The next match between Gryffindor and Slytherin was tense from the very first whistle.
Slytherin's reputation for dirty tactics was well-known but Gryffindor was no stranger to underhanded play. The Gryffindor team had learned to anticipate Slytherin aggression, and for the most part, it didn't throw them off their rhythm.
Emma Halloway and her Chasers worked tirelessly, passing the Quaffle with precision and determination maintaining a narrow lead for Gryffindor through most of the match.
The Gryffindor beaters, Patrick and Evan were vigilant, patrolling the skies and fending off Bludgers to keep Slytherin from landing any decisive hits. Every second stretched with adrenaline; the match was fast, fierce, and unpredictable.
Meanwhile, Lockhart now watching as a spectator from the stands observed the Seekers closely as the match intensified.
Regulus darted between the goal hoops, feinting left before diving sharply to the right in pursuit of a glint of gold. Across the pitch, the Gryffindor Seeker Sarah shot after him, wind whipping through her hair as she tried to cut him off, their brooms almost colliding mid-air.
However, Regulus reacted faster. With a perfectly timed swerve, he snatched the Snitch from the air, claiming victory for Slytherin in the final heartbeat of the game.
The crowd erupted, a chaotic mix of cheers and groans filling the stadium. Some students applauded Gryffindor's valiant effort despite the loss, while Slytherin supporters celebrated the thrilling last-minute win.
Lockhart shook his head, bemused, watching the emotional swings ripple through the stands.
Soon, the day of the final match of the season had arrived: Ravenclaw versus Hufflepuff.
Amelia accompanied Gilderoy towards the Ravenclaw changing room, her brows furrowed in exasperation as she commented on the Hufflepuff team's lacklustre performance this season.
"Oh, Amelia," Gilderoy teased, grinning, "You won't even cheer for me? Instead, you root for Hufflepuff? Is that how girlfriends are supposed to behave?"
"YOU… ",Amelia's face flamed red, "When did I become your girlfriend, idiot!" she blurted, flicking her wand as a sharp hex shot towards him, which Gilderoy dodged grinning mischievously at her.
Despite her words, she didn't bother correcting him when he had casually called her his girlfriend—a small, unspoken admission that seemed to amuse him endlessly.
Gilderoy ducked and laughed, his smirk widening. "If I win… can I get a kiss?" he called over his shoulder, meeting her eyes and holding the look a moment too long. His tone was teasing, but the warmth behind it made her pulse quicken.
Amelia froze for half a second, her cheeks blazing before she turned sharply away. "Focus on your match, Lockhart," she muttered, striding toward the stands.
Gilderoy chuckled softly, admiring her for a few seconds—his eyes lingering a little too long on the sway of her hips beneath her robes—before Pandora's wave from the changing room broke his focus. With a smirk, he turned and made his way inside, her flustered expression replaying in his mind.
Inside, Adrian Chambers addressed the team, calm and commanding even in the relaxed atmosphere of a near-certain victory.
Inside, Adrian Chambers addressed the Ravenclaw team with calm authority.
"Gentlemen," he began, pausing with a glance toward Pandora, Miriam, and Catriona, "and ladies," he added with a faint smirk, "we're facing Hufflepuff today. They haven't won a single match this season, so this should be an easy victory."
The room buzzed with murmurs of agreement.
"Easy, yes—but don't let that fool you," Adrian added, eyes narrowing slightly. "Overconfidence has toppled greater teams. Play smart. Keep your heads in the game, and let's show them how Ravenclaw dominates."
Gilderoy leaned casually against the wall, twirling his broomstick. "Don't worry, Captain. I'll make sure we dazzle them… maybe even entertain a few fans along the way," he quipped, a sly grin tugging at his lips as Amelia's face flashed in his memory.
"Try not to get too distracted," Pandora said dryly. "The Snitch won't catch itself."
Gilderoy winked at her, adjusted his gloves, and strode out onto the pitch.
The crisp morning air greeted him, and his eyes immediately found Amelia in the stands. This time, she didn't blush — instead, she leaned forward with a deliberately teasing thumbs-down, her smile sharp and playful, trying to make him react.
Gilderoy met her challenge effortlessly, returning a cocky grin of his own, matching her mischief with equal flair.
Madam Hooch stood at the centre circle, Quaffle and broom in hand, hawk-eyed as ever. From the Hufflepuff changing room, Edgar Summers led his teammates onto the pitch.
At the centre, the two captains—Adrian for Ravenclaw and Edgar for Hufflepuff approached and shook hands firmly. Both teams then rose in the air, brooms steady beneath them.
The stands buzzed with excitement as Madam Hooch raised her arm and blew the whistle, throwing the Quaffle high in the air.
Ravenclaw burst forward with seamless precision. Pandora snatched the Quaffle and weaved through defenders, passing to Miriam Goldstein, who looped around a Beater with elegant control.
She flicked the ball to Cedric Clearwater, who slammed it cleanly through the hoop.
The crowd roared.
Gilderoy's eyes scanned the sky, searching for the faint glimmer of gold. He urged his broom forward as he streaked across the pitch, muscles coiling in anticipation.
"Ah, yes, there's Gilderoy Lockhart, soaring like a star across the a night sky!" Xenophilius Lovegood called from the commentator's box. "Observe the elegance! The finesse! He rides the wind as though it bends to his command!"
Gilderoy couldn't help grinning as he gave a playful wave to the stands. "Flattery before catching the snitch? Xenophilius is such a good friend."
Ever since mastering his Animagus form as a raven, broom flight had felt second nature to him—every turn and dive sharper, more instinctive. His control and speed had skyrocketed, even on a less-than-ideal broom.
The Hufflepuff Beaters swung their bats frantically, but the Ravenclaw beaters Alaric Wrenford and Catriona Ashcombe formed a wall of blue and silver precision. Each Bludger sent Hufflepuff scrambling, forcing their Chasers into awkward paths and missed passes.
"Nice try, Clive! But Ravenclaw's ready for you!" Catriona shouted, deflecting a Bludger straight back toward the overzealous Gryffindor beater, sending him spinning and narrowly avoiding the stands.
Pandora streaked forward again, looping behind Hufflepuff's Keeper, Edgar Summers. She feinted left, passing the Quaffle to Cedric, and with a deft swing, the ball sailed through the hoop. Another ten points for Ravenclaw.
Above them all, Gilderoy's eyes caught the faint glimmer of gold. He dove sharply, wind tearing through his hair, Lydia on his tail but far too slow to match his speed. His fingers closed around the Snitch with a triumphant snap.
The Ravenclaw stand exploded in cheers.
Madam Hooch's whistle cut through the jubilation. "Ravenclaw wins! Final score: 180 – 10!"
The Ravenclaw team circled, cheering and hooting, adrenaline still high from their decisive win. Adrian nodded at Gilderoy. "Exceptional work. All of you."
Gilderoy allowed himself a small, satisfied smile, his eyes however, were already on the stands. He spotted Amelia looking his way —half annoyed half impressed. He gave a small, flirtatious salute.
Amelia's lips twitched before she quickly turned away, heart racing.
Once the players began leaving the pitch, Amelia met him at the edge, her stance firm but her eyes glinting with mischief. "So… about that bet," she said,her voice deceptively calm.
Gilderoy leaned casually against the stands, gaze sharp and teasing. "Oh? You mean the one that if I won… you will give me a reward?"
Amelia rolled her eyes but didn't correct him when he phrased it like that. "Yes. A reward," she said, stepping closer. "But don't think this will be easy for you."
"You'll have to earn it," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Earn it?" he echoed, smirk widening. "That sounds fun. And, Amelia…" he added, leaning just enough to let his voice brush her ear, "I do enjoy you being the one I have to chase."
Her breath hitched imperceptibly, and she cleared her throat, stepping back, trying to preserve composure. "We'll see about that," she said, walking away toward the castle, her mind far too distracted to care about anything else.
What Gilderoy didn't realize was that Amelia's mind was at war—bet or not, a very real part of her wanted to grab him and kiss him senseless right there.