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Chapter 34 - Quidditch

The next day, Thomas, and James, arrived at the Quidditch pitch, eager to try out for the position of seeker. Even their two roommates alongside the rest of the first-year Ravenclaws came to watch the competition, eager to see if one of their own would get the same fame as Harry Potter, the youngest seeker. The two boys were nervous, but determined to give it their all. Matthew and Emily were there to watch them and evaluate their skills.

The two boys mounted their broomsticks and took off into the air. They weaved in and out of the goalposts, racing to catch the golden snitch that was buzzing around the field. As they soared through the air, Thomas felt the wind whipping past his face and the adrenaline pumping through his veins. He knew that this was his chance to prove himself and earn a spot on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team and even if he would lose, at least his friend could do it. But as he searched for the golden snitch, he realized just how difficult it was to control his broomstick with such precision.

James, too, was struggling to keep up with the fast-moving snitch. His movements were uncoordinated, and he seemed to be having trouble maintaining control of his broomstick. Meanwhile, after getting used to the high intensity of splitting his attention, Thomas got marginally better, and for the people looking at them, it felt like he was in his element. Despite his lack of knowledge about this sport, his constant training and all of those spars were now paying off as he made sharp turns and quick maneuvers to keep up with the elusive snitch.

As they continued their search, Thomas and James could hear the other members of the Ravenclaw team cheering them on from the sidelines. Emily, shouted words of encouragement, urging them to keep up the pace and stay focused on the snitch.

Though neither one of the boys heard them as they were fighting for a chance to win. The wind rushed past Thomas as he pushed his broomstick to its limit, zooming across the Quidditch pitch. The sun beat down on his back, but he didn't feel the heat, he was too focused on his target to feel anything else, especially when his friend was hot on his heels. The two of them were neck-and-neck, both determined to catch the snitch and win the position of the team's seeker.

Thomas could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he saw the glint of gold out of the corner of his eye. He gritted his teeth and leaned forward, urging his broomstick to go faster. As soon as Thomas did that, James followed suit, not wanting to lose even an inch against his friend, but Thomas knew that he had an edge, he was able to maintain better control of his broomstick, and he was able to make sharper turns than James.

The snitch darted and weaved, trying to outmaneuver the two seekers. The two boys followed its every movement, twisting and turning, accelerating and decelerating, always staying on its trail.

Finally, Thomas spotted an opening, a chance to make a decisive move that could end this chase for the better or for the worse. He pushed his broomstick to the limit and dove straight at the snitch. James was right behind him, but Thomas was able to maneuver his broomstick more deftly, weaving in and out of the snitch's path until he was close enough to snatch it out of the air.

With a triumphant shout, Thomas raised his hand high in the air, showing the snitch clenched in his fist. He could feel the thrill of victory coursing through him, he had won the position of the team's seeker.

James was right behind him, panting and sweating, but he gave his friend a pat on the back, congratulating him on his win. Thomas could see the disappointment on James' face, but he could also see pride, he knew that James was happy for him.

They soon landed on the ground, still breathing heavily from the intense competition.

"Congratulations, man," James said, giving Thomas a pat on the back.

"Thanks, James," Thomas replied, grinning from ear to ear. "You gave me a run for my money, though."

James chuckled. "Yeah, it was a close call. But you deserved it. Your control on the broomstick was amazing. Damn you and your love for perfection, if I knew that you were such a Ravenclaw, even before knowing that you'll get here, I wouldn't have even tried to compete with you."

Thomas smile before he shrugged modestly. "I guess I just had a good day."

"You definitely did," James agreed. "So, what now? Are you excited about being the team's seeker?"

Thomas nodded eagerly. "Absolutely! I can't wait to get started. And don't worry, I'll make sure to do the position justice. If Professor Flitwick allows me to become the seeker that is…"

"I know you will," James said with a smile. "I'm excited to see you in action. Maybe I'll even pick up some tips from you."

Thomas laughed. "Sure thing. But don't think I'm giving up all my secrets that easily."

James rolled his eyes before both laughed and joined the rest of their teammates, who were running toward them.

As they approached the rest of the team, Emily, ran over to congratulate Thomas. "Congratulations, Thomas! You were amazing up there," she exclaimed.

"Thanks, Emily," Thomas replied, feeling a sense of pride wash over him. "I couldn't have done it without James. He really pushed me to my limits."

The other members of the team chimed in with their own congratulations and well-wishes for the upcoming match. Matthew pulled Thomas aside for a moment, looking serious, leaving James to talk with the rest of the team.

"I know you'll do great, Thomas," he said. "But don't forget that this is a big responsibility. You're our seeker now, and we're counting on you to help us win the match."

Thomas nodded, feeling the weight of the responsibility settle on his shoulders. "I won't let you down," he said firmly.

Matthew smiled, patting him on the back. "I know you won't. Let's go practice and get ready for the match."

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The team headed off towards the locker room, already discussing new strategies and plans for the game. Thomas felt a sense of excitement building within him. Ever since James brought him here, he dreamed of joining his house team and playing at least one game, and here he was, the second youngest seeker that joined or better said would join the team.

As they reached the locker room, Flitwick, the head of their house, appeared in the doorway. "Congratulations, Mr. Grayson," he said warmly. "I heard about your victory in the seeker competition. I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do on the field."

"Thank you, Professor, but does that mean that I'm officially on the team?" Thomas replied, feeling a sense of pride at the recognition from his head of the house.

Flitwick smile at him before he turned to the rest of the team. "And the rest of you, I hope you'll be supporting our newest seeker as he takes on this important role. We're all counting on him to bring home the win for Ravenclaw."

The team cheered in agreement, and Thomas felt a surge of motivation. He was ready for this challenge, ready to show everyone what he was capable of.

In the days leading up to the highly anticipated match against Hufflepuff, Thomas felt a wave of nervous excitement wash over him. He had been training tirelessly under the watchful eye of Andrew, who came to see the boy who replaced him and help the boy however he could and soon, his efforts had paid off in spades. Together, they had honed Thomas's skills to a razor-sharp edge, perfecting his form and helping him develop new techniques that would definitely give him an edge against the Hufflepuff seeker.

As the days passed, Thomas' focus and dedication were clear to see for his team and even his friends. He poured every ounce of his being into his training, spending countless hours practicing his maneuvers and studying the movements of his opponents alongside James who came to help his friend. His teammates took notice of Thomas' unwavering commitment, and because of that, they all double their training for a few days. While it was by no means a game-changing upgrade to them, it definitely increased their team coordination, especially with their newest addition to the team.

The day of the match had finally arrived, and the Ravenclaw team was gathered in their locker room, getting ready for the game. Matthew, the team captain, walked in and addressed the team.

"Alright everyone, listen up," he said his voice commanding attention. "This is a big game, and we need to be at our best. We've been training hard for this, and I know we're ready. But we need to stay focused and work together if we want to win."

The team nodded in agreement, their faces tense with anticipation.

"Now, I want to remind you all that we are a team," Matthew continued. "We win together and we lose together. But I know that we are capable of great things, and I have faith in each and every one of you."

He looked around the room, making eye contact with each of his teammates.

"Emily, I want you to stay aggressive out there," he said to the team's chaser. "You've got some amazing moves, and I want you to use them to score as many goals as possible."

Turning to the team's beaters, he said, "Oliver, Cassandra, you two need to protect our chasers at all costs. And make sure to keep those bludgers away from Thomas."

The two beaters nodded in understanding, their faces set in determination.

"Speaking of Tom, our seeker," Matthew said, turning to Thomas. "You've been training hard, and I know you're ready for this. Keep your eyes on the prize and stay focused. The snitch is going to be your ticket to victory."

Thomas nodded, his eyes bright with excitement.

"And last but not least, our keeper," Matthew said, addressing the team's goalie. "You've been amazing in practice, and I know you'll be amazing in the game. Keep those goals out of our net."

The team cheered, their spirits lifted by Matthew's pep talk.

"We've got this, guys," Matthew said, clapping his hands together. "Let's go show Hufflepuff what we're made of!"

Thomas's heart was beating faster and faster as he stepped into the Quidditch arena. The stands were packed with cheering fans, all eager to watch the match between the Ravenclaws and the Hufflepuffs. He had never felt so excited and nervous at the same time in his life and yet here he was, playing his first Quidditch game. If only his parents could have been here to watch him.

As he looked up at the stands, Thomas's face lit up with joy and surprise. There, in the front row, were his friends and roommates James, Adam, and Michael, all wearing blue and bronze scarves and waving banners with the Ravenclaw crest. But that wasn't all, as he looked to their right he saw, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, had also come to watch the match, and they too were cheering loudly for him.

Seeing all of that, Thomas felt a surge of gratitude and pride knowing that his friends were supporting him. With a deep breath, Thomas mounted his broomstick and took off into the air. He could feel the wind rushing past him, the sun beating down on his face, and the adrenaline pumping through his veins. As he flew higher and higher, he knew that he was exactly where he was meant to be, doing what he loved most.

The game began with both teams fiercely fighting for control of the Quaffle. The Ravenclaws quickly gained an early lead, with Emily scoring a goal within the first few minutes of the game. The Hufflepuffs, however, were not deterred and quickly retaliated, with their chasers making several impressive shots that sailed past the Ravenclaw Keeper.

As the game progressed, the intensity of the match only grew. The two teams were neck and neck, and every goal was met with an equal and opposite reaction from the other team. Thomas's eyes were glued to the Quaffle, trying to predict where it would go next, and assessing the opposing team's tactics. He could feel the tension building up as the spectators cheered and roared, and the players battled it out on the field.

In the midst of the chaos, Thomas caught a glimpse of his friends, and it lifted his spirits even higher. He could see them jumping and shouting, their voices ringing out over the noise of the crowd. It was a comforting reminder that he wasn't alone out there and that his hard work was being recognized.

As the game entered its second half, the teams were still evenly matched. Thomas, scanning the field, caught sight of a flash of gold. His heart leaped in his chest. It was the Snitch, and it was hovering just a few yards away. Thomas darted towards it, his eyes fixed on the tiny golden ball. He could see the Hufflepuff Seeker, a blur of movement in his peripheral vision, also making a beeline for the Snitch. Thomas was determined not to let him beat him to it.

The two Seekers circled each other, like predators sizing up their prey. Thomas was closely tracking the Snitch, trying to anticipate its movements. Suddenly, the Hufflepuff Seeker made a move, and Thomas quickly followed suit. They both accelerated towards the Snitch, their arms outstretched.

It was a close race, and the crowd was on their feet, cheering and shouting anticipating the result. Thomas could feel the rush of wind in his ears, his heart pounding in his chest. He stretched out his hand, his fingertips brushing against the Snitch. And with a burst of speed, Thomas snatched the Snitch out of the air, his hand closing around it tightly. The stadium erupted in cheers, and Thomas let out a whoop of joy. He had caught the Snitch, and the game was over.

Thomas's heart swelled with pride as he held up the snitch, basking in the adoration of the crowd. As he landed, his teammates rushed towards him, clapping him on the back and hugging him tightly.

"Great job, Thomas!" Emily exclaimed, beaming at him.

"You were amazing out there," Matthew added, his eyes shining with pride.

Thomas couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. This was everything he had dreamed of and more. He had proven himself as a worthy seeker and had helped lead his team to victory.

As the team made their way back to the Ravenclaw common room, the halls were filled with the sounds of cheers and congratulations. Thomas couldn't believe that he had just played in his first official Quidditch match and come out victorious. He felt a sense of camaraderie with his teammates, knowing that they had worked together to achieve this incredible feat.