The first Saturday in November was the Quidditch match between Diamond House and Ruby House. Harry was extremely nervous. For the past three days, he'd been having bad dreams over the match. The first one involved his falling sixty feet off his broom, breaking most of his bones, and being told by Madam O'Malley that he'd never fly again. The second involved his going after the Snitch, but then realizing he wasn't on a broom, so he fell to the ground and the Ruby seeker got the Snitch. The third involved his oversleeping and a very angry Isabel telling him that as the reserve had been ill, Neville had to be used instead and that Harry was off the team.

On the morning of the match, Harry had little appetite and could only pick at his food during breakfast. Ron said, "You need your strength, Harry. You know seekers are the ones that get clobbered by the other team."

This didn't make Harry feel any better and he watched as Ron poured a great deal of honey into his oatmeal and dug in. Padma gave Ron a disapproving look, then said gently, "Harry, you really should eat. Playing a match on an empty stomach isn't good for you."

"Who are you, my mother?" asked Harry, managing a smile to show that he was joking. Padma just shook her head in mild disgust.

Isabel then came over. "Emily, you're playing in the match today. Jen's allergic to coconut, and she didn't know the cake she had yesterday had some, so she's not feeling well and can't play. And Claire landed herself in detention for a prank she played, so that's why it's you."

Emily dropped her spoon and blinked. "Really? I'm playing in the match today? Oh, I won't let you down, Isabel!"

"You'd better," said Isabel sternly. She smiled and added, "You're quite good. The practices have improved your flying skills immensely, so I'm sure you'll be an asset in today's match, Emily." Then she looked at Harry and said sternly, "Eat your breakfast, Potter. That's an order from your captain. I won't have you playing on an empty stomach." With that, she turned and left.

After breakfast, Ron fetched his Cleansweep Seven and lent it to Emily, who wasn't able to buy a broom yet. In the locker room, the Diamond House team changed into robes of white and yellow. Then Isabel gathered the team around her and said, "Everyone, just do your best and play to have fun and win. We have a good team, and I'm sure we'll do well. And one last thing, keep an eye out for the Weasley twins. They're really good beaters. But you can deal with them, Astrid and Ryan. Now, let's get out there and play a good match."

Harry walked out onto the pitch and saw that his friends had made a banner that said, "Go Diamond House!" Underneath the words showed a painting of him chasing the Snitch, and Emily and Hermione had done a charm that made the robes flash different colors.

Mrs. Sternberg was the referee and she had the captains shake hands. The Ruby House captain was their keeper, Oliver Wood. He was a burly fifth year who was a Quidditch fanatic, according to what Ron had heard from his twin brothers. Then the balls were released and Mrs. Sternberg blew her whistle for the teams to take off. Lee Jordan, roommate and friend to the Weasley twins, as well as a member of the Second Marauders (Fred and George had heard about the Marauders from Lupin, and when they started school, formed the Second Marauders with three other students that were pranksters as well.)

Lee Jordan was rather baised toward Ruby House, which resulted in McGonagall shouting "Jordan!" and "I'm warning you!" several times in reprimand. The first goal was scored by Emily, and Harry flew a few circles to let out his feelings of excitement. Diamond House scored three more times before Angelina Johnson of the Ruby team got a goal past Wilhem.

"And Johnson scores a goal, making the score forty-ten in Diamond's favor!" shouted Lee. "Go Angelina! Ruby-"

"Enough!" snapped McGonagall, looking slightly irate.

Ruby House scored five more times in the next ten minutes. McGonagall looked delighted, but still took the time to reprimand Lee for gloating. All of the Ruby students were cheering loudly, while the Diamond students groaned. Sapphire and Emerald were divided.

Emily then dodged a bludger and put a goal past Oliver. Ruby chaser Brenda Carson then had possession of the Quaffle, but dropped it when Ryan hit a Bludger at her. Emily caught it and passed it to Isabel, who then scored. The score was now tied at sixty-sixty. That was when Harry spotted the Snitch. He went streaking after it and two seconds later, Ruby seeker Nicole Eldan saw what was going on and flew after him. In the meantime, Ruby House scored once more, while Diamond House scored twice.

Ruby House had just scored another goal when Harry reached the Snitch and closed his hand around it. A disappointed Lee shouted, "And Harry Potter catches the Snitch, making the score three hundred and thirty to eighty. Diamond House wins!"

Diamond students burst into cheers, and so did the ones from Sapphire and Emerald that had supported them. A very delighted Isabel hugged Harry and said, "You're definitely the best seeker Diamond House ever had, Harry."

Emily hugged him also, and kissed him on the cheek. He felt his face turn about as scarlet as Ron's hair as she said, "I'm so glad that we won! You were an excellent seeker, Harry. And I guess I wasn't too bad, either."

Once the team had showered and changed, they returned to their common room, where there was a celebration party. Everyone congratulated them, and agreed that Harry had played a big part in the victory. Nobody could deny that he was a great seeker, and Neville said, "With you on the team, Harry, Diamond House will be a shoe-in for the Quidditch cup."

Finally the party ended and everyone scattered to do their own things.

Author's Note: The members of the Second Marauders are: Fred, George, Lee, and Brenda and Bianca Carson. Brenda and Bianca aren't twins, but they were born on the same day (April 2nd), could pass for twins, and are cousins. Their mothers are twins, and their fathers brothers, which explains why they look almost alike. Bianca is the reserve seeker for the Ruby team. The Second Marauders haven't shown up yet, as they haven't played any pranks that have attracted Harry's attention, but they will show up, prehaps in the next chapter, with a huge prank they played. Brenda and Bianca, like Remus Lupin, are more studious, but they do have a prankster's streak.