The whole team was accomendated at a building with a direct hall to the players entry for the pitch. Being one of those repressenting the Minstry, Angels accomendations were also covered. They had offered to trip in for Buffys family, but Joyce and Hank had insisted on providing for themselves and Dawn.

The day of the match, Buffy was woken up way to early for it to be called humane conditions. The team were then taken to a hall to set up playing strategy for the coming match. Even though she was used to much being at stake, this was just ten times any pressure she had ever felt before. She could even see Faith turning green of nervousness.

Then there was an hour of photographs for the press. Each team member were interviewed and pictures were taken sepparately as well as group shots. Then their manager came to lead them to the pitch. However they were a bit hindered with a group of quidditch fans which had gathered at the exit.

- No way, Dawn exclaimed, who had been allowed to follow them to the exit before being taken up to the visitor box. - I know them...

Dawn pointed to a couple of boys, who seemed to be very eager to get Buffys autograph.

- They're in my potions class, and the one to the left is in my Arithmancy class as well.

Most of the things she signed were pictures from the photosession back when the team had been gathered, which had been blown up and sold as posters. It was weird to get this sort of attention. She turned a glanse to the right, where Faith was signing a guys arm. Well, she couldn't do anything else than embrase it, no matter how weird it all felt.

She lost count on how many autographs she had signed in the end, but her right hand was allready aching, with writing cramps. This didn't look good. Luckily they were given an other hour of putting up strategy for the match. The whole time she made sure to rub all her muscles, and once the session was over, it felt halfway better.

- I'm so nervous, Buffy admitted to her cousin. - I can't help, but feel that someone else should be here. What about you?

- Five by five, Faith answered, receiving a look. - I mean, nervous as hell, but hey... they picked us. So someone else believes in us. So my guess is that once we're out there, we'll forget the world cup and just concentrate on the match.

- Five minutes the coach yelled.

They were all sitting ready for the game, at the moment the mascots were doing a pre-show. Buffy felt a couple of small hands covering her eyes.

- Surprise, a familliar voice whispered into her ear.

- I didn't know you were allowed to come in, she accused.

- I convinced the coach that Dia is your lucky charm, he grinned. - I just wanted to wish you good luck.

Buffy kissed her daughter and handed her back to Angel, who captured her lips with the softest kiss she had ever had. He used his free hand to cup her face.

- Good luck, he whispered, before leaving the room.

And then the coach yelled for all of them to form a line, keeper first, then beaters, chasers and seeker in the end.

- And now for our home team.., the referee yelled, after presenting the opposite teams players. - Ascott, Dover, Heart, Scott, Jamerson, Pantone aaaand Summers.

O'Connor, Buffy thought to herself. What was so difficult about getting it right? They all flew after each other and circled the pitch, kind of saluting the crowd. This had never been done at any other match she had been on. But then again the players had never been so fancy. The team robes were almost shining.

It was difficult to sepparate the referees voice, the cheering crowd and the sounds of the bludgers being hit everywhere. This match was something in it's own league. It was hard to keep up with anything. She decided not to look too much at the match below. As long as she had a vague sense on where the bludgers were heading she could focus on singling out the snitch. The opposite seeker had to be a world cup veteran. He was quick, didn't fall for any of her tricks. Tricks that had worked on extremely good players in her mind. The guy was also quite a quick player. His broom was around the same standard as hers, but he was very good at turning quickly in high speed, one of her not so good sides.

Well into the game, she knew she couldn't possible catch the snitch before him. The rest of the team seemed to do well however. They were leading 100 to 70, with Faith catching the Quaffle as an other team player was surrounded. She scored and got them 40 points ahead. Even Buffy allowed herself to cheer, loosing focus for half a second. Then she saw the opposite seeker zoom downwards, knowing she would have a hard time following, she did anyway. But she didn't go further than a few feet, before she noticed something fleeting above her. She had been tricked, or more correctly, he had tried to trick her.

She turned at once and set her course upwards. Now time was at her advantage. He still hadn't turned around and even with his quick moves, he would have problems following. The snitch wasn't ready to be caught. It turned sharply to all directions, as if it knew Buffy number one weakness in a match. She felt that soon the opposite seeker would gain on her. She tried a new tactic. She flew towards the opposite direction than what she would usually and by nothing more than mere luck, the snitch fluttered exactly that direction and she grasped it in the palm of her hand.

The audience was roaring like mad. The referee was booming about the final score. Buffy was so relieved that she didn't listen any closely to whatever comments was being made.

- You did it, Faith exclaimed, once they had returned to the lockerroom.

- We did it, Buffy corrected. - I saw that scoring you did. It was amazing.

- Nah, it's the seeker who makes sure of the result, she protested.

- If you hadn't scored that goal, I wouldn't have lost focus for half a second and he would have tricked me to following him further down, Buffy protested. - And then he would have caught the snitch.

Faith didn't manage to make any protests. As much publicity they got beforehand didn't compare to everything afterwards. There were a lot more photosessions, interviews, more photos, autographs. Things had become a whole other aspect of surreal. And yet... that was just the first game...