Chapter 6

The spectators were loud. Jude could hear them chattering from the locker room. They did little to soothe his jumbled nerves. The others were used to the crowd and walked with their heads held high. Jude stood in the walkway, trying not to have a panic attack.

"Jude!" He turned to James who ran up to him.

"You're not supposed to be here," Jude whispered frantically, gripping his broomstick tightly.

James laughed easily, "Just wanted to wish you luck. You seem like you're going to dance out of your skin, mate."

Jude fidgeted, shaking his head, "I'm a bit nervous. This is the first time I've ever played a sport."

James put his hand on the other boy's shoulders reassuringly, "Don't worry, Jude. You're a natural. I know you'll do great." He held out his hand. When Jude only stared at him confusedly, he rolled his eyes and grabbed his free hand, showing him their new handshake.

Jude smiled, "Thanks, James."

"Welcome," James nodded slightly. "Now knock 'em dead, Porter. I know you will."

Jude inhaled deeply, steeling his nerves and walking to the exit. He mounted his broom and flew with his teammates. He could hear the loud voice coming from the announcer which was Victoire Weasley. "Everyone's here now. Let's get this match started. We have Gryffindor vs. Slytherin; a rival match like any other. We have 7th year Maxwell Bradley as the team captain for Slytherin and one of their chasers. We have 6th year Rachel Rockwell and 6th year Ellis Flint who are the other Slytherin chasers. 5th year Clarence Bastille and 5th Brendan Solace are the beaters for Slytherin. Last but not least, 4th year Michael Craver is the keeper and 6th year Shawn Christianson is the Slytherin seeker.

"On the Gryffindor team, we have the captain and the keeper; 5th year Olivia Wood. You may know her father, Oliver Wood who played for Gryffindor as well and won the quidditch cup, and is now the keeper for Puddlemere United."

Jude blinked, he did not know that. "We have the chasers; 7th year Roxanne Weasley, one of my cousins, 7th year Niall Hunnam, and 4th year Kelli Sharp. Here we have my dreadful brother and other cousin who are the beaters; 3rd year Louis Weasley and 7th year Fred Weasley. And Gryffindor seems to have a new seeker; 1st year Jude Porter. He's a cutie, ain't he?"

The glasses wearing boy ducked his head, blushing brightly as he heard everyone laugh and cheer. "With Professor Harmon as the ref, she will start this match."

As the players flew above her, Professor Harmon gazed up at them from the ground. "I want a good, clean match. No foul play." She bent down next to the trunk by her feet and unlocked it. The bludgers and snitch flew out quickly while Professor Harmon threw up the quaffle, starting the game.

Jude dodged one of the bludgers that flew at him and moved his eyes around the pitch quickly. He didn't know how long it would be till he saw the snitch. "Ooh, there it is. Wood just blocked a hard ball from Bradley. Nicely done, Olivia." Olivia grinned at the cheers for her.

Jude smiled as he watched Roxanne, Kelli and Niall took the quaffle away from the other team. Roxanne gripped it tightly as she swerved through the other players and threw the quaffle straight through the hoop. The first year boy cheered with everyone else."Roxanne just gave Gryffindor the lead with 10 points."

More points were scored on each side, but Jude could not find the snitch. It seemed that neither could the Slytherin seeker. The blue eyed boy closed his eyes, trying to block out the cheers and shouts. He had to focus on one sound and one sound only.

.

.

.

And then he heard it; the small fluttering of wings. His eyes shot open as he shot off on his broom. The snitch flew around the back of the hoops, whizzing past the Slytherin keeper. Jude flew under him and kept his eyes trained on the snitch that continuously flew into the air.

"And it seems that Porter has found the snitch. Watch out, here comes Christianson coming in hot." Jude glanced below him, seeing the small speck of Shawn Christianson as he tried to keep up. When he turned back to the snitch, it had dropped from the air and was now plummeting to the ground. Luckily, Shawn hadn't noticed.

He exhaled shakily, patting his broomstick, "Okay, buddy. I'm going to let go, and you'll catch me, right?" He shook his head, wondering how daft he became and let go of the broom. He fell past the startled Slytherin seeker as his broom followed him.

Jude flattened his arms at his side, causing him to fly down faster. He could clearly see the snitch as he fell towards the pitch. He outstretched his hand, catching the snitch in his hand and gripping it tightly. He threw his body forward so his legs were facing the ground. His broom soon landed underneath him, stopping his fall.

The crowd was silent for a moment; every player had stopped what they were doing. Jude grinned nervously, holding up the snitch as Shawn flew down as well. A moment later, the spectators, minus the Slytherin house, burst into cheers so loud, they almost deafened the boy.

The players flew to the ground and Jude was bombarded by his teammates. He was put on their shoulders as they cheered boisterously. He slowly put up his hand, showing everyone the snitch. Victoire laughed into the mic, "There you have it, folks. With Jude catching the snitch, Gryffindor wins, 230-60."

"POR-TER! POR-TER! POR-TER!" The crowd cheered loudly, as did Jude's teammates as they lifted him high.

Jude didn't know what was going on with his body. His heart was thudding rapidly, but he could barely feel it with his chest swelling. His skin was tingling, but he felt numb to almost everything. He kind of liked this feeling.

…

"To Porter!" The Gryffindor quidditch team held up their goblets, toasting the now blushing boy.

"To Porter!" The other students echoed. Jude watched the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws and some Slytherins converse amongst themselves. He couldn't believe they threw a party just for winning one game. James had told him it was because they hadn't won a game in two years because of Chad.

Said former seeker was not at the party. He had glared at Jude when they came to the common room, but scurried away when everyone else glared at him. The boy's teammates reassured him that the former seeker wouldn't come near him.

"Jude." The glasses wearing boy turned to Emma who ran up to him. He was startled when she threw her arms around him, squeezing him tightly.

He laughed a bit nervously, patting her back while blushing slightly, "Hey, Emma."

Emma pulled away with a wide smile, "That was great, Jude. I didn't know anyone could fly like that."

"That's because he's one of a kind," James smirked as he walked up to them. He handed Jude a beverage the boy didn't recognize. "It's butterbeer. Fred and Louis got it from Hogsmeade just for you. It's a thank you from the team. Cheers."

Jude hesitantly brought the cup up to his lips, taking a good sip of the drink. His eyes widened in delight at the taste that burst onto his tongue. James laughed, "It's good, isn't it?"

Jude nodded, taking a bigger gulp of it. He then glanced at Emma who was watching the two of them silently. He offered his mug with a smile, "Do you want some, Emma?"

Emma smiled back, shaking her head, "No, I'd better be going. I have to study."

Jude watched her go while James sighed, "She reminds me of my aunt so much, it's scary."