May 26th, 1979

I can hear the quidditch pitch filling up from outside the locker room door. People are talking loudly as they find seats in the stands.

The sun was shining bright outside, the weather warm, but not too hot. The entire castle was buzzing over today's match.

Marlene couldn't make it today. Apparently she's on a mission this week and she wouldn't be able to make it, but that's all she told me. She wished me luck and told me to kick arse.

Our team stands in a huddle, all of us having our arms draped across each other's shoulders.

It's the last match of the season, which means that it's my last match. Ever.

Jack had gotten an offer from the Montrose Magpies, and he was supposed to start training to be their Keeper in August. They had approached him after our last match against Ravenclaw and offered him a spot on their team.

"Not only is this match for the quidditch cup, it's also the last match for half of our team," Jack announced in his 'coach' voice. "So we are going out there and we are going to kick Slytherin's arse! You got that?"

The whole team cheers out, our voices echoing throughout the locker room.

"I can't hear you!"

We all cheer louder, making Jack grin.

"Every single one of you is going to go out there and give it your all. We're going to win this shit!" Jack continued. "And then, we'll celebrate."

We all cheered out again.

"Okay, hands in!"

We do our silly little chant, all raising our hands in the air before we break out of our huddle. It was stupid, but it was a rite of passage. It had been passed on to Frank Longbottom, who had passed it on to James Potter, who had passed it on to Jack. And it would be passed on to the next captain.

Our team leaves the locker room just as Slytherin left their locker room right next to us.

I make eye contact with Regulus, and he winks at me before leading his team to their side of the pitch. Evan is right at his side, wearing a smug look on his face.

We take our spots, waiting to be introduced.

"WELCOME LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TO THE FINAL MATCH OF THE YEAR!" Rory Mitchell's voice bellows. "GOING UP FOR THE CUP WE HAVE SLYTHERIN, WITH CAPTAIN REGULUS BLACK!"

The Slytherin quidditch team walks onto the pitch, brooms held tightly, chins raised to the crowd. Regulus was in the front, a small smirk on his face as the crowd cheered for them.

Cocky bastard.

"VERSUS GRYFFINDOR, WITH CAPTAIN JACK TROUCHE!'

The crowd cheered even louder as we walked onto the pitch.

It was melancholic.

On one hand, this was the last time I would ever be experiencing this, the last time I would be playing in front of a crowd. On the other hand, it just meant that I was starting a new chapter in my life. A fucking terrfiying new chapter.

Our teams lined up to face each other.

I somehow ended up facing Evan, Regulus standing to his left side. Evan grinned at me. "May the best beater win, McKinnon," He whispered.

I smiled, "We'll have to wait and see, Rosier."

Madam Hooch stood between Jack and Regulus, both of whom were staring the other down. It looked like they were about one snarky comment away from punches being thrown.

"I want a fair game," Madam Hooch demanded. "Now, shake hands."

Regulus extended his hand, a sly look on his face. Jack rolled his eyes before shaking Regulus's hand as quickly as possible.

"Alright, players to the sky."

Regulus caught my gaze before mounting his broom.

"Good luck, Meredith," He said, winking at me.

I smirked, "Good luck, Reg."

- - - - -

We all landed on the pitch, our whole team crowding around Natalie. She held the snitch up proudly, sending the crowd into another round of cheers.

"THE WINNER OF THIS YEARS QUIDDITCH CUP, TAKING IT THREE YEARS IN A ROW, GRYFFINDOR!"

Thomas ruffles Natalie's hair while Emmeline gives her a hug, practically crushing the younger girl. Stephen and Richard congratulate her, practically bubbling with excitement.

Madam Hooch walks over, handing the golden trophy to Jack. He takes it in his hands and stares down at the Quidditch Cup in awe.

Jack passed the Quidditch Cup towards me.

"That was your best match ever," Jack admits. "I'm serious, you played amazingly."

I looked down at the trophy in my hands.

"Thank you," I said. "That means a lot."

I passed the trophy over to Stephen, who looked at it like it was the most beautiful thing on the planet. Our entire team took turns holding it before Emmeline handed it back to Jack with a large grin on her face.

Someone cleared their throat.

All of us turned around.

Regulus held his hand out to Jack. "Good match, Trouche," He said, "Your team played amazing."

I held my breath, watching Jack go through about five different expressions in the span of two seconds.

"Thanks, Black," Jack replied, shaking his hand. "You guys played really good."

Regulus smiled politely, "Thank you."

"Oi, Reggie! Let's go!"

Regulus glanced over at me and gave me a grin. "Good job, Meredith."

Before I could say anything else, he was whisked away back into the locker room with the rest of his team.

"So, how are we going to celebrate?" Jack asked, resting his arm on my shoulder.

"I'm thinking that we throw an absolute rager tonight," Thomas suggested, giving the side-eye to the younger players.

We were almost to the locker rooms when someone called my name.

"Meredith!"

I turned around, coming face to face with an unfamiliar woman. She looked in her early to mid twenties, wavy brown hair, and dark brown eyes.

The rest of the team was already going into the locker room, and Jack gave me a reassuring look before the door closed behind him.

The woman extended her hand to me and smiled.

"Hi, I'm Annabelle Locus," She said. "I'm the recruiter for the Holyhead Harpies. It's so nice to finally meet you."

I'm pretty sure my jaw dropped. I quickly wiped the look of utter shock off of my face and shook Annabelle's hand.

"Hello, I'm Meredith McKinnon, it's a pleasure," I replied.

"I've had my eye on you for a while, but we didn't have any spots open on the team, only on the reserve," Annabelle explained. "And you're far too good to be on the reserve team."

"Wow-, thank you," I replied.

Annabelle smiled, "Anyway, one of our beater's is pregnant, and she's planning to retire after she has her baby. Which means that we have an open spot, and I want you to take it."

"You want me?" I asked, trying to process what I was hearing.

"You're extremely talented, you're a natural, Meredith," She said. "I think you would fit right in with the rest of the Harpies."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Sorry, let me get this right. You're saying that you want me to be the new beater for the Holyhead Harpies."

Annabelle grinned, "Yes, Meredith. I want you to be the new beater for the Holyhead Harpies."

Holy fucking shit.

"We start training in August," Annabelle said. "Are you interested?"

"Of course, I would love to!" I exclaimed, trying to mask all of the excitement that I was feeling.

Annabelle clapped her hands together. "Perfect," She said. "Here is my card." She handed me a business card from her purse. "I'll be in touch with the details, Meredith."

Holy shit.