#quidditch matches

[up-to-some-good]

Game Day

For @goodboylupin 's Candy Hearts Challenge. My prompt was U R #1

1977

The first quidditch match of seventh year was set to be a tense one. As always, Slytherin and Gryffindor were the first teams that would face off. It was James's last season as captain and he was determined to go out on a win. The opposing captain was Regulus Black. It was his first year as captain and he wanted to start on a high.

And then there was Sirius, who had been welcomed back to the team after a year's suspension and would be facing his brother for the first time since leaving Grimmauld Place. He had been practising with James all summer, trying to get back to where he was before he took the time off. He was looking good, possibly better than he'd ever been, but it wasn't enough for him.

Sirius had spent every night on the Quidditch pitch for weeks. Remus had followed him out, braving the cold evenings to sit on the stands and watch his boyfriend hit bludgers back and forth with startling accuracy. Remus had practically had to drag him back to the dorms the closer it got to the game.

Sirius was exhausted leading up to the game. He was overworking himself and still wasn't happy with his performance. He didn't just want to be good. He wanted to be perfect. For James. For himself. Even for Regulus, at least a little. Remus was worried. He had to do something.

He started with gentle encouragement, watching Sirius's every move at practice and telling Sirius everything he did well as they walked to the dorms together. Sirius would blush and smile at the ground bashfully. When that stopped working, when Sirius stopped taking him seriously and began talking down on himself, Remus switched tactics. He'd head down to the pitch with a thermos of herbal tea for Sirius and walk to the castle with his boyfriend in silence. When they got to the dorms, Remus would massage Sirius's sore muscles and put salve on any bruises he'd acquired that day before they lay down to sleep.

The night before the game, James had physically withheld Sirius from going to the pitch and carried him back to the dorm, insisting that he get a full night's sleep to be at his best. Remus waited until he was snoring gently before extracting himself from Sirius's grasp and sneaking back to the common room to meet Lily. He felt bad leaving Sirius alone, but he would be back soon, and it would be worth it when Sirius saw what they had been doing.

The next morning, the quidditch team was first at the breakfast table, meaning Remus, Lily and Peter were also present, if much more sleepy. Sirius pressed a kiss to Remus's head before he left for warmup, muttering something about a good luck charm that made Remus smile into his second cup of coffee.

The game started a while later, and it was tight from the beginning. The Slytherin team was ruthless, breaking a few rules and attempting to shove Gryffindor players off their brooms, but the Gryffindors were good flyers and held their own. It took a long time for a point to be scored, James finally breaking through Slytherin's defence and putting the quaffle through the middle hoop as Sirius hit a bludger at the Keeper, distracting him from blocking the point.

The crowd cheered for the two marauders and Sirius grinned, searching the crowd for his boyfriend. He finally spotted him and his eyes widened slightly in surprise.

Remus Lupin, who always brought a book to quidditch matches, who barely bothered to wear a Gryffindor scarf to the games, was decked out in Gryffindor colours, wearing Sirius's old quidditch jersey that he had charmed to fit him. Next to him was Lily Evans, also dressed up with her boyfriend's jersey. They were hiding a sign between them, a beautifully drawn lion at the bottom - likely Lily's work - with words in gold spanning the length of the sign.

POTTER AND BLACK

U R #1

Sirius was nearly hit by a bludger as he stared at the sign, snapping back to attention as Marlene flew up next to him and slapped him upside the head. He blew a kiss to Remus before refocusing on the game.

Sirius didn't miss a single hit for the rest of the game, managing to defend the chasers in perfect sync with Marlene. He eventually hit a bludger towards his brother, blocking the seeker's path and allowing Gryffindor to catch the snitch. He flew straight to Remus when the game ended, ignoring the team's celebration on the ground. Remus caught him easily and wrapped him in a tight hug.

"Brilliant," he whispered into Sirius's hair. "You're bsolutely brilliant."

[littleyellowtangerine]

Reggie attends all of James' games even though he always says he is forced to.

[aeoneskova]

Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy is complete!

The final chapter + epilogue is up! Sorry for the wait but I wanted to post them together and here’s some art I did of Percy to go alone with it :))

Thank you all so much for sticking with me! I plan to continue with some Wolfstar wips (a pirate AU and an astronaut AU) so if you’re interested in those I’ll share updates on here.

For now though I hope you enjoy the fic <33

[beebox-illustrations]

Being on the Hogwarts staff has to be the most insane experience.

Have a nice weekend!

[joeytime]

Maxiel Hogwarts Au...

If you asked Max what he thought of Hogwarts, he would likely make a joke about pigs and insult their quidditch teams.

He isn't sure it's smart to do that now, in the middle of the Hogwarts' grand hall, completely surrounded by Hogwarts' students and staff. He isn't sure he could escape even if he had his broom.

"Wow, you really hate Hogwarts." The dreaded hat says atop his hair.

Shut up! Max thinks furiously at it. Get out of my head!

Everyone stares intensely at Max, not daring to breathe while the fate of the member of the national quidditch team is being decided. Even the teachers are at the edge of their seats, other than Dumbledore, he seems to know where Max will inevitably end up.

"Little quidditch champion. Everyone is expecting" The hat says, as if it's life of forever moving from head to head to call one of four words is somehow a greater destiny than Max's.

It's not. Max knows he will go on to succeed in life, and win as many quidditch championships as he wants and then retire on an island in The Maldives with a butt load of cash while the hat is left in a dusty room, waiting for it's yearly use. Max wants to reach to rip it up but it would not be wise to do so in front of Dumbledore himself. His hands stay in his lap, frown etched on his face.

"Impatient. Immature." Max's fingers twitch slightly. There is only so much backtalk one can take from a hat.

"Violent and uncaring, wherever will I put you?" Max doesn't agree with that description, he cares plenty, about winning that is.

"Foolish. Foolish boy." It doesn't hurt, Max has heard those words plenty of times.

Max sulks.

It's a beat of silence before the suspense reaches its climax. "Hufflepuff! " The hat hollers, not bothering to consult Max on it's decision. Which is very rude and impolite.

The entire room erupts into chaos, screams of "What! " and "No way! No way!" echo throughout the hall.

Max can't help but agree, he thought he might end up in Gryffindor or Slytherin, maybe Ravenclaw if he was super unlucky. But Hufflepuff? His father was going to disown him. The media are going to have a field day. Well they were going to already, regardless of which house Max was put in.

Dumbledore moves to pull the hat off of Max, the treacherous thing whispers one last time: "Things will make sense in time. Be patient. Do not mope."

Max doesn't mope. Verstappens can't mope, so he doesn't.

Dumbledore gently guides a slightly speechless Max to the Hufflepuff table, pushing him into the seat before winking and walking off.

Max wants to burn down this school.

Cheers erupt from the Hufflepuff table, hands coming to pat him on the back and fawn over him.

The other tables seem miserable at the prospect of losing out on a quidditch champion.

"Oh my god! Hi! Hi! Oh my god! It's you!" A boy excitedly chatters to his left, other students crowd around him and Max suddenly finds that he can't breathe. It's like he's small again, after being knocked off his broom by an overly excited big kid. He had fallen to the ground, too exhausted and overwhelmed to get back up.

His father had been mad, really mad. He hadn't slept well again after that.

"Guys! Guys! He doesn't look so good. " Whoever that is, is definitely right, Max can hardly breathe, he tries to use the breathing technique his father taught him after his first match, control his breathing. It doesn't work, it only causes the panic and urgency in his veins to surge. It did work, it's purpose was to put him on guard, not calm down.

He curls into himself, hands around his ears to protect from the deafening sound of crowds cheering. His bubble of personal space is of course pried and poked at. Fans never had any self awareness when it came to these matters and his father never did have sympathy for personal space.

Hands are pried away from him, he can hear outraged screeching at the action. His own quidditch team's screams when he was 6 years old and pulled away to join the older kids. They thought it wasn't fair that a small boy climbed the ranks faster than they did.

"Hey! Hey! Everyone back up right now!" The entire opposing team bombarding him in an attempt to stop him. The referee's reprimand that fell on deaf ears.

The people at his sides are replaced and gentle hands hold him back up, out of the ball he curled himself into.

Max doesn't dare look up, too afraid at the thought of seeing his father's judgemental look.

"Hey, are you okay? " Max turns his head, soft, gentle, warm eyes, concerned. Jos was never concerned, he was the uncaring one! Not Max!

"I'm fine. " A repeated response, practiced again and again every time he came home to his mother.

The teen with the soft eyes gestures for another boy to sit on Max's other side. The boy opposite Max looks on in concern.

"Hello. I'm Daniel Riccardo, I'm a prefect of Hufflepuff, it's nice to meet you." The gentle boy says, eyes still filled with concern.

"Max Verstappen. " Max manages to choke out.

"The boy on your left is Yuki Tsunoda and that's Lando Norris." Daniel gestures to the boy sitting opposite Max, who waves shyly.

The ruckus Max's sorting caused calms down and everyone settles down to listen to Dumbledore's welcome back speech which luckily does not mention Max.

Max feels strange between Riccardo and Tsunoda, like dread wrapped in false cotton. Norris also peers at him from time to time, creep.

They're sent back to their dorms. Max tells Riccardo that he can get there on his own but the older boy frowns and insists that he takes Max. Max thinks his father would be disappointed at his complacency but he doesn't have the strength to fight it.

Riccardo leads him to the kitchen, Max wants to snap some insult about him being a goody two shoes and how this is none of his business. He holds his tongue.

Riccardo gestures to a specific barrel, looking more worn out than the ones around it. He taps a certain beat, perhaps it's a secret code. That's childish, Max decides, they are not children playing in a fort.

The barrel swings open.

Max grimaces at the small tunnel.

"Here, you try tapping it." Riccardo puts Max's hand to the barrel.

Max repeats the rhythm perfectly. Memory exercises were part of his training.

Once Riccardo is satisfied, he points at the tunnel, almost as if he wants Max to crawl through it.

Max scrunches his nose, seriously? The older boy points more urgently and Max relents, shoving himself through the tunnel.

Well, not shoving, he's not really big, a fact his father loathed, putting him on diets with large sums of proteins and even attempting to use transfiguration spells before it was put to a stop by his mother.

Max wished his mother had not stopped his father. Maybe he would have an excuse not to join this god forsaken house.

It's an agonizing 5 second crawl before he pops out the other end right in front of Lando Norris, the boy before.

Daniel appears behind him, putting a hand on Max's shoulder.

"So Max, this is the Hufflepuff house. You know Yuki and Lando. That's Oscar, Nico and Valtteri." Riccardo urges the boys to come forward.

"It's Verstappen. " Max declares, Riccardo quirks an eyebrow and the rest of the boys look equally confused.

"Hi! I'm Lando! I'm like a huge fan, do you mind signing this for me? " The boy's yellow robes are somehow orange.

Max's PR training kicks in and he smiles one of those sickly sweet smiles that his father loves to wipe off his face before ordering him to smile again. His posture straightens and he reaches a hand around the younger boy's shoulders, patting him on his back once, twice. Just like he rehearsed.

"Sure! " His tone is so obviously a faux sweet as he reaches to retrieve the black marker from his back pocket. The boy has stars in his eyes and Max feels guilty, he always does. He's a fraud.

He signs the hat from his national team, the one he left behind.

He wishes he didn't.

"Hey, are you okay Max? " Riccardo asks, looking weird again.

"I'm doing great, how are you? " His PR trainer said asking back these questions were endearing, cute. Max's father had mocked him for that act, his trainer had been fired after that.

"How about I bring you to your room? Would you like that?" Riccardo asks, Max smiles again, nodding.

"Sure." Norris waves enthusiastically as Riccardo leads him out of the common room and into his private room.

"Are you alright? Max?"

"Call me Verstappen."

"Verstappen. Are you alright?"

"You can go, Riccardo. "

"... Call if you need anything."

When the prefect leaves, Max wants nothing but to burst into tears. He flops onto the bed.

The next day he drags himself out of bed. Even if classes don't start till 9 and the sun hasn't risen yet.

Jos expected him to continue his strict training regime. He was almost tempted to skip it and lie to his father but he thought he better not after his humiliating sorting from yesterday.

Now, alone, Max can see the Hufflepuff room properly. It's... It's all gentle lighting, none of the bright fluorescent lights his room had. The chairs looked comfy and the many plants lazing around the common room tempts him to join them.

Perhaps that would be a better fate, turning into a plant to live the rest of his life in the common room. His hand lingers on his wand, mind on a spell his professor taught him when he was just 9. He didn't.

When he had crawled out of the Hufflepuff room, fully dressed, broom in hand, the sun was just peaking from the horizon.

The halls are empty, some portraits mutter as he walks by. His father's portraits never moved, other than those instructed to. For example, a painter that never stopped moving his brush or a surfer never to take a break from the sea.

Making his way to the Hogwarts field, he stretched, slow and patient. His bones crack from the exhausting day he had before.

The field is decent sized, not as big as the one he played in during national championships, bigger than the one his father made him run laps around till he fainted.

He glides through the air easily, flying comes easily to him. If he were to be given his own time and freedom he thinks he would likely still be a top player in the school leagues.

It's better that he was hurled up though. Better to have reached the top by sheer force of his father's training.

He thinks about his national team, he's a reserve, too young to play officially but the team has him in some practices and he attends smaller competitions for them. Max suspects it's more about having a claim on Max when he comes of age.

He's 15, he still has 3 years to choose which team he wants to go to. By then, he will make his own choice. He will not do whatever pleases his father anymore.

The golden snitch twinkles near the end of the field. Max pretends not to see it.

It is fun, sometimes, tricking the golden snitch, allowing it a false sense of security. Like a tiger cub playing with a cricket.

His father would get mad at him if he did it for too long, he was upset his son couldn't catch it at once. Which Max could, he just didn't see the fun of it.

The fluttering golden ball is in his hands before it can even think of escaping.

Max briefly wonders if the snitch can possibly think, he lets it flutter away, repeating his game once again.

In the golden light of the sun and shaded path of the clouds, the wind whizzes past his ears, he falls into the familiar rhythm of flying, sometimes he makes his own obstacle courses, weaving through imaginary hoops.

By the time the sun reveals itself fully to watch Max fly, he realizes that a crowd has gathered around under him, star-struck Hogwarts students watching, mouths open and everything.

He flushes slightly, he may have had many adoring fans due to his membership in the national team and young age but come on! These were his peers.

Max lowers down, checking his watch to see that it is indeed 8.30am and he has to run if he wants to get to class not drenched in sweat.

He waves slightly to the crowd, zipping to the house dorm even though he's probably breaking several school rules.

He knocks the tune and enters quickly, still high from the adrenaline of flying.

He climbs out of the tunnel only to come face to face with Daniel Riccardo, his face stern and stony.

"Verstappen! You can't just sneak out like that!" Daniel's expression softens when he sees Max.

Max knows he feels pity even if Riccardo knows nothing about his life.

"I of course did not sneak out, I left my room and went to the field." Max doesn't think early hour training counts as sneaking out, going to parties in the dead of the night is sneaking out.

"Max, we were worried. I went into your room and you weren't there. Thought you'd been kidnapped by the other houses to play quidditch for them or something... "

Max considers this briefly, Riccardo knocking on his door gleefully, freezing when he doesn't get an answer. Did his blood pressure spike? Did he throw Max's door open in desperation only to find the room empty?

Max grimaces.

"I went to go training... Sorry..." Max stands awkwardly, hands by his side like a child being punished by a parent.

Riccardo sighs. Max wants to cry.

"Please forgive me, I'm of course sorry, I will do anything!" Max cringes inside, begging with someone other than his father is a foreign concept.

Riccardo has a cheeky smile on his face, Max is almost scared.

"I'll forgive you... Only if you call me Daniel!"

Max groans inwardly, well he's also partly relieved but Daniel doesn't need to know that.

"What will it be Max? Will you call me the d word? Or will you suffer in my never ending spite! "Daniel's grin grows.

" Fine. "

" Fine, who? "

"Fine. Daniel."

Max flushes, weird.

Daniel looks elated.

[enbysiriusblack]

once dorcas and marlene start dating, they make a pact to not talk about quidditch at all for a month leading up to gryffindor vs slytherin quidditch matches in case they reveal tactics, training, or players strengths and weaknessss.

james would show up after every date and pester marlene to make sure she didn't reveal anything that might give slytherin an advantage. same thing happening when james and regulus get together but lily knows both teams tactics cause she helped them both with it, she promises not to tell each other's tactics though

[wundrousarts]

A theory I have (which may have been confirmed) is that morrigan will 100% be the one accused of murder in silverborn

I actually think that for once Morrigan won’t be accused of anything in Silverborn! Poor girl needs a break, lol

Based on the “teen Mog” snippet and the blurry snippet (you can find both here), I think one thing Morrigan is going to deal with in Silverborn and beyond is wanting some independence and wanting to be listened to, but not being heard. I know people complain sometimes about the adults in Nevermoor being incompetent or not always listening to Mog, but that’s a staple / a vital part of middle grade fiction!

Ever since the whole emoji thing I am thinking that the “murder” might happen at the dragon tournament that I think we will go to. It makes sense for Morrigan to be there if Hawthorne is there, but unless she’s getting on a dragon herself, I don’t think anyone could accuse her of anything. Although, it would be interesting connection to her past as always being blamed for things as a cursed child. I’m eager to find out what the full Silverborn blurb is because I think that might reveal the “murder” aspect of the book.

[n03m1blog]

how is that nobody talks about the friendship between Remus and Marlene

they don't even have a name for the two of them, like a cute one

idk I'm shocked

I love them

[olivers-cocoapuffs]

Regulus spends hours studying Remus to use as a reference

[hotchfiles]

harry getting ready for his first house party during summer and james insisting to go with him because he's good at parties

parents not allowed, dad

but i'm not a normal dad, i'm a cool dad !

[salyby26]

The Unlikely Captain

Warning : None

Word count: 598

Fandom : Harry Potter

Characters : Reader and Oliver

Notes : Should the next one be NFSW ?

Oliver Wood, the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, was known for his intense dedication and passion for the sport. He lived and breathed Quidditch, striving for perfection with each passing game.

So, when Y/N, the captain of the H/N Quidditch team, challenged him to a friendly match, Oliver couldn't resist. He was intrigued by the confidence and determination that radiated from Y/N, and he knew that he was in for a tough game.

As the two teams took to the pitch, the air crackled with excitement. Oliver's heart raced as he watched Y/N lead their team onto the field, their presence commanding respect and admiration.

The game began, and Oliver found himself facing off against Y/N, their brooms soaring through the air as they chased the snitch. They matched each other move for move, each determined to come out on top.

As the game progressed, Oliver found himself drawn to Y/N's fierce determination and skill. There was something about the way they moved, the way they commanded their team, that left Oliver captivated.

The game came to a close, and Oliver's heart sank as he realized that Hufflepuff had won. However, the sting of defeat was quickly replaced by a newfound respect for Y/N and their team.

After the game, Oliver approached Y/N, his heart pounding with nervousness. "That was an incredible game, Y/N. You're an amazing captain."

Y/N's lips quirked into a small smile. "You're not too shabby yourself, Oliver. I can see why Gryffindor holds you in such high regard."

Their eyes met, and in that moment, Oliver felt a spark of something he couldn't quite name. There was a connection between them, a bond forged through their shared love of Quidditch.

Days turned into weeks, and Oliver and Y/N found themselves drawn to each other. They spent time together, practicing their moves and sharing their love of the sport.

As their friendship grew, Oliver found himself wanting more. He longed to hold Y/N close, to feel their lips on his own, but he was afraid to admit his feelings. He couldn't risk ruining their friendship, especially since they were captains of rival teams.

One evening, as they sat beneath the stars, Oliver's heart burst with emotion. He couldn't hold his feelings back any longer.

"Y/N, there's something I need to tell you," Oliver began, his voice tinged with nervousness. "I know we're captains of rival teams, but I can't help the way I feel about you. I've never met anyone like you, and I can't imagine my life without you in it."

Y/N's eyes widened in surprise, but before they could reply, Oliver continued. "I know it's risky, but I want to be with you, Y/N. Will you give me a chance?"

Y/N's lips curved into a smile, their eyes shining with warmth and affection. "Oliver, I had no idea... I feel the same way about you. I've been too afraid to say anything, afraid that it would ruin our friendship."

In that moment, Oliver and Y/N's worlds collided, their hearts entwined in a love that defied expectations. They didn't care about the rivalry between their houses, nor did they care about what others thought. All that mattered was their love for each other.

As they embraced, Oliver felt a sense of peace wash over him. He had found someone who understood him, someone who shared his passion for Quidditch and for life.

And in that embrace, Oliver knew that he had found something truly special.

[fanfic-lover-girl]

Lee Jordan echoing my sentiments about the Weasley twins

THE LION AND THE SERPENT, Order of the Phoenix

“— and it’s Warrington again,” bellowed Lee, “who passes to Pucey, Pucey’s off past Spinnet, come on now Angelina, you can take him — turns out you can’t — but nice Bludger from Fred Weasley, I mean, George Weasley, oh who cares, one of them anyway, and Warrington drops the Quaffle and Katie Bell — er — drops it too — so that’s Montague with the Quaffle, Slytherin Captain Montague takes the Quaffle, and he’s off up the pitch, come on now Gryffindor, block him!”

[honeydukesheroine]

just dropping by to say that i am Obsessed with The In-Betweens ! I came across it for the first time in september and i’ve re-read at least 5 times since then. I notice something new and incredible every time and I am so so excited to see where you take it!!! hugs to you, thank you for sharing your amazing work and happy holidays 💖

Anon, you may have just made my entire week... month? ... life? 😇

Like, what?! You re-read my story? And picked up new nuggets along the way?! That's seriously all I could ever ask for. (I'm also dying to know what you noticed on a subsequent re-read!)

Not that you needed to know this, but I'm currently in the throws of final edits for Chapter 24 and feeling discouraged for all kinds of Life reasons and this powerful little message you sent here might've given me the spark to push through to finish it this week 💥

So thank you for the blessing of your kind words. Sincerely 🙏

[enbysiriusblack]

lily evans is the only one in the gryffindor girls dorms that dates men. marlene, mary, and emmeline definitely make fun of her for that.

[elysianymph]

seven by taylor swift but it's dorcas writing to barty over the summer bc she knows he's alone with his father

[astraeajackson]

harry: *in agonising pain after falling off his broom during quidditch yet again*

harry: WHY

lockhart, a complete fraud with absolutely no medical training: step aside everyone let the professional handle this

harry, panicking: SOMEBODY GET THIS MAN AWAY FROM ME

lockhart: *starts chanting random shit that sounds suspiciously like adele's latest single*

lockhart: TA-DA! :D

harry, now completely boneless in his left arm:

lockhart:

lockhart: i mean

lockhart: at least they aren't broken anymore

harry: I WANT MY FUCKING BONES BACK LOCKHART