Chapter 13

"So how was Christmas with the Potters?" Emma asked as they walked back to the common room. It had only been a day after they got back from break. Emma had wanted to ask them when they woke in the morning, but Olivia made sure they all got to the dreaded practice since they didn't practice over the break.

Jude shrugged as James snorted, "It wasn't anything amazing really. It was nice and all. I mean, at least Mr. Potter kept his glares to a minimum and I didn't have to deal with Albus. The Weasley family was really nice to and it was nice spending time with them and Hannah and Neville."

"That's nice," Emma sighed as they walked into the Gryffindor common room. "I got to hang out with my parents. It was nice to spend Christmas with them again."

Jude smiled before remembering something. He snapped his fingers with a grin, "Oh yeah. I forgot. I need to get something."

He ran up the staircase to the dormitory, ignoring Emma's questioning stare. He did a quick search for something, grabbing the item before running back downstairs. He grinned at Emma, holding out one of the tickets he had gotten for Christmas, "Here you go. This is another Christmas present from Neville and Hannah."

"What is it?" Emma mumbled questioningly as she took the ticket. She skimmed over it before her eyes widened excitedly, "The Quidditch World Cup? Are you serious?!" She glanced over at the two boys frantically. "You're giving me a ticket to the World Cup this year?"

Jude nodded just as excitedly, "Yeah. Neville got me to tickets and since James and his family are going, I just thought maybe you could go to. The three of us, you know?"

Emma jumped up, giving him a hug before pulling away and giving James a hug as well. Jude hid his snickers when James' face lit up with a blush. Emma pulled away from the other boy as well, running up the stairs to her dorm.

James blinked slowly, turning to Jude who had a knowing smirk. He frowned, "What?"

Jude shrugged, snickering as he brought out his homework, "Nothing, James. It's nothing."

"Whatever," James rolled his eyes, following his friends example.

…

A couple of months passed after that. It had been filled with practicing and studying almost every day. Jude was surprised he was still sane after everything. The next quidditch match came; Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff. Unfortunately, like their last game, a storm was happening as well.

Jude watched James and Emma fly effortlessly through the air, easily scoring dozens of points. At this point in time, it wouldn't matter if he caught the snitch; Hufflepuff wouldn't be able to win with only 50 points on their side.

He concentrated his hearing, hoping to catch the familiar sound of wings humming. A minute later, he shot off on his broomstick, flying towards the ground with the Hufflepuff seeker following him.

"Porter has found the snitch," A Ravenclaw 7th year boy announced. "Beckett is right on his tail, hoping to get his hand in. Will this 6th year lose to a 2nd year just like last year? Only one way to find out."

Jude flattened his body on his broom, feeling the cold air nip at his face and the torrent of rain drops splash against his flushed cheeks and goggles protecting his glasses. With a quick glance behind him, he saw Paul Beckett trailing right behind him.

He gritted his teeth, hoping to go faster and shake the other boy off. He inhaled sharply in shock when his broom maneuvered out of the way as lightning struck where he was once flying. He swallowed dryly, his stomach lurching when his broomstick shoved him out of the way of another lightning strike.

Was something after him?

He shook his head slightly, shooting off towards the pesky snitch. He had no time to think about that. He had to finish this game no matter what. He promised Olivia he'd do whatever it took to win the house cup again this year.

He reached out his hands, feeling the burst of wind coming from the snitch's fluttering wings. With a shout, he threw himself forward, closing his hand around the snitch as his body slipped off the slippery broomstick.

As he fell towards the pitch, his eyes widened at the lightning strike coming towards him. It chose a real convenient time to try and hit him. He closed his eyes, bracing himself for the shock only to find himself landing on his broomstick which flew him away from the bolt.

He exhaled shakily in relief, holding up his trembling hand to the crowd to show the snitch that he held securely despite his shaken appearance.

The crowd burst into cheers. The Ravenclaw announcer laughed into the mic, "There you have it, folks. Gryffindor wins the match at 240-50. We'll see them again against Ravenclaw towards the end of the year."

Jude panted lightly as he landed on the pitch with his team. He grinned a bit uneasily despite everyone's happy appearances. He should be happy; really, but he was just too shaken up by what had happened. Was the lightning really trying to hit him? If so, was it just coincidental or was someone controlling it?

He blinked out of his thoughts when he felt someone grab his shoulder. James frowned worriedly, "You okay, mate? You look a bit off."

Jude gave him a small smile, shaking his head as they walked towards the locker room, "I'm fine, James." When his friend continued to give him a dubious look, he sighed, "I'll tell you and Emma later. Right now, let's celebrate our victory, yeah?"

James rolled his eyes before grinning, "If you say so." After they got dressed and were walking back to the common room, he spoke up again, "Hey, Jude. I never got to ask you; when's your birthday?"

"Hm?" The blue eyed boy blinked questioningly before scratching his head sheepishly. "Oh, my birthday. Um…it's January 31st."

Both James and Emma halted in their steps, glaring at the boy. He swallowed, feeling his neck heat up uncomfortably. Funny, it never did that before. "What is it?"

"Your birthday passed and you didn't even tell us?" Emma questioned incredulously.

Jude shrugged helplessly, "I-I no…I just…it never really mattered to me. I never celebrated it with Piers anyways. I didn't think it was a big deal."

He choked in shock when James grabbed him in a headlock while Emma gave him a noogie. He whined playfully, "G-guys. I'm sorry. Really."

James chuckled, continuing to walk towards the common room with his best friend in a headlock, "I'm gonna owl Hannah and see how she feels about you not mentioning your birthday two years in a row. I'm sure she'd love to hear it."

Jude groaned pitifully as he begrudgingly followed his two friends towards the common room. Okay, maybe he should tell his friends some things after all.