Chapter 9: Gryffindor v Slytherin
Disclaimer: HP belongs to JK Rowling. Everything else is mine.
The morning of the first match of the Quidditch season dawned bright and clear. Only a few wispy clouds floated across the sky that dawn, as Harry examined the pitch in the light of the sun rising over the Forbidden Forest, the ground had hardened from the first frost of the year. Satisfied, Harry walked back up to the castle, nodding to the sentry, Hagrid, as he passed through the main doors. When he arrived in the Great Hall, he could see that everyone was there, at the far end of the Gryffindor Table near the teacher's table was the group he was looking for: Ron, Hermione, and his team, the other seventh years were also only a few seats away. Harry gave Ginny a good morning kiss on the cheek as he sat down, he grinned at Ron and Hermione, who were sitting hand-in-hand opposite him. "How's the betting?" he asked Dean, who had started a Quidditch betting pool in two years ago.
"Odds are 5-2 for Gryffindor to beat Slytherin. We've never lost a game against them where you played, but they have some new players this year, it could make a difference."
Ron snorted.
"It could!" insisted Dean.
"Can I put a bet on Gryffindor to win by at least 250 points?"
"Sure Harry." Replied Dean, "I'll give fairly long odds on that Harry. You've never done that before."
"We will." Harry told him, handing over the gold.
About five minutes later, Harry motioned for the team to get up. The other seven players rose with him and headed for the changing rooms. "Good luck." called Ron and Hermione. Harry nodded gratefully, painfully aware of the butterflies in his stomach.
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In the changing rooms, the team put on their red Quidditch robes. Some of them, Harry included, tucked their wands into their belts, and then they all sat down for Harry's pre-match pep talk. "I don't have much to say." He told them, "The priority is to score. Roger, Nymph, usual plan, take out their Chasers if you can, or at least distract them. Ignore their Beaters unless they become a real threat, okay?" The two Beaters nodded in agreement. "Ginny, Jane, Sam, get the Quaffle as often as you can and get it in the gaol. Even if it's a long shot, take it." The three girls nodded. "We can do it team." Harry told them, confidently, "Just play like in you did in our practice sessions and we'll whip those sorry gits' butts." The eight teens gathered in a circle and put one hand into the centre, Harry's hand was on top. "Go Gryffindor."
"GO GRYFFINDOR!" roared the team and threw up their hands. They separated, Harry headed for the door out onto pitch. Ginny, Peter, Sam, Jane and the Beaters followed him. Eric, Paul and Sonja sat down to wait until they were called.
----
"Welcome everyone…" said Ron from the Announcer's seat at the top of the Gryffindor Stand, Hermione sat beside him. "To the first Quidditch match of the year. Today, the defending champions, Gryffindor face off against their closest rivals, Slytherin. It's going to be some match folks." Harry and the other Gryffindors walked out onto the pitch, talking up their positions, Harry stood in the centre spot. "Starting for Gryffindor today are Weasley, Parrington, Masters, Aquanis, Monk, Falco and the team captain, POTTER!" The Slytherin team walked out onto the pitch opposite Harry, he noticed that although there were a couple of new faces compared to the year before, the overall trend of big and menacing hadn't changed. Malfoy scowled at Harry as they faced each other at the centre spot. "Starting today for Slytherin are Heidler, Grantham, Blade, Crabbe, Goyle and Malfoy. Team Captain Draco Malfoy has made a few changes to the team line-up since taking over leadership in September. But, he does still seem to favour brawn over brains. However, as a one-armed monkey stands more chance of catching the Snit…"
"WEASLEY!"
"Sorry Professor. Only joking." Ron assured Professor McGonagall, as he struggled to keep hold of the microphone that she was trying to grab off him.
Madame Hooch approached the two team captains, carrying the chest of balls. "I want a nice clean game." she told them, glaring daggers at Malfoy, who was grinning. "Ready…set…"
"And they're off. Gryffindor immediately takes possession, Weasley has the Quaffle, she's speeding down the pitch, past one Beater, passed the other. The superior speed of the Firebolt really shows on these long dashes."
"Weasley."
"Sorry Professor. Anyway. Slytherin's Beaters are in pursuit; they'll never catch her in time. She shoots! She scores! Ginny Weasley opens the scoring and Gryffindor leads ten-to-zero."
Crabbe and Goyle tried to close in on Ginny for revenge but Gryffindors' own Beaters were onto them and shot both the Bludgers back at them, forcing them to fall back.
"Slytherin in possession, Heidler heading for the goal, Monk cuts him off, goes to Blade, intercepted by Gryffindor Chaser Parrington, long pass to Masters, she shoots and scores! Twenty-zero to Gryffindor and they are still in possession. Weasley takes the Quaffle, she shoots. Intercepted by Naga. Hard luck. Slytherin now in possession."
Harry cast his eye around for the Snitch; there was no sign of it. Scanning the spectators' stands he could see that all the teachers were there, except for Trelawney of course. He nodded to Sirius who was sitting with Dumbledore, Lupin and Moody not far from Ron. Charlie was watching Harry intently. It was a hour into play and Gryffindor lead 110 points to 0 and Slytherin were beginning to get angry. As he watched, Goyle smashed into Sam as she dived for the gaols, slamming her in the stomach with his club and then punching her in the face. She screamed in pain and wobbling dangerously for a brief moment, then she slipped off her broom. Harry pulled out his wand, "Impendimentia!" The spell slowed her down enough so that the impact only knocked her out. Neville quickly conjured a stretcher and moved to get her to the Infirmary.
"After a disgraceful foul by Beater Goyle, Chaser Parrington is taken off unconscious." McGonagall glared at Ron, "Captain Potter calls in Kenton to replace her."
"Two penalties to Gryffindor for an unprovoked attack and damage to their Chaser."
"Chaser Weasley puts away both penalties, no trouble at all. Play continues, Gryffindor leads 130-0 and Masters has the Quaffle."
With Sam gone, the Gryffindor line-up didn't work as well as usual. Roger and Tom intercepted Blade too late to stop her from passing the Quaffle back to Heidler. Heidler took the shot, which Peter just managed to save by executing a double aerial loop. She passed it to Ginny and the three Gryffindor Chasers sped towards the Slytherin goal in a Hawkshead Attacking Formation. Crabbe tried to throw a Bludger at Ginny, Tom hit it back at him and Crabbe's nose exploded in a spurt of blood. "You'll have to try harder than that Crabbe." declared Tom, "My mother's aunt could hit harder!" Ginny slipped the Quaffle past Naga easily to make it 140-0 as Crabbe limped off.
Another twenty minutes later, Gryffindor were 180 points ahead and Harry looked around again for the Snitch. He grinned widely as he saw a glint of gold near the Slytherin goal posts. Malfoy had seen it too. They dived for it, Harry pushing the Firebolt to it's maximum speed in a an effort to close the gap. A Bludger whistled past Harry's ear and was caught by Roger. He threw it, nailing Malfoy just as he was a hands breath from the Snitch, knocking him spinning away, winded. Harry streaked across the pitch after the Snitch, dodging the other Bludger, which Tom knocked into Hiedler as he aimed for the goal. Ginny grabbed the Quaffle and rocked for the opposite goal, she threw the Quaffle in a shallow arc from about half-way up the pitch and scored just as Harry pulled up from the steep dive. "That's it folks." reported Ron, "Thanks to amazing plays by Captain Potter and Chaser Weasley of Gryffindor, the game ends with the score at 340 points to ten for Gryffindor! We'll be talking about this match for a long time I can tell you!"
When Harry and Ginny landed on the ground, Roger and Tom picked him up. Jane and Peter shouldered Ginny and the Gryffindors made a victory procession back to the Tower. From the celebrations, which lasted until midnight, it looked to some like Gryffindor had already won the Cup. Harry found Ginny in a corner; she was drinking from a bottle of Butterbeer. He took her hand and squeezed it gently, she looked up. "You did greet today, darling."
"You didn't do to bad yourself Harry."
"Thank you."
Please R/R.
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1. Chapter 1: The Blood 2. Chapter 2: Summertime 3. Chapter 3: Hogwarts 4. Chapter 4: New Allies 5. Chapter 5: Diagon Alley 6. Chapter 6: The Sorting 7. Chapter 7: Lessons 8. Chapter 8: Quidditch Practice 9. Chapter 9: Gryffindor v Slytherin 10. Chapter 10: Retribution |
