The Gryffindor team took to the pitch next, streaming from the holding pen beneath their grandstand, and the spectators around James erupted, leaping to their feet as one. James shouted right alongside them, grinning and ecstatic, certain that the Gryffindors would win. He stomped his feet and yelled himself hoarse as the team circled the pitch, waving and grinning.
The teams flew into position. After instructing the teams to play a clean match and assuring everyone was in position, Ridcully released the Bludgers and Snitch and tossed the Quaffle into the air. The players collapsed into a swarm, chasing the Bludgers and wrestling over the Quaffle. Noah and Tom Squallus, the two Seekers, streaked off after the Snitch, which darted around the Ravenclaw banners and vanished.
Almost immediately, the difference between the teams became apparent. Gryffindor fought a textbook match, based entirely on carefully practiced drills. Justin Kennely could be heard shouting plays and formations over the cheering crowd, pointing and giving signs. The Slytherins, on the other hand, seemed to have a graceful, almost eerie playing style that moved them over the pitch like a school of fish. Tabitha Corsica called no directions from her broom, and yet her players peeled off and regrouped with dancelike precision. Once, while in possession, Tabitha ducked under a Bludger and simultaneously tossed the Quaffle over her shoulder. The ball arced through the air and was deftly caught by a teammate who had flown a perpendicular course directly underneath her. The teammate underhanded the Quaffle through the center goal before the Gryffindor Keeper even realized Tabitha didn't have it anymore. James groaned while the Slytherins stood and cheered. Justin Kennely looked as if he wanted to jump up and down on his broom in frustration. Still, an hour into the match, the score was one hundred and thirty to one hundred and forty in favor of Gryffindor, close enough that the lead had changed five times.
'It's all about the Seekers in a match like this,' Sabrina yelled exuberantly, not taking her eyes from the players. 'And Squallus is new to that position since Gnoffton finished last year. Noah should be able to nail him to the wall with his own broom.'
Sure enough, a sudden roar went up from the crowd and James saw that Noah was in pursuit of the Snitch. Across the pitch, Tom Squallus was bent over his broom, baring his teeth into the cold wind and rushing to cut Noah off. He banked through the throng of players, barely missed by Justin Kennely's swatted Bludger. Despite his speed, James was confident there was no way Squallus would beat Noah to the prize. A golden streak and a whir of tiny wings buzzed by the Gryffindor grandstand, followed a split second later by Noah. Those in the front rows ducked, then leapt to their feet cheering as Noah banked hard, barely missing the grandstand and lunging forward on his broom, arm outstretched. There was a long, breathless moment when Noah appeared to be in the tow of the tiny golden ball, the distance shrinking, shrinking, Noah's hand trembling as he reached. Then, in a flurry of cloaks and brooms, something changed. Noah was forced to yank up on his broom, grinding to a slewing stop that destroyed his control. A cloud of Slytherins, led by Tabitha Corsica, had swept in front of him from all directions, stitching a virtual wall in midair. Noah ran into a burly Slytherin and bounced off, losing his grip on his broom. He tumbled sideways, grabbing on with one hand and swinging beneath it. The crowd roared.
Tabitha Corsica shot through the wall of Slytherins, which opened for her like an iris. Her cloak whipped behind her and James was amazed to see the Snitch flying behind her, in the shadow of her cloak. It dipped upwards and Tabitha followed almost instantaneously, bent low over her broom. Somehow, without even looking, she was shadowing the Snitch, marking it for Tom Squallus. He saw her, banked hard, and swooped past her. When he came out on the other side, his hand was raised and the Snitch glittered within it. The Slytherin grandstands cheered uproariously. The game was over.
Noah swung himself from beneath his broom, hooking one foot over it. He struggled upright just as Ted and Justin Kennely swooped in next to him, talking and gesturing. James understood the nature of what they were saying even if he couldn't hear the words through the cheers and boos. Something extremely odd had happened, and yet the Slytherins hadn't actually committed any fouls. On the grass of the pitch, Petra Morganstern, who played Chaser, had cornered Cabe Ridcully and was animatedly pointing at Tabitha Corsica, who was still on her broom, being congratulated by her teammates alongside Tom Squallus. Ridcully shook his head, unable or unwilling to agree with Petra's allegations. There didn't seem to be any recourse for the Gryffindors, since they couldn't prove that anything illegal had actually occurred.
'What in the name of Voldy's pasty-white rear end was that?' Damien Damascus demanded, having quit the broadcast booth and joined James, Zane, and Sabrina.
Sabrina shook her head. 'That was right creepy. Did you see what I saw? Corsica blocked the Snitch! She never touched it, but she flew right next to it, marking it until Squallus could get his broom in gear.'
'There's no rule against that?' Zane asked as they all joined the throng leaving the stands.
'No point making rules against things that are impossible,' Damien said crossly. 'As long as she didn't touch it, she's in the clear. She wasn't even watching the Snitch. I'd swear it.'
Ralph was trotting across the pitch when James and Zane tromped down the last few steps. Panting, he angled them away from Sabrina and Damien, whose moods were getting fouler.
'Did you see that?' Ralph asked, struggling to catch his breath. He seemed extremely agitated.
'We saw something,' James said, 'although I'm not sure I believe my eyes.'
Zane was less diplomatic. 'The Gryffindors think your buddies cheated somehow. It's going to throw off the final standings, too. Now it looks like Ravenclaw will be playing Slytherin for the tournament. I was hoping for a Gryffindor and Ravenclaw match.'
'Will you two forget about the bloody Quidditch tournament for a minute?' Ralph said, turning to face the two of them at the base of the grandstands. 'In case you've forgotten, we have more important things to think about.'
'All right, then spill it, Ralph,' James said, trying not to be annoyed.
Ralph took a deep breath. 'You told me I was your man on the inside, didn't you? So I've been watching closely, looking for hints and clues about who might be involved with the whole Merlin plot, right?'
'And you think now is the time to discuss this?' Zane asked, raising his eyebrows.
'No, no, it's fine,' James interjected. 'What'd you see, Ralph? Something going on back at Slytherin Central?'
'No!' Ralph said impatiently. 'Not back at the common room or anything. Right here, just a few minutes ago! Remember what we're supposed to be looking for?'
'Yeah,' Zane said, becoming interested, 'the Merlin staff.'
Ralph nodded meaningfully. There was a cheer nearby. The three boys turned as the Slytherins left the pitch, surrounded by a crowd of students in green scarves. Tabitha walked at the head of the group, her broom held triumphantly over her shoulder.
'Six feet or so of unusually magical wood,' Ralph said in a low voice, still watching Tabitha leave the pitch. 'Origins unknown.'
'That's right!' James replied, understanding dawning on him. 'Tabitha said her broom was a custom design, crafted by some Muggle artist or something! She registered it as a Muggle artifact, since it wasn't a standard model!'
'And there's no question that there's something pretty unusually magical about it,' Ralph added. James nodded.
'Are you saying what I think you're saying?' Zane asked incredulously.
Ralph glanced back at him. 'Makes sense, doesn't it? It's the perfect hiding place! That's why I came running over here right after the match. I wanted you both to see it, too, and see if it fits.'
Zane whistled in awe. 'Talk about your corked brooms! Here, all this time Corsica's been flying around on Merlin's flippin' staff!'
James couldn't take his eyes off it as Tabitha crested the hill heading back to the castle. The wintry sunlight
