Chapter 9: The Last Quidditch Cup

"And Potter catches the Snitch!" The Gryffindors happily heard Hermione comment during the Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw match.

"Good catch, mate." Ron said. "Now those slimy snakes won't have a chance to win the Quidditch Cup."

"Slytherin could use the trick from five years ago but Hufflepuff's current team is too better than back then." Harry commented.

"Could you imagine Slytherin losing to Hufflepuff?" Ron asked while laughing. "Unless, of course, they have their own McLaggen."

"They came close enough back when Malfoy made his debut as their Seeker." Harry answered, making Ron laugh even more.

"Face it, Snivelly." Sirius declared with a smirk. "Your slimy snakes have no chance this year."

"There are more things to life than Quidditch, Black." Snape retorted.

"Has anyone here ever heard him say that in terms when Slytherin won?" Sirius teasingly asked the rest of Hogwarts' teaching staff.

"I believe it might have happened five years ago back when nobody expected Slytherin would win but they won anyway." Professor Filius Flitwick answered without making it sound like he was intentionally helping with the teasing. "Does that count?"

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!" Sirius laughed. "Nice try but that doesn't count."

"Someday I'll wipe your smile off your face, Black." Snape angrily threatened.

"True." Sirius admitted. "I believe some muggles call it St. Never's Day."

"Mr. Black! Mr. Snape!" Professor McGonagall admonished them. "If neither of you can behave like you're no longer teenagers, I'll issue you both a detention. Together!"

"You can't do that!" Sirius exclaimed in horror. "Snivellus and I are no longer students."

"I know, Mr. Black." She sternly replied. "That's why I'm not docking points from either of you."

The next morning, Harry and several of his year mates at Gryffindor were studying for their N.E.W.T.-level exams. Even Ron, who'd rather play chess or eat (preferable eat), was studying, which showed how serious those exams were. "I'll be so glad once those exams are over." He commented.

"Tell me about it, Ron." Harry replied. "Passing N.E.W.T.-level Potions must be hard even without Professor Snivellus breathing down our necks."

"Professor Snape, Harry." Hermione admonished him.

"Just be glad I remember the 'Professor' part, Hermione." Harry replied. "That Death Eater doesn't deserve any respect as a teacher."

"He's not that bad, Harry." Hermione argued.

"He's worse." Ron "agreed".

"I wonder if Hufflepuff and Slytherin are more concerned about the exams or their upcoming Quidditch match." Neville Longbottom commented.

"I hope the Slytherin team members pick the exams so Hufflepuff might win the game." Ron replied.

Meanwhile, the Hogwarts teaching staff was readying themselves for one of the hardiest duties they have: the final evaluation of students from years 1 to 4 and 6. "If this batch of first-year dunderheads is dumber than the last, I'll give them detentions until the end of their next term." Snape threatened.

"Even your snakes, Snivvy?" Sirius teasingly asked.

"Especially them, Black." Snape firmly answered. "Idiocy is easier to expect from the other students but my snakes should know better." He sounded so sincere even Sirius wouldn't mock him. "The only thing I'm looking forward is the end of term when you and Potter finally leave Hogwarts for good."

"Actually, Snivellus, I'm thinking about staying until you leave so I can counter your persecution of non-snakes." Sirius replied, making Snape even more furious. Sirius was now wondering if he should have saved that piece of information for after Snape graded the students' Potions exams.

After the exams, the students other than the Slytherins and the Hufflepuffs was relaxing until the match, which Slytherin won but nobody complained much since Gryffindor still won the Quidditch cup as expected.

End chapter.