Albus Potter's Quest

by gellerfan

Albus Potter is close to defeat in a Quidditch match. His desire to improve forces him to met the best seekers in the game, and will change his way of seeing Quidditch, his whole life and the relationship with his father.

1. Chapter 1 When a Victory is a Defeat

ALBUS POTTER'S QUEST

By gellerfan

NB: Thanks to JK Rowling for creating Potterverse, and thanks to monkeymouse for "Or Die Trying", best fanfic I've ever read and, in most cases, better than the canon.

Rated: +13

Spoilers: No

Chapter One: When a Victory is a Defeat

The whole Gryffindor House was gathered in their Tower. There was a big party and people were singing, dancing, drinking buterbeer… The reason was obvious. Once again they had conquered the Quidditch Cup after winning the final match against Slytherin.

But not everyone was enjoying the party. In a corner, lost in his own thoughts without understanding the cause of the party, there was Albus Potter, third-year seeker and star of Gryffindor's Quidditch team. Since he joined the team in his second year (the first-year ban was reestablished after his father left Hogwarts) he had caught all the snitches, six in a row.

Ian McCulloch, prefect, team captain and Chaser asked for silence. "Let's have a toast for the key player in the victory, not only today, but the whole season and last one too. For the best seeker in Hogwarts's history. For Albus Potter".

"For Albus". Albus drunk as a show of respect, but his face demonstrated that he didn't share their joy.

"What's wrong, brother?" asked his sister Lily. It was her first year and she was really proud of his brother Al, which everybody considered Harry Potter's worthy successor. There was his elder brother James, of course, but he was beater, and Albus really looked alike his father, physically and in Quidditch playing seeker, so he always caught the attention.

"I'm not happy with the victory nor my performance. I mean, of course I'm glad that our House won the Cup, but we deserved to lose, and it was my fault" answered Albus.

"¿Sorry?. Ok, I admit last one was pretty matched, but you have won six matches in a row. No one has achieved it, not even Dad".

"You know how he is, Lily, he is always depressed about his performance" intervened James, giving a peck to her sister and fluttering Albus' hair. "Thinking too much is bad, Al. Enjoy life, carpe diem, drink a beer, kiss a girl".

Albus laughed. That was James. His cheerful mood always prevented Albus from stress, sadness or even homesickness, mainly during his first year.

"Shut up, James, you stupid. I don't know what you will do for a living after your NEWT, but I want to become a professional player, a really good one, and I will not if I don't improve a lot".

James laughed "excuse me but I have something to do" and he walked towards a girl who wanted to congratulate him and maybe something more.

"He is great", said Lily laughing. "He is, but he understands nothing. The whole team don't understand, even worse, they don't want to understand" answered Albus, while mentally was reviewing last match celebrated hours ago.

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Hogwarts stadium was filled up to see last season's game and besides it was a decisive one between the only two Houses which could win the Cup: Gryffindor vs Slytherin.

Slytherin arrived to the match with a minor advantage of ten points. No one in Griffindor was concerned about that because, unless Slytherin's chasers crushed them, everything would rely on seekers, and Albus was way better than his opponent Scorpius Malfoy, so everything was where Gryffindor wanted and they were pretty confident about the final outcome.

Peter Watson from Hufflepuff House was the speaker. Hogwarts politic had changed from the past, and now speakers must come from a neutral House for fair play reasons, so every House had to provide a speaker for matches.

"And here we are to see the decisive match between the champion Gryffindor and Slytherin. Both teams arrive pretty tied up, so we're hoping to see a bang up match today.

For Gryffindor, captain and chaser Ian McCulloch, keeper David Grobbelaar, beaters James Potter and Ralph O'Brian, chasers Anne Cornwell and Linda Milton and finally seeker Albus Potter". Cheers came from the crowd and the obvious boos from Slytherin.

"For Slytherin, captain and seeker Scorpius Malfoy, keeper John Emms, Beaters David Nunn and Rory Gallagher, Chasers Claire Short, Rose Speelman and Tony Miles". Now boos came from Gryffindor.

"Captains shake hands AND MATCH STARTS. McCulloh gets the Quaffle and advances at full speed towards Slytherin goal escorted by Cornwell and Milton, dodges Speelman and a bludger devilishly launched by Nunn and SCORES, TEN-NIL FOR GRYFFINDOR.

Albus watched the match played downfield, constantly escorted by Malfoy, who seemed limited to a wait -and -see strategy. Obviously Malfoy trusted his chasers and especially in the ability of their beaters to intimidate rivals.

Malfoy was right. Slytherin was not anymore the ruthless and close-to-illegal moves that characterized his father's. Nowadays beaters were very effective (more than his father's) and played thinking how to help their chasers which were objectively very good. They were especially effective taking advantage of those moments of chaos caused by their bludgers and then stand alone in front of the keeper and score easily. So, the conclusion was clear, as a team they were much more dangerous than twenty years ago thanks to Scorpius' tactics and only the fact that he was not as good as Albus prevented Slytherin to win the Cup.

Albus had encouraged several times Gryffindor to learn from Slytherin's tactics and play more as a team, not relying mainly in him, because he could have a bad day, be injured or punished, and then they will simply lose. Unfortunately the answer was always the same "We are Gryffindor. We will not copy Slytherin, and while you are on the field the match is ours. The opponent is Malfoy, don't you forget". When Albus warned them that Scorpius Malfoy was much better player and smarter than his father, the answer was always the same "you have the best broom at Hogwarts, as your father had, and you're better than Malfoy, there's nothing to worry about".

That left Albus very frustrated, because excessive pride and lack of self-criticism of the team, making him unable to adopt tactics of other houses, mainly Slytherin, send them close to a complete disaster.

Albus wanted to be a profesional, and he knew what coachs thought about Hogwarts' players. They had good opinion about him, although he had to improve, and same applied to Nunn, Gallagher and Claire Short from Slytherin. About the others, they could be reserves at most. Opinion about Malfoy was rather interesting "maybe a reserve seeker, but as coach, he could be a really good one".

Those were Albus thoughts when he realized that his worst fears became real and Slytherin was overrunning Gryffindor. Albus had to do something and do it fast, if not Slytherin would take such an advantage that would prevent him from capturing the Snitch, unless he decided to make a Krum, capturing the snitch even losing the match and the Cup, but leaving intact his reputation as the best seeker at Hogwarts.

He had tried to catch the snitch twice, but a blockade from Malfoy and a bludger prevented it. Slytherin didn't try to look for the snitch because they just have to wait.

"I've got to get rid of Malfoy". Suddenly he turned backwards and made a dive close to Slytherin goal as he had seen the snitch. Gryffindor were losing only by ninety, so they had chances.

The problem was that he was not pursuing the snitch but making a feint, he was trying the Wonski Feint to get away from Malfoy and have time and field to look for the snitch without interferences.

Malfoy started to dive too, but suddenly keeper Emms shouted "SCORPIUS, DON'T" and gave up when he was thirty feet high. Thanks to his mate he realized it was all a bluff and placed him into a splendid blockade situation.

Albus thought that it couldn't be worse, but then he saw the snitch, close to them, and the problem was that Malfoy had seen it too, and his situation above the snitch (Albus was below) allowed him to fly faster and manoeuver better. Malfoy had outmanouvered Albus and he was lost. They both knew it.

Albus could only accelerate towards the snitch and hope that an unexpected turn would provoke a mistake and allow Albus to turn the tables, but Malfoy started to go downfield, and his fly was superb, fast and straight to the golden ball.

"This can't be happening" thought Albus, and suddenly impossible happened, snitch turned up and to the right. Malfoy followed the snitch, but he didn't move to change the center of gravity and ease the turn like Albus did, so he lost speed. Now they were flying at same speed. Malfoy still had the better position, but Albus had a chance, marginal but a chance.

Albus thought that if the snitch kept flying straight or turning to the left he would be lost, so his only chance was turning to the right and so he did. Malfoy lost sight of the snitch for a second to know where Albus was, and suddenly the snitch turned where there was space, down and to the right. Albus never lost sight of the snitch, and was the first one to be at same height, turned and cached the snitch.

He had won, but he knew very well how lucky he had been. Scorpius Malfoy couldn't believe it. He just looked at his father and muttered "I'm sorry".

The audience suddenly heard Watson's voice "POTTER CATCHS THE SNITCH, GRYFFINDOR WINS 340-310. GRYFFINDOR WINS THE MATCH AND THE CUP".

The crowd mobbed Gryffindor team, especially Albus. Gryffindor team gathered around Albus to congratulate him while the Slytherins withdrew lamenting their loss and trying to console Malfoy.

Albus saw the Slytherins retreating and run towards them "Malfoy". Scorpius spun around with a face full of anger "what do you want, Potter? Do you want me to congratulate for the victory?. You have it, but we both know what happened, and don't expect to be so lucky next time".

I'm not here to laugh at you, Malfoy, but to congratulate you, really. It's the first time I've been outmanouvered. You should have won, you deserved it, but in the end a couple of mistakes and my luck gave me the victory".

"Are you kidding, Potter?"

"No. I was lost and gambled, and it worked. It shouldn't, but that's Quidditch".

"Next time I will defeat you"

Albus laughed. "Maybe, but I will try to learn from mistakes. Better luck next time, Malfoy, really. Oh Mr. Malfoy, nice to see you. Congratulations, your son made a superb performance as seeker and captain, and now I'm sorry but I have to leave. I have a House to keep".

Draco and Scorpius Malfoy looked at each other shocked. "I never expected this from a Potter," Draco said as he looked at Albus walking away.

"Congratulations, Albus, you made it", Lily and her cousin Rose hugged Albus. "Yeah, well, I was really lucky, you know, right?". Suddenly he stopped talking and his jaw dropped while he stared a group of girls chatting, one of them a beautiful girl with black hair. Lily and Rose started giggling.

Xxxx

Albus decided that it was time to join the party. He handed a butterbeer and clapped the back of keeper Grobbelaar. "Congratulations David, I've seen you four or five incredible saves today: You kept us alive". Grobbelaar cheeks turned pink, he was a second year and didn't expect such a compliment from him. "I did my best, Albus, but they were too strong. In the end it's all about the snitch, you know. We couldn't have done it without you. Thanks for the compliment, it means a lot to me".

Albus shouted "For David, best keeper in Howgwarts". Grobbelaar was mobbed by the whole House and blushed crimson.

"Well, Al, what are you going to do now?" asked Lily.

"We'll be back home for summer holidays in a week and I want to make two researches. First one is about Quidditch. I'm afraid I'm bogged down, so I need to fix my mistakes and take a better outlook of the game. I would like to meet some good professional seekers, and know their secrets to improve my play".

"That will be difficult with professionals, Al. You'll be a competence in a close future"

"Yeah, maybe I'll try with some retired seekers".

"And the second one?"

"It's just a thought"

"And that thought is linked to what happened after the game?" intervened Rose giggling.

"Malfoy?"

"No, after that".

"Mmm, could be. Do you think, my beloved sister and cousin, that you could help me, just a hint?

"Maybe you should visit the library"

"Thanks, Rose. By the way, a question".

"Yes Al?"

"Where is the library?".

"Oh Al, you cannot be serious, it's your third year".

"So what?"

Rose rolled up her eyes and left.

"James, I don't understand her. She always does the same and it was a fair question".

"She lives there, you know".

"James, do you know where the library is?".

"No, but just follow the girls, Al".

Both brothers laughed hard, to Lily disbelief.