Snitch Master

Author's Notes: Not my best, I know, but it seemed, at first, like a good plot, but I'm trying to write as much as possible, even if my stories suck. I just... I don't know. I'm just bored, I guess. Plus, I love reading fan fiction, and even though I haven't written much, I'm starting to like this too. So, tell me what's up with my fics, and be critical, if you really have to. Anyway, I thought my story was kind of sweet.

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Snitch Master

* * *

I hate the black lake. And to think, I used to see it as beautiful. Now I see it as ugly. It's part of the reason he's not here anymore.

Yes, I remember that day like it was yesterday. Well, the part when I was conscious, anyway. All I remember is opening my eyes and realizing the rest of my body was under water. I was a bit confused when I saw all those people staring at me, but then I saw who had just pulled me out. It was Cedric, grinning victoriously at me as they announced that he was the winner of the Second Task.

I hate that day now. I hate this lake now. I'd rather be at the Quidditch pitch, alone with my thoughts.

But as I walk over there, I have to pass by the side wall of the Great Hall. I'm taken back to the Yule Ball, the beautiful waltz music ringing in my ears as we danced the night away, laughing all night with our friends. Now, I can't even listen to the Weird Sisters without feeling like I'm going to explode into tears.

Apparently, Harry just doesn't get that. I went on a date with him yesterday, Valentine's Day, when I remembered how he kept glancing over in my direction that night at the ball. I always thought he was a good guy, but I can't compare him to Cedric. I can't forget Cedric, even after all this time, but Harry doesn't understand. I really didn't want to burst out crying (and yelling, I admit) like I did, but I couldn't help it. I changed my mind about Harry. He's so... insensitive, to say at the least. I understand that I was on a date with him, but he had to understand that it's not my fault Cedric was on my mind.

At last, I've arrived at the Quidditch pitch, the place I'm most at peace at. It was also the place Cedric and I shared the most laughs. Whenever he felt like he needed to practice but none was scheduled for the Hufflepuff team, he'd ask me to come along with him and practice ourselves, and vice versa when I needed to practice. He'd release the Snitch and we'd mount our brooms and our little match would begin.

He was a fierce competitor, I recall. I recall the times when I was so close to the Snitch, he'd pull out his wand and stop me in midair and catch the Snitch himself. He'd laugh, but I'd be furious. There's nothing like the feeling of victory when your fingertips finally brush the golden surface of the tiny ball, but he kept that feeling for himself. I'd glare at him and prepared to leave, but he wouldn't let me. Instead, he would grab my hand and spin me around. My eyes narrowed, but his would soften, and gently asked me to stay.

I was always horrible at resisting his charm. And who wouldn't be, with that sweet smile of his, and the way he talked to you like you were the only one there...

Or the way he'd comfort me when Malfoy caught the Snitch first, losing Ravenclaw's hope for winning the Quidditch Cup...

Or the way he could find me so easily in the stands and spare one quick glance at me, right before he caught the Snitch at one of his games, risking having the Snitch whip right out of reach at the last minute, just to look at me, make me pround of him, and caught the Snitch anyway. All my friends were jealous, though they'd never admit it for fear of having me jinx them, for they, too, were vulnerable to his charm, wishing they could be the "Snitch Master's" girlfriend too.

But Cedric always told me he only had eyes for me. He didn't have to tell me; I knew. I could see it whenever we were in a crowd of people but his eyes were directly solely on me, or when, during one of my Quidditch games, he didn't even look at the other players (the pretty girls on my team, or the ones on the opposing team), not even when it was Ravenclaw versus Hufflepuff. In fact, as a "good luck" routine, whenever our teams were playing against each other, and we were in the air, ready for the Quaffle to be thrown in the air, he'd blow one last kiss at me before his expression changed completely, inverted into his usual Quidditch self, revealing the aggressive competitor waiting to win. But he couldn't hide his stupid grin when I was mere inches away from winning. Whether he was happy for me, or thought it was cute, I don't know. I never asked. Once I could've sworn he let me win. He'd never admit it, though, so I let go of the idea.

In fact, that night, he challenged me to a short one-on-one game, just to prove that I'd "gotten lucky" against him. It wasn't because he was being egotistical (that wasn't at all like Cedric), but because he always had this need to win. To prove himself. It was strange, because one minute, he'd been congratulating me, the next, playfully teasing me, "Don't get your hopes up, Cho! I'm the Snitch Master around here!"

Yeah, right. I teased him back with, "Then why did I win?"

He narrowed his eyes, but grinned. The match was on.

* * *

I knew we were going to get in trouble if the game took too long, and it was already getting dark, so I desperately searched for a hint of gold in the field. Unfortunately, so was he. If he thought I was going to let him win, he was mental.

After about an hour or so, I finally saw it: A small, round, golden ball, shimmering in the light of the full moon, barely visible in the dark. My mistake, however, was going right at it, because Cedric saw my sudden reaction and followed the place my eyes were targeting, and he saw the Snitch too. He accelerated, but he had no chance. I was so close, so close, to prove that the Snitch Master was no more, and there was a new Quidditch Queen.

And then I sneezed. How anticlimactic! I accidentally swerved my broom in the other direction, leaving an opening for Cedric. Despite my disappointment, I went for it anyway, and gave it my all to catch up. Much to my dismay, Cedric's arm was already outstretched to claim success. I wasn't going to let that happen.

I rushed toward the ball, as fast as I could, and he didn't even have to turn around, because there I was, right next to him, looking at him with that same look he gave me when he was about to win a game. We were neck in neck now, but I could see his fingers already bending to grasp the Snitch...

I made history. I, for the first time, decided to stop him in midair to feel the triumph of catching the Snitch.

My free hand plunged into my robes and withdrew my wand, as I aimed it right at him. That was my mistake, because in an attempt to dodge my un-cast jinx, he leaned back too far on his broom, and was about to fall.

But I was too close. In less than a split second, I beamed at how I finally beat the Snitch Master, though it was very short-lived, as I felt something tugging the back of my robes. I gasped.

It was Cedric. As soon as it happened, I heard the thump of someone hitting the ground, and I realized it was me, Cedric right beside me.

But, instead of being mad, I laughed. It hadn't even hurt, actually, since we'd only fallen from a few feet above the ground. I kept laughing and laughing, and threw my arms up in the air, one hand still concealing the Snitch in it, and I celebrated my victory. Cedric, though serious at first, due to his undeniable loss, joined in on the laughs, but soon began teasing, "Yeah, yeah, I let you win, y'know!"

I laughed even harder. "Yeah, sure you did!"

"Alright, then, if you insist," he chuckled, "You can be so stubborn when it comes to Quidditch, you know..."

I remember I was still giggling when he took my hand and gently pried it open to free the Snitch. He whispered softly, "Okay. Congratulations, Snitch Mistress."

I swatted his shoulder playfully. "Mistress?" I echoed. "You weirdo..."

As the Snitch flew off, he kissed my cheek gently.

* * *

That was almost two years ago, before the disaster of having the Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts was announced, that year we didn't get to play Quidditch. Otherwise, no doubt there would be a repeat of that starry, starry night in the pitch with Cedric. The day I beat the Snitch Master. He'd've wanted a rematch if we could've had one that year. Last year. His last year anyway.

I hate it when I make myself tear up.

It's getting dark now. And cold. I'd better get going or I might get in trouble. Besides, I need my rest for tomorrow. We'll be playing Hufflepuff tomorrow.

Only now I don't have Cedric.

There's going to be a new Seeker, that whatshisname. I don't know. I don't really care who it is, because whoever the Seeker is, I know he won't be blowing me a kiss right before the game starts, or smile at me even when I'm about to beat him.

And I won't get to practice with him, or get engaged in a rematch afterward.

But that wouldn't matter anyway. I'll beat him either way. After all, I'm sure the new Seeker is no Snitch Master.

* * *

Author's Notes: Like it? I kinda do. But it doesn't matter what I think; I wrote it. I wanna know if anyone else liked it, or I should curse the moment I thought of this story.