It didn't take long for the news of Fred's victory over Flint to sieve down through the entire school, and, despite Enoch's assertion that whatever happened at Duelling Club was to stay at Duelling Club, a number of scuffles and arguments broke out in the corridors, normally resulting from someone taunting the Slytherin Quidditch team that their captain couldn't beat someone half his size and three years below him.
Due to the sheer number of mini-duels breaking out at a moment's notice, at least once a day students were greeted by the sight of Filch hot footing it down a corridor, an eager look on his face, with Mrs Norris running along up ahead in an attempt to catch the latest combatants in action.
In the end, mainly due to the fact that Madam Pomfrey was run off her feet trying to fix the effects of Bat-Bogey Hexes and reviving students from Stunning Spells, a full clamp down had occurred, and students were banned from using magic in the corridors. This, of course, delighted Filch to no end, he was now popping up left and right the moment anyone brandished a wand outside of the classroom and sticking them straight into detention even for the slightest bit of magic performed.
"Filch is such a…" Lee used a rather vulgar word to finish his sentence as he threw his school bag down against his bed and flopped down onto the soft cushiony mattress.
"Why?" asked George from his own bed, "well I mean, obviously he is, but why specifically this time?"
"He stuck me in detention for using magic on the corridor," explained Lee shaking his head, "I accidentally hit some vase with my bag and it knocked it onto the floor where is smashed to pieces. So I repaired it, and Filch jumps out from behind a tapestry, with that stupid grin he gets when he's about to do something mean and gives me detention."
"Did you tell him you were only fixing the vase?" George propped himself up on his elbows.
"Yeah I did," snapped Lee still very annoyed, "and do you know what he did? He gave me a second detention for damaging school property."
"That's nothing," admitted George, "one of the first years in Ravenclaw had a nose bleed, so a sixth year stopped the bleeding with a simple spell and he was dumped straight into detention and, on top of that, the first year was also given detention for getting blood on the floor."
"He's becoming unbearable."
"Becoming? Where were you last year?"
"He's much worse this year," argued Lee, "it's like he spends the holidays trying to think up even more ways he can be mean."
"Well, to be fair, we tend to spend the holidays trying to think up even more mischief we can get into," admitted George.
"True," Lee nodded in agreement, and cast a look around the room, "where's Fred?"
"It's his turn to get the cakes from the kitchen," explained George, "it's great, those House-Elves know our order off by heart now, they're always waiting for us when we go down with big grins on their faces and all the food ready."
"Hey guys," said Fred pushing opening the door and lifting his school bag off of his shoulder, he took out three small cakes and threw one each at George and Lee and kept one for himself, "did you hear about Angelina?"
"No," replied George sitting up and taking a large bite from his cake, "what about her?"
"She's in the Hospital Wing."
"What happened?" asked Lee quickly.
"We think she was hit by a curse from one of the Slytherin Quidditch Team," explained Fred, "whoever jinxed her did it from behind, so she didn't see anyone, but Aphelia Alpine reckons she saw Flint lurking around beforehand."
"Ah now why did they have to go and do that?" said George shaking his head, "they know we're going to get them back, you'd think they'd have learnt by now."
"They're probably counting on it," admitted Lee, "if they can draw you into a fight then maybe they can either injure you or get you put in detention and you could miss the next match. Is Angelina ok?"
"Yeah she's fine," admitted Fred sitting down on the edge of his bed, "nothing too serious, she'll probably be off classes tomorrow, but she should be ok for the game at the weekend."
"That's something at least," mumbled George, who'd finished off his cake and was spraying bits of it while he spoke.
"True, of course now Oliver is trying to make sure the rest of the team don't get injured. Apparently we all have to go around in at least groups of two when outside Gryffindor House to make sure we aren't jinxed or cursed unawares."
"When did he tell you this?" asked Fred, who was now trying to dislodge some rogue currents from between his teeth.
"Just as I was heading down to the kitchen. On my own."
"I'm sure that went down well."
"Actually he doesn't mind us sneaking out after dark," admitted Fred, "we've proved we're smart enough to avoid Filch, avoiding Slytherins are a synch compared to that."
"Well we don't have mum's, McGonagall's Filch or even Dumbledore's permission to be out at night, but at least we have Oliver's."
"Although he did make me promise that we wouldn't get Flint back before the weekend," warned Fred, "he didn't want us getting into trouble before the match because we are irreplaceable."
"Really?" smiled George, "he said that?"
"His exact words were 'I don't care if you get expelled on Monday, I don't have time to hold tryouts for your positions', which basically means we are irreplaceable."
Good to their word, the twins managed to stay out of trouble for the next few days, although this had more to do with the fact that both Wood and Professor McGonagall were keeping a close eye on them and would swoop in whenever there was any hint of trouble.
"Ok guys this is it," said Wood to the assembled team. Outside the changing room they could hear the roars and cheers of the crowd waiting for the game to begin. "Don't worry about the last match, we can make up the points with a good win today. Chasers," he turned to look at Miro, Angelina and Alicia, "I've watched how they play in practice, and they always seem to pass to Crosbie since she is the best shot. Watch for the pass and intercept it. Also their Keeper is very good with his right hand, so make sure you shoot at the hoop on his left, but not all the time though, keep him guessing. Fred, George," at this point both twins stood to attention and gave their captain a salute each, "their Beaters lack accuracy but they can both hit hard, make sure you protect the Chasers, try and keep possession of the Bludgers as best as you can. Kenny," he turned to the final member of the team. The new Seeker looked white as a sheet, "just do as we planned, fly high and out of the way, keep your eye out for the Snitch, if they start hitting Bludgers your way, moved down close to either Fred or George, they'll protect you."
"Don't worry Kenny," said George slapping the Seeker on the back, "you can count on us."
"Cheers," replied Kenny, looking a little woozy.
"Player for player we have the best team," Wood reminded the group, "I know that and you know that. Now let's go out there and show them."
"Show them what?" asked George expectantly.
"That we're the best team. Weren't you listening?"
"To be honest I sort of tend to drift a bit at the best of times," admitted George shrugging, "but I got the general idea, the whole us being good, and winning, and all that malarkey."
"And what are you going to do for Kenny if he needs it?" inquired Wood rubbing his forehead with his fingers.
"Er…" George cast the Seeker a sideways glance, "his History of Magic homework?"
"No," sighed Wood shaking his head, "protect him. If he needs it, you protect him."
"Ahh that makes much more sense, because I'm terrible at History of Magic."
"Fred, do you know what you are doing?" Wood turned to the other twin, who was currently picking rogue broken twigs out of his broom.
"Yeah, yeah, I heard it all," replied Fred dismissively, snapping off another errant piece of wood, "something about History of Magic."
"Fred!"
"Relax Oliver, I'm kidding." Fred reassured, "protect Kenny, if he needs it."
"Good," nodded Wood finally satisfied that the twins knew what they were suppose to be doing, "now let's get out there and win."
"Kenny," Fred whispered as the group made their way onto the pitch, "what am I protecting you from?"
The team stepped out onto the pitch amid the raucous cheers emanating all around them. Although the sun was shining there was still a slight cool breeze flittering through the stadium, which was now decorated in the colours of Ravenclaw and Gryffindor.
Wood walked to the centre of the pitch where Madam Hooch was waiting with the captain of the Ravenclaw team. Angelina and Alicia were talking through some last minute tactics, while Miro kept reassuring Kenny that he'd be fine, despite the fact that he'd now gone a rather green hue. The twins however were busy trying to pump up the already rather excitable crowd.
"Give me a G!" shouted George up at the section of the stand devoted to the Gryffindor students.
"G!" chorused the crowd in return.
"Give me a Ryffindor!"
"Ryffindor!" echoed back along with some strange looks from the crowd.
"What does it spell?"
"George!" shouted the unmistakable voice of Wood.
"No," George shouted back shaking his head, "it's Gryffindor, you're really going to have to work on your spelling."
"No, you idiot get on your broom we're about to start!"
George looked around and sure enough, everyone else, on both teams, had taken to the sky. Grinning sheepishly he swung his leg over his broom and kicked off high into the air.
"And now that George Weasley is ready," Lee's voice echoed loudly around the pitch as he took up his role as commentator, George responded by giving him a little wave, "it looks like we are ready to get the game underway."
Madam Hooch released the two Bludgers, which immediately shot up into the air once free of their shackles. Next was the Snitch, most people tried to follow its flight but only the very quickest could manage to keep up to speed as it zipped back and forth. Finally the Quaffle was thrown high into the air and, with a huge cheer from the spectators, the match started.
The skill and technique of the Gryffindor team was clear to see as they took control of the match early on. Angelina, Alicia and Miro slalomed across the pitch, passing the Quaffle between them as easily as if had just been a normal practice session. Attempts by the Ravenclaw team to intercept the ball were kept to a limited amount by the superior abilities of Fred and George who were sending a constant barrage of Bludgers at the opposition.
"Superb save by Raphael Montgomery," called Lee as the crowd gave the Ravenclaw Keeper a resounding round of applause as he carried out a rather difficult one handed save, "Miro Franca managed to get himself into a good position there for the shot."
The game was fast and furious, and it soon became apparent that Ravenclaw had an equally good Keeper to Gryffindor. Montgomery made save after save, each time to a chorus of appreciative coos or frustrated groans from the crowd depending on who they were supporting. The three Chasers started following Wood's advice prior to the game and began aiming their shots at the hoop to Montgomery's left. The Ravenclaw captain, a pretty raven-haired seventh year playing as Seeker, obviously had pre-empted the possibility that her Keeper's weakness would be pin pointed and immediately barked an order to one of the Chasers.
"A very clever tactical move by Ravenclaw there," responded Lee as the Chaser took up position in front of the hoop on the far right, "they are protecting Montgomery's weak left flank with an extra player."
It soon became obvious to those watching the match that it was heading for a stalemate, with only two Chasers trying to get the Quaffle, Ravenclaw were out numbered in the middle of the pitch and were getting very little possession, but with the extra person helping Montgomery protect the goal Gryffindor's attacks were in vain.
"Another fine save by Montgomery," called Lee as the Ravenclaw Keeper caught the ball one handed before passing it to one of the Chasers, "it won't be long before he'll have to make another of those… yes Ravenclaw have lost possession again and here comes the Gryffindor attack… Spinnet with the shot…ooooo so close but I don't think anyone is getting past him today."
"Fred!" Wood called down the closest of the twins, "keep your eye on their Seeker, I think they are hoping to rely on the fact that it's Kenny's first game. That's why they are blocking the hoops; they don't care about scoring points, as long as they can stop us scoring and get the Snitch they'll win."
"No problem," smiled Fred, as he swung his bat at the Bludger bearing down on the two boys. He fired it off up towards the Ravenclaw Seeker who had to spin away to avoid being unseated by the hard ball.
The crowd soon came to the same conclusion as Wood about Ravenclaw relying on catching the Snitch to win. Most people were only half watching Miro, Alicia and Angelina's attempts to break the deadlock, instead choosing to keep an eye on both Seekers as they circled high about the stadium. Even now and then someone would see a glint of gold and shout out from the crowd pointing towards it, but as swiftly as it had appeared the Snitch would vanish into thin air.
The sound in the stadium had reduced down to an expectant buzzing of conversation, occasionally punctuated by a cheer from the Ravenclaw students as another save was made, or a gasp from the Gryffindor supports that thought a shot might make it through.
"Look!" shouted a voice from the crowd, and as one everybody snapped their heads upwards to watch as both Kenny and the opposing Seeker broke into a dive in swift pursuit of the Snitch.
Side by side the two players rocketed towards the ground, the shiny glimmering ball flitting in front of them. They were neck and neck as they flew faster. Suddenly Kenny seemed to shake his head in annoyance and only realised too late that he needed to pull up. He tried in vain to come out of the dive, and almost made it. His feet dug into the ground and he was thrown clear of his broom, rolling a number of times across the grass pitch before coming to a stop several feet away.
Cries of frustration and disappointment from the Gryffindor supporters were drowned out by the cheering from the Ravenclaw contingent as their Seeker proudly held the Snitch aloft.
"You ok Kenny?" asked George landing softly next to him.
"Yeah," replied the glum looking Seeker, who was blinking uncertainly, his lip swollen with a small trickle of blood coming from a cut.
"What happened?" Wood queried as the rest of the team joined their stricken team member. "Were you jinxed? If you were we can get the game replayed."
"No, I just lost my contacts."
"Your what now?"
"My contact lenses," explained Kenny pointing at his eye, the rest of the group just looked at him blankly. "They help me see? I wear them instead of glasses."
"Really?" asked Fred uncertainly, "I've never seen you wear glasses."
"That's because I wear contact lenses, I have to put them on my eyes."
"Confunded, he's clearly been Confunded. Putting stuff in your eye to see, utter gibberish. Honestly." Wood said adamantly, turning away he strode towards the referee, "Madam Hooch, Madam Hooch…"
"Actually that does ring a bell," admitted George looking thoughtful, "I think dad read about them in that newsletter he gets…"
"The Crazy World of Muggles?" asked Fred.
"That's the one," nodded George, "these lenses are like little monocles that fit into each eye right?"
"Yeah," agreed Kenny.
"Oh I remember," said Fred as realisation dawned, "dad tried to make his own didn't he? Thought they might help him see. Spent two weeks in Mungo's and nearly went blind."
"Ah yes, mum went spare over it. Shouldn't someone tell Oliver that Kenny wasn't jinxed?"
The team looked over towards their fearless leader. He was currently giving Montgomery an earful, who, in turn, was obviously firing back a few choice words, while Madam Hooch tried her best to mediate.
"So is anyone going to tell him?" asked Angelina, when it became clear no one had any intention of going near Wood at the present time.
"Probably best to let him get it out of his system," admitted George, "you know, if he bottles it up, he might end up doing something stupid."
"Like that?" Alicia nodded towards Oliver, who had now wrestled Montgomery to the ground and seemed to be trying to get him in a headlock.
"You've got to admit it," a genuinely impressed Fred commented as Madam Hooch took out her wand and separated the two boys with a quick spell, "that boy takes his Quidditch seriously."