneath him, close to the action, pretending to focus on the game. But Severus had studied him—Cyrus liked to feint low to draw attention away from the real chase.
The Quaffle changed hands again. Avery scored twice more, putting Slytherin at 100 points. Ravenclaw responded with a brilliant pass play by Felix, Celia, and Raj that brought them up to 50. But it wouldn't matter unless the Snitch was caught.
Severus tightened his grip on his broom and scanned the pitch once more.
There. A faint glint of gold, flitting near the far end of the field.
He dove.
Greengrass noticed immediately and rocketed after him.
"Looks like Snape has seen the Snitch!" Micah shouted. "Greengrass is on his tail! This could be it!"
The crowd surged to their feet as both Seekers spiraled through the sky, weaving between teammates and dodging Bludgers. A Slytherin Beater tried to cut off Severus mid-air, but Theo intercepted him with a brutal swing of his bat, sending a Bludger directly into the green-robed boy's ribs.
Severus narrowed his eyes. The Snitch was darting upward—he followed the curve, rising higher, wind tearing at his face. Greengrass was fast, riding a sleek Nimbus prototype, but Severus was clever. He shifted, swerved left, let Greengrass pass, and then cut inward with a sudden dive.
The Snitch hovered for a second above the pitch.
Severus lunged, stretching his fingers forward—
And closed his hand around it.
Madam Hooch's whistle blew so loud it echoed through the valley.
"Snape has caught the Snitch! Ravenclaw wins the match! Final score: 200 to 100!"
The Ravenclaw stands exploded with cheers and applause. Banners waved furiously, and blue and bronze confetti shot into the sky. On the pitch, the entire team swarmed Severus, lifting him off the ground as if he weighed nothing.
"You brilliant, brilliant Seeker!" Juno whooped, slapping him on the back.
Felix grinned. "That was insane! You outflew Greengrass!"
Gavin smiled, his eyes proud. "Well done, Snape. Couldn't have asked for a better finish."
The Slytherin team landed in frustrated silence, Amycus Carrow kicking at the grass.
Later that evening, in the Great Hall, the final feast took place. The long tables sparkled with enchanted starry skies overhead. Dumbledore rose to give his final announcements.
"And now," he said, twinkling gaze sweeping over the hall, "the time has come to award the House Cup."
A hush fell over the students.
"In fourth place, with 234 points Hufflepuff!"
Polite claps.
"In third place, with 272 points Gryffindor!"
Roars erupted from the red-and-gold table.
"In second place, with 295 points Slytherin!"
A few scattered hisses and shrugs from the green-and-silver table.
"And in first place, with 312 points Ravenclaw!"
The blue-and-bronze table erupted with cheering so loud it rattled the floating candles.
Petunia looked around at her friends Pandora, Emmeline, Felix, Andrew, and Severus, who had the faintest smile playing at his lips. It had been a long, strange, wonderful year.
The next morning, trunks were packed and compartments were claimed. The Hogwarts Express billowed smoke across the platform. Students clambered aboard, shouting goodbyes and promises to write over the summer.
Petunia stood near the train with Lily, who was deep in conversation with Alice and Marlene.
"Ready to go home?" Severus asked, appearing beside her.
She nodded. "I'll miss it, though."
He gave a faint smile. "Me too."
Lily joined them, giving her sister a warm hug. "Happy end-of-second-year."
"You too."
As the train whistled and pulled from the station, Petunia sat between Lily and Severus, watching the castle fade into the distance.
It had been a year of growth, challenge, and triumph and somehow, she knew the best was still to come.
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