Severus's POV
The roar of the crowd carried all the way from the stands, rising and falling like waves crashing against the cliffs. From where I stood just off the Quidditch field, I could see the banners rippling in the crisp spring wind blue and bronze fluttering proudly on one side, green and silver flashing defiantly on the other. The final match of the year. Ravenclaw versus Slytherin. Winner takes the Cup.
We'd won last year, and I had every intention of keeping it that way.
"Remember play your game, not theirs," Gavin Whitthorne barked, his voice sharp and commanding as we gathered in a huddle. His dark hair was swept back, his blue eyes alive with determination. "Slytherin will play dirty. Let them. We stay clean, we stay smart."
Felix gave a short laugh, twirling his broom between his fingers. "We'll make them eat dust."
"Let's make it quick," Celia Morrison said, adjusting her gloves. "I've got an essay due after this."
Gavin shot her a grin. "Then let's win this match before lunch."
We mounted our brooms, the hum of excitement vibrating in the air. My fingers curled around the handle of my \broom , the cold wood grounding me. Across the field, the Slytherins lined up, green uniforms gleaming in the sunlight. Amycus Carrow smirked like he already owned the Cup. Beside him, Regulus adjusted his gloves, dark hair gleaming under his helmet. His grey eyes met mine, steady and sharp.
"I'll find the Snitch first, Sev " he called across the field, his voice carrying through the chill air.
I gave him a thin smirk. "Sure you will."
Madam Hooch's whistle cut through the noise. The Quaffle soared into the air and chaos erupted.
Celia was the first to seize the Quaffle, darting forward like a streak of blue. She passed to Felix, who looped neatly around Simon Avery. But before he could aim, a Bludger screamed past his ear Thomas Selwyn's doing. Theo intercepted the next one midair, sending it straight back with brutal precision. The iron ball smashed into Slytherin's Beater Goyle's shoulder, and he swore loudly, clutching his arm.
"Keep moving!" Gavin shouted from the hoops, blocking a fast attempt from Carrow.
Above the rest, I hovered watching. Waiting. The Snitch was somewhere in this sea of color and movement, flashes of sunlight glinting off gold. My eyes darted over the stands, the pitch, the players below. Regulus was circling on the opposite end, scanning too, every bit as focused. He was good sharp, fast, and calculating.
Below us, the match turned vicious. Slytherin's Chasers boxed in Raj Patel, forcing him nearly into a collision. The referee's whistle blew for a foul, but the damage was done Raj spun off-balance, losing the Quaffle. Carrow caught it and tore toward our hoops, flanked by Rosier.
"Not today!" Gavin shouted, diving forward. The Quaffle bounced off his glove and was seized by Felix, who dashed up the field. A clean handoff to Celia, then to Raj goal!
Ravenclaw leads, 10–0.
The stands erupted, the blue side roaring in delight. But Slytherin wasn't backing down.
Moments later, Selwyn sent a Bludger hurtling straight at Celia's broom tail. It splintered, spinning her sideways. She barely regained control, hair whipping in the wind.
"Oi! That's a penalty!" Gavin shouted furiously, but Madam Hooch's whistle was swallowed by the noise. No call.
Of course not. Typical.
"Focus, Ravenclaw!" he barked. "They'll try to rattle us!"
I tightened my grip on the broom, irritation flaring. Slytherin's tricks were old, predictable but dangerous nonetheless.
Above the chaos, Regulus gave me a sideways glance, a smirk curling his lips.
"You'd think you'd have spotted it by now," he taunted, scanning the field again.
"Patience," I replied coolly. "It's a Ravenclaw thing. You wouldn't understand."
His jaw twitched, and he darted forward suddenly he'd seen something. I dove after him, the wind tearing past my face, eyes narrowed against the glare. There a flash of gold near the Slytherin goalposts.
Regulus reached out, fingertips grazing air but I pulled hard left, cutting across his path. He swore, nearly colliding with me.
"Watch it!"
"First come, first served," I shot back.
The Snitch vanished into the sunlight, gone in an instant.
We climbed higher, the match below a blur of blue and green. From this height, I could hear the crowd as a single heartbeat thousands of eyes watching, waiting. Felix scored another goal. Then Slytherin answered. 20–10. Then 30–20. It was tight, tense, brutal.
Regulus and I circled each other like hawks. The wind tugged at my robes, cold biting through my gloves. He was good too good to underestimate. But I'd studied him. His patterns, his reactions, even his arrogance. He'd dive too early every time.
A Bludger came out of nowhere, roaring toward me. Theo intercepted, hitting it back so hard it cracked against Selwyn's bat. The sound echoed like thunder. I shot Theo a grateful look, and he gave a quick nod before veering off.
Then I saw it—the faint glimmer of gold near the center stands.
I leaned forward. Regulus saw it, too.
We dove.
The air screamed around us. The world narrowed to the blur of green turf below and the bright gleam of gold between us. I could hear Regulus beside me, his broom nearly parallel to mine. He reached out, stretching his hand.
And I rolled sharply, bumping his shoulder just enough to throw him off balance. He cursed, losing speed.
"Cheating, Severus?" he shouted.
"Playing your game," I muttered, eyes locked on the Snitch.
My broom trembled as I forced it lower, inches from the ground. The Snitch darted up, zigzagging violently but I matched it, every muscle burning. Regulus recovered and came in from the side, both of us reaching.
My fingers brushed the wing.
The world exploded into sound.
I lifted my hand, golden Snitch trapped between my fingers. The crowd erupted—blue banners rising like a tidal wave. Ravenclaw students screamed, leapt, threw their arms around each other. Gavin whooped from across the field, pumping a fist in the air. Felix and Celia flew toward me, laughing wildly.
Ravenclaw: Ravenclaw wins the Cup, 220–90.
Regulus landed a few feet away, his expression dark but begrudgingly impressed. He pushed his helmet back, eyes glinting like storm clouds.
"Nice game, Severus," he said tightly. "But you played dirty."
His tone carried more accusation than praise.
I couldn't help but laugh, still clutching the Snitch between my fingers. "What can I say? The inner Slytherin blood I have must've decided to act up."
He just stared at me, then the corner of his mouth twitched. "The Sorting Hat must've put you in the wrong house."
I smirked. "Nah. It was supposed to assign me there. I asked for Ravenclaw."
Regulus tilted his head, curiosity flickering behind his cool demeanor. "You asked?"
"Of course," I said, slipping the Snitch into my glove..
He gave a low chuckle, shook his head, and mounted his broom again. "Till next time."
"Count on it," I said, before turning back toward my cheering teammates. The air still buzzed with victory, banners still waved blue and bronze, and for the first time in weeks, I let myself breathe, grinning as Felix and Gavin swooped in to drag me toward the celebrating crowd.
And then through the sea of students, laughter, and I saw her.
Petunia.
She was already running toward me, her blonde hair loose from its ribbon, her face lit up with joy that made the whole pitch seem brighter. This was my favorite part of the game. Not the Snitch, not the cheers this moment. The one where she ran to me.
Before I could even speak, she threw her arms around me. "You did it!" she laughed breathlessly, her voice nearly drowned by the crowd. "You actually did it again!"
I laughed softly, the sound lost against the thunder of applause. "I told you I would."
She pulled back just enough to look at me, her eyes shining. "I knew you would," she said simply.
Days passed quickly after that too quickly. The echoes of cheering and laughter from the match still lingered in the halls long after the last banner was taken down. And before we knew it, the end of our third year was upon us.
Now, here we were again at the Great Hall, bathed in the golden glow of floating candles, the tables heavy with food for the last feast before summer. Ravenclaw banners shimmered proudly above us, their blue silk threaded with silver light, and the shining House Cup gleamed at the center table ours once more.
Petunia sat beside me, leaning her elbow against the table as she chatted with Pandora across from us. Emmeline was laughing at something Andrew said something undoubtedly foolish while Felix was flicking crumbs of treacle tart at him when he thought no one was watching. It was noisy, familiar, and warm in the way only Hogwarts could be.
Dumbledore rose from his seat, smiling as the hall slowly quieted. "Another year has come to a close," he began, his voice calm and kind, echoing gently off the stone walls. "I hope you have learned, grown, and, most importantly, found joy in the company of those around you."
Applause rippled through the hall.
As the meal continued, conversations drifted easily from exams to summer plans. Felix was already boasting about how he'd spend his days flying, while Pandora was determined to "master Divination properly" over the break something Emmeline teasingly called "a lost cause." Andrew, ever the dreamer, claimed he might write a book about magical creatures.
When at last the plates cleared and the candles began to dim, students began rising, hugging, and calling goodbyes across the hall. The scent of vanilla pudding and candle wax lingered in the air as we made our way out, walking slowly beneath the high, arched doorway one final time before summer.
"Another year done," Petunia said quietly as we reached the marble staircase.
"Another one survived," I murmured, earning a soft laugh from her.
Pandora and Emmeline caught up with us, chattering about packing, while Felix and Andrew debated whether to sneak one last midnight snack before morning. I smiled faintly, shaking my head at them.
There was something bittersweet about it all this strange, fleeting peace before the summer, knowing that soon we'd be scattered across England and beyond.
The next morning came bright and clear. Trunks were piled high in the entrance hall, owls hooted impatiently from their cages, and the castle buzzed with goodbyes. By the time we reached Hogsmeade Station, the platform was alive with steam and chatter.
Petunia and I had somehow been separated from our usual group in the crowd Felix, Emmeline, Andrew, and Pandora had already found a compartment somewhere down the train. We lingered near the barrier instead, searching through the blur of students for Lily.
While we waited, Petunia shifted her bag on her shoulder, glancing at me with that familiar glint of curiosity in her eyes. "Do you want to do another summer project?" she asked suddenly.
I raised an eyebrow. "About what?"
Her lips curved into a small, eager smile. "What about really treating lycanthropy?"
I blinked, surprised. "You've done research again, haven't you?"
"Yeah," she admitted, a hint of pride in her voice. "I think this one will succeed."
I looked at her softly, feeling a quiet admiration. "We can do it," I said. "I asked my grandfather for the ingredients he'll be delighted to help."
Then I hesitated, glancing out at the passing students on the platform. "But don't you have plans for summer?"
Petunia shook her head. "Not really. Mum said she wanted to go somewhere warm, but it'll probably just be for a week or so. We'll mostly stay home."
I nodded. "That's good. I don't have any plans either. We'll probably stay at home too—or with my grandparents. My mother's about to give birth soon."
Her expression softened instantly. "Oh, Severus... that's wonderful."
A faint smile tugged at my lips. "It is."
Petunia's eyes brightened again. "Then it's settled. We'll work on the potion this summer—no excuses."
"Agreed," I said quietly. "We'll make it work."
Just then, Lily appeared through the crowd, her red hair catching the sunlight. "There you two are!" she called, waving. "Come on, the train's about to leave!"
We hurried to join her, climbing aboard as the whistle blew. Steam filled the platform, wrapping everything in soft white mist
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Author's Note:
It took me a long time to write this, so I decided to make a special chapter update for another book instead. I'll admit sometimes I regret making Severus a Quidditch player because writing match scenes can be exhausting!
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I always read all of your comments, and honestly, my favorite part of writing is seeing what you all think and feeling that connection through your words. Thank you so much for reading my story and joining me on this journey. 💙